#riv’s excerpts

[rivenantiqnerd]

Last Line Tag/Writing share

I was tagged by @willtheweaver for the writing share (two months ago, sorry) and @aintgonnatakethis for the last line tag, thanks to both of you!

When you’re famous, your life is decided for you. It’s curated, like a museum wall. I speak from experience. I always wonder how famous musicians are able to have enough personalized life experiences to keep writing original songs. I say this, because once you hit fame, it’s that much harder to truly connect with anyone. That much harder to be truly alive, when people are there one day, gone the next. Everything decided by the people on the level just below you.  People talk so much that if you have anything as simple as a good conversation, everyone starts to speculate. You don’t get a shred of autonomy. Self-made celebs, they work so hard to get up there, only for their personal life to be torn out from under their feet. If you’re born into fame, how do you possibly create art that can resonate with the public? You never have lived or never will live a standard life, and they will never live yours. Anyway, this story isn’t about you, or them. It’s about me. And I am the king.

passing the tag along (last line or writing share) to @litany-writes @illarian-rambling @elsie-writes @the-golden-comet @theverumproject +open tag!

taglist (interact with this post to join): @wyked-ao3 @supercimi @mx-potato @drchenquill @leahnardo-da-veggie

[cyndakip]

extremely curious about dust to dust

This one is about the Talkers' Chorby Soul replica aka Chorby Soul VI aka Orbvi aka my beloved child because I was like "is anybody gonna care about/lore this guy (gn)" and did not wait for an answer. it's almost 8k but I haven't touched it in a while due to getting even more invested in a certain other replica...

anyway. they don't have many of Chorby's memories and are ok with that but it means they're on a mission to figure out who they are as a person and what they like. they befriend Lachlan (who helps them figure out their favourite foods) and Cedric (who was one of our best defenders and works with them on Catch The Ball bc it was one of the few things chorby replicas ever did lol) and the secret version of London Simmons that me and Kit illegally lored while xe was still in the shadows (regular human vlogger who is not Tamagotchi Thing) and also Randy Dennis teaches them how to skateboard trick :)

I haven't touched this since september 2021. riv. anyway here's an excerpt

You are listed on the roster as Chorby Soul VI. Your teammates all have entire constellations spread out next to their names, but yours is followed by nothing but darkness, despite the stardust that makes up your body. There have been five others like you; you are nothing but a clone of the worst player this game has ever seen. Your namesake lived and died and lived again and suffered and died again and lived again and suffered again and died again. You are still in the living phase, for now.

According to the league, you do not have a coffee preference, or pregame ritual, or blood type. You suppose the first Chorby must have had these, but they were never recorded, so you can't look at them and see if they ring any bells. You guess you can experiment with different coffees and rituals, and if you ever find out how you bleed, it will be because the consumers get you, too.

[joyffree]

LOVE THY BROTHER Rebel Kings MC Series #4 by Garrett Leigh Alternate Cover & Excerpt Reveal Release Date: March 29, 2023 Cover Design: Black Jazz Design Genre: M/M MC Romance Trope: Best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend, hurt/comfort, found family, dark romance, angsty

His brother’s best friend. His best friend’s little brother. The soft-hearted bear and the rowdy chaos gremlin. The inevitable only happens when you let it.

“Riv, if you ever let me speak, you’d know exactly how I feel.”

I’ve told him that a thousand times, but River’s stubborn streak is a mile wide.

He doesn’t want to hear it.

To him, we doomed.

Cursed.

Forbidden.

Because he thinks I love a goddamn motorcycle club more than him.

My worst nightmare is losing him before I get the chance to change his mind, and in our world, bad dreams come true. Our reality is mess and pain, but I love him. And he loves me.

And I’ll fight for him to the end.

[shrunkyclunksbang]

Title: is it a cry i hear (from the deep wood)

Posting: The week of August 7th

Author: riv @steviesunrises [AO3]

Artist: Damage @thedamageofherdays [Twitter] [Instagram] [AO3]

Rating: Mature

Pairings: Captain America Steve Rogers/Modern Bucky Barnes

Tags/Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Shrunkyclunks, Post-Avengers (2012), Witch Bucky Barnes, Captain America Steve Rogers, POV Alternating, AU - Magic, Gardener Bucky, Angst with a Happy Ending, Friends to Lovers, Mutual Pining, Familiar Alpine, Steve’s (not so) stellar mental health, Gender Nonconforming Bucky Barnes, Chubby Bucky Barnes, (though neither are the focus of the fic), Space nerd Bucky, Museums, Stargazing

Summary:

When Steve wakes up in a body that isn’t his and in a city he does not know, he finds refuge in the role of Captain America and the endless grind of missions. He spends nearly every night on the rooftop of the tower, smoking useless cigarettes and wanting to go home.

Enter Bucky Barnes, a garden witch with a quiet life tasked with creating a rooftop garden for Stark Industries. As long as he ignores the yearning for something he can’t name, he’s content.

Sometimes, fate has a funny habit of drawing the right people together.

OR, a tale of two people who learn to love themselves and each other too. 

Excerpt:

Bucky hasn’t done this type of magic in years, but it comes naturally. He lights candles and incense, placing them in a half-circle in front of him. He draws shapes into the floor with chalk and fills a glass bowl with water. Finally, he wishes.

He draws upon the Earth, the creatures that burrow deep under it, and all the life that it brings forth. He calls on the stars and planets, on galaxies like spirals and horseshoes, on distant asteroids and hurtling meteors. Hear me, he declares, protect what is dear to me. Protect what is mine.

