#samael quartet

[astromegastar26]

[CLEAN INSTRUMENTAL] Sera Myu - Yume Yume Utagau Koto Nakare

[woodsteingirl]

josh groban stares off into space refusing to make eye contact for two hours and twenty six minutes.

[eirikrjs]

Thinking Beyond Replacement

The new Lilith reveal when Vengeance was announced led to another stupid & frankly outdated thought: "why design a new look for a classic SMT demon that's still popular when the new is functionally identical to the old?"

This thought nevertheless got me curious, so i made the Qadistu quartet edits seen above. I've become pro-Doi Lilith for the following reasons:

Kaneko is super dead now that he left Atlus. It's time to move on for real. I'm especially talking to myself.

the palettes of Eisheth Zenunim, Agrat bat Mahlat, and Naamah aren't dissimilar to the Amemiya or Kaneko Liliths, so they would still look fairly cohesive even with the latter. But Lilith is still the leader of the Qadistu and her bubblegum pink hair makes her pop out among them.

However, I think it's undeniable that Doi designed the Qadistu as a unit, combining, as he says, "beauty and ugliness." All 4 have grotesque features and I particularly like Lilith's bony joint aberrations:

There's just a level of cohesion usually only a single artist can lend to such a related/thematic assemblage; I'm also pretty positive on Naamah; even if her purpose in the Qadistu might just be to breast boobily, she's a demon I've wanted in SMT for a long time and i think her design delivers.

I'm not as hot on Agrat bat Mahlat, she reminds me of Ranni for some reason; I just think the "dark witch" motif is a little derivative but at least she adds variety to the group. The most notable thing about her to me is that her red eyes make it look like she's been doing some heavy dabbing in the sweet leaf. Eisheth Zenunim I'm pretty neutral about.

Last point on accepting change, as sad as that sounds to say (but it totally is what's necessary):the 4 Qadistu are the wives of Samael, and so the new Lilith is still wrapped by a snake--a red snake, the same color Samael has always been in Kaneko's designs. While it seems a given Samael will be involved in the story eventually, it would also mean he will have a new design, and probably not a snake, or at least something more involved. I also imagine Lilith's snake having a role in cutscenes--further necessitating the need for an all-new design/model.

Also, i totally expect there to be some classic SMT comparative etymological conflation bullshit with Samael this time around, because "Samael" is one of the alternate names of Yaldabaoth. And oh yeah, Sophia is the mother of the demiurge and in vanilla she called herself a sacred prostitute:

So expect her involvement, too. I'm honestly pretty excited for Vengeance! It's coming out at a great time for me, I think it'll be doable for me one-handed,Doi's new designs I would put on a Kaneko quality scale of somewhere between SMT2 and Devil Summoner, and vanilla SMT5 was so low impact, the only place it can go now is up!

[xenart]

No because I can’t stop thinking about the themes of childhood in the locked tomb, I’m not sure if its like, a byproduct of other themes, or if it’s all building to something- the mere existence of Nona seems to imply the latter- but it cant escape notice that a huge portion of the characters in the Locked Tomb universe seem to have been denied childhood.

The Lyctors quite literally never were children, they were reborn with no memory of their prior lives. Their sociopath behavior is not just a byproduct of their age but the fact that they literally do not remember ever being  nurtured or cared for. I don’t think its a coincidence that the Cythera and Loveday were the last to ascend, and Anastasia and Samael *didn’t* ascend, and they were 4 of the 6 saints to remember their childhoods (no clue on what Cyrus and Valency thought of it afaik)

 The Nine Houses in of themselves do not seem designed to provide a nurturing childhood. Children start preparing for their life of war early, doubly so if they are born with necromantic ability. We do see some examples of nurturing, but we see even more of children thrown into war before puberty, and children being born to become batteries. The one house we know for a fact was dedicated to protecting children till they turned 18 is the ninth house, and the plot of the series arguably begins with the decision to betray that dedication.

Harrow is described as being insanely unchildlike from birth, being able to sit silently in pews for hours.

I feel like if there is a thesis statement on the series relationship to childhood in the books so far, it comes from the scene where Ortus apologies for not looking out for Harrow:

“She was the Reverend Daughter. She was beyond pity, beyond the tenderness of a member of her congregation rendering her down into a neglected child. The problem was that she had never been a child; she and Gideon had become women before their time, and watched each other’s childhood crumble away like so much dust.”

It’s been said before that a large part of the series seems to reflect love as pity, caring for someone when they’re in a wretched shameful state, when help is truly needed and people answer the call and do it with kindness. Childhood is when this type of love is most given, when we are our most vulnerable and our care is given most unconditionally.

And the fact that Nona’s story is so important to the series that it was worth expanding the trilogy to a quartet for her- it speaks to me that it was very important for her to experience that kind of nurturing love on a personal level, as a human. A lot has changed since John locked Alecto away, but the biggest difference- the one John doesn’t even know about -is that his Revenant Beast now has an inner child.

[dailydemonspotlight]

Agrat bat Mahlat - Day 120

Race: Qadištu

Alignment: Neutral-Chaos

October 4th, 2024

Now, for something completely different. While some may consider the Qadištu to be a scary quartet, I personally consider them utterly fascinating, and easily my favorite of the bunch is absolutely deserving of being mentioned in this month of spooks. She's not only an unholy prostitute, but also a witch, a crow, and a character who gives me so much gender envy it drives me insane- Agrat bat Mahlat, a demon from Jewish myth who is said to be the daughter of none other than Lilith. The dancing roof demon is a surprisingly obscure creature, all things considered, but this doesn't mean there isn't a lot to dig into with her, so let's begin this dance of death.

Agrat, Lilith, Eisheth, and Naamah all actually have quite a bit of overlap- all four are angels of prostitution, as well as being mentioned each as the wives of Samael, but there do appear to be some differentiating factors between each of the Qadištu. Agrat bat Mahlat is first mentioned in Yalquṭ Ḥadash, a work of rabbinic literature that mostly appears in relation to Agrat, at least from my research. While I can't actually get the original copy of the work due to fact that I can't read the language, the demon is also listed, thankfully, in her original epithet within the Jewish Encyclopedia of Demonology.

To paraphrase the text, Agrat appears on the eves of Wednesdays and Sabbaths to bring myriad destruction alongside eighteen demons, named as 'messengers of destruction.' Her name literally means 'Daughter of Mahlat,' as bat is a word used to connect a daughter to her parent. According to the compendium and a treatise by rabbi Nathan Nata Spira, Mahlat was the name of Ishmael's daughter, who was exiled to the desert after being discovered as a witch. While in the desert, Mahlat ran into and mated with a demon named Igrathiel, who ended up fathering Agrat, beginning her exploits as, well, a demon.

Another thing Agrat bat Mahlat is known for is her appearance in Zoharistic Kabbalah, a collection of books going over several different aspects of Jewish thought and history, at least from what I can tell. Within the text, Agrat is listed alongside the rest of the Qadištu- Lilith, Eisheth, and Naamah- as being an 'angel of sacred prostitution' as well as one of the four mates of archangel Samael. Agrat herself is given the same amount of focus as the rest of the group save Eisheth (as it's somewhat ambiguous if she's even a member or not), and she's portrayed on the far more wicked side of the angels in Jewish myth, sometimes even being called one of the queens of demons. It's complicated, as is her role, as she's been pitted as being very morally grey.

In Zoharstic Kabbalah, Agrat and Lilith visit none other than King Solomon as prostitutes, and Agrat offers him the ability to commune with several spirits that, after the fact, would be sealed away into a lamp and tossed into a cave near the Dead Sea. After a while, the lamp was found by one King David, who used it to summon Agrat and ended up sleeping with her after likely either a bit of bargaining or some bewitching on either end. At the end of this one-night stand, Agrat then bore him a son in the form of a demon- none other than Asmodeus. Yep, she's Asmodeus's baby momma. I wonder how he'd react if he saw her in 3D? This later seems to have become a general theme with Agrat, as, according to the compendium, men could be seen trying to summon her to get her to sleep with them, but I doubt she delivered very often.

In terms of design in SMT, Agrat bat Mahlat is probably my favorite of the already strong collection of designs in the Qadištu- she fulfills such a good role in being both intimidating and beautiful, and I adore the calls with her witch's hat and crows wings connecting her to Mastema, who is a character who is a major player throughout her arc in the game. I'm not sure where her umbrella comes from, but it's a really fun detail that ties a lot of this already fantastic design together, and makes the second in command of the Qadištu an insanely memorable character.

No clue why she looks so stoned though. She might've eaten the forever weed brownie.

[mizusenshisongs]

Here's the fourth of my five Lead Into Halloween videos. This video is supposed to be for the Dead Moon Circus. Except, I tried to find a Dead Moon Circus song to do, and couldn't find one I felt I could learn quickly for this (unfortunately, the two that would work for that I did for Eclipse Day). Then I remembered "Yume Yume Utagau Koto Nakare" from Transylvania no Mori, which I covered on one of my old cover channels. Technically, these girls are the SAMAEL Quartet, not the AMAZONESS Quartet, but whatever, I'm counting it!

The cover image is a promotional image from Transylvania no Mori Kaiteiban. It was the only picture I could find of these four where someone didn't get entirely cut off by CapCut's cover image dimensions.

Cover image background & music from: SeraMyu Antics Video from: YouTube (Traditional the Grace) Karaoke made by: Me Vocals: Me

I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON OR SERAMYU. THEY ARE OWNED BY TAKEUCHI NAOKO, TOEI ANIMATION, KODANSHA, BANDAI, NELKE PLANNING, AND DWANGO. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED.

