#rogue and little scamp of a guy!

[ghcstcd]

My beloved encouraged me to draw the OC blorbo named Malika as a Sleep Token Vessel. The aesthetic just fits!

[bbbearwin]

“no love, however brief, is wasted.”

howdy! this is an oc blog really, for all intents and purposes i’m just here to fuck around and rp with my friends :)

- the description is for Berwin, i’m a he/him sorta fella, age 19

- if you’re curious or interested, oc information and tags are below!

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🎕 My Characters! 🎕

  — Berwin 🐻 (#berwin)

🌿 he/any | 20s | shifter | shepherd druid/gloom stalker ranger

🌿descends from the roaming bearfolk of the forests. made a small name for himself as a guide and protector of those less fortunate should they enter his domain. not very socialized outside of clan and out-of-place in more "civil" spaces. could be more curious about the grander world probably

— Cliff 🛡️ (#cliff)

⛨ he/him | 19 | half-orc | redemption paladin

⛨ this bad boy has so much trauma inside him *rattles* [end text]. typically engaged in homoerotic entanglements with #otto

—  Carmen 🌸 (#carmen)

❀ she/her | 16 | faerie | wizard

❀ gifted student who excels in her studies, adoptive daughter of merchant family. Very kind heart under the class pet/theatrics act. Has trust issues that make her a little distant and difficult to connect with but she desperately wants to find someone who really understands her

— Najiba⛓️ (#najiba)

🩸 she/her | 20s | tabaxi | blood hunter

🩸mercenary that was once a weapon/extension of a very wealthy household, killing and assassinating in their stead to compensate for parent’s debt. has since run away to figure out how to live for herself

— Patches 🍓 (#patches)

🥛 he/they | 20s | strawberby cow :) | cleric/druid necromancer

🥛 rural country boy from necromantic lineage integrates into society, casually commits atrocities and doesn’t really process it nor cares to? speaks his mind/takes action without consideration often unless made to care about affected parties

— The Twins ☀️🌙 (#abba / #amity)

🎭 he/him | 20s | faun | bard

🕊 she/her | 20s | faun | cleric

☀️🌙 siblings cursed at birth for their parent's actions, for the sun cannot see, and the moon cannot speak. the sun lives a life of careless self-indulgence while the moon is pious and restrained. they still love each other dearly despite being polar opposites

🎭 he just has a simple wish, one that may finally rid him of an ache he's carried for years. Then, everything will be perfect

🕊 ???

— Scamp ⚜️ (#scamp)

he/him | old | shifter (badger) | rogue(?)

🗡 the standard irritable, cranky old dude with a casual interest in robbery and fraud

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Pending/Other Characters

— Zariah ❤️‍���� (#zariah)

💥 she/they | ? | ? | barbarian?

💥 ??? (Pending)

— Oleander 🌊 (Love Zone Campaign)

— Bryer 🔮 (#bryer - VQ Campaign)

- Transition -

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

🎕 Friends’ Characters 🎕

💗 - @yolkylemon // @imanewe

↪  ocs: #imane / #effea / #liara / #civir / #aniyis

🐺  - @kaoala // @naia-beast

↪  ocs: #naia / #otto / #rascal / #jianlin / #osric / #ainsley

🍏 - @imasyd​

↪ ocs: #sachi

💫 - @celestialprisma // @prismatic-dreaming

↪ ocs: #althea / #perse / #celeste

- Transition -

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

🎕 Tag System 🎕

🌻 #clay slays - for posts and things i say as myself (ooc)

🌻 #berwin yawns - speaking as the guy berwin himself :)

🌻 #(oc) talks - talking in character as a different oc (ex. #najiba talks)

🌻 #(oc) asks - anons received from friends ocs (ex. #imane asks)

- End Intro -

[love-anddeepression]

You’re not him Chapter 1

" Hey Casey, how're you doing?" you walk in and ask the receptionist.

"Hi L/n, nothing much, just  reporting in some standard violations nothing more." Casey replies in his enthusiastic way.

"Nice, where's Hunt?"

" Oh, she's just patrolling, Mobius is in court, and he asked me to hand you all your assignments for the week" he replies, handing you a file.

"Thanks Casey, go on, I'll see you at lunch." you say walking towards your office.

Loki's pov

( The dialogues are not correct, cuz I'm writing out of memory)

"What is this? This never even happened, more lies, tricks." Loki shouts at Mobius.

"Not yet, not to you" Mobius replies, fast forwarding to where Loki and Frigga are talking.

" Then am I not  your mother" Frigga asks

Breath shuddering, Loki says, "You are not."

Tears filling her eyes, she then chuckles humorlessly, " You're so perceptive about everyone but yourself."

Mobius continues, " And then the dark elves attack Asgard and you think you lead them to Thor, but instead you lead them to.."

He fast forward to Frigga, being stabbed by a dark elf as Loki watches on in horror, tears forming in his eyes.

"W-Where do you have her, where is she?"

"You lead 'em right to her." Mobius softly says.

"No! Yo-you're lying! It's not true!" Loki accuses.

They argue back and forth until Hunter B-15 came in and asked to talk to Mobius.

And during that time, Loki like the mischievous scamp he is, escapes.

~~

After completing a few of your assignments, you decided to head to the cafeteria and have some lunch. They did have some bomb salads.

On the way there, you suddenly saw a glimpse of blue that looked a lot like the tesseract from the corner of your eye. Turning to your right, you saw nothing. Putting it down to your imagination, you sighed and walked on when you bumped head-first into Hunter B-16, a good friend of yours.

"Hey Hunt! Where have you been?" you asked smiling

"Hi Y/n sorry can't talk, there's a rogue variant in the premises and I have to look for him!" She replied hurriedly.

"Oh! Well let me help you, who is it?" you replied suddenly becoming serious.

Hunter hesitated to speak.

"Ask Mobius Y/n, he'll explain everything."  she said before running down the hallway.

Confused, you headed down the hallway, but not before spotting a mop of very familiar raven hair heading towards Mobius's office.