Around him, the chalk glows, oscillating between the brown of earth, and the indigo and white of the farther universe. The water bursts into flames.

A few miles away, in a sterile bedroom inside a cold, steel Tower, a warm fire blazes in the hollow of Steve’s heart.

[standbyphoenix]

hi, hope you are doing allright! do you know where i can download or read the screenplays of riv's movies? i'm a big fan of your blog btw ❤

Hi there! :) Thank you so much, dear. <3

I don't know where you can find them in their entirety - but I have to admit I have never done that research before. Here you can read an excerpt of the screenplays for some of Riv's films: https://www.scripts.com/actor/river_phoenix

[charaznablescanontoyota]

For the wip meme: livid, breathless, soda?

OK LIVID ISN’T IN HERE BUT BREATHLESS IS BOTH A REALLY GOOD EXCERPT AND ONE I STRAIGHT UP DO NOT WANT TO SPOIL OUT OF CONTEXT

you can have breathy instead though:

edric half-laughs, a quick and breathy sound. “how are things with lou, anyway?”

“wouldn’t you like to know.”

“uh, yeah, riv, that’s why i asked.”

soda:

“i’m fucking with you. of course i got you lunch.”

edric dumps his backpack on the ground near the door, unzips it to grab the grease-laden brown paper bag within that holds the still-hot sub, fries, and soda that are rightfully declan’s.

[simsroyallegacy]

Excerpts from the Reception

Vincent: And can I expect more grandchildren anytime soon?

Regina: Well-

Arden: I’m not too sure about that Father, I think three kids has been good enough for me.

Kaleo: C’mon Adri, Eva; my mom said the cake is over this way!

Adrian: Keep up Eva! Last time Kaleo ate all the cake.

Kaleo: Did not!

Adrian: Did too!

Eva: *laughing* Wait for me!

Nicholas: Come here Isa, you can’t seriously still be mad?

Isadora:...

Nicholas: I only went to say hi to my sister babe.

Isadora: I told you not to leave my side tonight, not even to go see your sister.

Nicholas: I hope you’re kidding Isa...

Isadora: Do I look like I am kidding?

Dante: Something weighing on your mind my dear?

Ashli: What could possibly be weighing me down?

Dante: Right before we left for Bordeaux-

Ashli: I’m fine darling; I’ve just been tired since Kassandra was born. Perhaps it’s time for another family vacation...

Francesco: Why would you say that to him?!

Elle: I needed him to know. After everything I went through, everything he put me through, I needed to let him know.

Francesco: You should be over this Ellie.

Elle: I am now.

Alivia: Behave yourself Charlie, my dad is coming over.

Charles: Great, now I’ll get the third degree. Remember me as I am right now Livvy, I’m pretty sure I’m about to die.

Alivia: *laughing*

Ambassador Acharya: And what happens to be so funny here? Stop embarrassing yourself with your airheaded laughter daughter.

Charles: I happen to be quite witty Sir; I probably could make even your cold-hearted self smile eventually.

Ambassador Acharya:...I’m sure.

Sawyer: Please Riv, if you’d just listen! I’m apologizing to you because I do love you; you’re my little brother!

River: You haven’t treated me like your brother in years Sawyer! You only want to apologize because you’re finally alone just like I said you would be when you chose that witch Lilah!

Sawyer: I’m begging you both, I’m going to prove to you I’ve changed, just give me a chance to do it!

River: *Voice rising* Hell no! If you think that-

Amina: Let’s calm ourselves and save this argument for private you two.

Claire: Rhys? What she said today...

Rhys: It doesn’t matter Claire, nothing she says matters anymore.

Claire: It does matter to you-

Rhys: Don’t even think about this again!

Claire: *whispering* -so it matters to me too...

Annaliese: -and so I was so excited to be offered a spot at Komorebi University’s summer arts program; my mom always admired Master Ichihara’s traditional designs so to be learning from him will be such an honor! I’ve never been to Yukine before though but I hear it’s absolutely breathtaking; is it true that there are spirits living in the mountain? Can you really see them if you hike far enough into the forest?

Akio: Well-

Annaliese: What should I do if I see them?! I won’t be cursed right? My brother Charlie says I’ll curse my family for a thousand years if I anger the mountain spirits!

Akio: *laughs*

Annaliese: Oh dear I’m talking too much again aren’t I? I’m so, so sorry-

Akio: Don’t worry Princess, hearing you talk about my homeland so excitedly fills me with great joy. Perhaps I could help you avoid the “mountain spirits” during your stay?

Annaliese: *blushes* Y-yes that would nice...

