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shebreathedherlast · 1 year ago

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Daughter of the Sea

Part IV

Masterlist

Back to the Beginning

Luke Castellan x f!reader

Summary: You, Luke, and Clarisse embark on your quest. You reminisce on how Luke and you became enemies in the first place.

Work Count: 2k

TW: Weapons, mean Luke, broken nose, blood, humiliation

. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・.

You, Clarisse and Luke had been walking for hours, and to make matters worse the bright sun was beating down on your back the whole time. Your body felt hot and the warmth of the flare in the sky created a sheen layer of sweat on your skin.

Looking over to Luke who was trudging forward despite the heat you couldn’t help but feel envious of his stamina. You and Clarisse trailed behind the Hermes boy barely having the energy to place one foot in front of the other.

Luke was now nearly out of sight and for some reason his stamina was starting to get on your nerves. Maybe it was cause you craved his endurance, or maybe because you wanted to prove that you were better than him, that was typically the case.

You wondered how the boy appeared to be good at everything. He could fight, he helped around camp, he mentored campers, he was social and everyone looked up to him. Luke Castellan was Camp Half Blood’s golden-boy but you knew that there was a certain something he was hiding underneath his illusion of perfection. He was certainly not perfect in your eyes.

Luke Castellan was a puzzle.

One you were determined to solve.

He was attacking you in the woods one day, taunting you in the most humiliating ways and the next he pretended that there was nothing wrong. Almost as if he hadn’t tried to break your am. He was an enigma, a mystery…but you always had a nick for playing detective.

In all honesty, you had no idea why he hated you. You didn’t understand what you had done to make him despise you more than his own father. On the other hand, you had every reason to loathe him.

You remembered your first month at camp like it was yesterday.

You were thirteen.

. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・.

After your mom and her boyfriend had shipped you off to camp you knew that your life would be living hell. And you were right.

Staying in the crowded Hermes Cabin was torture, to say the least. The unclaimed sons and daughters of the gods as well as the minor gods and even Hermes' children themselves all inhabited the cabin. You were the new camper. The one who was bound to be picked on.

You were the kid just thrown aside by their mortal parent.

Unwanted that’s what you were.

Nobody wanted you. Not your mom, not your so-called friends, not your godly parent, not even these other half-bloods.

In your mind it wasn’t as if the kids at camp hated you, no, it was more so that they didn’t want anything to do with you.

They simply didn’t care.

That was until a certain Hermes boy came your way. He was kind. He helped you navigate your way through camp. He acknowledged you. Throughout your whole life, he was the only person who made you feel seen.

He was even the first person who taught you how to hold a sword.

Yes, Luke Castellan was your first friend, but you know what they say: friends come and friends go.

And he went.

. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・.

You knew that Luke had only been a camper a little longer than you. You knew he was desperate for glory. He wanted to be respected- he wanted to be liked.

Like you, he wanted to be accepted.

Unfortunately, his desires cast an ever-dooming shadow on your friendship.

. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・.

Luke had humiliated you in front of the whole camp to gain the other campers as so-called “friends.”

He had led you into a clearing not far from camp. Luke claimed he had found some kind of amplified form ambrosia that would grant the consumer the ability to see who their true godly parent was.

It was then that he had exploited your biggest insecurity.

After you slipped a berry into your mouth, your body began to convulse. You remember how Luke’s eyes widened and his arms wrapped around your waist to study your swaying movements. But the small curtsy would do nothing to earn your forgiveness.

After your body grew accustomed to whatever Luke convinced you to eat, almost everything went blank. You didn’t know for months after the event what actually happened. And during that time, you still remained near Luke’s side - that was until five months later when Clarisse La Rue told you what transpired.

Luke had given you Magemenos Berries. They were rare fruits located on the border of the camp and everyone in their right mind knew to stay away from them. Everyone but you. The berries enchanted whoever consumed them to obey anything that the first person who saw them said.

Clarisse told you how Luke and his friends had messed with you. Commanding you to do ridiculous things in front of the whole camp. One of the boys near Luke prompted him to make you act like a mindless mutt.

“Crawl to me,” Luke commanded. “Crawl to me on all fours like a mutt.”

And you did.

His commands only became more ruthless and his words harsher.

But you still obeyed. You couldn’t resist the pull of the enchantment.

Luke’s friends had laughed and praised him, granting him the validation he so desperately craved.

You were the laughingstock at camp. For months people teased and belittled you. They called you: “Mutt” “Dog” and their favourite, “Luke’s Bitch.” It was humiliating. You had cried yourself to sleep many nights and when you finally got the courage to confront Luke about what happened, his friends were near him. They cackled at your presence, teasing you mercilessly. You remember the way your voice cracked when you asked him, “Is…-is it true?” Luke tore his gaze away from your wet eyes. “I-” he spoke before his friends joined in laughing and confirming every horrible story you heard.

Your eyes met Luke’s. Betrayed and humiliated, that’s what he had done to you. He looked remorseful but with a nudge from one of the guys with him, all sorrow disappeared from his features. He even had the nerve to join them.

He was your first real friend, but you guessed even that was fake too.

You took a shaky breath, composing yourself. All your emotions molding into one, anger. You turned your back to him, taking a step away from the group. Luke murmured something, almost out of hearing distance, but not quite.

“Mutt”

Luke had used you to get what he wanted, acceptance.

You heard those four letters tumble out of his mouth and you couldn’t take it anymore. All the humiliation, all the teasing, all the manipulation. In one swift moment, you had turned back to face him. The next moment you had curved your fingers into the palm of your hand, and swung.

Luke Castellan had betrayed, humiliated, and played you. In return, you punched him in the face. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth.

“Damn it,” he mumbled under his breath, “Why are you such a bitch”

You narrowed your eyes at him, spitting onto the ground beneath his feet. “I swear before the gods, Luke Castellan, I will always hate you for this. I will make your life a living hell. Anything you do, I’ll do better. Anything you want, I’ll get it sooner. Any respect people have for you will be mine. You are dead to me.”

. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・.

That was four years ago.

You and Luke never made up.

You went from friends to rivals, and rivals to enemies.

You would never let go of how he humiliated you, and you would torture his soul as long as you lived.

. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・・゜゜・．. ･ﾟﾟ･｡. .・゜゜・.

“Come on guys. You two are so slow I could probably complete this whole quest on my own. I could even do it before the both of you made it up this hill.”

There goes Luke Castellan again.

Egotistical prick.

Clarisse just shook her head in amusement and rolled her eyes. Unlike you, she didn’t mind Luke, and most of the time they actually got along.

She picked up the pace and soon she was nearing the insufferable boy before you.

You still trailed behind, the sun made it too hot to move.