Eye's widening you chased after the guy only to run into Casey and  couple of other agents.

"Wha-Casey! What happened? Why the hell is everyone rushing around?" you asked him.

"I don't know Y/n, there was this guy who came and threatened to turn me into a fish or something and he took that blue cube thing and ran away!"

" Blue cube thing-blue cube thing? Wait you mean the tesseract?" you urgently enquired.

"Yes! That's what the thing is called!" he says

" Oh my god." you say and start running towards Mobius's office, where you met Mobius outside.

" Mobius what's happening?" you ask him.

______

Loki was in Mobius's office, just managing to escape the agents when he saw it again, the view of his mother, cold and dead, because of him.

Shuffling in his seat, he reached forward and pressed the 'fast-forward button'.

The projector skipped to Odin, talking with him and Thor.

"I love you my sons" Odin said before disintegrating into a pile of stardust that floated above to the heavens.

Click.

Now it was Thor,

"Loki, I thought the world of you." Thor said," I thought we were going to fight side-by-side together."

The scene cut to the brothers, along with the hulk and a woman in a Valkyrie suit. There was another woman with (h/c) hair, who was walking close to Loki, her face wasn't clear, but he could see she was close to him.

Click.

Now it was focused on the woman, he couldn't see her face, she was turned away from him, again all he could see was her mop of hair. She seemed to be talking to future-him.

Loki, promise me you'll stay alive, don't be stupid." she said to him

"Darling, we both know there's nothing to worry about, Thor and Valkyrie have a plan, we're not going to die, and who knows? Maybe after this we can go back to Earth, you have missed your family."

"Loki, I'm looking out for you here ok? Please stay alive. I don't what I'd do without you, you're way to important to me...and to Thor."

"Love, don't worry" he said kissing her forehead gently as if calming her down.

" Don't be stupid, and yes, we will mostly be going there and I'm looking forward to having a cheeseburger so don't ruin it for me by dying!"

"Ok, I won't die." He said

"Promise"

"I promise I won't die" he said chuckling softly.

Loki couldn't believe it, after all this time, all his failed relationships, he found someone to love, someone who loved him back and he started crying, this time tears of happiness.

That all changed the moment he clicked again,

This time he was being choked, choked by the Titan who appeared in his nightmares, the reason he was in this mess.

The entire time, he could also hear the girl's heart-wrenching screams.

" You..w-will never....be ...a-a.......God..." Future him choked out blood streaming out if his ears and eyes, face a chalky white, all while Loki looked on in horror.

CRACK! Came that vomit-inducing sound, causing him to turn away.

Turning back he saw Thor and the girl crying onto his chest.

The girl was screaming and sobbing her poor heart out and Loki's heart broke for her.

The ship exploded and the file came to an end.

Loki sat there, too shocked to do anything, after everything was finally going good he died.

He then started laughing humorlessly.

Glorious Purpose indeed.

~~

"Mobius what's going on?" you ask urgently to the man who was looking a little worried.

"Y/n I'm going to need you to stay here, you know the person inside, and you can see him, after I talk to him." he said looking guilty. He knew how much Loki meant to you and he felt really bad for what he going to do, but he needed the variant's help.

"But who is he Mobius?" you ask him, eyes wide and breathing heavy.

"Y/n, I'll call you in five minutes." he said, walking swiftly inside and locking the door immediately so you couldn't come inside.

"Wait the doors locked- what the hell Mobius!" you shout and start to work on picking the lock.

~~

" I can't offer you redemption, but I can offer you a chance, there's a rogue variant killing all our minutemen." Mobius said.

" And you need the God of Mischief's help to catch him. Why?"

" Because the variant is you."

At that exact moment you managed to pick the lock and deciding to be a dramatic bitch, you kicked the doors open

and that's when you saw him.

Your eyes widened and your mouth dropped in shock, you were expecting it but it still didn't make it any less surprising.

God, he looked good, and he also looked younger, meaning....this was him from 2012, the guy who escaped.

And that meant-

" Who are you?" he asked.

Oh shit

[chosendestiny]

I know I'm late to post this, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! Summary: Eva Lavante is back, and Fireteam Neptune helps her decorate for the Festival of the Lost. -- Today began the Festival of the Lost. Fireteam Neptune along with other guardians was helping Eva decorate for this special event. Neptune began to take care of decoration in the Courtyard while other guardians took care of different sections of the Tower. The great tree was transmatted in the center of the Courtyard. Pumpkins and candles were placed all around. The smell of food prepared for the holiday filled the air. Rogue helped Tess stock up with masks for Guardians to wear for the Festival of the Lost. "Thank you, Rogue." Tess smiled kindly. He smiled back, "You're welcome." "Oh, shoot." James flew down to Tess, drawing Rogue's attention to see James now wearing a drifter mask. "Hey, good to see you alive, brother." James mimicked Drifter's voice while he held a fake green coin. It made Tess chuckle quietly while Rogue rolled his eyes, hiding his smile. "Take that off. We need to get decorating." Mari flew to put the engram-shaped lanterns on the great tree. Leah had a bucket of nails on one side, a pile of wooden planks on the other. She picked up a nail, placing it on the wood as she banged the hammer onto the wooden plank. Lily held a box of pumpkins, already carved from earlier. She cluelessly walked around while holding the box. Lily then looked at Eva, who just walked into the Courtyard. "Where would you like these?" "You can put them over there, dear. Esther will work on those." She pointed at the area next to the great tree. "I have another job for you," Eva spoke after Lily put the box down. "I heard you have quite the reputation with making clothing, Lilith." Eva clasped her hands together. "And I wanted to know if you can make some clothing for me." Lily's eyes lit up. "You mean it?!" Eva nodded, "I feel that you'll b- oop." Lily suddenly pulls her in a tight embrace, catching her by surprise. "Thank you!" It took a moment for Eva to respond. She smiled kindly, patting Lily's back. After Lily broke the embrace, Eva gave her two tote bags. "These have every fabric you'll need." She thanked her and left. Esther picked up two pumpkins from the box, putting them next to Arcite. She suddenly heard footsteps getting closer to her. "Happy Festival of Lost, little hunter." A familiar voice boomed, drawing her attention. She couldn't help but smile. "Happy Fesitival of Lost, Shaxx." She held her arms out. Shaxx leaned down to her height, wrapping his arms around her small frame, giving her a slight squeeze. "Will you be staying?" "I'll be here longer than usual," was all she said as she pulled away. She waved farewell before she continued grabbing pumpkins from the box, only to be stopped by a young girl. "Happy Festival of Lost, Esther! Will you be decorating your ship?" Ellie looked up at the Young Wolf, Esther. She smiled down at the little girl, "I would, but it's already scary by itself." "Can I see?" "Maybe later." Esther sets down one of the pumpkins. She lifts the peduncle and pulls out four tote bags, giving them to Ellie. "For your family." She gladly took it. "Thank you!" "Now, run off, you little scamp." She ruffled the little girl's hair, making it messy. "Tell you're family, I said happy Festival of the Lost." Ellie nodded firmly before she left. .. Esther placed the last of the pumpkins in Kadi's section. "Need anything, Guardian?" Esther shook her head, "Nothing Today. Happy Festival of the Lost." Glint suddenly came rushing over to Rogue, drawing everyone's attention. "Guys! Guys!" Rogue turned to look at the ghost. "Glint? What are you doing here?" "I need your help with my research." He chirped. James raised an eyebrow curiously, "What are you looking for?" "The headless ones! I need you guys to kill it." "The headless ones?" Mari asked, looking to James for some kind of answer. He shrugged. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it. Leah banged the last nail onto the wooden plank and picked