[mrswhymrhow]

ok sending what we’ve figured out so far separately in case u don’t want to publish it (but you’re welcome to if u want): the “excerpt” article is an excerpt from frankenstein, but there’s a sentence missing where it says [13], the author name Y. Riv. Nguna on a different article is a caesar cipher, if you shift 13, you get “leviathan.” Also, the “invisible enemy” thing on the site is dialogue from the game, except the word “trap” has been replaced with “leviathan.” The missing sentence from frankenstein talks about a map, there’s other parts of the site that talk about not being able to see something, our best guess is that its bull or auroch, cuz daniil can’t see that the map is a bull? Also, there’s questions about “how many bells do you hear” and when you email daniil abt it, he talks abt the bells at the cemetery, hence counting the graves with bells. And I think that’s most of what we’ve found so far!

omg thats so cool... publishing it bc i heard other ppl were interested in hearing but not engaging w the arg :) thank u sm for sharing !!! if u figure anything else out or want anything else in game lmk

[humansoulsarg]

Super Spice World X Playthrough Solve

http://pangenttechnologies.tumblr.com/post/180947341337/

This post presented a publicly visible Signal and Noise video titled ‘Super Spice World X: Spice Girls playable in Super Mario Bros X / SMBX’

The video can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY1P1qXq3nc

A very impressive amount of work went into customizing this version of Super Mario Bros. X, converting it into a Spice Girls game, and since it’s Pangent Technologies who created this, there’s probably puzzles to be found! (spoiler alert - there’s a lot, and some may not yet be fully cracked.) So onward to the solutions! (Nearly three months after the post - apologies for our delays on this end.)

After watching the playthrough and enjoying the Spice Girls soundtrack and customized graphics, it’s time to dig into what’s presented that could possibly be a puzzle. Most Pangent puzzles lead to link IDs from websites such as YouTube (11-character link IDs), Mediafire (15-character link IDs), Pastebin (8-character link IDs), Imgur (7-character link IDs). So we’ll be on the lookout for anything that might be a representation of such a code.

At 1:04, we see Ginger encounter some platforms of various heights which seem a tad suspicious. After closer investigation, it appears there are 16 evenly spaced possible platform heights, so a hex code is suggested. With a little bit of decoding work, we get this…

The hex string is almost a mediafire link, just one character short. Adding a ‘6’ before the final '4’ yields this code:

33 35 64 38 72 61 31 76 7a 32 72 67 6d 6f 64

which becomes

35d8ra1vz2rgmod

Leading to a mediafire ZIP archive titled Library1.ZIP - http://www.mediafire.com/?35d8ra1vz2rgmod

The Library1.zip file contains three images, which will be investigated in further detail later, let’s stick with just the top level of codes for now, trying to glean everything we can from the playthrough video first, then investigating further into what was found, as it appears we may be getting multiple layers of puzzles here.

At 2:33, Scary Spice encounters some curiously colored coins in a dungeon. This same pattern is also seen at 3:15.

Using the standard Pangent color mapping, these coins can be decoded as octal values:

6415467143144 1426115617265 6215315363610

Grouping as octal ASCII we get:

64 154 67 143 144 142 61 156 172 65 62 153 153 63 61

Which decodes to:

4l7cdb1nz52kk31

Our second mediafire link: http://mediafire.com/?4l7cdb1nz52kk31 This time to Library2.zip

At 4:40 there’s some more Pangent-colored coins in a repeating pattern over some oddly placed blocks. There may be more than meets the eye here, but it doesn’t appear to be straightforward coin to color conversion or a punchcard grid. Let’s move along and revisit if needed.

At 6:25, Ginger encounters an array of coins in a grid.

After further investigation, it’s noticed that there are 16 row heights for coins, and it appears each column (save #21) only has one non-yellow coin. Pulling out those heights, with 1=bottom and F=top, we get:

37 66 70 70 33 74 37 79 78 6c 7a 6f 32 30 76 -> 7fpp3t7yxlzo20v

Which is a valid mediafire link, this time to Library4.zip http://mediafire.com/?7fpp3t7yxlzo20v

From 7:30 to 9:05, Ginger is swimming around in a strange new world, yet we were unable to find any clear codes in this segment. Perhaps there’s more?

At 10:20, there is a collection of coins and bricks in groups of 8 suggesting binary. Since there are 15 groups of 8 it seems very likely we’ve found another mediafire link.

Sure enough, decoding yields:

01110011 01100111 01101100 01101100 01100111 01100100 01100001 01100110 00110111 00110000 01100001 00110100 01110110 01111000 00110011

sgllgdaf70a4vx3

Which does lead to a valid Mediafire. This time Library3.ZIP: http://www.mediafire.com/?sgllgdaf70a4vx3

And that takes us through the playthrough, we’ve found Library1 - Library4 in mediafire links, and while there is some other suspicious content, perhaps we’ve discovered what we need to progress? Let’s move along.

Here we will link to imgur albums for each of the Libraries, so the curious reader can investigate the images on their own, before digging into the ones we found additional puzzle hooks within.

Library1 https://imgur.com/a/hMDMVP4 bookcover2.jpg bookcover3.jpg ifonly_140.jpg

Library2 https://imgur.com/a/fnvw3yK bookpage0.png bookpage1.png ifonly_144.jpg

Library3 https://imgur.com/a/ZSiV8UM bookcover1.jpg dontpanic-exc.png ifonly_146.jpg

Library4 https://imgur.com/a/FIY3V4i bookpage3.jpg bookpage4.jpg ifonly_148.jpg

The 'ifonly_###.jpg’ images appear to be pictures of those pages in Geri Halliwell’s book 'If Only’ while the other images are a mixture of pages/covers from 'Real Life: Real Spice’ and a few other odds and ends thrown in, including an excerpt from something related to the Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe, perhaps a script from a play? So, let’s dig into these Library images to see if we can knock anything loose.

