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cavalorn · 2 years ago

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Eye of newt and toe of frog: what was really in the witches’ cauldron in Macbeth? (CW: torture, death, historical racism, historical antisemitism, animal and human body parts) Ever since Scott Cunningham first made the following claim in the 1980s, there has been an increasingly widely circulated belief that the ingredients of the Macbeth potion were not grisly animal parts at all but merely herbs and plants, concealed under code names:

“every ingredient (Shakespeare) lists as being in the witches' pot refers to a plant and not the gruesome substance popularly thought”

This proposal had not appeared at all in analyses of Shakespeare prior to Cunningham’s Magical Herbalism: The Secret Craft of the Wise but is now extremely popular, especially the often-cited proposal that ‘eye of newt really meant mustard seed’. Lists of ‘herbal codes’ circulate online, purporting to explain all the different ingredients of the Macbeth potion away as plants. Witches, according to these lists, were grossly misrepresented. Their grisly concoctions were nothing but herbal mixtures.

Code-names and substitutions have certainly played a part in magic in history. Cunningham was familiar with, and makes reference to, the Greek Magical Papyri in which a famous list of secret substitutions is given. For example, ‘the tears of a Hamadryas baboon’ are to be taken to mean ‘dill juice’. The concept of a secret herbal code in which grisly-seeming or mythical ingredients are in fact plants – and only the enlightened few are aware of this - was therefore not a new one.

Was Cunningham correct?

First let’s look at the historical context.

Shakespeare wrote Macbeth under the patronage of James VI of Scotland / I of England. The King was paranoid about witches, was personally present at the interrogation of at least one, and wrote a book called Daemonologie all about them. The depiction of witches in Macbeth would have needed to flatter and support the King’s personal convictions. These fictional witches are therefore evil through and through, and we should be suspicious of any interpretation that seeks to lessen their horror.

Other plays were written around the same time that feature witches in similar roles, such as Jonson’s Masque of Queens and Middleton’s The Witch. We will come to those in due time.

Let’s examine the evidence for Cunningham’s claim, line by line. Round about the cauldron go;

In the poison’d entrails throw.

Right from the start, we have a reference to ‘poison’d entrails’. This immediately tells us that the ingredients are characterised both by being poisonous or venomous in nature and by coming from living creatures. Herbs and plants do not have entrails.

Toad, that under cold stone

Days and nights hast thirty one

Swelter’d venom sleeping got,

Boil thou first i’ the charmed pot.

The first ingredient is, quite plainly, a living toad. Specifically, it is a toad that has been secreting venom over a period of time.

The choice of a venom-secreting toad as the very first ingredient cannot have been a coincidence, seeing as the King had himself interrogated an accused witch who had been put to torture, and who had ‘confessed’ to collecting toad’s venom in order to use it in a sorcerous attempt against the King’s life.

The alleged witch’s name was Agnis Thompson, and the King interrogated her in 1591. His account of this is written up in his book, Daemonologie. Agnis Thompson 'confessed' to having taken a black toad, hung it up and collected the venom that dripped from it over three days in an oyster shell. This venom was supposedly intended to be used in a spell that would bewitch the King to death, 'and put him to such extraordinary paines, as if he had beene lying vpon sharp thornes and endes of Needles.'

It is worth noting at this point that the King also recorded his belief that the Devil causes witches to "joint dead corpses, & to make powders thereof" which are then used in spells. This belief can also be found in Daemonologie.

So in the very first ingredient that goes into the cauldron, the live toad steeped in its own venom, we have an immediate disproof of Cunningham’s claim that ‘every ingredient refers to a plant’, along with a clear reference to the King’s own personal lived experience and profound beliefs concerning witches.

It ought to go without saying that King James VI/I was a deluded bigot who had innocent women tortured and put to death in service to his twisted agenda, but let’s say it anyway.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the cauldron boil and bake;

As with ‘entrails’, the use of the term ‘fillet’ leaves in no doubt that we are dealing with a dismembered living creature. A fenny snake is simply a snake from the fens.

Convoluted attempts have been made to identify ‘fillet of a fenny snake’ as a plant of some kind, but given that Cunningham’s claim has already been disproved, there seems no point in not taking Shakespeare at face value.

Eye of newt

Let’s get this out of the way: there is zero historical evidence that ‘eye of newt’ ever meant ‘mustard seed’. There are no herbals that give this as a name – not that were written prior to the 1980s, at any rate. The obvious conclusion is that it is modern lore created in sympathy with Cunningham’s claim. The ‘mustard seed’ interpretation is all over the Internet, of course, because sites typically copy one another without bothering to look for original sources.

(I would like to say, for the record, that if I assert here that ‘no historical source says X was ever used to mean Y’ and anyone later provides a historical source that unambiguously DOES say X was used to mean Y, I will print this article out and eat it. With mustard.)

Assertions that eye of newt meant mustard seed usually also assert that it was a popular component of witches’ spells. In fact, Macbeth is the one and only historical instance of ‘eye of newt’ appearing as a spell component. It is famous because the play is famous, not because it was in widespread use. The idea that it was a codename for some other ingredient thus appears even less credible.

Other attempts to interpret Shakespeare according to the Cunningham agenda include the rival claim, sometimes seen, that ‘eye of newt’ actually meant a type of daisy. Just as with mustard seed, there is no historical evidence at all to support this.

We should perhaps expect to encounter multiple claims as to the ‘real meaning’ of the potion ingredients, because the point of these claims is not to provide a definitive substitution code that was actually used by practitioners of the past, but simply to repeat the insistence that Shakespeare’s words do not mean what they say.

It is, of course, possible to assert that the enlightened ‘mustard seed’ interpretation has simply been handed down secretly through the years from witch to witch, never once appearing in print until the 1980s when such things could at last be shared openly within the hallowed pages of Llewellyn books. Claims of this sort are unanswerable.

Incidentally, the typical construction for plant names is not ‘B of A’, but ‘A’s B’ or simply ‘AB’, as we find with names like day’s eye (daisy), baby’s breath, coltsfoot and foxglove. If Shakespeare’s spell had run ‘breath of babe and eye of ox / foot of colt and glove of fox’ then we would be having a very different conversation.

Tongue of dog

This ingredient is the first one where the Cunningham agenda might seem credible, if it had not already been disproven by the very first of the ingredients. There is a herb called ‘houndstongue’, Cynoglossum officinale, which is also known as houndstooth and dog’s tongue.

Was Shakespeare referring to a herb here, then, rather than the tongue of a literal dog? Given the anatomical specificity of some of the later ingredients, there is no reason to think so. Animal tongues have played a part in magic for centuries. The Epistula Vulteris (800 CE), for example, proposes putting a vulture’s tongue in your shoe to make enemies adore you. The 16th century Tree of Knowledge instructs the reader to take the tongue of a hoopoe and hang it on the right side of the body, close to the heart, in order to defeat anyone in court.

Wool of bat

Despite this ingredient being relatively innocuous – ‘wool’ could theoretically be harvested from a bat without harming it – attempts have been made to identify this as moss, or even as holly leaves, via a convoluted train of association that links the shape of bat’s wings with the shape of holly. No historical sources give ‘wool of bat’ or ‘bat’s wool’ as a term for a plant.

Toe of frog

Some modern sources assert that ‘toe of frog’ refers to the buttercup, possibly because the Latin name Ranunculus means ‘little frog’. One is left to wonder what part of a buttercup the ‘toe’ might refer to.

Unfortunately, no historical sources give ‘toe of frog’ or ‘frog’s toe’ as a term for a plant.

Adder’s fork

At first sight this looks like another possible point for Cunningham. Adders have forked tongues, and there are several plants that bear the name ‘adder’s tongue’. However, there is no evidence of the use of the specific term ‘adder’s fork’ to refer to a plant.

We would also have to explain why, given that these ingredients are demonstrably not being presented in an overall context of plant symbolism, any of the plants known as adder’s tongue would be intended here over the surface meaning.

Blindworm’s sting

The ‘sting’ (fang) of a venomous snake, or possibly a slow-worm, which are ironically not venomous. This ingredient is probably intended to pair with the last one: they are both from the mouths of reptiles.

No historical sources give ‘blindworm’s sting’ as a term for a plant.

Lizard’s leg

The leg of a lizard.

No historical sources give ‘lizard’s leg’ as a term for a plant.

Owlet’s wing

The wing of an owlet, or baby owl.

No historical sources give ‘owlet’s wing’ as a term for a plant. (I am getting as tired of typing this as you probably are of reading it.)

Scale of dragon

An ingredient that at first glance appears to buttress Cunningham’s claim, because unlike the others it cannot possibly mean what it says. Dragons don’t exist. However, ingredients that use the term ‘dragon’ in their naming do exist, such as ‘dragon’s blood’.

Excitingly, there is a plant known as the dragon’s scale fern, Pyrrosia piloselloides. Should we concede a point to Cunningham here?

Unfortunately, I do not think we can. The dragon’s scale fern is native to Singapore and was first catalogued by Carl Linnaeus in 1763. There seems no way that Shakespeare could possibly have heard of it. Moreover, ‘dragon’s scale’ is merely an English translation of the term ‘sisek naga’. I’ve been unable to find any use of the name ‘dragon’s scale fern’ in English prior to the 20th century.

Did Shakespeare mean a literal dragon, then? Considering his plays involve literal ghosts (e.g. Caesar, Banquo, Hamlet’s father), literal monsters (Caliban) and literal witches with the power to ‘hover through the fog’ and summon storms at sea, we needn’t worry about Shakespeare depicting things which we now know to be impossible. So yes, literal dragon’s scale. Tooth of wolf

It is tempting to identify this ingredient as the herb houndstooth, but the problem there is that houndstooth is the same as houndstongue, for which see ‘tongue of dog’ above.

No historical sources give ‘wolf’s tooth’ as a term for a plant. Witches’ mummy

Either ‘the mummified flesh of dead witches’ or ‘mummified human flesh, as used by witches’. Bizarre though it may sound, mummified human flesh was used for medical purposes before and after Shakespeare’s time. See Sir Thomas Browne, Hydriotaphia, 1658: ‘The Egyptian mummies which Cambyses spared, avarice now consumeth. Mummy is become merchandize, Mizraim cures wounds, and Pharaoh is sold for balsams.’

No historical sources give ‘witches’ mummy’ as a term for a plant.

Maw and gulf

Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark

The mouth and stomach of a shark.

No historical sources give ‘shark’s maw’, ‘shark’s gulf’ or ‘shark’s stomach’ as a term for a plant. There is a succulent called Shark's Mouth Mesemb that is native to South Africa, but given the additional description lavished on the shark – ‘ravin’d, salt-sea’ – it seems pretty obviously a literal shark.

Root of hemlock digg’d i’ the dark

Here we come to our first actual plant ingredient, which is named as such. Do please note the significance of ‘digg’d i’ the dark’. It’s not just hemlock, it’s hemlock that has been gathered in the ‘proper’ way. Where literal plants are concerned, the time and method of harvesting is magically significant. This suggests that far from everything in the spell being a plant as Cunningham proposed, the actual plants involved are special and treated with particular care.

Liver of blaspheming Jew

Exactly what it appears to be, disgusting historical antisemitism and all.

Gall of goat

The gall (bile) of a goat. (Goat’s gall and honey were used as a treatment for cancer in Saxon times. Who knew?)

No historical sources give ‘goat’s gall’ or ‘goat’s bile’ as a term for a plant.

Slips of yew

Sliver’d in the moon’s eclipse

Another actual plant ingredient, named as such. Just as we saw with the hemlock root, when the spell calls for actual plants, the witch is careful to specify the method of gathering. ‘Sliver’d in the moon’s eclipse’ means that the yew was peeled off in slivers during an eclipse of the moon.

Nose of Turk

The literal nose of a literal Turkish person. My suspicion is that this mocking of foreign people and their religions was deliberate pandering to the King, almost to the point of pantomime.

Tartar’s lips

See above.

Finger of birth-strangled babe

Ditch-deliver’d by a drab

The severed finger of a baby strangled at birth, having been born in a ditch to a sex worker.

There is a Korean succulent called ‘baby’s finger’ but there is no hope whatsoever that Shakespeare could have meant something so innocent.

Tiger’s chaudron

A tiger’s entrails. Derives from the exact same source as ‘cauldron’, so Shakespeare was frankly cheating a bit to use it as a rhyme here.

No historical sources give ‘tiger’s chaudron’ or ‘tiger’s entrails’ as a term for a plant.

A baboon’s blood

Curiously, ‘the blood of a Hamadryas baboon’ is one of the ingredients in the Greek Magical Papyri which is deemed to be a code name. Unfortunately for Cunningham, the ingredient it is a code name for is the blood of a spotted gecko, bringing us all the way back to lizard’s legs and newts’ eyes.

It’s worth noting in passing that Shakespeare wouldn’t have been familiar with the Papyri Graecae Magicae, given that they weren’t rediscovered and republished until the 19th century.

In any case, no historical sources give ‘baboon’s blood’ as a term for a plant.

In summary, of the twenty-three ingredients that go into the witches’ cauldron:

two – yew and hemlock - are unambiguously plants and named as such, with the method of gathering described

two – tongue of dog and adder’s fork – resemble extant folk names for plants, i.e. houndstongue and adder’s tongue

the remaining nineteen are all animal or human body parts, or in the case of the toad, the entire animal

Cunningham does not seem to have considered that disguising innocent herbs with grisly sounding names would have invited trouble rather than deflecting it. For example, even if ‘wool of bat’ had been a codename for moss, no practitioner with an ounce of sense would have referred to it as such when they could just call it moss. Gathering moss might be eccentric; gathering wool of bat could be seen as diabolic.

Some commentators have taken the view that Shakespeare might have been using ironic humour, by listing ingredients that were grisly sounding but also folk names for ordinary plants, intending the audience to pick up on his clever references. The audience would, so the theory claims, have recognised the wordplay because the folk names would have been in common use at the time. This theory falls apart, however, simply because the vast majority of the ingredients were not folk names for plants, and only two can possibly be considered such. Even in their case it is necessary to use some creative interpretation.

There is an additional problem with the ‘secret herbal code’ hypothesis. Cunningham’s core argument is that ‘witches, magicians and occultists wished to keep secret the most powerful of the old magics’, hence the use of codes. And yet, the arguments advanced for which ingredient represents which plant are based on common folk names, not secret lore unavailable to the masses. One cannot draw a link between ‘tongue of dog’ and the herb houndstongue, insist that the parallel is obvious, and then claim that this was a secret code.

To use the Papyri Graecae Magicae as an example of a genuine secret substitution system, ‘a physician’s bone’ is code for ‘sandstone’. There is no conceivable way a person could have inferred the real ingredient from its code name. And yet, the supposed herbal codenames in Macbeth are all based on inference, such as ‘finger of birth-strangled babe’ being taken to mean ‘bloody finger’ and thus ‘foxglove’.

Media magica in other Jacobean dramas

As mentioned above, it was not only Shakespeare who wrote plays in which witches prepared concoctions that contained human or animal body parts. However, only Shakespeare seems to have been singled out for his alleged use of secret herbal code names (which, as we have seen, does not bear scrutiny).

Ben Jonson’s The Masque of Queens was written for King James VI/I and was first performed in February 1609 (three years after Macbeth) in honour of the King’s eldest son, Prince Henry. Like Macbeth, it flatters the King’s obsession with witches by featuring a gathering of them. They discuss the ingredients they have gathered, such as:

I have been all day, looking after

A raven, feeding upon a quarter;

And, soon, as she turn'd her beak to the south,

I snatch'd this morsel out of her mouth.

This hag has snatched a morsel of human corpse that had been cut into four pieces (as in ‘hung, drawn and quartered’) out of the beak of a raven.

Just as in ‘Macbeth’, we then hear of a miscellany of gruesome ingredients, such as the bitten-off sinews of a hanged murderer, the fat of an infant, the brains of a cat, frog’s blood and backbone, owl’s eyes, viper’s skin and basilisk’s blood, none of which can possibly be taken to be codenames for plants. Moreover, we are fortunate to have Jonson’s own notes on his work, in which he laboriously details the sources he used and the practices he intends to depict:

But we apply this examination of ours to the particular use; whereby, also, we take occasion, not only to express the things (as vapours, liquors, herbs, bones, flesh, blood, fat, and such like,

which are called Media magica) but the rites of gathering them, and from what places, reconciling as near as we can, the practice of antiquity to the Neoterick and making it familiar with our popular witchcraft.

Jonson’s representation of plants is of particular interest here. He has one hag declare: And I have been plucking, plants among,

Hemlock, henbane, adder's-tongue,

Night-shade, moon-wort, libbard's-bane;

And twice, by the dogs, was like to be ta'en.

And offers the following explanatory text: Cicuta, hyoscyarnus, ophioglosson, solanum, martagon, doronicum, aconitum are the common venefical ingredients remembered by Paracelsus, Porta, Agrippa, and others; which I make her

to have gathered, as about a castle, church, or some vast building (kept by dogs) among ruins and wild heaps.

Just as with Shakespeare’s mention of hemlock and yew, there is no suggestion of code names.

‘The Witch’ by Thomas Middleton was also performed by the King’s Men. It, too, depicts witches in exactly the way the King expected to see them depicted. For example, Hecate says to Stadlin: [Giving her a dead child's body] Here, take this unbaptised brat.

