#ruby x Julius

[starheart-blog]

Check out this board on Pinterest!

I thought you'd like this board on Pinterest... https://pin.it/2KSkHIVEI

[ask-emma-the-cat]

😳😐

One Question: do you think that Ruby's and Julius's relationship at first would be like Tom and Jerry's Relationship? :^

I just want to know...that is all...😅

I think it would start off with Julius wanting to murder her before he gets bored of her.

[bunnyburrowsys]

Yeah this is the II characters being alive and well… please give me Baseball and Suitcase not suffering, I have to get all the fluff scrapes I can get after what Brian did to us…

Who's Mephone X?

Thank you For requesting :3 ask Me If you want seperate versions of base and suit :P

Requests Are Still Open 😙

F: Julius/Rubi [He/They/Mew] ⚊ Yin ! She/Mew/He

[fridaythe13ththeseries]

The Butcher

Episode Recap #45: The Butcher Original Airdate: April 29, 1989

Starring: John D. LeMay as Ryan Dallion (credit only) Louise Robey as Micki Foster (credit only) Chris Wiggins as Jack Marshak

Guest cast: Nigel Bennett as Rausch / Karl Steiner Julius Harris as Simpson John Gilbert as Shaw Colin Fox as Horst Mueller Robert McKenna as Voll Les Rubie as Lefty Cook Sherry Miller as Interviewer Barry Stevens as Detective Tom Masek as Warden David Blacker as Young Jack Charles Woods Gray as Bartender (as Charles Gray) Bill Vibert as German Soldier

Written by Francis Delia and Ron Magid

Directed by Francis Delia

Somewhere, men are breaking a chain to open a door. The men are speaking German and are opening a sealed morgue-like room that is in a deep freeze. The open a drawer containing the frozen body of a Nazi, and one of the men, Mueller, calls the body the new Fuhrer, saying he should have succeeded Hitler.

Later, they slowly thaw the man and his throat wound begins to bleed. Mueller holds up an amulet and chants, asking for the body to be given life. The dead man awakens and kills Mueller's associate. Mueller then places the amulet around the resurrected man's neck, and tells him once he has killed all his enemies, they will have the future Hitler had promised, a thousand year Reich.

A black and white flashback takes us to WWII, and we see the torture they inflicted on others. One of them approaches a young Jack Marshak, tied to a chair.

Current day Jack awakens from a nightmare, holding his throat.

Cut to another old man, a big baseball fan, playing solitaire. A knock on his door has him wheel himself to answer. The man at the door asks if he is Mr. Cook, which he is, then says he is a wartime friend of Jack's. Cook lets him in, and comments that the man doesn't look old enough to be a wartime ally. The man comments on a photo and Cook says it is his battalion, and that they caught a Nazi scientist, Mueller. Cook says they should have killed Mueller. As Cook reminisces, the man comes up behind him and chokes him with barbed wire. We see it i the resurrected Nazi.

At Curious Goods, Jack is surprised at the arrival of two other old war buddies, Shaw and Simpson. The men embrace, then lament the reason for their reunion: Lefty Cook's funeral, which Jack says he won't be attending. His friends tell Jack they are getting old and all they can do is see that they get buried right.

The three men make a toast to Lefty at his coffin. Jack wonders why someone would kill their friend and Shaw says another friend, Carruthers, was also killed. Jack looks at Cook's neck and sees the wound.

Later, at a bar, the three men are drinking and holding a small wake for Cook. Jack gets off the phone and joins them and says the Veteran's Administration says two others, Evanovich and LaRue are also dead, and Jack wants to know if they were also murdered. Jack says The Butcher used to kill using barbed wire. Simpson says The Butcher is dead. Jack tells them about his nightmare.

Jack and Shaw stumble into Curious Goods, and Shaw insists on staying. Jack sends him to Micki's room, saying the cousins are out of town.

Elsewhere, Mueller is putting and X on the faces of those he has killed through the resurrected Butcher. He then circles Simpson's face.

Another flashback, and we see Jack held at gunpoint, and Mueller and The Butcher torturing him and his friends. Shaw rushes to wake Jack from his nightmare.

Next morning, Jack gets a delivery from the V.A. Shaw wakes as Jack reads that Evanovich and LaRue were killed in Europe, and were strangled like the others. Shaw is incredulous, but says Mueller is still in jail and that The Butcher, Rausch, is dead. Jack isn't so sure. He says Mueller was experimenting with cryogenic freezing, and maybe he had time to freeze Rausch. Shaw doesn't believe it, or that anyone is back from the dead. Jack, with his experience, isn't so sure.

On a radio show, Rausch is posing as Karl Steiner, the host of a controversial show with Nazi-leanings. He says he is just telling the truth as a reporter interviews him. She asks about his past, but he wants to talk the future. She says people are talking about him entering politics. Rausch hears Mueller in his head pushing him to continue their plan, then feels fresh blood from his hidden neck wound. He takes off, but not before saying some more Nazi-like sentiments to the reporter.

In the bathroom, he bleeds, then pulls out his barbed wire to kill a stranger, but Mueller in his head stops him. Rausch fondles the amulet. Mueller tells him to kill only their enemies and then says he knows where Simpson is. Rausch struggles in pain.

Jack tries to convince Shaw that Mueller and The Butcher are targeting them somehow. Jack opens a locked box he has keep closed since the war. He pulls out Mueller's diary, with a page showing a drawing of the amulet. Jack says it is a symbol of the Thule Society, an ancient group of alchemists and warlocks. Jack believes this is how Mueller brought Rausch back. Shaw is still a non-believer. Jack picks up the phone to call Simpson.

We cut to Simpson getting into his car. The radio is playing a rebroadcast of Rausch's Steiner-hosted radio show. Suddenly, Rausch pops up from the backseat and chokes Simpson with his barbed wire garrote, killing him.

Jack and Shaw are up late, waiting on Simpson to arrive, and worried that he's so late. The phone rings. Jack and Shaw are at the crime scene and the cop says he thinks Simpson was killed with piano wire. Jack says it was barbed wire.

Mueller, in his cell, crosses out Simpson's face and says soon it will be Jack's turn.

Jack is reading up on the Thule Society, trying to convince a still skeptical Shaw. Jack says Rausch would have been the ideal subject for Mueller to freeze. Shaw asks if Mueller has this amulet and Jack thinks so. Jack calls overseas to speak to the warden of the prison holding Mueller.

Rausch as Steiner is listening to a recording of his callers as Mueller again enters his thoughts, telling him that once he kills Jack he will have eternal life. But that they have something to do before than happens.

Jack speaks to the warden, who says if Jack wants to speak to Mueller, he will have to go there, prisoners are not allowed phone calls. Jack says he will be on the next flight. The warden then tells Jack that about a year ago, Mueller did escape, but was recaptured the next day.

Later, Jack is packed and ready to go, but Shaw says he is staying put, with no intention of setting foot in Germany again. Jack worries for his safety, but Shaw says he won't be caught unaware. Jack gives him a gun and ammo from his old war chest, then heads off.

In West Berlin, Jack arrives at the military prison. The guard checks his paperwork. Jack waits and dozes off. In his cell, Mueller again holds his part of the amulet. Jack remembers the siege that helped liberate him and his group, and that he choked Rausch with his barbed wire. Jack reawakens in a panic, and grabs the phone to check on Shaw.

In the USA, Shaw goes to answer the phone at Curious Goods when Rausch pops up from behind the counter and strangles him with the barbed wire, killing him. Jack's call goes unanswered.

Jack is brought to meet with Mueller, who says he was expecting him. Mueller says he is halfway around the world when Jack accuses him, then says The Butcher is dead. Mueller taunts Jack, telling him Shaw is already dead, and relishes Jack's anguish. He says he saved Jack for last, then tosses him the other half of the amulet. He says Rausch is waiting for him. Jack leaves as Mueller rants.

Back at Curious Goods, Jack finds Shaw's body and cries over the last of his wartime friends. Next to Shaw is the magazine he was reading that shows a photo of Karl Stiener, aka The Butcher, and Jack recognizes him.

At the radio station, Rausch continues to get calls from people sympathetic to his horrific ideas. Then he gets a call from Jack, speaking German, and telling him he has what he wants and calling him Butcher. Rausch ends his show, saying it is his last broadcast, since he is entering politics, and continues to goad the gullible listeners.