“C’mon, Chaos,” Luke yelled from behind the hill, “I thought when you were thirteen you promised that anything I do you’d do it better?”

You only groaned in response, annoyed, irritated, and too hot to think.

“Shut up, Castellan, I’m trying to think.”

You neared the hill, now seeing Clarisse and Luke below you.

“What in Olympus do you need to think about?” He questioned, “All you’re doing is putting one foot in front of the other.”

You were too exhausted to indulge in his meaningless arguing.

Breathing heavily you took step after miserable step, desperately wishing that a taxi service was closer than forty miles away.

When you finally caught up with the other two half-bloods you nearly fainted into Clarisse’s arms. You’re body sagged against her. You were sure she was as equally hot as you were. “Remind me why you chose me to come on this quest with you?” You asked the Ares girl, out of breath.

She chuckled as she pushed you back onto your feet, reaching into her backpack for something. Her hand retrieved a granola bar which you accepted gratefully. The two of you maneuvered your way to a birch tree nearby.

“Luke!” Clarisse called, “We’re taking a break.”

Luke who was still walking pivoted and sighed as he came closer to you and Clarisse.

You scoffed at his presence and the girl beside you only nudged you, telling you to, “be nice.”

And that was coming from the daughter of the god of war.

The Hermes boy leaned against the tree as you and Clarise sat down on the luscious green grass. You bit off a piece of your granola bar and Clarisse took a long gulp of her water.

Luke leaned over, dark curls were suddenly in front of you as he reached over for Clarisse’s backpack. “Hey, uh…do you have any more of those apple cinnamon granola bars?” He asked.

The Ares girl shook her head, signifying a “no.”

“You’re*,* Chaos, here is eating the last one as we speak.” She said.

Luke’s head turned to you, his face inches away from yours. A certain look in his eyes you did not like.

You knew what he wanted, and you were not going to give it to him. If he was any other person you would’ve maybe shared, but this was Luke Castellan, the worst half-blood out there.

You met his eyes, firm and dark, “No.” You stated, clutching the granola bar close to your chest.

A smirk curled his lips, “I wasn’t asking.”

And without a second to spare Luke had swiped the protein bar from your hand, and took a bite.

No wonder he was the son of the god of thieves.

“Castellan!” You exclaim in anger, pushing yourself upright.

He only snickered in response, “My bad, Chaos. You want it back?”

“It has all your saliva on it.” You pointed out, disgusted.

He nodded, “Mmm, just how you like it.”

You grimace, shutting your eyes in disgust. "Gross," you said under your breath.

Clarisse calls you and Luke from ahead. “Come on you slowpokes, let’s get a move on, shall we?”

You glare at Luke as you return to Clarisse’s side. “Castellan’s the worst,” You complain to her.

She sighs, “Well at least you two aren’t violently threatening each other like every other time you’re within fifty feet of each other.”

You scoff, turning back to glace at Luke behind you, “Believe me, I want to.”

----

A/n I really hope to continue this series, I just feel so unmotivated to write.

Tag list: @motorsp0rt @astronomical-admonition @edenssworld @sillychloe @viennasaysstuff @esposadomd @bogbutteronmycroissant @moonykai @sflame15-blog @hoesindifferentshows @gloryekaterina @dakotali @notjustsomeblonde @silkenthusiasts @kanej-and-wesper-supremacy @ren-isdone @ashisabitgay @tsukiko26 @niktwazny303 @idgxitciycouv @cindywasneverhere @s0urw00lf @lovebug0 @sunburrn999

#luke castellan #charlie bushnell #percy jackson x reader #luke castellan x reader #pjo tv show #fanfic #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson #rick riordan #angst #enemies to lovers #pjo series #pjo #walker scobell #dior goodjohn #clarisse la rue #x reader #fem reader #percyjackson

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randomfoggytiger · 7 months ago

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"I've Already Lost One Sister to This Quest You're On"

Part of the evolving Bill Scully POV series (on Ao3, or Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, and Part VII.)

Based on @baronessblixen's prompt: "I wish you'd write a fic where Bill Jr. and Mulder at one point get a drink together (or play basketball) and talk about being an older brother (and maybe even losing a sister)."

Hope I did it justice~.

Post Closure, or thereabouts.

*****

It would be easy to miss anyone amidst the tidal wave of Saturday morning shoppers. Head down, leaning over a folder, Fox Mulder looked like every other slim, dark haired American male knocking back a burger and soda.

Bill, eagle-eyed and resentful, picked him out from across the foodcourt.

Mulder hadn't noticed his approach; and, not one to pass up an opportunity, Bill slapped a food tray on the table loud enough to startle. He was pleased when Mulder twisted upright with shock and a touch of outrage pinched in the corners of his mouth.

“Mr. Mulder.”

“Bill.”

A few years ago, Dana's partner would have hunched down, defensively posturing against oncoming judgment. Now, he seemed roughened, gazing warily out from under distrustful forehead lines and disheveled, sharply cut hair. His sleeves were too large; and he pushed them further up his forearm, eyes bouncing back and forth between Bill's.

“Dana with you?”

“Yeah.”

Of course she was. When wasn’t she.

Tara had run into her in the deli aisle. From his wife’s tactful “two salads, two sandwiches, and two cups of dessert”, it didn’t take a math degree to deduce his sister was still traveling in pairs. Bill figured if he found one of them, he’d attract the other.

Hence, the impromptu lunch meet.

Mulder watched, without disguise, while he pulled the cart close and sat in the only available chair; then, shrugging, took another bite of the thickly wrapped, thickly layered burger Dana most certainly hadn't wasted money on.

“On a case?”

“Yes.”

“Staying long?”

“We have a flight out this afternoon.”

Of course.

Ripping off a pop tart wrapper, Bill grunted. “Was she planning to stop by, or was that too out of your way?”

He watched Mulder’s jaw clench, unhinge. “Why don’t you ask her?”

“I’d have to see her first.”

“You saw her at Christmas.”

“And then work came up.” He leveled a glare across the table, refused to back down when it was leveled back.

“Not every Christmas, Bill.”

“Yeah. Just the big ones.”

Mulder’s chair scraped backward, its raucous jerk spinning a few heads. Bill figured he had about five seconds before his chance to see Dana turned tail and stormed off.

“Mr. Mulder.” As expected, the other man politely paused mid-sweep, hand poised around a hill of crumbs. “I’m not here to argue. I just want to see her.”

To his credit, Dana’s partner digested his words, and sat-- albeit stiffly, with clear intent to ignore.

In silence, they waited.

And waited.

“She said she’d be awhile,” Mulder repeated, working his way through a mound of fries.

