#scicily

[vickiking]

For Somewhere.. 

[tristandelarkadien]

Thank you to @disappointedart for the ref!

Made as a study for a visual novel that I have to re-write, possibly from scratch.

[havendance]

to fail, to fall, to fly away

AO3

Fandom: Batman

Featured Characters/Relationships: Helena Bertinelli & Sasha Bordeaux

Wordcount: 936

Summary:

“One day,” Helena said, “you’re either going to fail him or else you’re going to have to live with the fact you didn’t. I made my choice.” Helena Bertinelli is on her way out of Gotham when she encounters a familiar face.

The trick or treating earlier a) reminded me that this fic existed and b) got the juices flowing for it. Anyway, welcome to the latest installment of niche fics from Havendance! This is a coda of sorts to Detective Comics #763 except in an au where Helena killed the joker. Enjoy!

Fic:

Helena wasn’t stupid: she knew when it was time to get the hell out of dodge. She had plans for this: her building was shut down into hibernation, the ghosts that inhabited it still shuffling about to deter intruders, but on a fraction of the power. Things she needed were arranged to be sent on; things she didn’t were locked down. She left the lamborghini tucked away in its hidden garage. Scicily was nice this time of year, and transporting the car there would be more trouble than it was worth. Maybe later, but not now. Not when she needed to fly away.

It was evening by the time she finished. Helena left her apartment with the clothes on her back and little else. She had the absolute necessities—her costume was tucked away in a hidden pocket of her bag, money and fake ids along with it. Everything else she’d take care of as it came.

As she walked down Gotham’s dark streets, she could tell she was being watched. Someone was following her.

Helena stopped in front of the mouth of an alley. “You can come out,” she said. “I know you’re there.”

A figure dropped down. It wasn’t Batman who stepped out of the shadows. Neither was it a man without a face, or Robin (she knew it wouldn’t be Robin, not after what she’d done). Instead, it was a woman dressed in black and purple—the newest member of Batman’s vigilante set.

“Ambush Bug,” Helena said, voice deceptively light. She’d never caught the woman’s name. Now wasn’t the time to ask it.

“Huntress,” was the cool reply. So they weren’t on friendly terms this time. That was fine. Helena expected that.

“He sent you, didn’t he?” she asked.

No reply.

“I’m leaving. You can tell him that I’m getting out of his city.”

“I will,” the woman said. She didn’t move.

Helena waited. The woman didn’t say anything else. “What do you want?” Helena demanded. Always the silent treatment. It drove her crazy when Batman did it too. “Say something if you’re going to, or just leave me alone.”

She was about to turn and leave when the woman spoke: “Batman said the Joker was in police custody when you killed him.”

“So?”

“It’s not the way we do things.”

“We?” Helena scoffed. “Like I’m one of you. He’s made it perfectly clear that I’m not.”

“It was over. You didn’t need to.”

“It wasn’t. It wasn’t over until I ended it,” Helena spat out. “You haven’t been doing this long, have you?”

The woman said nothing. She had a good poker face.

“Do this long enough and you’ll see,” she continued. “It’s never over. It never ends. You put them away and they come crawling out of the woodwork later to cause problems again. I’ve spent long enough playing it his way, so I ended it mine.”

“You killed him.” She was judging her, Helena could tell. She was just the same as all the rest.

“I did what needed to be done.”

The woman was still watching, still weighing Helena up. “I can see it, what Batman told me about you.”

“And that would be?”

“That you’re dangerous, reckless. You don’t understand.”

“Oh I understand plenty,” Helena said. “I understand that there needs to be justice. I understand that there needs to be a price.”

“That you deal out.”

“We all deal it out. You wear a mask. You’re a part of this.”

She reached up, as if only just remembering it was there. “My reasons are different,” she said. 

“Then what are they?” Helena asked. “Why do you put on your costume and tag along with the bat?”

“To protect,” was the answer, spoken without hesitation.

