#so I am interested to see the arrow verse take on her

[kitkatt0430]

Fanfic Sara X talia - Nyssa kicked sara out and sara broke, Talia swoops in and saves sara, they build a bond and sara realises she fell and served for the wrong al Ghul and Talia and sara fall in love whilst sara respects her leadership. Thank you for reading xxx

I'm going to say no to this prompt too. I checked out of Arrow around the time Laurel died and while I saw some episodes after that here and there and at least kept up with the plot in synopsis form for another season or two after, I honestly don't know I'd even be aware of Talia being even cast in the arrow verse at if it weren't for Oliver's funeral. While I do intend to eventually watch Arrow all the way through, I just don't feel comfortable accepting a request centered on a character I'm so unfamiliar with at this point.

[whosthere54]

I have many thoughts about specific songs that I wanted to share if ur interested it’s here :3

So these are some ideas I’ve had for maybe CMVs, or certain audios I want to film to when I complete my Icarus cosplay. (Most of these will be Icarus probably)

I’ll start with specific CMV scenes I had in mind for ones I may storyboard around,

Song - Disembodied mind by sparkbird.

So I have thoughts about this song, many of them, but I have one specific part in the song I think about as the Icarus ascention and what comes after. I feel like the majority of the song is Icarus in various points of fable, but whenever I hear it switch to the music before saying eyes shut tight” is Icarus’s ascention. They’re in the worldport in the next verse, and it’s them switching things back to what they had been before, trying to get a hold on being quixis.

When it goes back to the vibe change of the next “Say goodbye to the stranger on the other side” they were able to fix it, all the sheets are back to normal and the world of fable is fixed. Then when it goes back to the “I am in trouble with myself again. I am in trouble trouble trouble trouble.”

It’s Ven guys. Ven gets there. The last “I am in trouble” being them making eye contact with Icarixus.

Song - Murders from Miracle Musical

Now I’m actually working on finishing the full storyboard for a CMV idea with this song. Because I think about corruption too much to not. So I’ll share a very specific idea I had that sparked the idea of making a full CMV!

These are directly from some of my notes -

“Finally the night and day remembered how they came to be-“

Starts as Sherb being nice and letting Haley out, just following and observing. When the music gets more intense sherb starts actually pursuing her/chasing her.

- Softer music is Haley running and then the “Ba da da da da da da” sharper notes in between that would go to corrupt sherb chasing after her. Good sound for one shot of sherb taking off to the end islands. One of the last of the sharper notes is the arrow. Then the transition to the soft piano is Haley’s death.

——

All for nothing at all would make sense for them with their whole spiel to enderian “is this what you wanted!?”

——

Back to music is when they are by the grave with Rae, uncorrupted for just a moment.

“I was in the Forrest looking to see the trees but none were there…”

——

I did also write that whenever “shadow with nobody there” was said it was Enderian.

Song - Call them Brothers by Regina Spektor

“A shot rings out, nobody wants it”

(On nobody wants it it shows Haley’s death and Momboo)

“Nobody wants it to stop”

(On stop it flickers between sherb “I don’t need her down there I need her dead” and the hysterical laughter on the island that may end in tears)

I also have thoughts about this song, did you know.

I do also want to record something to Icarus by Luvbug

Tiktok audios :0

I’m not going to list a lot because I definitely have 273 audios favorites specifically to use for them so-

1 - I really enjoy that Isle of Dogs has made comeback through Tiktok audios because that move- mmmmm. I did cry.

Okay there that one audio that compiles both of the “I bite” and “I don’t know why I bite” scenes into one, but I would split that into two deprecate videos. I think one would be Icarus talking to Rae, “I am not you pet, I never liked you, I don’t care about you, I won’t wait for you,l. I bite.” Because oh me when brothers. Me when they argue and Icarus pretends not to care about him to create some distance. “I’m not your brother”.

The “I don’t know why I bite” scene would be them sitting with someone they love, I always imagine it’s them talking with Centross. Them feeling guilty about fighting with their family or smth, or it’s them talking to the things “why do I hurt everything I love?” Energy.

2 - “Fight little Wolf Fight!” Me when whisper duo. I just looked through my audios and ahhh I can’t not say the whisper duo ones.

3 - “why can’t you accept that she might be living a good and honest life? Because I wanted that mom!” It’s Rae. Rae wanted that dad. Rae wanted that brother. Ones that were good and kind to him. Ones that loved him the way he did them.

4 - ghost of Chicago but it’s Haley Hallucinations-

5 - “you’ll be a blemish in the street nothing but a memory a bad dream I’ll make you scream” it’s S2 prison arc.

6 - “what’s the bravest thing you’ve ever said? …Help.” Uncle Centross times

7 - “Those kids look up to you” “I know” “yeah you know, but you don’t know.” The whole whatever happens is your fault. I think of this as maybe Ulysses yelling at Fable or Ari talking back. Smth like that.

That’s all I’ll bring to you if you read this thanks for taking time out of your day too look at my silly lil ideas :)

You are loved and appreciated <3

[hexenmeisterer]

THE ARMAND PLAYLIST

this goes basically chronologically through Armand's story, up through the end of The Vampire Armand. There is definitely show stuff in there as well, I just cannot separate them out! I tried to choose songs that not only describe a specific moment in his story but also apply to him in general. I had a really fun time seeking out songs about Spiritual Bird Stuff, The Movies, Complex Trauma, and Jesus. and finding music in his languages-- there is at least 1 song each in Ukranian, French, Italian, and Latin! (dang, no Greek tho..)

a truly excessive amount of liner notes under the cut!

Seven Swans: religious bird stuff!! references the Book of Revelations, the second coming of christ. all the sevens, the seven seals seven churches etc. 

"UNCUT: Your god seems very vengeful in your songs. STEVENS: [Laughs] Oh no. There's no element of revenge in the character of God, but there's definitely an aggressive joy. He's not chasing you like a stalker, he's chasing you like a lover chases you. There's a lot of aggression in that kind of romance. We pursue things out of reverence, out of our need to worship."

He will take you If you run, He will chase you 'Cause He is the Lord

Afraid: 

Cease to know or to tell or to see Or to be your own Have someone else's will as your own You are beautiful and you are alone

Donna Donna: RELIGIOUS BIRD STUFF PT 2 

the various translations from Yiddish on the wikipedia page are interesting!! 

On a wagon bound for market There's a calf with a mournful eye High above him, there's a swallow Winging swiftly through the sky

el árbol del olvido:

 lyrics translated

Where I was born there is a tree that is called forgetfulness Where, to console themselves, vidalita(my little life) the moribund souls go

Rock me Amadeus: the lyrics of rock me amadeus are profoundly irrelevant. except for the Rock Me Amadeus part :)

Mi Sei Scoppiato Dentro Il Cuore / You Burst Inside My Heart: 

lyrics translated

Maybe because you looked at me Like no one has ever looked at me I feel alive Suddenly for you

Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy : marius de romanus literally founded the good old fashioned school of lover boys, and armand did, in fact, learn his passion there :)

Gronlandic Edit:

So am I erasing myself? Hope I'm not erasing myself I guess it would be nice to give my heart to a god But which one, which one do I choose?