In Library3/dontpanic-exc.png, there is a QR code hidden in the blue channel. it decodes to a string of triple letter combinations, with only 7 distinct three-letter groups:

ZAG LAF RIV LAF OEG RIV LAF ZAG RIV LAW VTM OEG OEG RIV RIV OEG RIV OEG LAF RIV RIV VTM LAF LAF RIV RIV VTM IPS ZAG RIV OEG OEG OEG OEG RIV ZAG OEG RIV LAF RIV LAW LAF RIV LAF RIV RIV ZAG RIV LAF LAF RIV ZAG LAF RIV ZAG ZAG RIV

By reversing the groups, noticing some patterns, assuming it decodes to something starting with 'media’ and brute forcing a bit, this key is found:

RIV-1 ???-2 IPS-3 LAF-4 ZAG-5 OEG-6 VTM-7 LAW-0

155 145 144 151 141 40 141 65 166 66 153 71 144 71 146 161 166 70 154 164 145 media a5v6k9d9fqv8lte http://mediafire.com/?a5v6k9d9fqv8lte

This mediafire link is to Window1.zip containing images punch_01.png and spiceworld.jpg.

There does not appear to be anything hidden in the spiceworld.jpg image, but the punch_01.png definitely looks suspicious, and we are inclined to think it might represent a 'window’ into something. Perhaps something found in a 'library’? We’ll see, we’ll see.

Library2/bookpage0.png is a grid of Spice Girls:

20 total cells, each with a border and image color. Writing the color/number pairs using the standard Pangent color code, we obtain:

39 34 31 78 37 6b 33 75 73 66 41 49 44 45 4D 38 76 72 69 37

Which decodes to:

941x7k3usfAIDEM8vri7

Looks promising as there’s a backwards 'MEDIA’ in there, but we’ve gotta do some shifting around before getting:

MEDIAfsu3k7x1497irv8

http://mediafire.com/?fsu3k7x1497irv8 ZIP File Window2.ZIP with image files: stay_spicy.jpg punch_0x.png

So this second 'Window’ again has a 'punch’ file, and another image which does not appear to hide any further content, just a shout out image from the Spice Girls book.

Library2/bookpage1.png is a punchcard grid over a page from the Spice Girls book. Adding the grid and recoloring yields:

Reading off the characters gives:

h8dhak4kkrrrezgAIDEM

or, reversed:

MEDIAgzerrrkk4kahd8h http://mediafire.com/?gzerrrkk4kahd8h

This mediafire link is to a ZIP archive entitled 'Pecola Papercraft’ which contains 29 pdfs, each containing a printable template that can be cut out and folded to create one of the Pecola Papercraft characters.

In Library4/bookpage4.jpg there is hidden text in the blue channel:

pnxmnsltojwdmfuirhmwnxyftxytfqqhydtzfymhfj ymfsprhzktwuqtrnslkwtfifsljsymxhmstqtzbjxqtsihg

reversed: ghistqxjbztqtsmhxmysjlsfiftwklsnrtquwtkzhrpsfmy jfhmyfztdyhqqftyxtfyxnwmhriufmdwjotlsnmxnp

We have assumed these strings are Vigenere enciphered text from a reduced alphabet (a-p max, for hex values) but we have not been able to determine any valid strings as of yet from these codes. Feel free to crack and report!

The barcodes in Library1/bookcover3.png are scannable and lead to mediafire links:

median86lbazk21m57mx http://www.mediafire.com/?n86lbazk21m57mx

medialbynvsckbva1kpb http://www.mediafire.com/?lbynvsckbva1kpb

These are each archives containing images of Pecola characters:

The First Ones (ペコラ1.zip):

The Second Ones: (ペコラX1.zip)

Each image contains the Pecolas numbered 1 through 26 from the previously discovered Pecola Papercraft ZIP archive. Converting the Pecolas to A-Z based on their number in the ZIP gives us the following strings:

The First Ones (ペコラ1.zip):

YKOTOGRGMURGPKETRGQKDUSGVJLUNFYFCTTFSJGTYF

The Second Ones: (ペコラX1.zip):

SJOQONNKAKMQWUJEEXJGLNQLQWGGAXYJCHZHDOPLSH

The first one can be Vigenered with 'Pecola’ to get a reduced alphabet:

JGMFDGCCKGGGAGCFGGBGBGHGGFJGCFJBAFIFDFEFNF

Then, converting the letters to hex via A=1, B=2, …, J=0, K=A, P=F gives:

07C64733A7771736772727877607360216964656D6

reversing that gives:

6D6564696120637067787272776371777A33746C70

which decodes to:

media cpgxrrwcqwz3tlp http://mediafire.com/?cpgxrrwcqwz3tlp

This mediafire contains Window3.zip where we get another 'punch’ (punch_0A) and two images (negs_1, negs_2) of Spice Girls Negatives.

The string from the second Pecola image set can be decoded to a reduced alphabet using the vigenere key 'realliferealspice’ to become:

BFOFDFIGJGMFEFBCAGFGACIGMFCGPFJBADIDDDEDND

Reversing and using A=1…P=F hex decoding:

4d45444941206f736c7931767132656c7079646e62

this decodes to:

MEDIA osly1vq2elpydnb http://mediafire.com/?osly1vq2elpydnb

This is where we find Window4.zip containing colours_ofthe_world.jpg and punch_00F.png

So now we have 4 Windows to go along with our 4 Libraries. And Each of the 4 Windows had a 'punch’ while each of the four Libraries had an 'ifonly’ so try to pair those up.

It turns out that works, and they can be combined where the punch blocks overlay on the ifonly pages, marking individual letters in a reduced alphabet string.