“And what if, to protect someone, you needed to kill someone else?”

“That should always be the last resort.”

A different answer than what Helena had been expecting, but an interesting one. “Then you acknowledge it’s an option.”

Silence, which was as close to a yes as she was going to get.

“One day,” Helena said, “you’re either going to fail him or else you’re going to have to live with the fact you didn’t. I made my choice.” She turned.

“Wait!” The woman said before she could walk away. “You expect me to believe that’s why you did it? You killed an unarmed man in police custody because there wasn’t another choice?”

“No,” Helena said, staring out into Gotham’s streets, still empty. The danger was over, but people were slow to come out again. She knew that hadn’t been why. It hadn’t been that at all. It had been three bullets in her gut making a final stand and a week of running around as the world went to hell. It had been finding Robin’s uniform on a skeleton and knowing she had been too late. “But that’s what I am. I’m leaving. If you know who you are, you should too. We’re not like him.”

“We’re nothing alike.” Her voice was cold, angry. “I’m in Gotham to do a job and I’m going to do it.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” Helena started walking away. “None of us escape in the end.”

She didn’t look back. Down the street to where she could catch a cab and off to the airport from there.

Goodbye Gotham. Goodbye and good riddance to it all. She didn’t know if the woman was still following her and she really didn’t care. Let other people deal with Batman. She’d stopped caring what he thought. She was leaving it all behind. Maybe this time, she wouldn’t come back.

[lee-romee]

Lost things / hopelessness - St Anthony of Pauda

Familial problems - Saint Joseph

Sore throat - St. Blaise of Sebaste

Breast cancer - Saint Agatha of Scicily

Desperate situations - St Jude the Apostle

Your problems = your Patron

Parental issues- St. Eugene de Mazenod

Tired - St.Joseph

Mental illness - St. Dymphna

Victim of SA - St. Maria Goretti

Problems with sexual urges - St. Augustine

Loneliness - St. John the Apostale

Vision Problems - St. Lucy

Being ugly - St. Rose of Lima

Low grades - St. Joseph of Cupertino

Fealing far away from God - St. Mary

Financial issues - St. Joseph

Risky Situation - St. Katherine of Alexandria (pls lray to her for Motorcyclist!!)

Issues with your spouse - St. Valentine

Overeating - St Charles Borromeo

Undereating - St. Catherine of Sienna

Balding - St. Agnes of Rome

Being hexed - Saint Columba of Spain

[adriannaliggions]

And I muthafucking mean it I don't give a fuck whose embarrassed bitches try me what's going on since you don't remember yawselfs and that's to the non guilty it's Italian out of scicily dummies try me

[namenerdery]

Girls with interesting names born in Ohio between 2016-2020 [S, T, U & V]

Sabriel Raven Evangeline Sadiimarie Oliva Leah-Jean Princess Saelym Aubrielle Sai'Lymm Victori'J Sa'Nyi-Dasymber Mijoy

Saphfire Lynn Sativa Inezlynn Saveyahnna Diana Marie Scicily Reyna Rose Scotland Aurelia

Scylla Grace Seattle Ryann Seazyn Secret Myrical Infinity Sehvynn Kamari-Scott

Seirshuh Marie Semper Faith Seriave Eryxia Stori Seven Sea Shadow Serenn

Shellsea Jean Shilynnd Cedar Shy'Xaela Simone Genell Sievaeh Val-Arie Siglind Dagny

Simphany Peariae Sincerity Juliet Ski'Loyre Noel Sky'Lur Renee'Marie Snowe Echo

Solace Zena Solstice Sun Sonnet Jude Soul Cleopatra Daniela Milania Southerlyn Breann

Sovereign Hope Spirit Laiya Starling Elaine Starlyhn Nevaeh Stayleigh June

Stellar Nova Lee Stoney Elizabeth Strawberry Rose Stryder Loraine Success Cartialana