Amarilli Mia Bella: “The verse alludes to the Greek myth of Amaryllis who, picking flowers on a mountainside, falls in love with the shepherd Alteus. He, however, is interested only in flowers, and says that he can love only the girl who brings him a new flower. Amaryllis follows the advice of the Oracle at Delphi, taking a temple arrow and waiting on Alteus’s doorstep each night, piercing her breast and her heart as she calls his name. Because of the shepherd’s dilatory response, she is obliged to repeat her action for thirty nights, after which he finally emerges to find a beautiful flower where her blood has fallen. Naturally, the flower was named in her honour.”

Lyrics and commentary

take this my arrow, open my breast  and you shall see written in my heart:  Amaryllis is my love.

Venus in Furs: hashtag masochism... Also probably marius loved this painting which masoch was referencing in the title of his book 

Whiplash girl child in the dark Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart

Liquid Smooth:

I'm beautiful, I know 'cause it's the season But what am I to do with all this beauty?... I'm at my highest peak, I'm ripe About to fall, capture me

Angry Johnny: this one goes out to you, Lord Harlech! 😘

Johnny, angry Johnny This is Jezebel in Hell I wanna kill you I wanna blow you … away

Ave Verum Corpus: Armand’s experience of near-death.

Hail the true body, born of the Virgin Mary: You who truly suffered and were sacrificed on the cross for the sake of man. From whose pierced side flowed water and blood: Be a foretaste for us in the trial of death. O sweet, O gentle, O Jesu, son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen.

“William Byrd’s setting of this text was written to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, which had been outlawed in England in 1548 following the Reformation. But Roman Catholics still surviving in England still celebrated the feast secretly, sometimes more brazenly.

Kerry McCarthy (in her book Byrd) writes that Corpus Christi had been an especially festive holy day before the clamp-down on popish rituals commenced. “Medieval parishes had celebrated it with lavish floral displays and elaborate outdoor processions [of the Blessed Sacrament], and this sort of activity continued even after Catholic worship became illegal in England.” https://canticasacra.org/byrd-ave-verum-corpus/

What Was I Made For: 

I used to float, now I just fall down I used to know but I'm not sure now What I was made for What was I made for?

II MOST WANTED: Armand is a passenger princess! No but fr I really like the two meanings of “most wanted” here — they are pursued by enemies, and also armand sees himself as the most desired, most beloved. (Also I like this next to “In The Backseat” later as two moments of Carseat Metaphor.) also just this sense of being devoted completely to marius forever.

Didn't know what I want 'til I saw your face Say goodbye to the old me Came out of nowhere, didn't give no warnin' Pedal so heavy like the two most wanted… I’ll be your shotgun rider ‘til the day I die.

Suffering Mother: Armand’s return to Ukraine and seeing his parents again.

Lyrics translated

Lovingly I bathe you with my bitter tears, As I sought to hide you from the wicked foes. My heart is breaking, for I must now lose you Never more, my dear son, will I ever see you Son of mine

Water Me: 

He told me I was so small, I told him “water me” I promise I can grow tall when making love is free

Linger: "I'm such a fool for you" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Dies Irae: Children of Satan arrive on the scene!

In the Backseat: Armand losing the anchor of Marius and getting forced onto the path towards coven leadership

I like the peace In the backseat I don't have to drive I don't have to speak I can watch the countryside Alice died In the night I've been learning to drive My whole life

You Want It Darker: Armand’s conversion to Children of Darkness .. no one is coming to save him, God is terrible actually, this might as well happen!!

A million candles burning For the love that never came You want it darker We kill the flame

Year Zero: just fun with Satan! 

Belial, Behemoth, Beelzebub Asmodeus, Satanas, Lucifer

Like A Parrot: bird trauma stuff!

Like a parrot and a picture window I can see where I'd like to be But repeated blows to my feathered little head Have taught me not to fly straight.

Think Of Me Once In A While, Take Care: the vibe of when he’s languishing on the chair staring into the fire of a burning vampire

DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR: Lestat the traitor shows up and fucks up his whole thing! And then he has to commit covenicide..

Satan, fortify me! I don't eat, I don't sleep, I don't eat I let it consume me How do I break you, before you break me?

I’m With You: begging Lestat to love him! and feeling utterly abandoned in the world.

Isn't anyone tryin' to find me? Won't somebody come take me home? It's a damn cold night Trying to figure out this life Won't you take me by the hand? Take me somewhere new I don't know who you are But I, I'm with you

Pour Nes Pas Vivre Seule: taking leadership of Théâtre des Vampires

lyrics translated

In order not to live alone,  One lives with a dog One lives with roses Or with a cross. In order not to live alone, One makes cinema One loves a souvenir A shadow, anything…… In order not to live alone, Others have children—  Children who are alone Like all the children.

Thankless Job: I love listening to this and thinking about Armand passive-aggressively cutting off people’s hands and murdering interlopers as leader of the Theatre des Vampires

Harvesting the kidneys for the fall; Savin' up the livers in the fridge No-one ever thanks me when I'm done How self-absorbed people can be!

Blank Space: Loumand budding romance anthem <3

Got a long list of ex-lovers They'll tell you I'm insane But I've got a blank space, baby And I'll write your name

Don’t Leave Me (Ne me quitte pas):

They say, "Sir, do you got a light? And if you do then you're my friend And if you don't then you're my foe And if you are a deity of any sort Then please don't go" Ne me quitte pas, mon cher Ne me quitte pas

Phenom: 

Careful I'm an animal Trap trap trap First of the secondary class class class You know I don't trust you what's the catch catch catch Don't you fucking touch me I will gnash gnash gnash Cause I am an old phenomenon And I am an old phenomenon

Experimental Film: extremely fun to think of him working on writing/directing the trial to this. But in general I feel like this his approach to relationships and life

You're all gonna be in this experimental film And even though I can't explain it, I already know how great it's I already know the ending It's the part that makes your face implode

Paparazzi but specifically the 2009 VMAs performance of it with the blood: generally his one move to start a relationship of any kind. Could specifically be start of devil’s minion tho https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h6Vc9__kqM&ab_channel=MTV

Pet: here bc of this fanvid, it’s so perfect! https://archiveofourown.org/works/57352849

你快樂所以我快樂 You’re Happy So I’m Happy: This is just the codependent national anthem… I lovingly pin it to armand’s lapel. Loumand, but also every relationship he’s in probably.

Lyrics translated

Your hair was dripping So I became feverish You were feeling tired So I fell asleep Ah.. heaven knows People say, If you're happy, then I'm happy too. Roses are blooming—  What else could I want? Something out of reach, out of reach.

household blender: beware. this is literally just 30 seconds of blender noises. 