Boil it well, preserve the fat

The subject of herbs comes up in this graphic exchange: STADLIN

Where be the magic herbs?

HECATE

They're down his throat:

His mouth cramm'd full, his ears and nostrils stuff'd.

I thrust in eleoselinum lately

Aconitum, frondes populeas, and soot-

You may see that, he looks so b[l]ack i' th' mouth-

Then sium, acorum vulgare too,

[Pentaphyllon], the blood of a flitter-mouse,

Solanum somnificum et oleum.

Middleton even brings a comic touch to the loathsomeness of the witches’ concoctions. Almachildes (who has brought the witches toads in marzipan as a gift) is invited to dine with them, and responds

How? Sup with thee? Dost think I'll eat fried rats

And pickled spiders?

Conclusions

The witches depicted by Shakespeare, Jonson and Middleton for the entertainment of King James VI/I are shown employing animal and human body parts as well as plants in their spells, in accordance with the King’s personal beliefs and with the playwrights’ understanding of magic as depicted in such texts as Cornelius Agrippa’sDe Occulta Philosophia.

There is no evidence to support the suggestion that any of the ingredients named are meant to be taken other than literally. They are not codenames for plants. Eye of newt in particular is not a folk name for mustard seed and never has been.

Scott Cunningham’s assertion that “every ingredient (Shakespeare) lists as being in the witches' pot refers to a plant and not the gruesome substance popularly thought” is simply wrong.

Although Cunningham was wrong, and may well have known it, his motivation is understandable. Modern witches are revolted by the idea of body parts being used in spells and wish to distance themselves from it. The ‘herbal code’ interpretation provided a means to recast the horrific Jacobean witch (who did not exist outside of the popular and kingly imagination) as an enlightened and humane herbalist.

But if we allow ourselves to misrepresent Shakespeare in this way, we risk erasing the memory of the real victims: Agnis Thompson, the accused witch who was tortured into ‘confessing’ her use of a toad, and her fellows. Squeamishness must not be allowed to prevent us from confronting the uncomfortable facts of history.

#scott cunningham #witchcraft #shakespeare #macbeth #eye of newt #herbalism #plants and herbs #witch

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meiguicha · 9 months ago

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Delusive Masks - Nasu

Yan! Tamamo no Mae x Reader

Old foxes aren't the best servants, they're wily and complex, and most of all, possessive

TW: Mentions of violence in the form of burning, general toxic manipulative behaviour, not really proof read

//The brainrot hit so bad that I wrote a bad fever dream. A whole bunch of liberties taken with the way being an onmyoji works and with characters as per usual. Poem is from 陽成院歌合, topic of 夏虫の恋 and is number 06 of the whole collection

あふことを, いつともしらぬ

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

To be a good person is not difficult, to be a good onmyoji perhaps less so. For many people, merely getting the skill and natural ability to qualify as one is already a kind of privilege, it taints the way they view themselves, creating grandiose splendours that they can transcend beyond the mortal principles. Yet when one becomes powerful enough to summon shikigami beyond weak spirits imbued into paper dolls, it gets to their head. They suddenly, foolishly believe themselves capable of nothing short of miracles. How fast they fall, turning themselves into cruel masters, bidding their servants to acts no better than the very yokai they seek to exorcise, kicking upon their shikigami to which they had entered that sacred contract.

You are grateful for many things in life, the first that you had good parents that supported your wishes, the second that you could become a practising onmyoji, and the third being your master’s consistent and persistent hammering of humility and altruism. No lesser or greater than any being that walks upon this world, whether human or spirit, your duty was to protect the innocent and excise the guilty. Of course, he had worded it much more eloquently than such, but the motive was still present in his orotund words.

Your shikigami are as equally deserving of respect as you are, unconditional kindness could very often make the difference between an evil spirit and a good one. You have stuck by such truths for as long as you have started, even when the only spirits under your command were Ubume and Zashiki Warashi. It became a promise of kinds, that you would always do right by them so long as they showed the same sentiment in return. Eventually, you ended up with quite a few of them, a good entourage of them you knew you could trust. Yet, it was rather difficult for people to take you seriously without certifiably powerful spirits, or perhaps it was more accurate to say that there was a certain gap between the perceived disciple of the great Abe no Seimei, and the reality that you were.

There was some part of you that did resent that expectation, partly that others should have no right to comment on your ability solely on your patronage, and partly because it felt too close to home. Of course you knew it was shameful to be so powerless when you study under one of the best practitioners, it is only natural you did.

The smell of incense fills your nose as your eyes adjust to the dim room, a talisman before you laying on the wooden floor. With a brush in hand, dipped in ink and poised for use, you calm your pounding heart. You have already summoned a few shikigami before, yet at this very moment, you could feel nothing but inexplicable foreboding. It made no sense, with your current living quarters more than protected by both your and your shikigamis’ efforts, yet you could not merely shake off the tenseness in your joints and the roiling in your stomach.

It hurts, everything still hurts. Your hands from all the preparation, your knees from kneeling on such hard floors, your head from everything that has been and shall be. It is as though your body only knows to bear suffering, pain from which is borne from being mortal, pain borne of the pure action of breathing.

Still, you close your eyes and take a deep breath. Picking up your brush in a ramrod perfect posture, the incantation so familiar to your lips spill out as ink stains the talisman. Your voice starts soft, barely a whisper in the wind and as your hand scrawls and scrawls with a fervour not quite known to human consciousness, it rises until the only sound in your ear is your very own words.

The moment your brush lifts off the paper and the ink settles within, placed within the circle, it resonates and glows, bursting with light and into flame as it burns into a brilliant blaze. It threatens to engulf the summoning room, grazing at the ceiling as even the fire from your candles are absorbed into such a violent inferno. You can feel the heat, practically licking your skin and singeing the ends of your coat, sweat beading at your brow as you shield your eyes from the bright display.

Even when the flames dim, what is before your eyes is merely the shaping of the firestorm into nine distinct tails, a vulpine silhouette that eventually reveals a tall figure, draped in silks and brocades. With an elaborate fox-like mask hiding the top half of his face, this spirit which presented himself as both court official and decadent noble snapped open his fan to further hide his jade white visage. Among the cool night, all you could feel was the radiating heat from his form, even if he retracted his flames, it was as if there was nothing beyond him and his fire.

The high wooden geta clacks against the wooden floorboards, elegant footfalls approaching you ever closer as he steps out of the circle. He makes no effort to lower himself to your level, fervid eyes burning behind the mask as he tips his fan beneath your chin and lifts it. The spirit takes a gander at your appearance, scrutinising your every feature with an intensity far beyond mild interest.

“This place has experienced great change since I’ve last been here,” The old fox’s lips curl into a smile, the peek of sharp canines peeking from behind. His voice is sultry, a minacious bite to his words, “Onmyoji, we finally finally meet.”

No matter this first introduction, dealing with this great spirit will be much more complicated than any you have ever met. A venerable kitsune in which vagary destruction lay right at the snap of his fingers, no matter what kind of fate he deems worthy for your mortal self, it is exactly because you are mortal that you should meet this trial.

Bowing, you raise your clasped hands in front of you and dip until you feel your back screech for mercy, “Tamamo no mae-sama, it is an honour to meet you.”

“Do take care of me, little lady,” He croons and a shiver runs through your bones, no matter how gentle his words were.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

なつむしの, おもひはかぎり

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

“Master, I did not think you would arrive so quickly.”

Your hands are steady as you tip the lacquered teapot, fragrant tea pouring in a steady stream from its slender spout. The dark liquid a blend you rarely take out other than to entertain your master, there is a certain trepidation that comes with such an act, one you are not sure when will finally leave you. The joints of your fingers ache, throbbing even as you lay at rest.

“It is so wrong for me to worry for you?” He raises a brow, azure eyes regarding you with some placid gleam.

Despite your admittedly out of place nerves, your master has done nothing to warrant such, that in spite of his graceful and aloof poise, Seimei may likely be one of the kindest people you have ever met. You understand that a person can in no way be entirely benevolent nor evil, for that is what makes a sentient being sentient, but there is merely something about him that brings forward ease within a person.

You only shake your head, an abashed quirk tugging at your lips. Watching him take a sip from his cup, your mind drifts back to the message you had sent. A letter that was hastily scrawled and messy beyond reason, the paper carried the distinct stench of smoke and ash, it was a moment of panic now that you could look upon the incident with a much clearer head. The minute you had situated the old yokai in conditions appeasable to his own tastes, you remember sprinting back to your room, sweat clinging to your skin and staining the paper as you wrote, informing your master what had just occurred and asking for his guidance.

“Of course not, I just thought you would have taken more time to get here,” You hum, your voice lowered and sheepish. “Were you not at the capital when my letter arrived?”

Your master only nods, “Your words were so fearful, I thought you had come across a great trouble.”

He takes a moment to partake from his drink once more, a silence falling upon the sun-lit room as birds chirp in the nearby trees and the sound of your shikigami going about their lives ring from the distance. You rest your eyes upon his form, noting the seeming flawlessness of his presence. Sharper features that hinted at some otherworldly grace, just the most minute sign found in the form of the slight furrow of his brow revealed the distress that plagued him. Then, his long lashes flutter open, and your master merely seems to smile, relief all but seeping from his eyes.

“I am glad you are well.”

Averting your gaze, you thank him under your breath as heat flushes at the tips of your ears, not quite certain whether such bashfulness stems from troubling him or emotions else explained.

You can only move the conversation of topic away from that moment, putting on a facade of ease, “I thought you would have more insight about him.”

The expression on his face shifts ever so slightly, a sudden hardness in his eyes as he grips the teacup just the little tighter.

“He…has experienced a great number of losses due to both divine and human action,” He manages to breathe out, the sound almost all but serene if not for the lengthy pause between his words. Your master inhales, as though to continue his words, yet he only sighs, “I am afraid that is as much as I can disclose for now, it is not my place to tell what he does not wish to be revealed.”

Just as you think to pry just a little further, Hana’s voice echoes from beyond the closed doors, asking for your presence. There is a concern tinging her words, and judging by the pattering of rushed footsteps, this was a matter that required your immediate and utmost earnest attention.

“Master, I must apologise but…” Your eyes glance between him and the door, chest tightening ever so slightly as blood rushes through your veins.

Seimei merely shakes his head, an assuaging expression on his face as he waves you off, “Do not worry about me, go ahead.”

Nodding, you rise as quickly as possible, rushing off as you are swiftly carted off to the issue. The white haired man remains in his seated position, taking in the scent of his tea as he closes his eyes. He hears the silence of the wind, with neither bird song nor liveliness of existence. Seimei finishes the rest of his tea, herbal and heady fragrance greeting his senses for the last time before he places it down alongside your abandoned cup.

He takes a breath, not bothering to open his eyes as he speaks, “Uncle, I know you are there.”

From beyond the door and announcing his entrance through soft clicks, a masked man deigns to show his face as he lowers his fan. With his lips almost permanently lifted in mirth, the scarlet markings that painted his mask aided with the unease that your master suddenly feels creeping onto his spine. He is unfamiliar with this sensation, especially from the man before him.

“Seimei, its been a long time,” The old fox croons, insouciant tinge to his voice.

Without missing a beat, your master finds a new urgency within him, “What are your intentions with my disciple?”

“We have yet to see each other after so long and this is your first question for me?” Tamamo hums, an unexplainable expression on his jade white face. His fan taps against his jaw in a rhythmic manner, voice much more playful and recondite than Seimei would have liked, “She called out and I responded, nothing more, nothing less.”

“If you have any malintention upon her, I fear I may have to take action.”

Not quite a threat, for even he is unable to deny their relationship, but more so a warning. This tension between the two of them has an unspoken depth, one that had existed long before this clandestine reunion, and with Seimei’s admittedly almost obvious concern for your wellbeing, it only seems to sour so.

The old fox smiles, and the younger finds that he does not enjoy the way those golden eyes seem to shine with burning regard from beyond the mask. Tamamo only muses, yet despite the airy nature of his voice, behind his lilt was a zealous avariciousness, “I promise you, no harm shall befall her so long as I am by her side.”

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

なくやあるらん

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

For all that the froglets incident was worth, a situation that had been more so confusing and hysterical for the regional townspeople than any life-threatening catastrophe as you had been led to believe, it was only a mild inconvenience. A few dozen little frogs dressed to appear as great yokais were merely wandering around and acting as if they were the spirits themselves, of course they had also been imbued with some kind of ability that allowed them to recreate such acts, but it was still not some matter that would raze the whole of Heian-Kyo.

Still, that had not meant you expected to return to your abode with said froglets nipping at your heels ready to make themselves useful.

“Master…” At a loss for words, Momo could only cock her head at the image before her.

Rather than being seated at your desk pouring over documents, you were instead making yourself quite busy with some leisurely reading while the froglets dedicate themselves to stacking your books in an order only they seemed to know.

“It’s okay, they are not causing any issue,” You smile, an amused huff escaping your nose when your eyes drift to Susabi Frog balancing on top of Ichimokuren Frog as it just barely pushes a star chart into place, “I am just keeping them busy.”

Turning your attention back to Momo, you place down your book as you roll your shoulders back, the vertebrae in your spine not quite as sore. “Did you have something for me to look at?”

“Ubume asked whether you wanted to join us for lunch or have us eat with you.” Her voice is slightly hesitant, just one step away from wavering.

It feels like instinct at this point, you rest your head upon your palm and squeeze your eyes in delight. If you had to be honest, you did quite miss being able to have meals with your shikigamis, always some lively affair and certainly occuring far too sparsely for your liking.

“It has been some time since we all sat down together and ate, has it not?”

She nods her head, a hopeful expression on her face as her eyes widen in mock innocence, “Mhm! So will you?”

You laugh, shaking your head as you get up and dust your clothes. An excitement fills her as the little blooms in her hair burst open, grabbing your arm and all but dragging you out. Turning a glance to the froglets, you wave them over and they come scampering to your side at the first notice, almost all too excited to follow along. They clamour in the occasional croak or ribbit, asking about this and that. More akin to children, you wonder when that sentiment started.

By the time you arrive in your courtyard, it is all but a wonderfully teeming gathering, noise filling your ears in a manner that only served to coax your heart from its tight cage. Seeing them like this, you are happy that you get to have such a sight, living free from suffering and safe, that was the most important point, that they were safe.

“I see you all are in good spirits,” You hum, an announcement that is swiftly followed by a symphony of ‘Master’s’.

Some of the younger shikigami immediately leap from their seats to your side, to which you only greet them with on overfond smile and a pat on the head. Those busy with serving food or handing out cutlery likewise greet you, not quite able to pull themselves away from their tasks but still sending a smile or a wave. Momo is quick to join everyone else, flitting between chatting and aiding. Ootengu had busied himself with scooping soup while Hana had been floating around ensuring everyone had some kind of meal, leaving one person notably uninvolved.

“Little lady,” The old yokai calls for you, resting his head on his palm as a smile plays on his lips. Sitting beneath the plum blossom tree, he almost looks like the subject of a great painting under falling petals and soft sunlight. Just the view of such makes you almost afraid to approach him, yet still you do so. You are unable to tell exactly whether his levity is real, but you can only assume so by his leisurely tone, “Have the froglets been helping you?”

Glancing at the frogs now being babied by the rest of your shikigami, a notion you did not think they would take up so fast, you only laugh, “They are very earnest, thank you.”

Silence falls upon the two of you and for a moment, it truly does feel that all is right in the world. There is little discomfort in your body, joints no longer cracking at every minute action nor head pounding at every little stimulus that dared to exist. The smell of sweet flowers and delightful aroma of proper food fills the air, and you yearn for nothing more than these days to continue on.

Those froglets, troublesome at first though they may, had ended up being a kind of blessing. For ever since their attempted marauding, you have had little, if any issues that required your action. You spend your days reading and writing, responding to correspondence and finally able to focus on your studies.

It is while reminiscing that Tamamo’s silvery words reach your ears, pleasant and coaxing.

“These few weeks have been rather peaceful, don’t you think?” He tilts his head to the side, meeting your gaze in a single move.

You squeeze your eyes again, a soft sigh escaping you as a smile tugs at your lips, “It has, I can finally get to some marriage proposals I had apparently recieved.”

For a moment, just the slightest second late, you thought the old fox’s expression darkened. Yet just as quickly as it came, it left, and he simply continues on. His eagerness almost resembles that of those older ladies, that crooning voice asking for more and more, ready to give advice you never thought you would need, older yokais surely were no different than mortals.

“Oh? And who is the lucky fellow?” His nails, scarlet and far longer than you remember, clasp around his fan.

“Just another onmyoji, he isn’t from the big name clans that sent their pathetic excuse they call letters,” You sigh, then hold your hands up in clarification, as though to correct yourself from your perceived distate, “Which is good, less likely to be some bigoted oaf.”

Tamamo merely hums, snapping open his fan to hide the bottom of his face, yet there was an odd wry tinge to his words, “How intriguing, our little lady seems to be quite popular to attract even onmyojis from the big clans.”

“Don’t flatter me, they just want to find someone they can continue their bloodlines with.”