At the store, Jack awaits Rausch's arrival, recalling his old war buddies. He loads his gun, checks his knife, gets his shotgun. Then he sits and waits. The lack of sleep weighs on him and he dozes. Again he dreams of that night in WWII. Suddenly, Rausch kicks the door in, Jack shoots towards him but misses. Then Rausch searches for Jack, telling him to give him the amulet half. Jack moves slowly, but Rausch wraps the wire around Jack's wrist, causing Jack to drop the gun before he can shoot. Jack drops the amulet piece, and Rausch goes to it, putting the two amulet pieces together. Jack gets his gun and shoots at Rausch, even dead center of his forehead, but it does nothing. Rausch stands again, barbed wire in hand.

Rausch again searches the store for Jack, but this time, Jack reaches through the stair railing and wraps wire around Rausch's neck, holding him in place. Jack then cuts the amulet free from around Rausch's neck and the man chokes, bleeds and dies.

Later, Jack is looking at the photo of him and his troop. He hears their voices. He puts the photo in the chest. He holds the amulet and hears Mueller's voice. He puts it back into the chest, locks it, then places the whole thing inside the vault and closes it. He wearily heads up the stairs.

My thoughts:

Love that we get an episode that is centered on Jack, and that we learn about a big part of his past, and see some of his old friends.

Dark stuff, though. Horrors of war and the Nazis are never easy to watch, for me or anyone, I would imagine. We some horrific stuff just barely in Jack's flashbacks, and we know the truth was just so much worse.

Also sad to be rewatching this in 2022, and feel like their are people NOW who would be parroting the callers on Rausch's racist radio show. Sad and insane.

Feel bad for Jack, losing so many friends in such a short amount of time. He truly suffers, and their is no Micki or Ryan to comfort him at the end. Locking the amulet in the vault makes sense, but putting it is war chest and locking it ALL in the Vault seems more like Jack want to keep himself safe from all of his war memories. Sad, but makes a weird sense.

Wonder if Jack disposed of Rausch's body on his own. I can't imagine him explaining any of that to the cops, especially if Rausch was so popular as Stiener.

Also have to wonder how irate and ranting Mueller was in his prison cell when he learned his plan didn't succeed in the end, and Jack survived.

Next week: Mesmer's Bauble

[southernvangard]

(Southern Vangard) Episode 348 - Southern Vangard Radio

BANG! @southernvangard #radio Ep348! The holidays are in full swing, Vangardians, and if you need a break from the multitude of holiday stressors, this is the place to be. Loads of new tunes this week alongside exceptional life advice and dance lessons from DJ Jon Doe and Eddie Meeks. We’re closing in on 8 YEARS of Southern Vangard Radio in a few weeks folks, on top of 350 mix shows and 300+ interviews in the archive…YOU WAAAAALCOME!!!!! #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard // southernvangard.com // @southernvangard on all platforms #undergroundhiphop #boombap #DJ #mixshow #interview #podcast #ATL #WORLDWIDE #RIPCOMBATJACK

Recorded live November 27, 2022 @ Dirty Blanket Studios, Marietta, GA

southernvangard.com

@southernvangard on all platforms

#SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard

twitter/IG: @southernvangard @jondoeatl @cappuccinomeeks

Talk Break Inst. - "Gingerbread Bricks" - Swamp Thug

"Born In Ralph Lauren" - Estee Nack x Grubby Pawz ft. RLX & Datkidbravo

"Nights in Ttiburon" - Opio & The Architect

"Digits" - YL, Starker & Zoomo

"Move" - Eto x Jai Black

"The Last One" - Fresh Kils ft Brain Orchestra & PremRock

"Nautica Luggage" - UllNevaNo & God Sense Beats

Talk Break Inst. - "Macho On Snow" Swamp Thug

"Born Hustler" - Kool G Rap

"Seeking" - Ruby Stacks

"718 To The World" - Shirt & Jack Splash

"BBS Boys" - All Hail Y.T. & Anthony Danza

"Who Iz You?" - WARD

"Loro Piana Robes" - Vinnie Paz ft. Thirstin Howl III (prod. H. Potta)

Talk Break Inst. - "A Christmas Story" - Swamp Thug

"Amaterasu" - New Villain

"Wrong Way" - Blizz From Juice x Boob Bronx ft. Lord Goat & Recognize Ali

"16 Duces" - Curtis Coke & DJ Sight

"Heathens" - Che Uno x KNG Bondalero ft. Falcon Outlaw & Lord Juco

"Speeddial" - Crimeapple (prod. Sebb Bash)

"Crime Pays" - Curtis Coke & DJ Sight ft. Mooch

"Orange Julius" - Estee Nack x Grubby Pawz ft. Codenine

Talk Break Inst. - "1225" - Swamp Thug

SOUNDCLOUD

https://soundcloud.com/southernvangard/episode-348-southern-vangard-radio/

APPLE PODCASTS

https://itun.es/us/QyyX9.c/

SPOTIFY PODCASTS

http://bit.ly/svrspotifypodcasts

YOUTUBE

https://youtu.be/raa8KaiS55E

GOOGLE PODCASTS

http://bit.ly/svrgooglepodcasts

TWITCH

http://twitch.tv/southernvangard

MIXCLOUD

https://www.mixcloud.com/southernvangard/episode-348-southern-vangard-radio/

#SouthernVangard #DJJonDoe #SwampThug #EsteeNack #GrubbyPawz #RLX #Datkidbravo #OpioTheArchitect #YL #Starker  #Zoomo #Eto #JaiBlack #FreshKils #BrainOrchestra #PremRock #UllNevaNo  #GodSenseBeats #KoolGRap #RubyStacks #Shirt #JackSplash #AllHailYT #AnthonyDanza #WARD #VinniePaz #ThirstinHowl #IIIHPotta #NewVillain #BlizzFromJuice #BoobBronx #LordGoat #RecognizeAli #CurtisCoke #DJSight #CheUno #KNGBondalero #FalconOutlaw #LordJuco #Crimeapple #SebbBash #Mooch #Codenine

[flushthethrone]

(Southern Vangard) Episode 348 - Southern Vangard Radio

BANG! @southernvangard #radio Ep348! The holidays are in full swing, Vangardians, and if you need a break from the multitude of holiday stressors, this is the place to be. Loads of new tunes this week alongside exceptional life advice and dance lessons from DJ Jon Doe and Eddie Meeks. We’re closing in on 8 YEARS of Southern Vangard Radio in a few weeks folks, on top of 350 mix shows and 300+ interviews in the archive…YOU WAAAAALCOME!!!!! #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard // southernvangard.com // @southernvangard on all platforms #undergroundhiphop #boombap #DJ #mixshow #interview #podcast #ATL #WORLDWIDE #RIPCOMBATJACK

Recorded live November 27, 2022 @ Dirty Blanket Studios, Marietta, GA

southernvangard.com

@southernvangard on all platforms

#SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard

twitter/IG: @southernvangard @jondoeatl @cappuccinomeeks

Talk Break Inst. - "Gingerbread Bricks" - Swamp Thug

"Born In Ralph Lauren" - Estee Nack x Grubby Pawz ft. RLX & Datkidbravo

"Nights in Ttiburon" - Opio & The Architect

"Digits" - YL, Starker & Zoomo

"Move" - Eto x Jai Black

"The Last One" - Fresh Kils ft Brain Orchestra & PremRock

"Nautica Luggage" - UllNevaNo & God Sense Beats

Talk Break Inst. - "Macho On Snow" Swamp Thug

"Born Hustler" - Kool G Rap

"Seeking" - Ruby Stacks

"718 To The World" - Shirt & Jack Splash

"BBS Boys" - All Hail Y.T. & Anthony Danza

"Who Iz You?" - WARD

"Loro Piana Robes" - Vinnie Paz ft. Thirstin Howl III (prod. H. Potta)

Talk Break Inst. - "A Christmas Story" - Swamp Thug

"Amaterasu" - New Villain

"Wrong Way" - Blizz From Juice x Boob Bronx ft. Lord Goat & Recognize Ali

"16 Duces" - Curtis Coke & DJ Sight

"Heathens" - Che Uno x KNG Bondalero ft. Falcon Outlaw & Lord Juco

"Speeddial" - Crimeapple (prod. Sebb Bash)

"Crime Pays" - Curtis Coke & DJ Sight ft. Mooch

"Orange Julius" - Estee Nack x Grubby Pawz ft. Codenine

Talk Break Inst. - "1225" - Swamp Thug

SOUNDCLOUD

https://soundcloud.com/southernvangard/episode-348-southern-vangard-radio/

APPLE PODCASTS

https://itun.es/us/QyyX9.c/

SPOTIFY PODCASTS

http://bit.ly/svrspotifypodcasts

YOUTUBE

https://youtu.be/raa8KaiS55E

GOOGLE PODCASTS

http://bit.ly/svrgooglepodcasts

TWITCH

http://twitch.tv/southernvangard

MIXCLOUD

https://www.mixcloud.com/southernvangard/episode-348-southern-vangard-radio/

#SouthernVangard #DJJonDoe #SwampThug #EsteeNack #GrubbyPawz #RLX #Datkidbravo #OpioTheArchitect #YL #Starker  #Zoomo #Eto #JaiBlack #FreshKils #BrainOrchestra #PremRock #UllNevaNo  #GodSenseBeats #KoolGRap #RubyStacks #Shirt #JackSplash #AllHailYT #AnthonyDanza #WARD #VinniePaz #ThirstinHowl #IIIHPotta #NewVillain #BlizzFromJuice #BoobBronx #LordGoat #RecognizeAli #CurtisCoke #DJSight #CheUno #KNGBondalero #FalconOutlaw #LordJuco #Crimeapple #SebbBash #Mooch #Codenine

[most-datable-datable-bracket]

Part 3 links below the cut!