Movies: 

Put me in a movie and everyone will know me You'll be the star, you know you are

Seventeen: specifically his relationship to daniel’s + his own age 

I used to be free I used to be seventeen Follow my shadow Around your corner I used to be seventeen Now you're just like me

Eat the Acid: refusing to turn Daniel

you don't wanna be changed like it changed me

All I Want: Devil’s Minion <3

I wanna talk to you, I want to shampoo you I want to renew you again and again Applause, applause, life is our cause When I think of your kisses, my mind see-saws Do you see, do you see, do you see how you hurt me, baby? So I hurt you too

Will Anybody Ever Love Me:

Will anybody ever love me? For good reasons, without grievance Not for sport Will anybody ever love me?  In every season pledge allegiance to my heart

Let X=X: pure vibes

As Good As It Gets:

I want you to disappoint me On and on until we're old I'm inside folding laundry You're outside fixing the hose And I think this is as good as it gets, my love I think this is as good as it gets Pray to God that you think that it is enough

Dirty Computer: love thinking about Armand’s deeply freaky and loving relationship to technology. and feeling broken

Dirty computer, walk in line If you look closer you'll recognize I'm not that special, I'm broke inside Crashing slowly, the bugs are in me

Two Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter songs from SAVED!: for the end of memnoch the devil

(this is the same artist under a different name who sings DO YOU DOUBT ME TRAITOR as lingua ignota.)

Relevant bits from the album notes:

"SAVED! is an apocalyptic revelation on the complex, sometimes ugly, always nonlinear process of healing. Herein, Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter documents an earnest attempt to achieve salvation through the tenets of charismatic Christianity, focusing on the Pentecostal-Holiness Movement, which dictate that one’s closeness to God is demonstrated through transcendental personal experience. Sonically and thematically, the record is both a logical conclusion to and a significant departure from Hayter’s previous work as Lingua Ignota. Mirroring her personal evolution away from pain, she sheds the moniker that made her successful for its unflinching expression of lived trauma and instead builds herself anew, claiming her full given name, determined to see value within [...] To evoke the lonely roads of salvation-seeking, SAVED! is stark, confined mostly to vocals (sometimes overdubbed into a dissonant chorus of twelve simultaneous voices) and piano prepared with bells and chains, the earthly and celestial. Speaking in tongues is achieved by self-imposing a variety of conditions; sleep deprivation, fasting, repetition of prayer, and sensory overstimulation. [...] in its quest for salvation and healing SAVED! is a renunciation of life. Here solace is found in absolute retreat from the world, far from pain and sin, burning with the holy fire until the end comes. And it is written: as you are when the end comes, so will you be when you must face Him. Whether this is enlightenment or insanity is up to the listener to decide. 

ORIGINAL MUSIC AND TRADITIONAL HYMNS PERFORMED BY REVEREND KRISTIN MICHAEL HAYTER OF PERPETUAL FLAME MINISTRIES ON PIANO PREPARED WITH BELLS AND CHAINS.

DOCUMENTED BY BROTHER SETH MANCHESTER AND HIS ALMIGHTY AUDIO RECORDING MACHINE."

I KNOW HIS BLOOD CAN MAKE ME WHOLE:

I know His blood can make me whole I was a gambler just like you I was sick and I couldn’t get well I just touched the hem Just touched the hem of His garment.

HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING:

Through all the tumult and the strife I hear that music ringing It finds an echo through my soul How can I keep from singing? No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that Rock I’m clinging Since Christ is Lord of Heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?

The Apassionata obv

Ever New: Being Alive, full of wonder about Benji and Sybelle

Welcome the spring, the summer rain Softly turned to sing again Welcome the bud, the summer blooming flower Welcome the child whose hand I hold Welcome to you both young and old We are ever new, we are ever new

Hermit the Frog: @ Marius at the end of TVA

Oh, my heart just burst like a glass balloon We let them fly too high and they shattered too soon Are we the wrong damn people in the wrong damn room?

You Left This:

You left this in my chest You left this in my chest  Dark door closing on the rest  You left this in my chest

[shimmerbeasts]

BG3 Verse: "How pathetic are you that you cannot even beat me at my worst?!"

AN: I am still in my first-ever playthrough of BG3, so this verse is currently also a massive work in progress. I already know a few minor or also major spoilers concerning the Dark Urge, but even so, please tread lightly with spoilers around me for a while.

A thiefling Beastmaster ranger, Jinx remembers little from her life before she was trapped on the Nautiloid and had a parasite planted into her brain. Now, travelling towards Baldur's Gate with a group of misfits, who have suffered the same fate as her, she is trying to remove the parasite in her skull.

All the while, Jinx struggles with a dark urge, which makes her fantasise about committing violence, fascinated by death, and more than willing to bend the rules and people to get things to go her way. Even though Jinx is doing her hardest to keep herself in check, once every while, it seems something other than the parasite takes possession of her and compels her to do unspeakable things.

A few small headcanons, I made up, based on what I already know:

Jinx's main animal companion is a large wolf, whom she has named Warwick. Her spiritual companion tends to be a small rat or a cat. Jinx hand-reared Warwick from puppy to fully grown wolf and has made sure, he has an appetite for a plethora of creatures to hunt.

Jinx's dark urge, outside of intrusive thoughts and fantasies, specifically manifests itself in the form of hallucinations. These hallucinations can be auditory or visual. Visually, Jinx tends to see two boys, one long and lanky, the other one round and soft. These boys actually appear as corpses. Mylo, the thin lanky one, has several arrows penetrating his chest near his shoulder, while Claggor has a clearly snapped neck. These two ghosts - Jinx's first human kills as an archer - tend to taunt Jinx to commit more atrocities.

Jinx specifically became an archer/beastmaster as that created a natural outlet for her dark urge. Furthermore, Jinx felt she could understand it better by understanding animals better. However, that does not mean that Jinx is somehow a saint or a good person. Outside of being a skilled and lethal hunter, Jinx swiftly developed an interest in hunting humans like they were animals. It was how, in her eyes, she honoured Bhaal. No temple or weird sacrifices were needed. For Jinx, she saw the act of killing as what mattered. She saw the intent of murder as what mattered and not whatever you did with the corpse afterwards.

This was also a reason Orin and Jinx regularly butted heads. Not only was Orin jealous of the favouritism, but she also felt Jinx did not deserve Bhaal's favour because of how she was conducting herself. She regarded being a ranger as a waste of a Bhaalspawn's gifts.

