homenergyguide

[viisiond]

@oflegendaries​ | Starter! (From Rhinedottir for Klee!)

          “It would seem... your mother has left you in my care.” And since Albedo was busy as could be with his studies- it seemed the only person Alice thought of next would be... Rhinedottir. And the alchemist was not a fan of the... ‘tiny terror’ existence. This was probably worse than a hilichurl horde.

         “...I will, attempt, to entertain you and keep you alive...........” a long pause, “....what is your name again?”

[alpaca-writes]

Mystics, Chapter 13

When Arch becomes hired on at Mystics by the strange shopkeeper Lyrem Nomadus, everything seems to be going well- in fact, their life nearly becomes perfection. Soon enough, however, Arch realizes that perhaps not everything is as perfect as it seems….

Read Chapters 1-12: Masterlist

Taglist: @myst-in-the-mirror, @livingforthewhump

CW: swearing, memory whump kind of, not much else actually.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: A WANING CRESCENT

“Say cheese!”

“Cheese!”

There was a flash of light.

Shazia threw her arms around Arch’s neck as Lyrem pulled away to inspect his photo. Their graduation robes weighed them down heavily and it was hot in the upper floor of the theatre, but they both managed a wide grin for the camera regardless. Arch pulled off their graduation cap and ruffled their short feathery hair after the insistent hug. Then, they played with the little green tassel on top, weaving it through a finger as their diploma was held in the same hand.

The idle twitching ceased as Benjamin strode up the stairs to the third level of the building abandoning his parents on the second floor. His freckled face and mess of dark auburn hair cradled his excitable expression about the chartered limos arriving. Arch handed off their cap and diploma to Lyrem, and pulled off the robe with a grateful sigh throwing it over the return desk. Their mauve rhine-stoned romper twinkled in the yellow lighting as well as their short white heels to match.

“Wait,” Lyrem commanded to the three before they were to abandon the rest of the adults for the night.

Arch stood in place. Lyrem wanted another photo.

He took his share of pictures and ushered the graduates off to enjoy their own night. Arch deserved a night of reckless fun. They had been so down lately. Likely because of all the changes they had been going through. Graduating high school was an exciting event, but also one that would mean the end of many friendships, and the end of a regular schedule. For Arch, it would also mean the end of a normal world. The last specks of their innocence would be tossed away like their graduation cap into the crowd. Lyrem held onto it now. He held onto it and would probably put it on display.

“Stay safe and stay out of trouble!” He shouted, seeing the last fluff of hair disappear down the steps as Arch turned the corner. He smiled to himself endearingly and sighed.

“Kids,” a voice tutted behind him. “Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.”

Lyrem straightened to a rigid board at the sound.

“Hekate,” he addressed, slowly, he turned toward the Goddess of the Moon. She watched him like a mother seeing their infant walk for the first time. A pitiful, sweet look it was. He grimaced toward her. “To what, do I owe the pleas”-

His voice cut out. Rude.

She breathed in deeply… and out. In the lighting and dispersing foot traffic, she very nearly glowed in her elegance, though she was wearing only a casual business outfit, striped trousers and a simple button up blouse, it made her beautifully dark complexion pop.

“I do enjoy your silence. Walk with me?”

If Lyrem had the ability to make a sound, Hekate may have heard a grumble from him. But he did as she requested, and followed the Goddess down the wide staircase, causing himself to wince with every third step. His knees were not quite as spry and healthy as they once were, if he were able to, he would have requested the use of the elevator instead. She descended the stairs elegantly beside him, as if she were floating.

“You seem to be happy,” She commented. “I like to see my children happy.”

Lyrem nodded, feigning a smile toward her as he clung to the banister. She wasn’t so easily fooled.

“Unfortunately, the time has come for you to deliver me what you owe.”

“What I owe?” His voice worked again, a single chance from her to provide the correct response. Knowing he failed, he didn’t bother to speak another time.

“Just because the woman you raised from death left you for another man, does not mean that your debt has been forgiven, Lyrem.”

He nodded, understandingly as they met the bottom of the stairs finally. His legs, thankful for the relief.

She smiled warmly. “You are in debt with several other God’s and Great Spirits as well as myself, are you not?”

Lyrem looked off to the glass doors; the last of the limousines drove off into the evening twilight. He refused to answer her, having one God after his literal heart was bad enough, to be reminded that there was yet another, was a kick in the pants.

“Hades demands your life and gained power as well, does he not?”

His head snapped back to her, his eyes wider, his thoughts and reckless nature betraying him. His voice worked again.

“How do you know about that?”

“You really believed you could trap the God of the Underworld in a Labyrinth?”

“Fuck.”

Hekate laughed.

“Do not fret, my child. He cannot reach the surface and so you are safe as long as you can avoid his… chosen emissaries.”

Lyrem nodded. “Well, that I can do.”

“Hm.” Hakate voiced absently. Strolling outside, she stared toward the west, where the sun was sinking behind the city buildings. “You’ve avoided paying your debts with many of us. Whether changing your name to avoid the fae, or substituting the sacrifice of your own life with the lives of others, or by throwing us into your little holes with help from silly little demons…”

Lyrem remained silent, waiting for the Goddess to finish.

“But from you, I have seen neither hide nor hair. I have been waiting for a scheme to arise, I was curious to see what you might come up with to shake me off your tail.”

“I don’t scheme,” he spouted at her, offended. “I plan.”

She smirked, yet again. Nothing ever seemed to upset this one. Nothing ever offended, or caused her to stray from her task at hand. Perhaps that was what disturbed Lyrem about her so. She never seemed to care. And yet she cared.

“There is no plan?” She asked. “Not for me?”

Lyrem fell into silence again. It was so tempting to tell her everything. She drew a calmness out of him that very few were ever capable of. He cleared his throat and straightened his posture.

“You gave me more than anyone else could. I would never trade my years with Maria for anything. I would not try evade what I owe to you for that favour.” He shuddered. Arch wasn’t ready yet. This was an earlier visit than he had been planning for, but Aurelius would tell him to accept his fate and be thankful for it, so, Lyrem tried. “If what you demand from me Hekate, is my life, my power, and essence, then I will go with you tonight and I will not challenge my fate any longer. I respect you too highly for that.”

“That is reassuring, but not what I need from you,” She interrupted him, touched by the gentle mention of his ex-wife. She stared at him expectantly.

“There is a plan.” Lyrem succumbed. “A retirement plan… I knew that eventually, one of my creditors would come to collect. Whether it be you or some other”- he sighed, and shook his head. “It’s Arch.”

“Ah, your latest…” Hekate raised a thick dark brow, “investment.”

“That might be one way of describing them, yes.” Stoically, as he tried, his composure faltered, ever so slightly.

“You care about them?”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Hm.”

Lyrem stopped at the road side, seeing his SUV parked across the street, he pulled his keys from his back pocket.

“Why are you here, Hekate?” he finally managed. “If not to settle my debt, then why have you come?”

She sighed, staring up to the sky above them that was growing different shades. In a couple hours, the world would be plunging into a deep darkness.

“I simply wanted to understand.” She spoke gently, then addressed him with a warmness that nearly made him buckle under her gaze. “I wanted to understand you… I am forgiving your debt.”

Lyrem blinked, taken aback by the sudden generosity.

“Excuse me?” He voiced.

She nodded to him.

“I… I don’t understand.” Lyrem stared at her, suspicious of her words. Disbelieving of her decision. “You gave me Maria back. I cannot ever repay you for that”-

“Exactly.” She said knowingly. “And you think me to take your little friend’s life in replacement of your own? That would be well and truly barbaric- not my style at all. You know this.

And I see now that there was once a time when you made deals to prosper, to control of the world around you; you made agreements to fill your pockets and to bring you pleasure- and that was with all sorts of spirits and demons and demi-gods”- she huffed. “But with me, you asked for your love to be returned to you. You loved another so much that you even allowed her to leave you for another man. I never once thought that you were capable of such a noble deed.

And here you are, trying to live a part of life that you never thought you could have… Do you know what is more valuable to a Goddess than the saintly wishes of a good man?”

Lyrem was confused. She had this effect on him the first time as well.

“… No.”

“The saintly wishes of a bad man.”

“Ah.”

“If there is one thing you can do in return for me, it’s to take care of those that care about you. Pay off your debts with the others, be accountable for what you have done.”

Lyrem tilted his head slightly.

“… But that isn’t all necessary, is it?”

She smirked, and looked into him one final time.

“Goodbye Lyrem, your debt to me is forgiven.”

She melted into the darkness until nothing remained behind, leaving Lyrem to ponder what this change in heart would well and truly mean for himself… and more importantly, Arch.

[clarste]

listen-and-reflect replied to your post:

Um, just wondering, why aren't you around much...

… I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on Arknights. I’ve paid no attention to it whatsoever, but if it impresses you, I’m curious.

To boil it down to its component elements, I’d describe Arknights as “urban fantasy catgirl tower defense gacha.” If any of those words viscerally disgust you, there’s probably not much I can do to convince you otherwise, but personally that was enough to intrigue me. And what I found when I tried it surprised me in a good way. Honestly I’ve been struggling for like a month for how to talk about this, but for the purposes of this post I’ll boil it down to three major elements: Aesthetics, Worldbuilding, and Gameplay.

First of all the Aesthetics. Might as well start with a picture or three:

For the record, yes, 90% of the characters in this game are women, and there’s no explanation for that, that’s just how it is. I am 100% fine with that because I am a Touhou fan. Anyway, what I want to draw attention to is the way these women are portrayed. IE: they are posed/costumed to be seen as “cool” and while they certainly aren’t unattractive, it isn’t in a horny way that emphasizes their breasts or butts or anything. It’s not a perfect “practical clothing only,” I mean high heels aren’t great for fighting and there are other characters who show more skin, but the philosophy carries through in all the official art: these are cool, capable women who are never once reduced to sex objects for the male gaze. I respect that.

Also you don’t get to marry any of them which is a huge plus in my book.