Fawn from The Divine Speaker VS Jiyeon from Dandelion ~Wishes Brought to You~

Natsuki from Doki Doki Literature Club VS Yoshizawa from Persona 5

Oleander from Obscura VS Rafael Sanchez from Coral Island

Damion from Witches x Warlocks VS Milo De Luca from Infinite Blue

Matheo from Potion Permit VS Fenton from Romancelvania

Dys from I Was a Teenage Exocolonist VS Limbo Fitzgerald from BUSTAFELLOWS

Matthew Anderson from Seduce Me the Otome VS Nightowl from Blooming Panic

Vlad from Dracula: A Love Story VS Quinn Kelly from Endless Summer

Percy Sinclair from Arcade Spirits VS The Huntress from Hooked On You

Damon from Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town VS Leos from The Divine Speaker

Milo Belladonna from Monster Prom VS Tom Sato from It Lives Beneath

Kent from Amnesia VS Micah from The Wedding

Red from Nameless ~The One Thing You Must Recall~ VS Odin Dark from Fire Emblem Fates

Noritsune Tairai from Birushana VS Jumin Han from Mystic Messenger

Derrick from Silhouette VS Randy Jade from Dialtown

Koujaku from DRAMAtical Murder VS Luke Pearce from Tears of Themis

Fane from Divinity: Original Sin 2 VS Reese/Ruby Verner from The Fernweh Saga

Raul Aconite from Cupid Parasite VS Pran Taylor from XOXO Droplets

Juniper Quinn from Arcade Spirits VS Minthara from Baldur's Gate 3

Isaac Brooks from Boyfriend Dungeon VS Abigail from Stardew Valley

Claude Von Riegan from Fire Emblem: Three Houses VS Andy Kang from It Lives In The Woods

August Flynn from Crimson Spires VS Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3

Rory Gatlin from Infinite Blue VS Asher from Assignment Due: Project Blue

Julius Monrey from Heart no Kuni no Alice VS Hades from Fields of Asphodel

Yuri from Doki Doki Literature Club VS Iron Bull from Dragon Age: Inquisition

Kaidan Alenko from Mass Effect VS Jospehine Montilyet from Dragon Age: Inquisition

Sterling Evans from 1931: Scheherazade at the Library of Pergamum VS Preston Garvey from Fallout 4

Travis Wright from Re: Alistair++ VS Simeon from Obey Me

Donald Danson from Magical Diary: Horse Hall VS Polly Geist from Monster Prom

Jaal Ama Darav from Mass Effect: Andromeda VS Jun Kurosu from Persona 2

Harumi Makino from Lover Pretend VS Mason from Hustle Cat

Juniper from Andromeda Six VS Scott Howl from Monster Prom

Most Datable Datable Character 2: Round 1 Matchups

Part 1 links below the cut!

Qiu Lin from Our Life: Now and Forever VS Ai Mikaze from Uta no Prince-sama

Pashet from OZMAFIA!! VS Aigis from Persona 3

Flannan Mac Lugh from The Good People (Na Daoine Maithe) VS Fenris from Dragon Age 2

Flint from Postknight 2 VS Theo from Titan Arum

Fall-from-Grace from Planescape: Torment VS Xiao from Potion Permit

Rise Kujikawa from Persona 4 VS Kurt from GreedFall

Triss Merigold from The Witcher 3 VS Halsin from Baldur's Gate 3

Rowan from Boyfriend Dungeon VS Yuri Leclerc from Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Hook from A Villain's Twisted Heart VS Teo from The Ssum

Edelgard von Hresvelg from Fire Emblem: Three Houses VS Judy Alvarez from Cyberpunk 2077

Tae Takemi from Persona 5 VS Silas from Fire Emblem Fates

Alistair Theirin from Dragon Age: Origins VS Rachel Amber from Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Grim Reaper from A Date with Death VS QueenBee from Arcade Spirits

The Spirit from Hooked on You VS Jynx from Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers

Vetra Nyx from Mass Effect: Andromeda VS Felix Hugo Fraldarius from Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Lucifer from Obey Me VS Wakuu from Coral Island

Leviathan from Obey Me VS Allen from Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning

Curtis from Pokemon Black and White 2 VS Imtura Tal Kaelen from Blades of Light and Shadow

Rhapsody from Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers VS Jakob from Fire Emblem Fates

Haley from Stardew Valley VS Cameron from Trouble Comes Twice

Victor from Mr Love: Queen's Choice VS Mary Brown from Romance Club Arcanum

Linhardt von Hevring from Fire Emblem: Three Houses VS Ryoji Mochizuki from Persona 3

Caleb Zheng from Gilded Shadows VS Beelzebub from Obey Me

Sebille Kaleran from Divinity: Original Sin 2 VS Zoe from Monster Prom

Dorian Pavus from Dragon Age: Inquisition VS Felicity from Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning

707 from Mystic Messenger VS Loki from Romance Club Path of the Valkyrie

Lucifer from Romance Club Heaven's Secret VS Joyce from //TODO: today

Stephanie from Trouble Comes Twice VS Edel from Thorn for the Villain

Mitsuru Kirijo from Persona 3 VS Shadowheart from Baldur's Gate 3

Gale Dekarios from Baldur's Gate 3 VS Bernadetta von Varley from Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Elliot Damiani from Changeling VS Jeremy King from XOXO Droplets

Jax Argo from Later Daters VS Bella Goth from The Sims

[giggly-squiggily]

Masterlist (Non-Tickle Focused)

Heyo! Part of my goals with my blog is to expand beyond just tickle content, so I decided to make a new page to the masterlist to help me stay motivated! I’m still gonna write tickles, but this is for any non-tickle focused content I  write! :3

Full Masterlist

Updated: 10/31/24

Black Clover

A Date To Rember (YunLeo)

Beauty Scale (Kirsch, Mimosa) 

Come To Hage With Me! (Yunleo, Asta, Noelle)

FairyTales (YunLeo)

Forget Me Not (Yunleo)

Laugh (Yunleo) 

Mask (Julius, Marx, William)

Notes From Beloved (Finral x Reader)

Panic Attack (Leopold, Nozel)

Just Because (Black Bulls)

Keep It A Secret? (Yunleo)

Blue Lock

Beautiful (Chigiri, Nagi)

Nicknames (Chigiri, Team Z)

Numb Day (Kunigiri)

Say My Name (Nagiri)

Bungo Stray Dogs

First Name Basis (Shin Soukoku)

In The Still Of The Night (Soukoku)

The Little Things (Shin Soukoku)

Demon Slayer

And At Last I See The Light (ObaMitsu)

Crack Alternative: Dad (Akaza, Kokushibou)

Genuinity (Hashira, Tanjiro)

Hug (Gyomei, Mitsuri)

Memory Of A Ghost (Akaza, Kokushibou)

Nightmare (Shinazugawa Brothers)

Perfect Pitch (Zenitsu, Tanjiro)

Snacks (Shinobu, Giyu)

Split Heart (Sanegiyuu)

Time Wasn't In Our Favor (Obamitsu)

Dr. Stone

Affectionate (Sengen)

Kiss It All Better (Sengen)

Food Wars

Dorm Room Dancing (Takumi x Soma)

Haikyuu!!