[callhergod]

When I’m bored

I’m a girl of many hobbies

I get bored pretty quickly,

I become bored pretty often

Like my mothers daughter, I must perfect my craft

Like my fathers daughter, I’m a jack of all trades

So why not take that opportunity to learn

When i’m bored, I take barefooted walks in nature, let my toes curl the soil beneath

I wash my face and cleanse my body,

I am sure to lather myself in the best scented creams and oils so that wherever i walk I smell of heaven

Every other day of the week I stretch my body, meditating and expelling the energy that coils around my muscles and bones

When I’m bored, I read

I read a lot

About everything

About nothing

I love useless information because whats useless to others, colors my plans into perfection when I have too much time to think

When I’m bored, I talk to the moon. I tell her about my plans, I tell her about you

I tell her all the new things i’ve learned in the dark and whenever I feel her curiosity, I let her watch

I hold your pictures in my minds eye and throw imaginary darts at your jugular

When I’m bored, I close my eyes and visualize your harm to relax my body into a dreaming sleepy state

I sleep often

I am an active participant in the prayer for your destruction

I was a church girl growing up so I know all about the power of prayer

I whisper your presence in between verses, replacing the name of David’s enemies with your name

I’m a big reader, and i’ve been reaching back into my roots.

Psalms 55:15 has become my favorite.

Amen.

When I’m bored, I take long drives to cemeteries, and I leave your name buried beneath graveyard dirt

I watch the dead reach for you, their excitement and curiosity makes me smile

I twirl under the dark moon with the strays that watch until I am lightheaded and I am no longer blinded by anger, but by the stars

When I’m bored, I pick at old wound’s until I remember what it feels like to bleed and I smear that blood onto your name. I’ll let them heal when you’ve died for forgiveness is a gift from the Gods and I am not God yet

On stormy nights, I redirect lightning in the direction of your home so it can show its true power by striking your life into chaos

Engulfed in flame

I’ve dragged your soul through chaos barefooted

I’ve used my tongue to spit sickening hexes of insanity into your scalp

I smell of heaven but I will continue to drag you to hell for you have forgotten that the reason I raise hell was because I was once raised in it

It’s always been in my nature to learn something new

I’m my mother’s daughter

I’m my father’s daughter

Both children of mars themselves, they created their successor on the first try

They don’t know failure, why would I

They birthed a winner

They raised me to take aim and be sure that whatever I strike, never rises from the soil

So for you, my old friend, I am grateful

I needed the target practice, for my arrows have grown dull, my knife lacks its sharpness, my form weak, and you’ve made yourself available.

You see, I don’t know if youve been listening but I am a girl of many hobbies and I’ve made you one of them.

Be grateful too. You would be nothing interesting alone. Your demise will be my art.

We’ll put you on the fridge.

…

Today I’m bored.

[talldarkandroguesome]

15th of Hearthfire, Fredas

What a lovely little gathering we had at the Nest last night.

I was surprised to find that the little Scuttlers had prepared for my arrival. They had incense and candles going and the altar already decorated with flowers and wine.

These are not the casual participants that join to have a club for sexual exploration the way so very many Nests fall prey. These are clear devotees to our Prince and Her sphere. There was jovial conversation and merriment abound.

As I looked upon the offerings, I could see that many were beautifully rendered. Arrow and Goat, having much experience with repairing fishing nets, had used their skills to create a net in the pattern of a web, all out of silk rope. That is not something that can be accomplished in a short time. There is much planning and time dedicated to such a creation. I am proud for the energy they have put into their offering.

Everyone had contributed something. Food, drink, trinkets. They had worked so hard and the effect was incredible! You could feel the energy given off by the efforts of the Nest.

I spoke with all my dear Spiderlings before I asked for the privacy to speak with Zethith. I wanted to be able to report to them the full extent of our Nest's devotion.

Zethith did seem to be interested in how, even without my direction, the loyalty and desire to impress was so great. We agreed that leaning into the idea that dedication directly leads to rewards of power and ability seemed to motivate the spiderlings. Nowhere was this quite as obvious as the bold statement of Prince, who asked me directly if he might warm my bed this evening, in private. When I asked to what end he sought such things, he said he wished to push himself further than he had been able to do with the group. He has ambition. All of my potential Deathweavers do. I think that the others who are not ready for such things, with the exception, perhaps, of Ebony, will serve well to mentor newer members when I am ready to welcome any more little Spiderlings into the Nest.

Tanur, we decided, works best in the capacity of managing the facility and the needs of our Spiderlings. And if he continues to play host for our gatherings that include the mundane, then he will have his hands full with maintaining that facade. Between that and his shop, he will certainly be unable to do any regular training.

What I need is someone who I can put in charge of the regular training of the Nest. At this time I do not have anyone capable of doing so to my satisfaction. I do not wish to take from my current Spiderlings, for fear of creating animosity. It is still too early for that. What I am going to have to do is dedicate more time to training my Deathweavers. They need such precise care. I could tell from their demonstrations that they have grown complacent with the course as it is. They need more challenge. They need to be given new tasks. They need to feel the race of adrenaline when you have to slip passed so many searching eyes and reach your target, eliminate them, and then escape unseen. There is an ecstasy that comes with that process that cannot be replicated any other way.

I also spoke to Zethith about my desire to appeal to our Prince to recover part of Leythen, that I might be able to bind his ancestral spirit to me and later Widows of the Stonefalls Nest. I told Zethith that I want to start working on raising up my future descendant so that I will be able to eventually focus my effort on the Cathedral of Webs completely. Yet to do that, I need to have fully trained and reliable Spiderlings. Especially to succeed in a place like the Summerset Isle, I need to make sure I have reliable agents.

And as much as I hate to admit it, I am going to have to rely on some Altmer. At least one or two. It should not be impossible, Leythen was an Altmer. There could be others that are like him. Maybe. Finding them may be difficult. I need someone who is well versed in life on the Isles and can speak to the proper levels of politeness and political savvy. I need someone who is deeply involved, but willing to sow chaos and be loyal to our cause. I do not know if such an Altmer exists outside of Leythen.

Leythen. How I miss him. I need to speak to him, to be connected to him. I must! Whatever it takes to be able to us together, assuming he will agree to the pact, I wish to do.

Zethith says they will speak to our Prince on my behalf. They warn me that a mortal desiring to retrieve part of the body of another is not a usual priority for someone such as a Daedric Prince, but they will see what can be done.

I thanked them excitedly. They seemed to be unsure of my expression of gladness, but they said nothing.

We spoke of the options for competition for becoming the vessel for our Prince's Summoning Day. They suggested that we have a series of competitions, that way those of differing skills could earn a chance. Their suggestion was to have different points earned by winning each challenge. That each day should have a different challenge with a different type of skill and difficulty. Success would earn a currency. And currency could be exchanged for favors from others.

Once we had determined a set of challenges and arranged them upon the days leading up to the Summoning Day.

Zethith has asked that I check in with them a little more often over the next month. There is much to discuss and they wish for me to begin considering increasing the challenges for my Spiderlings. That they should be rewarded for the work they have done and see marks of that progress. I should consider adding new Spiderlings so that those who came before can begin to feel like a part of a hierarchy.

I do not know when I shall have time to properly train those I have with me, let alone a new set of Spiderlings. But if Zethith says so, then I must consider it.