[kathyprior4200]

Heavenly Boss Woo-Hoo Land

Part One: Quartet

Azrael “Angel of God” was the Archangel of Death, and like God’s Accuser Samael and other angels of death, he oversaw the annual exterminations that occurred every year in Hell. (Adina was the founder of the Exorcists). Samael was buff, bold, blonde, and fiery in appearance but not Azrael. In his true form, he appeared as a gaunt skeletal man with multiple arms, glowing eyes, and a dozen black feathery wings (Sometimes covered with eyes) extending from his back. In his everyday form, he had thick long black hair sometimes cut short, dark eyes like black holes, and a pale ghostly face. He wore a black well-ironed uniform, a dark hood and carried a sharp reaper scythe wherever he went. When he was younger, he dreaded doing his destined profession, but over time, he grew used to taking life, though he often appeared somber. He kept a special book where he recorded births and deaths of individuals, a rather tedious task.

Contrary to the ruthless Samael and the cold-hearted Adina, Azrael despised the thought of killing sinners for enjoyment. Death was, after all, a loss of life, no matter if the person had sinned or not. He especially cringed at the various torture methods employed by Samael and Adina. Comparing Samael’s burning, eye-gorging methods to Adina instilling visions of a sinner’s greatest fears, he didn’t know which was worse. He only allowed the Exorcists because 1. It was tradition and God’s order and 2. The sinners’ deaths would be more merciful with the angelic weapons as it was claimed. (But when Azrael discovered that the essences of sinners became part of Hell’s infrastructure, he was horrified but could do nothing about it.) And so, Azrael faithfully and somberly carried out his duties to reap souls and help escort them to the afterlife, providing his victims with as much solace as possible. For those who had sinned, the reaping of their souls was more painful. God would inform Azrael of when it would be time to take a soul…thus Azrael was quite busy.

Azrael also lived in a palace like Samael and other Archangels. However, while Samael’s place was full of fiery torches, golden walls and weapons, Azrael’s palace was…well, deathlike. The palace was made of onyx and frequently decorated with bones of animals, demons, angels, and humans alike. Strangely enough, Azrael’s palace lay underneath Samael’s crimson palace on the outskirts of Heaven. Both men were keepers of the Bible and several books that allowed passage to the other realms. In Samael’s basement, there was a trapdoor portal that led down into Azrael’s attic. Both men needed permission from the other to go into their respective homes.

Azrael’s palace, concealed within dark clouds, had an underground feel to it. In some areas, the walls were made of black stone, with iron torches emitting teal blue fire that felt icy cold. It had several bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, and a vast high-ceilinged kitchen. The chandeliers were decorated with human skulls over the dark polished dining room table that was shaped like a coffin. A bookcase held several books about human anatomy, diseases, funeral rites, necromancy, undertaking, biology, and a few on astronomy. A few of the rooms had large windows to let in light and show a stunning view of the sky outside.

Azrael had a lovely wife Flora (Stella’s opposite) and a bubbly nature-loving swan daughter: Quartet Enoch (Octavia’s opposite) who was born in April. Well, he was actually her adoptive father. Her real father, Menadel was one of the 72 angels and previous husband of Flora. Menadel was the opposite of the Ars Goetia demon Stolas. Preoccupied with nature and God, the part white swan workaholic Menadel didn’t concern himself with raising her, so the nature angel Flora did it instead. Azrael and Flora fell in love, and he became her adoptive father.

0 0 0

 Before she was seventeen, Quartet was a young child.

“Mommy! Daddy!”

The child voice of their daughter rang from the other room. Sleeping in the master bedroom were Azrael and Flora. Flora was an avian angel of nature, with long black feathers, a crown, and green dresses decorated with flowers and gems. Flora had fallen in love with Azrael, and he soon took her away into his dark domain along with a baby Quartet. (Flora’s mother wasn’t too pleased).

“Tet is calling us, Azrael,” mumbled Flora next to him.

“You get up,” Azrael grumbled. “I have work early this morning.”

Just then, Quartet came bustling into the room with a big grin on her face. She had white hair, a black feathery face, green eyes, and a dark green dress with black flowers on it.

She floated onto the bed with her small black wings as her parents sat up. “I had a dream! A really good dream!”

Azrael yawned. “You’re telling us now at three in the morning?”

“It’s alright,” Flora said, her black hair and eyes matching her daughter’s.

Quartet spread her arms. “I was dancing with you all over the palace. We were singing songs about sunshine and life! And everyone could be alive again…”

Azrael scoffed. “Some thoughts from the daughter of death.”

Flora glared at her husband then smiled down at her. “I think that dream sounds marvelous, my special little Seadrop. But I think it’s time to go to sleep.”

“Can you sing me a lullaby?” Quartet asked. “I promise I’ll go right to sleep. Please?”

Flora looked earnestly at her husband who sighed. “Fine.”

Azrael stood up and carried his daughter back into her room. The room had black walls which were decorated with cut up colorful flowers. She had a canopy over her bed like a princess and snake stuffed animals littered the floor. On a dresser was a figure of Jesus on a wooden cross.

“It may not seem like it now, but…I won’t always be here for you,” Azrael said as he sat on the bed with her in his lap. “Life isn’t just fun and games. You must remember, no matter what happens to me, I’ll never be far away.” Quartet’s face fell as she pondered his words.

Azrael flipped through a Bible, past a spell page used to travel to Earth. He waved his hand and a portal appeared below them. He sang in a calm tone.

“It always seems foreboding in the depths.”

The two of them fell through the portal and into a vast ocean. They were surrounded by swaying seaweed, goldfish and a rocky bottom.

Rahab, an underwater fallen angel, sat on the sea floor, all chained up. He had flowing blue hair that circled his head in a tangled mess. Some areas of his skin were covered with barnacles and spines, almost like he was part of the ocean itself. Similar to Tiamat and Leviathan, he was seen as a water dragon of chaos. But Quartet only saw a longing for peace and freedom when she gazed into his fathomless eyes.

Azrael turned her away from him and continued his song.

“Mystery with each step”

“How silence grows under the sea”

“As bottomless as can be.”

He carried his adoptive daughter, walking underwater, both of them breathing normally.

As Azrael took steps, the flora and animals around him shriveled up and died.

“I used to think that I was brave.”

“That my duty was all said and done.”

“And now all my stories have been told”

“Except for one”

He looked down at his daughter with love and uncertainty in his eyes as they rose to the sea surface.

A giant tidal wave swept up and crashed onto a nearby town.

“As the waves start to arise, I hope it comes as no surprise”

“That even on that day”

He hugged her, trying to get her to sleep.

“Everything will be okay.”

Overhead, lightning flashed across the sky. The ground shook and broke apart while volcanos spewed lava and ash that coated all of Earth.

“And when the Heavens crash aground”

“And you hear the trumpets sound”

“You will make it through”

“And I’ll be here for you.”

Quartet yawned and fell asleep in her father’s arms.

Angels blew trumpets as they flew over armies clashing below. A leopard with 666 on it was slain with a splash on a shore. Flames and dark magic were tearing two worlds apart, one in white clouds, the other in brimstone. Dark angels holding spears fought off monstrous humanoids, demons, dragons, and hellhounds. Lucifer and Michael were squaring off, wielding powerful flaming swords. Lilith was yelling at a ruthless angel in white who was tormenting demons around her. A bunch of other angels stood in the clouds, ready to fire arrows at any demon they saw. Humans screamed and ran for cover nearby.

And a horned blond princess stood before a man in a throne, her body ignited on fire. Flames encircled her and swirled protectively around several demons. She appeared to be trying to take demons with her, while the portals to the crumbling worlds tried to suck its inhabitants back through.

Charlie’s hair briefly turned white with pink highlights in it. She let out a high-pitched musical scream and the world filled with an intensely bright light.

Azrael continued, his words growing louder in harmony:

“And when creation turns to dust”

“We will all do what we must”

“Upon my last day”

“You will still be okay.”

The portal closed as Azrael draped a skull blanket over a sleeping Quartet. He looked back at her one last time before closing the door.

0 0 0

Many years later…

Quartet at age 17 rose out of bed and happily put in her earbuds. A happy pop song called “My Life Is Shining All Around Me” played as she hummed along. Her room had black walls and a few skulls here and there but that was where the similarities between her and her father ended.

Cut-out colorful flowers and musical posters hung around her room. Her bed and rug were bright grass green. Some of the posters showed a variety of animals in a forest with “All life matters” on it. There were books of nature, weather, herbs, geography, geology and even the study of snow.

Quartet was the opposite of a stark, gloomy goth teenager. To her adoptive father’s surprise, she was more like a Barbie or a Disney princess at times. She would often spend her time writing and listening to cheerful songs, possibly to make things less depressing. Azrael loved his daughter but found her cheerfulness to be out of his comfort zone.

The swan princess strolled down a hallway, dodging, and maneuvering around venomous snakes that were pets of Azrael. She wore dark pants, heels, and a green shirt with black skulls on it. (There were a few traits she had adopted as she lived with Azrael.)

“Morning Mom! Morning Dad!” she called cheerfully as she walked into the kitchen.

“Are you daydreaming about Samael again?” Flora asked Azrael in suspicion.

“Of course not,” he replied. “He’s a pompous hot-headed brass-hole that needs to really chill out.”

“Then why are you writing down ‘He’s a fire to my life, a dangerous savior of strife,’ on the paper?”

A blushing Azrael glanced at the “Oh Samael” song lyrics surrounded by heart doodles and crumbled it up. “Just a little thought, heh, heh, nothing more. Though he’s been pestering my favorite elf friend, bribing him to hand over a Bible and be punished every month. If he weren’t so sadistic, he could very well be…I-I’ll just stop talking…”

He paused under Flora’s cold glare. Flora rolled her eyes, gave Quartet a hug, and gave an elf butler some blueberries before she left the room.

Quartet sat down and got ready to have some cereal. “Charity Crunch” was on the cereal box. She drank from a mug.

“What are you listening to?” Azrael asked casually.

“’My World Is Shining Around Me’ by Love You Dad. It’s a band,” Quartet replied.

“How charming!”

Azrael opened a fridge, took out a piece of steak and tossed it to a nearby giant snake covered with eyes on its scales in an adjacent area. The snake chewed and gobbled up its meal.

