#significantly longer

[serpentface]

Faiza performing the Kagnoma Odo (pretty literally 'lion dance'), a weapons dance and one of the more important ritual duties of Odonii priestesses. A relatively new addition to this traditional dance involves the musket as the primary weapon, which is fired mid-twirl into the ground at the climax of the dance. Faiza is experiencing an 'oh fuck' moment because her shot is more than ideally diagonal, but she’s being so cool with it.

This is a wholly ceremonial performance at the onset of the pilgrimage, performed in full regalia and lion skin (of the small, semi-domesticated strain) but no armor. It’s also distinctly a display of political allegiance between the powerful and beloved Odonii priesthood (and its loyal military) with the increasingly reviled and destabilized imperial family, with Faiza prominently wearing a bracelet of the royal serpent, which was gifted (along with the musket) by the usoma Stavis Amanti himself (Usoma is the Wardi word for king, which has been retained in the context of emperors).

The Kagnoma Odo is the ultimate demonstration of the Odonii as an embodiment of the Lion Face of God and living vessel of military might and sovereignty, demonstrating her fitness and proficiency with weapons and as a spiritual unifier for soldiers. It is accompanied by drumming and occurs in stages, running through the three keymost weapons used in war- the spear, the sword, and the musket. The musket is of the most significance, given the weapon has developed a particular esteem as the ultimate embodiment of might and superiority. Assistants (almost always other priestesses, occasionally high ranking soldiers) load and prime the musket to be fired at the climax of the dance, where it is shot into the ground as the priestess leaps out of range of the shot. The firing signals the end of the dance and the rite itself.

While not the utmost exemplar of trigger discipline, only fully inducted and senior (and therefore very thoroughly trained) Odonii are permitted to perform the dance, and injuries during actual performances are quite rare (though are known to occur during training, more than a few Odonii have burns and wounds on their feet).

The most important renditions of this dance are performed upon declarations of war and before battles (in this case, generally done in full armor along with the lion pelt). It is also done during some trainings (while a dance, it is carefully choreographed to include naturalistic maneuvers of the weapons involved and helps soldiers limber up and learn to move their weapons). It is regarded as an impressive and motivating sight and a morale booster, and, seen at a distance, potentially intimidating to enemies.

A special variant of this dance is performed as means of fully incarnating the Odomache, which is done in full nudity with the body covered in the blood of the freshly sacrificed lion and cloaked in its raw pelt (the lion has become the corpse of Odomache in the moment of death, as part of its recreation of God's sacrifice). Her public, full nude appearance once (and only once) in this act is what allows the Lion Face of God to incarnate within her. Those in attendance see the spiritually vulnerable, naked human body obscured with the sanctified and deified blood and cloaked in the sanctified and deified skin. It is a merger of the contradictions of mortality and divinity, the boundaries between the two indistinct in flickering firelight and the flash of musketfire. She is witnessed by her people, dangling in between humanity and divinity and leading them in dance, and and is thus transformed.

[aparticularbandit]

WOO WIP WEDNESDAY!

As last week, I will not be sharing from inklings or gently down the stream, so those two will be 2-for-1 specials!

File Names:

Aislin Mom Question

inklings

immortal witch riding hood

The Thrall of Magic

gently down the stream

Snippet (from Aislin Mom Question because i finished the third chapter and I only have one chapter left in this one y'all):

“Eve—”

“No.”  More forceful, louder than even she thought she could be, but still nowhere near loud enough to startle the birds in the trees around them.  “Don’t.  Please don’t.  I know she’s my daughter, but I can’t think she’s my daughter, because then she should be mine, and she isn’t mine, she’s yours, and I can’t—”  Her breath catches in her throat.  Tears spring to her eyes, but she thinks this time, for once, she can pass them off as waterfall spray instead of tears.  She always cries so easily.  (Cian knows this.  Maybe that’s why they brought her here.)

Cian moves closer to her, and Eve hesitates before leaning against them.  They’re sick.  They’re having to tell their daughter something that their wife doesn’t want because they want to make sure she finds out before they die.  They think they’re dying.  And yet, Eve isn’t the one comforting them; they are comforting her.  As she leans against them, they rub her back, and they let her think before asking again, a third time in such short succession, “Do you want her to know?”