up the bucket, walking over to the three. "We're almost done decorating." "Ok! hurry, though! If you help me, I promise you a lot of candy and loot!" Leah dropped the bucket and hammer. "LOOT?!" "CANDY?!" Lily exclaimed from the other room. Rogue sighed, "We'll get on it. Thank you, Glint."

[considerourknowledge]

Jan. 6 Committee Makes Case That Trump is Just a Scamp Who Got Mixed Up With the Wrong People

Last night, in their first televised hearing, the Jan. 6 Select Committee transported the viewing audience back to that fateful day with behind-the-scenes and up-close video of what happened at the Capitol. It also made a strong case that former President Donald Trump was the central character responsible for what happened. They did however say that Trump, rather than being the main threat to democracy, and a rogue and temperamental character who didn't listen to advice from anyone, was simply a lovable scamp who trusted the wrong people and got mixed up in a bad situation. Committee Vice Chair Liz Cheney said, “He knows not what he’s doing. He’s just a patsy for the truly evil people in this whole story. The poor guy just wanted to be be president a little longer. Is that so wrong?” 

Just kidding. The reality is: A significant portion of the country — and many of the very people who need to hear the facts about what happened on Jan. 6 — will never hear the primary source evidence presented, making it difficult for Americans to get on the same page about what truly happened that day, which was a violent insurrection aimed at subverting the government and keeping Trump in power. And the man mainly responsible for this entire mess is Donald J. Trump.

[unabashedrebel]

Go into my inbox and tell me a situation you’d love to see my Muse go through: Sori bringing home a guy (or girl) that Kiro -really- doesn't like.

As the door to the Duskhaven apartment swung open it was accompanied by that sweet, melodic voice that was Soriya. Arguably the only actual decent one out of the family. “Dad, Uncle Cin, I’m home! I brought a friend over.” The young monk shouted into the abode as she came in with a boy in tow.

“What the shit?” Kirollis muttered under his breath. Sitting a ways off at the island counter in the kitchen. Nursing a beer as he and his brother reminisce about the more colorful events in their lives. Or at least he was, up until the newcomer was mentioned.

Simultaneously both Cin and Kirollis turned toward the door, curious to see just who Soriya had brought home. Though the handholding made it clear that it was likely more than a ‘friend’ like she said.

Slowly both brothers would look back over to one another, matching quizzical expressions splayed across their faces. Cin soon shrugged, adding, “Isn’t that that little fucker from the Row who was hittin’ on every piece of ass he saw?”

“….yeah.” Kirollis said with a sigh. “You know, we really gotta talk her out of this seeing the good in everybody bullshit.” The rogue joked, though it didn’t sound like a joke.

Cin reached over to pat his brother on the shoulder, “Don’t worry, I got this.” Clearing his throat he would gave a wave along with a smirk to Soriya, “How’s my favorite niece today?” He asked in a pleasant tone. “Who’s your friend?”

Soriya beamed as she joined them at the kitchen counter with her friend, “Oh I’m doing pretty well! Glad to be back in the city and all that. I just met Senthil out near the Row. He was super nice so I invited him back here for dinner.” She said in a warm tone before motioning to the boy next to her.

Cin could barely contain the shit eating smile that curled over his lips, “Ah, well welcome Senthil. I’m Cin, this broody little fucker here is Kiro.” He said motioning to the rogue beside him. “We’re a family of contract killers who’ve definitely laid in the dirt people in worse positions then yourself. Kiro here killed our parents, I mean, nothin’ screams cold blooded quite like that.” Cin added a firm nod of his head in confirmation. “So I just want you to know what you’re getting into. Caaaaaaaause, well, we’ve both killed people for a lot less then messing with our favorite family member.” He said as casually as one would discuss the weather.

Senthil had gone pale somewhere in the middle of Cins stump speech. Shrinking away from the brunette he had followed here and inching toward the door. He knew what he was after when he accepted her offer. But it seemed for this little scamp, the reward was far less than the risk to get it. “I uhm..— I actually have this thing…” he stated before hastily making his way toward the door.

“Yeah I bet you do.” Kirollis said before looking over to Cin and mouthing the words ‘Thank you’. At least Soriya wouldn’t be mad at -him- this time around.

Soriya huffed, “Uncle Ci–” She was about to go into full reprimand mode before noticing her new company made it to the door. “Hey! Wai–… ughhh.” She grunted out before a chastising index finger was cast to the pair of brothers. “We’re sooooo talking about this later.” She said with her brows knit together, obvious offense on her face. But soon enough she ran toward the door, likely to apologize to the first and probably last boy she ever brought home.