“She usually doesn’t take this long.” Pivoting in his chair, Bill scanned the room. Even if she were close, her head wouldn’t clear the shoulders crowding together.

“She does when it’ll be awhile.”

“Mr. Mulder, I know her. Dana’s up and out the house in under an hour, back from an errand in under two. Always has been.”

“When she has to be. Scully usually prefers to take her time.”

There was no mistaking the challenge in that ambiguous statement; but Bill swallowed his response and counted it for glory.

“Dana loved these as a kid,” he abruptly offered, pointing at the unfinished half of his pop tart. “She and I would fight over the brown sugar ones. When she was really little, Dana’d get mad and try to argue it wasn’t fair I got the bigger piece because I was older. So, Mom let her have one all to herself. That cured her. She was always so sensitive to junk food. Makes sense why she became a doctor.”

Mulder was still, posture slowly unwinding as he balled up the food trash and nodded once.

“Charles stole a couple cookies from the jar one time and needed an accomplice to help finish them. He begged her; but she didn’t want to feel 'sugar sick' later, so refused. After he was punished, Melissa caught Dana crying about it in her room.”

“Why?”

“If you don’t know the answer after seven years with her, Mr. Mulder, you never will.” It was a cheap shot, Bill owned, but earned.

His opponent flinched but didn’t waver. “She felt she’d let him down.”

“She always was a little Mother Teresa.”

Mulder tilted forward, elbows planted on top of his reading material. “Is that what you think she does? Make her choices based on the weak and wounded? Find a charity case and become its bleeding heart?”

“I think you underestimate her nature.” Plowing over Mulder's snort, he insisted, “You buy her unbeatable act because it allows you drag her across the country no matter how much pain's she's in. Dana would rather die than admit defeat. And I think you feed her inclination to go above and beyond so that it won't become a solo act, chasing your...."

It was too hard to keep anger alive while remembering darker times and soberer feelings.

"Little green aliens," Mulder finished. “If that’s what you believe, then you don’t know your sister, either.”

When he stood this time, both knew Fox Mulder wasn’t coming back. But he stayed a moment, contemplating, before reaching out to briefly touch Bill's shoulder. "But... you can, Bill. You can know her."

Without another word, he tossed his trash, gave a parting nod, and walked off, head disappearing above the crowd as he drifted further and further away.

And Bill sat, and waited, and wondered.

******

Thanks for reading~

Enjoy!

Tagging @today-in-fic

#txf #fic #mine #“I've Already Lost One Sister to This Quest You're On”#Bill Scully POV #S7 #Closure #Bill Scully Jr.#Bill Scully #Mulder #Tara Scully #Scully #xfiles #x-files #the x files #randomfoggytiger's fic #xf fanfic

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giorno-plays-piano · 1 year ago

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Thorns In His Mouth

Part VI

Pairing: fae!Steve Rogers x reader

Warnings: obsession, dubious consent, minor character death, drugs (neither reader nor Steve are involved), slight eating disorder, mentions of tumor, high tech elves.

Words: 1.3k

Summary: Maybe it was a good idea to chat with a waitress a bit more once she brought you your order. Perhaps she could at least tell you with whom you should speak because you simply couldn’t force yourself to look at others, most of them already high, shouting something loudly or laughing or weeping. You could constantly hear the flapping of someone’s wings, weird whispers and noises, and the sound of boots and hooves that made your hair stand on end.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V

________

You stared at the earrings, dumbfounded. Did he say "we"? Was Steve going to look for that elf together with you?

Apparently, you just voiced your thoughts absent-mindedly because Steve murmured something and took you by the arm, moving to the café you despised with all your being.

It was much quieter inside tonight, though. There were only a few fair folk, and they were all silently eating or drinking something: the noisy company doing drugs and who knows what else yesterday was nowhere to be seen. Thank God.

As you fell on your seat, Steve taking a place on the other side of a minuscule plastic table, a familiar fae with bright pink hair approached you two. She threw a quick glance at you, pursing her lips at the sight of Steve, but then vanished to the kitchen without a word, probably to bring you the same sweet cupcake she had given you yesterday.

Staring at the elf with furiously bleached hair, you stilled, not knowing how to start a conversation with him again. What could you even say? Why did he want to accompany you on your quest? He had nothing to gain from it. Even the earrings you had given him he returned back to you, and you've never had of any fae returning human gifts. Granted, you weren't a big specialist, but it seemed strange, nonetheless.

Why was he so invested in your search?

The question was probably written all over your face because Steve gave a shaky laugh and rubbed his eyes tiredly as if he had a hard time explaining his reasons.

"I'm a former High elf, too," he started, watching confusion forming on your face while he gave you an unhappy smile. "I held a very high position at my court. Probably among the highest, compared to the others' here. Thus, I'm a Watcher. I watch over the exiled fae and elves, help them when I can, control them so they won't do anything stupid, and end somewhere worse than here. I keep in contact with humans, those who know who we are, and see that everyone abides by the rules. I'm the most useful companion to you if you want to find someone."

His words took you aback. This malnourished, anxious elf with his badly bleached hair and unnaturally long limbs was the most powerful of the exiled fair folk? Truly? Could you take his word for it? Oh, he did mention fae couldn't lie, but it was hard to believe he was telling you the truth.

For a second, you felt a little disappointed. You imagined someone like Watcher to be alike a fairy prince from the fairytale, magnificent in his glory, tall and strong, impeccably built, with his hair shining stunningly in the moonlight as he sat a top of his giant war horse. You did not, by any means, expect to find a Watcher to be a man looking like a 90s model addicted to heroine.

"But why do you want to help?" You asked very carefully, masking you disappointment not to offend him. "I imagine I have nothing of value to give you in exchange."

Suddenly, he smiled, albeit sadly.

"You needn't give me anything. I already owe you for what you did for my kin."

Again, a mystery. You were getting tired of his inadequate responses.

Seeing you bewildered, Steve continued, "You wept when Julius died. You regretted him leaving. Nobody else would do it for him, but you did, and now he's where he should be, at peace. If not for you, his journey would be... an arduous one."

His words made you silent, and you immediately forgot all the questions you were going to ask him. He had said something similar yesterday, hadn't he? Something about it being good that you cried at the sight of Julius' body, although you couldn't even imagine what good did it do to the dead elf. Was Steve talking about a reincarnation or something? Or Julius' spirit returning back to his homeland? You had no idea, but at the memory of a dead elf lying breathless on the sofa your anxiety rose again, and you clutched the pearl earrings in your hand until it started to hurt.

"Why wasn't it enough that you cried for him?" You asked out of nowhere, still searching for some proof Steve was tricking you.

He sighed, "I didn't cry."