Quartet brightened as she came up with an idea. “You know what we haven’t done in a long, long time?” She went over to her father with a smile. “We haven’t been to one of my favorite places in all of Heaven! Why don’t we go to Woo-Hoo Land?”

“You’re not five anymore,” Azrael remarked, a monotone look on his pale face. He straightened his dark hair and adjusted his pointed black crown on his head.

“I was always so happy when we went to Woo-Hoo Land! What do you say we go there again? Just the two of us?”

“I don’t suppose reaping myself would make things better?” Azrael muttered.

“That’s the spirit!” Quartet said, bypassing his comment. “Anything but staying in this house. Now go call some more people to come with us.”

“More people?”

“Of course,” said Quartet. “Two people isn’t as much fun. Three and four make a party!”

Azrael walked over to a rotary phone with skull shaped speakers carried by the elf butler.

“You do realize I have a lot of work to do,” he said.

“You can always go back to it!” Quartet mentioned.

“I’m only doing this for you,” he said with a sigh as he rotated the dial.

At the E.L.F. office, Tirred was casually throwing darts at a picture of Sunna.

There was a loud knock on his door.

“What?” Tirred yelled.

“Docile wants to see us,” Timmid said with a flinch.

In Docile’s office, Docile was talking to Azrael on his cell phone. A white mug was in front of him with the words “#2 Boss, God is #1” on it.

“Azrael, sir, it’s been a while.”

“Indeed. Has Samael been troubling you again?”

“Yep.”

“Do me a favor and don’t subject yourself to his punishments. He might need the Bible for his work, but I do as well, and I can handle him.”

“Oh. Uh, I’ll get it to you as soon as I can…”

“But I’m not here to talk about that. I’m taking my daughter to Woo-Hoo Land, and I was hoping you noble elves would accompany us.”

“That does sound fun, but we’re guardian angels, not bodyguards.”

“Close enough. I’ll pay you.”

“With what?”

“Money.”

“We never ask for fees,” Docile said.

 Azrael sighed, rolling his eyes. “You’ll get to play Save the Soul, and I’ll give you a free Gabriel’s Trumpet toy.”

“Done!” Docile affirmed, hanging up. He produced a megaphone. “T and T, get in here! We’re going to Woo-Hoo Land!”

“Woo-Hoo Land?” Tirred asked, eyebrow raised.

“Woo-Hoo Land?” Timmid asked fearfully, bumping into the door.

“Woo-Hoo Land!” Docile confirmed.

“Wake me up when it’s over!” Sunna called from another room.

Part Two: Woo-Hoo Land

Docile drove the group (minus Sunna) down a golden highway in a blue van. The exit sign to the right read “Halo of Charity, Exit 33.”

After getting past toll booths and security, they made it to the amusement park. The van pulled into a crowded parking lot. The van door had an E.L.F. decal in bright blue on it. Tirred wore a white suit and sunglasses. He got out and pulled open the van door. Azrael’s dark silhouette appeared with red eyes before he hopped out with a look of annoyance on his face. Quartet’s green eyes glowed in the darkness before she cheerfully hopped out as well.

“Whoa!” Quartet exclaimed in admiration.

The amusement park was unlike anything she had seen before. Back when she was little, it was mostly a small theme park with blueberry mascots like Archangel Michael’s Woo-Hoo World. But not wanting to come across as someone to plagiarize ideas, the legendary Archangel Gabriel talked with Michael about the situation. He then decided to rebuild it and create a stunning place of his own vision. Under the white sky of the Charity Halo, the amusement park and added water park attraction sparkled in a crystalline glow with indestructible crystal structures. Many denizens claimed it even surpassed Michael’s theme park. Many people loved to go there because they would often get free things. Everyone, including the rich would go in and a part of their payments would go to charity (both to the Charity Halo and charities in need.)

A white sign read in bold gold letters, “Gabriel’s Woo-Hoo Land.” In the background were roller coasters, a Ferris Wheel, water slides, swimming pools, food stands, fun houses, and plenty of games. A vendor sold balloons that looked like white lilies.

“Gabriel certainly made some great improvements,” remarked an impressed Azrael. An elf handed Quartet a white lily balloon and she happily took it. She also got a white baseball cap with a gold “G” on it. They all got their tickets and headed inside.

“Remember,” said Docile. “I’m here to have fun, but eventually I’ll need to go back to work. Humans aren’t going to save themselves, you know.”

Azrael stayed silent.

“Not like you’d understand, anyway,” Docile continued.

Azrael turned to him, pointing with an accusing finger. “If you try to embarrass me in this park, I swear…”

“Swearing’s not allowed,” Docile added.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“I am literally getting hyper!” said Quartet, clapping her hands. “I haven’t been here in forever!”

“Well, have at it, flower lady,” Tirred said with a roll of his eyes. He fumbled in his bag. “I have several things you might like. Sunna’s catnip. Sunshine D, endorphins.” He briefly held needles with golden liquid in them.

“No thanks,” she said. “If anything, you need those more than me.”

Tirred yawned and scoffed. “Not likely.” He tossed the needles aside and they landed on a cardboard target of Lucifer.

“Nice shot,” called a kid as an elf baby crawled dangerously close to the needles. A cotton candy booth was nearby.

On a wall were posters that read, “Woo-Hoo World in Holy City, partnering with this park!” “Bio Rizz show at 7PM!” “Woo-Hoo Land is still better.”

“Oh no!” Timmid whimpered, pointing ahead. “It’s Little Sprite!”

She pointed a shaking finger at an animatronic of a white sheep with big eyes near a booth that read “Lilith’s Army Attacks!”. The sheep burst into a repeated song: “Good people spread the love! Praise the Holy Lord above!”

“That thing always was annoying,” Tirred said in agreement. “And too cute to be true.” He made a face of disgust and suspicion.

“Well, I think it’s wonderful,” said Docile from nearby.

“Of course you would,” Tirred said. If only his boss could see things from his perspective. Maybe if he could punish some sinners, take his place, see the adoration for him in his eyes…

“Have…have you been here before?” Timmid asked softly, interrupting his thoughts.

“No need to waste my time at a kid’s place,” Tirred replied, crossing his arms. Then he grinned. “Did you hear about the mascots here?”

Timmid’s eyes grew wide. “M-mascots?”

Just then, a giant golden trumpet popped up in front of them.

“Hallelujah helloooo!”

“Ahh!” Timmid screamed, cowering behind Tirred.

“I’m Woo-Hoo!” greeted the smiling elf from inside the trumpet costume. “Welcome to Woo-Hoo Land! If you get hurt, free compensation and care!”

Quartet and Azrael stood by a carousel with moving white unicorns and horses with wings. 

“Look, Daddy! It’s Woo-Hoo!” said Quartet, pointing.

“I have a question,” Azrael asked.

“Ask away, my lord,” said Woo-Hoo with a bow.

“Since this theme park is brand new, do you think Michael will try to copy it?”

The elf smirked. “I’d like to see him try. His theme park may have been updated with rides made out of gold and gemstones, but they don’t have the big water park like we do here. No need to brag but we are in the uppermost Halo of Heaven. I think Michael is secretly jealous sometimes.”

“Quite a lot of healthy confidence there,” Azrael said.

“Yes,” said Quartet. She pulled her adoptive dad along, “Now let’s go check out the rides!”

0 0 0

Tirred and Timmid headed down a pathway while a sweating Tirred stopped to catch his breath. “You really dislike this place, huh?”

“I h-hate this place!” Timmid exclaimed in fear. “My parents would bring me and my siblings here. My siblings made me go on all the scary rides! Don’t even mention the upside-down roller coaster.”

“Ah the classic ‘Loop-De-Loop,’” Tirred mentioned with a grin. “Let’s try that one first!”

“You are such a jerk!”

“You are such a wuss.”

An elf wearing tight clothing and a white hat pushed a wheelbarrow full of toys into a nearby toy shop. A nearby sign on a brick wall showed a Bio Rizz doll and the words, “New! Rizzy Buddy! He laughs, he sings, he prays! Tell your parents to buy me! Over 100 lovable phrases! Posable! Only 48% asbestos.”

The two elves approached a window where dove plushies and trumpet shaped novelty cups with Gs on them were sold for 25 cents.

“How do these people manage to sell so much food?” Timmid wondered as customers got to relax with heaps of heavenly hamburgers and hot dogs.

Tirred mentioned, “Yeah, this place seems excessively generous. I mean, giving people 10 novelty cups they won’t even use?”

Docile came over, fumbling with cups and wearing a lily hat. He dropped several cups.

“I can’t hold these much longer! Vendors keep giving more!”  Timmid giggled.

After straightening himself up, Docile played a tune from a toy trumpet. Tirred stood still and spoke in a monotone voice. “My name is Tirred, I’m your employee and your horn has no truth power on me whatsoever.”

Docile looked at it in disappointment. “Very funny.”

He set the cups down on the ground. “Why don’t you two go and have some fun? I gotta go watch Azrael.”

He glanced at Quartet who held a white balloon in her hand.

Tirred picked up Timmid and raced onward.

“Where are we going?” she asked in fear.

“To the scariest ride of course!” He smirked again as Timmid yelled “Nooo!” in protest. They went on the Loop-De-Loop roller coaster that spun them upside down as the trumpet mascot posed by a rules sign. A shaken Timmid was later comforted by a pink winged horse at a petting zoo after the ride.

Timmid then glanced over at the water park and grinned. “Your turn to follow my lead. They manifested their golden staffs and waved them over their bodies. Tirred was soon in black swim trunks with skulls on them, white Timmid wore a white one-piece bathing suit. Tirred couldn’t help but stare a while at her beautiful figure, breasts, and curves.

“Let’s go, goo-goo eyes,” she pulled him along, Tirred blushing despite himself.