[shadowsong26fic]

Aftermath

Author: shadowsong26

‘Verse: Feredar

Rating: PG-13

Characters: Taz, Dallu

Warnings: War/combat

Notes: Written for the Year of the OTP event. May prompt: sunshine.

(I am also doing this for Star Wars, BSG, and two of my other original ‘verses, if you’re interested in checking those out! One ship per canon. The fanfic ones will be posted to AO3 probably a day or two after they’re on tumblr. Master list of all fills can be found here.)

The light from the setting sun was starting to bleed through the smoke. Stab through, more like; rays of light like blades or arrows, raining down on the deck of her Morning Glory.

But it was over. They’d gotten clear and it was…over. For now.

She limped across the deck, sword still out in her hand just in case, keeping one eye out for Dallu in the controlled chaos of her crew taking stock of the damage and coming down off the adrenaline of the fight.

There.

She picked up her pace, ignoring the fresh rivulet of blood as it soaked its way down her pantleg.

“You all right?” she called.

He looked up. Bruised, ash-streaked, but calm. “I’m good,” he assured her, as he stepped over a broken crate to meet her halfway.

With her free arm, she tugged him the last few feet and then held him close as she could. She felt the comforting weight of his hands on her back as he held her in return, and felt her heartbeat come back down to something like normal.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like combat--part of her, anyway, thrilled in it. The wild adventurer, the storm in her, thrived there.

It wasn’t even that this had been especially bad. She’d had pirate actions and feud actions that had caused more damage, taken more lives. Hell, she’d weathered actual storms--mostly before she’d gotten her Glory and her Dallu--that had cost her more than this delta skirmish.

And she knew it would get worse over the next few months, or years, as more nations openly picked sides and joined what was shaping up to be a long and bloody war with Feredar.

Just…something about today; about that Ketarre-built ship coming up faster than she could see and trying to stop her.

Failing, of course, because she and her crew were damn good, but.

Fuck.

“I’m good,” Dallu said, again. “Kes, too, she’s seeing to the refugees, keeping them calm.”

“Good,” Taz said, and pulled back just far enough to kiss him, to take a moment, to breathe.

“You’re bleeding,” he said.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t leave it, promise?”

“I won’t,” she said, and leaned her forehead against his. “I gotta see to things, then I will. Promise.”

“I love you,” he said.

They didn’t say it often, just when one or the other of them needed to hear it. Like she needed it now. Dallu was always so good at knowing when she needed it. What she needed most of the time, really. She hoped she did half as well for him.

“Love you,” she said, then kissed him again.

Dallu’s hand trailed along her arm, his fingers threading through hers. “I’ll be here when you’re done,” he said.

“I know,” she said, then squeezed his hand briefly before disengaging and turning back out to survey the deck.

The last of the smoke was clearing away, and that sunlight streaming down--seemed less like blood or blades now, reflecting red-gold against her blade, Dallu’s hair, the spilled water on the deck.

Reminding her they’d made it.

Dallu was all right, and he’d said her sister was too; her crew and her Glory had a lot more fight within them yet. If it had been a rough day, at the end of it, she still had all that mattered.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the sunlight wash over her like the freshwater falls back home. Then she took a breath, wiped her sword on the cleaner of her pantlegs and sheathed it, then limped back across the deck to be the Captain her people needed while they dealt with the aftermath of battle.

[ughitsnic]

She: Robin Buckley x Reader

Kinda self indulgent, She by Dodie is one of my all time favourite songs and I love to think about how angelic maya would sound singing it, so here’s something, it’s short and sweet but I hope you like it, I enjoyed writing it.

Listen on Spotify here :)

You were early a little early when you got to robins house. you were picking Robin up to go see some movie, you really weren’t interested but you know Robin was and you wouldn’t pass any opportunity to spend time with her. You knocked at the door before letting yourself in, making sure to leave you shoes by the door. stood in her door way, robins back to the door as she sat hunched over scribbling in a note book, before leaning over to grab her guitar. She clears her throat, before carefully plucking at the strings.

“Am I allowed, to look at her like that? Could it be wrong, when she’s just so nice to look at?” she stops grabbing her note book again, scribbling something else down before strumming at the guitar. “And she smells like lemon grass and sleep” as she continues to sing, you feel the tickling sensation of a sneezes bubble in your nose. You try your hardest to keep it in. Robins turns to face you her cheeks bright red.

“How long have you been there”

“I like your song” your voice was bearly above a whisper, stepping into her room

“You-you do?” You nod

“Can I hear the rest?”

“It’s not finished yet” you kneel on the bed. Your gaze falling on to her beat up notebook. ‘she means everything to me’

“Who’s it about, the lucky girl?” You chew your bottom lip nervously, in your dreams it would be about you, after all you’ve had the biggest crush on her ever since you partnered up in science, well over a year ago now.

“No one”

“Robin Buckley I don’t believe that for one second, cmon tell me who’s your muse, I’d never tell, I’d never say a word” you promise, holding out your pinky, instead she takes takes her pen, quickly writing what you had just said down in.

“You’re a genius y/n, you know that right” she gives you a small smile, her eyes licking with yours for a split second, then to our still out stretched pinkie. You sigh intertwining your other pinking with your own, and leaving your hands in your lap.

“I try” you watch as her brows knit together crossing something out, circling a verse and drawing an arrow. The air was thick, robins short wavey locks falling infront of her eyes as she chews on the end of her pen. It taking everything in you to not reach over to comb it behind her ear. You were scared to break the silence, so you didn’t.

“It’s not perfect yet, but can I play it for you.. if you promise not to laugh too much” Robin nervously asks. You hold your pinky out again, this time robin wraps her pinkie around yours. She wipes her palms on her knees, before taking a deep breath playing the guitar. You watch in amazement as her slender fingers danced with the strings. Her eyes closed, as she takes a deep breath

“….She means everything to me”

“Robin- I have no words” she covers her face, before wiping away a stray tear.

“Sometimes I struggle to find the words” robin starts, taking your hand, her finger tips cold. “I- it’s really silly but I like to write songs”

“Have you ever wrote a song for me?”

“Y/n” Robin let’s out a breathy breath. “Sometimes you’re really clueless”

[thecharmedburrowspn-files]

Fic rec ask game

I was tagged by @illegalcerebral. Details for edition can be found on this post. If you/you’re fic is tagged below, please make your own rec list!

An ongoing multi chapter fic you are excited to get updates for right now

Honestly, every single WIP fic I’m following. However, I cannot express how much I need to know where @hogwartsmeangirls‘ The Untold Years is going. The OC, who is the main character, is so well developed and complex. I range from siding with the characters to being so frustrated with them. Really the writing is fantastic (Harry Potter, Tom Riddle x OFC).

A completed multichapter fic that you can binge read

This one was hard because most of the fics I'm following or have favorited are WIP. So I’ll cheat a little and recommend Witchcraft by a Picture which is a dark and twisty Tom Riddle x OFC. It’s been a literal decade since I read this and I still remember it. 