It’s hard to say any more on that without moving on to the Worldbuilding. Basically, the world of Arknights is both blessed and cursed with a magical rock called Originium which is the source of all their problems. First of all it’s a miraculous power source, the resource that fuels the engine of modern society. Not only that but it can be used as a medium to cast actual magic spells (which is of course a well-studied phenomenon that’s treated as a science). On the other hand, its very presence warps the environment, causing large-scale city-destroying natural disasters on a regular basis. And more importantly for the conceit of the narrative, it can get in your blood, eventually causing an incurable disease called Oripathy which involves your body slowing turning into crystal from the inside out. Basically magic rock cancer. Later stages of it involve visible “crystal lesions” growing on the skin, but even internal growths can have serious medical problems. This is sometimes shown in character designs too:

This is important to the worldbuilding because “The Infected” are a major source of discrimination and political unrest. Oripathy is only mildly contagious (you’re more likely to get it from mishandling the rocks directly), but the stigma of it is such that anyone with Oripathy is immediately quarantined, exiled, or worse. Both the player characters and their enemies are generally Infected, with the “good guys” (scare quotes intended) being a medical institute that takes in patients to treat the symptoms and vaguely hoping for a cure someday, while the “bad guys” are revolutionaries violently overthrowing the society that treats them as subhuman. There are analogies you could make to HIV, leprosy, or heck even current events with COVID-19.

Anyway, I say all this so I can turn to the in-game character profiles and how they’re structured. Specifically, they’re all medical reports written by the doctors of your institute (who are themselves playable characters who are Medics in-game):

(Incidentally everyone uses codenames in this game). Anyway, my point is that these are not neutral, objective “word-of-god” profiles, these are the facts as they appear to some particular person in-universe. In Touhou terms, these are written by Akyuu: some clinical facts mixed in with rumors and speculation. And I absolutely love that.

More than that though, we get this amazing invention:

Why yes, that is an in-game chart of all the characters’ relationships, grouped by people who belong to the same organization, that fills in as you play. And yes, raising trust with characters by using them does fill in the names of people close to them who you haven’t met yet, as well as new connections to unknown people. Who is friends with Croissant?! I must know!

Er... Anyway, I think having this chart in-game is quite frankly a genius move on the part of the developers, since it gets you immediately invested in seeing how the characters are connected. But wait, there’s more! When you pull a dupe from the gacha, you get a little token that can be used to upgrade a character slightly, pretty normal. But even these little tokens have tiny bits of story on them!

These are the items that are important to these characters, and they can change the way you see them. Every little thing in this game has story attached to it! It’s incredible! And they actually tell stories with these things. There’s one in particular that fascinates me (and others), but unfortunately I have exactly 0 of the characters involved so I’ll have to pull quotes from the wiki.

There are three characters from a faction called Rhine Lab: Ifirit, Saria, and Silence. The details are pretty vague, but basically Ifrit is an Infected child with incredible Originium channeling powers who’s been experimented on, and Saria and Silence are two doctors who were involved in those experiments but had a falling out after an experiment gone wrong. But how does the game tell you this? Well, lots of ways. Saria’s profile is the most explicit:

The relationship between Lady Saria and Rhine Lab is very complicated. Though all Rhine Lab Operators who work with Rhodes Island show some amount of respect for Lady Saria, Rhine Lab's Medic Operator, Silence, shows nothing but hatred for her. At the same time, Lady Saria appears unsurprised by Silence's feelings toward her. Whenever Lady Saria attempts to talk with Caster Operator Ifrit, Silence gets in the way. According to available information, the animosity between Saria and Silence stems from an experiment at Rhine Lab led by Silence. The experiment was an unfortunate failure. Lady Saria acted alone in suppressing the experimental materials that had gone out of control. Similarly, because of this experiment's mishaps, Lady Saria left Rhine Lab. It is not known why she chose to cooperate with Rhodes Island after leaving Rhine Lab.

But then you have Ifrit and Silence’s tokens:

A long novel telling a legendary story. It is badly burned and you can only barely make out the words.

A patterned feather decoration. This ineloquent researcher from Liberi shows her sincerity by gifting her own feathers.

But oh gee, guess who are wearing feather tokens in the designs?  (it’s Ifrit and Saria)

Also here’s Silence just so you aren’t left wondering what she looks like:

Anyway, the point is that the writers know how to throw tiny bits of characterization and hints of an untold story into literally everything in this game, and that is exactly what I live for.

Oh yeah, there’s also Gameplay.

Game’s pretty fun:

I enjoy it as a game too.

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Tuesday 10 April 1838: SH:7/ML/E/21/0074

7 25

12 10

finish morning – high wind – F41° at 8 40 – somehow I think more of A- than she deserves I wish I was well rid of her – Looking into Backwell and De la Beche (Geology) till 9 – then breakfast and sat downstairs talking till 10 – soon afterwards sat down at my desk and wrote 3pp. and under seal (of ½ sheet) to Lady S. de R- and wrote over again (to date my letter today) what I wrote to Lady S- on Sunday writing it now in 4pp. of ½ sheet and 1 p. of envelope – then wrote 4pp. (letter paper) to Lady V.C- chitchat to Lady S- and thanks for her letter and congratulations on the birth of the little Sibbella – delighted and exulting to have waited till practice has made perfect that my Sibbella may not be behindhand with the little people her predecessors – Lady S- writes ‘tho a daughter she is the finest child she has’ – offer to put myself at Lady S-‘s disposal for 2 or 3 weeks anytime after the end of this month – shall want only my maid – will send my carriage to the coach maker to have what done may be necessary for a longer journey and will send my manservant home – wrote the substance of all this to Lady S. de R- adding that a very unexpected circumstance but not  a windfall had upset my plans and that I now thought I should not be able to get quite off before near or after Xmas – wrote congratulations to Lady V.C- hope she did not feel the effects of her fall (just before her confinement) beyond the moment – mention having purchased the 2 books she recommended (Combe and Dr. Birgham) ‘much for us all to profit by, especially your mothers, whose olive-branches spring up, and thrive so pleasurably’ – ‘Surely you will condole with me on my being still here – I had arranged a plan of northern tour, and fixed the day for being in London; but a very unexpected circumstance upset my schemes once more; and I am waiting as patiently as I can – But I shall never go far without telling you – at this moment, I fear I cannot be absent for long together of some months to come – nous verrons – but I think I could manage a short while, and have just written to dear Lady Stuart, and offered to put myself at her disposal for 2 or 3 weeks’ then mention Breadalbanes’ asking my subscription to Mr. Robertsons’ work of travels and her ‘alluding with regret to his having published some foolish history of the Mclean family – of this I, of course, took no notice, as I really knew nothing about it – but considered Breadalbane’s request a sufficient reason for my taking two copies – she told me, too, of York being thought of as a place of residence for the Hugh Macleans, and that she herself, and the premier-lit girls were to spend the summer at her cottage, and talked of living together – why York for the Hugh Macleans? Is any part of England particularly cheap? Give a kiss for me to my little Sibbella, and to little Louisa, too, who behaved so beautifully at Leamington, and believe me always affectionately yours A. Lister’ – at 1 40 had just written so far of today and copied my letter to Lady S. de R- - then A- came to me all in the dolefuls about a handkerchief frill tried to get her right she had been very hardly used twice by me and now by her aunt  never thought of going to Cliff hill as she had done   could not bear    when she came here thought of going abroad and when I said I had offered her to go away to any friends or do anything I could she said she did not like to go with my servants  I said she had the whole management    I said I had nobody to advise with might I write to her sister  no it would be very hard  well said if I could but have my own way I should not fear  indeed but she did not like to be an automation I was very calm and quiet and said by and by she must forgive me if I did not forget the word automation I would not break her heart nor use her hardly nor make her an automaton  these things could be easily settled but every sensible kept up appearances as well as they could – she sat all the while on my knee  I begrudged the time and said I must seal my letters and go out she had before declined reading them she now said as she had waited so long she might as well read them her curiosity got the bette[r]  she made no remark nor did I – I hope I shall be rid of her by and by had I not be better remain a little with Lady Stuart if I can with any comfort? – at least I had best not return to A- sealed my letters (A- with me till 2 40) and wrote the last 17 lines till 3 – then in about ¾ hour wrote 3 pp. and ends to M- ‘Shibden hall. Tuesday 10  April 1838. It pothers me, my dearest Mary, to see amid my