Rolling your eyes, an acerbic grin appears on your face as you take a drink from the teacup one of the froglets brought over. Just like those old ladies, he places a hand on your shoulder and with an assuaging tone, a sense of warm reassurance is poured into your being.

“Well, you won’t have to worry. I’m certain you will have no trouble.”

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

またまたも, みをぞすてつる

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

Kiyohara Genjirou, a practicing onmyoji that had sought you out not only for his pursuit of the craft but admiration as well. So he cited in his first correspondence, and so you would like to believe.

As he wrote to you, you found him an eloquent and diligent man. Genjirou, though not hailing from a noble family nor considered talented enough to join a major clan, wandered through the country aiding when he could. All he had were paper dolls and simple talisman, yet that was all he needed. He had heard tales from those whose qualms you have solved, and had grown curious of your being. It was natural, yet this natural curiosity had grown to longing when he caught a glimpse of you in the city.

The image he described of you had seem otherworldly when you first read it, donned in simple robes and merely another face among the crowd, his eyes had no choice but to follow along your form, entirely unable to pull away from you. As if sent down from the high heavens, even the slightest whisper of your voice had made him understand why men should turn to religion.

You thought of him less fondly, perhaps not an infatuation such as his but an interest nonetheless. He had only sent two letters, the first that had been introductory and more similar to polite courtesy, the second much more personal and akin to courting. Still, you had been touched by his words, further still when you read the last portion. He would make the journey to your estate, to meet you and to perhaps, if you would allow him the chance to, to court you.

It was by no means a demand, but rather a suggestion. Genjirou had gone so far as to write that should you not find him appealing in any manner, that should you deem him overstepping, you were in every right to have him kicked out and his hair cut short.

You remember showing Tamamo the letter, surrounded by the froglets as he read from behind your shoulder. You told him that you would like to meet such a staunch person, and perhaps at the time, you had laughed alongside him when he said that should Genjirou truly act as he feared, then it would not be humiliation that he would bear. There was nothing to worry for, all you had to do was await his arrival.

Yet, despite his staid words and his solemn promises, he never came.

Under the moonlight and through the cold night wind, you can only let out a soft sigh. Your shoulders slump beneath your robes as all of a sudden, your body feels too heavy for your feet. Leaning against the wooden pillars of the front gate, that familiar tightness in your chest returns once more. Yet rather than what feels like your ribs enclosing onto your rapidly beating heart, what occurs to you now is more akin to that sentimental organ squeezing against its cage, yearning to pry straight through to leap out and wither away. Your lungs long for air, forcing in and out and yet it is not enough, never enough.

It is cold, so, so cold. Why were you cold?

Closing your eyes, you feel a presence approach from behind you, then a hand pulls you away from your resting spot. You lay against a warm body, that even through layers and layers of silk and brocade, you do not even have to open your eyes to know who it is.

“Tamamo,” Your murmur disappears into the night, yet it is a call that he hears and responds to.

With your limp limbs that which hang uselessly, the old fox gathers you into his embrace, allowing you to bury your face into his chest. “I thought he was different…”

Methodical and rhythmic, his chest rises and lowers, coaxing your breath to follow suite. Within his hold, there is a warmth that penetrates the skin, enveloping your tendons in loving flame. Tightly held and tightly received, Tamamo lets you dig your nails into him, until your fingertips ache and your wrists cramp up. He merely returns the sentiment, as though it was entirely natural to do so.

“Will you be honest with me?”

As though ashamed to even consider such a thought an option, you can barely muster your voice to above a whisper, “Do you think I’m a disappointment to my master?”

“Of course not, my little lady is very accomplished,” He croons, his voice soft and soothing. “Do you think I would have answered your call otherwise?”

Still enveloped in his presence, you inhale the familiar smell that clings to him. When he speaks to you as such, it truly does feel like all will be right in this world. Desiring nothing more than to keep you safe, this old fox you had once shrinked from has now become your only succour. How fast you had let him in your heart, that he should treat you with the same regard and care you do the rest of your shikigami, and you would become so easily reliant on what he may give you. Ironic, yet undeniably a notion you had grown aware of since his arrival.

“Besides, he is rather foolish to give up on you,” He sighs, an undertone distantly related to triumph hidden beneath assuage and fondness.

That graceful hand cups your face, reverent as though bearing a great treasure. Your eyes flutter open, and it is then you notice that he is no longer wearing his mask, presenting that exquisite face once hidden to you. Narrow eyes of beguiling gold with long lashes, lips that more appeared as delicate petals. No matter the scarlet markings painted upon his skin, it is no wonder that men should turn to fanaticism in the face of such sublimity. You can only stare in awe, how warm your ears flush and how heat roils in your stomach upon the sonorous hum of his voice.

“You deserve much, much better than a human who only knows to lie to you.”

Lying on the beaten dirt path, Kiyohara Genjirou will be buried in an unmarked grave, neither name nor profession known to those who will find him. For all that remains of this unwitting suitor is the stench of smoke and shrivelled corpse, caught too soon in a fox’s tempestuous favour and left to burn in the same blazing rancour that once threatened to engulf the tranquil capital.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

なつむしの, なほあきたらぬ

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

Being a good onmyoji is not difficult, it is not some arduous task to respect and love your shikigami, to treat them as one would dear friends and family. Yet, a shikigami that has only lost and lost, when given a second chance to make it all right, what then happens to that good onmyoji is very often known only to those hidden away.

Your master, when he had learned of the events that transpired had taken it with nothing more than a furrowed brow and a sharp exhale. Before he left, he had gifted you a talisman and instructed you to hang it in your room, to which you did. Yet, that very day, it had gone missing from your door. You had no unease at it, after all, he had given you hundreds of protection talismans, what difference was one going missing?

You on the other hand, had come to realise many things about your emotions with the arrival of both dismay and prolonged peace. That old fox who has done nothing but inexplicably care for you, with no explanation nor clarification. It had come out of nowhere, that quiet wistfulness and longing glances, you nearly thought yourself mad yet it was true. Torturing yourself with what could only possibly be, one could only imagine the joy that filled you when you had to do nothing but wait just a little longer, and even that foolish wish should come to be.

Cicadas sing in the distant night, your lover has long retired for the night and lays atop the bed, what you may see now is but his most true form, masks and disguises left at the door. Vulpine ears atop his head along with nine full tails, he once again scoops you into his embrace as even his tails move to cover you.

“Cold…” You only whine, squirming closer as though you could crawl into his skin.

Tamamo only huffs in amusement, no sign of actual vexation, and pulls you in closer. The increased contact brings burning touch falling upon your skin, the old fox noses along some invisible line at your neck, his lips pressing a kiss upon your pulse. He coaxes a sigh from your throat, soft and airy and almost all too practiced. Wholeheartedly embracing the fervid greed within him, you think you feel the prick of sharp canines against tender skin, yet you could care less.

In nothing more than your sleeping robes, luxurious clothes stripped off, legs entangled and limbs intertwined. To an unwitting observer, it would be difficult to discern whose form was whose, so thoroughly ensnared fox and human may as well be one body.

With neither onmyoji nor spirit to separate the two of you, and in this little delusion, not even the heavens will seize you from his side. He has ensured it, he shall see to it that the one he loves will never bear such suffering ever again.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

こひをたのみて

#onmyoji #阴阳师 #onmyoji x reader #onmyoji tamamo no mae #tamamo no mae #tamamo no mae x reader #yandere x reader #yandere

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chaoticklesblog · 11 months ago

Text

Maybe You Just Need More Convincing

Adam gets his everloving shit wrecked from some of the Hotel Staff in order to convince him sinners really can be redeemed. Charlie also recruits Lucifer to give them a hand, in more ways than one.

Warnings for foul language, some violence, suggestive humor (nothing extreme, just some totally in chatacter comments), my shitty grammar/punctuation, and lots of fluff/tickles. I hope you enjoy!! :3

It was no secret that Adam was heaven (and hell's) resident douchebag. He was stuck up, conceited, and completely self-centered. He had no real intentions of giving Hazbin Hotel a shot. He hadn't even shown up in person to the meeting in which was arranged originally between himself and Lucifer. And after Lucifer's daughter had stood in Lucifer's place at that meeting, well, Adam just couldn't take anything the princess of hell had to say seriously.

Charlie Morningstar was less than pleased to discover that the angels were going to be on a new six month extermination schedule. How was that even fair? It was so frustrating that Adam had flat out refused to listen to reason or even take Charlie's pitch of redemption even halfway seriously. He spent most of their allotted meeting time making sexist comments, talking about himself, interrupting anything Charlie had to say, and eating his pile of ribs in the most obnoxious and rude way possible.

Charlie had to think of a way to truly convince the head angel to call off the extermination and redeem those who were taking their path to redemption through the hotel seriously. But no song, no dramatic speech, no amount of begging or pleading could convince the dickhead that her Hotel would ever actually work.

"How could we actually convince heavens top angel to take our Hotel seriously?" Charlie had asked the staff and two meager residents in a meeting that was originally to be comprised of forgiveness role-playing and trust exercises. The change of routine was much welcomed by all, though they'd never explicitly tell Charlie that.

"We could just kill him?" Alastor suggested, his grin broadening and eyes darkening at the thought.

"That wouldn't be a good way to exemplify our goals or show redemption," Charlie paused. "We just need to figure out a weakness, you know, find something that we could use against him! Does anyone have any... less violent ideas?" She shoots Alastor a sympathetic smile.

"Vicious blackmail?" Angel suggests casually. He has the day off, and while he'd rather be scoring drugs or drinking at the bar with Husk's sole company, this discussion is far better than trust exercises.

"That's a less violent alternative," Charlie comments, "But still shady..."

"Listen toots, we aren't gonna convince Adam or anyone else to take us seriously if we don't play at least a little bit dirty," Angel tucks his upper set of arms behind his neck in a bored gesture.

"Angel has a point, Charlie. They wouldn't listen to reason, and the angels are notorious for not playing fair. I know you're trying to find a way that isn't violent or unconventional, but we might not have much of a choice. Especially if we want to defend our people," Vaggie steps closer to Charlie to embrace her briefly.

"Blackmail... nonviolent... unconventional... playing dirty..." Charlie thinks briefly about the options that fall under all these categories, and suddenly her face breaks out into a wide and evil grin. "I know exactly what we have to do! And I know just the person to call to ensure this plan will work. But I'm 99.9% positive, and it'll be foolproof!"

••••

"You want to what?" Lucifer's voice raises an octave. Unsure of what exactly this favor was his nearly estranged daughter had asked of him, he couldn't tell her no. But he hadn't known this was the specific favor in question until he arrived to the hotel. And Charlie had intentionally left out a few key details.

Had Lucifer known his precious daughter and hotel patronage had planned to exploit his ticklishness, he would've very well declined and spent the afternoon with his vast collection of rubber ducks.

"But that's only part of the favor. We also need you to arrange a meeting with Adam face to face. But first we need to know if this plan will work," Charlie's voice at the end was near pleading. Lucifer almost felt sorry for her, but what did this have to do with tickling him?

"I can arrange him to meet you all in person," Lucifer spoke slowly' "but what the hell does this have to do with tickling me?" His voice rose to a strangled octave, indicating that he was indeed ticklish.

"Mr. Morningstar, erm, your majesty, Charlie pointed out that you and Adam have similar angelic traits... so we figured that if you were... also inflicted the same weakness... We might actually have a shot at bringing that Adam prick down a few pegs," Vaggie nervously stepped forward to shake her girlfriends father's hand.

"I'd like to peg him," Angel murmered, earning a few looks of utter horror he quickly added "Adam, I meant Adam! Besides haven't you heard of hate fucking?" Angel grumbled defensively.

Lucifer turned back to Charlie.

"So you're asking me... if you can find various sensitive spots on my body... to use on Adam... in hopes of getting him to call of the next extermination?"

Charlie nodded enthusiastically and damnnit, Lucifer just couldn't say no to her.

"Okay, okay, okay... But a few things first... I'm only letting you do this as part of that favor. If anyone here ever tries to tickle me outside this one stand alone instance, consider yourselves to be absolutely wrecked. As ticklish as I am, I will ensure to pay you back in kind tenfold if any of you pull a stunt like this outside this small window of time. I'm only doing this because it would be nice to knock that dickhead down a few pegs."

His threat clung to the air a few moments. The king of hell was known to be ruthless, and he was a force to be reckoned with.

"Thanks dad!" Charlie reached over to hug him. Something the two hadn't done in such a long time but their embrace felt familiar. Normal even.

"A couple of other points..." Lucifer told the group, "an angels wings are the most sensitive, pretty much everywhere. Between the feathers, shoulder blades, wing pits, I mean, it's lethal... Lilith used to..."

Lucifer couldn't help but turn a blushy pink color at the mention of his former wife. He hadn't been properly tickled since... well, it had been quite some time. Lilith wasn't a stranger to tickling Lucifer to tears, but she was the only one to ever indulge in his weakness. He was never tickled by anyone other than Lilith. And cetainly not by this many people. Charlie had grown up with witnessing Lillith tickle him to pieces. Faint memories of her father squealing, shrieking, and downright begging Lilith not to tickle him while laughing helplessly. But Lilith had always been able to easily overpower her much smaller husband. But Charlie also knew how Lucifer could hold his own. She knew what a fierce tickle monster he could be in her own experiences and knew by watching her parents in her much younger days that Lucifer almost always sought revenge.

Lucifer kept reminding himself that this was necessary. He knew this was to help his people of hell, his daughter even, but being demon royalty and exposing his most innate physical weakness and allowing others to take advantage of it was downright terrifying. It had been bad then, but now? Lucifer let out an involuntary shudder.

"For Adam, specifically, I'm led to believe that he would have another weak point aside from his wings. But if his wings are anything like mine, then you shouldn't have much trouble!"

Lucifer tried his hardest to ignore the shit eating grins forming on the faces of both Angel Dust and Alastor. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. But he remembered his favor to Charlie, and all the memories of his past tickling experiences and thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

"Please, do tell us of any other weak spots you think the angel will have, your royal higness!" Alastor chimes in, eager to have something to use against both Adam and Lucifer.

"God removed one of Adam's ribs to create his new wife. And being touched by that amount of power would absolutely cause that spot to be more sensitive... It's basically a given."

"So torture the guys wings and ribs, got it," Angel smirked.

"Torture Adam's wings and ribs," Lucifer clarified "you motherfuckers better go easy with me." Lucifer couldn't help but back away nervously from the group. Unfortunately for him, there was only so far he could back up before his back collided with the wall of the Hotel lobby adjacent to where Husk was sleeping at the bar. At least Nifffty and Husk weren't involved in this scheme.

"Anything else we need to know before we tickle you to death?" Charlie asked almost sympathetically as Vaggie, Angel, and Alastor closed in on the king of hell.

"Sixty seconds. Do NOT exceed sixty seconds." Four against one was definitely not a fair match.

Lucifer wasn't given time to think while the group circled around him. Shit. Fuck. Shit.

"Sixty seconds," Charlie clarified, "starting in 3..."

Why the fuck did he agree to this again?

"2..."

This really had better work on Adam. Otherwise Lucifer knew he'd be totally fucked around Alastor, Angel and Vaggie, who all seemed to take pure delight in discovering the king of hell was ridiculously ticklish. Why did Charlie have to tell them?

"1..."

Shit. And he was lost in helpless, screech filled laughter. Lucifer had curled into a ball as ten arms and countless tickling fingers dug into almost all his ticklish spots.

"WHAHAHAHAHHAHT THE FUHUHUHCK AHHAH STAHAP!" Lucifer pleaded, knowing it hadn't even been 10 seconds yet.

Alastor had taken the liberty in casting a temporary paralysis spell on Lucifer so he couldn't even protect his worst spots. He had taken this opportunity to also tickle the smaller demon's shoulder blades which shook helplessly as his six magnificent wings unfurled.

Angel and Vaggie started to explore his wings and Lucifer had severely underestimated just how much it would tickle.

"OohoHAHAhaA, IHIHIHT tiHIHihihCkles HAhahHa soHo mUhUHUHUCH AHAhaHa!" Lucifer squealed as Angel and Vaggie had tickled the soft skin beneath his feathers, Angel's extra set of hands had made quick work of his wing pits which caused his laughter to shoot up an octave.

"That's kind of the point, short king," Alastor teased as he had switched to taser his sides while Charlie had been scribbling at his ribs, grinning madly as her plan had seemed now that it could be executed without fail.

Lucifer was in absolute tickle hell. Literally. The sensation of Vaggie and Angel mercilessly tickling his wings, scritching the skin beneath his feathers, digging into the sensitive wing pits and occasionally poking and scratching at his shoulder blades combined with Alastor squeezing his sides and Charlie torturing his ribs had nearly caused Lucifer to break. He couldn't move to protect his tickle spots. And all he could do was laugh and shriek and hope the ticklish assault would end whenever the alloted minute was up.

"I didn't think you'd still be this ticklish!" Charlie cooed.

"OkAYHAHAHhahAH! SEhehee? IHAH- I TOHOAHAHHOLD YOUHOO AHAHhahah it WOHOULD WORK!" Lucifer cackled.

He never had four people tickle him at once before. It was the most ticklish he'd ever felt in his entire life. It wasn't fair to have all his tickle spots exploited at once!