A oneshot you think everyone should read

I’ve read many but it doesn’t look like I’ve saved them anywhere. :/

A fic you have re-read more than once

Ok, I’ve never read a fic more than once. I don’t know why, I’ve just never gone back and reread one. There are a lot that have stuck with me over the years and I’m going to highlight one of those instead. @valleydean‘s The Sidewalks of New York was such a fun read. It’s a 1920′s Merthur period piece. I love how the characters (and many of them!) were updated to fit the new time and how the forbidden romance was made to work. 

A fic you first read over a year ago that you want to spotlight:

@akabluekat‘s Playing with Fire. Harry Potter was my first fandom and I’ve ready a lot of different fics over the years, but never one featuring a Weasley twin. akabluekat does a lovely job defining her own OCs and flushing out the side characters. The story manages to be a good mix of cute and angsty and I am interested to see if there’s a happy ending or if I’ll be left broken-hearted. (Harry Potter, Fred Weasley x ofc)

A fic that introduced you to a new ship/character/fandom:

@darknightfrombeyond‘s Anthem of the Angels. While I had once been a fan of the show, I had never read a fic for Arrow. This story has the fun twist of being a modern day arranged marriage. You get romance and mystery from the first chapter and I can’t wait to see where it goes (Arrow, Oliver Queen x ofc)

A fic you'd recommend to someone new to your fandom

It’s a WIP but Six Mornings After (@sixmorningsafter) is a great TVD All-human AU, and is worth the read (it’s so well done!). The author has even written collections of flashbacks and flashforwards to accompany this story. (steroline and bamon).

A fic you would recommend to the person who tagged you in this game.

Based off of their recs and fandoms, maybe Rebel Columbia by @starsandstormyseas. I haven't finished it (I am behind on A LOT of fics) but the premise is very interesting .

Optional: one more wildcard choice of fic.

@wordspin-shares‘s From the Sidelines has such a unique take on the TVD-verse (giant hint the title here). It’s definitely a slow burn, but I can tell it’ll be worth it. Plus, our main oc Claire has secrets of her own to contend with (Damon Salvatore x ofc).

[bluevalleybreakingnews]

Hope you don’t mind another Season 3 theory!: Have you read the arrow verse crossover comic yet? James Robinson wrote it and I feel like some details might be important. They reference the jsa in a flashback, and we see flash and Alan, who have both been relevant in the show, and some others including sandy the second sandman who was a sidekick at the time. Now the point of that part of the comic was the exbadguy needle talking about the rise of sidekicks and how pat was sly’s sidekick. We see a handful of side kicks in that panel. But sandy is interesting particularly because he was kept young for years be being stuck in a dormant, monster state. Since sandman has already been referenced quite heavily, it does make sense that we would see sandy join this jsa. Especially because James Robinsons jsa run (which Geoff johns took over) started with the first sandman dying and sandy taking over the role/the dreams. I can see helix and mr bones finding him in monster form and reverting him to human form, all while grooming him to be one of the “evil” team alongside Todd. Also, season 1 of stargirl’s IMDb page before the show came out had listed someone as ‘Victoria Hawkins’ (first name I might be misremembering). She never showed up in season 1 so I’m guessing her role was cut, maybe saved for season 3? They did say that Geoff had five seasons planned out before season 1 even came out. She might have been related to sandy (Hawkins). Or maybe I just really want sandy in the show.

I have read the tie-in comics (as well as Geoff Johns' run of the JSA), so I am a bit familiar with Sand! You're right, he would be a prime candidate for being a member of the Helix Institute, especially with how his sand transformation was actually initially handled in the comics. There are SO many members of the JSA that I'd love to see aged down a bit in the Helix Institute, and while I admit that Sandy Hawkins didn't top my list, I certainly would love to see him!

[inspotlight]

✰ INSPOTLIGHT — INDEPENDENT,    PRIVATE,    AND    SELECTIVE    NINI    SALAZAR-ROBERTS    of    disney+'s    high    school    musicial:    the    musical:    the    series, written as an original character,    penned    by    hales.    exploring    themes    of    stardom,    finding    your    place    in    the    world,    leaving    the    comforts    of    childhood,    and    more.

ballet    slippers,    seeing    your    breath    in    the    morning    air,    highlighted    scripts,    bows    in    curled    brown    hair,    stargazing    with    your    love,    sleepless    nights,    an    arrow    shot    from    cupid's    bow,    spritzing    perfume    upon    a    love    letter,    late    nights    dancing    in    the    moonlight,    long    hair    pulled    into    a    braid,    the    overwhelming    desire    to    be    perfect,    an    intense    need    to    take    care    of    the    ones    you    love,    lyrics    scribbled    hastily    on    a    napkin,    a    playbill    tacked    to    your    wall

disclaimer: although nini is 18 in s3 (as confirmed by you never know & the lottery ticket), i will not be writing anything explicit on this blog. inbox: 7 queue: twice a day thread tracker. verses. skater verse info.

affiliated with : @shadowbrn , @lovemaim / @halfpyre, @heartfe1t / @sheactress , @id0ls , @antihcroes , @mystictragedies,

heavily affiliated and exclusive/single-ship with kenna’s ricky @melodyplucked​ ​

001. you can call hales, and i’m 21+. i will not interact with anyone under 18 for my own peace of mind.   002. i am mutuals only and only follow people i intend to interact with. if i follow you, i am interested in roleplaying with you. 003. please do not control my character, and i won’t control your character. no godmodding. if you would like to do something or plot something out, PLEASE message me. 004. just ask if you need me to tag something for you, i’m more than happy to. i’ll do my best to tag everything, but i may slip up, so just pop into my dms or inbox and i’ll get it taken care of. 005. i do not own, or claim to own, nini. i am simply playing a character that i like. the only thing that i own are my headcanons and my writing. i am not affiliated with olivia rodrigo. 006. if you get blocked, please do not message me. i reserve the right to curate my online experience and set boundaries. 007. i won't follow anyone who doesn't have a name or age somewhere on their blog and i would prefer you refrain from following me, too. 008. i am not currently taking on new ships. nini is a hard muse to ship and she's very focused on ricky bowen. she, more often than not, will refer back to ricky in threads because he is a huge part of her history and her heart. 009. r*na does not exist on this blog in any capacity, so if a ricky/gina romance is mentioned to nini, it will be shot down so very quickly, and she'll probably laugh about the idea of it. 010. if you reply using the legacy editor, i will drop the thread. 011. i will not write with anyone using ai to do their replies. i'll talk to the snapchat ai if i want to talk to a machine. 012. i will not interact with any gi/na por/ters. i may not even follow if you have her on a multi. you can definitely consider me an anti after season 4 of fan service the musical the series. this is a hard dni. 013. reblog from the source or any other blog, but i am not here to be your personal resource blog for you to cherrypick through.