SH:7/ML/E/21/0075

heap of unanswered letters one from you received Tuesday 27 February’ six weeks ago – not long compared with the term of my delinquencies to many other people, but longer than my custom is to youwards [towards you]– I let you take your own time, of late generally eked out to many weeks; but it is never my intention to let my pen be dilatorily to you, and I think it seldom is so, in fact – one reason of my waiting, I meant my date to have been from elsewhere – all was arranged and the day fixed for our begin off, when a very unexpected circumstance upset all; and here we are, and are likely to be off, at this moment, I cannot guess how much longer – I do not pretend to enter into any sort of explanation on paper – it would be too tiresome to say, or, rather to write, more than that poor Mrs. Walker imagines herself within some short while of that bourne from which no traveller returns; and we are lookers on – if you chance to come this way, you will, of course, come and see us – if not, you will take it for granted, as I do, that ‘all things work together for good’ ..... glad to hear so good an account of her mother no wonder at M-‘s bad cold..... ‘when is Lawton to be finished? your comfort is at stake; and therefore I am anxious for the completion – as far as Shibden is concerned, I have got over all impatience – my care about the finishing is reduced is reduced to very comfortable dimensions – I am so engrossed with other things, I have little time for musing about my house – but, I do assure you, I seriously meditate making my escape by and by – your account of Mr. Lawton is so excellent, it seems as if he, like many others who have been ailing for many years, may survive many of the stronger and junior ones of our day – what you allude to, may, with his own common care, be of little nuisance or danger – I cannot help hoping you might slip away for 5 or 6 weeks well enough, if such should be recommended by your own inclination, and more especially by your medical advisers – I have not time to run into the minutiae of Rhine expense – my rough calculation was 25fr. ie. one pound English sterling per day – taking very little luggage – no servant (you and Mrs. M- would not want one) and travelling by steam – the fares are very moderate – I dare not say I myself ever travelled exactly at this rate; but I know that it has been done – there is no difficulty or disparagement in dining for 3fr. having breakfast and supper for 3fr. and bed for 2fr. = 8fr. and one fr. for the servants will suffice, leaving 16fr. out of the 25fr. for steaming and etc. quite enough si les voyageurs le veulent – It is travelling en milord that is expensive – 4 horses and 2 postboys not only entail your own expense but double everything else’ – as M- regrets gently leaving Leamington ‘I abate my own sorrow – I still however wish you well backed out of all your scholastic troubles’ – conclude she is still at Moreton – no doubt I should much approve all your alterations – your description vivâ voce would be more agreeable than any other means of bringing them before me, except in situ – I hope the prince with a long name has along enough purse’........who has just married Mr. W. Crewes’ cousin – ‘Perhaps  you are busier than I – it may be so – but it does not take long to write me enough to inform me how you are, and where you are – However, I am always satisfied – come what may, there ought to be a never failing spring of happiness within us all – as touching those I am interested about, I always believe all right, till I am credibly informed to the contrary – I anticipate no [disagrees] – I dream but little – yet the little is carefully selected from what is pleasantest – I never saw any good in moody musings – God bless you Mary! you or your letters will find me here, and always faithfully and affectionately yours AL’ – at 4 10 had just written the last line of p. 137, the whole of the last p. and so far of this – then sealed my letter to ‘Mrs. Lawton hall, Lawton, Cheshire’ and left also ready for the bad tonight my letter to ‘the honourable Lady Stuart Whitehall’ and to ‘The Lady Stuart de Rothesay undercover to ‘Lord Stuart de Rothesay, Carlton terrace, London’ and my letter to ‘The Lady Vere Cameron Achnacarry Fort William Invernesshire’ went out at 4 20 – a few minutes with Robert Mann + 5 levelling at the meer in the morning and in the afternoon in the garden George Naylors’ horses carting clay from the flower garden to the great sycamore, and my own cart bringing clay from the Laundry road side to cover over the turret passage – the 2 teams carts in the morning bringing necessary stuff from Hx- on to the land – then to Listerwick pit walked there with Joseph Mann – told him the engine would be a £700 business – I had no choice – I must either let the colliery or settle about it someway – then to John Oates – laid up with an inflammation in his right hand and about the wrist – Mr. Swallow came and I went out while he was there – then returned and was an hour at John’s told him about the engine – he still inclines to an endless chain – and thinks the engine will cost little more working their ginning with horses would have done for 2 horses could hardly have done the work – said what I had said to Holt about knowing what the coal would make me clean per acre – said I only wanted £150 per acre for the coal (very fair said John) and 10pc. on outlay – but this would be near £6000 – say £5500 at the least – say 3 acres per annum £450 + £550 = £1000 – John thought it could not clean so much – but said he thought it really would clear me £300 per acre - .:. if 4 acres – could be sold per annum it would pay – there will be a deal of straight work but this will leave something – In fact, John says, I must go on now – and only wait a little and the Dove house coal will be bought reasonably and then I can go on without incurring any more expense in looses as long as I live – John says he thinks we can sell 3 acres if the coal is as good as that got at [Ship] Inn pit, the quality will sell – none like it hereabouts – well! I must go on, and if I can weather out [of] the storm a little longer perhaps I shall do pretty well at last – I think I can manage – at all rates, I will not despair – came in at 6 ¾ - gave A- my letter to M- to read – went into the cellar – 1 port 1 marsala – dinner at 7 10 – A- poorly – could not see Joseph Mann who came at 8 about Landymere – went to bed at 8 ½ - I made my own coffee and sat reading

SH:7/ML/E/21/0076

the h-x Guardian till 10 ½ - then 5 minutes in the west tower – the cupboard above the stairs ceiling put up – then wrote the last 25 lines till now 10 55 pm at which hour F50° finish afternoon and evening dampish in the morning with highish wind – and whistling wind tonight – I looked very grave at dinner A- had a headache temper-sick so I let her go off to bed and have taken no notice  I must be rid of her be it as it may hear bad temper vulgar pride and littleness of mind   would be an insupportable drag upon me for the rest of my life – surely I shall get some way I dread the loneliness most but heaven will provide me even against this in some way  had A- been barely tolerable I could have go ton perhaps I am obliged to her aunt for making me this opportunity of getting off does A- suspect my thought of not returning to her?  cunning and suspicious as she is does she think that I hope not to trouble her long? – had Booth tonight till near 7 – told him JO. was still for the endless chair – that Garforth was to send plans of with and without; and we would all meet at John Oates’s at 3pm on Friday instead of here – has A- thought much of losing the forget-me-not ring I gave her? then read Bakewells’ geology for 10 minutes till 11 35

[egodraconis]

@crystallomance a small drabble bc the inspiration struck me

“Do you know the story of Fáfnir?”

“That’s an old Norse tale, yeah? Of the dwarf who stole from the gods and became a dragon?”

He smiled, wrinkles about his eyes deepening as he glanced up to the sky. “Something like that-watch your step.”

“What-ah!” The youth stumbled, focusing on her footing as they scaled the mountain trail. It was the depths of summer, though here in the mountains of Germany cool alpine winds helped stave off the sun.

“Balbus, I know you’re partial to your allegories-” Lorelei began, pulling out a water bottle to soothe her throat.

“Then you will permit me to indulge in this one,” the elderly man crooned, looking back at the girl with a mischievous glance. She merely sighed and carried on, having long since learned most of his lessons are delivered the scenic route.

“You are partially correct - though the dwarf never stole from the gods. Indeed, it was the other way around. It is a story much too long I think even for me to tell in what short time we have before we reach our destination-”

“Where are we headed anyways?”

“That is for me to know, I believe your kind say, and you to find out.”

He chuckled, pausing to glance down to the glittering serpent of the Rhine below, cutting its way through the German wilds.

“In summary, the dwarves are in my opinion the victims of this story. Ótr, youngest of the siblings three beneath the Dwarf Hreidmar, spent his days in otter shape-yes that is how the animal came to its name-eating fish. As the three Aesir Loki, Odin, and Hœnir traveled to visit with Hreidmar, they spied the otter in a river and slew it with a rock. Not knowing this to be the son of the Dwarf they visited, they offered up its skin in pride, and the dwarves, furious at what the Aesir had done, held them hostage.

“Loki was set loose, given the task of filling the otter-skin with gold and the outer-pelt with redgold in payment for the life they had taken as ransom for the other Aesir. Loki, of course, saw to it that the gold the skin was filled with that which belonged to Andvaranaut, another dwarf, who it was known had put a curse on his valuables to bring misfortune and death to any but he who owned the wealth.”

The pair paused at the keening of a raptor, unseen above the canopy of the trees that now lined the path deeper into the hills they ventured. Balbus drank the sun that poked through the boughs above for a moment, before continuing.

“Of course, after all was said and done and the ransom paid the dwarf Fafnir slew his own father and made off with the gold, and this is where many accounts become twisted. It is said his greed and malice twisted the dwarf Fafnir into a serpent, a vile wyrm who’s breath turned the Rhine poison so that none may dare venture near his lair and take his cursed gold.

“In truth, the Dwarf Fafnir had not the gold a day before he himself was swallowed by a wyrm, name lost to time, who coveted the gold for its own. But this tale eventually reached the ear of Sigurd, hero and foster-son of Regin, the only survivor of the dwarven family and he slew the beast-ah, we are here.”

Balbus came to rest before a cave-well, a gap, really. To call it a cave would be a disservice, for it’s entrance was near-hidden by decades of soil erosion and overgrowth that had he not pointed it out, Lorelei would have walked past it assuming it just part of the rocky hillside.

“Come, it is just wide enough for us to enter one by one. It is wider once we are in.”

“This is how horror movies start, you realize. Nobody knows where we are.”

“Did you not send word to your parents that you are taking a trip to the country?”

Lorelei sighed.

“They’re halfway around the world on an island, there wouldn’t be much they could do.”

He smiled, as did she, and a small light flickered to life between his fingers as he led the way in. Though cramped, the two found it easy enough to squeeze by-taking a few scrapes of dirt on their clothes as they did so. But once inside, the cave widened and, looking about, Lorelei realized that the entrance had suffered a landslide that had since settled.

It was not a very deep cavern, either. Little more than a tunnel, she observed, burrowed perhaps a couple dozen meters into the mountain in a straight enough line. Following her mentor she took in the rocks bathed in the white of Balbus’ mage light, noticing odd scrapes here and there where the rock had worn smooth.

“Here we are,” he breathed, snuffing the arcane candle and plunging them into dark.

“What-okay, Balbus, I know you can probably see in the dark but-” “Let your eyes adjust. There is light.”

Sure enough as the moments passed Lorelei took note of the faint sunlight threading through small gaps in the ceiling. It dappled the cave floor and cast soft beams upon motes of dust dancing in the air, bringing to her attention the sparse greenery of spare ferns that struggled for life by rooting the dirt that coated what she could only assume had been a pure stone floor once upon a time.

But it was what she noticed beyond, curled against the furthest wall that caught her eyes. Root-choked and painted brown by the water that seeped through the earth above, the bones seemed to rise as though a part of the rock itself. 

The remains stretched in a half-crescent, and in some places the buildup of dirt and mineral rose so high that they were completely encased, the tail threading out through the other side. A wingless thing, or no wings that she could see, but just a massive length of spine and rib, with a single twisted claw, having come loose from the body with decay. 

 She must have made some noise of surprise, as Balbus gave a small laugh.

“Noticed him, then?”

“Is that..” “Aye. That is Fafnir. Or, Fafnir’s dragon. A bit of a Frankenstein’s monster scenario, to be sure. Time has seen to it that they are one in the same.”

