#person: ismael

[springlia]

who: @ismaelabdel​ where: springs garden

She had invited Ismael to visit her in the Springs garden that day, he was only to walk the path and turn where she had instructed him. It wasn’t often that a visit was allowed but Lia had always had a soft spot for halfbloods who had remained her of her family and it hadn’t mattered that he carried infernal heritage instead of Eladrin. What mattered was his gentle spirit and way with animals. “Welcome.” she smiled upon his arrival. “Don’t worry, there’s no need to be shy.” She speaks to the warm breeze before a lithe song leaves her lungs, soaring through the trees and calling her sprite forward. A small bird whose hide was made entirely of moss landed on her finger and her index finger stroked his back feathers. “Come meet my dearest companion, he keeps me company in the earning morning as I bake.”

[sabinabrutus]

who: @ismaelabdel​ where: Mutat Domun

Sabina had enlisted to help Cloe as a Marshal for the Senate because she wanted to feel as if she was doing something to represent the Cambions that made up the halfbloods that occupied Rome. It seemed as if all the Cambions she had known had vanished not wanting the light of the spotlight or to engage with anything involving law enforcement, it made Sabina doubt her decision and involvement with the Senate. Making a classic martini for two, she passed one to Ismael. “What do you think of all this darling? It seems the Senate is calling for war and we might have to fight soon.”

[sabinabrutus]

He's dressed in full leather with cheeky cut-outs and a bare chest, her wardrobe has been more boardroom sexy lately than her usual neon rave outfits. She still has a halo constructed of holly and berries and she's asking him about the lifeline that never happened, the days that were lost and when they became lost -- the guilt of seeing everyone in the mud and on the battlefield affected her more than she's willing to admit and she hates that everyone is indulging in hedonism with sounds of fangs biting into neck and the wet sound that could either be people getting it on or someone bleeding out and she's concerned about the survival of Rome's citizen in a dream away. "Understood.. well not really but I won't make you go there anymore. This is meant to be party, no one wants to relive an almost death. We can take shots off a vampires navel if you like, let them succ our blood." Hands lifted in a spook tactic as she puts on the classic Dracula drawl.

Ismael made a face of discontent, this conversation would be uncomfortable to dish out between those who did remember, but it felt even more scathing to reveal it to one who had been given the mercy of death. Death was a kindness within the End and although many had been salvaged from it's clutches, there were those who had been the collateral. Guilt was hard to evade in such a situation and he understood, very well, that Sabina was one to conceal her true emotions to the point of controlled perfection. "The Great Old Ones, they'd taken any halfblooded survivors; we were like cogs in a machine, with them tapping upon our abilities nonstop." Ismael took a pause to down another drink and it seemed the cocktail waitress sort of got the point and had lingered to pass the cambion's more liquor to soften the blow, "Death was a kindness, but I know it doesn't mean you went without suffering." His head bowed, god this was a heavy conversation to have in the height of a vampire rave.

[sauronism]

arondir; shrouded by the blossoms, as he seek forgiveness to the ents and entwives for the pain that the trees endured. the hesitancy of his hand reaching out for the bark. the way he deliver the words in shared suffering of their losses. the promises that comes after. one of the most beautiful perfomance from ismael cruz córdova, from a masterful scene.

[dellamortethelesser]

another thing that is so delightful about ismael is that even if he has lost his core memories, there is a lot of latent ones that spring up! he can ramble incessantly about magic and the arcane. in fact the party was introduced to him in our last session mid-ramble. it is implied that his yapping chased everyone else out of the tavern. cannot emphasize enough that he is the yapper. he yapped all night. to everyone. about anything. his beautiful autistic rizz. did i mention he has 20 charisma

[coolspacequips]

Randomly got a note on an old post I made about Moby Dick, and I'm just lmao like... I really still can't BELIEVE that the beginning of the book was a gay "there was only one bed" meetcute that ends in Queequeg literally telling Ismael that they are married, now, after the intimacies and night long smoke seshes that they shared

[idontliketomatoesleavemealone]

*throws self onto your lap* so which bible character did you call a meanie growing up

[alacritousliving]

I have literally done this. I have to acclimate after coming up for air from a Brit Lit novel - otherwise I get the British Bends

The thing is you read too much 19th century Brit Lit and that's literally just how you start to talk. Was speaking with a friend about another friend and I said "he's very agreeable, but he lacks discernment" like that was in any way a normal way to phrase that sentiment.