Didn't he? You couldn't remember, his face but a blur after you had run up the stairs and collapsed outside of an abandoned factory.

No, you couldn't remember him crying.

"He was one of us," Steve muttered, accepting a black CD pack from a waitress who appeared out of nowhere, leaving a plate with you cupcake quietly on the table before she left without a word. "And I will miss him, but neither my folk nor me weep like you do. Unless on a very special occasion, a death of our beloved or a child, perhaps. But you... you humans know a great deal about compassion and sorrow. Your tears weight more than mine."

His words struck you to your core, and for a few seconds, you just sat there in silence, staring at the distressed - or rather just ancient and rugged - black leather of his jacket. No one had ever said anything like that to you. On the contrary, your therapist mentioned many times it's not healthy to be overly sympathetic and sensitive, to the point when someone's troubles made you troubled. You had to learn to keep your head cool, he said, because no one would profit from your worry. If you wanted to help someone, you needed to stay sane and safe first.

And here he was, this strange, somewhat scary and somewhat beautiful elf, telling you Julius got to his safe place because you had cried for him.

"It's strange, how your world works," you murmured, directing your gaze to the very same leather jacket as if you were talking to it.

Steve gave a laugh, shifting in his uncomfortable plastic chair while a fairy waitress stared at him intently behind his back, her hand resting on a bar counter.

"No stranger than yours." He smiled and made a small gesture with his left hand you barely registered, and the waitress abruptly turned away from you two with a blank expression on her face. "Then it's settled. I'll bring you to one more of my folks today, and you'll tell him your story. He's not a drug addict, by the way."

It was a very nice addition, you shrugged and bit into your cupcake that tasted as heavenly as yesterday. Were you going to develop diabetes if you ate it every day? You hoped not, although it was a small price to pay for the life of your mother.

"Actually, I wanted to mention it the last time. Do you know anything about our kind? Anything at all?" The elf asked nonchalantly, tucking a strand of hair behind his perfectly human ear. Seeing you froze, he chuckled, "It's fine. I'm with you. But it'd be better if you knew at least the basics, so I recommend doing some reading and using my advice for now."

"Of- of course," you immediately answered back, stuffing the rest of the cupcake in your mouth and hurriedly wiping your lips. "I'd be very grateful for any advice!"

________

He liked what you said. His face lit up, the corners of his big mouth turning upward. Before you had a chance to say anything else, he's already at the door, leaving a five dollar bill on the counter and motioning you to follow him God knows where. It's still a bit scary, to go after a strange, twisted but still weirdly attractive creature who moved with such grace even with his oddly long limbs and whose hair looked a little otherworldly despite the cheap bleach he used. But you're alone in this unfamiliar world without him, and you didn't think twice before you jumped off your seat, handing the waitress one more five dollar bill and running after Steve.

Part VII

Tags: @heavenly1927 @yazzzmints @devils-blackrose @lost-and-founds @kennafild @toodlesxcuddles @shygardengalaxy @heimtathurs @moonlightazriel @tsujifreya @lilithmoon92 @greenowlfactif @minshookie29 @nina2697

#yandere #steve rogers x reader #dark steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #captain america #mcu #mcu fanfiction

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theadventurerslog · 1 month ago

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Quest For Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness | Part 12

The Adventurer's Log

I had three nights or two more if the night Katrina sent me back out counted. Either way I spent the day wandering and doing last conversations. Nothing much to report there.

I slept at the staff mound again for a last dream. I wonder if it is the last one. Last one for me anyway.

I was looking for something and Erana was with me. I turned to her and felt her sorrow and loss. The darkness came for her again. The darkness was trapped between worlds.

And I got a vision of what looks like the Dark One sign.

Quite the start to my day of going back to the castle with those Rituals.

I went to the castle and castle gate was open at last for me.

Here we go.

I entered to the Great Hall to find Katrina, Ad Avis and presumably Cuddles the Necrotaur. Katrina was immediately passive-aggressive: "What a good boy you are. You would never do anything to hurt me, would you? Unlike some others I could name."

Then she addressed me and took us all straight to the Dark One's Cave.

She opened the mouth and then told me I had to do the rest. I needed to find the last Ritual with the High Priest and needed it before beginning the other Rituals. And she told me to be careful.

Ad Avis was snide and sneering. "We would hate for anything unpleasant to happen to you."

I might have found the High Priest immediately?

I entered to see some kind of oozy creature anyway. With a gross description:

I did not need a cross between squid and chocolate pudding. The narration further added that something about its appearance suggested it was once human, so yeah I'm going with High Priest here.

And there was a book near it. I tried Fetch, but that'd be too easy. Critter just lashed out and stopped it. However a Calm Spell put it to sleep and then I could Fetch it. It was easy after all. The book was the diary of the last Boyar confirming that critter was him. The last page had the Ritual of Essence, so that makes all of them. I had to figure out how and where to use them...

I went to the cave where I first appeared as it seemed to be the only place I could reach and it had the altar. I had to get the lighting right, so I put back my trusty torch.

Sand was on the altar and there were lines in it like it had once formed a picture. I placed the Dark One's Sign on it and formed an image of it in the sand. The Sign sunk into the sand and vanished. I'm finally rid of it I guess.

Then I used the Ritual of Bone, I'd say because this place is all bone, but it just happened to be first in my list... and only then it clicked for me. I was told this place WAS the Dark One. I've been waiting for the valves to open, so one ritual for each based on what they are...

Avoozl is said with such gravity and was said several times. I am having a little trouble taking that name seriously I admit. Don't get me wrong, still all very eerie. Just... Avoozl sounds a bit silly especially drawn out a little. Avooozl.

I got caught in a bone cage after this Ritual was complete. Teach me to laugh at its name.

Open spell didn't work--too much chaos twisting my spells. But a combination of Flame Dart, Frost Bite and Force Bolt broke them.

The next valve started wiggling more in the central room becoming available for me to enter.

Well there had to be somewhere hellish looking in here... in the more hot looking red sense that is. The whole place is kind of hellish after all.

By examining this altar, this one was clearly the Ritual of Blood.

Ergh.

After conducting the ritual acidy red stuff started flowing all over from the stone statue and blocking my way out. I had to freeze it with Frost Bite, to stop it long enough to get out.

Onto the next one and not sure what to make of this one exactly.

Tentacle flutes? Horns?

There were also bubble-like stones around.

I needed the Ritual of Breath this time.

Once complete I sensed an awakening, but also had the sense it was expecting something more. Trying to use the tentacles to blow into them just got me sucked in and killed...because I did the wrong ones. Follow the ritual words: right, left and centre. Though the structure is all a bit hard to make out in my defence.