“Wasn’t he killed getting a drink from a river?”

“So the story goes. But he did not die from his wounds immediately, having the strength enough to limp back to his home, to his gold, and die in his home.”

Her gaze shifted from the impossible bones to Balbus, the expression he bore something she had never seen before. Sorrow, but not like any she had experience with.

“Did you know him?”

“I did not. But I grieve for him no less than I would any child of mine. Tell me, Lorelei, how does he look?”

The girl was a bit taken aback by the question. How does he look?

“...I don’t know what you mean.”

“Describe him to me.”

“Is this some sort of test?”

“No test,” he soothed, “Just the wishes of an old thing past his prime. I cannot see him as once I could-”

“Wait. Are you...can you not-”

“See?” He managed a smile. “I have been blind since the day you met me, Lorelei. Blind in the way you would describe it, at least. I can still see-you standing next to me, I can see the ferns that cling to life, and the shrew that scuttled underfoot as we entered this grave. But color? Light? It eludes me now.”

“...I don’t know what to say.”

“There is nothing to be said. But describe him to me.”

And she did - she spoke, though the words were not graceful, or eloquent, she described the rivulets in the bone channeled and scoured through centuries of water trickling from the cave roof. The reddish hue of bone from the deposits of minerals in the soil. The earth that rose to swallow the bones, the sharpness of teeth that still sat very capable of taking life if that hornless skull were to be granted one last bite.

She saw - though she would never admit as much openly to him - the wetness that filled his gaze. 

“Come,” he whispered. “Let the dead have their rest.”

A breeze tugged at her hair and she wrestled with a loose strand as they ate their lunch on the hill.

“Mind my asking what exactly the lesson was?” She spoke, between mouthfuls of pear. A few hours had passed now, and the tensity of the grave seemed to have passed with time. “I don’t mean to imply I wasn’t listening, but sometimes it can take me a while to get what exactly you’re saying.”

He considered her for a moment, studying her face, before turning to look out over the Rhine valley below. He lifted the tea to his lips and said, “I admit to you Lorelei, there was no lesson intended this time. This was just...an old man visiting a grave, and wanting the company of a dear friend during the trip.”

“But if there were a lesson to be gleaned here, however accidental, I would not turn down your having learned it.”

“So you admit we’re friends.”

“I never implied we were not,” he scoffed, giving her a sidelong glance. Lorelei wore a teasing grin, and took another bite of her pear.

[inkstaineddove]

The von Katte Affair

Characters: Prussia

Summary: Gilbert stood besides Frederick, staring out into the courtyard of Kustrin. Neither of them wanted to be there. Neither of them wanted to see this. Neither of them should've seen this.

It was the first time either of them had wanted to die.

Potsdam, 1730 Two sets of black toed boots clipped through the halls of the plainly decorated palace. The shorter of the two men talked animatedly about the state of the military. The taller one nodded along, only half paying attention since he'd heard this speech yesterday. They were making their way towards the garden to watch one of the regiments run through its drills when a courtier stopped them. "Your majesty! Your majesty! I bring grave news from the border!" He skidded to a halt before the two men, almost crashing into the albino. Frederick William assessed the courtier with annoyance. "What is it? Out with it, I don't have all day."

"His royal highness, the crown prince, he's fled for England. He was seized on the border with France with another officer. I believe he goes by the name of von Katte." The king's jaw tightened. He turned around, facing away from everyone else. "What’s been done with them?" "They're being detained in Kustrin while awaiting your orders." He spun back around, hitting the courtier in the knees with his cane, forcing the young man to come crashing down onto the floor. "Are you a fucking idiot? What do you expect me to do? Two of my officers committing treason, one of them my own son? I want their heads and those of anyone else who acted alongside them!" He kicked the courtier until the man scrambled up. "Do you understand? I will not be made the laughing stock of Europe over this! My own fucking son...I want his head mounted on a pike and paraded through Berlin! Are my orders clear enough?" The courtier didn't answer. Instead, he ran back in the direction in which he came. Frederick William huffed. "I should've drowned that boy in the Rhine the day he was born. He's been nothing but a nuisance. Gilbert," He looked at the nation besides him. "Go to Kustrin. This was a slight against you as well. You're the only one I can rely on to make sure my will is carried out. Now get out of my sight." The king stalked off into the gardens, ready to yell at any soldier who was so much as a fraction of a step out of line. Gilbert sighed. The king had a point - the crown prince had been trouble for quite some time. He'd been moody and trying to eschew all his duties to play flute and read instead. Gilbert could understand that. He remembered when he was a young nation and enjoyed pissing off his father. Annoying Germania was his favorite past time if he wasn't pestering Hungary or Poland. This went beyond adolescent antagonism. The king was right, this was high treason and he'd make sure Frederick would understand that whether it was the last thing he did. --- "Don't play dumb with me, Fritz. You almost got into France. There were obviously more people who helped you out. I'm not an idiot." Gilbert made his way toward where Frederick was seated. He moved with the carelessness of a cat, acting uninterested in the whole interrogation. "I know I act like one, but I'm not. I'm more intelligent than you're giving me credit for. I know a lie when I hear one." "I was the only one who did anything. Katte followed only in an effort to stop me. He was trying to do the right thing and doesn't deserve the punishment you barbarians are giving him! I acted alone and got that far all on my own! See, Gilbert, I'm not nearly as incompetent as you and father would like to believe just because I don't get off from hunting dumb fucking animals and doing all that stupid military shit just to suck Austria's dick." Prussia turned around and pretended to be shocked. "Wow. Those are some very strong sentiments coming from his royal highness. Care to recant?" "Fuck you, you red-eyed freak." "That's what I thought. Alright, we'll go back to playing your game." Gilbert picked up the cane that was resting by the door. Without a word, he walked behind Frederick, making sure to be out of the other's vision. He waited till he saw the teen tense up. Then Gilbert started beating the crown prince in the back with it, releasing all the frustration he was feeling about the whole situation. "That's three for lying again, one for calling your countrymen barbarians, four for insulting the king, one for not referring to him correctly, and five because I'm sucking dick to not go into another thirty year war and sucking that dick got me this kingdom that you don't seem to care about. And here's two more because I can." When he was done, he went back around so Frederick could see him. He let the cane drop to the floor and watched the child who would be his next boss. The crown prince had bit his lip so hard that he'd cut through. Gilbert watched the blood drip down Frederick's chin and felt his hand twitch. At this point, he was no longer sure if it was to wipe it away or to slap him. When Frederick looked up, he had some tears in his eyes that, thankfully, hadn't fallen. Gilbert ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "Fritz, there's an easy way of doing this. Just tell the truth. The king's tearing up Berlin and Potsdam, wanting me to get a confession out of you - regardless of the truth - then send you to your death. All this shit, this is a waste of fucking time. Do you want to die?" The crown prince didn't answer. A pit grew in his stomach, but Prussia forced himself to ignore it. He knelt in front of the crown prince so that they were at eye-level with each other. "Just give me the names. No judge in their right mind will sentence anyone who helped you to death. And, when you inherit the throne, you can pardon them! Everything's erased and life can continue. But, for now, I need the names." Frederick sighed. Gilbert could see the fight leaving the prince's body. "Fine. We'll try this your way. There were Katte and Keith, but Keith should be far away by now so please leave him be. Lieutenant von Spaen may have caught onto something, but kept his cards close to his chest." Gilbert nodded. He'd get a better statement later. The important thing was that he'd broken Frederick. The king's ministers could fight for the details that Frederick William wouldn't need to consider in his decision. "Danke. You can head back to your cell now. The real ministers will deal with you after lunch." He sighed and smiled, feeling a weight off his chest. "You're not a bad kid, Fritz. You're really not. You're just like you're father sometimes, blind to any perspective but your own." Frederick strained to get up out the chair. He wouldn't say anything, but his back was screaming in pain from the fresh marks on it. He stumbled to the door, stopping when he heard the last bit of what Gilbert said. "And you're a fucking neanderthal. We're not friends, Gilbert. We're not going to be." "I've told you this before, I can't disobey your father. He's my boss. If I had it my way, you would've been raised differently. All of you would've been." "And I've told you this before, I wish you'd die. What's your kind good for anyway? We're royalty. We've got plenty of mindless buffoons to carry out our every whim. We don't need morons that only take up space and resources." Frederick stomped out and slammed the door as hard as his body would allow him. Gilbert stood in the room, staring after him. It took a few minutes, but he finally laughed. "Kid, you think I haven't thought about that before? As if I'd actually want to live this kind of life." --- Gilbert stood besides Frederick, staring out into the courtyard of Kustrin. Neither of them wanted to be there. Neither of them wanted to see this. When Gilbert had delivered the verdict, he'd hoped Frederick would've yelled at him. If the crown prince would've showed him how he felt, he would’ve been able to deal. He'd always known how to deal with his anger. Instead, Frederick had broken down. Gilbert was forced to comfort the man as best he could. He hadn't held the prince in years, he hadn't let Gilbert get close enough once he figured out he was on the king's side. That was an hour ago. When Katte was brought out, Gilbert looked away. He didn't want to watch his crown prince's lover die. He didn't need to see this, why had he been ordered to watch as well? Frederick William would get an official report of how the event unfolded from some low-level guard who'd blow his paycheck at a pub afterwards. The king didn't need Gilbert's first-hand account, both would detail the same thing. He'd been in many battles before, seen many deaths, but the idea of this one made Gilbert nauseous. He started to walk away when Frederick grabbed his arm and stopped him. "You've followed all his other orders and you'll follow this one. We're both to suffer." The crown prince didn't look at him. His voice dropped to a pained, pleading whisper. "Don't force me to go through this alone to only spare yourself." Prussia sighed and turned back to the window. He watched Katte sing hymns and pray as he made his way towards them. He watched the dignity with which the young man approached death. He watched - maybe with tears, maybe with none - Frederick and Katte call out to each other, saying everything that had been left unsaid. He watched Katte's head roll to the floor was ease and the crown prince fall into his arms, unconscious. Gilbert watched. --- For the first days after the execution, all was not the same. The guards pretended to go about business as usual. They ignored the moans and screams from Frederick's cell. They tuned him out, made jokes that it was a ghost in the prison instead of the heir to the throne hallucinating and seeing his dead lover in the room with him. The few times that someone entered the room to bring him food or drink, the prince would repeat that Katte was there. Katte was there and he wanted Frederick to flee with him. Every time he tried to leave, he wouldn't be allowed to get through the wall and Katte would return for him, promising to never leave. Why wouldn't they let Frederick leave? The guards and ministers made an executive decision to omit this to Frederick William. For his part, Gilbert stayed away from Kustrin. He spent every hour in different pubs and churches throughout the town - unsure of whether drink or devotion would bring him salvation after this new crime. He couldn't get the images out of his head. He couldn't stop seeing Katte's eyes and Frederick's limp body. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd failed somewhere along the way. He'd done exactly as he was told, but he'd still forced the worse outcome to happen. It was the first time Gilbert had wanted to die. A message from the king was the only thing that forced him to return back to Kustrin weeks later. He forced himself to smile at everyone he saw. He resisted the urge to ask the other ministers how they slept at night knowing that they all  helped the king satisfy an unnecessary bloodlust. How they could look at themselves in the mirror and not see the blood that was all over them. Prussia stopped in front of the prince's door. He was afraid of what state he'd find him in. He'd heard whispers of what he was like from workers at the prison who came to the pubs at night. He didn't expect to see a Frederick who was relatively put together, with eyes that weren't bloodshot, and his nose buried in some snooty French literature. The prince nodded at him, indicating that Gilbert had his full attention. "The king's pardoned you. You're not facing any punishment. All you've got to do is swear an oath of loyalty to your father and play by his rules." He was troubled by the distressed look on the prince's face. "That means you live. Come on, Fritz, you get a second chance. You're free." This made Frederick laugh. He carefully put his book down and regarded the nation before him. "But at what cost?"