The matched up images can be found in these albums:

https://imgur.com/a/3ikA0Fr - with book, opaque windows https://imgur.com/a/UzBHWYk - without book, just the letters punch_01 over ifonly_140 punch_0A over ifonly_144 punch_00F over ifonly_146 punch_0X over ifonly_148

These are the groupings and decodes of each one:

ifonly_140: aebffcgekenfhcddbefccgefbfeGdgegpfIg 15266375a5d683442563375626574757f697 reverse it: 796f757475626573365244386d5a57366251 hex: youtubes6RD8mZW6bQ http://youtu.be/s6RD8mZW6bQ YouTube video with hex title 'focus’ Shows 15 seconds of 'stressed Leslie’ messing with the camera, ends with her yelling 'Alex!’

ifonly_144: gfpdjGgdadafpfpfofmdadefbfegdgegpfig 76f407741416f6f6e6c4145626574757f697 reverse: 796f7574756265414c6e6f6f614147704f67 hex: youtubeALnooaAGpOg http://youtu.be/ALnooaAGpOg YouTube video with hex title 'should’ Shows 'stressed Leslie’ saying how she punched Alex and now Kristi is crying.

ifonly_146: gfhfmfhfffickgccfcbgcficecccccadididednd 7686c6866693a7336327369353333314949454d4 reverse: 4d4549494133333539637236337a3966686c6867 hex: MEIIA3359cr63z9fhlhg http://mediafire.com/?3359cr63z9fhlhg SSWX-GIF.ZIP Collection of files for Super Spice World X including a readme.txt explaining the system

ifonly_148: fgkfdcgclfggdgagbglfIfgfgcggagafifdfefnf 67a64373b677471727b6967673771716964656d6 reverse: 6d6564696171773767696b727174776b37346a76 hex: mediaqw7gikrqtwk74jv http://mediafire.com/?qw7gikrqtwk74jv SSWX-PNG.ZIP Several folders of MIDI and PNG files for Super Spice World X

With those four decodes, it appears we’ve completed a set! You should now have access to all the files you need to play your own version of Super Spice World X, should you so choose. And even with the possibly unsolved portions, it does appear we’ve reached a satisfying conclusion to this Pangent Path.

Stay Spicy Pangents!

[trinity-williams]

“An excerpt from...

A Lion’s Daughter”

We walk together.

We walk, winding in and out of the nearly frozen hills, we walk. Taking in the beauty of this first light snow. His steps are longer than mine, yet we find balance. He turns and pecks me on my rosy cheeks, angling our frosted white umbrella against the wind. We walk enjoying each other's company and the beauty of the world around us. We walk and then we talk together.

We Talk together.

We talk of the fears that hold our hearts captive. We talk of the fight we had last night that left us tempered. We talk of the jobs that we must find and the careers we must start. We talk of the bills and the debt. We talk of the weight of it all. We talk of our crushing reality. We talk and then we cry.

We cry together.

We cry together to let the emotions out. We cry together to be open and true with each other. We cry together for the fear we felt by the weight of life. Then we cry together for the joy of all the beauty around us. We cry together for the love of the things to come. We cry together because we know we a stronger together. Then we dry each other's tears and begging to dream together. We cry and then we dream together.

We dream together.

We dream with each other, of our future plans and ambitions. He laughs as we fantasize the life we will build. How many kids? What type of house? Green or grey paint? Dogs? Cat? Both? We dream about raising children and the joy of growing old. We dream of all the far off places we would love to explore. We dream as we walk along no longer burdened by the fear or tears of what to come. Content to love each other as we walk along.

We walk together,

We talk together,

We cry together,

We dream together,

And one day we will die together,

But until that day we will love each other.

* sgrìobhte le jara sagart, eadar-theangachadh leis an tighearn Erith*

(written by High Priestess Jara, translated by Lord Erith)

*

*

*

*

“An excerpt from chapter 2 of a “lion's daughter”

James storms through the deserted halls. Filling the air with the pounding of his boots, a consistent drumming rhythm to accompany the gentle hiss and pop of the torches mounted against the cold stone walls. He stops, flinging open a heavy wooden door to reveal a solitary bedroom, walls piled high, the worn spines of well-loved books overflowing on every surface. Two sitting chairs stand next to a beautifully polished writing desk in front of a grated fireplace, and a fur covered bed lays in the corner beside a frosted window, our little oasis against the cold winds of reality, our home. In this place, we can hold each other close in all the ugliness of our souls and simply be loved.

Looming in the doorway, he speaks slightly louder than intended. As his face contorts in a mixture of emotions, anger, pain, panic, and love. As though his brain is fighting his heart, for what to feel and what to believe.

“RivLlyn! What have you done?” He exclaims. “My grandfather is furious, you know we need him! How could you confront him like that behind my back? If he turns against me you know this castle could become very dangerous for us.”

The intensity of his voice sending shivers through my spine. Recoiling at his loud voice, I look up from the book in my hands. Neatly placing it on the desk next to me, so that I can turn and meet his tormented face with my own steel eyes, ready for the conversation to come. Yet when I see the pain in his eyes it is almost too much to bear. A small piece of me breaks with that look. I just wanted to take the pain away, not add more, but now I've done just that. Fuck it, what does it matter? Anything is better than living under his grandfather's thumb forever. I can't back down; he has to understand why I did it. That I love him.

“James, I can’t sit here anymore and watch how he treats you. The manipulation is one thing but the constant emotional abuse... He is so scared of the man you are becoming that he will never let you be free to live your own life. He sees the power in you and is afraid of losing control over it, over you. I see how his oppression hurts you and I couldn't sit back and do nothing anymore. I love you too much for that. I won't sit here and risk him taking you away from me.” I said

Barely containing the tears in my eyes, I silently plead with him to understand, to somehow see into my soul and know that I would do anything for him.