That started a wind blowing like its breath coming through the now open door at the back and I got sucked in. A calm spell and then open got me out, but I think it was bugged or something the first time. The calm worked but the Open did nothing and I had to reload.

Next one was all dark.

Well, it was obvious this would be the Sense Ritual anyway. I could see me and my icon and that was it. I just walked whatever routes it would let me and as I progressed my senses came back one by one until the room was fully revealed with sight.

Once the ritual was complete the dendrite got lightning and I got zapped a couple times leaving. There was a probably a way to avoid that... but I survived and got out, so if it works it works.

And that just left the Heart Ritual for the centre.

Once the ritual was complete a passage opened above the stone heart.

A dramatic levitation up!

I entered an inner structure with a large crystal. Katrina and Ad Avis were waiting and Katrina commanded me to perform the final Ritual. Soon Darkness would return to the land and she would never be helpless in her coffin again. She taunted Ad Avis too calling him jealous of her triumph when he'd failed to summon Iblis thanks to my actions. Yeah, taunt the angry vampire man.

I recited the last Ritual which got very unpleasant.

Katrina was triumphant, but ya know things can't be that easy even for the antagonists.

Ad Avis zapped me and I was left dangling.

They started fighting each other, but he couldn't directly harm her. So he launched a spell at me.

Katrina threw herself at me in defence and a shadowy tendril of Avoozl took her away. Ad Avis knew that spell would attract Avoozl and she was lost to the Darkness.

That empowered Cinder Win though.

And I was able to get back up.

I summoned Erana's Staff and he wasn't particularly phased by that. He had protections against my magic. This took me a few tries to figure out as none of my spells were doing anything. I got some deaths.

And dying wasn't enough oh no! I had to listen to Ad Avis gloat about taking the town and the peasants being his fodder now that they were no longer protected by Erana's Staff. And then I got the rise of Avoozl.

It took me a few tries to figure out what to do before I landed on talking with options. Most of the options simply led to more disdain from Ad Avis.

Except one.

Oh one I was told about, but forgot. One I was told to use against a big bad trying to do me in.

The Ultimate Joke.

Ad Avis got to still be disdainful, but despite that he was compelled to laugh anyway.

And I force bolted him off the platform. Ad Avis meets his demise by falling again... falling laughing now. What a way to go.

I... I wasn't expecting that and I had forgotten it amidst everything else. After a brief bit of reflection I did decide after all his pride and taunting me, there is something satisfying in taking him down like that.

I just...

I was essentially saved by Punny Bones. That's harder to swallow. Quite a win for gnomes I suppose.... he's still no Yorick or Keapon Laffin.

Things weren't over quite yet. I had to use Erana's Staff with the crystal and then Erana's spirit was freed. Freed, she was able to drive Avoozl back to its dimension.

After four games there she is at last! Outside a portrait in the WIT (that was just Genesta...). Stories were that she was part-faerie. She looks fully faerie to me...

However, she was only a spirit and it would take more magic than she had ever known before we'd be able to be together again, so she could only thank me.

Everything resolved! I got a two weeks later message--nice to know my hero got a break--and a party was held for me in the castle.

A full gathering! With some other random people I don't know too.

The swamps were drying up so trade would be able to reopen. The king sent word and appointed Dmitri as the new Boyar. Good for him!

I'm sorry I didn't trust you at first.

One by one the remaining townsfolk and Davy thanked me for everything I'd done for them.

Still not over just yet. Erasmus finally got the crystal ball focused now the Dark One's influence was gone. They could see me at last. Fenrus said it was either a reward ceremony or a lynch mob. Thanks buddy.

Silmaria is in need of a hero and "everyone knows a Hero has to go where a Hero has to go."

I ended another game being teleported away. But at least I know by whom and why this time!

And I got to actually see Erasmus and Fenrus.

I was given my final character sheet.

497/500 points. Three points off! Oh well, that seems pretty darn good for a first time to me.

Maxed out intelligence and Flame Dart (of course).

Got congratulated for finishing the game along with the usual nudge to replay as a different class and to look forward to future Quest for Glory.

That's Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness complete and what a ride!

Final Thoughts

My favourite of the series so far and my second favourite Sierra game of what I've played/watched. King's Quest VI still comes on top for me.

I'll get my negatives out of the way first.

Combat. I continue to not be fond of it in this series. I ultimately settled for strategy mode. Maybe I should have tried the more manual arcade version more, but eh. Just never got comfortable with it. On the bright side the combat rate is low, especially felt so after my frustrations with the third game, and running away doesn't take so long freaking long, and there are various locations you can get to that'll stop the thing chasing you anyway.

Some glitchiness. I didn't run into anything game breaking for the most part except the possible lock-up when I got stuck in the lung hole near the end there, but a reload fixed that. There were some spots where the narration would cut out and a spot where the text zipped by. There was at least one spot where the wrong voice clip got used.

Now I've played through I also see where it's possible to get softlocked if you don't get the doll from the Domovoi since he stops showing up after a while. I don't know if that's actually a bug or deliberate or an oversight.

Now onto the good stuff.

The return of screen-by-screen exploring the map instead of the over-world. I vastly prefer that. It felt like a good area size too--big enough to feel like exploring, but not so big as to be a pain to navigate or feel pointless. There were plenty of areas of interest. Day and night really mattered. I also appreciated that when you'd examine the area the narration would provide some orientating directions. It definitely helped for getting around.

I enjoyed the overall atmosphere. It was darker in going for a more gothic setting, but there was still lots of humour around that gave it a nice balance. Never went into grim-dark territory though did get surprisingly sad at points. And the narration was superb.

I liked the music too! I can't say most of the music in the series up to this point really stood out to me outside an exception or two, but I've been enjoying this one's soundtrack.

Most of all: the characters! For a place full of darkness and fear it sure felt lively. It's not a big cast, but that meant there was plenty to talk about with everyone. The villagers would actually refer to each other and it just felt more lived in. I loved how much people had to say overtime and how they'd warm up to me. Characters would react to things that happened. I really felt like I was making a difference. While I enjoyed my time in Spielburg well enough, I can't say I got particularly attached to it. I got a little more attached to Shapeir. I didn't feel at all attached to Tarna, or I guess Fricana in general. I do feel more attached to Mordavia. I'm a little sad to be leaving now.

It was also nice to have some threads continue and have some closure. I learned a lot more about Erana. It was fun to see where Baba Yaga ended up after she fled Spielburg. Ad Avis is hopefully really gone now. I even got a couple tiny doses of Erasmus and Fenrus.

I felt like I had lots to do as a magic user and didn't even take as much advantage of some of my spells as I ought to have done. I'm the most curious about how the other classes are handled in this one. I felt very catered to and I hope the other classes feel that way too.