Can’t Sleep? (Suna and Aran)

"Can We Talk?" (Takeda, Kageyama)

Snacky Time! (Kuroo, kenma, Kai)

Spa Night (Third Years)

Vending Machine Chaos! (Kageyama, Hinata)

Hell's Paradise

In Good Hands (GabiYui)

Hunter x Hunter

Nail Art (Gon, Killua)

My Hero Academia

I Saw The Sign (Bakugou, Denki)

Babysitter’s Guide To Watching Eri (Bakugou, Eri)

Putting The Moves On Him (TodoBaku)

Sick Days (Shindeku)

Tails (Ojiro, Hagakure)

Tea Cups and Tear Drops (Bakugou, Aizawa)

Wall To Wall (Shindeku)

Pokemon (All Gens)

Anchor (Allister, Hop)

Asthma (Ruby/Wally)

Comfort (Bede x Allister) (TW: Anxiety Attacks)

Confessions and Love Stories (Victor x Bede)

Elevator (Victor, Allister)

I’m With You (Diodeshipping)

Of Stars and First Kisses (Allister x Hop)

Of Glowing Shrooms and Realizations (Victor x Bede)

"Oh no-you're not going up that mountain again!" (Originalshipping)

Mask Buddies (TW: Grief) (Allister)

Mermaiding (Hardenshipping)

The New Champion (Allister, Victor)

Sk8 The Infinity

Beach (Joe and Reki)

Left On Read (Langa, Reki, Joe)

Snow Day (Langa, Reki)

Stay With Me (Teen!Matchablossom)

Streamer Boy (Miya, Matchablossom)

Treasure (Sk8 Boys)

Tokyo Revengers

Sick Day (Mitsuya and Chifuyu)

[aic-european]

The Assassination and Funeral of Julius Caesar, Workshop of Apollonio di Giovanni, 1455, Art Institute of Chicago: European Painting and Sculpture

Bequest of C. Ruby Sears in honor of Richard Warren Sears II Size: 39.5 x 126.7 cm (15 1/2 x 49 7/8 in.) Medium: Tempera on panel, now transferred to canvas mounted on pressed hardboard and cradled

https://www.artic.edu/artworks/47599/

[anenbylittlepotato]

Character List

Obey Me! Shall We Date?

Lucifer / Mammon / Leviathan / Satan / Asmodeus / Beelzebub / Belphegor / Diavolo / Barbatos / Simeon / Luke (platonic only) / Solomon

My Hero Academia

All Might / Shota Aizawa / Hizashi Yamada / Midnight (😩💦) / Mina Ashido / Tsuyu Asui / Tenya Iida / Ochako Uraraka / Denki Kaminari / Eijiro Kirishima / Kyoka Jirou / Hanta Sero / Shoto Todoroki / Katsuki Bakugo / Izuku Midoriya / Momo Yaoyorozu / Itsuka Kendo / Ibara Shiozaki / Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu / Neito Monoma (derogatory) / Mirio Togata / Nejire Hado / Tamaki Amajiki / Hitoshi Shinso / Mei Hatsume / Ms. Joke / Inasa Yoarashi / Camie Utsushimi / Hawks / Kamui Woods (look, if you wanna date a funky tree man, who am I to crush your dreams?) / Ryukyu / Mt. Lady / Fat Gum / Sir Nighteye / Eri (platonic only) / Tomura Shigaraki (his crusty ass) / Kurogiri / Dabi / Twice / Mr. Compress

RWBY

Blake Belladonna / Cinder Fall / Coco Adel / Emerald Sustrai / Fiona Thyme / Glynda Goodwitch / Ilia Amitola / Jaune Arc / Mercury Black / Neon Katt / Neopolitan / Neptune Vasilias / Nora Valkyrie / Penny Polendina / Pyrrha Nikos / Qrow Branwen / Raven Branwen / Lie Ren / Robyn Hill / Ruby Rose / Sun Wukong / Velvet Scarlatina / Weiss Schnee / Winter Schnee / Yang Xiao Long

Genshin Impact

Aether / Albedo / Amber / Barbara / Beidou / Bennett / Chongyun / Dainsleif / Diluc Ragnivndr / Diona (platonic only) / Eula / Fischl / Ganyu / Gorou / Hu Tao / Jean / Kazuha Kaedehara / Kaeya Alberich / Beidou / Kamisato Ayaka / Klee (platonic only) / Kujou Sara / Lisa / Lumine / Mona / Ningguang / Noelle / Eula / Qiqi (platonic only) / Ei / Razor / Rosaria / Sangonomiya Kokomi / Sayu (platonic only) / Signora / Sucrose / Childe / Thoma / Venti / Xiangling / Xiao / Xingqiu / Xinyan / Yae Miko / Yanfei / Yoimiya / Zhongli

Demon Slayer

Giyuu Tomioka / Mitsuri Kanroji / Muichiro Tokito / Shinobu Kocho / Kyojuro Rengoku / Tanjiro Kamado / Zenitsu Agatsuma / Inosuke Hashibira / Muzan Kibutsuji / Nezuko Kamado / Tamayo / Yushiro

Danganronpa

Akane Owari / Angie Yonaga / Aoi Asahina / Byakuya Togami / Celestia Ludenberg / Chiaki Nanami / Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu / Gonta Gokuhara / Gundham Tanaka / Hajime Hinata / Himiko Yumeno / Hiyoko Saionji / Ibuki Mioda / Jataro Kemuri (platonic only) / Junko Enoshima / K1-B0(Keebo) / Kaede Akamatsu / Kaito Momota / Kazuichi Soda / Kirumi Tojo / Kiyotaka Ishimaru / Kokichi Ouma / Komaru Naegi / Korekiyo Shinguji / Kotoko Utsugi (platonic only) / Kyoko Kirigiri / Leon Kuwata / Mahiru Koizumi / Maki Harukawa / Makoto Naegi / Masaru Daimon (platonic only) / Mikan Tsumiki / Miu Iruma Monaca Towa (platonic only) / Mondo Owada / Nagisa Shingetsu / Nagito Komaeda / Nekomaru Nidai / Peko Pekoyama / Rantaro Amami / Ryoma Hoshi / Sakura Ogami / Sayaka Maizono / Shuichi Saihara / Sonia Nevermind / Tenko Chabashira / Teruteru Hanamura (ig?) / Toko Fukawa and/or Genocide Jack / Tsumugi Shirogane / Ultimate Imposter / Yasuhiro Hagakure

Hunter x Hunter

Kurapika / Leorio Paradinight / Gon Freecss (platonic only) / Killua Zoldyck (platonic only) / Kite / Knov (that poor man) / Knuckle Bine / Shoot McMahon / Chrollo Lucilfer / Nobunaga Hazama / Feitan Portor / Machi Komacine / Phinks Magcub / Shizuku Murasaki / Shalnark (Childe) / Colt (yes I'm adding ants for you monster f*ckers out there) / Cheetu / Zazan / Pariston Hill (the rat bastard himself) / Cheadle Yorkshire / Morel Mackernasey / Alluka Zoldyck (platonic only) / Neferpitou / Shaiapouf / Menthuthuyoupi / Meleoron / Welfin / Palm Siberia

The Arcana

Asra / Nadia (my beloved) / Julian / Muriel / Portia (my beloved) / Lucio (derogatory) / Valerius / Vlastomil / Vulgora / Volta (precious) / Valdemar / Nafizah / Nazali (I desperately want their gender) / Navra / Nahara / Nasmira / Natiqa

Black Clover

Nozel Silva / Mereoleona Vermillion / Fuegoleon Vermillion / Kirsch Vermillion / Rill Boismorter / Finral Roulacase / Langris Vaude / Julius Novachrono / William Vangeance / Klaus Lunettes / Charlotte Roselei / Sol Marron / Dorothy Unsworth / Yami Sukehiro / uhhhhh the “haha” guy lmao (Sekke Bronzazza) / Zora Ideale / Vanessa Enoteca / Grey / Magna Swing / Luck Voltia / Secre Swallowtail

--

Hi, so I decided to my a list of all the characters I'm willing to write for all the fandoms I write for so it's more convenient for you guys to know what I'll write. I'll link it on my pinned post for convenience. Also yes, a lot of them are in alphabetical order bc I have the memory of a donut so to remember all the characters I could and was willing to write, I just went through the wikis

ALSO!!! If you want me to do characters not on this list, you'll have to buy me a coffee geh heh heh

[starheart-blog]

I ask @mambamorananewaccount about her relationship with Cartoon Cat and I got my answer.

So...How Romantic is Ruby's and Julius The Cartoon Cat relationship? 🤔

How romantic? 🤔

Well...not at first...😅

But over time tho...they were would have some Romanic feelings for one other. 😌💖

[deathonyourtongue]

Sanguine Nocturnus | 2

Summary: Even after 2000 years, the world can still surprise you. Pairing: AU!Henry Cavill x OFC Word Count: 3K Warnings: It’s a vampire fic. Death. Blood. Gore. Sex. Horror. Not for the kiddies or the squeamish. I mean it. A/N : Couldn’t leave y’all hanging a week without meeting our main character, now could I?