With a heavy sigh, James folds into the chair across from me. He runs his hand through his dark brown hair, eyes closed, silently counting his breaths. He looks so peaceful when his eyes are closed and it makes my heart melt every time. I could stare at his beautiful face for hours and never get tired. He looks up and his eyes now brimming with tears meet mine, with his. A small fire sparks inside me and begins to thaw the fear in my heart. He understands, he knows I did not want to cause him pain. He sees how scared I have been about this moment. How much it took out of me to do anything whether rightfully or not. He heard what I said and now knows that there is some truth to it. My soul lets out a sigh of relief as though it's been holding its breath for his response.

His voice calmer now and slightly catching with emotion he holds my gaze.

“Riv, I'm not mad at you, but you know we can't make him our enemy. We’re stuck with him either way. You're right though, I have been putting off this decision for far too long. It's time I get out from under his thumb. I will go first thing tomorrow and discuss the matter” reflected James.

I know how difficult that conversation is going to be for him. As much as I love him, James and I have very different ways of solving problems. I will fight any battle head on but he is more of a peacemaker he prefers to de-escalate any problematic situations. This has definitely caused problems for us before, just as it did this time but more often than not we balance each other out he mellows me out and teaches me to look for peace in turmoil and I show him that there are some things worth fighting to protect.

“I know we can't get rid of him. He's your family after all but you don't have to let him hold the reins to your life. You are a good man James. One day you will be a very important man in this kingdom, don't let him take your freedom from you. You don't owe him anything.” I said.

“I'm not going to anymore. Were you really so worried that he would somehow break up what we have that you had to confront him on your own?” James asked.

“Yes, I'm scared but honestly I'm more scared that I wouldn't be able to handle seeing you in so much pain much longer. I'm scared of losing you,” I cried

Tears pooled in my eyes and I quickly wiped them away.

“Do you really think that I would ever let anything take you away from me? What we have is special and I will protect it. I love you, Riv. You know that,” said James

I can see his eyes pleading with me to believe him, to understand that he would never let anything separate us, and finally, after all these months something inside me snaps in place and I have no doubt he would go to the ends of the earth for me just as I would for him. I can see the hurt in his eyes though as I answer, the raw pain that my innermost fear has laid at his feet. I can't avoid it anymore though. It has to be said. If only for saying's sake.

“I know you wouldn't, not intentionally, but sometimes I wonder if it came to a choice of staying as is, or leaving what you know, for me, that you would choose to stay rather than leave your comfort zone. I love you too and I shouldn't have confronted him but I do not regret it. It needed to happen. Your right though, it isn’t my place.” I said.

He looked me dead in the eye, the sweetest smile playing at his lips as he slowly leaned nearer to me.

“Love, you are a strong woman and extremely protective -- those are things that I love the most about you. But you have a tendency to believe you have to be the only one to solve the problem. That's not true. We're a team remember? All those thoughts running around your head that lead up to this, you can tell them to me and we will work it out together. You’re not alone. This is not you against me, this is us against the problem and we should face it that way. You know me better than anyone in this world and I understand where you may be afraid but believe me when I say I would choose you over life itself if it came to that,” said James.

Hot tears were now streaming down my face in a rapid rhythm with my heart. I couldn't control them as the salt stung the still open cuts above my cheek from training earlier. How did I get so lucky to love a man like him?

“I know, James, and I love you for it. I'm sorry, I should have trusted you enough to come to you first before I took it into my own hands,” I said.

James moved forward kneeling in front of me, he gently brushes my cheek with his cold, strong hands. Suddenly my cheeks are warm and my heart is calm -- so peacefully calm. I close my eyes and nuzzle my head into his hand. He makes me feel protected and free at the same time. Letting out a deep sigh, I look up at him, those beautiful brown eyes so deep and calming. With flecks of gold that make him look playful and kind even as his eyes brim with tears. Eyes so filled with love, it makes me question against my soundest reasonings. there's no way that we could ever part. We would have to be dead first. I love this man with every part of myself and that will never change.

“Riv, I'm not going anywhere. Whatever comes we will face it together. You know that right?” James askes.

His eyes pleading with me to remember how completely our souls have intertwined themselves. We are part of each other. The same way two plants can grow together, and become one. Neither of us would be whole without the other.

I nodded my head, taking a deep breath to steady myself. James pulls me up into his warm embrace. We float there as time stops and I melt into his chest, smelling his reassuring must, timing my breathing to his as I listen to the steady drum of his heartbeat. It is here, in moments like this, when I feel the most one with him, the most loved.

He breaks the embrace and gently leads me away from the fire to our bed piled high with fur blankets. He grabs my favorite one and wraps it around my shoulders as I slowly slip off my boots and climb in. Outside, the sky has darkened and all you can see is the fires from the village houses reflected through their windows. The wind begins to howl as snow falls silently blanketing the world. The snow comes dancing down from the starless sky and landing on our outer sill as James slides in beside me. He pulls me tight, piling the blankets over our intertwined bodies, wrapping his strong arms around me.

“I love you Riv.” he whispers against my ear.

Again I melt into his loving embrace, feeling his body heat on my back and his warm breath on my neck. Welcoming my soul home as I drift off into the dark night. My chest heavy and eyes red, so overwhelmed with emotion and love that sleep overtakes me without my knowing.