Sunny Darling Sunset Breeze Superior Love Sutherlyn Vail Swaezey Nicole

Sweden Lanae Sweet'Ever Aun'Nesty Sylphrena Raziel Sylvanas Kathrine Sue Syx Novi

Tae'Lhor Renee Taidence Ariana Tallyn-Blu Grace Talyerix Janis Tansy Lucille

Tateleigh Mae Tauriel Nova Taurus Marie Teighlynn Mae Temple Anne

Tetra Lux Theory Grace Timberland Walker Tomorrow Lynn Danielle Touche' Armon

Treazzure Ka'Oir Trillion Mercury Domina Truli Finess Tuesday Stardust Alsace Tyger May

Tymparannce Jaelynn Tyrenni Elaine

Universe Del'Carmen Unyik Chanel Urhighness Latrice Ur'Majesty Beauty

Vaeh'Lee Italy-Monae Vahdel Olivia Vaiilyn Amiyahlee Valkaree Joanne Vance'Noviea Michelle

Vanderleigh Arden Vanille Rose Vay'Liyah Kahni Alynette Velicity Elyza Venus Blue

Verahluna Ruby Rayne Vermillion Rose Versace Frances Vexana Angelica Lynn Victorious Tam Victory Princess In Christ

Vision Amour Vixen Ruth Viyolehet Phoenix Vysion Ryli

[localblackuclastudent]

The Real Horror

Constantly watching horror movies has made me see that horror lurks in everyday life. Before taking this class I was never able to appreciate the different elements of a scary movie. Mostly because I would be too scared to enjoy the movie and notice all its different features. Horror movies are a combination of different things such as the music, setting, and lighting, but most of all the suspense. The suspense, the anxiety, and the tension that something is waiting around the corner to scare you is what truly makes a horror movie so terrifying.

This idea that your anxiety is what makes a horror movie scary has made it easier for me to digest horror movies. I am able to watch a guy turn a dark corner and see only that.

“It is only a man walking somewhere where there is barely any light,” I say to myself now, instead of “OMG someone is going to kill him any moment.”

I am not thinking two steps ahead of the movie, but I am taking the time to enjoy it instead of analyzing it.

While dissipating any anxiety can make it easier to watch some horror movies, this isn’t the case with all of them. The movie Eve’s Bayou was a horror movie not because of its voodoo or monsters, but because of the realistic horror of the capability of people. Eve’s Bayou symbolizes the loss of innocence, something so realistic, yet so horrifying to a lot of viewers. In Eve’s Bayou, it depicted an incestuous scene between Scicily, a 14-year-old little girl, and her father. While this movie wasn’t scary because of the anticipation of something bad happening, it was scary because it reminded you that things like that happen in the real world.

It showed a highly revered family, loved by all and gave them a dark secret that most people wouldn’t suspect. I have found that this type of horror is the most sinister. The type of horror that realistically depicts the capability of people and the terrifying things that people have faced and will continue to face.

Constantly watching horror movies has shown me that the scariest “monsters” are the ones that lurk in your everyday life. Your kind neighbor across the street could be beating dogs and cats, your father-in-law could be a pedophile, and your grandma could be a closeted racist. The scariest things in the world are not zombies and vampires, but they are the human capacity to commit evil acts.

[pingsweetie]

My tradescantia (wandering Jew) was a cutting from my mum’s plant. It is never this purple. Probably as it’s sitting on top of my fridge and not growing in the sun on this lovely balcony in #palermo . #scicily I now give all my friends a cutting of my mum’s plant so her memory wanders on. #memories of #merryl #madewithpaper #madewithlove #wetransfer #travelillustration #view #sketch #digitalart #instaart #pingsweetie #loveneverdies (at Palermo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQvCm1JBw7q/?utm_medium=tumblr

[dannimonart]

Alonzo Gerini and Scalatormon by DannimonDesigns

[bodhimohan]

Bodhi offered a well-trained chuckle, and shrugged with a smile. He did like some of the American accents, like the Boston one, or the one Casey had, though it wasn't Hollywood movie intense. "I haven't had the pleasure," he answered. "I'm afraid my travels merely put me on the continent, not overseas." After all, his father had wanted no dealings with the Americans. For one, he'd been far more invested in nearby countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, and in extend Scicilie and Italy, countries where a criminal like him would find like-minded people. Not the trigger-happy criminals movies had taught him housed themselves in the USA.