{Thanks @dae-shadowvale I do love getting excuses to put them all together ^.^ mentions @the-hanged-mans-sin oh my god it let me tag you for a fucking change}

[tabletop-rpgs]

How do you get your players to be less blood thirsty besides just making creatures that kill them out right

Hey @killerkam5,

I have some suggestions that I hope might help under the cut.

Talking to them.

There’s nothing wrong with taking a moment at the start of the next session and saying outright “You guys are a little stabbier than you need to be. Not everything is an XP piñata.” Let them know that defeating an encounter doesn’t always mean killing whatever they are faced with.

Show them that killing things isn’t always an option.

Instead of throwing things at them that will kill them outright, try things that can but won’t for some reason, things the PCs are not powerful enough to harm yet or things that there is a trick to killing.

Use a creature or character that doesn’t see them as a threat, one that they cannot harm but still have to deal with. There are things that can only be hurt by silver or magical weapons, invent something that can only be killed by the touch of a branch from a specific tree or a weapon dipped in the blood of a creature that has not existed for hundreds of years, something they cannot harm but that will not harm them unless they tick it off enough.

Encourage empathy or inspire admiration.

Introduce an ally or NPC that is of a monstrous race that the characters will care about. I’ve used this twice… First the players rescued some potential sacrifices from a group of goblinoids, when they released the captives they found a small sniveling goblin in the group but they were prevented from killing it by the other captives. The ranger who speaks goblin found out that it had been chosen to be sacrificed against its will, had no family and no tribe anymore and was only a child. The party adopted it.

The second time was when rumors of a masked vigilante Rogue/Monk was being talked about and had become a folk hero, defending caravans, warning farmers of imminent attacks, they had apprehended bandits and foiled ambushes. The PC’s developed a grudging admiration for this “show off” until it saved a beloved npc, the (corrupt) local sheriff outright hated the figure and succeeded in capturing them and in a dramatic reveal unmasked the vigilante, revealing it to be a hobgoblin. This was not too long after the adopted goblin and expanded on the fact that there were non hostile goblinoids. They saved the vigilante and took the time to learn about the different goblin tribes and how to tell the hostile ones from the neutral ones.

I am happy to report that they seem to be applying this approach to the fey denizens they are currently facing, though I suspect they would have been less likely to shoot first and ask questions later with fey in the first place.

Incentives, penalties and consequences.

Some players need a reason to be a good guy… or not to be a bad guy, like positive reinforcement for doing something the non-murdery way. Present them like bonus quest objectives, if stopping fairies from stealing the farmers cattle is their goal, doing so without killing the fey will earn them the favor of a local dryad who sees the little scamps as her children, kill most of them and her sorrow transforms her into a Branch-wraith, bent on revenge. The incentives and penalties don’t have to be black and white or even tangible and can be as simple as having to keep an oath, wanting to earn/keep the good graces of a patron, the threat of revenge of the dead things bigger, badder relative, or harassment by its smaller kin.

Above all, an especially murderous party should have to face the consequences of their actions. Kill too many things and something will take an interest in stopping you, be it bounty hunters, the local authorities, leg breakers from the local crime syndicate or assassins hired by the Noble that was secretly backing the bandits you wiped out. Killing something that didn’t have it coming could result in the dead thing returning as a revenant or some other undead to seek revenge or inflict its pain on unrelated victims. Perhaps the players actions spawn a Shadow who maintains the silhouette of its living self, later the PC’s find that this shadow they made kills some NPC they care about or it has started a plague of Shadows that turned their hometown into a lifeless hive of vicious undead that risks overflowing into nearby towns.

I hope this helps! If anyone else has any suggestions I hope they will add them!

[fearofaherobrine]

Roleplay Server Log #195

“The Rogue Dragon”

[gem] -is following doc-

-The village comes into view and more buildings have been set up, although a few seem to have taken some dragon damage-

[gem] -see the damage- maybe I should repair that

[NOTCHAI] Steps out of one of the buildings and notices the approaching group, he waves a little-

[gem] -is looking at other things and doesn't see the AI yet-

[Doc] Waves back- Hows the village coming along?

[NOTCHAI] - Better, but the dragons sometimes play a little to close

[Doc] Scamps. They love to play. And they get big so fast- Xe indicates Yaunfen-

[NOTCHAI] - There's one that's grown particularly fast and seems to be pretty aggressive...

[Doc] Really? Is it one of the off-model ones?

[NOTCHAI] - Yes, it's base color is black, but it's accented with an electric blue

[gem] -looks over to see the NOTCHAI then her eyes go yellow- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[Doc] WHOAH GEM CHILL!

[Lie] Spawns many calming flowers- Gem please!  Focus on the flowers!

[gem] -doesn't get a chance to take in the flowers before flying off away from the village quickly-

[Lie] - Oh dear...

[Doc] Geeze Gem.... Lie can you get her please? - at the AI- Black and blue? Are the big ones having difficulty controlling it?

[NOTCHAI] - They seem capable of keeping it at bay, but they have to keep an eye on so many babies...

[Doc] Is it bothering you specifically? Or just raging at random?

[Lie] Goes off to find Gem-

[NOTCHAI] - Random I believe

[Doc] That's odd for a baby... I wonder if it's behavioral coding is messed up?

[gem] - is hiding in a tree far enough that the village can't be seen at all-

[NOTCHAI] - I don't know

[Doc] Apart from color, what does it look like?

[NOTCHAI] - It's getting big, and fast, it's body is more muscular than the others as well.  It looks like it has two large canines which stick out of the upper jaw...  Anything more specific I can't say since it hasn't gotten close

[Lie] - Gem?  Please come down?

[Doc] I'll see what I can do. If it's already mature maybe I can just tp it to an area much farther away.

[gem] NOTCH... there was NOTCH... I don't want... want to lose them again.

[Doc] Do you guys need anything while I'm here?