[fatal-blow]

Have another excerpt except this time Riven’s being gayyy

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Rivennae made pace with her. “So at the risk of making you mad, what are the chances we can do something again?”

Nalaki shot her a look, but it wasn’t angry or upset.  “I don’t know, Riv.  I think we have bigger things to worry about than whether or not we’re going to do anything, don’t you think?”

“Well maybe, sure, but—”

“I just want to figure out the biggest problem first and foremost.  I don’t want to think about what we are, so please don’t make it complicated.  Surviving and finding other people—people who won’t attack us on sight,” she added with a grumble, “is our biggest priority.”

Rivennae hated how right she was, but she couldn’t help but feel like Nalaki was just going to use this as an excuse to avoid the subject as long as possible.  It was just so typical of her, really.

But wow, she’d sure missed…her.  Just everything about her, the way she looked, her dry sense of humour, her quiet consideration.

She was so smart and so beautiful and so talented in everything she did so of course, of course she was Nalaki Vairnette, the head librarian at the Archive, daughter of the most renowned draconologist in Solvan.  It frustrated her that Nalaki was probably upset that she’d found out even that.  She never had wanted her to know what was beneath her Lun’s Mask when they’d met in the night.

Shaking her frustrations away, she caught Nalaki’s arm and pulled her a little closer.  “Okay, I get it.  Just don’t leave me hanging, whatever happens, okay?  Cus sweet Lun, I really missed you.”

Nalaki smiled, softening the worry in her features.  She adjusted their arms, pressing her cheek to her shoulder.  “I missed you too, Riv.  And I promise we’ll talk about this, okay?”

Rivennae leaned her head onto hers.  “Okay.  Holding you to that, Nala.”

“Ha, you wouldn’t let me forget it.”

[rivenantiqnerd]

First Line Tag

I was tagged by @the-golden-comet and @gioiaalbanoart thank you!

Here is the first line (i don’t start wips at the beginning, so it’s just the current first line bc ill add more stuff before it) of Grove of Kings and Killers.

Courlin turned the corner and entered the corridor. This one was dotted with alcoves, some containing old suits of armour or exhibit-like displays, others empty. She’d passed another one like it on her way. In this one, however, moonlight from the tall windows splashed across the walls and gave them a bluish tint. Courlin crept passed three displays before a discovery surprised her. She had thought the hall had been deserted, but partway down, she found a couple hidden in one of the alcoves, engrossed in each other.

it’s not a very good opening, but i need to do a lot to gokak before it even starts to make sense to me.

tagging @kingragnarok-writes @somethingclevermahogony @drchenquill @illarian-rambling @cha0t1ccr3atur3 and open tag

[xolovejessie4181]

[INSTAGRAM STORY VIDEO] jessica.syj: CHECK OUT AN EXTENDED EXCERPT! LINK IN BIO✨ #readshine #shineeveryday @/simonteen https://riv… https://t.co/Ztig2ZwXwd https://t.co/xMwUZeWV0K

[skold]

i’m WAY too high to be writing right now bc i just started and ended a sentence with “then” so shout out to riv for pointing that one out when i sent an excerpt

[turnthediaitotheright]