[radfemsiren]

I speak a lot about how ironic it is that Christians that hate Islam want to be taken seriously for their faith, but I don’t think the average person understands how deep this irony goes.

For those not well read in both faiths, Islam is a nearly 99% identical copy of Christianity. Moses is Musa, Abraham is Ibrahim. Gabriel is Jibreel, Adam and Eve is Adam and Hawa. Joseph is Yousef, Job is Ayub. Ishmael is Ismael, Isaac is Ishaaq.

Same prophets, almost the exact same stories and canon. Muhammad was an illiterate shady businessman who saw Christianity for what it was, a way to control women and shut down critical thought. He aspired to be a pedophile warlord and borrowed methods from the exotic west to fulfill his goals.

His first wife was older than him. His last was a 6 year old. As he gained power through conquest after conquest, and had his “miraculous visions” of verses being revealed to him, no one could tell that nearly every line he spoke was a stuttering copy of a faith already popular in a far away land. His fellow traveling merchants could, and he was a laughingstock to them. His first scribe could and was banished for noticing his obvious plagiarism…He eventually had to switch gears and market Islam as a “final chapter” of Christianity.

So anyway, that’s why I find interfaith arguments darkly hilarious.

[leotanaka]

ismael revealing that he personally rechoreographed arondir's fight scene in 2x07 so that it made sense, when you look at all his fight scenes throughout season 2, why he suddenly lost against adar is an amazing attention to detail and i'm really pleased that they allowed him to do that because from what he said, the way that the arondir vs adar moment played out originally, it didn't make sense for arondir to lose the fight and he wanted to show that rapid decline from arondir the moment he sees adar on the battlefield and how his emotions got the better of him and made him extremely reckless in a way he's never been before in a fight.

[gil-galadhwen]

E1 - A Shadow of the Past

This has conjured up so many thoughts and feelings I wasn't expecting. It brought back the lovely memories of watching s1 and starting a new tumblr account especially to yell about how great the show is and post fanfic ❤️

A lot happens in the first episode alone, so I won't go into it all. Besides how incredibly beautiful everything is and how I weeped several times (Elrond's earnestness always gets me, as does the boat to Valinor. Don't even get me started on Bear McCreary's incredibly soundtrack!🥹)

On this viewing, I was reminded of how utterly wonderful Ismael Cruz Córdova's performance is as Arondir. That man exudes the kind of otherwordly wisdom only the elves could possess. He's just so so good in this role! Gahhhh! 👏🏻

I'm fine, guys 😭❤️

In anticipation of season 2, it's time to do a rewatch of The Rings of Power ✨️ Maybe I'll post my thoughts as I go ...

[sigmasoyboy]

tbh I too yearn to adopt a full grown man who seemingly has no past, is mute (?) and has trouble understanding that some people enjoy having their personal space. Ange was so real for that.

[🛁 oc directory]

+ silly suggestive twitter meme with Ismaele under the cut & a few out of context doodles from the ig Q&A

[dellamortethelesser]

CURSE OF STRAHD: HUNTED

THE CAST

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, WE HAVE:

ARLEN: A werewolf hunter from Faerûn who found a way through the mists to pursue an old adversary from his past. [played by @new-austin]

CRAFINE: A kenku antipaladin from Eberron trying to atone for past mistakes; the only one actually invited to Barovia. [played by @diamanti91]

GISELLE: A young romantic searching for her fiance, with whom she was supposed to have eloped. She's recently discovered her sorcerous bloodline. She will never assume malice where innocence can be inferred. [played by @amatres]

MELCHIOR: A "werewolf hunter", a bard, and a native Barovian, he gets tangled up in the party's affairs (and the party in his). [note: my old PC, retired after session 5]