WIP Wednesday Game

It’s WIP Wednesday, time for a little accountability, sharing your work, and getting a kick in the pants.

Here’s how it works:

In a reblog of this post (so people can find you in the notes) or new thread (w/ rules attached) if you want to play on your own, post up to five (5) filenames of your WIPs; not titles, file names.

Post a snippet from one of them. Snippet must be words you wrote in the last 7 days. We’re posting progress here. If you haven’t made any, go make some and come back to play!

After you’ve posted, people can send you an ask with one of your file names. You must then write 3 sentences in that file. If the filename is one you can't share from (for example, an event or gift fic), write 3 sentences on it anyway, and then 3 more on another to share.

That’s it! You can invite others to join in, or just post. I’ll be searching the reblogs to find people to send asks to!

If you’re reading this, you’re invited!

If you see someone posting a WIP Wednesday Game snippet, send them an ask! Make them write.

Requested/Friend event mentions under the cut! If you'd like to be pinged next week, let me know!

Friends @fiore-della-valle @redbirdblogs @greenbergsays @idkfandomwhatever @luckyspike

@obaewankenope @mad-madam-m @anonymousdandelion @geometricfractal @prettybirdy979

@eriquin | Requests @aparticularbandit @madnessfromthemountains @makeroftherunes @1attheedge

@whimsicalmeerkat @kidsomeday @lizhly-writes @skyderman @adhdavinci

@owlbearwrites @anachronismstellar @anyctibius @rilannon @lazinesswrites

@zyrafowe-sny @dreaminghour @blue-eyedbeta @candyskiez @dreamerking27

@kalira @virgulesmith @i-want-delfeur @selkies-world @exceedinglygayotter

[jughead-is-canonically-aroace]

hi reddit refugees. you probably know about blocking tags by now, but i havent seen a post mention this:

you should probably block #long post. that is the standard format for tagging when someone reblogs a really really really long post, so that you don't have to scroll past a million miles of scooby doo taught me that the real monsters are humans memes (real post)

on mobile, opening a blocked tag post opens it in a new side thingy so if you see a #long post and open it up and it looks interesting, you just saw a cool post, but if you open it up and it's scooby doo taught me that humans are the real monsters you can just nope back onto your dash no harm no foul

desktop doesn't do this, but on desktop you have the ability to jump to the next post. press j to jump down a post and k to jump up a post

some people don't use #long post. it's definitely less common than it used to be. but some of them do. and the less scooby doo taught me that the real monsters are actually humans color of the sky posts you have to scroll past the better

[bananahkim]

Future Tom… he’s in his 40s.

[naomistares]

break from comic making lasted a whole 2 days and now i am putting my entire cunt into the next comic and tbh the scene is so insignificant (to the general public but not to me and i will Show you the vision) but i am so beyond happy with how it's turning out

[firequeenofficial]

Team Ranchers Week Day 1 - Hybrid Love and Courtship

Jimmy paced up and down inside the ranch house, wringing his hands together. He’d sworn to himself long ago that when he was ready, if that day ever came, he would do this. He’d sword to himself that when the right person came along, he’d make sure they knew. 

He had thought, once upon a time, that Scott was that person, but when he tried to tell him, the other man had just laughed and called him cute and hurried off to go see Grian. That was why he was hesitant to try again. 

What if Tango laughed at him, too? What if he didn’t feel the same? What if Jimmy had imagined all the looks and touches and fond smiles? What if, what if, what if… 

He’d lived his entire life caught up in what ifs. He wanted to stop, he wanted to be free. Tango helped with that. He was wild, and impulsive, and brave, and smart. Jimmy doubted he’d ever thought the words, “What if?” in his whole life. He wanted to be like that. He wanted to spend forever with Tango, learning to be more like him, learning to live like him. 

In the distance, a familiar, wonderful, laughing voice called out his name, and Jimmy straightened, steeling himself. He would do it now, before he could back out. He wouldn’t let the what ifs stop him. Not this time. 

*

Tango ran into the Ranch, feeling the weight of home settle over his shoulders like a warm blanket as he passed through the gate. Adrenaline was coursing through him, making him half-hysterical. He’d just barely survived an encounter with Joel and Etho, and he couldn’t believe how lucky he was to be home, and alive. 

“Jimmy!” he called, laughter bubbling up, the thrill of the chase pulling his lips into a smile. “Jimmy, you here?” 