I had a very good time and it very much feels like a big enhancement on the first game specifically. I enjoyed the first game so having it but better is great.

My current rankings as stands would be 4, 2, 1, 3, but I think 1 and 2 are very close.

Next up Quest for Glory V: Dragon Fire. I'm nervous but we'll see how it goes.

#quest for glory #QFG 4 #shadows of darkness #QFG_4_Log #sierra #adventure games

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m1d-45 · 2 years ago

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spoken from the stars III

summary: voicelines characters would have in sagau! ft. zhongli, ayato, heizou, and two bonuses :)

word count: ~720

-> warnings: spoilers for liyue archon quest, minor spoilers for ayato and chongyun lore

-> gn reader (you/yours) and unspecified traveller (they/them)

taglist: @samarill || @thenyxsky || @valeriele3 || @shizunxie || @boba-is-a-soup || @yuus3n || @esthelily || @turningfrogsgay

< kazuha, wanderer || < masterlist > || lyney, lynette, freminet >

zhongli

about us: the traveller

the traveller is a brave and brilliant soul, and i wish them the best of luck on their journey. though, now that i think about it… i’m not certain they’d ever need my blessing.

about us: the creator

friendship lv. 4

even the strongest stone cannot withstand erosion forever. the winds of time and sands of memories past will grate at its surface, scraping away the smallest amount with every breath. there are, of course, methods to restore even the harshest of removals, but… *sigh* no mortal can undo time.

about you: worship

friendship lv. 6

everything that can be seen in liyue could not have been made without your blessing. i have shaped the harbor, created the coin around which teyvat operates, and yet none of it could ever have been done without you. i dedicate myself and my creations to you and your glory, and hope that liyue is to your liking. …i hope that i am as well.

ayato

about us: the traveller

the traveller has been a large and key part of overturning the vision hunt decree, and has assisted the nations of teyvat greatly. ive been meaning to invite them back for a game of chess, but they always seem rather busy… it can’t be helped, i suppose.

about us: the creator

friendship lv. 4

everything around us, from the evergreens to the fallen sakura blooms, was all planted by design. year after year, they sprout, bloom, and fall, always returning back to the posts they’d abandoned months before… perhaps that is true loyalty.

about you: worship

friendship lv. 6

when i first received my vision, i had taken it as a sign that it was time to find my own way. i had assumed i was to walk the path of commissioner alone, that it would be my lone light. i… was wrong. you were there. …for this and everything else, i pledge both my allegiance and the allegiance of the yashiro commission as well. should you need anything, trust that the entirety of my resources are at your disposal. it is the least i could offer.

heizou

about us: the traveller

ah, the traveller… an interesting character, with plenty of stories to tell. the hero of three of teyvat’s— oh, four? …well well, seems like they’ve been getting busy. with all the work they’re doing, i might be out of a job soon, haha.

about us: the creator

friendship lv. 4

here in teyvat, it’s impossible to truly measure the extent of a criminal’s transgressions, and hence impossible to ever be able to tell if a punishment was fit or not. a thief might have brought a family to financial ruin, and a murderer often scars more than just the victim. as a detective, it’s my job to account for strictly quantifiable crimes, but… it doesn’t matter. in the end, even the sneakiest of thieves will meet their maker.

about you: worship

friendship lv. 6

my success is often attributed to my intuition — typically by new officers who assume i can solve any case by simply looking at it — but this conclusion is entirely unfounded. every gift i have isn’t innate, it’s a blessing; one that i’m immensely lucky to have. what i’m saying is that i would never have gotten this far without you, and that i swear to repay this debt however is necessary. doushin shikanoin, at your service.

xingqiu

about the creator: penmanship

sometimes i wonder how the universe came to be. obviously such an event was powered by the strength of the divine, but… was an artifact used to channel this energy? if so, would it be more equivalent to a vision, or, say, a pen? do you think such a device could be adapted to work with vision users? wh— hey, leave my handwriting out of this! it’s a serious question

chongyun

about the creator: energy

do you think that if the creator were to visit a haunted location, that the evil spirits would be driven away? or would they be exorcised? obviously, they tend to run away when faced with my yang energy, but what would demons do when faced with the divine? hm…

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jasminewalkerauthor · 7 months ago

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Deep dives into folklore: Greek heroes

Greek heroes, the legendary figures of ancient mythology, stand as towering symbols of valor, tragedy, and the inexorable pull of destiny. This deep dive essay explores the rich and complex world of Greek heroes, examining their origins, defining characteristics, and enduring impact on literature, culture, and the human psyche.

I. Origins and Archetypes:

The roots of Greek heroism can be traced to the Mycenaean and Minoan civilizations, where stories of exceptional individuals with divine parentage or guidance first emerged. These early narratives set the stage for the archetypal hero—a mortal endowed with extraordinary strength, intellect, or skill, often blessed or cursed by interactions with the gods. Over time, these tales coalesced into the epic poems of Homer, specifically the "Iliad" and the "Odyssey," immortalizing heroes like Achilles and Odysseus.

II. Heroic Characteristics:

Greek heroes possess a distinct set of characteristics that define their essence. They are often born of both divine and mortal lineage, embodying the bridge between the mortal and divine realms. Physical prowess, unparalleled skill in battle, and a tragic flaw, or hamartia, are common attributes. Yet, what sets Greek heroes apart is their arête, a concept encompassing excellence, virtue, and a pursuit of one's fullest potential.

III. The Heroic Cycle and Quests:

The hero's journey, a recurring motif in Greek mythology, follows a pattern known as the heroic cycle or monomyth. Heroes embark on quests, facing trials, battles, and encounters with supernatural beings. These quests are often framed by a call to adventure, encounters with mentors or allies, and the ultimate confrontation with a formidable foe or challenge. Perseus's quest to slay Medusa or Jason's pursuit of the Golden Fleece exemplify the hero's journey and the transformative nature of these mythic adventures.

IV. Divine Intervention and Tragedy:

Greek heroes grapple not only with mortal adversaries but also with the whims of capricious gods. Divine intervention shapes their fates, with deities either aiding or hindering their quests. Yet, the looming shadow of tragedy hangs over many Greek heroes, as their exceptional abilities often come at the cost of profound personal suffering. The tragic fate of Oedipus, condemned by his own actions and divine prophecies, epitomizes the inescapable forces that shape the lives of these mythic figures.

V. Achilles and the Warrior Ethos:

Achilles, the quintessential Greek hero, embodies the complex interplay between glory, mortality, and divine favor. The "Iliad" portrays him as a warrior of unparalleled skill, driven by a desire for immortal fame. His internal conflict between a short, glorious life and a long, unremarkable one encapsulates the tension inherent in the heroic ethos. Achilles' story also explores themes of friendship, loss, and the inevitability of death, resonating with audiences across time.