Tirred grinned as he and Timmid raced over to the water slides. They screamed in delight as they raced each other down teal blue slides riding on blue body surf boards. One water slide ride had a seat where the person was dropped randomly down a steep white slide. Several couples cruised on love boats shaped like crescent moons. Several kids yelled in delight as they were jetted out a waterslide in the air before zooming into another one on the other side. Being angels, they didn’t have to worry about heights. One sign read, “Please keep your arms and wings folded at all times!”

“I dare you to try this one!” Tirred said to Timmid, mentioning to the drop-down ride. Timmid only grinned. “You go first. You lose if you scream.”

“You know I always win courage contests. I never scream.”

“Prove it.”

Sure enough, Tirred took his place in the black wet seat, stood and waited.

After a few minutes, he sighed. “Is this thing broken? This means that you are the wuss elf and I win. Killing demons is nothing compared to…AHHH!”

Tirred screamed as he was suddenly dropped down the white water slide, speeding down until landing safely at the bottom. He spat water from his mouth and shook his head of hair as Timmid posed over him with a smug look. “I win, you lose, now you get a big fat booze.”

Tirred then laughed, coughing up water. “Booze? There’s none here. Though I wouldn’t mind one.” He shook water off his white wings.

“Come on, let’s get dried off,” Timmid said as they stepped onto the concrete. “Where are the towels?”

“Don’t need ‘em,” Tirred replied. He waved their golden staffs again and they appeared again, dry, in their regular clothes.

“Sure is great to be immortal in paradise,” Tirred grinned.

“Technically only God, the elite angels and the saints are truly immortal,” Timmid mentioned.

“Oh, shut up!”

Quartet happily carried her balloon in her hand, munching on pink cotton candy while Azrael slouched on in boredom. Quartet noticed some of the swimming pools had water of different colors and smells: red for strawberry, orange water for oranges, lemon yellow pools, green, blue, purple, pink, and rainbow. Of course, the water didn’t taste good, as one little angel kid found out. Nearby hot tubs had divine holy water that provided healing properties and other ones could make you laugh or feel sleepy. One hot tub was actually cold. There was even an “Earth Hot Tub” on display with regular water. A nearby sign added, “Earth Hot Tub, Boring Isn’t It? Well, Have Fun Anyway.” A large pool flashed advertisements at the swimmers, each image tailoring to the customer’s likes.

Quartet and Azrael walked by a stand that read “Angel Cakes: Eternal Bliss” with popcorn and a sausage on a fork. Docile snuck around like a secret agent with his golden staff. He appeared on a teal-green tent roof of an “Ice Cream Crystals” stand. Docile slid with his staff and almost knocked over cups at a “Holy Grail Drinks” stand. A nearby blaster game was titled “Save The Soul” and showed a moon and cardboard demons with xs over their eyes surrounding a human.

Five giggling elves with cameras peered out from an alleyway at Azrael, itching to take selfies with him. Docile slid along the floor, then glared at the elves, causing them to scatter away. There was a game where one could toss balls into halos and a ring toss.

0 0 0

Meanwhile, Tirred and Timmid walked along a line of booths, one read “Muppet” and one read “Knock a Bottle.” Timmid suddenly flinched and pulled Tirred toward another vendor. An elf wearing a yellow hat and a red shirt spotted them.

“Hello, hello!” he called. “Step right up and win a thing!”

Timmid’s eyes shone in happiness as she gasped and pointed upwards. “Oh, look Tirred! A thing!”

The “thing” was a purple stuffed animal wearing pink overalls with elf ears. It had a yellow beak, and a cross on it and a tag with “Thing?” on it.

Tirred looked at her with a small smile. “Oh, you like that thing?”

“Yes, I guess. Please win me that thing.”

“My pleasure.”

He walked up to the vendor, took out some money and handed it to the carnie. “Okay! One game, please!”

The carnie smiled and handed Tirred a trumpet shaped blaster. It was one of the few older games in the park. Tirred pulled the trigger and the cork projectile missed the cardboard blueberries in praying positions.

“Nice try, little man,” said the carnie.

“I’ll try again,” he said.

Tirred tried again and missed. “The Hell’s name is wrong with this thing?” He tried again and again and missed each time.

“Let me try!” Timmid said, taking the blaster from Tirred. She fired it and the cork hit a blueberry. Timmid clapped her hands. “Nice shot, miss,” said the carnie. He handed her the plushie.

0 0 0

Meanwhile, Quartet pulled Azrael close with a gasp, letting go of her balloon.

“Look, Daddy! There’s the Bio Rizz show!”

Quartet mentioned to a large circus tent with promotional signs of Bio Rizz on either side. She thought back to when she was a young child, and Bio Rizz allowed her to go on stage and sing for the crowd. He even gave her a lollipop at the end.

Docile and Quartet said at the same time, “I love that smart jester!”

Meanwhile, Azrael flinched as he was surrounded by elf fans taking pictures of him. One of them stroked his wings.

“Docile, I need my bodyguard please!”

Docile rushed over. “Break it up guys! He’s busy!” The elves groaned in disappointment before wandering off.

Quartet led her father to the stands where they sat and watched the show.

0 0 0

Two spotlights merged into one on the stage and the robotic Bio Rizz flapped open the curtains. He wore a jester outfit, and his ears were covered with stripped cloth and little bells hung from the ends. A happy face and sad face pin were by his shoulders along with a string of lights as a necklace. His pants were striped, and he wore gloves. His shirt had small purple hearts near the bottom and his eyes glowed blue.

Six lit up arrow signs pointed to him and read: “Bio Rizz,” “Property of Gabriel,” “Look at him go!” “Yes! Love 2 c it!” “Wow!” “He.”

Bio Rizz held up a sign with “Woo-Hoo” on it. He also briefly held out a blue and silver contract signed by Gabriel: “This is a statement regarding the unfair accusations that my theme park “Woo-Hoo Land” is trying to surpass my brother Michael’s park Woo-Hoo World and Hell’s Loo-Loo Land. This is false. These allegations are baseless and untrue. Michael and I have already discussed the matter and he has agreed to let me have this theme park and for me let him have his. He may have had the first one, but has he made it truly original? Nope. We are all friends here. Signed Gabriel.”

“Hey… elflings!” Bio Rizz trilled in a robotic voice. He looked at a notecard in his hands. “It’s me, the Biological Rizz! Bio Fizz or Rizzafolli, either name works! Hailed from Gabriel’s place to bring you a wonderful show celebrating Woo-Hoo Land and life! Hit it!”

Rows of spotlights lit up and he began to sing. The curtains opened and a singing elf choir holding candles appeared on stage. Real life animals covered with eyes played instruments: a dove played a trumpet, a lion played a guitar and a bull played a bass instrument. An eagle laughed as he played the drums. The lit-up sign above read “Rizzafolli and Friends.”

“Woo-Hoo Land! Woo-Hoo Land!

Everybody sing along with the Woo-Hoo band!

Every boy, every girl, every woman, every man loves Woo-Hoo Land!”

When the show ended, with Bio Rizz/Rizzafolli and Docile posing together with fireworks on stage, Quartet clapped joyfully. Bio Rizz/Rizzafolli tried not to look nervous.

Behind Azrael, an elf armed with a camera rose from beneath the seats. Docile glared at him and he ducked under the seat.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Azrael said, turning to leave.

“Dad, wait!” Quartet called, her face falling as she hurried after him.

“It’s so great seeing you again, Docile,” said Bio Rizz/Rizzafolli, smiling. “I missed you and your sister when you performed here. Your jokes were amazing.”

“I’ve missed you too,” Docile said. “You haven’t changed a bit…literally. I found my calling at E.L.F. but I’ll have to come back and visit.”

“Please do,” Bio Rizz/Rizzafolli said. “I love entertaining kids, but I never forget the completely biological friends I’ve made.”

“Wait, what do you mean?” asked Docile.

“According to my records, I was born a stillborn elf in Heaven. My parents prayed to Gabriel to bring me to life. He brought me back, but I had problems with my limbs and voice and my mind wasn’t the same. With Heaven demanding perfection, Gabriel decided to update me in his lab, fixing my limbs and brain with wires and cybernetic parts. Thanks to him, I now have a unique status as an A.I./cyborg in Heaven, who can live a decent life. Gabriel is brilliant with communication technology, travel, and so many things. My parents thought I could do well at the circus, so I embraced my new role. If Heaven can be accepting of robots and different species and even those with disabilities, why can’t they accept sinners?”

Docile pondered long and hard, his face darkening. “I guess Heaven is more similar to the racist, discriminatory human population than many want to admit. I have yet to see humanity embrace people of different genders and races let alone abilities, species, and robots.”

“Wait…your friend is a robot?” asked Quartet.

Docile shrugged. “Long time ago when I was younger and before E.L.F. and choir and really making any friends. It’s hard to socialize when your father has high expectations of you.”

“Tell me about it.”

The two of them went their separate ways.

0 0 0

“Dad, what’s wrong?” asked Quartet in a more secluded area five minutes later. They sat next to each other on a bench, looking at the blinking lights on the rides. The sun had begun to set, turning the sky a golden yellow. 

They sat in several moments of silence. A stray tear escaped from Azrael’s eyes.

“It’s just…” he began. “I feel like I haven’t been the best father. I guess it makes sense; I’m not your real father.”

Quartet stared downcast. “No offence, but some part of that is true. You’re always so gloomy and your head is stuck in your job most of the time. I’d say that Mom puts more effort into spending time with me. And yes, I have some qualities from my real father, even though I’ve never met him. I sometimes wish he hadn’t abandoned me.”

“I know.”

“Is there anything you’re afraid of?”

After a long silence, Azrael sighed, wrapping a black feathery wing around his daughter. “I’m scared of losing you. It’s been my biggest fear since you were little. Are you gonna go off somewhere else and leave me behind? A place less death-like?”

“Eventually for a little bit,” she said, tears in her eyes. “But I’d never dream of leaving you behind entirely. You’re my dad and I love you so much. And I do understand that both of us are very different. I suppose what I’m saying is…don’t let the deaths of others get you down. You need to enjoy the good things in the present moment.”