CREDIT: invisible string by @ariapsds (previously used), red mistress by straysources (currently using), pure imagination by @somresources, tribrid by @calisources, tumblr banner 02 by @noahsresources, good luck babe by nikosasaki,

[kitkatt0430]

Hi! If you're still doing the character bingo, may I ask for Oliver or Lena? Ooh, or Caitlin! (Sorry if that's too many!)

I'm still doing this :D It's a lot of fun and a great excuse to keep rambling about all my blorbos.

Alrighty, first up is Oliver Queen:

Oliver Queen, the guy who started it all. We wouldn't have the Arrow-verse without him and even when I want someone to smack him hard enough he gets an amnesia arc, I'll always have a special place in my heart for his character. But he's got... a lot of issues he needs to work out. And he desperately needed to stop losing character development from one season to the next. How many times can a guy learn 'keeping secrets is bad' and promise to do better and then the following season start keeping secrets again.

I'm not a fan of Olicity, but I like a lot of the other popular ships for Oliver. Including Barry/Oliver. Which amuses me so much since their comic book counterparts seem to barely tolerate each other at best.

I think my biggest problem with Oliver, though, is that the writers didn't really understand the comic book character. They wanted Batman, they couldn't have Batman, they picked another rich, white, cisgender superhero with a dramatic, globetrotting backstory and... what makes Oliver Queen an interesting comic book character ended up getting lost. But the best example of the show writers not understanding the character is that comic book Ollie says 'fuck cops' and show Ollie says 'lets join the cops' in the final season. *waves hands dramatically* What the hell, show writers???

Now on to... Lena Luthor!

Lena deserved a better family. So much better. And she deserved to be treated better and trusted by her friends too. Imagine how much better it would have been if Lena had known from, say, late season two or early season three that Kara was Supergirl?

(Okay, so was Lena's plans during the front half of season 5 not good? well, yeah. Do I care? Nope. She has trauma about being manipulated by the people she cares about and about uneven relationships and was massively triggered. She didn't actually end up going through with anything nefarious in the end and chose to continue standing up against her brother.)

The fact that the excellent chemistry between Lena and Kara was never fully capitalized on really sucks too. Those two deserved to kiss on screen. Like... I remember there being genuine reason to think that might be where the show was headed for the series finale and the sheer frustration that there was no follow through even on the very last episode. *sigh*

Last, but not least, Caitlin Snow:

So Caitlin Snow is aspec. She's ace-spec and aro-spec and I am completely right about this. I will not be taking criticism at this time. (Or ever.)

Okay, so aroace headcanons aside, Caitlin is very much a character with wasted potential. And she's kinda complicated in fandom spaces, which I'll talk about first. She was one of the show fandom's first female non-Iris ships for Barry. Which is understandable. Iris was dating someone else (whom she had excellent chemistry with), Barry's actual girlfriend that season is Wally's wife in the comics, and Barry and Caitlin's friendship was rather sweet. But some fans were propping Caitlin up by tearing Iris down. And while most people pushed back against the racism by blaming the people being racist... I've also seen the occasional push back in the form of people insisting that shipping Caitlin with Barry is inherently racist. Fandom can certainly be a wild place, that's for sure. (That all aside, I actually prefer shipping Iris with Caitlin. Which is generally a safe fandom niche to be in too.)

As far as Caitlin's wasted potential on the show, see the season 4 retcon. Season 3 ended with the implication that going forward Frost was a mix of Caitlin pre & post powers who would spend the next season finding herself and rebuilding Caitlin's relationships with Team Flash, but on new footing as the person she'd become. And S4 wasted that set up. While having Frost as a separate character was interesting and the dual characters really let Danielle show off her acting range... it was still incredibly jarring to go into S4 and realize the parts of the S3 finale (and the season at large) got chucked out the window. And, honestly, the last time Caitlin had an interesting character arc was when Icicle was still around. I was hoping the return of Ronnie promised in season 8 might draw me back to the show, but the fact that the show reverted to 'throw love interests at Caitlin but she's still hung up on her dead husband' characterization for her was... not a draw after all.

[vajranam]

The Lotus Stalks

The Lotus Stalks - Teaching from a past life account of Buddha Shakyamuni:

Like deception and violence, sensual enjoyments are anathema to those who know the pleasure of detachment. Thus has it been heard:

The Bodhisattva (Lord Buddha Shakyamuni) was once born in a noble Brahmin family of impeccable standing, well know of its merits. He had six younger brothers and a sister who shared his virtues and followed his example out of affection and esteem.

The Bodhisattva studied the Vedas together with the Upavedas and the Vedangas. He became famous for his erudition and much respected by the people. Wise and modest, he looked after his parents with utmost devotion and guided his brothers into the world of learning like a teacher or a father.

His parents died in the course of time and the Bodhisattva was deeply affected. He performed their funeral rites and after some days spent in mourning, assembled his brothers and told them: ‘This is the inevitable and tragic way of the world. Death separates us no matter how long we live together. Therefore, I wish to renounce all this and take the blessed road to salvation, before death strikes me down like an enemy while I am still enjoying a householder’s life.

‘For this reason’, said the Bodhisattva, ‘I would like to inform all of you that the lawfully obtained wealth in this Brahmin household will be adequate for your needs. You should live here properly with mutual love and respect. Never slacken your regard for character and conduct. Devote yourself to studying the Dharma; attend to your friends, guests and kinsfolk; and observe the rules of righteousness. Adhere well to the householder’s life, always courteous, delighting in charity and intent on your studies. In this way your fame will increase together with your virtue and wealth. Even your afterlife will be secured. So, take care as you live here.’

The Bodhisattva’s brothers were greatly agitated by his talk of renunciation. Bowing to him with tears in their eyes, they said: ‘Grief at the loss of our father has pierced us like an arrow. The wound it caused is no yet healed. It does not behove you, brother, to rub the salt of yet another sorrow into it. Please give up this idea. Alternatively, if you consider domestic attachments to be inappropriate and the bliss of forest life the way to salvation, why do you wish to go away by yourself, leaving us bereft in this house? Your chosen path is equally ours. We will also renounce the world.’

Those who have not practiced detachment are usually motivated by worldly desires,’ the Bodhisattva replied. ‘They generally consider renunciation to be like falling off a cliff. That is why I desisted from asking you to take to forest life, even though I know fully well the difference between that and a householder’s existence. But, if it pleases you, we can all renounce the world.’

Thus, all seven brothers and their sister gave up their estate and valuable properties, their sorrowing friends and relations, and took to the life of homeless ascetics. With them went three others: a companion, an attendant and a maidservant.