"Though I do have some family in Seattle," he said, recalling an uncle and his family who had moved to the States when his father had gone to the UK. "I've never been to visit." Though he'd be able to point out Tennessee and Seattle on a map. "Where in Tennessee are you from?"

He nodded. "Very interesting, I knew about Viking influences on this country, but for a whole city to be build on its foundations. There are probably a few more of them around, but not one that's so… pronounced." He perked up a little at the response, faking interest, genuine interest that was. He was interested, but for reasons unknown to Casey. "I'll note that down, unless if it's right here, then I'd gladly make an effort to wade through it." He'd become a reading man at a later age, but with all the years outside of his father's influence under this belt, there had been plenty of time to become good at it.

"Norse, Greek, and Egyptian, those are interesting subjects, did you study them at school? Or simply a hobby? I've always found the Egyptian connection to death to be very interesting," he said.

"What gave me away?" Casey drawled with a knowing smile, playing up his accent for the other man. Truth be told, in the US, it would probably take a stranger at least a couple of minutes to guess his origin - his accent was nowhere near as strong as his Nan's, or any of the people he grew up with. But here, among the various English and European inflections? He stuck out like a sore thumb.

"I'm from the States. Tennessee. You ever been?" He gave Bodhi a quick, appraising glance. The guy was pretty put together - it was entirely possible that he'd been travelled across the pond for work or pleasure, at some point.

Shifting gears, Casey turned his attention back to the screen and took a closer look at the titles the catalogue had pulled up. Out of the few listed, he'd read two of the entries. While both had been "beginner" type tomes, targeted toward casual nonfiction readers interested in myth and folklore, only one contained a large section on Norse mythos.

"Yeah, you know, I heard that recently too. Pretty cool, huh?" Of course, Casey had found out about the town's origins weeks before he'd decided to settle here, but. Eh. Small talk. "I know a little, sure. Wouldn't call myself an expert, by any means, but mythology alway's been a point of interest, for me. Norse, Greek, Egyptian - I'm a fan of it all." He tossed the other man a grin as he turned the screen back around to face his side of the counter. "If you're wanting to narrow in on Norse, specifically, I'd recommend Ursula Dronke's translation of the Poetic Edda. It's not always the easiest to wade through, but it's comprehensive. I've also got a few beginner guides in stock, too, if that sounds closer to what you're looking for."

[epickstyle]

Saw #mountEtna with some smoke coming out, then enjoyed the pool, and then walked around #Palazzolo before dinner! So far it’s been an awesome trip! #Scicily #italy #traveljunkie (at Sicilia, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0sfV89nVoz/?igshid=r353wianupgg

[jerseydeanne]

Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer, 31, shares a rare photo with her multi-millionaire husband Michael Lewis, 63, ahead of their first wedding anniversary

[staruplatinum]

Random Vento Aureo headcannons nobody asked for; some of these are angst-y so beware. ♡ 😩

Mista wears a hat because his hair is insanely curly and frizzy and he can never maintain it or style it nice

Melone and Scolippi are brothers (melone represents birth and Scolippi represents death)

Risotto has two full tattoo sleeves underneath his cloak

Bruno is good at painting and in his free time he started to work on a portrait of his late father; unfortunately after the events of VA, he never got to finish it.

Abbacchio keeps his police uniform hanging up in his closet; some nights when he’s feeling extra shitty (and after he’s gotten beyond blackout drunk) he’ll stare at it and just dwell even more on the past, and begin crying.