[moonraccoon-exe]

(1) Hey you fluffy sweet angel! How are you doing? *throws a bunch of moonflowers over you * I'm not so good at the moment. The heat is back, the thunderstorm only helped for a couple days and we have days on days of heat again and it makes me feel so sick. I'm so super sensitive with heat and on top of that it is that time of the month again and I have cramps and I don't want to take tons of pain meds, so my sleep doesn't come easy. But it is good sleep when I finally fall asleep.

*IS CALLED FLUFFY SWEET ANGEL*

*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK*

*MOONRACCOON.EXE HAS STOPPED WORKING AND CANNOT REBOOT*

*EXPLODES*

HOW     DARE    YOU CALL ME THAT OH MY GAWD AH AHSDJFGHDAJHASDJHF AAAAAAAAAH!! (*ﾉ▽ﾉ)

*is a shy blushing, giggling mess for a bit*

*louD GASP*

PERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

Peridot, my dear, hello again!! I’m SOOOO happy to see you around again!! *HUGS* HNGMHMGM HM, DEAR PERIDOT HELLO ( ˙꒳​˙ )

Imma put a read more here, buddy! I hope you don’t mind :3

I’m doing good, thank you!! 

There were a bit of troubles at the little school I go to, some unfair stuff, the kind where a teacher and our audio engineer have favorites and lied about the rest of the group, so now we’re the ugly crust in school in the principal’s eyes…but it’s something we can’t do much about, principal will believe teacher above us, and the audio engineer (who hates us so much) even more…what with her being his daughter… (。。 )

So yeah, it’s one of those cases when it’s best to stay quiet. Talking is the right thing, but does nothing and only gets us in troubles. So that’s that! Luckily I only have to go 1 and half month more before passing the course and leaving that teacher behind. Hnnnhg >

But other than that, I’m good, thank you!! Still healing real nice and good :3

GASPS

MOONFLOWERS!!! 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! PRECIOUS WONDERFUL MOONFLOWERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

Imma make myself a nest with them. A good nice fresh precious nest made of moonflowers that my buddy Peridot gave me, that’s what Imma do with these. Because I’m writing this by little parts, say, I’ll take a break sometime to go lie in my freshly made, new nest of moonflowers and sleep, what about tha-

*yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwn*

Nyam nyam. Aah. Gotta snuggle in bed in a sec! (o´▽`o)

GASPS

OH NOES

My magic wasn’t enough to control the heat!! Dammit, I guess I’m not powerful enough to control the weather itself for more than a couple days aah :( I’ve heard from my buddy over there too that it’s been unbearably hot! I live in a tropical country as itself and it’s been very hot, but I think it’s been bearable? Aaah, hopefully it gets better for you soon! How has it been recently? Has it been better?

It’s even worse knowing that you’re so sensitive to that sort of weather >

It’s good that you don’t want to take tons of meds, though, that can get risky, I guess? A moderate use is great, though, so I’m happy that you’re not taking tons, despite it being more difficult to get some sleep due to the cramps. Ajdaoiwjf skljfalskgj af aw buddy, sounds like you got very unlucky those days, with everything piling up; the world poking you with a stick just to annoy you. So bad!

I hope at least you’re doing better now? Surely and hopefully the cramps are already over, right? Maybe the heat is out of our control until next month, but the cramps is hopefully a matter of a couple days only and then bye for another month! :3 

It’s still so bad to know you had such a bad time having to deal with both the unbearable heat and with those days of cramps. So sorry to hear that, buddy!! *pets you*

It’s good to know though that even though you had troubles falling asleep those days, it was good sleep when you did get some!! There’s nothing more gratifying than knowing that, Peridot, because I know how much you sometimes struggle with sleeping and everything. I hope that most your nights have been restful and wonderful, and that you’ve slept as good as possible :)

*gAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSPS*

YOU

HAVE

A

DOGGO!?!?!?!?!?!!?!

*sQUEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKKKKK*

*EXPLODES*

*UNCONTROLLABLY FLAILING ALL OVER THE PLACE*

YOU HAVE A DOGGO AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH

THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY

I LOVE DOGGOS

DOGGOS ARE SO PURE AND THE BEST AND I LOVE EVERY PUPPO AND DOGGO IN THE PLANET AND EVERY OTHER GALAXY AND UNIVERSE

YOU HAVE A DOGGO CALLED SUSI

AND THAT IS SO WHOLESOME AND MY LIFE IS SO BEAUTIFUL RIGHT NOW HNSGHFSNGHDF ADHNGFSHNG

*SQUEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK*

YOU HAVE A DOGGO!!! Peridot, buddy, you have a doggo, that’s so exciting to know!!! Why hadn’t you told me before aaaaah, I LOVE SUSI ALREADY PLEASE PET HER AND PAMPER HER AND CUDDLE HER FOR ME OKAY, SUSI IS GOOD AND I LOVE HER ♡ ～(‘▽^人)

Oh noes, she underwent surgery!! But HOLY YES, she did fine and she’s healed and she’s feeling SO GOOD and better than ever before!!!

*sQUEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK* THAT MAKES ME SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!! ❤❤❤❤

wHAT A GOOD DOGGO. I’M SO HAPPY SHE’S DOING WELL AND I’M SO HAPPY THAT SHE’S BETTER THAN EVER AND I’M SO HAPPY SHE EXISTS AND THAT SHE’S HAPPY AND THAT SHE’S HEALTHY AND THAT SHE’S REAL AND I LOVE HER SO MUCH I’M SO HAPPY SHE’S HAPPY, I’M HAPPIER FOR HER HAPPINESS THAN  MY OWN LIFE OH MY GAWD GOOD PUPPO DOGGO DESERVES ALL THAT JOY AND HEALTH I’M HAPPY FOR HER GODS BLESS ♡ (⇀ 3 ↼)

 JACK RUSSEL TERRIER. I LOVE THEIR EARS. I LOVE THEIR EVERYTHING. THEY BE SO CUTE THEY BE SO NICE I LOVE SMOOCH

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASPS

MY DOGGO!?!?!?! OHM GAH MOOGLES YOU’RE AKSING ABOUT MY DOGGO THIS IS SO EXCITING AND SOA SJFDAKN IFIAJNF UIE NRSGSNFG

*UNINTELLIGIBLY GURGLING*

HALP

I DROWN

I 

DED

AOSKJDFLEAGJ AKDFJKDG HWAOIJRKDALJGD 

OKay, okAY I neED to caLM DOWN *breathes*

MY DOGGO!!! YESYESYESYES, MY DOGGO! (/▽＼*)｡o○♡

My doggo’s name is a bit awkward to say because I fear how it may come off to non spanish speakers, ahahaha. Basically her name…. *furiously blushes* Her name is the spanish word for “female black one”. Because. Because she’s black lol

It’s a funny story that she has such a boring name though, but as a summary, we weren’t expecting to have a puppo doggo, so her arrival was partly a surprise, and they told us it was a male doggo (we couldn’t check because the tiny thing was sorta scared and she buried face and claws between my elbow and torso and wouldn’t let me put her away), so we named her Kovu like the Lion King 2′s protag, because “he” was black, then we took her to the vet and oops it’s her not him, so while we thought of a name for a puppo she, we called her either by “Negra” (black one) or “Cachorra” (puppy), which are now the only two names she reacts to lmao

Well okay sometimes she reacts to “Idiot”, but I say it with love ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡

She’s a mix of a mix of who knows how many mixes, and looks a lot like a lab + cocker mix in black. SHE FLUFFY. And fat. .A. AND FLUFFY AND PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL TINY LITTLE THING I’D TAKE A BULLET FOR HER DAMMIT I LOVE HER WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND SHE’S MY PUPPO DOGGO AND KALSJDFKLDAJGAKDLF JALKJDAKLGJADF *PASSES OUT OF LOVE*

OF COURSE I’VE BEEN PETTING HER FOR YOU AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHE DESERVES ALL THE PETTING KASLJDKDLAJF GAKLSDJ AKLSFJ AKLDFJA SKL DJS AKLFAS JFLK

Just recently there was a very ugly thunderstorm and because we’re both easily frightened and mostly home alone, we both had to go snuggle in my papas’ bed and I pet her all the time because she was trembling so much kalsjdfklajg akdlfj afasdjkl but enough about me aaaah, I got carried away (*ﾉ▽ﾉ)

North Rhine Westphalia, huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh? THAT IS SO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Well okay I had never heard of it but it’s on the border with Netherlands and that is SO COOL and I bet it must be BEAUTIFUL!! o(>ω

I also checked on the map and it’s a couple hours from my other friend’s pplace, but THAT IS OKAY, I WOULD WALK THE 40+ HOURS THE MAP SAYS I WOULD HAVE TO WALK (I know I’d use public transport, so no worries really, ahahaha).