VI. Legacy in Literature and Culture:

The influence of Greek heroes extends far beyond the ancient world. From classical tragedies like Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex" and Euripides' "Medea" to the Renaissance reinterpretations by Shakespeare and the modern retellings in literature and film, Greek heroes continue to inspire and captivate. Their struggles, triumphs, and tragic downfalls serve as timeless reflections of the human experience, exploring themes of mortality, hubris, and the pursuit of excellence.

Greek heroes, with their divine origins, heroic characteristics, and tragic destinies, form an integral part of the mythic tapestry that weaves together the collective imagination of humanity. Through their enduring stories, these mythical figures have transcended time, providing insights into the complexities of human nature, the pursuit of excellence, and the enduring quest for meaning in the face of mortality. As we continue to grapple with the challenges of our own journeys, the legacy of Greek heroes reminds us that the echoes of their valor, tragedy, and divine destiny resonate across the ages.

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sot-mar · 4 months ago

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Quest for Glory: Shadows of Darkness

#quest for glory #quest for glory iv

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giuliettagaltieri · 1 year ago

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Hunt for Glory

Pairing: Young!Coriolanus Snow x Capitol!Reader

Synopsis: After living under the shadow of legacy of your fathers, you and Coriolanus Snow decide it is time to climb to the top, to reclaim what was yours. You are a convenient ally, a dangerous and sly woman, and to his luck, it seems your heart was tender for him, until it no longer was.

Warning: angst, unrequited love, mean Coriolanus Snow, academic rivalry, fake dating, politics, elitism, manipulation, greed, mentions of death, Capitol cruelty, shooting, blood, injuries, eventual smut, explicit sex, unprotected sex, spoilers

Disclaimer: The TBOSAS characters belong to their respective owners, reader is female. Skin tone and body type mentions were limited for better reading experience. If any characteristics of y/n bothers you, or if any of the warnings does not agree with you, I advise you not to proceed to read the story.

Chapter Count: 6

Status: Completed

Masterlist

i. Fight for Carnage

ii. Duel of Knowledge

iii. Chase for Prestige

iv. Break the Bondage

v. Cry of Outrage

vi. Claim the Heritage

Quest for Happiness

Explaining the District tours

#coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow x you #tbosas #academic rivals #the hunger games #fake dating #coriolanus smut #coriolanus snow #young coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x you #masterlist #hunt for glory

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biitchcakes · 1 year ago

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@redheadarcher asked: 💔 - What’s something you dislike about your muse? // ( accepting )

Is it lame of me to say nothing ? SDkjgdk like, even the flaws she has ( of which there are a few, she is not a perfect person, as the wise philosophers Hoobastank once said ⸺ ). But everything about her makes her HER. And I adore her. Her bullishness, her stubbornness, her tendency to isolate, to try to deal with things on her own, her aggression. . . It's not all she is by any means, but it is all still a part of Jess. Those negatives turn to positives through determination, protection for others, her love for those she loves.

I just love her. She's meant so much to me for as long as I can remember. I couldn't dislike Jessica Drew if I tried.

&& 🎮 - What’s your favourite video game?

I LOVE THIS QUESTION IT'S THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION !!!! Oh my gentle jesus the way I could rant and rave about this game for hours. "Potato graphics" this and "horse armour" that, yeah yeah I know, but god is it just the most special little game in the world to me. And has been for 17 years now ( oh, wow oof, what is time ? ).

The Dark Brotherhood story is still one of my favourites of any game, each quest and character is so memorable to me ( even if I hadn't replayed the game a million times by now ). I legit cried when I played Skyrim for the first time and Lucien Lachance's fkin ghost appeared AFJKSD

Martin Septim. . . My beloved. . .

Wanna know a sure-fire way to get me choked up real fast ? Put on one of these bad boys :

Harvest Dawn

Dusk at the Market

Through the Valleys

Glory of Cyrodiil

Jeremy Soule tugs at every heartstring of mine with these. I can listen to them while I'm playing the game, but something about hearing them isolated on their own. Man. . . 🥹

#thank u omg i got to rant about two of my greatest my loves <3 🥺#anyway i recommend oblivion to anyone who likes skyrim HGDJKS #if you like fallout new vegas and high fantasy #i am begging on my knees rn for u to play oblivion #( o o c . )

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scarletooyoroi · 4 months ago

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5.0 and 5.1 AQ Thoughts.

Under the cut! You have been warned.

First and foremost! I really want to give this quest props of being a straightforward adventure. So far, and still ongoing, this has been thee biggest strength that carries it forward. After dealing with grand dreams, esoteric deals, prophecies and the ancient forces guiding those. It really stomped down on my head in just how nice of an experience that has been again.

Growing with the characters you're introduced with, fighting alongside them, getting a taste of their world through them. This is merely my preference, but mystery can only do so much for me when it's overplayed the 'eyes on the horizon, not what's before us' for so long.

So coming into the actual story. It's an adventure premise that's good to follow. We're seeing how they've managed to keep their defenses, feeble as they are, holding steady by seeing one of the genuine contest taking place. This in itself gives us the grounds to catch how players like Mualani, Kachina operated from their positions. In kind, it offered an eagle eye as to what this opportunity means for the people. How some held for glory, others worked to prove themselves, etc etc. Events like this gives the cast something to push off of.

In kind, it feels like the story works best when both the Traveler and his new companions have a means to advance things forward. While this tilts from the 'Mastermind' perspective, which means keeping a lot of concepts shadowed, I'm more than fine with that.

For me, one of the primary grounds that stand out to me in all the question is this measure of unity. How important it is, how their togetherness works in tandem with them alongside their individual merits and pursuits. A nice job has been done with the NPCS and Vision wielders in getting this showcased.

Not to mention, this chapter of the saga really opened my eyes to what I wanted a lot in Genshin to begin with. To see the cast genuinely struggle (though, I didn't want it to ALWAYS be harrowing as in the case of ACT IV), and for them to find solutions and inner strength by coming together. Sumeru played well on this with their band, while in Fontaine this had fell flat to me, as that felt more like find the deep dive to the truth. (Even then, the Prophecy to me inerts the satisfaction of finding said truth.)

A weak spot I will say did play a part in this was Capitano's involvement initially. It was mainly getting him into the story and carrying it from there, his character once integrated in showing his personal goals and driven to fight alongside the people of Natlan, it's been swell enough for me. This however, is just a byproduct of how they've handled the Fatui as an organization against Teyvat from the early days till now. So it's been a touch of that inevitability.