It was rare that he woke to an empty bed. Rarer still that he woke feeling as though every cell in his body was vibrating. Checking the time on his phone, he sat upright and looked around, keen eyes searching the pitch-black room for any sign of his previous night’s companion. His two dobermans, Phobos and Deimos, marked the spot, the dogs framing the corpse of last night’s entertainment. She’d been a pretty thing, fresh into her 20’s, and still so naive that she’d hung on every word he’d whispered in her ear. 

At least she didn’t die a virgin.

Bending down, he picked her up easily, slinging her over one shoulder as he made his way to the cold room. Too restless to take care of her immediately, he slipped her into one of the five drawers built into the wall and locked the room behind him. By the time he made it back upstairs to shower and dress, her face was already a half-forgotten memory in his mind.

Deciding on an all-black ensemble with a ruby-toned, velvet brocade waistcoat, he showered, dressed and stepped onto the wet cobbles of Rome’s quiet streets, still feeling as though electricity was coursing through him. The moon hung over the Pantheon, looming and casting a reddish glow on all below it.

Feeling none of the restless energy dissipate despite the fresh air, he turned in the direction of the Vatican, needing to take the edge off.

He’d been a customer of the club for years; ever since it opened in fact. Over the thirty years Romulus had been serving the public, the staff had come and gone, but thankfully the owner had stayed the same. Nodding to the man as he came in, the owner automatically motioned for the bartender to set up his drink, knowing his most loyal patron only ever drank one thing; Sanguinem. A blend of wine and other, more secretive ingredients, it was the oldest drink the owner ever kept in stock. The owner had tried it once or twice, always wincing when the metallic taste hit his tongue, always confused by the popularity of the drink among many of his patrons. 

 He sighed as he took a seat at the bar, his blue eyes gazing up at the artwork that adorned the walls. Seldom seen when the club was in full swing, the paintings were recreations of those who had encountered a brutal end. Everyone from Marie Antoinette to Kurt Cobain lined the walls, their images altered to show them post-mortem. Sometimes gruesome and always detailed, each painting was a one-of-one, and if times ever got tough, an easy sell to a discerning collector. 

As the name suggested, Romulus’ atmosphere evoked the age and bloody history of the city it called home. Dim lights, chaise lounges, and arched stone ceilings all lent to the feeling like one were in the catacombs beneath the city. Most nights, the place was flooded with red neon, the gleam of the lights off the dance floor emanating to every other corner of the establishment.

For a Saturday night, the place was oddly vacant, until he remembered that tonight was All Souls’ Day and most of Italy was either in church or in their homes, celebrating the holiday. He had never had much respect for religion, especially Catholicism; as far back as he could remember, the church had been the instigator of more deaths than any other group in the world.

“They can all go fuck themselves,” the patron muttered under his breath before taking his first swig, the bartender giving him a look as though the drinker had just murdered his mother. The owner smiled, knowing the man was referring not to the employees of the club, but to the religious fanatics that kept most of the country in church on a night like this.

“Non è cattolico.” The owner told the bartender, explaining the man’s religious views to the slightly offended man, who nodded in understanding as he connected the cussing to the holiday.

“Non cattolico a tutto.” The patron agreed, his tone low and sharp, his accent different than that of his fellow countrymen.

“Thank you for the drink, old friend.” The man said as he took his final sip, standing to his full height before extending his hand to the owner who shook it happily, his smile filled with the usual wonder that came across his face whenever he observed his patron up close. Although years went by and the world changed, his loyal customer never seemed to age a day. 

No money was ever exchanged, the owner having long ago gifted his patron with a lifetime supply of Sanguinem in exchange for a certain…favor he’d needed done. 

Herminius Calvisius, Henry as he was known these days, had indeed done a few favours for a select few in Italy over the years. Personally, he adored when said favours had to do with the Vatican, for he loved the food there; if you could call it that. 

Food for Henry was not exactly appetizing fare for most others he resembled. Henry's idea of a meal usually consisted of a glass of Merlot followed by a pretty young thing looking for a good time around one of the dark alleys surrounding Vatican City at midnight. He never failed to get a laugh out of the shock that came from the Swiss Guard when they would find the woman the next morning, pale as St. Peter's Basilica, with the exception of two gentle circles in her throat.

 Yes, he was un vampiro, as they liked to call him; a vampire.

Tonight however, the meals would be scarce, and since he was quite selective of his dinner—despite favouring the occasional streetwalker—Henry found his feet guiding him towards one of the few places where blood was a commodity.

Located just outside the Porta Settimiana, the old villa was vast, and most found it disturbing, in a way they simply couldn’t define. It made the hairs on their arms stand, and quickened their step, but if one were to ask, not a single soul could say why they avoided the piece of history. 

To Henry, it was like gazing on the picture of heaven. 

It was the first place he had deemed worthy enough to call home after he became immortal, and it had yet to lose its value in his eyes. Prying open the gate, which badly needed oiling, Henry smiled as he saw Brutus stand from the front door to greet him.

“Hello, boy. It’s been ages, has it not?” He greeted as he pet the mastiff that eagerly sniffed him for bones.

“None today, boy, my apologies.” Henry’s lips turned downwards at the same time as the dog’s, both spending a few more silent moments together before the large black door of the Italianate house was opened.

Had a human have witnessed the action, their blood would have run cold, for like many of the other houses of the period, the front door of this one was unbelievably heavy, usually taking the strength of two men to open. The hand that gripped it however, was delicate, manicured and thin; precisely the hand belonging to the woman he had come to see.

“Lucrezia, my love, hello.” Truly, being in her presence over the years had provided Henry with a great many memories, and fond ones at that, something which was scant for one such as himself.

“Hello, my little hermit.” She smiled. Others in the Roman coven had always called her grin wicked, but to him, it was beautiful and warm; one of the few smiles that had ever pervaded his dreams, turning nightmares into impish fairy tales.

Lucrezia, as her name would suggest, was also Italian, and although younger than him, she had seen the days when Rome ruled the earth—or what was known of it at the time. She had seen several Caesars come and go, and had been just outside the senate when Julius himself had met his end at the tip of Brutus’ blade.

Her hematite locks descended past her shoulders in loose waves, only serving to accentuate impeccable bone structure, a creamy complexion, and burgundy lips she methodically painted every time she awoke. Henry could tell she was feeling dramatic today, as she was wearing an old Roman gown, given to her by a courtier during the reign of Octavian.

“What’s the occasion, Lucy?” Smiling at the intended reaction he got at the nickname, he did not hesitate to kiss her cheek in pardon.

“I do hate it when you call me that, Henry; Makes me sound like a child.”

Indeed to any onlooker, she might be confused for one, Lucrezia having been made an immortal at the tender age of twenty. He did not know her then, but news of her beauty spread quickly among the covens of the Empire, her likeness drawn on both papyrus and walls alike, so that any who felt the need could gaze upon her visage. Henry smiled, remembering how the portraits did her little justice when he finally gazed upon her in the flesh.

“If you must know however, I had company over just an hour ago, and there’s some very exciting news coming from the coven.”

“Will I have to be there?” Henry rolled his eyes, knowing that any news from the coven could only be one of two things; either there was to be a new celebration, or one of the elders had gone to ground and a new one had been chosen to take his place.

“Hush. I haven’t even told you the news yet. Marius was lovely enough to come and keep me company tonight on such a dreadful holiday, and since he had just been to the house, he was brimming with new gossip that I just had to hear. Apparently, Cassius has decided to sleep, and a new elder will be taking his place. According to Marius, this one is…different.”

“Different how?” Henry asked, his interest piqued despite his detestation for any and all gossip to come out of the coven he had so long ago abandoned in favour of a life less formal.

“Well, first off he’s apparently quite…awe striking, fear-inducing, etcetera. A real Roman sculpture is how Marius described him. And secondly, he’s of the…Greek persuasion, if you will.”

Her grin became even more deviant as the two headed inside towards the parlor, Lucrezia immediately pulling a decanter off a small flame and pouring two glasses of blood so good, the scent alone was enough to make Henry’s head spin.

“A boy lover?” He asked, looking curiously at his companion. It was not uncommon for those of his kind to frolic with their own sex, but among the elders and those next in line, it was a rarity, simply because it was a public imbalance among the sexes of the coven and their kind liked nothing more than to appear egalitarian.

“MAN lover, actually. If Marius was looking at the right man, then apparently our next elder has already found a companion in Fares.” Henry raised his eyebrows, indifferent to the news.