I also happen to have family living there! I just don’t know exactly where, but it looks like I’d have plenty to do over there. Imma work hard to save enough to stay for at least a month, gotta visit my family and my buddy and you! Nort Rhine Westphalia. I won’t forget!! (˙︶˙)♡

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS, GOING TO THE  MEDIEVAL MARKET IS A MUST. Even before knowing you, I had already wanted to go visit during winter because SNOW (we get snow in Mexico, just in the northern states. Last time it snowed in the city it was in 1997 [the same year AND season and I think even MONTH I was born COINCIDENCE? I THINK THE HELL NOT, IT WAS BECAUSE OF ME THAT IT SNOWED, I BE A MOON CHILD AND HENCE MADE OF SNOW MYSELF]), and I mean there’s three or four mountains relatively nearby where it does snow but I never get to go :C

SO YES,SNOW. SNOW IN THE STREETS.SNOW EVERYWHERE. I LOVE SNOW.I AM SNOW. 

And then you told me that winter is the season of one of those beautiful medieval markets? WINTER IT IS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DECIDED IN MY LIFE KALJSDKS LJGKDLAJ KLSDJFEKALFDJ KLJ

I’d be more than excited and happy about going to the market with you!! The market alone as itself sounds like an unforgettable experience, and being with you, that’s what I look forwards the most. I could even miss the market, I could even forget english and have no way to talk with you, I’d still be happy to just stand there next to you :3

You’re a wonderful creature, a sweet little angel, and a very good and very dear friend to me. So really, because it’s a lot of troubles for me to travel (always difficult when it’s a big country and when it only connects to another 2 countries dammit), I could be there just one day and say nothing, and I’d have an unforgettable experience just being with you. I’m so looking forward to it, however long it may take!!

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASPS

THE TINY TWINS!!! :D

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH, it made me so happy that you mentioned them, Peridot!! And even happier to know that you liked them and that you think they’re cool, aaa. Thank you!! (⇀ 3 ↼)

Yah, making avatars similar to oneself, just a bit more badass, that’s totally my jam! Whenever I play a game that revolves around making a character, I always try to make a hooman me and adding what I’d like to have or be, like a badass Glaive! c: 

I was very surprised when Comrades first came out and most people were making OC’s, I thought that it was more common that people made themselves first!! Haha! But yeh, that’s what I always do, and it’s super cool to know that you do that too! Makes me curious as to what sort of characters you make and what you’d add to them. Fire magic looks like a must! :D

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSPS

YOUHAVEATWINBROTHER!?!?!?!?!!

PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

*EXPLODES*

AISJKDLFSAGJ AKLSJFAKLS LFAHDGLKAJKLFAS FJAKLSG LKAJDLAKSJFAD

*UNCONTROLLABLY FLAILING AND SPASMING ON THE GROUND LIKE IT’S BEING ELECTROSHOCKED*

SHRIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

*UNCONTROLLABLY EXPLODING NON-STOP LIKE A COLLAPSING STAR*

i nEED A BREATHE I NEED TO TAKE A BREAK BECAUSE I WON’T BE ABLE TO SAY ANYTHING PROPERLY WITHOUT EXPLODING IN EXCITEMENT I’LL TRY TO CALM DOWN THEN EXPLAIN AH SAJFD GJKNDAMFDA

*BREATHES*

PERIDOT, YOU HAVE A TWIN!!!!! ♡ ～(‘▽^人)

Maybe you didn’t know yet because it’s not something I go around saying but I’M A NERD FOR TWINS. I don’t have one or anything, but…hnngg….reasons! So whenever I see anything about twins in a game or book or anything, I go ABSOLUTE NUTS, because twins are like, my FAVORITE THING AAAAH

I think the concept is SOOOOOOOOO badass and so cool!! Having a twin must be SUPER AWESOME AND LOTS OF FUN, aaah!!

IT’S SUPER COOL THAT YOU HAVE A TWIN BROTHER, PERIDOT, IT MUST BE LOTS OF FUN AND YOU TWO MUST HAVE A VERY BEAUTIFUL BOND AND RELATIONSHIP AND GODS HAVE MERCY ON ME THIS IS AMAZING HANSJDKFNKJADNGAD

I believe in that what you talk about too, about the TWIN POWER! I believe that twins,mostly same-sex pairs, have this particular bond and power between them, and it includes all that you talk about, thinking the same stuff, saying the same at the same time, or just sharing a glance and knowing what the other is thinking. I’ve always believed that but to see you, a twin, say it???? UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH I’TS LIKE A FANTASY TO ME, THIS IS EXCELLENT, THIS IS BETTER THANC HRISTMAS OH MY GWAD JADW KALDFJDSG

*UNINTELLIGIBLY GURGLING*

*DROWNS*

THIS IS SO AWESOME, TWINS ARE MY ABSOLUTE WEAKNESS, PERIDOT, THIS IS A FRAGILE THREAD AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH, TALKING ABOUT TWINS BREAKS THROUGH MY COMPOSURE AND DEFENSES THIS IS EXCELLENT AND I LOVEIT SO MACNUNSUHCNMV

It’s really SUPER AWESOME and exciting to know that you and your twin are like that!! With that power of connection reserved for only twin siblings, aaah, that is SO COOL o(≧▽≦)o

“I love it when twins in fiction act like that too. There are too few twins in fiction though.”

Oh.

Oh, Peridot. 

*flames start to slowly ascend behind me*

OoOoOoOoOoH Peridot.(ಠ‿ಠ)

*flames raise even more*

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH, PEEEEEEEEEEEEERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

(ಠ‿ಠ)

I can’t speak about that here.  But I am soooooooooooooooooooooo going to make sure you know when I publish my novel. There’s a reason I have two sons aksljdakdljfkdaljdalkja (・ω・) BUT I HAVE TALKED TOO MUCH AKLSJDKDLG JKLDAGJDKJ

But yes, HOORAY FOR TWINS! They’re creatures that always put me to think, twins are something that mesmerize me entirely and amaze me and just aksldjafda. I never expected you to have a twin!! THAT IS SO BADASS AND SO COOL GODDAMMIT YOU HAVE NO IDEA(╯✧▽✧)╯

I’ve wanted to post more about the Tiny Twins, but Vyv’s photographer simply refuses to take a nice shot of Raccoon in battle! There’s a couple badass from Coonie but the bro isn’t getting much love :C But yeah, thank you LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS for thinking so nicely about the twins, I’m happy that you liked them!! I’d be happy to share more about them but most people don’t care, so it gave me a bit more confidence that you and Yuu (wat) do!! Thank you!! ヽ(・∀・)ﾉ

ICE MAGIC, YEAH!!! (╯✧▽✧)╯

I’d love to be a fire raccoon too, and I think maybe part of me is, but as much as I’d love (and BOY WOULD I L O V E ) to be fire, I’ve mused about it and I think I’m definitely ice. I mean, I’m made of snow so it only makes sense!

Moon, snow, was born during the middle of winter, and with a tendency for everything on the “negative” scheme (blue colors, the quiet, lakes and other water bodies, death  related stuff, etc.), I think I’m definitely ice. Not to say that the few things where I’ve seen animated ice magic it looks SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO beautiful and mesmerizing and I connect with it so easily and so much! (Rise of the Guardians was visual ice p0rn to me aksljdklasjgdak).

I bet it must be the same with you but with fire, huh!? YOU MUST LOVE THE ANIMATIONS OF THE LAST AIRBENDER, THERE’S SO MUCH  BEAUTY OF FIRE IN THERE, ALL THE FLAMES GOING SWOOSH SWASH WOOOOOSHHHHH /O/~

Fire magic, huh? Like your dear daughter!! :D It only makes sense, that an author’s main child is the one who takes most of our interests or characteristics, and that’s very fine! People have made us think that projecting ourselves into the main characters is “not professional” and “Mary sue” but what the hell? Literally ALL and every author does exactly that?? The greatest of the greatest in hisotry have given their own essence and characteristics to their protagonists, heck, they even give them the same birthdays, and that doesn’t mean it’s less professional!!

Particularly, I think that that’s one of the greatest things an author can do; to create a character that’s not you, that’s their own person, complex and with their own separate reasoning and ethic and thoughts, but that still keeps a lot  of the author’s characteristics, if not the essence itself completely. Because what is art but projecting yourself and your own thoughts and your own essence? That’s literally poetry! Art! Dance! Literature!!

I think it’s very badass that you and your daughter are fire girls. THAT IS SO COOL and it makes me want ot learn more about you both!! :D

Fire. The prime element. The basic. The source of life; the most praised and worshipped by all cultures of life. The most worshipped of alchemy. The sparkle that started the universe, the sparkle that started all life. The eternal fire; the metaphorical material of our entrails, the source of our emotions. Revolution; war; power.

THERE’S A REASON I’D LOVE TO BE FIRE TOO, FIRE IS THE MOST BADASS OF ELEMENTS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 

*EXPLODES INTO SNOWFLAKES*

What a choice, Peridot! It’s super cool that the element you connect with the most is fire. It’s the element of life and honestly it’s super cool, and the animations of fire magic and stuff is THE COOLEST :D

And you’re the best sort of fire because you’re the good sort of fire! The gentle fire; a quiet and warm flame. The sort that a traveler that almost dies by the cold outside sits in front of at the house they received him in; the sort to bring something to or back to life; you’re the fire of life rather than the fire of destruction. One that knows when to stop and when to continue, instead of just eating it all. One that warms rather than burns. That is SO cool!