[Lie] - You won't Gem, this isn't the same NOTCH., he's not going to hurt you

[NOTCHAI] - No, but I do have something for the white haired brines husband...

[gem] -won't budge from the tree-

[Doc] She's probably trying to talk our friend down, I can give it to her or him myself if that's okay with you.

[NOTCHAI] - Please wait here a moment then

[Lie] Spawns many calming flowers beneath the tree- Deep breaths Gem

[gem] -is in ball and is trying to take deep breaths-

[NOTCHAI] Returns carrying a very worn looking book- This...  Was the original NOTCH's...

[Doc] Oh my... - Xe takes it reverently- Thank you. I'm sure he'll be glad to have it, no matter what it contains.

[NOTCHAI] - I'm fairly certain it's a journal

[Lie] - Gem?  Can you talk to me?

[Doc] Puts it gently away-

[NOTCHAI] - How is the Supreme Notch?

[gem]  -is making small sounds before being about to get out a quiet yes-

[Doc] In bed, watched over by Flux and his sons in a rotation. It's sweet really. Lie's flowers are keeping him comfortable, and hopefully he's be up and around again soon. Flux said he keeps getting glimpses of code.

[Lie] - Good, just focus on my flowers, let their affect take over, I promise it will help

[NOTCHAI] - Flux?

[gem] - slowly becomes calm but stays in a ball in the tree-

[Lie] - We don't have to go back there for now

[Doc] Oh! I thought you knew! We solved that little mystery. It turns out the woman that Cp's father was hiding was the spirit of the server they all lived on. She's a very powerful being of pure magick. Markus is quite smitten with her.

[NOTCHAI] - How interesting.  Well, I have more work to do, but I will pass along the news of the Supreme Notch

[gem] i'll stay here till we leave

[Doc] He was grateful for the flowers and well-wishes. I'm sure he'll come visit when he's feeling better.

[NOTCHAI] - I hope so

[Lie] - Then I'll stay with you

[Doc] Come on Yaunfen, lets retrive our friends. I think we have a bit of hunting to do.

[Yaunfen] - Burp!

[Doc] Goes looking for Lie and Gem-

[Lie] Sits under the tree Gem is in-

[Doc] There you are Lie, where's Gem?

[Lie] Points up-

[gem] -quietly- up here

[Doc] Gem? They're not gonna hurt you. Most of them are weak and weary of fighting, if not permenantly damaged.

[gem] -make a scared wining noise-

[Lie] - Are we heading home?

[Doc] Not yet, it looks like we might have a small fight on our hands. A rougue dragon.

[Lie] - How rogue?

[Doc] Not sure, just aggressive.

[Lie] - Okay...

[Doc] Gem? We might need your help... and you don't have to go anywhere near the NOTCH AI's.

[gem] -climbs out of the tree and  ends up siting on the ground next to lie and doc-

[Doc] I told you about these guys Gem, I didn't think you'd freak like that.

[gem] but I didn't remember what you told me about them.

[Lie] - Come on, let's go take care of this dragon, that way you can get home and calm down completely Gem

[gem] yea that sounds good.

[Doc] That's the spirit! Apparently we're looking for a blue and black dragon with tusks - Xe does a little tuck and rolls out into hir larger shape- Just in case.

[Yaunfen] - BURP!

[Doc] Stands on hir hind legs like a gopher and has a look around-

-The mountains nearby seem like the best place to start-

[Doc] Gem, do you want to scout from the air?

[Lie] - I can watch Yaunfen if you want Doc

[gem] -nods before taking off looking for the dragon in the air-

[Doc] Nope, you should both hop on me, it's quicker to travel that way.

[Lie] - Alright, come on Yaunfen

[Doc] Kneels down-

[Lie] Climbs on and helps pull Yaunfen up-

[Doc] Let Yaunfen get in my hair, that seems to work best.

[Yaunfen] Scrabbles up to Doc's mane and settles down there-

[Doc] Takes off a gentle trot in the same direction as Gem-

[gem] -is watching carefully for the dragon-

-The mountains seem quieter than they should be for a place harboring multitudes of baby dragons-

[Doc] Sniffs around a bit-

[Lie] - I don't like how quiet this is...

[Doc] I think someone has claimed some territory....

-There's a few falling stones from farther up-

[gem] -is flying in circles above doc-

[Doc] Steps up on the air blocks and goes up a bit to get a better view.

-There's an adolescdent dragon at the top of the mountain, scratching away at the rock as it tries ti dig.  It's black and the small spines going down it's back are a bright electric blue as is it's eyes and the tip of it's tail-

[Doc] Hello there? Cp, said they could understand us normally right? Did you lose something little one?

-It roars and snaps at the group-

[Doc] Are you getting anything Lie?

[Lie] - Just anger...

[gem] -is flying over head of the dragon-

-The dragon swings it's tail at Gem-

[Doc] No pain? I want to make sure it's not being aggressive because something is wrong.

[Lie] - Not that I can tell...

[gem] -flies up to avoid the tail-

[Doc] I wonder why it was digging? Do you want to make a shelter?

-It lunges at Doc-

[Doc] Moves out of the way, xe's staying a bit above the ground anyway. - Whoah!

[Lie] - Yeah, I'd say that's aggressive...

[Doc] Could we try some calming flowers?

[Lie] - Maybe- She spawns some but they are instantly torn up

[Doc] Well then... I'm open for suggestions...

-It's hissing and growling at the group-

[gem] -tries to distract the dragon so it will go for her so doc and lie can have more time to think-

-It lunges at Gem but tries to stay turned away from the sun-

[gem] -dodges then quickly makes a small planet only big enough to they can't try and eat and throws it in front of the dragon to see if it would make a good distraction-

-It bites and smashes the planet-

[gem] strong dragon -makes one out of metal and throws it to them-

[Doc] I wonder if... - Xe gestures a paw and raises up a little wave of dirt to make some shadow-

-It quickly darts into the shadows-

[Doc] I think I see the problem. This one needs a lair.