“Where do you find them?” He asked, tipping his glass in reference to the fine liquid he soon after began pouring down his throat.

“Oh, you know…The old money, the papacy, the brothels, the usual.” They shared a laugh, both knowing that no matter what a person’s station in life, their blood did little to hide their history.

“Well, my dear, for someone as young as you, you have fine taste.” And with that, he took a full drink, feeling his body reconstitute in seconds.

“Back to this fledgling, my love, and pay attention. The ceremony is taking place two nights from now, at the house, and yes, you must attend.”

Henry tried to hide his annoyance at the fact that despite severing ties to the house, he was still required to go to such frivolous functions, for the sake of tradition alone. For all he knew, the fledgling was already in power, probably getting the youngest members of the house to do his dirty work for him. 

Above all though, he felt bitter that despite his lack of connection, he had yet again been passed over as elder of the coven. It was not as if he were the youngest of vampires. Over 2,000 years old and plenty educated in the ways of the coven, Henry found it an insult to be passed over time after time; it was one of the many reasons he’d separated himself from their ancient ways. 

“How old is this boy lover and what’s his name?” Henry asked, feigning interest for Lucrezia’s sake, only mildly interested in knowing whether this new elder was an acquaintance or not.

“He is a 26, and his name is...Gab-No! Gregory, from what Marius could gather. Do you know him?”

“Is he Italian?” Henry asked, knowing that the chances of this man being familiar to him would increase tenfold if he was of Roman descent.

“When have you known the elders to ever pick a foreigner as the next in line? Of course he’s Italian.” Lucrezia laughed, thinking Henry foolish for even entertaining the notion.

“Well, there was the time when we put in a Frenchman, temporarily. That didn’t go over too well though.” He reminded her, every member of the coven all too eager to forget that one particular mistake in their history.

“And you said he was my 26? As in, older than me?”

“No. 26, as in he was born yesterday,” Lucrezia’s eyes went wide, her gaze speaking volumes to Henry as she took a sip from her chalice. He, like her, was scandalized that they’d pick someone so young to their ways to be the next leading elder.  

Licking his lips, he tried to remember all the faces he had come across in the last three decades, linking each to a name and finding that none of them matched the one he’d been given.

“Unless my memory deceives me, or he has changed his name, I do not know him.”

“Pity, for I was hoping you’d introduce me.” Lucrezia grinned, a single line of blood falling from the corner of her lips, making her indeed look like a celluloid vampire.

Finishing off her chalice, Lucrezia’s blue-green eyes turned to the night beyond her window, Henry smiling as he sensed where the night would go.

“Everyone’s tripping over themselves, naturally; either in love with his youth and beauty, or wanting to maim Cassius for choosing a fledgling who hasn’t even weaned yet, as far as Marius could tell.”

“It’s little wonder Cassius decreed you--” Lucrezia stopped short, her eyes traveling up and over the lip of her chalice, a devilish smirk exposing her fangs as she waited for Henry’s reaction.

“Decreed me to what, Lucy?” Henry asked with a warning tone, one eyebrow raising as he waited for her to spill the rest of the gossip she’d received second-hand.

“Decreed that you will be his tutor in all things...Vampiric.” Her delicate fingers slipped through the air, creating a ballet all their own and momentarily distracting Henry from his own ire.

“He has no power to do so! Lucrezia, tell me this is another one of your humorless jests!” He finally barked, teeth bared as he stood and began to pace around the room.

“I’m afraid not, my darling. If Marius was correct, the decree came with an ultimatum as well. Come to heel, or…” 

“That pompous bastard. He knows full well what he does. I knew it would be another century of trouble once he rose. Had to get one last kick to the teeth in. I swear, if this is still because I told him his mother was a beautiful as a donkey’s prick, I will have his head while he SLEEPS!”

“Easy, Centurion. It’s generally frowned upon to decapitate an elder nowadays. Come, let us slake your lust elsewhere. I ordered in.” Her smile turned even more secretive as she rang a bell next to the snifter, Lucrezia’s gentle hands pressing Henry towards the area of the parlor that she’d long ago turned into something more closely resembling an Andaruni. 

Slipping her hands into the collar of his jacket, Lucrezia helped Henry undress before allowing him to do the same to her, the sweet tone of her giggle as she spun out of her dress completely dissipating any of the lingering anger Henry felt. When they were both nude and relaxed among the many cushions that separated them from the floor, Lucrezia’s day man sent in a feast. 

“Twins! Lucy, you’ve outdone yourself.” Henry’s eyebrow raised for a very different reason as both he and Lucrezia opened their arms for the two young blondes who had been ushered in, bare, and more than a little tipsy if their footsteps were anything to go by. 

“What did you give them tonight?” Henry questioned with a chuckle, reaching up and catching one of the girls before she could crash headlong into the low table that held a variety of accoutrements for pre and post-dinner. Undeterred, the woman found her way easily into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck as she did a sloppy grind of her hips against his hardening shaft.

“Just the usual. Bit of Absinthe, touch of Laudanum for the nerves.”

“I owe you dinner.” Henry smiled as he sank into the girl in his arms, watching as she arched back instinctively against the exquisite pleasure he provided.

Moans filled the air before a deathly silence blanketed the villa, two more souls joining the countless others being prayed for on that sacred night.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

Throwback Fics #4

A Courtesan of Rome

Slave | Julius Caesar x MC / Marc Antony x MC / Syphax x MC / Julius Caesar x Syphax - @ritachacha

The Crown and the Flame

Bold | Kenna Rys x Val Greaves - @kenna-and-val-are-my-queens​

Desire & Decorum

What The Future Holds | Ernest Sinclaire x MC / Edmund Marlcaster x Briar -  @noesapphic​ and @marlcasters​

Open Heart

Part 1: Adara | Aurora Emery x F!MC - @drethanramslay​

Taking Care | Rafael Aveiro x F!MC - @lorirwritesfanfic​

Perfect Match

It's the Wine | Damien Nazario x F!MC - @mrsnazariowritesagain​

Under The Mistletoe | Damien Nazario, Hayden Young, MC - @missameliep​

Red Carpet Diaries

GMH: Setting the Record Straight | Thomas Hunt x MC - @theartoflovingthomashunt​

The Royal Romance / The Royal Heir

Cordonian Ruby | Liam Rys x MC, Olivia Nevrakis, Bastien Lykel - @bobasheebaby​

Fallen Snow

Forgotten Memories | Liam Rys x MC - @kingliam-rys​

[welcometoels]

Session Eleven - Slathiel

And so, our adventurers completed their quest for the four items of power, and returned them to the entity known as Slathiel, as promised.

Or did they?

Something about this being rubbed certain party members up the wrong way.  This, combined with the close personal connection each of them felt to one of the items, gave them pause.

Thus, a plan was hatched - each party member would speak to some of the friends they had made in town, and gather a little posse to speak to this so-called Slathiel - that way, if everything suddenly went wrong, they would have strong support in the ensuing battle.

Kadis makes the first move.  Stepping into Jackie & Clutchstraw’s, he has a friendly chat with Drow artificer Aberron - who, understandably, still has a lot of questions.  Kadis fills him in as best he can, and Aberron - after a quick consultation with his brass owl, Dominique - agrees.

Oddsock takes a more direct approach.  Storming into the Dogwood Trading Post (Presented By Himself), he invites Jackie Face to come out and play.  Jackie, though, has business in mind - specifically beer business.  The market research has gone swimmingly, with the new hoppy brew going down especially well with the hard-grafting carpenters in town - in particular with the man who took the lead on building the Potions & Artifices shop: a man they refer to fondly as Jackies’ Hammer.

After agreeing that this would make a fabulous name for the beer, Oddsock gives Jackie Face a few more details about the upcoming fight.  Face becomes uncharacteristically quiet, muttering under his breath about company values, teamwork and synergy, in a way the Dog finds strangely familiar.  Suddenly, Jackie Face disappears into a large box of miscellaneous armour parts in the corner, and promises to see the team outside shortly.

Talion heads over to the Jaunty Skinner to speak to his new buddy and nighttime companion Freginald Biceppe.  Being very well disposed towards both fighting and Talion - his two favourite things to do - Freginald needs very little encouragement to join the fray, and pledges his two meaty fists to the party’s cause.

On the other side of the pub, Julius finds Gyder at the bar with the latest in a line of foaming ales, and X at a nearby table, idly doodling couches with a distracted look on her face.  Gyder has a new haircut - trimmed almost to the skin at the sides and back, with a asymmetrical fringe.  It is the kind of cut that would look spiffy on an Elf, but serves mostly to accentuate the severity of her face.  This may have been the point.