Though La Squadra resides in Napoli (Naples) most members are from a different part of Italy. Risotto is from Catania (Scicily), Ghiaccio is from Milan, Prosciutto is Calabrese, Illuso is from Rome, Sorbet and Gelato are also calabrese, Melone is from Florence, Pesci is from Naples and Formaggio is from Rome.

Fugo likes doing calculus/logic problems for fun

Melone takes forever in the shower; and even after that he spends forever styling his hair and moisturizing himself.

Risotto was shamed by his parents for having red eyes when he was born, and since they were Catholic they thought he was “demonic” for it - and didn’t want him.

Formaggio loves Pizza more than any other food, specifically, he loves the pizza his Nonno used to make.

Bruno’s apartment is minimalistic, and has many shades of monochrome black +white. He likes to accessorize with gold, blue and brown.

Mista always wears a golden cross necklace that his Mother gave to him when he was born - he’s never taken it off.

Prosciutto only smokes “MS” cigarettes- which are an authentic Italian brand.

Trish misses living in Calabria with her mom.

Illuso loves Michael Jackson.

Risotto was raised with his cousin by his nonna. She was an older woman who taught him how to cook and she took him in when his parents abandoned him.

Narancia’s favourite drink is blood-orange San Pellegrino!

Giorno loves gelato (ice cream)

Bruno loves the movie “Life is Beautiful” , he used to watch it with his Dad all the time as a child.

Abbacchio loves tea. It’s the only “healthy” alternative he uses to calm himself.

Despite being named after fish, Pesci really doesn’t like eating seafood because he feels bad for the animals - Prosciutto of course tells him to relax and that he needs to eat

These are just my own ideas!! Feel free to reblog and add your own ♡

[pingsweetie]

#palermo Plants! That purple #wanderingjew (yes it’s really called that!) is fab. Tried to grow it on top of my fridge it turned pale green floppy curly leaves and leggy. Any tips? Start growing purple for me now! #tradescantia #cantgrowcress #notgreenfingered #madewithpaper #wetransfer #scicily #architecture #digitalillustration #sketch #artistsoninstagram #instaart #instaartist #architecture #purple #balcony #balconygarden (at Palermo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLtetjvhC-N/?igshid=pgsiuc93hzyy

[read-you-later]

“Kingdom of the Wicked,” By: Kerri Maniscalco

In Kerri Mansiscalco’s newest novel “Kingdom of the Wicked,” we follow Emilia, a witch, as she searches for her twin sister - Vittoria’s murderer. Soon she becomes entangled in a web of dark magic and demons. Things only seem to get worse when she accidentally summons Wrath, one of the seven demon princes of Hell. Together they’re forced to traverse the dark streets of Scicily, Italy in search of the savage murderer.

🌑Spoilers!🌕

I’ve read Kerri Maniscalco’s “Stalking Jack the Ripper,” series and I liked it, so I was very excited to see that she was working on another series. And I was NOT disappointed! It didn’t take me very long to bust out this book and finish it.

I liked the sisterly bond that Emilia and Vittoria, it was a fleshed relationship, that - even though we only saw a few short chapters of Vittoria before her death - we knew that she was spunky and care-frees. With Emilia as he rock, the two balanced each other out. So I felt Emilia’s pain when she discovered her sister’s body.

Emilia was an enjoyably strong female lead that can - and has - defended herself in a fight and wasn’t a damsel in distress. She was brave and witty and cunning enough to trick a demon into giving her answers. And even though she feared Wrath, she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind to him and put him in his place.

The dynamic between Emilia and Wrath stayed constant a little ways through the book. Both shared a mutual respect- hate for each other. There was a build up for the romance between the two but when it came down to the part where they kiss, it felt rushed. But I’m sure as the series progresses it’ll be more fleshed out.

I’m excited to see what the future holds for Emilia!

🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑

[viterbofangirl]

20 + 5 Questions

Answer 25 questions about yourself then tag 20 people.

I was tagged by the loverly @cloverywands ! Thank you! ^_^

1. Name: Nikki, short for Nichole. I don’t like or go by my full name much, but I do greatly appreciate the “h” in the middle.

2. Nickname: *silently points up to previous answer* Also, Nik for people who think two syllables are too much work, Nikki-Nik from my Dad, Sweetie-Girl or Wicked-Child from my mom, and- my personal favorite- THE NIKIPEDIA, bestowed upon me by my two youngest siblings. 

3. Zodiac: Western is Taurus, Eastern is the Boar. No matter the zodiac, I am delicious at a BBQ.

4. Height: 5’4-5′3″ (Morning and evening, respectively.)

5. Languages: English. I took four semesters of Spanish, but have only retained enough to converse poorly with a three year old kid. I also know how to say “I am a bear” in French. This, as you might imagine, has not been particularly helpful to me

6. Nationality: American, with ancestors from *kracks knuckles* Germany, France, Scicily, Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland at the very least. 

7. Favorite season: AUTUMN.

8. Favorite flower: Lotuses/water lilies. 

9. Favorite scent: Honestly, petrichor, creeks, swimming pools, sea water, the wind right before a summer storm...any water smell.

10. Favorite color: Blood red. Crimson. That depth of red where your eyes sort of get lost in it.

11. Favorite animal: Wolves and hawks/falcons. (Which I recently learned are not even the taxonomic order!???? WHAT EVEN!) Also I have a soft spot for crows and ravens.

12. Favorite fictional character: *sigh* One? Well, I’d probably say Mara Jade, but seriously anyone who’s followed me or met me knows I got infinite+1 feels for a variety of fictional peeps.

13. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate: TEA. Earl Grey with vanilla is my favorite, with vanilla chai and tropical green tea as runners up.

14. Average sleep: *nervous laughter* *escapes out the nearest window* I dunno, man, I guess on average maybe 7 hours? 6?

15. Dog or cat person: Neither. Not a pet or animal person. Currently live with a very sweet, very old and incontinent cat.

16. Number of blankets: One sheet, three comforters, and FOUR FREAKING PILLOWS. AND I’D HAPPILY TAKE MOAR...

17. Dream trip: I have rather severe control-freak/OCD issues, so it’s hard for me to travel, especially internationally. Domestically, I do love to visit Chicago. Internationally, I would like to go to London, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands one day.

18. Blog established: Hell if I know. Is there a way to check that or something? Hold on. According to my archive, September 2013. Huh. 

19. Followers: 234, according to the thingy-thing on the side.

20. Random fact about me: I do mean (as in surprisingly good) impressions of Louis Armstrong and Disney’s Snow White, and well as mean (as in cruelly mocking) impressions of operatic sopranos and tenors.

• AND NOW FOR THE EXTRA FIVE!

1. Gender: Female

2. Sexuality: Heterosexual but largely unbothered and VERY bitter.

3. Hogwarts House: HUFFLEPUFF ALL THE WAY, BABY! BADGER PRIDE!!! WHOO-HOO!!!

4. Where are you from: N’awlins.

5. Why I started this blog: BECAUSE OF FREAKING HOTELSONG’S AMAZING MEASURE FOR MEASURE POSTS!!! I lurked the “majestic thorin” tag for a while, but I actually got an account on this blue hellsite due to screamingly good Shakespeare meta.

Okay, so there’s no way I’m tagging 20 people in this. First of all, I’m not sure I *know* 20 people here. Second, some of the questions are very revealing (as in you could conceivably track someone down, not OH TUMBLR HERE IS MY INNERMOST SOUL revealing) and I don’t want anyone to feel pressured! 

HOWEVER, to any and all of my mutuals and message-correspondence buddies, I’d be delighted to get to know ya better!  ^_^