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of cackling, the minute had passed and as promised, Charlie called off the experimental tickle attack. Alastor reversed the spell and Lucifer had crumpled to a giggling panting mess on the floor, overstimulated from all the tickles and trying to rub away the residual ghost tickles.

"So was that 60 seconds of getting your everloving shit rocked, short king?" Angel grins down at Lucifer.

"Seriously, fuck you guys," Lucifer giggles.

"Think this will actually work on Adam?" Vaggie turns to Charlie beaming as she helps her one day father-in-law off the floor.

"It has to!" Charlie says with pure confidence.

"Thanks, dad, for helping us prove our theory to be true. Adam won't stand a chance against us." Charlie hugs the still giggling Lucifer around the middle.

"I don't mind seeing that loser taken down, I'm... glad I could help, but seriously, that was awful," Lucifer says, hugging Charlie back.

"I'll arrange for Adam to arrive here tomorrow and then you can convince him to listen."

●●●●

Adam was irritated. Sure, the king of hell was able to order him to meet in person to discuss business matters, but that didn't mean he wanted to. If it were up to him, he would meet through holographic magic, but Lucifer had strictly forbidden it for this meeting only.

So here he was, at the hotel's doorstep, expecting to meet with Lucifer and returning to report back to heaven as soon as this mandated meeting was concluded.

What Adam wasn't expecting, however, was to be met with Alastor, opening the door positively beaming at him.

"Welcome to the Hazbin Hotel. Why, you must be Adam, we've all been dying to meet you! Well, if it weren't for the fact that we are already dead!" Alastor chuckles at his own joke. "Do come in!"

"Who in the fuck are you?" Adam glares at Alastor, wary of the taller demon.

"Why, I'm Alastor, the infamous radio demon of hell and manager of this fine establishment! Allow me to show you around hell's only rehabilitation center for lost souls!" Alastor grabs Adam's wrist and drags him through the hotel lobby toward the bar.

"Allow Husker to pour you a drink, on the house!" Alastor grins at Adam's sheer befuddlement. He was out of his element here in unfamiliar territory. Husk pours an unmarked liquid into a glass and slides it toward Adam.

"...uh, thanks... but when am I supposed to meet with Lucifer?" Adam looks at the drink as if it were poisonous.

"Don't be a silly! We would never think to poison the one and only angel who had the power to permanently end the exterminations of hell's residents!" Alastor laughs as if he could read Adam's mind.

"And Lucifer will be here soon, but we have other eager candidates to speak with you before hand!" Alastor continues smirking as Adam slowly begins to drink from the glass.

That's when Adam turns and notices Vaggie, Charlie, and Angel behind him, a bit too close for comfort. And suddenly, Adam finds himself unable to move, thanks to Alastor's demonic power and curse of immobility.

"What the actual FUCK, Charlie?" Adam tries to writhe away but is unable to do so.

"Adam, thank you for joining us today! We thought it might take a team approach to convince you that our redemption center deserves a chance to save sinners from extermination," Charlie smiles.

"I already fuckin told you that hell is eternal damnation, I'm not changing my mind and I think that your hotel is a worthless waste of time!" Adam spits angrily.

"Maybe you just need more convincing..." Angel smiles, excited to be able to have one over on this pompous angel prick.

"I said Noho!" Adam let's out a startled Huff as Charlie prods his side near the bottom of his ribs.

"I don't think you're in a position to refuse our quite reasonable requests." Alastor chuckles.

"What are you all playing at?" Adam sneers, albeit nervously.

"Well, we can't harm you, obviously, but we found a rather unconventional method of torture to utilize to convince you to take us seriously," Charlie explains.

Torture? Adam now realized three things.

One: he was outnumbered.

Two: he was completely immobile and couldn't move from whatever power was keeping him trapped.

Three: The poke Charlie had administered to his side had been... well... ticklish... Adam had started to realize that they intended to tickle him. They couldn't. They wouldn't, actually, could they?

"No, no, Charlie. I demand you to release me!"

"Maybe this will help convince you not be such a pompous asshole," Charlie smirked down at Adam evilly.

And suddenly, Adam felt her dig all ten fingers into one of his most ticklish spots, his ribs. And he felt Angel and Alastor tickle into his sensitive shoulder blades, causing his wings to expand.

"Nohohoho, what thehahahhah FUHAHAHAHAHUCK?" Adam squeals.

Vaggie had hopped in to help Charlie tickle his stomach and hips and Adam was in absolute ticklish hell.

"Fuhahahahuck YOHOU GUYS, AHAHAHAHAHA!" Adam can't even squirm away from their torturous fingers. His laughter shoots up an octave as Alastor and Angel tickle into his wings.

No tickle spot was spared on the guy and he couldn't even move or writhe away from the ticklish touches. It wasn't fair!

"Think you'll give the hotel another shot?" Charlie asked, digging sharply into Adam's lower rib cage. Adam's laughter doubled.

"NohohahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"Oh shit, Adam! It feels Ike one of your ribs are missing!! Maybe we should count them to see how many are there!" Charlie teases, enjoying how much power they have over Adam.

"FUHUHUCK OHOHOHOHOOFF!" Adam screeches as Charlie proceeds to count and recounts his ribs.

"We've got all day, tough guy!" Angel digs roughly into Adam's wing pits as Alastor digs his claws beneath the feathers to torture the delicate skin beneath. How long had it been? Fifteen minutes? Twenty? Adam quickly realizes that he is utterly fucked.

Adam's laughter goes silent. It's not fair to have them all tickle him to pieces. He couldn't even fight back or try to get away. All he could do was lie there and take it. His eyes begin to water as they continue their ticklish onslaught. And Adam just can't handle much more.

"Think we can renegotiate now?" Charlie asks and Adam quickly nods despite his silent hysteria.

"Okay, I think he's had enough," Charlie slows her hands and pulls them away, and the rest of the group follows suit.

Adam lays there panting giggling, still feeling the ticklish assault through his nervous system.

"I hope you won't forget this, as we are easily able to convince you to do exactly as we want," Alastor chuckles darkly, removing the immobility curse.

"Seriously, fuck you guys," Adam flips them off as he uses his magic to dissappear. His tough guy facade had been broken.

Adam would call off the next extermination, out of fear of what would happen to him if he continued to refuse. Now, his greatest enemies knew of his ticklish weakness. He would never be able to live it down. And maybe a part of him didn't want to.

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thrashkink-coven · 2 months ago

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One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to stomach in my patronage with Lord Lucifer is the idea that bad things must happen.

Bad things do not just happen, they must happen. They must happen for there to be change. It’s a shitty sentiment, because what the fuck does that mean? So I needed to have been abused? So it was all in God’s plan for my friends to die and my rights to be taken? Bad things must happen? What a load of bullshit.

But what I wasn’t willing to understand is that cruelty is not natural, cruelty teaches nothing, but bad things must happen. I didn’t deserve that abuse. I didn’t deserve to be born disabled, no one does. No one person deserves suffering just to enable God’s plan. Yet, I know in my heart that I need to exist as a disabled person, how else would I create art about my struggles? i know that I needed to survive abuse to become a protector of others. I needed to have my heart broken so I could learn to put it back together. If not, I wouldn’t even be me. Bad things, strife, and adversary, are often the result of cruelty. There is never any justification for cruelty. But cruel people will exist, and bad things will happen. Bad things must happen to those cruel people, and bad things must happen to you. Pain harms us, but it also teaches us what harms us so we will stay away.

In order to see an empire crumble, it must crumble. That crumbling is the bad, the violence, the hatred. To see the fall of an empire, we must fall with it and watch it burn. How else would it be destroyed? Why else would we try? Why else would we learn and grow? Why are things getting so bad? How bad do they have to get for you to be inspired to change it?

Every terrible horrible thing that has ever happened, happened, and it’s result was you, right now, reading this. Had these things not happened, you would not be you, and you would not be reading this. I think often about my partner, who is to me, the most amazing and beautiful person in the world. How is it so that all of this carnage lead to his existence? Why?

When I say bad things must happen, I’m not saying that it’s okay that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Sudanese people are dying. I’m not saying that we’re “supposed to” be having our rights stripped away and our voices silenced. I mean more that, we as a species have been fighting this evil since the beginning. This evil is called supremacy. It has owned us from the time it entered the mind of the first man. We as a people have never been able to escape it, it is the devil. There is and will always be a devil, and there must always be a beacon of light ready to fight it. We will continue to repeat these mistakes on every continent until we collectively commit ourselves from eliminating that evil, and this evil will teach us through pain and suffering. All so so unnecessary, had we had the sense to look at ourselves. But this evil will not stop until it has penetrated every human soul and wiped it clean. On the other end will emerge a disciplined humanity with scars that bleed. The fall will be monumental, but the rise will be divine.

The loss of life, the suffering, wasn’t destined or necessary. This idea is not an excuse to shrug and say “God works in mysterious ways.” It isn’t God killing and enslaving all these people, it’s human beings killing other humans. Bad things must and will happen until every single person learns. Until the philosophy which holds one race superior to another is finally and permanently discredited and abundant. Until the the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes. Until the basic human rights are guaranteed to all without regard for race, bad things must happen.

If the past is perfect, in all of its disgusting and horrific ways, then I believe, or have hope that this period of trial is worth it. I like to think that I am a part of this story. And even if I do not live to see the result of all these things, I can breathe knowing that my ability to recognize these things as evil means the lesson is working. If I am the lesson and the example, if all of us are, then every hardship will temper me into diamonds. For now I can be sad, angry, grieve, and use this pain as the foundation of my action.

#pagan #paganism #witchcraft #demonology #luciferianism #lucifer offering #luciferian witch #luciferism #luciferian #theistic luciferianism #lucifer deity #lucifer devotee #lord lucifer #deity worship #deity work

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the-empress-7 · 6 months ago

Note

Harry's reasons for falling out with his family change every few days, like flavour of the month. Depending on what he fancies (and maybe what brand of weed he is smoking up).

So far, the reasons Harry has given for the rift with his brother and father are :

- because the grey men specifically hated him.

- because he was the queens favourite

- because he was the spare and everyone only cared about William the heir.

- because Meghan was more liked, popular, intelligent, smart and more popular in Australia.

- because William and Catherine didn't welcome Meghan warmly enough

- because his father was horrible to his mother and then got married to the evil stepmother.

- because the evil stepmother was evil and he was the only one who saw through it, so they banished him.

- because William was jealous of him, because of how smart, beloved, heroic, handsome he, Harry, was.

- because he was ginger, and the world is anti-ginger

- because he was the only real, true, hero army soldier who caught in a war so both William and Charles (and the grey men) were jealous of him.

- because he was the only one who was truly empathetic and connected with the plebs, so they were all jealous of him.

- because he was Diana's true heir, so they had to throw him out of the country.

- because he started talking about his mental health and the royals dint want that.

- because he was full-blown mental and the royals couldn't have that

- because Invictus was so popular that all other royals were jealous of his most famous patronage, and all other patronages of other people were boring

- because all the normal people and celebs and tech people and war veterans and mummy's ghosts etc liked him more so everyone was jealous

-because Catherine was jealous of Meghan for her beauty and brains and normal-ness

- because Catherine was racist

- because both William and Catherine were racist

- because Catherine, William and Charles were racists

- because the BRF was racist towards the unborn Sussex baby

- because Meghan was friends with Oprah

- because everyone hated Meghan for being american

- because everyone hated Meghan for being an actress

- because William always stole Harry's ideas for royal patronages and Africa related work

- because Harry was better at polo and rugby so William was jealous

- because William always got more sausages and the bigger rooms at the places and everyone forgot harry

- because Harry wanted to break the generational curse of wearing suits and going to Eton and using cutlery and the BRF couldn't have that

- because the army liked him better so William was jealous

- because he was a helicopter pilot so William (an air force officer and air ambulance helicopter pilot, certified private pilot who still flies) was jealous of Harry.

- because the staff liked Meghan better so Catherine and willi were jealous

- because all the patronages wanted Meghan to be their patron so Catherine was jealous

- because the people and press liked Meghan and Harry better so Charles and Camilla were jealous

- because they didn't want their children to be raised royal so the BRf was angry

- because they wanted their children to be royal prince and princess and embrace their royal legacy so the BRf was insecure

- because the press was racist and the BRF didn't want to do anything

- because the UK public were racist and the BRF didn't want to do anything

- because the social media was racist and the BRF didywant to do anything

- because Meghan was suicidal and depressed and the BRF didn't want to do anything

- because the staff was incompetent and the BRF didn't want to do anything

- because the press always wrote horii le stories about Meghan for clickbait, to money off of her, and the BRF didn't want to do anything

- because the brf didn't want to correct false stories and issue statements as per Meghan's wishes

- because the BRF gave them shitty nott cott and then shitty frog cott, but not bigger, better, Apt 1A at KP like they did the cambs.

- because Meghan made better roast chicken, better lemon cakes, better everything than Catherine and so she had to be banished

- because Meghan was better at calligraphy and everyone wanted to see it, so she had to be banished

- because Meghan was serenas bff so Catherine and Pippa were jealous, so she had to be banished

I mean... I could go on. And this is just based off of whatever Harry and Meghan have themselves said at some point. Am I missing something?

Anon, it's not even noon here. Reading this made me want to reach for cocktail 🍸😭

BRAVO for putting this list together!

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monstersdownthepath · 4 months ago

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Homebrew Horror: Caligine, the Sweltering Saint

(Art by @fishfacedterror!)

The twisted, self-described "Saint of Spices and Suffering" known as Caligine has numerous other titles with varying levels of detail and alliteration, is one of the youngest and most obscure of the shadowy demigods known as the Velstrac Demagogues. As such, his cult is quite small, but it grows every day as it draws in eccentric spice aficionados, brave gourmands, and all manner of uncommon men with tastes and habits bordering (or surpassing) the inhumane. Whether they wish to experience entirely new forms of suffering or simply test their tolerance, the "Trials of St. Caligine" call to all kinds.

Because Caligine prefers to experiment on the willing rather than the unwilling (if only because the willing are more likely to appreciate the molecular gastronomy at play), he is among the most peaceful of all the Demagogues in relation to his interactions with mortal life, going so far as to place his personal workshop just a three days' walk from Shadow Absalom and encourage patronage and trade with its citizens for exotic ingredients he would otherwise not have access to... but do not confuse 'peaceful' with 'harmless,' and do not believe 'prefers' means 'will only.' Anyone who disrupts his experiments is very likely to become a part of them, and the internal excruciations he delights in causing are a far different torture the common flesh-flaying and bone-breaking of most velstrac, a fact on its own which draws fiends from all over to experience them, fiends which have FAR fewer qualms disappearing Caligine's clientele for their own hideous projects.

While most of the fatalities he causes are the results of his gastric atrocities, Caligine relishes the occasional combat, both to make use of the runoff of his many experiments (it's still good for something) and to relieve the tedium that comes with waiting for endless vats of ingredients to boil down into something worthwhile. Despite his primary occupation as both a chef and a chemist, he is a terrifying and resilient combatant regardless of the range one fights him at, either hacking his foes apart with his enchanted cleaver and breaking their bones with his wretched tongue up close, or hurling truly impressive amounts of caustic explosives at more distant foes.

Despite his ferocity in battle, the Saint is willing to live up to his title in his own bizarre ways. An offering of especially rare or exotic ingredients or powerful, unique potions and poisons may see him pausing his assault long enough for one to reason with him. He may even bargain with those he was just trying to kill to get his hands on something he's never seen before (a challenge in and of itself!), and honors all promises he makes to the best of his abilities with very little litigious twisting, something which may change as he ages. He has been known to even provide healing to victims he's butchered or slain, though his prices for doing so always include submitting to his gastronomic experiments, something which has made many a victim wish they had stayed dead.