Julius approaches both with a panicked entreaty for help.  X yelps and quickly hides her drawings, before asking what is wrong.  After a brief, stuttering rundown of the situation from the Otter, X immediately agrees to assist, and turns to Gyder.  The Half-Orc drains her ale in one swallow - game on.

Out in the town square, as everyone gathers, new companion Batch 38 Unit 12 is standing in conversation with Aberron Clutchstraw.  The Helpforged cleric is going into extensive detail regarding their inner workings, while the Drow stands agog, in rapt attention.

Suddenly, from the Trading Post door, there appears a strange contraption: Half of a suit of armour, with raccoon faces peeking out from the neck and wrist holes, mounted on a unicycle.  Jackies Left and Right clutch a katar and tea tray respectively, while Jackie Face shouts commands at Jackie Bottom’s madly pedalling feet.  Jackie Middle is in there somewhere, doubtless horribly warm at the heart of the hastily-assembled Mecha-Jackie.

Standing in the deepening dusk and watching with a sense of bemusement as this all take place, Slathiel now commands attention.  An agreement was made, a quest given and accepted, yet no items of power have yet been presented.  Folding their six golden arms and flapping their wings, Slathiel requests them once again.

It is now that the party begins to ask questions that had been festering since their first encounter - specifically about who Slathiel is, and what they need the gems and lanterns for - but Slathiel is not in an answering mood.

Talion laments his lack of a Detect Good & Evil spell, and 38/12 - helpful by design - twists the spell focus on their chest to the left, lighting up several magical runes imprinted on their body.  With a wave of their hand, the verdict is announced:

“This entity before us is... Evil.”

With that, Slathiel’s demeanour changes.  Unfolding their mighty ruby wings and taking flight up to the roof of the Jaunty Skinner, their form too begins to alter: The six golden arms merge into two thick, grey, scaly limbs, their height increases and their head widens, with a mouthful of sharp teeth and two cruel eyes glaring down at the gathered people below.

The creature hunches forward on the roof, turning its hands about in arcane gestures. “I gave you the chance to do what I asked,” it says, “but you have chosen death.”

From its scaly hands it shoots a Fireball, straight at 38/12.  The Helpforged dodges the worst of the blast, but Kadis and Aberron are less fortunate, finding themselves close to death.

Worse still, Dominique is hit full force by the flames, and is shattered to pieces - a pile of broken brass and a single bright gem lying where the owl once was.

38/12 does their best to apply healing, while X dashes over to assist and Aberron, recovering from the loss of Dominique, conjures up an Eldritch Cannon to imbue those nearby with bonus health.  The Jackies make a decent fist of pedalling in roughly the right direction, whilst buffing themselves with the Power of Commerce.

Deeper into the fight, those that can fire projectiles do so, to varying levels of success.  Kadis dashes round to the side of the inn with the intent to scale it, and Julius cast Faerie Fire on Slathiel, lighting it up like a festive tree.  Having achieved this, he transforms into a giant Wolf Spider, and begins to climb the front of the pub.

Slathiel, infuriated by this affront, descends, in order to bring the fight to the party.  Freginald takes this as his cue, and makes with the fancy footwork and fists to the face.  Talion lends his rapier to the fray, Gyder strides forth with her greataxe, and X conjurs up a spiritual weapon to assist.

Julius, abandoning the wall plan, drops his spider form and brings up a Moonbeam of radiant energy upon Slathiel, while Aberron moves in to support, Oddsock makes ready with Blasts both Eldritch and Searing, and the Jackies roll out in entirely the wrong direction.

Kadis, hearing the decent of Slathiel around the corner, attempt to jimmy open one of the Jaunty Skinner’s windows, with little success.  He does, however, attract landlady/mayor Tiatha Rowe’s attention, and asks her to fetch a lantern from the wall and bring it to him.

As all of this goes on, a terrible shout is heard from the south.  The figure that appears is familiar, but somewhat worse for where - green-scaled Dragonborn in dirt-covered robes, with a ragged sword wound at his throat.

As he charges in, he shouts after the monk who took his lantern.  The body may be Graindude, but the voice is pure Aberraton Mortesque.

He is a distant concern for now, out on the edge of town.  There are more pressing matters, such as the giant lizard who is now bearing down on Freginald, to terrible effect.

Fortunately, 38/12 is on hand to provide healing, while X lets rip with a Guiding Bolt.  Talion and Gyder cut away as Julius’ Moonbean shines down, and the Jackies nearly make it to the battle.

Back inside the Skinner, Tiatha has reached the window and hands a torch out to Kadis, along with a request that he try and keep the fight out of her pub.  This request becomes harder to fulfil, as Barty appears from the back.

Seeing the carnage on his doorstep, something changes inside the affable Gnome.  He pulls out his meat cleaver and carving knife, bellows several nautical oaths into the air, and charges forth with the rage of a sea storm.

Slathiel rears away from this new attack, and launches its fury at Freginald once again.  Undeterred, the brawny fighter hammers a fist straight into its jaw, smashing its head with furious vengeance and showering the inn’s chef with gore - which he loves.

And Lo!  What sight do we see here?  Losing control of the unicycle once again, the Jackies charge, by accident more than design, straight into the advancing corpse of the reanimated Graindude.  They set about his rotten head and shoulders with bites, jabs and tea tray slaps.

As this furious (and inadvertent) melee ensues, Kadis puts into action his torch plan.  Sharpening the unlit end, he channels his apple-lobbing skills and smashes the torch in the direction of the corpse... and misses completely.

Another fine plan foiled by the Dice Gods.

Fortunately, his friends are on hand with less convoluted fighting styles, and before long the revenant falls under fist, axe, rapier, raccoon, cutlery, magic blasts, and a final scourging strike from the Moonbeam, showering everyone with rotten Warlock.

Finally, quiet falls over Dogwood square.  Barty goes to draw a bath, and Aberron picks up the gem that used to be Dominique, promising to remake her better than ever.

The others simply stagger about, congratulating each other on a fight well fought, before becoming silent.

The whole world becomes silent.  Then, it begins to fade from view, and nothing can be seen, heard or felt around our party of four.

The round red gem and silver lantern rise from their keepers, and float in the air, joined in this negative space by the blue gem and green lantern.  As they float, they begin to dance in a slow circle above the party’s heads.

And then a voice.  A slow, calm, pleasant voice.

“Well done.  You were very good, very entertaining, wonderful to watch.  You were not fooled by that creature, and you have forged a beautiful bond as a party.

“We will meet again, I’m sure, elsewhere in this world.  But for now, I will leave you with a gift.”

The gems and lanterns begin to change form in the space above their heads.  The blue gem shrinks into a perfect blue pebble, and attached itself to Julius’ necklack, next to Pa McGinley’s charm; the green lantern becomes a small black and green egg, and sets itself next to Kadis’ cursed idol; The silver lantern flattens itself into something that could be a plectrum or a silver dragon scale, and hangs beside Talion’s jagged onyx charm; and the red gem becomes a gleaming red bottle cap, which hangs on to Oddsock’s leather tunic, at his neck.

Finally, the remains of Slathiel swim into view, and a perfect golden gem emerges from its skull.  This too undergoes a transformation, into a tiny golden gear, which lands in Kadis’ hand.

“There is one more,” says the disembodied voice.  “Make sure this gets to them.”

The world then rushes back into view, but not quite as it was.  The dusk sky is subtly different in colour - more vibrant than before - and way off to the south stands a tall spire.

It is completely unfamiliar to Oddsock, though Julius may once or twice have seen it on the far horizon, and Kadis and Talion will have heard tales of it - the tallest tower in Els.

It is Barty, though, who speaks.

“Monthend Spire,” he says, his voice filled with awe.  “Now I know where we are.”

[ernestsinclairs]

Silk and Laurels - Antony x MC

I had this fic written since a few months ago. But when I heard Caesar would finally be coming into the story, I decided this was the right time to post it!

MC: Rheticia

Lena was known to all as a composed woman. Barely anything could shake her foundation. Which made it all the more alarming when the shouts started.

“Out of the way,” the matron snapped at a younger girl who’d rushed out of her quarters to see what was going on. “Let the courtesans pass.”

Rheticia locked eyes with another pair across the hallway. Those eyes narrowed, then jerked away decisively.

Xanthe slid out of her chambers, purple silk rustling in a swishing sound that echoed in the narrow space.

“Lena, what is going on,” she cooed, trying to milk information out of her sweetly. Her lips curled up in the slightest show of triumph as Lena began to answer.