He skidded to a stop outside the ranch house, forcing himself to calm a little. Jimmy always worried so much, he didn’t want him to worry even more by appearing overly frantic. On the other hand, Joel and Etho might be out for his blood now - he was never sure with those two - and he knew Jimmy would want them to prepare for the Boat Boys to attack, just in case. 

After taking a calming breath, he pushed open the door to the ranch house and stepped inside. There was Jimmy, looking stressed as usual, and somehow managing to also look amazing even as he chewed on his lip and shifted his wings and fiddled with something between his fingers. 

“Hey, buddy,” Tango grinned. 

“Tango, where were you?” Jimmy demanded. “You were taking damage all over the place, are you okay?”

“I’m fine!” Tango assured him. “Just a little run in with Etho, no big deal.”

“No big deal?! What happened?” 

“Eh, I may have… borrowed some of their sugar cane.”

Jimmy looked like he might pop, though Tango got the distinct impression it wasn’t because of his recklessness. “Why? We have our own!”

Tango shrugged. “It’s funny watching Joel get riled up!” 

Jimmy sighed. It looked like he was trying to gather his nerves for something. 

Tango took the moment to add, “They may be a little upset with us now. You might want to keep your gua-”

“I need to talk to you,” Jimmy interrupted him, speaking very quickly. 

Tango’s smile faltered, but didn’t fall entirely. “Uh oh. What is it?”

“Or… well…” His Rancher hesitated. Took a deep breath. Twitched his wings. Pushed on. “I actually have something to give you.” 

He held out his hands, flat to show what was lying on them. A single yellow feather on a looped string. He licked his lips and gave Tango a look that made it very clear it was important to him that Tango liked it. 

So Tango beamed and took it. “That’s really cool! Is it one of yours?”

“Yes.” Jimmy was giving a lopsided, uncertain smile now that the gift was given. His wings had stopped twitching every second, and his hands had stilled. 

Tango laughed happily. “I love it!” And, even though he wasn’t exactly a jewellery guy, he pulled it down over his head so it hung around his neck, the feather resting against his heart. He took a second to admire it once more, this piece of his Rancher that he could keep with him forever, then looked back up at Jimmy and said, “Now, what do you want to do about Joel and Etho?”

*

Jimmy could feel himself deflating. Tango had laughed. He’d skimmed over it. He’d changed the subject. 

But he’d still put it on. He’d still held the feather like it contained the world. He’d still looked at it almost the same way he’d looked at their first diamond. 

Tango was still talking, rifling through their chests. “I think Etho will probably just laugh it off. He’ll accept they couldn’t catch me and move on. I don’t know about Joel though, I don’t know him that well.”

Jimmy made a distracted, noncommittal noise in his throat. 

“Well, you know him best, what do you think?” Tango pressed. 

Jimmy tried to force himself to focus. “Uhh, I guess he could go either way. Depends- depends on his mood, I guess.” 

Tango turned back to him, frowning. “Are you feeling alright, Jimmy?” When he straightened, Jimmy noticed he was fiddling with the feather, and it hit him. 

Relief bursting through his chest, he said, “You don’t know what it means for an avian to give something their feather, do you?”

Tango's face coloured, his hair burning a bit brighter. “Does it mean something?”

“It means-” Oh crap, now he had to explain. Jimmy could feel his own cheeks turning red to match his Ranchers’. “Uh. It’s a way to show…” He swallowed. This was a lot harder than he’d ever thought it would be. “It's the same as… as humans giving rings, I guess.” 

*

Tango knew his face matched Jimmy’s in its deep red. He knew his hair was burning so bright and strong they were at risk of losing their ranch house again. But he didn’t care. Because the words that Jimmy had just spoken…

“Did you just… propose to me?” Tango clarified. He couldn’t believe it. He couldn’t believe that this funny, creative, caring ball of feathered stress could care enough about him for that. He couldn’t believe that he could ever get that lucky, that he could rest forever beside someone as amazing as Jimmy. 

“Um.” Jimmy’s wings took up their rustling again. “Yes?”

Tango just stared for a second, then his face broke into a grin. “In that case!” He walked over to Jimmy and wrapped his arms around him. Tango was a bit shorter than Jimmy, so he could easily rest his head on the other man’s shoulder, and Jimmy instinctively wrapped both his arms and his wings around Tango in return. Tango pulled back a little, just enough to look up into his Rancher’s face. “Yes.” 