Saint Caligine CR 27

Lawful Evil Large Outsider (Evil, Extraplanar, Kyton, Lawful)

Init: +14; Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Keen Scent, See in Darkness; Perception +29

------ Defense ------

AC 44, touch 24, flat-footed 29 (+14 Dex, +1 dodge, +20 natural, -1 size)

HP 740 (34d10+544) Regeneration 30 (Deific and Mythic)

Fort +35 Ref +24 Will +24

Defensive abilities Mithridatism; DR 20/Epic, good, and silver; Immune Charm and compulsion effects, cold, fear effects, petrification, sleep; Resist Acid 30, Electricity 20, Fire 30; SR 38

------ Offense ------

Speed 40ft, climb 40ft

Melee Cleaver of Caligine +45/+40/+35/+30 (1d8+12 plus 1d6 Acid and 1d6 Fire/19-20/x3), claw +38 (1d8+5), tongue +41 (2d6+9 plus 1d10 Acid or Fire plus grab), OR two claws +41 (1d8+9), tongue +41 (2d6+9 plus 1d10 Acid or Fire plus grab)

Ranged Bomb +48/+43/+38/+33 (10d6+8 Acid or Fire)

Space 10ft; Reach 10ft (15ft with tongue)

Special Attacks Coated Tongue, constrict (2d6+14 plus 1d10 Acid or Fire), Ring of Telekinesis (DC 22/CMB +41), Unnerving Gaze (60ft, DC 34)

Infusions Prepared (CL 20; Concentration +28)

1st- Abjuring Step x2, Anticipate Peril x2, Expeditious Retreat, Long Arm, Shield 2nd- Barkskin, Blur x2, Touch Injection, Twisted Innards, Vomit Swarm x2 3rd- Fly, Haste, Heroism, Nauseating Trail x2 (DC 21), Toxic Blood (DC 21), Thorn Body 4th- Arcane Eye, Detonate x2 (DC 21), Fire Shield, Greater Invisibility x2, Spell Immunity 5th- Delayed Consumption x3, Grand Destiny, Overland Flight, Resurgent Transformation 6th-Caging Bomb Admixture, Heal x2, Mislead x2 (DC 24), Walk Through Space

Spell-like Abilities (CL 34; Concentration +41)

Constant--Discern Lies, Freedom of Movement, True Seeing At-will--Dispel Magic, Plane Shift (self and willing targets only), Teleport (self and willing targets only) 7/day--Acidic Spray (DC 22), Beguiling Gift (DC 18), Contagious Flame (DC 24), Tongues 5/day--Caustic Eruption (DC 24), Overwhelming Poison, Wall of Fire (DC 21) 3/day--Quickened Fireball (DC 24), Incendiary Cloud (DC 25) Transmute Blood to Acid (DC 26)

------ Statistics ------

Str 28 Dex 38 Con 42 Int 27 Wis 20 Cha 25 Base Atk: +34; CMB +44; CMD 68

Feats Brew Potion, Cleave, Close-Quarters Thrower (Bombs), Craft Magic Arms and Armor, Craft Wondrous Item, Dodge, Improved Critical (Handaxe), Great Cleave, Multiattack, Point-Black Shot, Precise Shot, Power Attack, Rapid Shot, Splash Weapon Mastery, Throw Anything, Two-Weapon Fighting, Weapon Focus (Bombs)

Skills Acrobatics +24, Appraise +38, Bluff +15, Climb +22, Craft (Alchemy) +55, Diplomacy +22, Disable Device +24, Escape Artist +24, Knowledge (Arcana) +38, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +38, Knowledge (Engineering) +28, Knowledge (Geography) +25, Knowledge (Local) +23, Knowledge (Nature) +45, Knowledge (the Planes) +31, Perception +29, Profession (Chef) +54, Sense Motive +28, Sleight of Hand +24, Spellcraft +45, Survival +25, Use Magic Device +37 Racial Modifiers: +12 to Craft (Alchemy) and Profession (Chef) checks.

Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Ignan, Infernal, Shadowtongue; telepathy 100 ft.

SQ Alchemist Abilities, Crucible

------ Ecology ------ Environment any (Plane of Shadow) Organization Solitary (unique) Treasure Triple (Cleaver of Caligine (a +3 Flaming Burst and Corrosive Burst Handaxe), Ring of Telekinesis, Saint's Spice Bag (a Handy Haversack with three times the normal storage capacity), 1d8+4 random potions levels 1 to 3, 1d3 potions levels 4 to 6)

------

Combat: On any given day, Caligine always has 1d4+3 generically useful spells ready via Delayed Consumption, such as Death Ward, Haste, Cure Critical Wounds, Protection From Energy, and always at least one instance of Greater Invisibility, invoking them the instant they're needed. Caligine begins most fights with Greater Invisibility, then using the granted breathing room to tailor himself to his enemy's apparent might with whatever combination of extracts he feels will give him an advantage. His first order of business in any fight is restraining the hardiest-looking opponent with his tongue to suppress any resistances they may have before striking them with his more debilitating spell-likes such as Transmute Blood to Acid. As a pain fanatic, he doesn't care if he catches himself in the area of his own spells or if he grapples a creature that harms him to touch. He will use any poisons he has access to as early and often as possible, on both his enemies and himself. If his opponents prove particularly vulnerable to poison, he will often teleport away just long enough to craft some especially debilitating ones, bless them with Overwhelming Poison, and teleport back to continue. He utilizes his bombs primarily against foes who keep out of his reach, but will gladly use them against much closer enemies if they group together.

Morale: The Sweltering Saint rarely fights to the death. If brought to below 50 health, he will often concede to his foes' might and congratulate them on an excellent battle, especially if his enemies used Acid or Fire damage or poisons on him. He will attempt to placate/reward them with an offering of powerful potions and, perhaps, more alchemical items at his disposal. If his enemies reject his surrender, he will teleport or shift away, or simply flee with Expeditious Retreat. If he cannot, only then does he fight to the death.

------ Special Abilities ------

Alchemist Abilities (Ex): Caligine has several abilities similar to those from the Alchemist class:

He can can prepare and use extracts as if he were a 20th level Alchemist with the Infusion Discovery. He knows all Alchemist formulae; the above list is his most common selection if he anticipates hostility.

He has the Bomb ability of a 20th level Alchemist with the Fast Bombs Discovery, capable of swiftly hurling caustic chemicals which deal either Fire or Acid damage (Reflex DC 28 dodges the splash damage). He adds his Intelligence modifier to his bomb damage, as well as damage done with other alchemical splash weapons. His bombs have a range increment of 40ft, and he can create 42 bombs each day.

He can create items with incredible swiftness, crafting any alchemical item or poison in a single full-round action and most potions (see Crucible, below) in just 1 hour, provided he succeeds the Craft (Alchemy) check and has access to the materials to do so (he is always assumed to have the materials on-hand so long as he has his gear).

He can apply a poison or oil to a weapon as an immediate action. This includes his own natural weapons, which exposes him to any poison he uses, but see Mithridatism below.

Coated Tongue (Ex): Caligine's tongue is frighteningly dexterous, uncannily strong, and is coated with countless chemicals with deleterious effects on anything touching it. It is always a primary natural attack, and he can grapple and constrict a creature with his tongue without gaining the grappled condition himself. A creature grappled by his tongue has any Fire or Acid Resistance and/or Immunity they possess suppressed while they're grappled, and for 1d4+1 rounds after the grapple ends.

Crucible (Su): Caligine's mastery of chemistry allows him to perform feats that many consider impossible: He can have multiple Delayed Consumption effects in place at the same time. In addition, he can craft potions of spells up to 6th level instead of 3rd. However, a 4th level potion takes one day to create, a 5th level spell takes two days, and a 6th level spell takes three.

Mithridatism (Ex): Caligine is not immune to poisons, but most poisons have an effect on his physiology that is far outside the norm. Whenever he would take ability score damage or drain from a poison, instead he gains a +2 alchemical bonus to his attack and damage rolls, as well as ability checks and skill checks for 1 round. He gains this bonus for each different poison affecting him, and the bonuses stack. In addition, Caligine recovers from ability score damage at a rate of 1 per minute, and ability score drain at a rate of 1 per hour.

Unnerving Gaze (Ex): Any creature that succumbs to Caligine's unnerving gaze becomes suicidally convinced that they can survive his trials, taking a -10 penalty to the next saving throw they make against one of his spell-like abilities or a -10 penalty to their AC against the next alchemical bomb attack he makes against them.

#pathfinder #Homebrew Horror #original concepts

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y-rhywbeth2 · 11 months ago

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To-do list for the inheritor of the newly re-established office of High Primate of Bhaal of the City of Baldur's gate, circa 1480-something: politics, re-establishing the faith and getting Bhaal more sorely needed worship. And because there's only so much entertainment you can get being a group of twitchy killers living under the sewers.

Negotiate terms with local government for freedom of religion (presumably a private audience with the Grand Dukes, maybe the Parliament of Peers, maybe both, idk) Negotiations will probably begin with a more diplomatic version of: "I apologise on behalf of my Father for that thing where he manifested an avatar and went on a murderous rampage through the streets just over a century after my siblings almost drowned the world - and this city specifically - in blood. But also, considering the power just illustrated I think it's fair to say that it's in the best interests of a quiet life and an easier clean up that you just give us our temple back and let us worship in exchange for assassination and spying work on your behalf." This being the usual arrangement with evil faiths, it is in fact a winning argument. You don't kill anybody who matters (so criminals, travellers nobody knows, the homeless, etc) and honestly nobody will consider it worth the time and resources to stop you anyway. -

Weaken the political hold of enemy faiths Ilmater, Lathander and Helm have an established presence in the city, and the Ilmatari have done well enough since 14th century to upgrade from a shrine to a temple. All three of those faiths are better established, more influential, and will oppose the growth and activity of a Bhaalist presence, for some strange reason, -

Re-establish ties with traditional allied faiths (such as they are) Bhaal's traditional allies were Loviatar, Talona, Bane, Myrkul, Mask and Hoar. While none of these faiths hold the same level of sway in the city their enemies do, they all have at least one shared enemy. -

Eliminate rival/dissenting thieves and assassin guilds and organisations. Maybe establish some. Don't expect to have the thieves guilds at your beck and call (Mask is their patron god, but Bhaal generally worked with him fine - and you'll be fighting the Sharrans for influence too) but do make a space for yourself in there and ensure they understand that patronage and cooperation is mutually beneficial. Assassins? They're Bhaal's and he and his worshippers are going to expect all killers for hire to be paying their dues to the Lord of Murder or expect a "cease and decease" regarding their attempts to profit off of his domain without paying him back. -

Acquire Temple holdings Most of a temple's wealth and influence is going to come from owning land and properties. All members of the clergy of pretty much all faiths are expected to go out and claim some. Unfortunately being out of the picture for a century+ means the temple has lost a lot of its original holdings, so you might need to start working on taking some from the other temples... -

Network, Infiltrate and Recruit Gods always need more worshippers, and that goes double for gods who've been dead for a long time. Serial killers need the law to play nice. It's time to remind the peasantry to pay their "don't murder me taxes" (known as "tithes" for legal purposes) and find the city's more murderous members - even many who'd proudly call themselves upstanding citizens may just desire the execution of certain criminals the law won't touch or can't catch - and seek sympathetic ears amongst the rich and powerful... and remove and replace those who aren't. There are plenty of people like unscrupulous younger children whose ear you might have if only you helped them remove the pesky barriers standing between them and control, known as their relatives. And then you have blackmail! Things like that. Remember to wash the blood off before attending any fancy wine tasting parties in estates and pavilions in the upper city. You want your faithful in the ranks of the city watch and the Fist sooner rather than later. -

Establish presence in the Undercellar As the local criminal underworld hub where the law dare not tread (unless they're off duty and here for some crime themselves) this is where a lot of your "public" work and contracting is going to be. Remember to buy one of the back rooms for the "private shows". -

Consider a Daytime Identity, if you don't already have one An important part of being a typical Bhaalist is maintaining a separate, normal life outside the temple that allows you your own income and solid alibies... or you could just live in your dad's house, cling to your divine status and refuse to do any of that mortal stuff, I guess. -

Start repairs on the Temple It's been a dusty, out of date ruin for 100+ years. Consider the structural damage. Maybe have the butler do a bit of dusting.

#I just love the potential political aspects of the Temple of Bhaal #You can do so much more with it than just “secret murder club”#“Destroy the world” has atmosphere but it's also a fucking stupid plan #Sarevok is going to have to coach Vel on this politicking shit #I really hope Vel and Orin had to attend events together #/durge #long post #babbling #villainous nonsense

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portraitsofsaints · 13 days ago

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Happy Feast Day

St Basil the Great

Doctor of the Church

330-379

Feast Day: January 2

Patronage: hospital administrators, monks, reformers, Cappadocia, Russia

Saint Basil was born in Caesarea, one of 10 children of a saintly family. He was a brilliant student, orator, and lawyer before becoming a monk and writing the rule for Eastern monasticism. He also was a companion of St. Gregory Nazianzen. Basil is responsible for the victory of the Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism, which was denounced at the Council of Constantinople. His zeal for justice and orthodoxy was shown by his fight against simony, clerical abuse, and evil where he saw it. He was an accomplished statesman with great personal holiness. He’s represented carrying a book referring to his influential writings.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

#St Basil the Great #Doctor of the Church #catholic faith #catholic art #portraitsofsaints

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secular-jew · 6 months ago

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Reza Pahlavi, the future leader of Democratic Iran, made a brilliant speech today. Everyone should pray hard that he is successful getting Iran (Persia) back.

"I am not here to ask for your permission to get rid of the Islamic Republic nor am I here to ask you to do it for us.

The true Iran, the ancient Iran, and the soon-to-be free Iran doesn’t seek your patronage, it seeks your partnership. It doesn’t seek your funding, it seeks your friendship because our interests are aligned in the most unique of ways.

So as opposed to the growing threat of this unholy alliance of the red and the black, what, my friends, might a partnership with the Iranian nation look like? What will it look like when sovereignty over our ancient nation is returned to its true sovereign– the Iranian people?

Iran will once again be the anchor of peace and stability in the Middle East, so you can finally bring your boys and girls home from faraway lands, but, with dignity.

Iran will once again be the center of prosperity in the region and a safe haven for foreign investment – not foreign aid.

Iran will once again be an ally of the United States and a close partner of both Israel and the Arab states and see the Abraham Accords grow to the Cyrus Accords.

Iran will once again be the engine of progress, the defender of freedom and righteousness, not the spreader of terror and evil."

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contentloadingandstuff · 2 years ago

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Blog Masterlist

Thank you for 500 followers! Truth be told, I'm running out of ideas on how to thank you in an interesting manner.... So just accept my simple thanks for being here!

Want to request something? Here are the rules.

Link to the second masterlist.

Link to my AO3.

Genshin Impact ✨

Fluff

Cuddling Headcanons: Ganyu & Ningguang | Jean, Shenhe & Ayaka

Family fluff with Miko and Ei

Drinking with Rosaria & Eula!

Injury fluff with Yelan and Sara

Family fluff with Miko: Rules for the little ones

Jealousy Bits - Shenhe, Mona and Ei | Yae Miko, Ganyu and Keqing

The Hunt For Forgotten Treasure - Beidou & GN!Reader

"Ningguang's Dog" - Ningguang x Male!Reader

So about the parenting Headcanons... - Miko, Sara & Ei

Parenting headcanons: Ei & Miko and their views on dating

A unique encounter - Jean, Ningguang & Ei x Bioweapon!Reader

Gym imagines with Shinobu!

Coming home to Lumine!

On Wings of Freedom - Barbara x Male!Reader

Hu Tao x Doctor!Reader

Lisa x Male!Reader Oneshot - Library Duty

Hanging Out With Them - Male!Reader x Platonic!Tall Genshin Men

Cheering them up - Male!Reader x Platonic!Qiqi & Platonic!Klee

Voicelines About You - Inazuma Girls

🎉Celebrating Hu Tao's Birthday!

Hurt/Comfort

A quiet evening - Eula x Male!Reader

Miko, Ningguang and Yelan comforting a small Male!Reader

Dance To Forget - Nilou x Male!Reader

A Miner's Fate - Kujou Sara x Male!Reader

Comfort After A Nightmare - Lumine x Male!Reader

Smut

Anal headcanons with Inazuma girls! | Liyue Girls Edition! | Mondstadt + Sumeru Edition!

Loyalty Rewarded - Dom!Ei x Male!Reader x Kujou Sara

Addicted - Nymphomaniac!Ei x Male!Reader

Facesitting headcanons with Inazuma girls!

NSFW Alphabet - A - Beidou, Shenhe and Ningguang

Ayaka & Kokomi x Sub!Male!Reader

Pegging Headcanons w/ Shenhe, Ningguang & Keqing!

Keqing, Yoimiya & Ganyu x Sub!Male!Reader

Asking the hardcore girls for more!

A Fair Deal - Yelan x Kuki Shinobu x Male!Reader

Helping Miko with her heat! And Ganyu too!

Overstim with Kokomi and Ganyu

Hers - Dom!Ei x Sub!Miko x Dom!Male!Reader

Patronage For The Worthy - Nilou x Incubus!Male!Reader

Sacrum and Profanum - Sub!Rosaria x Dom!Male!Reader

Dom!Male!Reader x Sub!Candace & Sub!Dehya & Sub!Nilou

Break Time - Jean x Male!Reader

A Little Jealous - Dom!Yelan x Male!Reader

Angst

Love and Betrayal: Yelan and Kujou Sara x Fatui!Reader + Injury hurt/comfort + Aftermath (Bad Ending)

Scaramouche, Kaedahara Kazuha and Childe forced to kill Reader

Breaking up with them: Jean & Keqing | Yelan & Shenhe | Ei & Yae Miko

Dottore segment!Reader x Lumine

Death - Platonic!Childe x GN!Reader

(Necro AU) Unfaithful - Undead!Reader x Ei & Ganyu

At The Dead Of Night - Ganyu x Male!Reader

Dark Days - Keqing & Ganyu x Male!Reader

Whump

The Fox and the Hare: Evil!Miko x Male!Reader

The Magic Whistle: Gorou whump drabble

Other

Necro AU masterlist

Combat tierlist: How well the Genshin characters do in serious fights

A bucket of random ideas

The Shrine Incident - Genshin Imagines

Poll - Reader types! (7.06.2023 - 14.06.2023)

Poll - contentloadingandstuff's content! (7.06.2023 - 14.06.2023)

Diss track on Undead from Warlords Battlecry 3 (cringe warning)

Whump 💀

Dental whump ideas!

Non-human whumpee ideas!

Food whump ideas!

Whump alphabet!

Thank you all!