Azrael sighed. “You’re right, Seadrop. You’re so right. Being an angel of death makes it hard sometimes to appreciate the life in front of me. I promise…I will never abandon you. I…do need some advice though.”

“Thankfully, I can help you get started.” Quartet said. “In fact, I’ve had lots of fun here, but I suppose you want some peace and quiet.”

“A darker place would be appealing,” Azrael smiled. He picked her up like she was a kid again and Quartet smiled. “Let’s go home.”

Later, Bio Rizz/Rizzafolli happily rode the pink horse through the park as everyone cheered.

Docile, Timmid, and Tirred talked about the adventures they shared as the sun set. Azrael carried a happy Quartet out of the park.

“Can we go to ‘Animals Inc.?’” asked Quartet. “They sell pet food and anti-taxidermy flyers there.”

“Sure, I guess.”

“You’re alright sometimes, dad.”

“Thank you, Tet. Thank you.”

Timmid flinched as she saw a white cat rubbing against her legs. She then leaned down and smiled. “Hello there, Feeuq. Valentine treating you well?” The cat meowed in affirmation.

[myucornerorg]

I didn't know Chronicle was a myu original story! That's pretty cool.

As far as the Dracul Arc myus go, the first one is the most based on existing arcs. It uses most of the same songs as the earlier myu Usagi Ai no Senshi, though my understanding is that it's actually a remake of the S Henshin myus from 1995 that were never released on video. This would explain the presence of Professor Tomoe and other Sailor Moon S elements, but with some changes, like Lamia taking on the role Kaolinite played in Ai no Senshi. Also they threw vampires in for good measure, cause why the heck not.

Transylvania no Mori and its revision pick up the story. In these, Count Dracul's half-vampire daughter Vampiru has found out her dad died (which he did in LDJ to protect the Senshi) and she thinks the Senshi are responsible so she goes after them. Meanwhile, this mysterious transfer student gets introduced named Shiva Shingetsu Astarte. It turns out she's actually this girl who's a pawn of the bad guys and has multiple forms - her civilian form, an evil-ish goddess form called Astarte, and a good Sailor Senshi form named Sailor Astarte. Plus she occasionally gets possessed by Dark Cain, an entity that wants to destroy the world. Basically she's on the verge of awakening her power, and it's not clear what side she's going to end up on, but the bad guys want her on their side so they're trying to manipulate her. Also since she has powers related to the new moon, the bad guys try to convince her that she deserves the Silver Crystal rather than Usagi. There's also supposedly some entity called "Death Vulcan" involved in all this in the background. All of this is happening while meanwhile Usagi and friends are trying to pass their exams so they can go on a trip to Europe over break (either summer or winter break, depending on the myu), since Michiru is performing there.

Eventually Vampiru finds out it was actually the bad guys who killed her dad, and tension happens between all the bad guy factions. Also the Senshi aren't able to save Shiva in the end, and Dark Cain and Death Vulcan both show up for real.

This leads into the last myu, Death Vulcan no Fuuin, where basically the Senshi are racing against time to stop the bad guys from destroying the world. Also the planet Vulcan (not the Star Trek one) has two different "spirits" in this myu - the good, feminine Vulcan (who is thought to be tied to Sailor Astarte in some way) and the evil, masculine Death Vulcan. Also it's revealed that Count Dracul and Dark Cain are actually brothers and were originally Cain and Abel (as in from the BIBLE). When Cain killed Abel, he got cursed to not die till the world ended, hence why he's trying to destroy the world. Abel, meanwhile, somehow became a vampire and had a daughter (Vampiru) with a human woman named Le Fay, however Le Fay was killed by her father, presumably for marrying a vampire. Also Vampiru doesn't like the taste of human blood, hence why Dracul hired Undead Berserk (a.k.a. the weird, evil Tomoe from LDJ) to create homunculi in the first place (which resulted in the Samael Quartet, who are basically the Amazoness Quartet under a different name, who similar to the manga end up becoming Chibimoon's Sailor Team, though in this case they're connected because Chibimoon's Pure Heart Crystal was used to help make the Quartet, though it was stolen back by the Senshi before the process was complete, leading to their connection being vague at first).

So, yeah, the Dracul Arc is a weird mashup of Sailor Moon S, vampires, Jewish mysticism, and some original stuff. It's complicated.

Ai no Sanctuary is a weird one too cause while the story is original, the songs are all either straight from other musicals or adaptations of existing songs. Also they randomly throw in a reformed Prince Dimande for some reason.

@sera-myu-week 2022 | Day 6: Other Stories

While most Sailor Moon musicals are based on the series’ main 5 arcs, the shows have also presented different stories - sometimes derivative of other arcs, sometimes completely new (and one time based on a manga side story!). 

Not counting the times Bandai mixed different arcs into one, we could count 5 other stories on stage:

The Legend of Kaguya Island (1999(x2), 2004, 2005)

Dracul Arc (2000-01)

Sanctuary of Love (2002)

Kaguya Hime’s Beloved (2021)

Chronicle (2022)

Keep reading

[majokkoradio]

“Ghoul Ghoul Ghoula” - Sailor Moon Kessen: Transylvania no Mori - Shin Toujou! Chibi Moon wo Mamoru Senshi-tachi - August 6, 2000

[sailorpallapallas]

From the Sailor Moon musical Transylvania no Mori, “Never Doubt Your Dreams” sung by CereCere, PallaPalla, JunJun, and VesVes.

In this musical, they had a different backstory and were called the “Samael Quartet”.

[cytheorya]

Lyctor? I hardly know her!

A Locked Tomb Playlist

Each lyctor/cav pair gets three songs - loosely, the first song in the set is the necromancer, the second is the cavalier, and the third is their relationship, but like. Only for some of the pairs. You get to guess which ones.

I made this sometime in spring/summer of last year, and there’s a few songs I’d switch around (mostly giving the Cyrus+Valency songs to Ulysses+Titania) but I listened to this again after reading Nona and I’m ready to eat drywall bc now this technically should have a Nona spoilers tag?? sort of? at least, I’d feel bad putting it up without tagging it?

(song list under cut)

John + Alecto

Outrunning Karma - Alec Benjamin

John My Beloved - Sufjan Stevens

I Know Where You Sleep - Emilie Autumn

Augustine + Alfred

Augustine - Vienna Teng

The Boys Are Too Refined - The Hush Sound

Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits

Mercymorn + Christabel

Hang You from the Heavens - The Dead Weather

No Children - The Mountain Goats

White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes

Gideon + Pyrrha

Run Boy Run - Woodkid

Cops and Robbers - The Hoosiers

Visions of Gideon - Sufjan Stevens

Cassiopeia + Nigella

Cassiopeia - S.A. Carl

Ghost River - Nightwish

Redeath - The Mechanisms

Cyrus + Valancy

Expendable Youth - Vitamin String Quartet

Let’s Face It I’m Cute - 11 Acorn Lane

Starlight - Muse

Ulysses + Titania

Ulysses - Franz Ferdinand

Bottom of the River - Delta Rae

Odyssey - Dance With the Dead

Cytherea + Loveday

Coffins - MisterWives

No Light, No Light - Florence and the Machine

Shankill Butchers - Sarah Jarosz

Ianthe + Naberius

The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes - Fall Out Boy

No One Loves Me & Neither Do I - Them Crooked Vultures

Villain - Stella Jang

Harrow + Gideon

I Need Some Sleep - Eels

The Saint of Lost Causes - Justin Townes Earle

Remember Us - Gabriel Royal

Anastasia + Samael (honorary)

Anastasia - Slash, Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators

Erinyes Alecto - Ourfathers

Après Moi - Regina Spektor

Palamedes + Camilla

Ghosts - The Head And The Heart

The Exploding People - Cloud Cult

This Year - The Mountain Goats

[gracemyheart]

Tsuki ga katamuki wara ukoro Shizuka ni mori wa nemuri ni tsuita Jitto mienai hoshi no iro Zutto zutto sagashiteta

Daremo shiranai kurai michi Yume miru mori wa kuroi tarotto Zutto mienai hito no koe Jitto jitto ki iteita

@sera-myu-week day 5: child stars ~ Chibiusa & the Samael Quartet

[woodsteingirl]

speaking of trembling in fear do you remember what he said on that npr interview…

[patricksilverrose]

My Favorite EP’s of 2020

It’s that time of year again! I’m a bit late on this since it took me a bit to finish off my list of new releases, but it’s time now! Here we will be looking at my top 5 favorite EP’s of 2020. I will also be doing a post on my favorite albums of 2020 in a day or two, so I’ll be sure to link it here once it’s up.

Before we get into this, let me explain my system. I compile a list of majority of the releases I checked out over the year and have them separated into three categories: the good, the ones that have potential to be favorites, and the favorites. The good will have ** marked next to them and the potential favorites will have *** next to them. I didn’t have many releases this year that didn’t make it onto my list, which is great to hear.

As always, let me give some disclaimers. First and foremost: these are my personal thoughts and opinions on these releases. If you think a release should be higher, lower, or not even on my list, that is on you. Second: I am a metalhead, so most of the releases you will see on here are metal releases.

Without further adieu, let’s look at these releases starting with the honorable mentions!

Suodeth - Aja** Space of Variations - XXXXX** Disconnected Souls -Warring Elements** Aesop - Ephermeral** Circus of Fools - Contracult** Face Off - Machines** Emphasis - Spiral of Time**

Exlibris - Shadowrise*** Aborted - La Grande Mascarade*** Divitius - Primordial*** The Inferno Doll - Sacrifice*** Lutharo - Wings of Agony*** The White Swan - Nocturnal Transmission*** Qveen Herby - EP 9*** Become Zero - When Numbers Became Words*** Katya - Vampire Fitness*** Winter's End - Into the Sea***

Now it’s time for the top 5!