-It swats at the metal ball Gem tossed and now that it's in the shadows it can be seen that the blue parts glow dimly-

[gem] -get closer- daw I get you buddy the sun can be bright sometimes

[Doc] Well if all they want is darkness, that's easily fixed.

[Lie] - Thankfully

[gem] -tries to get in to the shadows with the dragon-

[Doc] Rubs hir paws together and spreads the ground wide, making a shell over and around the baby like a little fort.

-It swats at Gem, not wanting her there at all-

[Doc] It explains the coloration too, biolumenesince.

[gem] -backs of but starts making more different types of metal planets and starts rolling them to the dragon so they have them to play with-

-It just starts biting through them-

[Doc] Is it eating the metal?!

[gem] this is one strong dragon

[Lie] - I don't know...  Maybe?

[Doc] It would make the digging behavior more sensible...

[gem] -holds out a iron bar for the dragon to come take it if it want-

-It hisses at Gem, it's glow getting a bit brighter-

[gem] -stays perfectly still-

[Doc] Be careful Gem...

-It ignores Gem and sniffs around the walls-

[Doc] At least we figured out why they were being so pissy. I wonder if we should let Thunder and Tsunami know?

[Lie] Glances behind them- I think they already know

[Thunder] Is perched on the next mountaintop over grooming himself-

[gem] I hope they will be ok now

[Lie] - Oh, so what did the NOTCHAI have to say today Doc?

[Doc] Something special, I have a present for Cp.

[Lie] - What is it?

[gem] -panics because she heard NOTCHAI-

[Doc] Gem no! We're just talking!

[gem] -stops but is making scared whines-

[Doc] We can head back now, if you guys are ready

[gem] I am ready really really ready

[Lie] - Sure, let's go

[Mb] Is walking quietly up the tunnel next to Cp-

[CP] He's looking forwards to having a few moments to himself in his and Lie's completely empty house-

[Mb] I... I don't think I'll have much time for fighting for a few days...

[CP] - And I care why?

[Mb] Letting you know so you don't give me shit about it you ass! I gotta make my house bigger!

[CP] - So long as no harm comes to that baby, then I don't give a damn

[Mb] I'm not gonna hurt em. Dammit... It's not like I've never had one before..

[CP] - Is that the Celeste we heard in your thoughts?

[Mb] Give Cp a calculating look, trying to see if he'll be made sport of.  - Yeah. She's... gone.

[CP] - I've seen the pain of a few who have permanently lost their dragons, I suppose I'm lucky in that sense, mine is just reborn everytime she dies

[Mb] Quietly- At least I was able to avenge her.

[CP] - What exactly happened?

[Mb] She helped me fight my NOTCH, and he.... he tore apart her code.

[CP] - That's what mine tried to do to me

[Mb] And then I tore out his hearts and ate them in front of him while he died.

[CP] - Fun

[Mb] He deserved worse. - He's hugging Celine lightly.

[CP] - My dragon was originally my NOTCH's pawn, designed to grow bigger and stronger every time she died

[Mb] And now she's your buddy. Nice.

[CP] - An ally

[Mb] Yeah, I saw. She hits hard.

[CP] - She's not even full grown right now

[Mb] Gotta have the biggest dragon on the seed huh?

[CP] - She used to be normal sized, like I said, everytime she dies she gets bigger and stronger

[Mb] Why the fuck are you so tall anyway?

[CP] - I don't fucking know

[Mb] snorts-  Maybe your mom was an ender.

[CP] - Don't have one idiot

[Mb] Liar. What about Flux?

[CP] - She's the server, not my mother

[Mb] Stops and stares at him- Somehow that's even weirder.

[CP] - What?  Deer is this specific server, Flux was the embodiment of my server

[Mb] It's still wierd. But then this whole place is fucking weird. What the fuck is with the red-eyed behemoth that swims off the coast?

[CP] - A favor for a couple of Doc's friends out in the real world, feel free to beat it up

[Mb] Heh, sounds like fun.

[Mb] What about the tentacle monster the flying weirdo and the deer chick were chasing last night?

[CP] - The what?

[Mb] Some huge thing with tentacles, it can apparently swim like a bat outta hell too. They chased it into the gay Slenders house.

[CP] - Hm, no idea, I pretty much ignore half the weird shit that happens around here now

[Mb] Heh. So how many times a week do you end up furry? I saw your face when the Doc called for a cat carrier.

[CP] - Not nearly as much lately...

[Mb] nods-  Well, she is hot. No shame if you want to be on her good side.

[CP] - You get to make no comments about my wife's appearance

[Mb] Smug grin- Does that annoy you?

[CP] - How about you never even look at my wife

[Mb] laughs- I haven't got any pupils, how would you be able to tell?

[CP] - I just can

[Celine] Is starting to squirm again-

[Mb] Oooh scary. Huh? What's the matter there?

[Celine] Squeaks, a bit scared since she doesn't know where she is-

[Mb] Makes a squeaky noise back. - You're okay, we're going home. -quietly- I'll make you some toys and a place to sleep.

[Celine] Shakes a little-

[CP] - I'm pretty sure there's a few stray blankets made for Endrea and her babies hanging somewhere around my place

[Mb] You're gonna... give me somethin? What's the catch?

[CP] - Nothing, I'm just making sure the baby is okay

[Mb] Still looks a bit suspicious- hm, okay... I don't want em to be cold...

[CP] - Come on asshole

[Mb] follows Cp-

[CP] Exits the cave system and goes into his house and into the storage room, h starts digging around in the chests-

[Mb] Slinks along behind him -

[CP] Finally finds the blanket copies that TLOT made of his cloak and tosses it into MB's face-

[Mb] Takes the warm velvet and wraps Celine lightly. For a moment his face is unguarded as he smiles at her-

[CP] Scoffs at him-

[Mb] Fuck you. I bet you'd rip my face off if I was nasty to your dragon.

[CP] - Oh I wouldn't have to, she'd do it herself

[Mb] Bullshit. I bet you're just as protective with her as you are with your wife.

[CP] - I don't have to be as protective with her, we have no contract, she is a free agent

[Mb] Contract? What are you, some kinda demon?