Jimmy blinked, like he couldn’t really believe it. “Yes?”

Tango was beaming, happier than he could ever remember being. He lifted up onto his toes and kissed Jimmy, the first time he had ever dared to do that. Jimmy didn’t even hesitate before pulling him closer, kissing him back. When they pulled away, Tango rested his forehead against Jimmy’s and breathed softly, “Yes.”

He was pumped full of adrenaline again, but this time, there was no danger involved. This time, it was the thrill of a different chase setting him ablaze - no pun intended. As Tango’s hand closed again around the feather, this time knowing exactly its significance, he felt pure bliss settle over him. Maybe there was something to this death loop thing, after all.

[spearxwind]

I'm cooking :) (redraw of a panel from DEEP and a comparison to the same panel)

[butch-with-a-deep-voice]

Me: Trans masc/trans man butches are sacred and deserve a space in the sapphic community as much as any other butch Also me: Can I please have a single post on this site about butches that refer to me, a butch, as a girl? As a treat? I really don't like being called a boy

[the-witchhunter]

Apples in Caramel Bourbon Sauce

Want a delicious dessert? Want to up your game? Why not both? This recipe once literally got me laid, it’s that damn good, so use at your own discretion

Or not, I’m not your mother

Ingredients:

2 apples (gala or honeycrisp recommended)

1/2 cup - 3/4 cup sugar (depend on size of apples and thus the amount of sauce needed)

4 tablespoons butter (I use salted, if using unsalted I recommend a pinch of salt on the final step)

“A splash” of bourbon (couple tablespoons to a 1/4 cup)

1) core and cut apples. Peeling is optional. Smaller pieces will cook faster so I prefer cutting into 1/8 slices and cutting those slices I half, but theoretically you could just cut the apples in half. Just make them roughly the same size

2) have all your ingredients on hand. Seems silly to make this its own step? If you have to hunt down during the next step you risk burning and starting it over. Just have your stuff ready

3) in a dry frying pan, add sugar and heat on medium. DO NOT WALK AWAY! Heat until sugar is melted and caramelized. It’ll start to darken and at this stage it can go from perfect to burnt very quickly. Stir with wooden spoon if needed to prevent burning but it’ll likely clump. Just break up clumps and it’ll melt when it’s hot enough.

4) add the butter and stir to combine. At this point it’s a very rudimentary caramel sauce.

5) add apple. It’ll likely seem too thick and not coat the apples immediately but just let them cook, stirring occasionally until apples are tender. How long? Depends how big you made your apple chunks. Sauce will get thinner as it pulls out moisture from the apples 

6) fish out cooked apples once tender and set aside

7) reduce sauce for a minute or two

8) add splash of bourbon (not from the bottle directly) and cook until harsh alcohol taste is cooked off

Serve by itself or the recommended method of over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, still warm

Makes 2-4 servings

[crazylittlejester]

i genuinely keep forgetting that Time’s hair does not go down to his collar bones

like what do you mean it doesn’t even really touch his shoulders 😭

what do you mean he cant easily tie up his hair when it’s hot 😭

[ccomilk]

HAPPY (late) HALLOWEEN!!!!! this is my gift for @living0-0skeleton for the @rottmnt-secret-gifting gift exchange!!!!!! baby's first trick or treating <333 I HOPE YOU LIKE IT!!!!

(textless version and doodle below cut!)

[epilogue-of-entropy]

whether you enjoyed Jade Shadows or not, please remember that pregnant people, people who are struggling with infertility/reproductive ailments, and people who want to have children are also people who use tumblr + play warframe. Some of the comments about this quest/Jade have been weird.

[cimicherrychanga]

i AM immune to mind reading vampires from space btw

[meamiki]

a tiny party and a tiny trio of sorts :D

[wetcatspellcaster]

I'm not going to tag this bc I can practically visualise the hornets nest I'm kicking, but I am starting to get annoyed by people who are complaining about inconsistencies in dragon age lore, when the inconsistences mostly seem to be happening in places where the old lore was severely problematic and written at the height of game of thrones grimdark fantasy market trends.

[pixiecaps]

all the cellbit in chat moments from yesterdays stream