“Where is Rheticia?”

Her face fell.

“I am here. Lena, please, what is the matter?”

“Marc Antony is the matter,” Lena retorted, grabbing the young courtesan’s shoulders. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a barely audible whisper.

“He has the mind to call you to a banquet. A banquet where a man with laurels sits at the head.”

Rheticia recoiled. Xanthe must have caught the expression on her face. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the other courtesan inching closer, hoping for a peek of the conversation.

“Caesar.”

Lena nodded gravely, still not letting go of her shoulders. The place where her fingers gripped into Rheticia’s flesh began to burn.

“And he has asked for you specifically. If we do not send you, the scholae is in peril. We will have shown our political hand, and we cannot do that.”

Lena pursed her lips and paused as if she wanted to say something else, but doubled down and continued on her line of thought.

“I wouldn’t send you. Not to Antony. He has little regard for my rules. But we have great regard for our standing. We cannot seem to be hostile.”

Quickly taking her arm, Lena tugged her to the dressing chambers, where other courtesans were already in a flurry, adorning themselves for the big night. There was still naive excitement on the faces of the younger girls and the lesser courtesans. Silk sashes were everywhere, a loose pearl here and there. The cosmetics jar was already beginning running empty.

“Control yourselves!” Lena snapped. “I will not have any of my girls going in, looking like prostitutes from the slums. Pick that up. Fix your hair, Cornelia, for gods sake. Euplia, that sash clashes horribly with your eyes. Choose another.”

Striding to a locked chest at the far end of the room, Lena wrenched it open, Rheticia trailing behind her. Inside, a flash of gold gleamed in the low light of the oil lamps, and a few of the younger courtesans gave audible gasps.

“This.”

Lena pressed a bundle of gold fabric into Rheticia’s arms, piling on jewelry of the same hue. A long strand of tiny rubies flew through the air, and Rheticia ducked to keep them from meeting the hard floor.

“You will wear that tonight. I cannot spare expense.”

Rheticia blinked in shock, then composed herself. Wasn’t this always what she wanted? Two men - and one she wanted for revenge all these years would finally be within her grasp. Should she not be joyful? She lifted the hem of the sparkling golden dress to catch the light, heeding no attention to the gazes of the other women. Closing her eyes, she pressed her lips against it, uttering a silent prayer to her mother’s gods.

Make me a proud daughter tonight. Let this gold be stained with red. 

“What did Lena say to you?”

A sharp voice broke Rheticia out of her stupor, where she’d been watching the earlier part of the party behind the curtains, plucking her cithara absent-mindedly.

“It’s not my time to go yet. I haven’t done wrong, Xanthe.”

“I know that,” the young woman replied irritably. “I’m asking what Lena told you.”

She turned her gaze back to the party, her eyes zeroing in on a senator plying himself with food and drink by a large amphora. It seemed that she’d chosen her patron for the night.

“Antony has asked for me.”

Xanthe’s eyes immediately snapped back to the other woman. Her lips curled back in a sneer.

“That’s impossible. It’s Marc Antony. He’s shown nothing but disdain. And it’s been less than a month since you made your debut. What makes you a frontrunner?”

Rheticia shrugged, her eyes still watching the party. Antony was present, his eyes watching some of the courtesans, but she knew it was all a ploy. More often than not, his gaze turned to the other senators, turning hawkish when he caught sight of the a faction of senators outspoken against his cause. He hadn’t come to enjoy the banquet. He had come to hunt.

A little ways beside him, a man draped in crimson lounged with the same readiness that befell Antony. He was taller, his face more composed then the hot fire of his lieutenant, but his eyes still glittered with a cold, calculating thought. A crown of laurels, the thin leaves pounded from gold, glittered on his head, speaking of military triumphs and blood on his hands. Rheticia’s hand on her cithara tightened.

Caesar. 

A new figure flitted onto the scene - Lena, wearing the same smile she’d had on at Rheticia’s debut. 

“Gentlemen,” she cooed, her persona slipping onto her like a mask of marble. She took a quick bow towards Antony. “May I present to you, the finest flower in our scholae, the Princess of Gaul.”

She gestured grandly towards the edge of the room. On cue, Rheticia stepped out with a flourish, tilting her hips just the right amount to let the gold silk flutter around her body, head at just the right angle for the rubies threaded in her dark hair to catch in the light and show their face. The smile, so carefully practiced in the mirror during her training years, made its entrance onto her face. She caught sight of her reflection in a polished marble column as she made her way to the raised dais. Heavenly. Divine. They would fall for her.

Marc Antony had already let his walls fall - just for a moment. She caught it, swooping down next to him, and dipping her head in greeting. When she looked up, his gaze was already transfixed on her.”

“Marcus Antonius,” Rheticia mused, tilting her head. “At long last.”

She moved past him towards the new figure, easing herself into a position that let her drape across the dais steps, but still posed in the formation of a subtle bow.

“Gaius Julius Caesar. The one and only.”

Those cold, steel eyes softened, turning from metal to stone. Rheticia would take that. Just another hour or so and a few cups of wine, and she would be inside their walls.

“I have not seen such princesses in Gaul,” Caesar said, eyes still on her. “And I should know. I have touched every mile of that land.”

“Alas, you have not touched me. For all the riches of Gaul, I seemed to have slipped between your fingers.”

Rheticia looked up, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Until now.”

Caesar held her gaze for a long while, then threw his head back.

“Antony, your intuition is to be trusted. This one is quite . . . interesting.”

Rheticia gritted her teeth to hide her joy. Just a little closer, she thought. Just a little closer, and he would be in her trap. 

She settled down in her place on the steps a few minutes later, after the two men had bickered and argued over her for a bit. Accepting a cup of wine, she scanned the crowd, careful to put an uninterested look on her face. Towards one wall, a faction of opposition senators milled about, keeping sharp tabs on everyone present. A flash of raven black hair showed itself, and Rheticia fought down a reaction. No, not here. Cassius wasn’t her patron here.

“Enjoy the night,” Rheticia murmured, reaching up and taking the hem of a scarlet cloak. “I see your work is ahead.”

Caesar’s eyes sharpened, taking the time in between conversations with another senator to reply.

“A courtesan of all people sees the wisdom here?”

“Not the wisdom. Only what is right before us. The eagle sees what the sheep do not.”

She let the end of the sentence trail behind her, Caesar catching onto it like a miser reaching for the last piece of his gold.

“And what else does the eagle see?”

Rheticia tossed her head, looking into his eyes confidently. This was exactly where she’d planned for him to be. Just a few more lines, and she could shut her trap, like a child caging a wild bird.

“The only speaker of truth in this room.”

Caesar stared into her for a good while, those eyes hardening again to metal. Rheticia didn’t dare back down. This was a man of fortitude, surely he was bored by easy victories. He and Antony truly were the same - no wonder they got along so famously. 

“You dare to speak so in a room full of kings?”

“I dare to speak only as the gods let me,” Rheticia breathed, carefully not to overplay her hand. Shifting, she purposely let the bow of her golden dress fall just a little, the silk molding to the smooth skin. It worked. His eyes flickered just for a moment.

Caesar eased back, eyes still trained on her, studying, dissecting. With a chill, Rheticia could see how he had won his laurels. No matter how sharp a spear or sturdy a shield, his eyes saw it all. No wonder Gaul had fallen to him. 

“Stay with me.”

Rheticia smiled, careful to not let her relief show.

“How could I think of doing anything else?”

After the party, within the walls of the scholae, there was a strange expression on Lena’s face. In the eight years she’d been there, Rheticia had never seen it before. An odd mixture of fear and pride, worry and triumph, it reverberated through the room. No one dared to speak, and the younger courtesans filed out of the room to their own chambers, vowing to speak of it later.

“Lena, what is it?” Rheticia asked cautiously. “If anything is amiss . . . I swear, I upheld the scholae and my job.”

“I know you did, child,” Lena replied. “Though, you might have done it a little too well.”

She thrust a card of bound parchment towards her, the wax seal already broken. 

“I haven’t seen this seal before,” Rheticia mused, tracing a finger over the fractured wax design. “Who is it from?”

“Read and perhaps you’ll see.”

There was a minute of silence in the empty scholae atrium before the two women began to speak again. Shock spread across the younger woman’s face, grave resignation on the face of the other.

“He has called for me-”

“Caesar. Yes, he has called for you tonight.”

The shining silver knife, and the little vial of poison, hidden under her silks beckoned to her. Perhaps this was the night her vengeance would take place. Perhaps it was not. May the gods be merciful, Rheticia prayed. Let a woman have her glory.

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