(original post: https://www.duolingo.com/comment/9816578) “your welcome” Courses, Grammar Lessons, Educational Books, Etc. YouTube • Norwegian Teacher Karin • Learn Norwegian Naturally • Norwegian Class 101 Memrise • A1 Beginner Norwegian with Audio • 5000+ Most Common Words Part 1 • Duolingo Norwegian Vocab • Learn Norwegian with News Interactive Grammar & Vocab Excercises • Exploring Norwegian Grammar • Norsk som andrespråk • Språkrådet   • Håndbok i grammatikk og språkbruk • Norsk start: 1-4 | 5-7 | 8-10 • Kaleido | Lek med språket • Kaleido | Main Site • På vei • Stein på stein Pronunciation • Learn-Norwegian.net | Pronunciation Guide • Norwegian Teacher Karin | Norwegian Sounds • Learn NoW by NTNU: Alphabet | Vowels | Dipthongs | Consonants | Consonant Clusters | Retroflex Sounds • Sounds Good App   NTNU - this app helps you differentiate between similar sounds in both speaking and listening Courses • Learn NoW by NTNU • Learn NoW by NTNU 2 • CALST by NTNU • FSI Norwegian • Sett i Gang More Vocabulary & Grammar Sites • Gramatikk.com • Nynorsk Senter • Lexin | Bildteman | Bokmål & Nynorsk Picture Dictionary • Book2 | English-Norwegian Audio Course Dialect-Specific • Dialect Database (click kart, then click a square on the map, then click the .mp3 or .wav file to hear an excerpt from Nordavinden og Sola read in that dialect) • CALST by NTNU (listening & speaking exercises for different dialects, and FYI this only works well in Chrome) Textbooks & Grammar Guides Sometimes publishers put previews, or occasionally whole books, online. Sometimes books are so old that they become open to the public. And sometimes, I’m given a link to an awesome Google Drive folder with a bunch of ebooks in it (which are probably not supposed to be available to the public for free, so use them wisely). [RB = Recommended Book/s] • The aforementioned Google Drive folder {RB: Håndbok i Grammatikk og Språkbruk | Sånn kan du si det | Hva vi sier og hva vi mener • GAN Aschehoug (Publisher) {RB: Nye Ord 5, 4, and 3 • Fagbokforlaget (Publisher) {RB: MiniGrammatikk | Ordriket • Cappelen Damm (Publisher) {RB: Kaleido textbooks - I can’t get the link to work so go here, search for Kaleido, then click filters> language> norsk (these are textbooks for Norwegian primary school students, so they have easy explanations and short stories) • På Vei Textbook Culture & Life YouTube • AmeriNorge • Teaandtoastify • Visit Norway Blogs • Life in Norway • My Little Norway • A Frog in the Fjord Art, Mythology, & Folktales • Stand Still. Stay Silent. | Webcomic “A post apocalyptic webcomic with elements from Nordic mythology, set 90 years in the future.” Not strictly Norwegian-themed, but very interesting nonetheless. Includes this cool comparison of Nordic languages. • Study In Norway | Culture • Norwegian folktales in Norwegian, in English, and in audio book form • Visit Norway | Arts & Culture • Norse Mythology • Shmoop | Mythology (scroll down a bit to see the sections on Norse mythology) • Internet Archive | The Heroes of Asgard: Tales From Scandinavian Mythology TV Shows, Cartoons, Etc. I Kveld Med Ylvis (a talk/comedy show) [PG16 for language] • IKMY Season 1 (full season & subs) • IKMY Season 2 (only 3 subbed episodes) • IKMY Season 3 (just a few clips from the season) • IKMY Season 4 (full season & subs) • IKMY Season 5: Unicef Spesial | Ep. 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | (nearly all episodes subbed) Other Ylvis Shows & Videos: • Ylvis in English | ALL • Norges Herligste NRK (a Norwegian TV channel - everything from comedy to nature programs) • NRK Super (kid’s shows) • NRK TV (all programs available outside Norway) • NRK Skole (basically Norwegian PBS or Discovery) Other • Nickelodeon • Peppa Pig • TinySchool.TV • Pocoyo • Cartoon Network Music & Podcasts Radio/Streaming • Norwegian Stations on TuneIn • Norwegian Stations on ListenLive • NRK Radio • hknyildirim’s Spotify playlist • kim-gab’s Spotify playlist Albums & Playlists • Siri Nilsen: Skyggebokser | Alle Snakker Sant | Vi Som Ser I Mørket • Jahn Teigen: Lys | Til Kongen • Bjørn Eidsvåg: Landet Lenger Bak | Hittil og Littil | En Vakker Dag | Nåde • Madcon: Contakt • Lars Vaular: D'E Glede | Du Betyr Meg | Helt Om Natten, Helt Om Dagen | Helt Ute På | La Hat-Et Nytt Dagslys | 1001 Hjem | 666 Alt | 666 Gir • Disney Songs in Norwegian • Kaizers Orchestra: 250 Prosent | Våre Demoner | Evig Pint | Maskineri | Violeta Violeta Vol. I, Vol. II, & Vol. III | Ompa til du dør • Bergtatt: YouTube playlist • Razika: På vei hjem | Ut til de andre | Program 91 • Karpe Diem: Heisann Montebello • Wardruna: Yggdrasil | Gap Var Ginnunga Songs (I either couldn’t find whole albums or there were mostly English songs on them) • Ylvis: La Det På Is | Sammen Finner Vi Frem | Unnskyld, Kjære Oslo | Jeg Heter Finn | Da Vet Du At Det Er Jul | Ka Kan Eg Gi Deg? • Gabrielle: Regn fra blå himmel | 5 fine frøkner | Mer | Ring meg | Sitter her | Mellom skyene | Mildt Sagt (album) • Staysman & Lazz: En godt stekt pizza • Norges nasjonalsang | Norway’s National Anthem • Respekt for Grandiosa (a song about frozen pizza - embrace it) • NRK Super: Sveve på luft (yes it’s from the kids’ channel but it’s really good) • Sondre Justad: Det e over | Nu har du mæ/Nå har du meg | Riv i hjertet • Verdensrommet: Alt det du sier | Gi meg alt | Der hvor du aldri kan stå | Nytt Podcasts • NRK Radio (this is just the link to the main site, there are many different podcasts on it) • Klar Tale News, Comics, & Other Reading Material Norwegian reading for non-grammar related purposes. News • Klar Tale (made specifically for learners): Main Site | News in Images | Nynorsk News • Dagbladet • Aftenposten • NRK • VG • TV2 Comics • Nettserier • Bergens Tidene | Tegneserier • Aftenposten | Tegneserier • Dagbladet | Tegneserie Reading Materials • Norske Folkeeventyr | Norwegian Folktales (you can also listen to folktales here) • Norsk Wikipedia • Bokselskap (free ebooks)

[standbyphoenix]

‘’River’s rock group is called Aleka’s Attic - it’s a name, he confided, he made up, a character from one of his fictional stories. He’s the lead singer of the band and plays guitar; his sister Rainbow does back-up vocals, plays maracas and tamborine. Three of the most adorable guys you’ve ever seen are part of the band, too: Josh McKay is the bass player, Joshua Green, a friend of Riv’s from Florida, is the drummer and Tim Hankins handles guitar plus the sweet, lush sounds of the viola!

Aleka’s Attic’s been practicing for the past several months - performing all of River’s original progressive folk-rock songs in very tiny clubs all up and down the east coast. Only River has made super sure no one knew he was the front man for the band! He wants Aleka’s Attic to be accepted for its music - not because people know River Phoenix is involved.’’

[Excerpt from Teen Magazine about Aleka’s Attic].