5. Qveen Herby - EP 8

This EP is wonderful. It definitely got me back on the Qveen Herby hype train. The production on a lot of these songs is definitely the style that I was missing from them since EP 5. It's fun, catchy, and in your face.

Favorite songs: 1. Dump Truck 2. Self Aware feat. Durand Bernarr

4. Aeonian Sorrow - A Life Without

This EP really took me by surprise. Their debut album was wonderful, but due to the fact that they're a funeral doom metal band it was a bit droney for my liking. This EP is everything that I love about this band though. Crushing guitars, dreary landscapes, and heartbreaking lyrics.

Favorite songs: 1. My Solitude 2. The Endless Fall of Grief

3. Eklipse - In Portrait

I was so shocked to see a new release from these ladies. They went through a major lineup change (only their cellist, Linda, remains from the original lineup), but it's still the same band that I fell in love with several years. From covers of metal songs to pop songs, this classical string quartet never fails to impress.

Favorite songs: 1. Weak Fantasy (Nightwish cover) 2. Thought Contagion (Muse cover)

2. Netta - Goody Bag

I wasn't expecting to love this release as much as I do. It's so much fun, but then again it's Netta that we're talking about here. If I needed a quick pick me up, this was a release that I decided to put on. It just radiates positivity and fun times.

Favorite songs: 1. Cuckoo 2. Bassa Sababa

1. The Big Jazz Duo - Samael

I know. I'm shocked too. I never once thought I would have a deathcore release be a number 1 favorite for me. This EP is pure insanity. The production is solid, I love the intensity and the use of orchestrations, and it's overall an absolute blast to listen to.

Favorite songs: 1. Fall of Valtiel 2. Red Pyramid

And those are my favorite EP’s of the year! It’s definitely interesting that only two of my top 5 are metal releases, but that’s how things turn out sometimes. But if you want a more metal list, keep your eyes out for my top 10 favorite albums list in the coming days! Again, it’ll be linked at the top of of this list once it’s up so you can go check it out.

[peacekeeper-xiv]

Serious Events

A series of events…

Aeritria and Arakiel meet accidentally inside Samael house.

Aeritria Locklair stopped dead in her tracks when Ara turned around. The blood drained from what little he could see of her face, and her eyes narrowed moving over him to look for weapons, surprises, explosives, all the things he might have on him while in Soren's house. It took her a couple ticks to reconcile the sight of him in Soren's house. Alive. Not dead. Not even thinking of the advantage that came from him not knowing who she was, she finally spoke, "Well bloody damn hell... you look surprisingly healthy for a dead man."

 Arakiel agrees to travel with Aeritria east, having decided that Ikara had been gone for too long and he was going to look for his daughter. They discover that they still have some disagreements though.

Arakiel Etemorah smirked. "Wrath?" He chuckled smarmily. "Kinda daft name to call a kid. He pick that out himself?" Still, he didn't seem intent on keeping up his teasing. "And what do they all mean to ya? What would you do if they were in danger?"

Aeritria Locklair rolled her eyes, "Its short, for Rathorin... " When he questioned her on what they meant to her and what she would do there was clearly a reaction. She tried to keep the calm, snarky demeanor, but too many things had already happened where she had given a whole lot for those three. There was the briefest of haunted looks before it was replaced with tense shoulders and a defensive posture. "Enough..."  Her lips pulled into a thin line, "Is that supposed to be a threat?”

Arakiel Etemorah smiled knowingly and shook his head. "No, but that's answer enough." Sheathing his katana, he stood. "I have a daughter. She should have returned by now, but she hasn't. That's what's in the Burn." His expression turned somewhat grim. "I wanted you to know before you decided to follow me. I'm willing to do -enough- for her.”

 Aeritria agrees to accompany Arakiel in his search for Ikara and together, they make for The Burn. Arakiels insistence on drawing out Aeritrias ire though, nearly sets them at odds.

Aeritria Thorne had never been good at reining in her temper, it was why she made such a good marauder. It was also why she had made such a good criminal. There was a sudden shift from her that would hit every one of his senses. The growled words came out with cold fury, "Fuck you Arakiel. I came out to help you, but that was just another dumbass mistake on my part. Everything is fucking fine. Its more godsdamn fine than it has been in over a twelves damned year, but you just can't leave well the fuck enough alone. I don't want to fucking talk about it cause its none of your gods damned business. You don't get to fucking come back from the dead and act like I should just fucking ugh!" Axe or no axe, there was a hint of red glowing in the abysmal darkness of her eyes before she turned around and started storming away. "Fuck you!"

It would be some time after that they managed to work out their difference, but once they had they concluded, wandering the desert in search of one small Au Ra was futile. Aeritria then turned to a dangerous source of power to send out the needed signal flare, her Dark Knight soul stone.

Aeritria Thorne took a few moments to try to catch her breath and shake away the voices that still tried to reach her from the stone. Running her fingers through her hair to push it out of the way she glared over at it for a moment. "I tried to warn you the darn thing isn't... as helpful as I like sometimes. I really did kick Rath's balls all the way into his throat last time I used the damn thing." Aeri rubbed the back of her neck and looked away, "Sorry... I haven't used it in a long while. With my other soul stones... it’s easy. It’s like they want to help. That one... there is still a bit of a fight going on with who is in charge of who."

 After some time arguing with the voices in her mind, Aeritria finally was able to cause a large enough explosion of aether that could be seen from malms around. The fact that it nearly killed herself and Arakiel was of little consequence.

Arakiel Etemorah wasn't a hero. It just wasn't in him. But he wasn't the same man he'd been a few years ago either. The blade in his hands was quickly sheathed and he rushed forward to where Aeritria stumbled. He wasn't about to pick her up and carry her away from danger like some knight in shining armor. But then, she'd have hated that. He grabbed her by the wrist and literally dragged her behind him. "Come the fuck on!" He wasn't going to let her go until they were behind enough rock to guarantee they would be safe from the explosion that was likely coming.

 Several bells later, their fishing attempt proved fruitful and they noted the appearance of an approaching figure. Unfortunately, it was not exactly who they had been looking for.

Arakiel Etemorah sheathed his blade, looking at her curiously as his hearing had not completely recovered. "One of them?" He looked to where the creature had been sniped and put two and two together. "The boy..." The unknown Miqo'te still seemed rather protective of Beta and stood between them and him, even if his weapon was put away. Beta's familiar voice shouted across the sands as he approached. "It's okay Aasifa, they are... family of a sort I guess?" The one called Aasifa seemed to relax a bit and plopped down in the sand as Beta and Ara and Aeri approached his location. "Aasifa is still thinking there are better ways to fish." He said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. Arakiel's steps seemed to hasten as he approached.

 With so many differing personalities… and because Aasifa is Aasifa, some troubles did arise.

 Aeritria Thorne saw Arakiel start choking after Aasifa did whatever the hell it was that he did and her attention snapped to the Miqo'te. Her chakrams came out and pinned Aasifa to one of the rock walls by his sleeves, "The Fuck you think you are doing you piece of shit! What the hell did you do to him?!"  She stood between Arakiel and Aasifa, and if looks could kill he would have been dead a thousand times over. She held a finger up to Beta to shut him up before he tried to 'help'.

 Eventually though, a peace was brokered, and the quartet left in search of the large sources of aether that Beta’s instruments had detected after the explosion Aeritria had caused.

Arakiel Etemorah might have moved to stop Aeri if she had still wielding her chakrams, but he did not expect the idiot cat to die from a punch. Beta called out in frustration as the punch landed. Aasifa for his part might have dodged the attack, if he'd bothered to try. Instead he took the hit to the throat and grinned at her as though he almost enjoyed all the chaos he'd caused. "Was... good... hit." He croaked out from a damaged voice. "Proud... of... sister." He ripped his sleeves free from the blades and found his feet on the sand once more. He didn't retaliate, simply rubbed at his throat and looked at her expectedly. Beta however was exasperated. "I swear to Alexander! Everyone's crazy!" He huffed and put away the smoke bomb and electric charge he'd been prepping if they hadn't stopped. Aeri's words had registered with him, but he knew better than provoking her further and refused to retort. "Can we get back to looking for Ikara now? Since you and I are the only ones who can speak now, I'll take your word for both of you."

Aeritria Thorne grit her teeth, dug her sharp nails into her palms and drew blood from her own hands to keep from murdering Aasifa right there and then. She reached over, grabbed her Chakrams, held them tight for a moment, still wound up and considering putting them through the rest of Aasifa's neck. It was Beta that managed to draw her out of it with his ridiculous cursing, "For fucks sake... didn't anyone ever teach you to curse properly?" She looked to Arakiel then took another breath. "I came out here to find you and Ikara... if Aasifa so much as touches that damn necklace again I will cut it off his neck, and I'm sure Arakiel will help, so if you want to find your girlfriend before something fucking happens to her you better tell you -friend- to behave or leave. Now, if you have an idea of where to go... let’s go."

Beta took in a deep breath and let out a long exhale. "I was trying to..." He frowned at Aasifa and pointed at the necklace. "No more chaos magic!" Aasifa looked like he might argue but Beta glared, and he stopped. "For all you know that thing might have called a hundred sandworms to raid the burn and it would've put her in more danger! So, no more til she's safe!" Beta looked properly angry and despite his inability to curse properly, seemed to convey the same feelings. He then turned to Arakiel. "And don't act like he's all innocent. Stop acting like you are gonna gut me 'cause I didn't know Ikara was out here! Cause I didn't and now I'm gonna find her! Aasifa could easily have seen you as a threat to his friend." Ara narrowed his eyes at the boy but simply turned his chin some and sneered. Finally, he turned to Aeritria. "He goes for the necklace again... stab him... ‘Cause I said not to. But you stop threatening him if he doesn't, 'kay? I've been wandering the burn for weeks now. I'm ready to be done with this place... so I just wanna find Ikara and then we can all go home." He huffed out another breath and continued. "And thank you for helping Arakiel look for her... I'm sorry this is all a mess, but I was trying to do good. So, let's... just do what you came here to do please." He continued a moment later in quieter tones. "And I don't like everyone else’s profanity. It's boring."