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screampotato · 9 months ago

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I don't even go here, but some of these responses are a little weird ngl. As far as I can gather there are two uwu babygirls who have been wickedly kidnapped by an evil mastermind and forced to enact his dastardly plan while sobbing in private and signalling for help with their eyelids.

I think there is a valid point to be made about online businesses cultivating emotionally-invested communities around their content, happily accepting patronage and creative input from that community who see it as a shared labour of love, then pulling the rug as soon as the profits look fat enough. When people feel exploited by that, there's a reason for it. Using "parasocial" as an insult to dismiss people's upset rather misses that point.

But folks, you are really going to have to climb down a few steps from Parasocial Level 9 before that conversation can be had. Print out their pictures and throw some darts, burn sage or whatever you need to do. Mourn your blorbos. But ultimately, these were all just some blokes who don't know you, who were good at making content and making people like them, who have collectively made a bad business decision that's a really interesting microcosm of internet enshittification as a whole. I think it's really interesting to look at it from that point of view.

#watcher #enshittification #parasocial relationships #parasociality

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tobiasdrake · 7 months ago

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Digimon Adventure 01x23 - My Friend, WereGarurumon / WereGarurumon's Diner

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Yamato went out for cigarettes and I guess he didn't find them because that was three days ago. As he left, he forgot to tell Takeru not to talk to strangers. So Takeru talked to strangers. So, so much.

Now it's time to learn what became of Yamato.

Yamato and Gabumon pull up to the shore, elsewhere on this vast lake.

Yamato: Where are we? Did the wind blow us off-course? Gabumon: Huh? Look over there! Yamato: Digimon? But why?

Gabumon calls Yamato's attention to a Monzaemon, Cockatrimon, and Yukidarumon all heading the same direction. Likely not the ones we've met before, since two of those guys are on File Island and the other one exploded.

(Yamato, how could the wind blow you off-course? Not only are you in a pedal boat but you were scouting. You didn't have a course.)

Dub Gabumon and Matt reverse their roles here.

Gabumon: Where are we, Matt? Don't tell me we're lost again. Yamato: Okay, I won't. But just take a look at that ridge up there. Gabumon: Where? (looks) Hey! Other Digimon! Yamato: I say we follow them wherever they're going and hope they're not lost too.

Yamato and Gabumon get in line and follow the grown-ups to a cozy little establishment just down the road.

Yukidarumon: The usual! Kakigori! Cockatrimon: Me too! Monzaemon: A bowl of purin, please. Vegiemon: Sure! Your orders are all set. Thank you for your continued patronage.

"Italian ice", subtitle? Italian ice is similar to a snow cone, in that it's made without applying any dairy to the concoction. It's ice and syrup, but mixed together during the freezing process instead of pouring the syrup on already-frozen ice.

It's delicious. I love it. But that's not what kakigori is. Kakigori is distinguished from your typical snow cone by its shaving process, which produces incredibly fine shavings that require a spoon to eat. Also, kakigori does sometimes use milk for flavor.

Monzaemon orders purin, which is literally pudding, but a specific kind of pudding. It's a custard pudding topped with caramel.

The dub localizes... most of this order adequately.

Frigimon: The usual, waiter: A large snow cone! Kokatorimon: Same here! Monzaemon: Mmhmm. And rotten fruit! Vegiemon: Okay, okay! I got it! A #4 and two specials!

Wait, how can the snow cones be "the usual" if they're today's special? Those two dining concepts don't go together. Also, rotten fruit? Why? Why rotten specifically?

This is the kind of gag you usually do when, like, you're writing an ultra-evil villain who's so evil that their basic lifestyle choices are sinister inversions of normal things. "I brush my teeth with Coca-Cola and wait for my bananas to rot before eating them!" But. It's Monzaemon, the cuddliest of teddy bears. Weird.

From here, the narrator delivers the rundown with a most unfortunate romanization of Vegiemon's name.

XD No, I'm sorry, but we will not be calling him Vagimon. The katakana of his name clearly spells out "Bejiemon".

It probably goes without saying, but yes, the dub did break out the black sharpie for that portion of the screen.

In any case, it's time for the rundown. Vegiemon is an Adult-stage Virus-type Plant Digimon. Bit of a loser too. Conceived as his bracket's equivalent to Numemon or Scumon. Poorly trained, ill cared for, and - notably - overfed. Hence running a diner.

Narrator: Vegiemon. A small Digimon who can skillfully maneuver with his vines. Though lacking in offensive capability, his personality is atrociously atrocious. In short, he's mean.

Over in the dub, Joe spoils his involvement in this episode to give us our diegetic rundown.

Joe: Meet Vegiemon, the maniacal manager of a run-down cafe. He puts a new spin on the term 'slave driver'.

Joe calls the place run-down, which may explain why they serve rotten fruit. In the original it's just. Like. Some diner. Nothing remarkable one way or another.

As Yamato and Gabumon approach his diner, they suddenly hear a commotion from within.

Vegiemon: Hey! Go find some more customers!

Vegiemon hurls Gomamon out the door, landing him right in front of Yamato and Gabumon.

Yamato: Gomamon? Gabumon: Gomamon! Gomamon: Gabumon? Yamato! Yamato: So, does this mean Jou is here?

Sure enough, the boys enter the kitchen to find Jou making soup.

Not 100% sure on child labor rights in Japan but Jou is 12 so this would probably be illegal where he comes from. Of course, whether it is or isn't, Japanese law doesn't apply to Server Continent.

(In fact, with the Digimon King dead, do we even have any laws anymore? I wonder what Etemon's judicial policy was like. Do you think he settled lawsuits via dance-off? Questions for later; The boys have a reunion to get to.)

Jou: Yamato! Yamato: Jou! So this is where you've been. Jou: (sheepish) Uh, yeah.... Yamato: Everyone split up after what happened. Takeru and I are the only ones left. Jou: Yeah, about that. Remember how we divvied up the work and I went looking for food? Well, what happened was....

Jou's story begins with scavenging. Joe, on the other hand, starts his tale a bit different.

Joe: It started when we all went our separate ways to look for Tai.

Reinforcing that, in the dub, they never gave up on Tai. Though, according to the last episode, they split up to look for Sora. Honestly, I'm not sure the dub knows who they were looking for anymore.

We already know why Sora left. Now, as Jou enters into a flashback, we get to learn about the fate that befell him. It seems PicoDevimon ensnared him with an oldie but a goodie.

PicoDevimon: You're a human, aren't you? Jou: Eh? PicoDevimon: I saw a lot of other beings like you not far from here. Jou: EHHHH!?!? There are other humans here besides us!? PicoDevimon: If you don't hurry, they might leave and we won't know where they went. Let's go, I'll take you there. Jou: Th-thank you, but-- PicoDevimon: (takes flight) HURRY, HURRY!!! LET'S GO!!! Jou: (reluctant) R-right! (gives chase)

There's a fan-theory that PicoDevimon is Devimon reincarnated. At some point in the last couple months, he hatched from his Digitama, grew to Child-stage, and made his way to Server to regroup with the other servants of Apocalymon. The way he seizes on such a specific vulnerability for Jou here, one that hasn't come up at any point on Server, makes a compelling argument for it.

PicoDevimon leads Jou out of the desert, only to vanish somewhere.

Jou: (V.O.) Along the way, we lost sight of him. We tried to turn back, but we couldn't find any familiar landmarks. Just when our stomachs started grumbling, we found this restaurant.

And the dub scores a point. Jou did, in fact, just get lost while wandering around. Though the fates of Koushiro (also alleged lost) and Mimi (swallowed by the desert IDK) remain unknown.

The dub can't lean on Jou wanting to find humans, since they scrubbed that plot point from File Island's entire arc. So instead, Joe just got lost wandering the desert because he sucks at navigation.

Joe: (V.O.) I wasn't lost. I definitely knew where I wasn't; I just didn't know where I was. I think. DemiDevimon: You're lost, aren't you? Joe: AUGH! Why would you sneak up on me like that!?

Note: DemiDevimon is standing directly in front of Joe.

Joe: Who are you!? DemiDevimon: Just a friend. I thought you'd like to know I saw some other humans just like you nearby! Joe: You say you saw my friends!? Which way!? DemiDevimon: (takes flight) This way! But we gotta hurry before we lose 'em! Joe: (V.O.) I was sure he was leading us the wrong way, but who was I to question him? It's not like I knew my way around. Eventually, we ended up at this restaurant which, at the time, was good because we were starving!

It's basically, the same, but swapping out Generic Humans for the other DigiDestined, since Joe's lost and all. Not bad. B+ in covering up for problems created by past decisions.

Jou and Gomamon eat their fill, but things take a sharp turn southward when they go to pay their check.

Vegiemon: Thanks for your patronage! Jou: Will this be enough? Vegiemon: (glances at the bill) Sir, don't joke around.

Suddenly, a Numemon bounces up onto the counter to pay his own bill. He sets down a nice, crisp $10 bill. American.

Jou: (shocked) ...dollar? Vegiemon: OF COURSE!!! Jou: You... don't accept Japanese yen? Vegiemon: Huh? What's that? Jou: ... Vegiemon: (realizing) D... Don't tell me... YOU CAN'T PAY!?!?

In Jou's defense, this is an easy mistake to make. How could he possibly have known we've slipped over into the American side of Digimon World when everybody's speaking Japanese?

Here, we have another problem that the dub's going to have to deal with. They've been trying to present the kids' home as ambiguously the U.S.-ish. So the dollar vs. yen plot point isn't going to work here. Gonna be hard to bullshit around that bill on the counter, too, because the camera goes in for a closeup on the tenner.

What are you going to do with this, dub team? Let's see it.

Vegiemon: And now, the bill! Joe: Oh, of course! This should be enough. Vegiemon: What are you, some kinda comedian, pal!? Joe: Huh? Numemon: (hops up to pay) Here you go, Vegiemon! (Closeup on the $10 bill) Joe: (shocked) ...dollar bills!? Vegiemon: WHAT DID YOU EXPECT!?!? Joe: W-Well, I was... Um... Um... Uhhh... All I have are DigiDollars? Vegiemon: Some play money is all you have!? Joe: ... Vegiemon: So. What I'm hearing is... YOU ACTUALLY THOUGHT I'D LET YOU EAT WITHOUT PAYING!?!?

Okay. So. There exists a fictional currency called DigiDollars. That the children possess, but is not accepted for goods and services in Digimon World. Digimon just use American bucks, not that weird human currency DigiDollars.

F. XD This one gets an F. Would it have been that hard to just cut the shot of the dollar bill? You've cut so many shots already.

Back in the present, Yamato summarizes.

Yamato: So now they're making you work to pay off your bills. Jou: Yeah. I didn't think it would turn out like this.

Already we can kinda see red flags in this situation. Like. It was one meal. Having to wash dishes for a night is reasonable but why is he still here?

Suddenly, Vegiemon storms into the kitchen.

Vegiemon: YOU'RE LATE!!! THE CUSTOMERS ARE WAITING!!! Hurry up and serve the food! Jou: Y-Yes, sir!

Jou pours what looks like beef stew into a bowl. This is neither kakigori nor purin so I guess they got more customers while Jou was reminiscing.

Vegiemon takes the bowl from the counter, then notices Yamato and Gabumon.

Vegiemon: Hm? Who are you? Yamato: I'm his friend. Vegiemon: So what are you doing back here? You got some business to take care of?

Vegiemon tastes the stew, then screams and throws it at the counter.

Vegiemon: DISGUSTING!!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO FEED THIS TO CUSTOMERS!?!? MAKE A NEW ONE!!! Jou: Oh no.... Vegiemon: I'm adding that to your debt too! Jou: Ehhhh!? Yamato: How long do you have to work to pay it off? Jou: Well, at first, it was only supposed to be three days. But every time I make a mistake, it gets extended. Now it's up to two weeks! Vegiemon: It's not my fault! I'm just taking back the losses I've suffered from this guy!

I think someone needs to explain the Sunk Cost Fallacy to Vegiemon. If employing Jou is bringing in more expense than profit, he's better off eating his losses and throwing Jou out on his ass. At a certain point, you just have to stop throwing good money after bad.

Over in the dub, I gotta say, Vegiemon's English actor is phenomenal and understood the assignment so well. He plays Mean Capitalist Jackass to a T, and spices it up with a Brooklyn accent.

Vegiemon: HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!?!? I'M NOT GETTING RICHER WITH YOU CHIT-CHATTIN'!!! (commercial break, returning on a replay of Vegiemon bursting into the kitchen) Vegiemon: WHAT, YOU WANT ME TO SAY PRETTY PLEASE!? DISH OUT THAT STEW!!! Joe: Waugh! Okay! Alright! Quit yelling or you're going to make me spill all over my pants! Vegiemon: Ha! About time. (notices Matt and Gabumon) Who are these jokers? Matt: We're friends of Joe and Gomamon. Vegiemon: Well, whoop-de-doo and good for you! (tastes the stew and then chucks it) RARGH!!! DISGUSTING!!! I CAN'T GIVE THAT TO MY CUSTOMERS!!! Joe: Um... But... But I.... Vegiemon: Now you'll work an extra day for the ingredients you wasted! Joe: Another day? Matt: One more day!? On top of how long, Joe? Joe: Well, first... You see, it was only supposed to be for three days but I... I kept on making mistakes and it got longer. Now I'm up to over six weeks. Vegiemon: And he still owes me for all the wasted food! Not to mention the broken dishes!

Oh, wow. Six weeks. Jou only had two. I guess we finally have quantifiable proof of how much more pathetic Joe is than Jou. :P

All this commotion pulls in the attention of another Digimon.

Digitamamon: Now, now, what's all the fuss about? Vegiemon: Digitamamon-sama!

Now it's his turn for the rundown. Digitamamon is a Perfect-stage Data-type Perfect Digimon. No, that is not redundant; His stage is Kanzentai which means completion or perfection, while his description spells out "Perfect" in katakana. "Pa-a-fu-ku-to". So they're different words, even though they're the same word.

Digitamamon is equivalent to Etemon, in that he's the kind of Perfect Digimon that someone like Vegiemon or Scumon can become if they knuckle down and start fighting hard to get there. Not them specifically, he comes from Nanimon who hasn't appeared yet, but he's of their ilk.

Narrator: Digitamamon. A Perfect-shaped Digimon shaped like a Digitama. His special attack, Nightmare Syndrome, surely crushes his opponents.

Eggmon looks like an egg and he hits hard. Not the best rundown we've ever had.

In the dub, Digitamamon's actor is doing Peter Lorre as a reference to Casablanca. A film that came out sixty years before this episode of children's television aired. Weird choice but there's no harm in it; Kids will just think it's a goofy voice.

Digitamamon: What's all the commotion in here? The customers are complaining? Matt: We didn't know it yet, but Digitamamon was an evil Digimon fully evolved and protected by his Digi-Eggshell.

What's weirder than Peter Lorre is the fact that they still call him Digitamamon even though they changed the word "Digitama". Matt even references his "Digi-Eggshell". Why isn't he Digi-Eggmon?

Sensing a chance to go over Vegiemon's head, Yamato tries to address Digitamamon directly.

Yamato: Are you the owner of this place? This guy is my friend. Can't you let him go? Digitamamon: Are you serious? Quit joking around! Though it'd be a different story if you stayed to work with him and help pay off his debt. Yamato: Well.... Digitamamon: If you can't do that, hurry up and leave! You're slowing down my business.

Digitamamon exits without another word.

Yamato: Hey, I didn't even...! Jou: I probably won't leave here for the rest of my life. Yamato: Don't get so depressed! Jou: If you say so.... Yamato: Takeru's waiting for me. I'm going to go get him, so wait for us to come back. Jou: Then.... Yamato: When I get back, I'll help you work. Okay? Jou: Yamato! I'm in your debt!

The funny thing is that there is nothing stopping Jou from making a run for it. Nobody's watching him and he's not shackled to anything. It'd be bad if Digitamamon caught him, but like a true capitalist, that guy doesn't seem to pay much attention to his own business.

But this is Jou-senpai we're talking about. The idea of cutting and running on what is clearly a corrupt contract to bind him into providing free child labor would never even cross his mind. He's been enslaved by his own sense of responsibility and social propriety.

In the dub:

Joe: I feel ill. I'm allergic to kitchen work. Matt: What are you saying? Joe: Oh, just never mind. Matt: Listen, I've gotta go and find T.K. but after I do, we'll come back here and help you work off your debt, okay? Joe: Really? You will? Matt: That's what friends do, Joe. When things are tough, they help each other out. Joe: I'll always remember this, Matt!

Mostly the same, save for Joe's quip and Matt's expanded final line. Matt puffs about the virtue of friendship for a moment to gear up for the plot that's to come.

Though he may be a greedy capitalist, Digitamamon is not working with PicoDevimon's faction. He is, however, for sale.

As he walks into his private office, he finds PicoDevimon waiting for him.

Digitamamon: Who's there!? Oh! You're PicoDevimon! PicoDevimon: (silently glances to the left) Digitamamon: What? (notices the billfold on the table) Th-This is.... I see! So, what do you want me to do? PicoDevimon: Oh, it's a very simple matter.

In the dub:

Digitamamon: WAUGH! DemiDevimon!? I... I didn't know you were coming. DemiDevimon: Hngh! (glances to the left) Digitamamon: (notices the billfold on the table) Ehee, I take it you have another job for me to do! DemiDevimon: The new boy! You mustn't let him leave here.