[CP] - No, I just make contracts with all my mobs, helps keep inner mob fighting down and helps everyone know what job to do

[Mb] Why the fuck..? Nevermind, I don't want to know. I'm going home. - heads for the door-

[CP] Mutters under his breath- About time

[Mb] Stalks through the yard angrily - Stupid brine...

[CP] Is watching him leave to make sure he actually leaves-

-as mb get close to the green house the figure that was hiding inside bolts in another direction away from both him and the house-

[CP] - Oh what the fuck now!

[Mb] clutches Celine protectively

[CP] Stalks towards the green house to make sure his wife's creations are okay-

[Mb] Is just watching Cp now-

-the figure seem to have been tending to the plants carefully none are harmed-

[CP] Checks the plants inside and sighs in relief, finding nothing amiss-

[Mb] Slips away while Cp is distracted-

[CP] Goes back inside the house to enjoy the quiet for a bit-

[ismael37olson]

I've Been a Sinner, I've Been a Scamp

A lot of musical theatre fans love Anything Goes, but consider it a guilty pleasure, the artsy equivalent of Mississippi mud cake, just a mindless, old-fashioned musical comedy confection. They register great surprise when I describe it as a sharp satire. But it is. Musical comedy had dealt in gentle social satire since the beginning, but Anything Goes was the first successful Broadway musical comedy to build its story on two parallel threads of fierce, pointed satire. This time the plot came out of the satirical agenda, rather than the satire being just a fun side joke. I've written a lot about the neo musical comedy, which emerged in the 1990s as one of the dominant musical theatre forms. A neo musical comedy involves the devices and conventions -- and usually the full-out joy -- of old-fashioned musical comedy, but with a more socio-political, more ironic, and often more subversive point of view. Think of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Bat Boy, Urinetown, Heathers, Something Rotten, The Scottsboro Boys, Cry-Baby; but there were a few examples even earlier, like Little Shop of Horrors in 1982, The Cradle Will Rock in 1937, and really, The Threepenny Opera in 1928. And arguably, Anything Goes in 1934. Anything Goes was a dead-on satirical chronicle of That Moment... which also happen to be This Moment. Maybe we're just too used to Anything Goes at this point, to see it as it once was. But this is a show that includes a mock religious hymn to a (supposed) murderer, skeet shooting with a machine gun, a love song that mentions snorting coke, and a parody religious revival meeting featuring a song with a slyly sexual hook line. If you doubt the double entendre of "Blow Gabriel, Blow," this is the same songwriter who wrote in the title song, "If love affairs you like with young bears you like..." That meant then what it means today. And notice in the scene leading up to the song, most of the confessions are sexual. Reno is presented as an explicitly sexual presence from the beginning, so her spot as lead singer / evangelist, and with her randy angels as back-up, it's hard not to read the song as sexual double entendre.

In comic counterpoint to that, the language of the "Blow, Gabriel" lyric is Religious Symbolism as a Second Language. This is an amateur, or more to the point, a religious outsider, leading this revival meeting -- with the help of the fake-minister "Dr. Moon." It's obvious neither of them are really believers, and that doesn't seem to bother the crowd a bit. And by the way, why do we want Gabriel to blow his horn? The Bible says that "an archangel with the trumpet of God" will announce the Second Coming, and people have assumed that's Gabriel, particularly since Milton made that connection in Paradise Lost. During the Depression, many American believed that they were living through the "great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." (Matthew 24:21) So riffing on that, Reno and her angels (I think we're supposed to assume this is one of their regular numbers) pray for the archangel to signal the end of the tribulations (Prohibition, the Depression) and announce with his trumpet the coming of Christ. Reno assures Gabriel she's ready to "trim [her] lamp," a Bible metaphor meaning she'll work at and maintain her faith (to keep oil lamps burning brightly and consistently, you have to trim the wick back), that she's mended her ways (we can only guess what those ways included), that now, "I'm good by day and I'm good by night." Of course, that line assumes that Reno hasn't always been "good by night." But these "sinners" aren't asking for forgiveness or anything; they just want to "play all day in the Promised Land." It's a remarkably crass take on the Book of Revelation's thousand years of peace and righteousness. And all this to jazz music, until recently considered the devil's music... In one section, they all chant:

Satan, you stay away from me, 'Cause you ain't the man I wanna see! I'm gonna be good as the day I was born, 'Cause I heard that man with the horn! Do ya hear it?

Once you really pay attention to this lyric, you realize this section is all about the End Times. They want to be good, because Jesus and Judgment Day are coming soon! One of the more subtle jokes in the show is in this song, when the women take the melody and the men sing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" in counterpart, also a song about angels taking "me" to heaven. Since this is the male passengers and crew singing this counter-melody, are we to read that as spontaneous, that religious fervor is taking them over? Since this is always a big, involved, full-company, Broadway musical comedy dance number, it lays on top of our fake revival meeting an even more cynical layer of comment -- religion really is show business. But there's even more swimming around in Anything Goes. When the show opened in late 1934, Prohibition had ended just a year earlier, but the Depression rolled on, and the Dust Bowl kept destroying lives. The FBI was at the height of its notoriety, but the public loved some of the gangsters on the FBI's Most Wanted list (which is the whole point of "Public Enemy Number One"). Importantly, the FBI -- standing in for law and order in general -- is not on board the S.S. American. In fact, they arrest the wrong guy at the beginning of the show, and leave the ship! They're not up to the job. They can't/won't protect us. Was this a comment on how hard it was for law enforcement to catch America's celebrity criminals, John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, Bonnie & Clyde, et al.?