 Elsewhere in the Burn though the target of their search was about to have her own random encounter.

Ikara had been wandering the burn for what felt like an age. Trying to track Beta had turned into a much bigger problem than she had originally anticipated. She had made her way into Garlemald, stealing a uniform and posing as a Garlean soldier. Eventually she found the site where the popularis had their operations that Beta had been a part of. She searched every ilm of the area for any signs of Beta or which way he might have went. She eventually found Beta's tomephone, cracked and busted with charred and melted edges. She picked it up and searched the area even more, moving rubble. Eventually she resorted to carefully questioning a few citizens and was told that the rebels had flown off in the direction of the burn via magitek armor. She breathed a sigh of relief in the hope that Beta was on the airship, as she did hear from someone that no one was taken prisoner. All the rebels were killed or escaped, and she hadn't found his body yet. If he wasn't there, he might still be alive. Clutching the little scrap of a tomephone she went in the direction that the few citizens had pointed her in. She eventually found the wreckage of the armor and searched the entire thing from top to bottom. There was still no sign of Beta, but she found some disturbances in the sand and hoped they were the remnants of footprints. She followed them until they disappeared, eaten by the shifting sands. Then she kept looking. She wasn't sure how long she had been searching, but she knew she was lost, and she didn't care. If she was lost, it meant Beta probably was too, and they would eventually find each other.

A few malms away, Lloire had left the simulacrum of Cartenaeu that his mind had created as a battleground for himself and his reflections. Now he wandered the desert sands of the Burn once more, sorting his thoughts. He had no clue how to go about finding the people he needed to find or what order to find them in. Even as that were, were there enough people he worried for to face all the various aspects of his soul?

Some had been quoted as saying that the universe around them had come about in the beginning due to a massive explosion of aether, the same catalyst woke him from his indecisiveness. He hit the sand as an enormous shockwave of aether flew past him, stealing his feet from him.

"The fuck was that?"

As his senses returned to him, Lloire closed his eyes and focused not on where the explosion had been, but on any source powerful enough to have caused it. There was a massive pool of energy to the east of him that was far bleeding aether into the air. It was more than reasonable to assume that who or whatever it was, they were responsible for the massive explosion he'd felt. His fights would have to wait, leaving anything that powerful this close to Doma's borders would be irresponsible. Gathering his feet under him, he took off at a run towards the source of aether.

Ikara had been wandering in the Burn long enough that she felt like she was going blind. The land being so drained of aether meant she saw the world as everyone else did. She felt sorry for them, all the color was gone from this part of the world. She had found a small outcropping of what she originally thought were rocks but had eventually realized was the skull of a very large beast that had once dwelled there, and hidden away for a bit to get some rest and get out of the sun.

Then the world exploded in color far away. She felt it before she ran out and saw it. Her eyes watered from all the colors and she started searching the horizon for any signs of something that would explain it. Clutching the tomephone she started in the direction of the explosion, hoping that maybe if Beta was out there, he would investigate too.

Lloire travelled swiftly across the sand as he rushed towards the source of aether drawing at his senses. Eventually he climbed over an outcropping of rock and saw a figure in the distance. They didn't seem to have noticed him yet but were moving closer to him. If he held his position, he could wait until they were close enough to engage before revealing himself. He moved back behind one of the jutted-out stones and waited.

As Ikara made her way towards the explosion another source of aether caught her eye in the distance and closing in on her position. The aether was wrong, fractured, broken, and extremely potent.

The tomephone she clutched in her hand was tucked into her pocket and replaced by her staff. She had been conserving her aether the whole time she was out here, to the point where it was overflowing. Her necklace had been filled to the brim, but she had waited and not wasted it in case of running into a Garlean contingent or some beast.

She held her staff to her side, loosely and in a nonthreatening manner, but she was ready for whatever was on the other side of the ridge. When she got close enough, she yelled to whoever was there, "I can see you! Come out before I decide that I'll cast first and ask questions later. This is your only warning!"

Her voice was unmistakable. Lloire came out from behind the rocks with a curious expression worn on his face. "Ikara? What are yo--" He wasn't able to finish his question though as the sounds of the winds and shifting sands in the area were pierced with the sound of shattering glass. Ikara, who had the unique advantage of always seeing aether would see a fragment of Lloire's aether break away from the rest.

As for Lloire himself, he collapsed in a heap in front of her while the image of a younger Lloire remained where he had been standing. The Lloire-image began to solidify before finally seeming as alive, even to her vision, as Lloire had moments ago. "I should've known we'd run into you first and I'd be the first to fight..." He sighed. "You remind him... us... of Aliya sometimes." A staff materialized in his hands and a blackmage soul stone pulsed with aether beneath his robes. "I'm called Kid... And so that your older brother can live, I have to fight you with all my might... and you gotta kill me."

As he spoke, the similarities between who Lloire used to be and who Beta was seemed all the more pronounced. "Show him... us... what you're made of. That you won't be another Aliya, okay?"

Ikara was equal parts confused and relieved when Lloire stepped out from behind the rocks. "Nii---..." She watched his aether shard and split then him collapse to the ground and started running for him, without thought to her own safety. That was until a shard split off and started to solidify. Ikara skid to a halt, her staff still out at her side as a younger version of Lloire appeared before her.

"Halone's frosty tits... what the hells?" She eyed the fragment for a moment before flipping down a visor to see if he was still there without her aether sight. Her frown deepened as she tried to piece together what she saw with the visor down, verses what she was seeing with it up, "Oh.... what have you done to yourself big brother..?" His aether had somehow split off and manifested. The younger version of him was real in a sense, but only in so much as the creations she made from aether. It would disappear with time, but not until the wielder or spell was completed or removed.

Mention of Aliya had her frown deepening, "I'll take that as a compliment. Aliya was your best friend." She shook her head at the aether spirit. "I won't fight you. It could hurt the whole of him. He is completely fractured. Let me fix it instead." She wasn't holding her staff weakly at her side anymore though, it was ready in case the splinter decided to attack.

For his part, Kid-Lloire didn't seem to be in a rush to attack her. "It was a compliment. Look, you haven't seen us for a while. The Lloire you know. Nii-san I think? Anyways, he's prolly more messed up now then when he stabbed himself in the chest. He just fought each and every splinter of himself and killed each one. Well, except me and Erioll...." He shook his head energetically. "But that's off subject. The point is... He's finally realized what's got him so screwed up. He's scared that the people he cares for are gonna die. Usually ‘cause of him. There's a lot to unpack, but the basic gist is he needs his friends to prove they can handle their own against him when he's not in control. He's scared of his black magic... or his anger issues... or being you know... Hyur. But the truth is he's only really dangerous when he's whole... and then, only to his enemies. But we gotta prove it to him... us... so, you have to kill me. I'd rather you went into this with full knowledge and not making me force the issue." He huffed a breath, having spoken more than Lloire usually would. "So, what do you say?" The younger Lloire lazily lifted his staff and nodded to Ikara. "I mean, if nothing else... you kinda need to blow some aether." A small almost shy smile was half hidden behind his staff.

Ikara listened and it was clear she was starting to nurse a headache from how dumb it all sounded. Then again, she really wasn't too much different than her brother. She had run off plenty of times without people to protect them. She wasn't sure she trusted any of them to take care of themselves. It was why she was in this gods forsaken desert in the first place.

"Let me examine him, to ascertain that you are telling the truth, though I doubt you are lying. I have to be sure it won't kill him. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I killed him without checking first. Let me do that, and sure... I'll kick your ass." She smirked at him, "I mean, Nii-san is tough, and he taught me a lot, but it’s been a while, and the collective you haven't seen what I'm capable of anymore. Just you know.... do me a favor and let me check him first and I'm down. Also... beforehand... Did you cause that other explosion? Cause really, I can't spend a ton of time here if you didn't. I've god a cute moronic Miqo to save."

The younger manifestation lowered the staff and stepped aside to allow Ikara past to check on Lloire's unconscious form. "Too true, but don't forget... Lloire's been out to war just as long as you presumably have. Don't take this too lightly please." True to his word he would stand still and let her examine Lloire. "Also, no. We thought it was you. You've the largest pool of aether out here beyond our own. The other sources of aether out here are weaker... except one particularly bright spot further south..." His head tilted as he considered -who- she was likely speaking about. "Though, large sources of aether wouldn't help you find Beta but large explosions might. Guess that would make sense. We didn't know he was out here though." He shrugged. "Well, like I said, I can't hold back or we'll know... so I'll try and make it as fast as I can... but no promises."

Ikara was wise enough not to completely let her guard down but moved over to examine Lloire's unconscious form. She examined him as well as she could, even checking to see if he would wake with prodding. He didn't, and she obviously was looking at something with concern, 'These threads of aether tying you to him. If I hurt you, I'm hurting him. To be fair, you are only a portion of his aether, but you are an important part of his being. You won't be destroyed right?" She considered what he said about the spot further south and frowned. "If there was an explosion, I doubt that Beta caused it. He wouldn't give his position away like that... especially when there are Garleans after him... so I'm sorry but I won't be holding back either."

She jumped back and her staff spun in the air as aether pulled not from the land, or from her, but from a single crystal in her necklace. The necklace drained in but a few breaths as she unleashed one of the most powerful spells she had on the fragment of Lloire. She didn't have time to play. Those could have been Garleans killing her boyfriend and she loved her brother, but damn if she was going to let her boyfriend die cause her brother was being stupid. The magic flared bright and large with destruction so that it could be seen for several malms.