Bit of a character shift here. In the original, Digitamamon is unaffiliated with PicoDevimon's faction. He's just a businessman collecting passive income off Vegiemon's questionable managerial practices, but PicoDevimon gives him a wad of cash and bribes him into helping out.

The dub makes him out to be more of a mercenary. He has a pre-existing business relationship with DemiDevimon doing the bat's dirty work. And also happens to own a diner too.

We cut straight from the meeting with PicoDevimon to Yamato and Gabumon preparing to board their swan boat and return to Takeru.

Digitamamon: WAIT!!! Where do you think you're going? Yamato: Where? Digitamamon: You're going to stay here and work with them! Yamato: What's this all of a sudden? Digitamamon: THAT'S HOW THINGS WORKED OUT!!! Yamato: I'm willing to work here, but I need to leave just for a bit. I'll come right back. Digitamamon: Ohhh, so then you don't care what happens to your friend while you're gone? Yamato: What does that mean? Digitamamon: Figure it out. While you're gone, I'll be free to do whatever I want to him. Gabumon: Yamato... What should we do?

Multitask, probably. It only takes one of you to go back for Takeru and Tokomon. Then again, Yamato might be the only one who can reach the pedals and he's the one Digitamamon is specifically threatening.

The dub follows the script to a T but makes fantastic use of language to both localize and personalize this scene.

Digitamamon: Where are you going!? You're not finished! I checked the schedule. Matt: Schedule? Digitamamon: The work schedule! Now get inside and stop cooking or your fired! Matt: I quit. How's that? Digitamamon: YOU CAN'T QUIT!!! I SAY YOU STAY!!! Matt: Hey, what's the big deal, Egghead? I'm coming right back. Besides, you've already got a slave working in your kitchen. Digitamamon: Oh, I see. So you don't care what happens to your friend while you're gone? Selfish, aren't you? Matt: What are you talking about? Digitamamon: I'm just saying, while you're away, there's no telling what might happen to your poor little friend. So many accidents can happen in the kitchen, you know. Matt: Is that a threat!? Gabumon: Easy, Matt! He's already cracked!

"So many accidents can happen in the kitchen" legit gave me chills. Fantastic delivery even with the weird Lorre impersonation.

Just as Jou's been enslaved by his sense of responsibility, Yamato becomes enslaved by his sense of loyalty and returns to the diner. Jou's left confused by this change of heart.

Jou: (washing dishes, suddenly stops) Yamato? Yamato: Hm? Jou: Didn't you say you were going back for Takeru? Yamato: ... Jou: You should go. Don't worry about me. Yamato: ... Jou: Okay? Go on! You can come back when I'm just about finished. Digitamamon: (in Yamato's memories) Figure it out. While you're gone, I'll be free to do whatever I want to him. Yamato: No, it's fine. Jou: Yamato, what happened? Yamato: It's fine. Jou: You're worried about Takeru, aren't you? Go back to him-- Yamato: I SAID IT'S FINE!!! Jou: ...did I say something wrong?

And here we see the nature of PicoDevimon's opportunism. We already know from the previous episode that his and his malevolent master are trying to dim the light of the Crests, though it's not yet super clear what that means. To that end, by bribing Digitamamon into assisting, PicoDevimon has put a snare around both Jou and Yamato's necks.

In contrast to the previous scene, the dub rewrites this scene entirely to just make Joe an unobservant irritant nagging at Matt.

Joe: (washing dishes, suddenly stops) This water's hot. Matt: ... Joe: If I had some rubber gloves, my fingers wouldn't get all wrinkled. Matt: (heavy sigh) Joe: So hey! Just... What are you making over there? Is there some reason you're not talking to me? I mean, I know you think I can be irritating sometimes but what gives? Matt? Digitamamon: (in Matt's memories) So many accidents can happen in the kitchen. SO MANY ACCIDENTS!!! HEHE EHEHEHEHEHE!!! Matt: (thinking) I can't leave him. Joe: Didja hear me? Earth to Matt! Come in, Matt! Matt: (thinking) Although he does talk a lot.... Joe: Weren't you going to go get T.K.? If you want to leave, it's okay-- Matt: I DECIDED NOT TO GO!!! Joe: Wow. I'm sorry if I said something to make you mad.

They finally hit on the main point right there at the end. But the result is, it comes off like Matt's frustrated over how obnoxious and inconsiderate Joe is instead of the fact that he's trapped here away from T.K. Which is a pretty shitty way to change the plot.

After snapping at Jou, Yamato takes a moment to realize what just happened.

Yamato: (thinking) Jou said all that to be considerate to me, but I.... (speaking) I'm sorry. Jou: Eh? Yamato: I'm sorry for yelling at you. Don't worry about it. Jou: Yamato.... Yamato: Leave the cooking to me. If we work together, we'll get out of here quicker. So Ganbarou. Jou: Are you sure? I'm sorry. I'll never forget this favor. Gomamon: It will all work out! Ganbarou! Gabumon: We're with you! Jou: Yeah! Yeah, you're right!

The word here is ganbaru, conjugated to ganbarou.

Ganbaru literally means to "stretch stubbornly". It means to persevere and strive onward with hard work and discipline despite immense hardship. Often translated as "work hard" or "do our best", ganbaru is more than just an agreement to put in effort; It's a cultural value with a wide variety of utilities.

That distinction is important here, as Yamato and Gomamon are basically using it as a banner to rally around. This is going to suck, we're trapped in this hellhole and Takeru's out there but there's no way out of it but forward so... ganbarou!

Nonetheless, Yamato turns away from the group with an agonized scowl on his face. He's trying to be strong, but this is all weighing heavily on him.

The dub doesn't have ganbaru to lean on, but still captures the general idea of staying focused, working hard, and not letting yourself be buried under hardship.

Matt: (thinking) Man, I can't believe what a jerk I'm being. Joe's just trying to be nice and I bite off his head. (speaking) Hey, I'm sorry. Joe: Huh? Matt: I didn't mean to yell at you, okay? I guess I was just thinking about something else. Joe: Oh, yeah.... Matt: Anyways, I'm a really good cook! Everything will go a lot faster if we work together, and we'll be out of here in no time! Joe: Alright. I guess that sounds like a plan. Gomamon: I make a mean PB&J, you know! Gabumon: And I'm an expert in boiling water. Joe: Alright, then! We can do it! Matt: (turns away from the others, scowling; Thinking) Hang on, T.K.! I gotta solve this first.

They also add in that last line over silence to try and make Matt seem more optimistic about what they're doing here.

I have questions about Gomamon's PB&J. He doesn't have hands. Does he... does he spread the peanut butter and jelly with his bare flippers? Well, this place serves rotten fruit so I guess it's fine....

Unfortunately Jou's cavalcade of mistakes continues, as do the merciless time extensions.

Three more days for dropping a tray. One more week for burning a meal. Ten days for delivering the wrong order.

(These penalties seem incredibly arbitrary and I want to know the financials behind them. Where is Koushiro and his calculator when you need them!?

Any lawyer worth his salt would probably be handing Jou the deed to this place by tomorrow, if not for the fact that Vegiemon would most certainly kick Jou's ass in the dance-off.)

Feeling incredibly guilty, Jou returns to the kitchen to apologize to Yamato.

Jou: Yamato. I'm sorry. I won't make any more mistakes from now on! I promise! Yamato: ... Jou: Yamato.... (thinking) I can't make any more mistakes. If I do, I'll cause even more trouble for Yamato. I must not make any more mistakes.

What a miserable feeling, to be the dead weight. To know that everyone else can do it, they know what they're doing, they would be succeeding if you weren't dragging them down. It's a disgusting feeling to be the cause of someone else's suffering for reasons you can't control and don't know how to change.

The dub plays this pretty straight but in Joe's neurotic voice.

Joe: I don't understand why I'm so accident prone! Okay, so maybe balancing plates on a platter isn't one of my natural skills but now it seems worse than ever! Matt: ... Joe: Sorry, Matt. (thinking) Look at me. I'm falling apart. And why am I talking to myself? Even worse, why am I listening and talking back? I've gotta do something to snap out of this....

Uh, Joe? If your lips aren't moving then, by definition, you are not talking to yourself.

He's so stressed, his hands start shaking, rattling the tray in his hands. When he tries to carry it out, he loses his balance from the shaking and stumbles, dropping everything on the floor.

Yamato turns, visibly furious at the latest error.

Jou: Yamato... I'm sorry.... Yamato: (turns back away from Jou, visibly distraught) It's fine. Don't worry about it. (thinking) How long will I have to stay here? I promised Takeru I'd come back and get him. PicoDevimon: (outside the window, thinking) Everything is going well. All it needs is the finishing touch. Yamato: Hey, have you finished peeling the potatoes yet? Jou: I'll get them after I wash these dishes! Yamato: Hurry up! Jou: O-Okay.

That's it. PicoDevimon notices the potatoes sitting on a makeshift table outside. It's a slat of wood lying on top of four brick piles.

The dub again changes Matt's concerns to be about how much Joe sucks.

Joe: ...that did it. I snapped. Matt: Mmhmm. (turns back away from Joe, visibly distraught) It's okay. Don't worry about it. (thinking) Half of what I cook ends up on the floor and the other half is on his clothes; This job is giving me a killer headache! Tell me this is all just a bad dream. DemiDevimon: (outside the window, thinking) Everything is going perfectly! Those two will be slaving in that kitchen for life! Mm, looks like a likely spot for another little accident! Matt: Bring me some potatoes, will ya, Joe? Joe: Alright! Coming right up!

Not only did we lose Yamato worrying about Takeru, but we also lost his angry exchange with Jou about moving too slow. He's right back to sounding friendly when he asks for the potatoes.

PicoDevimon sets his plan in motion. All he has to do is remove one brick and wait.

However, the moment PicoDevimon turns his back, Sora arrives and slides a brick back into place. She and Piyomon stash themselves behind the building, while PicoDevimon takes his own hiding spot in a tree above.

To his utter confusion, PicoDevimon watches as Jou uneventfully retrieves the potatoes and heads back inside.

PicoDevimon: HUH!?!? Wh-Why!? Shit! Just you wait! You're not getting off that easily!

Later that night, we find Yamato out on the beach playing his harmonica.

However, he isn't alone for long. A visitor calls out to him from behind.

PicoDevimon: That's a beautiful melody. Yamato: Huh? Who are you? PicoDevimon: Oh, I'm just a bat Digimon passing by. It appears you're burdened by troubles a lot heavier than mine. Yamato: Huh? How did you...? PicoDevimon: The melody from your instrument doesn't lie. Yamato: ... PicoDevimon: You're an honest and faithful person. You're sacrificing a lot for your friend Yamato: So you know. PicoDevimon: Yes. But your friend doesn't seem to feel the same way. Yamato: Jou? What about him? PicoDevimon: I've heard he's making mistakes on purpose. Yamato: What!? PicoDevimon: He's afraid of being left behind on his own. Yamato: Jou would... He would never do that! PicoDevimon: (sigh) You're a good person. So long! (flies away) Yamato: ... Jou is... doing it on purpose?

Though Yamato lashes out at PicoDevimon for even suggesting it, the seeds of doubt are planted in his mind. He can't unthink it, and he's going to be watching Jou closer and more suspiciously as a result.

The next day finds Yamato once more arguing with Digitamamon.

Yamato: Please! I'll be sure to come back! Just let me go pick up my brother! Come on! Digitamamon: That's no good. No good! Yamato: Why not!? I promise I'll come right back and work again!

While Jou's distracted by their argument, PicoDevimon slips in and trips Jou, knocking him into the stack of plates beside him and sending them all shattering to the ground. Neither of the boys see this, though Digitamamon likely would have. He's on the take, though.

Yamato: Huh!? (whips around) Jou: WAUGH!!! Digitamamon: That's one more week for both of you! Yamato: One more week!? I don't have that kind of time! Digitamamon: I don't care! You're going to work with him and reimburse everything! Yamato: (falls to his knees, vocally sobbing) Damn it... Why...? Jou: No, that's wrong! Someone bumped into my legs and knocked me over! It wasn't me! I'm telling the truth! Please believe me! Yamato: DON'T MAKE EXCUSES!!! (stands up, furious) Jou: Yamato! Yamato: (storms out of the kitchen) Jou: ...it's the truth....

Again, this is such an incredible trap. Jou is a prisoner of his responsibility and Yamato's a prisoner of his loyalty. They're caged in a social prison. And the only way to break free from it is betray the very trait that empowers their Crest.

It's a truly cruel predicament, where their only options are to remain in Hell or darken their Crests.

The dub stays on the rails until the plates break, where Matt now directly accuses Joe.

Digitamamon: Not more plates! That's another week for the both of you! Matt: What are you talking about!? I can't stay here another week! I've got places to go! Digitamamon: You'll stay, alright! And no tips! Matt: (falls to his knees, angry) Joe, why are you doing this!? Joe: Huh!? You think I'm doing this on purpose!? You think I'm juggling plates while I wash 'em? Something tripped me! Matt: QUIT MAKING UP EXCUSES!!! (stands up, furious) Joe: I'm not! Matt: (storms out of the kitchen) Joe: You've gotta believe me, Matt....

This time it's what DemiDevimon said to Matt that gets used to get out of having to write him as emotionally vulnerable.

Fortunately for Jou and Yamato, reinforcements are on their way.

Takeru: Something's beeping! Agumon: That's right! It was beeping when we found you, Takeru! Takeru: Are we going to find Onii-chan? Taichi: We sure are!

Taichi and Takeru make their way to the diner, where they find Gomamon cleaning the floor and Gabumon serving food.

Takeru: Gabumon, where's my brother!? Taichi: is Jou here too? Gomamon: Yeah, he's here, but.... (long pause) Taichi: But?

Taichi and Takeru enter the kitchen, where they find Jou.

Jou: Taichi! You're alive! I was worried about you! Taichi: Sorry, a lot happened. Takeru: Where is Onii-chan? Is he here?

Jou's expression darkens and he glances at the back door.

Takeru: He's outside? (runs out the door) Taichi: Jou, what happened?

In the dub, they avoid suggesting that Joe thinks Tai's dead.

Joe: Tai! I'm so glad to see you guys! But don't break anything. Tai: Sure, but what are you doing here? T.K.: Hey, Joe! It's great to see you, but where's Matt? Joe: (expression darkens, glances at door) Oh. Uh. Matt's around back. T.K.: Matt! (runs out the door) Tai: So? What are you doing here?

I really like Joe's nervous "Don't break anything." The more neurotic Joe can be hit or miss at times, but right now's perfect for it.

Out back, the brothers are reunited.

Takeru finds Yamato lying in the grass and runs straight to him.

Takeru: Onii-chan! Yamato: (gasps, sitting up suddenly) TAKERU!?!? Takeru: (hug) I finally get to see you again! Yamato: How did you.... Takeru: I came with Taichi-san. Yamato: Taichi...?

Taichi stands back by the door, watching them reunite. Once Yamato glances over and sees him, he offers a greeting and joins the conversation.

Taichi: Yo! Yamato: You're alive!? Taichi: I'm not going to die before you do! Yamato: Is that right? Thank you for taking care of Takeru Taichi: Don't worry about it. Yamato: I'm sorry, Takeru. I couldn't keep my promise to come get you. Takeru: That's okay. We found each other again. Yamato: In any case, I'm glad you're safe.

A sweet moment highlighting the relationships between all three of these characters.

Matt undersells the emotion of his reunion, despite T.K. firing on all four cylinders.

T.K.: Hiya, Matt! Matt: (gasps, sitting up suddenly) Huh!? T.K.! T.K.: (hugs) I thought I'd never see you again! Matt: Hey, kid. Are you okay? T.K.: I'm great now that we're together again! Matt: So where's Tai? Tai: Hey, Matt! Matt: Alright, there you are! Tai: So, seems like something weird's going on around here. Matt: Yeah, you could say we got ourselves into some hot water! Tai: Oh, a cooking joke! Matt: I'm... really sorry I didn't keep my promise to come back and get you, T.K. T.K.: That's alright! I'm sure you would have if you could have, Matt! Matt: Anyhow, you're here and that's what counts.

"Hey kiddo, have you seen Tai?" is not what should be coming out of Matt at this moment. He almost seems happier to see Tai than T.K. That the animation has Takeru hugging Yamato but Yamato too stunned to hug Takeru back doesn't help, either; Combined with the dialogue shift and the different tone of voice, it makes him look callous.

Of course, no surprise that "I'm not going to die before you do" didn't make the jump. If Joe can't even say "You're alive!?" then that certainly wasn't making it over. Not sure replacing it with a dad joke was the best move, but I guess if anyone's gonna make dad jokes....

Now that Takeru and Yamato have reunited, Taichi comes in with the obvious solution to their plight: Let's just cut and run. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done.