So far, Mauvika has still been the big '?' for me. Archon points normally are. I've enjoyed her character, but it's a matter of her dealing with the High Powers that leads to the shrouds and shadows. I'm in no rush to figure it out, and instead look forward to how things play out. Her care for community thought has been really endearing.

S'my thoughts so far! I've really been feeling the spirit of the game, so can't wait to see what they'll cook up more next.

#| OOC Musings #boo. This be a ghost post

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pandorkful · 1 year ago

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Okay okay okay, I have made some important cleaning progress around here and it's also helped clear some of the cobwebs in my head!

THE PLAN:

Art Streams on Wednesday Afternoons (I'm thinking around 2pm Central US)

Game Streams on the weekend, probably in the early afternoon

I am DEFINITELY gonna stream Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness THIS weekend!! It's such a perfect game for the spooky season, on top of being one of my favorite games of all time and I've been putting this off for too long!!

I'M DEBUTING THE HECKIN' PNGTUBER THIS WEEK so uh to that end I think Wednesday's stream will be drawing a couple more thematically/seasonally appropriate outfits for my avatar. :3c

So I guess what I wanna ask is:

https://twitch.tv/pandorkful is my channel, in case you need the link hahaha

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baelontargaryen · 2 years ago

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ASOIAF + Wind and words

Robert set the pace, driving his huge black destrier hard as Ned galloped along beside him, trying to keep up. He called out a question as they rode, but the wind blew his words away, and the king did not hear him. After that Ned rode in silence. They soon left the kingsroad and took off across rolling plains dark with mist. By then the guard had fallen back a small distance, safely out of earshot, but still Robert would not slow. — AGOT, Eddard I

“Then Lord Eddard is a man in ten thousand. Most of us are not so strong. What is honor compared to a woman’s love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms … or the memory of a brother’s smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy. — AGOT, Jon VIII

“Well, as to that, some gave me soft words and some blunt, some made excuses, some promises, some only lied.” He shrugged. “In the end words are just wind.” — ACOK, Prologue

The maester laughed at that. “And there you have it, my lord. Words are wind, you know, and you’ve blown mine away with your good sense. His Grace knows what he has in you, I think.” — ASOS, Davos V

“Words. Words are wind. Why do you think I abandoned Dragonstone and sailed to the Wall, Lord Snow?” — ASOS, Jon XI

“Words are wind. If you love me, do not leave me.” — AFFC, A Soiled Knight

“. . . did not stop you slaying Aerys. Words are wind. You could have had me, but you chose a cloak instead. Get out.” — AFFC, Jaime II

“Words are wind,” Victarion told them, “and the only good wind is that which fills our sails. Would you have me fight the Crow’s Eye? Brother against brother, ironborn against ironborn?” Euron was still his elder, no matter how much bad blood might be between them. No man is as accursed as the kinslayer. — AFFC, The Iron Captain

Words are wind, Brienne told herself. They cannot hurt you. Let them wash over you. “As you command, my lord,” she tried to say, but Tarly had gone before she got it out. She walked from the yard like one asleep, not knowing where she was going. — AFFC, Brienne V

“So you say. Words are wind. When the hour is ripe, you may produce this paragon of yours and we will see if he is all that you have promised.” — AFFC, Cersei VII

The thing that had been Catelyn Stark took hold of her throat again, fingers pinching at the ghastly long slash in her neck, and choked out more sounds. “Words are wind, she says,” the northman told Brienne. “She says that you must prove your faith.” — AFFC, Brienne VIII

“Fine words.” Tyrion was unimpressed. “Words are wind. Who is this bloody savior?” — ADWD, Tyrion I

[...] “From all I hear, his lordship’s fatter than ever. So much for vows. Words are wind, and the wind from Manderly’s mouth means no more than the wind escaping out his bottom.” — ADWD, Davos I

“Words are wind,” said the young woman behind Lord Wyman’s high seat, the handsome one with the long brown braid. “And men will lie to get their way, as any maid could tell you.” — ADWD, Davos III

He shall be the stallion that mounts the world. Dany knew how it went with prophecies. They were made of words, and words were wind. There would be no son for Loraq, no heir to unite dragon and harpy. When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, when the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. Only then would her womb quicken once again … ... Dany folded her hands together. “Words are wind, even words like love and peace. I put more trust in deeds. In my Seven Kingdoms, knights go on quests to prove themselves worthy of the maiden that they love. They seek for magic swords, for chests of gold, for crowns stolen from a dragon’s hoard.” — ADWD, Daenerys IV

Iron Emmett grimaced. “Men are men, vows are words, and words are wind. You should put guards around the women.” — ADWD, Jon VII

“Be that as it may, they do not trust you. The men of New Ghis feel the same. Words are wind, as you yourself have so oft said. No words of yours will secure this peace for Meereen. Your foes require deeds. They would see us wed, and they would see me crowned as king, to rule beside you.” — ADWD, Daenerys VI

“That is good to hear,” the prince said, “but words are wind. You are my brother’s daughters and I love you, but I have learned I cannot trust you. I want your oath. Will you swear to serve me, to do as I command?” — ADWD, The Watcher

“—that I am half a wildling myself, a turncloak who means to sell the realm to our raiders, cannibals, and giants.” Jon did not need to stare into a fire to know what was being said of him. The worst part was, they were not wrong, not wholly. “Words are wind, and the wind is always blowing at the Wall. Come.” — ADWD, Jon VIII

“Words are wind.” They are no better than me. We’re just the same. “You killed the others, why not him? Yellow Dick—” — ADWD, Theon I

The words seemed to give the girl some comfort. Words are wind, though, Ser Barristan thought. How can I protect the queen when I am not with her? — ADWD, The Queensguard

His years in the Kingsguard had taught him the trick of listening without hearing, especially useful when the speaker was intent on proving that words were truly wind. — ADWD, The Discarded Knight

Cersei walked on. I am blind and deaf, and they are worms, she told herself. “Shame, shame,” the septas sang. “Chestnuts, hot roast chestnuts,” a peddler cried. “Queen Cunt,” a drunkard pronounced solemnly from a balcony above, lifting his cup to her in a mocking toast. “All hail the royal teats!” Words are wind, Cersei thought. Words cannot harm me .… Words are wind, she thought, words cannot hurt me. — ADWD, Cersei II

A steady drip-drip-drip punctuated his words, as snowmelt ran off his cloak to puddle on the floor. The snow had been falling on King’s Landing most of the night; outside the drifts were ankle deep. Ser Kevan Lannister pulled his cloak about himself more closely. “So you say, ser. Words are wind.” — ADWD, Epilogue

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