When the smoke cleared, Kid was standing in a charred crater, his staff held up as though he were blocking with it and the aether of his mana wall shimmered as the spell dissipated from absorbing the attack. Nevertheless, Flare was an impressive spell and she could see some singed edges around his clothing and armor. Another side of Lloire might have spoken here. Warned her or threatened her, but Kid understood her and knew she was only doing what she needed to in order to protect her loved ones. Instead he returned the attack. He vanished and reappeared nearly on top of her. It was completely against everything one was taught as a thaumaturge and would have been insane if he was fighting a sword wielder. With her so close, she could see the lightning flash in his eyes as his aether swelled. The first strike was a blast of lightning aether that dropped down from the sky towards her. The second was a blast of weak fire that seemed almost pointless in its intensity. Finally, he wrapped up the triple casting of spells with a much more potent fire spell as his entire aura seemed to pulse with heat. The spells complete he took a step back from her to examine their effectiveness.

Ikara honestly would have been disappointed if the first spell had done all the work. It would work for piddly little Garlean soldiers, but this was a part of her brother, and she expected more from him. There was a small smile at the fact that he had gotten his manawall up fast enough. Then again, the spell took plenty of time to cast and gave him amply time to prepare.

When he teleported right in front of her, she laughed. "You should have been a redmage, kid. Its more fun, but to be fair less destructive." to illustrate her point she stepped out of the way of the lightning blast and wacked at his nose with her staff, holding it like a rapier. Which, to be fair, wasn't nearly as quick to maneuver, but was much harder to dodge due to the size of her staff and his proximity. Soul stone or no, she had learned how to leap and fly as a red mage and those things were all body, not magic. She couldn't wield those same spells, but a quick backflip and she was out of the way of the weak fire spell, only to land at the point where he struck with the larger fire spell. It singed her hair and clothes before she managed to get up her own manawall and protect herself from the subsequent blasts.

Already she was working to cast again, though there wasn't a huge explosion this time. Instead she targeted his mind, addling his sense to weaken his spells, then attempted to put the shard to sleep.

The back to back spells struck and Kid felt his mind cloud with the enfeeblements along with the ringing in his head from the staff hit. Still, he seemed immune to sleep spells. It did allow fog his thoughts enough that he responded to her banter rather than continue incessant spellcasting. "Wasn't readily taught when I was around... I'm sure Azure can show you what Lloire's learned though." Wiping idly at his nose to ensure there was no bleeding, he only managed to fire of a scathing blast of energy from his staff as he moved away from her and she saw his aether pool into the ground as leylines became visible beneath him.

Far in the distance of the Burn the group of misfits that were wandering and looking for Ikara could see the mushroom cloud from her first flare, and the subsequent explosions of lightning, fire, and magic lighting the horizon. Aeri immediately turned to Aasifa with an accusatory look, "You do that too?" She was guessing whoever was blowing up the horizon was likely pissing off the little lizard though.

True to Aeri's thoughts, Ikara was getting annoyed. She had hoped to put Kid to sleep long enough to check and make sure her brother wasn't actually being hurt by the fight. "What? I have fight all of you? I ain't got time for that shit. You're wasting enough time as is."

She tried to examine Lloire from a distance to make sure he was still okay, and that moment of distraction gave Kid the opening that he needed to hit her with a blast of energy and make her shake her head to get her vision back. Fighting mages was a lot harder as everything was so damn bright.

Aetheric symbols swirled around her as she started to vent her frustration on the shard of her brother, "Will..." A giant glacier was dropped on him, "You..." Another one, "Just..." Another one... "Piss off!" Aether flared around her in crystalline light and she tapped another crystal in her necklace, though this one didn't drain all the way, instead only draining two thirds of the way as she dropped another huge flare of magic on Kid, then tapped the rest of that crystal and cast a second flare. The power off the flurry of spells back to back was enough to send a shockwave out in all directions.

Kid attempted to ward off the spells but was only able to block off the first set. Those crystals she wore were going to be his undoing if he didn't deprive her of them sooner rather than later. Still, his own pools of aether were rather large and he wasn't exhausting them on flares. Still, the second one she'd unleashed in a row was more than his wards could handle and the explosion blackened his staff arm, leaving it near useless. Still, he wasn't one of Lloire's sides that reacted to anger as easily, not even in the significant pain he was in now. "I... told you... Not going to make this... easy on you!"

He stood up with flames flickering out around him on the ground and took the staff into his other hand. "Enough of this..." Runes began to glow around him as he activated Enochian. "The highest tier of fire magicks he knew was unleashed where she stood, the leylines fed him aether faster and another was cast at her to follow it. "This ends now!" One more swift cast and he'd have the power built up he needed to unleash his largest spell. Another fourth-tier fireball exploded where Ikara was standing and even the group further out could feel the swelling of aether at the battleground.

Hundreds of yalms away Aasifa shot a look around him at the others, looking hurt that he'd been accused. "What? Cannot... be Aasifa, he... is needing to say ...word. Aasifa... has been... quiet. That is a war zone, ...yes?" He croaked out before he grinned widely. "Let's go... and see!" Arakiel frowned and growled but started off towards the explosions before anyone else.

Aeri glanced between Arakiel and Beta both before speeding up the pace the group had set. Which, in all honestly didn't take much as the others were in just as much of a hurry. "I get Ikara can blow shit up... but ... thats a lot of firepower." She shook her head and they all moved as quickly as they reasonably could towards the battle. Aeri had her misgivings about it, as she wasn't really feeling like being blown up in this gods forsaken place, but she had given Ara her word, and she wasn't about to go back on it now.

 Ikara got some satisfaction from Kid's blackened arm. Even thought she had said she was going to put her all into this fight, she was still doing her best to only tap the aether in her necklace as she didn't know what she would find where Beta was. "Oh for Halone's sake... you think this is easy for me? The hardest part of this is not turning the hell around and leaving you to sulk in the fact that I won't fight you. You have the WORST timing ever... I've got places to be! I'm supposed to be saving my boyfriend, not my brother. For fucks sake... worst older brother..."

Fire exploded all around her, but before he could get off all his spells she was moving. This time it was her turn to teleport to him. One moment she was where his spells were aimed, and the next she was standing on top of him and wrapping her arms around him in a bear hug, then smashing her forehead into his nose to interrupt his casting. The first fire spell missed her, the second engulfed both of them, and she aimed her knee for his family jewels when he tried to cast the last spell, aiming to knock him to the ground and just punch him in the face. The whole time she was aiming physical spells at him she was building up her own aether to counter with her own spells.

Kid didn't have a chance to respond right away, her brow had found his nose and it gave a loud crack and blood spewed from the quickly bruising part of his face. "Little brother right now!" He shouted back at her. "You're older than I was!" His aether appeared to stop wavering at all and grew very sure and still as he began reciting the last spell, his eyes locking on her with intense focus. "This ends sis!" The spell was likely one she'd not seen him cast before. It was one that Lloire had learned only recently on the frontlines. His most powerful spell was building over both their heads and it was clear that he meant to put his everything into it, even if it meant a draw and a draw meant they both lost.

Ikara was splattered with warm blood that spewed from Kid's nose, and his words hit a chord with her. It was one of those things she always forgot. She wasn't a kid anymore. She was an adult now. She mostly never felt like one, but she was. She had been through more than most kids ever went through and come across the other side. She had lived to see adulthood. The train of thought was disrupted by the pure aether building as Kid started a spell that she didn't know. She knew if he got the spell off that would be devastating for her, and for Lloire. She had to win, or Lloire would stay broken.

She wiped the blood from her face, and her vision focused on it for a moment making her realize that while it felt real, it still wasn't real. It was all aether, and one thing she was good at was controlling aether. "You're right! I am older than you. I'm an adult, and I don't need Lloire to take care of me. We take care of each other because that is what family does, but I made it this far... and I'll be fine!"

The last five crystals in her necklace started to drain as she pulled the specific types of aether from them. Earth, Air, Fire, Ice, and Lightning... the catalysts that made everything in the world. "I won't destroy you. You're a part of my brother... but I don't have to destroy you to beat you!" She started disrupting the flow of aether in Kid, pulling the elements apart, as she had done so many times with her 'paintings'. Normally she had more time, but right his moment she didn't. She poured all the aether from her necklace into rearranging the aether in this fragment of her big brother. She worked desperately fast, trying to reform him into something else. At the last moment she poured her own aether into building the strongest manawall she could and prayed to Halone to make this work. "I can take care of myself, and you're an egotistical jerk for thinking I can't manage without you!"

 The last words were spoken as his spell went off, and the aether that he was created from shifted into the form she thought of when she thought of their lessons when she was still learning how to cast the simplest spells.

Kid seemed to know that he'd lost in that moment. Despite the spell above them and his own aether breaking down, he smiled. "Good. Remember that... And learn the lesson it took us this long to start to learn..."

Ikara grit her teeth and forced the last strands of aether into place where she wanted them, just as the spell overhead exploded. It could be seen for malms and malms around.

[forthegothicheroine]

modern lilith & samael's late night drive playlist // playlist for edith cushing to listen when she's writing the crimson peak book // lucy wistenra's playlist but she's a runway model in 90s,, it's a bit much but i love your playlists can't wait to see what you're going to come up with!!! all the love 💖

Lilith and Samael are breaking the speed limit on the road in a David Lynch movie:

1. Snake Farm by Ray Wylie Hubbard

2. Hades Pleads by Parker Millsap

3. Sirens by the Mechanisms

4. A Gorey Demise by Creature Feature

5. Mr. Punch by Future Bible Heroes

Crimson Peak: A Memoir by Lady Edith Cushing Sharp

1. When I Was a Young Girl by Rasputina

2. Ghost Story by Charming Disaster

3. The Outlandish Knight by Bellowhead

4. The Wind Weeps Eleanor by American Murder Song

5. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Vitamin String Quartet

Lucy is modeling 1995′s all white vampire slip-dress collection:

1. Call Me When You’re Sober by Evanescence

2. The Perfect Drug by Nine Inch Nails

3. Bloodletting by Concrete Blonde

4. Zombie by the Cranberries

5. Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Kurt Cobain