Taichi: Setting that aside, it doesn't look like anyone's around. Let's make a run for it! Gabumon: Eh!? Run away!? Taichi: Yeah! Let's go look for the others together! (long pause) Yamato: I don't want to. Taichi: Huh? Takeru: Onii-chan? Yamato: I don't mind running away from here, but I won't go with Jou. Jou: (standing in doorway) EHHH!?!? Yamato: He'll only drag us down if he stays with us! Taichi: How can you say that!? We're all nakama! Yamato: What do you mean, nakama!? Are you talking about the way you drag everyone around at your own convenience!? Thanks to you, I'm worn out! Just do whatever you want by yourself! Taichi: What are you saying!? Yamato: I'm going with Takeru and that's it! Leave us alone! Takeru: Onii-chan, what's wrong? We're all frie-- Yamato: SHUT UP!!! Just stay quiet and follow me!

Well, this shit went south real fast and in a hurry.

The word Taichi uses up there, nakama, is for a group of colleagues united around a shared activity, cause, or goal who develop an intense relationship with one another as they share the trials and tribulations of pursuing that goal. Something like a military squadron or a sports team.

But that's just, like, his opinion, man. Takeru tries to say tomodachi before he's cut off, which is a more traditional term for friends.

In the dub, Matt inexplicably doesn't even want to leave the diner at all.

Tai: No, what counts is that we get out of this weirdo place and quick! Gabumon: What!? Run away!? Tai: Of course, run away! I don't see any guards around here. Matt: I don't want to! Tai: Huh!? T.K.: But why not? Matt: I'll leave when I'm ready! Anyway, I am not going anywhere with Joe. Tai: Huh!? Matt: He doesn't want to work together; He only cares about himself. Tai: HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT, MATT!?!? WE'RE ALL FRIENDS HERE!!! Matt: WHAT FRIENDS!?!? Oh, you mean this guy who deliberately wrecks everything to keep me here cooking rice until I'm an old geezer!? Tai: HEY!!! BACK OFF!!! Matt: And what about you, big shot!? The one who got us all separated!? T.K.: Matt, stop yelling! Aren't you glad I'm-- Matt: BE QUIET, T.K.!!! Just... be quiet and come with me.

The Japanese social construct of nakama, which sets Yamato off, was going to be difficult to translate. I suppose they could have gone with "We're a team!" or something. We're squadmates! To my understanding, anime dubs often struggle with nakama and will usually boil it down to just "friends".

Overall, this scene hits. Both Matt and Tai sell their fury, and when Matt snaps at T.K., the dub captures the Holy Shit of the moment perfectly.

Unfortunately, we've been (loudly) arguing about jailbreaking for so long that we've attracted attention.

See, this is why you don't stop to bicker when doing crime. Get better at crime, kids.

Digitamamon: Everyone.... Group: (gasp) Digitamamon: You wouldn't be thinking about running away, would you? PicoDevimon: That would give us problems if you did that. Jou: That's.... Patamon: PICODEVIMON!!! Agumon: He's an evil Digimon who tried to trick Takeru! Yamato: What!? Jou: Then when you said you saw humans around, that was a lie!? Taichi: I won't forgive you!

Patamon and Agumon open fire on PicoDevimon straight away. He narrowly dodges their Baby Flame and Air Shot, then flutters away into the forest. Taichi gives chase with Agumon and Patamon, leaving Takeru with Yamato.

(It's okay for them to split up; It will probably be a while before Patamon's ready to become Angemon again. Everyone else is gearing up to start leveling into Perfect-stage; Meanwhile poor Takeru's still paying down the cost of Angemon's self-sacrifice to kill Devimon.)

In the dub:

Digitamamon: Well, well, well. You weren't planning on running away now, were you? That would make me very angry! Ehehehehe! DemiDevimon: Yes, that would be a very bad idea. Joe: Hey, isn't that-- T.K.: Him again! Patamon: DemiDevimon! Agumon: It's the evil Digimon we met before! Matt: You lied! Joe: You lied to me to get me to come here! And you're the one that's wrecking everything! Tai: So we're gonna teach you a good lesson!

As usual, the dub kids are super quick on the uptake. Instead of Jou and Yamato struggling with the revelations of PicoDevimon's true nature, Joe and Matt snap right to it and turn on him instantly.

While Taichi recklessly takes the only Digimon capable of Perfect-stage evolution to go chase down a Child, Yamato confronts Digitamamon.

Digitamamon: You've got guts, trying to shirk your payments and run from me. Yamato: What are you talking about!? Our debts should already be more than paid for! Digitamamon: That's true. You were very hard workers. Let me give you back your change!

The dub gives them this fantastic exchange.

Digitamamon: How dishonest! Trying to leave without paying me. Matt: You're a thief! We've worked here long enough to pay for a trip to Hawaii! Digitamamon: Hawaii's not on the schedule. But if you insist I'll send you TO THE MOON!!!

XD Bringing back the "I checked the schedule" bit from earlier. Nice.

Digitamamon suddenly grows in size and closes the little crack in his shell that his eyes see out of. Then he bullrushes Yamato. Yamato leaps out of the way from his charge.

Digitamamon: The next one won't miss.

Gabumon evolves quickly into Garurumon and unloads his Fox Fire, but Digitamamon's shell holds fast against the flames.

Gomamon: Attacks won't work against Digitamamon once he's sealed himself within his shell! Digitamamon: (opens his eyes to aim) That's how it works.

Digitamamon seals up again and charges once more, nailing Garurumon head on.

Before Yamato has time to process what's happening to Garurumon, he hears Takeru shriek.

Yamato: Garurumon! Taichi: HELP ME!!! Yamato: Takeru!

Whipping around, Yamato finds his brother in the rotten clutches of Vegiemon, dangling him upside-down from the rooftop.

Vegiemon: (cackles) Ke ke ke ke! Digitamamon: If you keep putting up a struggle, I can't guarantee that boy will live. That includes your Digimon too!

Another death mention cut.

Vegiemon: Hehe! Call off your beast! Digitamamon: How nice! Your little brother decided to hang around!

Oh, so that's where Matt got the dad jokes. He's been working here too long.

Garurumon slowly climbs back to his feet, only for Digitamamon to put him down with another shell bash. This one slams Garurumon into a rock wall behind him.

Takeru: ONII-CHAN, HELP ME!!!

Watching from the door, Jou loses his temper.

Jou: Damn it! That's unfair! Yurusanai....

The word Jou furiously swears in a quiet, cold blaze right there is commonly translated as "I will not forgive you". Which is accurate but doesn't fully convey the meaning of the term. In addition to withholding forgiveness, it simultaneously also means, "I will not allow this."

It has no direct English equivalent and is instead an utterance of sheer, frothing outrage and determination to shut that the fuck down, whatever it is that the speaker is talking about.

Joe translates yurusanai this way.

Joe: That's going too far! I've had it....

Valid. A little undersold, but Jou's yurusanai was also quietly uttered to himself rather than projected to the group. So this works as a self-assurance of cold fury.

Gomamon evolves and jabs his horn at Vegiemon, who jerks aside and jeers at him.

Vegiemon: Hey! What are you doing!? If you do that, I won't be responsible for what happens to this little guy!

However, it's merely a distraction. Ikkakumon pulls Vegiemon's attention away from Jou, who's preparing his ultimate technique straight out of the Unimon episode.

LEAPING OFF OF HIGH THINGS!!! Jou's impact sends Vegiemon crashing down into the potatoes below, forcing him to release his grip on Takeru.

(Ironically, though it took a while to get here, Jou did ultimately spill the potatoes after all. Vegiemon should think very carefully about whether or not to add that to his debt.)

Jou-senpai's plan is not without consequence, however. He's effectively traded hostages, taking on the peril and harm for himself, in place of the younger Takeru.

Takeru: J-Jou-san! Yamato: Why!? Jou: Until now, I've pushed through all of this because you said ganbarou, Yamato. This time I'll... Yamato: ... Jou: Ikkakumon! Save everyone!

Here's where ganbaru comes back. It's been Jou's lifeline this whole time they've been working together at the diner. While Yamato's been letting PicoDevimon's lies get under his skin, Jou's been holding fast to their agreement of ganbaru and putting in his best effort.

Once more, the dub can't pull on ganbaru here, so they have to write around the word while still getting as close to the idea as they can.

T.K.: Joe! He's caught! Matt: Joe! Joe: Matt... You were right... You always said that we would all have to work together to get out of this mess... Now it looks like my turn.... T.K.: Matt, we gotta help him! Joe: Go on, Ikkakumon... Blast them now....

They do a pretty good job of it.

Responding to Jou, Ikkakumon starts fighting again, jabbing at Digitamamon with his horn.

Vegiemon: If you do that, I'll squeeze even harder! Jou: Forget about me; Hurry and defeat Digitamamon! Forget about me! Yamato: (horrified) I... I said all those awful things.... Jou.... JOU!!!

Under his shirt, Yamato's Crest begins to shine.

Digitamamon faces off with Garurumon and Ikkakumon.

Digitamamon: I could wipe the floor with you both if I wanted to. You might not believe it, but it's true.

He demonstrates his meaning by hitting them with Nightmare Syndrome. The void inside of his egg emerges launches out like a creature, pulling them both into a singularity of pure darkness. The abyss engulfs Garurumon and Ikkakumon for a couple seconds before hurling them back out, shivering and beaten on the ground.

Takeru: He's too strong! It's no use! We can't win! Yamato: No, that's not true. It can't be! I won't forget anymore. I can't forget. Nakama! The feeling of believing in friends! FRIENDSHIP!!!

Jou's sacrifice sends Yamato spiraling until he finds his faith in friendship again.

Matt's speech is a little different.

T.K.: No! This is bad! They're too strong! Matt: We can't... just give up! We've gotta beat them! But I can't beat them alone! I need Tai, T.K., Sora, Izzy, Mimi, and Joe! Together we're strong! And we can beat anything! GARURUMON!!!

Tonal shift here. Yamato's revelation is about remembering the importance of friendship, while Matt values friendship for how it helps you excel at violence. In his defense, he is about to weaponize friendship.

This faith not only restores his Crest but activates it. GARURUMON CHOU-SHINKAAAAAA!!!

We don't even get to see him outside his CGI Super Evolution before the Narrator comes in with the rundown. WereGarurumon is a Perfect-stage Vaccine-type Beast Man Digimon.

Narrator: WereGarurumon! Evolved from Garurumon, this Beast Man Digimon can walk on two legs! With his sharp claws, his special attack Kaiser Nail tears through enemies!

Matt gives WereGarurumon's diegetic rundown himself.

Matt: WereGarurumon, Ultimate form of Gabumon, is a really fierce warrior with claws, strong kicks, and jumps! He's extreme, but Egghead and his little bat buddy leave him no choice!

I believe this marks the first official use of the term "Ultimate" to describe Perfect-stage. Which is going to get confusing when we start talking about the final stage of Digimon evolution, Ultimate-stage.

Additionally, the debut of WereGarurumon brings with it another thing in the dub: The first instance of the song "Hey Digimon!", a fairly simple lyrical track used the same way the original uses Show Me Your Brave Heart.

(Show Me Your Brave Heart is way better. It typically kicks up right as Evolution starts, with its opening chords forming this mystical tension-lifting background noise punctuating the roaring SHINKAAAAAA. The lyrics kick in as evolution ends and from there, it's an empowering battle anthem. Hey Digimon, meanwhile, is this... goofy dance number? It doesn't really fit the tone of throwing hands with the Villain of the Week.)

Digitamamon launches another Nightmare Syndrome at WereGarurumon. He catches the shot with his Kaiser Nail, then shoves it back.

(I love how Garurumon's special attack was blue fire breath but in his Perfect-stage, he just got his nails done at the same place as Junko Enoshima.)

The impact sends Digitamamon flying into the woods.

Vegiemon: Huh? D-Digitamamon-sama? PicoDevimon: Th-That's impossible! Digitamamon was.... (flies off) Taichi: He's getting away!

Oh hey, PicoDevimon. Glad to see you're just hanging around after Taichi specifically took two of our Digimon to go chase you down.

Yamato: VEGIEMON!!! RELEASE JOU NOW!!! WereGarurumon: Or do you want to fight me too? Vegiemon: N-N-N-N-N-NOPE!!!

Dub WereGarurumon has a great threat here.

Matt: Vegiemon, you'd better let go of him! WereGarurumon: Unless you want to be salad. Vegiemon: (runs off shrieking)

It's probably taste better than most of the dub diner's menu.

Vegiemon releases Jou and flees for the woods.

Takeru: (hugs Yamato) Onii-chan! Jou-san saved me! Taichi: That was unusually heroic of you, Jou. Jou: You didn't have to add "unusually" to that. Gomamon: But you were really cool, Jou. Tsunomon: Really really! Yamato: Jou. Thank you. For rescuing Takeru. Jou: It's okay. You've been rescuing me. Yamato: Also! ...I'm sorry. Jou: Yamato... (embarrassed) Ahahaha!

We did not see WereGarurumon regress to Tsunomon but I guess it happened immediately after Vegiemon backed down.

In the dub, T.K.'s more interested in the awesome violence that just unfolded than in the rescue.

T.K.: (hugs Matt) YAY AHAHAHA!!! Wow, that was so cool, Matt! You're the awesomest big brother! Tai: I gotta hand it to you, Joe; That was really brave! Joe: (embarrassed) All I did was get grabbed. Gomamon: By a giant vegetable! Tsunomon: A cranky one! Matt: Uh, Joe? I'm really proud of how you handled the situation. Joe: At my old school, they voted me most likely to chicken out. I guess we showed them. Matt: I also need to apologize. Joe: Oh? Why, Matt? Matt: Because, I... I never should have doubted you, Joe.

Nonetheless, everyone else still agrees that Joe was the big hero here.

PicoDevimon is forced to report on his failure again.

PicoDevimon: A-And then the light from the Crest of Friendship caused WereGarurumon to evolve! Mystery Mon: What? PicoDevimon: Uh... Um....

A swarm of bats emerge from the portal, attacking PicoDevimon.

PicoDevimon: AHH SPARE ME!!! Mystery Mon: Learn your place. PicoDevimon: F-FUCK!!! IT'S ALL THEIR FAULT!!! I'LL BE WATCHING YOU, CHILDREN!!!

As a funny note, when PicoDevimon cries "SPARE ME!!!" the verb he uses is tasukete. It means to help someone who is in danger. It's the same word that Jou and Yamato used in their reconciliation just a moment ago, making this a comical echo of a heartwarming moment. "Thank you for tasukete Takeru." "You've been tasukete for me." "AHHHH TASUKETE!!!"

In the dub, DemiDevimon beats the original to the punch, name-dropping our new antagonist early.

DemiDevimon: Myotismon! One of the humans got the Crest of Friendship to glow and called WereGarurumon! Myotismon: WHAAAAAAT!?!? DemiDevimon: I tried, but-- (Bat swarm attacks) Myotismon: Perhaps your brain is too small for this job! DemiDevimon: You rotten kids and your rotten Digimon, you'll pay for this, rrrrgh!

Already, we're seeing a similar performance difference to what we had with Devimon. Vamdemon delivers a reserved "Nanda?" while Myotismon drops a loud, elongaged "WHAAAAAAT!?!?"

Meanwhile, the Chosen Children are back on the move. However, a new problem presents itself.

Yamato: So what you're saying is, if we can't fix things in this world, the effects will move to our own world.

Suddenly, the Digivices begin to beep. Taichi and Yamato both check theirs.

Yamato: What is that? Taichi: Apparently if one of our nakama is nearby, this thing starts beeping. Jou: Then someone must be nearby. Takeru: Which way is it? Taichi: Mine's this way. Yamato: Mine's over here. Taichi: Then... We should split into two groups to look for them. Yamato: I'll go with Takeru. Taichi: Then Jou's with me. Jou: But what if we can't find each other again? Taichi: Let's meet at the base of that mountain. Yamato: Got it. Takeru: Will we really see each other again? Yamato: We will. Because we're nakama. Taichi: We'll definitely meet again! Jou: Right! Because we're nakama!

We close on this hopeful note, as our nakama go their separate ways. Honestly, I think everyone's just excited to be able to identify as nakama. There's some profound Big Kid energy going around the cliffside right now

...but also their shared activity or interest is being child soldiers so they can be as goofy as they want about it.

The dub, however, can't close on the boys celebrating nakama. So they follow the rails right up to Takeru's last line.

T.K.: Matt, do you really think we'll meet again? Matt: Yeah, sure we will! I guarantee it! Tai: Farewell! Bye-bye! Auf wiedersehen! Joe: Wait! Don't go yet! I have to tie my shoe. Tai: Awww, you're ruining our big dramatic exit!

Gotta give 'em props for the audacity of that punchline. Tai complains about ruining the dramatic exit in a laugh line meant to replace a dramatic exit. Gold star.

Assessment: This episode is fantastic. It puts Jou and Yamato into an ugly situation that plays to both their strengths and their weaknesses. We get to see them both at their worst and their best against a silly yet deathly serious abuser.

The whole diner crisis is constantly walking a razor wire between being ridiculous and being dramatic, and I think it sticks it out pretty well.

The dub, however, suffers from an unwillingness to engage with Matt's emotional vulnerability. Yamato is a sensitive character whose love for others, especially his brother, is central to him.

In general, though the dub is lighter in tone it also hardens the characters. That hardness works against it in episodes like this, which are driven by the vulnerability of its cast.

Still, I don't want to be too hard on it because there's nonetheless a lot to like here. It's hit-or-miss by scene.

#digimon #digimon adventure #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure

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