LUNE: An elf who has been here before and is returning here again, they're a person of few words and fewer questions. [played by @cassynite]

VAYAGOL: A kalashtar cleric who fell through the planes into Barovia from Eberron, having accidentally been dragged alone with Crafine. She tries to see the good in everyone but struggles with him. [played by @screams-4-memes]

ISMAEL: A stranger to Barovia and to most things, Ismael woke up in Sigil two months ago with no memory of his life before. Now teamed up with the party, he struggles to balance the loss of his memory with the possible explanations for his powers. [my PC]

note: all character art seen here was either drawn by the players or commissioned/gifted respectively.

[wormwoodandhoney]

quarter two favorites, in the order i read them! (here's quarter one)

The Parliament by Aimee Potwatka: I love a book with a weird comp title pitch, and this one is The Princess Bride meets the Birds. A young woman is teaching a group of pre-teens at the library when a parliament of murderous owls descends on the building. To keep them distracted, she reads from her favorite fantasy novel. Graphic here!

Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See is a historical fiction novel about the women divers of Jeju in 1940s Korea. This has some moments that genuinely shocked me.

Dragonfruit by Makiaa Lucier: This was a pure cover buy for me! This is a fun YA fantasy novel about an exiled young woman and the prince of her island searching for dragons. Very fun. Falls into some YA traps, but the setting makes up for it. Graphic here!

Swordheart by T Kingfisher is one of the only romantasy books I've read and liked! This is so fun. It's about a widow & an immortal paladin trapped in a sword. When she draws the sword, he is bound to magically protect her. The grumpy/sunshine fantasy book of my dreams! Graphic here with one of my personal favorite fancasts I've ever done.

Say Hello to my Little Friend by Jennine Capo Crucet: Okay I put this on my mid year book tag as biggest surprise and said I didn't know if I loved it or hated it and that remains lol but since I still think about it I have to put it on here. This is another comp title read, with Scarface meets Moby Dick. After he fails as a Pitbull impersonator, Ismael Reyes decides to follow in the steps of the main character of the film Scarface. At the same time, Lolita the orca at the local aquarium, muses on her captivity. The two of them circle each other throughout the book and it's about immigration and loss of culture and violence and language... Idk I just think about it a lot. I don't know that I recommend it. I just think about it.

Funny Story by Emily Henry: I went on a rom-com binge and read several really fun romances, but this was my favorite. When Daphne's fiance leaves her for his female best friend, Daphne needs a place to stay. She ends up moving in with the previously mentioned best friend's ex-boyfriend (and they were roommates...) and the two of them begin fake dating as a revenge scheme. But then you'll never guess what happens?! Graphic here.

My Aunt Is a Monster by Reimena Yee is a graphic novel about a young blind girl who must go live with her mysterious aunt after the death of her parents. All about adventures and disability. So good!

Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis: Gav wakes up with no memories and realizes he's trapped in a goblin filled castle of a terribly villainous wizard. Unfortunately, Gav comes to realize that he is the terribly villainous wizard, that these goblins work for him, and he has no idea why he has a princess trapped in a tower. Super fun and silly, just a good time.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall Oh gosh, one of the most whimsical books I've ever read. This is an epistolary fantasy novel set in an underwater world, following two people writing letters back and forth to uncover the mystery of their disappeared siblings, who fell in love while writing letters. So lovely. First in a series, just an fyi!

[peaceeandcoolestvibes]

[heclingmuzik]

"What is your problem, dude?" Ismael snaps as she pushes the targeted audience out of the way when the gentleman attempts to slice at a poor victim.

Honestly this wasn't how she expected her evening to go! The plan was to get home with the groceries (that were now just a mess on the ground), and make some warm hearty soup. Damn, now look...the potatoes were dirtied, carrots smooshed on the road, eggs cracked and spilled...

Ismael pulls the victim behind her and near, "let me create an opening," she whispers among the victim who replies with a scared whimper.

Ismael was scared too, but she couldn't let the poor person see that. With her switchblade in hand, Ismael carries it protectively.

@allswell pick on someone your own size?????