GASPS

Your character that handles ice magic sounds SUPER COOL, aaaaaaaah!!! That sounds like the type of characters that would be my favorite. Ice wizard of sorts, and a guy that seems to be cold and harsh but really he just needs some patience and he’s soft if he likes you enough?? AKLJSDFKLADJG AKLJ AKSLFJ AKLDFJAKLSD ASLKDJ THOSE CHARACTERS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL and yet now that  think about it rare to find??

The harsh character that is soft with the ones he cares for, THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY AND SO SOFT, IT TURNS ME INTO A CLOUD AKSLDJF KLAJ AKLDJ ASKLJFDLF AJKFD

And it fits him nicely, I think! What with ice magic and everything. “Cold as ice”! :) 

I hope he’s good friends with your nice daughter. They would make a pretty team! I don’t know much about them, though I do think that they would make a very wonderful team! I think he’d be very caring about her, and she would defend him if someone talked bad about him. ♡ ～(‘u^人) But maybe it’s the entire oposite, who knows!!

Whatever it is, I love how your characters sound so far, as little as I know about them! And ice boy is now one of my favorites simply because Ice and he sounds like he’s super nice, haha!! What I mean is, they say that it’s usually the people who struggle most with showing their feelings, or the people who show them less, who feel more sincerely and stronger.  But who knows :)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah~!!!!

PERIDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!

I’m finally finishing this ask’s reply! My gods, I’m so sorry it took me so agonizingly much to reply to this! Between the sudden kaload of personal asks I received during the weekend, and having my energy super drained, and the pressure of updating a fic, I continued getting behind and behind on this klasjdklsajfakldjf.

I’m sorry it took me so long, and thank you so much for having waited so patiently and for understanding!! You truly are a treasure, Peridot. I still feel a little bad that I didn’t reply faster, but it makes me feel so relieved and so much better to know that you understand. Thank you, truly. It makes it better :’)

But yeah!!

Sorry for taking so long, and thank you a lot for the patience!

Thank you as well for dropping by with an incredibly LOVELY and wonderful ask! Reading you is always a pleasure, and this is no exception. Whenever you drop by, with whatever you have to say, I’m alway smiling and feeling great to be talking with my buddy Peridot!

So even though I sometimes take eternities to reply, you still keep writing to me and that means a lot to me. Thank you for the patience and for being the lovable lovely amazing creature you are!! ( ´ ▽ ` )

Thank you for sharing what’s been new in your life with me, about the weather and doggo and the cramps, and thank you for asking about my doggo! And for mentioning the twins and thank you for sharing that bit of your ice magic character with me. It means a lot that you share so much with me!! ヽ(・ω・)ﾉ

All in all, simply thank you for everything, buddy!! ( ´ ▽ ` )

And again I apologize for how long I took to reply…aaah *blushes furiously and curls up in a ball in the corner of the room*

But anyways,

I hope to hear from you soon again, Peridot!! (You actually left an ask just now as I was finishing this, aha

And I hope you’re having a MOST FANTASTIC night, my dearest!! Lotsa raccoonie hugs for you! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ

[marisa-writes]

My pals Natasha @wokeuptired and Naureen @wildestdreamsfics tagged me to share the nine best books I read this year. Straight up: all I read this year was romance, something I hadn’t done in many years. But after picking up K.M. Jackson’s To Me I Wed off the shelf at my local Target this summer and falling head over heels for Lily and Vin, I began discussing romance novels with my good friend RJ @boricuamermaid / @madminniefics. Turned out RJ was well-aquainted with the genre and opened my world up to some new books by authors who are women of color that write about people of color, and since the representation of POC in fiction is a passion of mine, I was over the moon about this discovery.

Below the cut, you’ll find my long-winded descriptions for each of the novels pictured (nothing too spoilery, I just…suck at writing quick little blurbs). If romance is your thing and you end up deciding to check any of these out, drop me a line once you’re finished so we can discuss!

I’m not going to tag anyone because I don’t know who hasn’t been tagged at this point, but if you’ve read books this year and you want to share, do it and tag me so I can see!

To Me I Wed by K.M. Jackson - aside from RJ, I have this book to thank for sending me plummeting back into the world of romance novels. I was at Target when I spied this book on the shelf, and after reading the description, I was intrigued. To Me I Wed is the second book in K.M. Jackson’s ‘Unconventional Brides’ series, but it was the first of the series that I read, which might contribute to why it’s my favorite. It centers around Lily Perry, an event planner who, after watching her many sisters take the plunge, reads an article about a woman who decides to marry herself, and Lily thinks it’s a splendid idea. She’s a successful woman; why should she wait for a man to define her happiness? Vincent “Vin” Caro, however, the handsome chef and restaurant owner who Lily shared a memorable series of kisses with on the beach a year prior, thinks it’s the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard when Lily asks to use his restaurant as her venue - especially considering he hasn’t quite let go of that time on the beach, and to be honest, neither has Lily. Between Vin and Lily’s undeniable chemistry, Vin’s grief and Lily’s stubbornness, and Lily’s unforgettable grandmother, Mama Dee, I loved this book from start to finish and have read it since the first time I picked it up this summer, oh…three times now, I think?

Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins - I didn’t think I’d really be interested in historical romance, but the premise behind this book intrigued me so much, I had to give it a read. In Forbidden, Eddy Carmichael sets off to achieve her dream of opening her own restaurant, but her plans are thwarted when she’s robbed and abandoned in the middle of a desert. Fortune finds her when she’s rescued by Rhine Fontaine, a successful saloon owner whose African descent is masked by his fair skin, and he lives his life passing as a White man. This, of course, has suited Rhine just fine since leaving behind a past he’d rather not relive, but when Eddy comes into the picture, he begins to think that being truthful about who he is might be more than worth the risk.

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria - Along the vein of Dancing with the Stars, Take the Lead centers around a celebrity-meets-professional dance competition show called The Dance Off. Gina Morales is one of the series��� professional dancers, and in her fifth season with the show, she gets paired up with Stone Nielson, an Alaskan survivalist from a reality television show called Living Wild. For such a large and gruff man, Stone is quiet and reserved, but Gina is determined to turn the season into a win - despite the series’ determination to push Stone and Gina into the narrative of the season’s showmance. While faking a romance for the cameras is sure to help them with the votes, it goes against everything Gina stands for. She’s determined to win on her terms without compromising her integrity, but when Stone turns out to be more than he seems, and that old pesky thing called chemistry gets in the way, well…things get complicated.

Love On My Mind by Tracey Livesay - I read the third book in this series, Love Will Always Remember, first before realizing it was the third book in a series and backtracking to Love On My Mind, which is the first novel. In Love on My Mind, Chelsea Grant, a PR rep, is assigned to revamp the image of a reluctant tech mogul named Adam Bennett after the disaster that was his last press conference for his company, Computronix. With the announcement of Adam’s latest life-changing tech gadget on the horizon, Chelsea is hired by Computronix’s COO, Michael Black, to prepare Adam for the next press conference, but Adam’s reluctance to be “changed” by a PR rep means that Chelsea has to find a way to work herself into his life and offer him assistance without clueing him in to her profession. This, of course, presents a challenge as the pair of them grow closer and Chelsea learns more about Adam and why he is the way he is…and withholding the truth behind her sudden appearance in his life becomes harder and harder to do as it threatens to unravel everything building between them. Now, romance novels are quite well-known for their steamy sex scenes, and there’s a scene in this book between Adam and Chelsea…with windows…and…I had to text RJ and screech about it. We’re still collectively screeching about it. So. Good.

Vivid by Beverly Jenkins - after reading several of her novels this summer, I can say with great certainty that I have grown to enjoy historical romance more than I anticipated thanks to Beverly Jenkins. In Vivid, Grayson Grove mayor Nate Grayson is in for a shock when the town’s new doctor, Dr. V. Lancaster, shows up and is to his great surprise, Dr. Viveca Lancaster - a woman. Nate is stubborn and set in his thinking that men are the most fit to be doctors, and Vivid’s femininity goes against everything he believes about one’s capability to carry out the duties required. Vivid, however, well-educated and entirely fit for the position, is full of spirit and determination and has her heart set on changing Nate’s mind as well as the mind of every backwards-thinking citizen in Grayson Grove as she works to prove herself worthy of being their physician despite their misconceptions about her gender.

Along Came Love by Tracey Livesay - the second in its series, Along Came Love focuses on India Shaw, the foster sister and best friend of Chelsea Grant from Love On My Mind. Indi lands herself in jail after a stupid decision goes south and the only person she can call on for help is Michael Black, COO of Computronix and best friend to Chelsea’s beau and reigning tech mogul, Adam Bennett. The thing is, Mike’s kind of the last person Indi wants to call, considering there was a little weekend fling that happened between them and she sort of dipped out on him. Oh, yeah, and she’s pregnant with his child. As Mike learns of Indi’s pregnancy, he fights to keep her in his life while she contemplates what to do next - their unexpected reunion shaking up Mike’s long-term goals as well as Indi’s short-term ones as it becomes quite apparent to the two of them that despite how wrong they might seem for each other, the chemistry that drummed up that weekend fling hasn’t gone away, not even a little bit. Like with Love On My Mind, there was a scene in this book that just about did me in, and RJ and I are still screeching about that one, too.

Jewel by Beverly Jenkins - Jewel returns readers to Grayson Grove, this time to focus on Eli Grayson, cousin of Nate Grayson from Vivid. Still feeling the sting that has come from the closing of his newspaper, Eli is thrilled when he learns of a man who wants to help him revive it - that is, until he learns there’s a catch: this man offering his help only invests his time and money into men who are married. Eli is…friendly with women, you could say, having earned himself the title of “The Colored Casanova of Cass County,” but a married man he is not. So in order to gain the man’s trust, he begs a favor from townswoman Jewel Crowley - he asks her to pretend to be his wife, just long enough to gain approval and financial backing for his newspaper. Of course, when do these things ever go as planned? Suddenly, Eli and Jewel are swept into a marriage of convenience (or is it?) and there’s also some mystery and murder to be found as someone from Eli’s past breezes back into town, bringing a world of trouble with them. I couldn’t put this one down.

Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai - this novel is the second in Alisha Rai’s ‘Forbidden Hearts’ series, and while the first novel did a great job of setting up the mystery and intrigue regarding the Chandler and Kane families and the hearty history surrounding their once-joined venture, a successful grocery store chain called C&O, the second book pulls readers in deeper as it sets its sights on Jackson Kane and Sadia Ahmed. Chased away by the accusatory eyes of a town convinced that he set the flagship C&O store ablaze in a fit of rage, Jackson warily returns to town to check on his recently-returned twin sister, Livvy. And…well, he also sticks around long enough to look in on Sadia, his childhood best friend, who he’s been in love with since they were young. Sadia, who is a single mother now to Jackson’s nephew, Kareem. Sadia, who is the widow of Jackson’s older brother, Paul. Jackson’s unexpected return stirs up many feelings for Sadia, especially considering she’s been sending him email messages for years and he’s never responded to a single one. But Jackson harbors culinary skills beyond her wildest dreams and his family’s diner that’s been left under her care is in desperate need of a new chef, so when he offers to help her out until she finds a replacement, she reluctantly agrees. There are more Chandler/Kane secrets to uncover in the second novel - like the truth behind that fire set at the flagship C&O - as well as a story of reconnection between two people who always should’ve been more than friends, and I really enjoyed it. 

Breathless by Beverly Jenkins - all right, so nearly half of the books in my top nine are written by Beverly Jenkins, and I have absolutely no regrets. The woman has been writing romance novels for over twenty years and she’s good at it. Those are just the facts. Breathless takes place some time after Forbidden and centers around Rhine and Eddy’s eldest niece, Portia Carmichael. Portia’s making a life for herself as manager of the hotel her aunt and uncle now own in Arizona, and unlike her sister Regan, she has no plans to marry, determined to open her own bookkeeping business one day. So instead of being courted, she spends her time dodging her many suitors until Kenton Randolph, an old friend of Rhine’s, comes blowing through town. Portia’s never been too keen on men, her mother’s history with them leaving her with a sour taste in her mouth, but with the reappearance of Kent in her life and his promises of passion, there’s a good chance she might end up changing her mind.

All of these books are available to read through both iBooks and Kindle, if you’re interested. Happy reading, my friends!

[bloomsburgu]

CGA exec elections underway with referendum

Bloomsburg University’s Community Government Association (CGA) is holding its 2017-18 Executive Committee Elections this week. In addition to voting on a new student executive board, students will also vote on a referendum relating a new student union project. Voting will take place online, Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 28 to March 2.

Sarah Bartra, a senior and CGA vice president, joined the organization as a freshman and encourages other students to as well. The organization not only made the transition into college easier but also turned into a family for her.

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into starting out, but once I got involved it was such a cool experienced to be immersed in everything going on within the university,” Bartra said. “Being able to speak up as a student and have people actually listen was great.”

Through CGA, Bartra gained a rich learning experience by working with the administration and on committees with professionals. Most importantly, she was able to voice other people’s opinions and allow them to be heard.

“As vice president, I never knew I would have as much responsibility as I do now,” Bartra said. “There are always going to be challenges, but I feel like I’ve grown a lot since I’ve taken this position. I’ve learned how to take on situations that are social, personal and professional.”

— Samantha Gross, mass communications 

Meet the candidates

President: John Caserta — Hi Everyone! My name is John Caserta and I am a junior majoring in Political Science and Arabic. You may know me as the current CGA President! Well, I am running for Re-Election! Since my first year here at Bloomsburg, I have been very passionate about CGA and that has shown throughout my involvement in CGA. I started CGA as a senator and Treasurer of the Class of 2018 and worked my way up to the President position. While serving as the President of CGA, my love for the organization has only grown! I have had so many wonderful opportunities and have made so many connections that I will cherish forever! I decided to serve as the President for my junior year because I wanted to have the opportunity to serve as the President for two years, that way I could get the most out of the position! So please help me continue my journey as President of CGA and Re-Elect me, John Caserta! Thank you very much!    

President: Joar Dahn — It’s so cold outside I saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets. (Got to admit that’s pretty hysterical)Greetings everybody, my name is Joar Dahn and I am currently a Sophomore here at Bloomsburg University. I hail from a war-torn country known as America’s stepchild; Liberia. Growing up in Liberia was a challenge, especially growing up during the time of the Civil War: where I watched a lot of childhood friends became orphans or child soldiers. Fortunately for me, some of my family were Politicians so we were able to leave the country before things got worst. Some years ago, my family immigrated to the United States, we currently reside in Delaware County, a small suburb right outside of Philadelphia. I attended Mary Mother of Peace Area Catholic School located in Southwest Philadelphia and The Roman Catholic High School for Young Men in Center City Philadelphia: serving from student council representative to Class President. I’ve grown to love Bloomsburg and I’m willing to work with and listen to the student body. My story goes on and years from now it’s going to be a really good book, I just hope that in one of the chapters it’ll say Bloomsburg’s CGA Executive President and you can say “I voted for him and helped made that possible” Thank you for your time and hope you join the Dynasty. #DahnDynasty

President: William Turner —Hello to all, my name is William P. Turner. I am a sophomore Criminal Justice and Special Education Majors with an American Sign Language Minor, and I am currently running for President of the Community Government Association (CGA) of Bloomsburg University. Ever since I have come to Bloomsburg University and participated in orientation week’s Activities Fair, I have been involved in the CGA and am happily becoming more actively involved in its overall growth and endeavors. I personally have gone from sitting as an active senator my freshman year to becoming Executive Parliamentarian my sophomore year for the sheer amount of CGA involvement I have lovingly achieved. As I have gone throughout this organization, I can proudly state that my commitment to the CGA and my love for student advocacy will never falter or deplete but yet soar even higher and more proudly with the position of President. When I am appointed President of CGA, I will only lookout for the best interest of the student body and be an individual with whom everyone can speak and feel open to discussion with. With me as president, no voice or concern will go unheard and every student will know CGA’s purpose so their voice is never forgotten.

Vice President: John Thomas — Hiya Huskies! my name is John Thomas, I am running to be your CGA Vice President, having several years of experience as the Vice President of my high school class, the Bloomsburg University Freshman Class of 2020 Vice President, receiving the rank of Eagle Scout recently and having earned several leadership and citizenship awards.  I will strive to work diligently with all the other executive officers to make sure the concerns of my fellow students are brought to attention; your concerns are my priority.  Also, having been a part of the CGA for several months now, I am aware and ready for the tasks at hand.  STUDENTS WILL COME FIRST IF I AM VICE PRESIDENT. It may also interest you to know that I do enjoy long walks on the beach, I love puppies and I am the most fearless leader I know, so when it’s time to make the decision of who you want your CGA VP to be, do me a favor and do yourself a favor, vote for John Thomas. Thank You! 

Treasurer: Austin Devlin — Hey what’s up everyone! My name is Austin Devlin and I am a junior majoring in Finance with a specialization in Financial Planning. I am from Bensalem PA, which is right outside of Philadelphia. I’m not only the current CGA treasure, but also the President of the Financial Planning Association and the Vice President of the Personal Money Management Club. I would love another opportunity to be CGA Treasurer for another year because I would like to continue to be involved with CGA and continue to grow as a leader. 

Treasurer: Brian Ortiz — My name is Brian and I am a freshman majoring in Mass Communications with a minor in Business. I'm currently involved in the National Broadcasting Society, Wishmakers, the Center for Leadership and Engagement and I'm an on-campus Senator. I would like to be your treasurer because I will ensure your funds are handed properly. I have great experience with handling money as I've been a shift manager back home for over a year. I was responsible for counting the drawers every night, making bank deposits and printing financial reports based on that work day. I am organized, dedicated, trustworthy and have good judgement which are all important elements to have when dealing with someone else’s money.

Secretary: Sarah Rhine — Hi there everybody! I hope everybody’s semester is going well so far, noting that we’re almost halfway done now! My name is Sarah Rhineer and I am a second semester freshman majoring in Early Childhood Education with a double minor in Spanish and Special Education. I am currently involved in CGA as the Class of 2020 Secretary, the concert band, the Center for Leadership and Engagement, club lacrosse, the library committee, yearbook committee and the student trustee voting committee.  It would be an absolute honor to hold the position of CGA Secretary, especially because I am so passionate about our school, student body and the CGA. Since I am already a part of the CGA as the Class of 2020 Secretary, I know the responsibilities of an executive board member from observation and research. I take CGA seriously so that the students benefit from the hard work and dedication of the CGA members.  It’s important that all voices on campus are heard and since I’m involved in a diverse group of clubs, I can get different opinions and voices heard. I am extremely proud and excited to be running for the position of CGA Secretary. I’m looking forward to continue to represent our student body as a whole.

Ready to vote?

This week, Bloomsburg University will be conducting a student referendum to reinstate the Student Union Building Fee and to ascertain their support for beginning the process to build a new student union. 

A potential new student union would be built on campus at the present site of the Warren Student Services Building. A new student union will provide space and facilities that enhance the out-of-classroom experiences that are hallmarks of a BU education. The design and functions of the building will encourage students and the campus community to utilize the building as a gathering hub and allow for dynamic programming.

A Student Engagement Survey conducted spring semester, 2016 revealed only 5.6 percent of students believe Kehr Union Building meets their needs. The results of the survey align with the results of the University Facility Master Planning process completed spring semester, 2014 and with the Student Union Mini-Feasibility Study completed spring semester, 2012. The student referendum will take place February 28, March 1, and March 2, along with voting for the CGA Executive Board.