Here on the S.S. American, we are in Shakespeare's metaphorical woods, away from laws and civilization, where two things will happen. First, love will get "fixed" as our characters de-couple from the wrong partners and re-couple with the right partners. Second, with lots of liquor and very little "law," these passengers are free to act on their impulses, to chase after various forms of vice, to be their "natural" selves. And notice that the ship is called the "American" -- this place of no rules and no law is 1930s America, where (until a year earlier) lots of Americans broke the law by drinking alcohol. When that many Americans broke the law, when they stopped believing in the institutions that failed them, America became functionally lawless. By calling the ship the S.S. American, the show's writers were underlining their social commentary. As a comic microcosm of our country, these passengers showcase the worst of the American inclination to make celebrities out of criminals and show biz out of religion, an inclination as prevalent today as it was in the thirties. But the satiric aim is more pointed than just those two overarching themes. So what else does Anything Goes satirize? A lot. Even though economists will tell you the 1929 stock market crash did not "cause" the Depression, it was still the starting pistol, and most people in 1934 believed rich Wall Street types were to blame. Notice that in Anything Goes we have two representatives of Wall Street -- the drunken, horny, nearly blind Mr. Whitney, and the shit-disturbing rogue Billy Crocker. The name Crocker comes from the French for "heartbreak." In this story Wall Street is decidedly undependable.

Richard Whitney had been the very famous president of the New York Stock Exchange and during the 1930s, he was famed for steering his clients through the treacherous waters of the Depression. But his success was a scam of the proportions of Enron and Bernie Madoff, and he was finally caught in 1938 when his firm collapsed. Still, as audiences watched Anything Goes in 1934, Whitney was the hero of the rich, so naming Billy's boss Whitney -- and making him a drunk -- was a pretty subversive reference. According to Wikipedia:

On October 24, 1929, Black Thursday, Whitney attempted to avert the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Alarmed by rapidly falling stock prices, several leading Wall Street bankers met to find a solution to the panic and chaos on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The meeting included Thomas W. Lamont, acting head of Morgan Bank; Albert Wiggin, head of the Chase National Bank; and Charles E. Mitchell, president of the National City Bank of New York. They chose Whitney, then vice president of the Exchange, to act on their behalf.  With the bankers' financial resources behind him, Whitney went onto the floor of the Exchange and ostentatiously placed a bid to purchase a large block of shares in U.S. Steel at a price well above the current market. As traders watched, Whitney then placed similar bids on other "blue chip" stocks. This tactic was similar to a tactic that had ended the Panic of 1907, and succeeded in halting the slide that day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered with a slight increase, closing with it down only 6.38 points for that day. In this case, however, the respite was only temporary; stocks subsequently collapsed catastrophically on Black Tuesday, October 29. Whitney's actions gained him the sobriquet, "White Knight of Wall Street."

It is a little weird that Mr. Whitney's first name is Elijah, coincidentally (?) named after the nineteenth-century inventor and arms manufacturer... The Harcourts (and Mrs. Wentworth, in the '34 version) stand in for America's "cafe society," the 1% of 1934. In the original version of the show, the Harcourts' family business was in serious trouble and needed saving, which was the reason for the arranged marriage. Is it any wonder Billy and Hope both would like to escape this culture? According to an article on the PBS website:

The Great Depression was partly caused by the great inequality between the rich who accounted for a third of all wealth and the poor who had no savings at all. As the economy worsened many lost their fortunes, and some members of high society were forced to curb their extravagant lifestyles. But for others the Depression was simply an inconvenience especially in New York where the city’s glamorous venues – places to see and be seen – such as El Morocco and The Stork Club were heaving with celebrities, socialites and aristocrats. For the vast majority the 1930s was a time of misery. But for many American dynastic families, parties helped to escape the reality on the street and the grander the better.

Parties and trans-Atlantic cruises. Many stories of the Great Depression show us the shattered and disenfranchised turning to religion in their time of need. But church attendance grew during the Depression only about five percent. Notably, no one aboard the S.S. American in Anything Goes has that spiritual need, and so for these people religion becomes show business, entertainment, the latest fad. Though the content of "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" is basically reverent, the song's rowdy, fast, jazz music quickly and comically short-circuits any hint of real religion fervor. This is religion as party. The only genuine symbol of religion we see in the show is the comically clueless Bishop Dobson, who's banished from this community (i.e.,mistakenly arrested) before the ship even sets sail; and all we're left with is the fake religion of fake-minister "Dr." Moon, and the gambling "Christian converts." Genuine religion (and conventional morality), the Baptist tent revivals and religious radio shows of the 1930s, are all missing from this place. Here there is no moral control -- it's Shakespeare's woods. In the 1930s, the 1960s, and also today, Dark Times bring forth the most pointed satire. Anything Goes opened halfway through the Depression, which also begat brilliant satires like Of Thee I Sing, Let 'Em Eat Cake, and The Cradle Will Rock.. The 1962 revival opened at the start of one of the most divided, angry decades in American history. The 1987 revival opened on the infamous Black Monday, the day the stock market crashed again. None of the show's targets feel dated, because we're struggling with all the same things now. Still today, religion is often repackaged as slick, high-budget show biz. When America's evangelicals strongly support the womanizing vulgarian and sexual predator Donald Trump, religion in America is on life support. And still today, we make celebrities out of criminals, and depending where the various investigations lead, Trump may be the best illustration of that too. Cole Porter's songs have all the bite, the sophistication, and the smartass humor of Ira Gershwin and Yip Harburg, but Porter's songs often bite a little harder, his lyrics closer to how people talk, instead of always just building toward a funny rhyme. Like those of the great George M. Cohan, Porter's lyrics sound like they could actually come out of the mouths of the characters. If his songs can often be transplanted from one show to another, that's only because many of his shows were about the same kind of people -- smartass, subversive, sexual, clever, ironic, complicated, and contradictory. Just think for a second about all the characters in Anything Goes that have contradictory impulses. Porter wrote both in contemporary slang and in genuinely elevated, powerfully poetic language when the moment called for it. His songs can be emotionally shattering and they can be icily cynical, about the most intimate insecurities or the most macro satire. Porter and his co-writers were writing old-school musical comedy, but they were also chronicling our times -- then and now -- most insightfully. It's so much fun working on this rich, crazy material. Long Live the Musical! Scott from The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre http://newlinetheatre.blogspot.com/2018/01/ive-been-sinner-ive-been-scamp.html