Eventually the renunciants came to a vast forest. In it was a large lake whose pure, blue water seemed ablaze with blooming lotuses in the day and shimmering with lovely lilies at night. By the side of this lake, frequented by honeybees, they built themselves separate huts of leaves under shady trees, at some distance from each other to provide pleasant solitude. Here they lived, observing all the vows and rules and absorbing their minds in meditation. Every fifth day they would go to the Bodhisattva to listen to his pious discourses on the joys of tranquility. His inspiring words exhorted them to meditate and avoid the pitfalls of worldly desires. Dwelling at length on the pace of mind which comes with detachment, he also condemned idleness, hypocritical talk and other vices.

Their maidservant, who loved and respected them deeply, continued to look after them as before. Every day she would pull out lotus stalks from the lake and place them in equal portions on large lotus leaves at a clean spot on the shore. After that she would announce the meal time by striking a piece of wood against another and withdraw. Having performed their daily prayers, the hermits would then come out one by one in the order of their age and taking their portion of the stalks, return to their respective huts. There, they would take their meal in the prescribed manner and pass the remaining time in meditation. In this way they avoided seeing each other except at the time of discourses.

The hermit’s fame spread far and wide on account of their faultless character and conduct, love of detachment and contemplative life. Shakra, the king of gods, also heard about it and came down to test them. His respect for their virtues increased on observing that they were given to meditation, averse to wrongdoing and always calm and serene:

‘One free of desires,

Who lives in the forest

Devoted to peace,

Instils in the hearts

Of all good people

Respect for his virtues.’

But Shakra became all the more keen to put them to a test. On the following day the maidservant gathered lotus stalks for the sages as usual. She washed the stems, white and tender as the tusklets of an elephant calf and placed them in equal portions, decorated with lotus petals and stamens on emerald-green leaves of the plant. After that she struck together two pieces of wood to announce the mean and withdrew. At that moment Shakra, the lord of the goods, decided to test the Bodhisattva by causing the first portion of the lotus stalks to disappear.

The extent of a good man’s patience can be seen as it grows when troubles occur and comforts vanish. When the Bodhisattva came to the place where the first portion of the lotus stalks used to be kept, he noticed that the decorations were in disarray and there were no stalks on the lotus leaf. ‘Someone has taken away my share,’ he concluded without any agitation or anger and returned to his hut where he resumed his meditation. To avoid upsetting the other sages, he did not inform them about this; they in turn assumed he would have taken his share as they took theirs before returning to their huts to eat and meditate.

On the following day Shakra again concealed the Bodhisattva’s share of lotus stalks and repeated this test on the third, fourth and fifth day. As for the great one, he remained calm and content as always:

‘For good people, the minds turmoil

Is more deadly than death itself;

the wise will not get agitated

though their lives are put on stake.’

On the afternoon of the fiftieth day, when the other sages came as usual to the Bodhisattva’s hut to hear his discourse, they found him looking gaunt, with sunken eyes and hollow cheeks, his face wan and his voice weak. But though emaciated, he was delighted to look at as the crescent moon for his fortitude and tranquility were unaffected.

The Bodhisattva’s brothers were worried. Approaching him politely, they enquired why he had become so thin. When he told them what had happened, they could not imagine that any of them would do such a thing. ‘Alas! Alas!’ they cried, distraught at his suffering and stood before him, their heads hanging in shame.

The power of Shakra had clouded the brother’s judgement and they could not figure out how the lotus stalks had disappeared. At last the eldest brother uttered an extraordinary imprecation to display both his emotion and his innocence. ‘O Brahmin!’ he cried, ‘may he who stole your lotus stalks find fulfilment with a charming wife, children and grandchildren and a house embellished with all the signs of prosperity!’

‘O chief of Brahmins!’ exclaimed the next brother, ‘may he who stole your lotus stalks indulge in exquisite worldly pleasures, flaunting garlands and sandalwood paste, fine garments and ornaments which his children have touched for good luck.’

‘May he who stole your stalks even once,’ said the third brother, ‘enjoy himself at home without worrying about the passage of time; and may he make money from framing, live with his family and delight in the prattle of his children.’ ‘May he who stole your lotus stalks out of greed rule the entire earth,’ said the fourth brother. ‘May other kings pay him homage, humbly like servants, the plumes quivering on their bowed heads.’ ‘May he be a royal priest, that person who stole your lotus stalks,’ said the fifth brother. ‘May he know the auspicious incantations and receive honors from the king.’

‘May he who sought your lotus stalks and not your virtues be a teacher well versed in the Vedas,’ said the youngest brother. ‘May people come and honor him with the reverence due to ascetics.’ ‘May the person who could not subdue his greed for your lotus stalks receive four hundred fine and prosperous villages for his enjoyment from the king.’ Said the companion, ‘and may he die before his passions fade.’ ‘May he who harmed his own interest for the sake of the lotus stalks become a village chief,’ said the attendant. ‘May he enjoy himself with his friends amidst the singing and dancing of women and never be troubled by the king.’

Then spoke the sister. ‘May the person who stole the lotus talks of even someone such as you have a figure of radiant beauty,’ she said, ‘and may the kind make her his wife, the first among a thousand women.’ ‘And may she who saw your lotus stalks and not your righteousness, look past good people.’ said the maidservant. ‘May she amuse herself eating all alone the tasty morsels she receives as gifts.’

Now some denizens of the forest – a yaksha, an elephant and an ape had also come to listen to the Bodhisattva’s discourse. They too were disturbed and ashamed to hear what had happened. The Yaksha pronounced a curse to demonstrate his innocence. ‘ May he who betrayed even you for the sake of the lotus stalks live in the great monastery of Kachangala,’ he cried, ‘and be an artisan making windows every day.’

The elephant followed suit. ‘O best of sages,’ he said, ‘may he who stole your lotus stalks be exiled from the delightful forest into human habitation, there to be bound in six hundred strong fetters and suffer pain of the sharp elephant goad.’ The ape spoke next. ‘May he who was so greedy as to steal your lotus stalks wear a floral garland and a tin collar to chafe his neck,’ he said. ‘And may he be beaten with sticks made to confront serpents and be kept in the snake charmer’s house, tied to a harness.’

The Bodhisattva replied to all of them in persuasive words full of courtesy, which displayed his profound calmness. ‘Someone stated that the stalks have vanished when actually they have not,’ he said. ‘Or someone suspects you all of having done this. May he obtain all the pleasures he desires and live out his life as a householder.’

Shakra, the king of the gods, marveled at the extraordinary imprecations which had been uttered. They indicated an abhorrence of indulgence in pleasures which roused his respect. Revealing himself in his radiant form, he approached the sages and said, as if in anger, ‘Yu must not speak like this! Why do you run down worldly pleasure? People are so anxious to obtain them that they cannot sleep; they are prepared even to undergo the travails of penance for their sake.’ ‘Sensual enjoyments, sir, mean endless suffering,’ the Bodhisattva replied. ‘Listen in brief to what these are. It is because of them that sages have no praise for such pleasures. People suffer imprisonment and death while seeking them. They are afflicted by grief and fear, by fatigue and all kinds of misery. It is only for the sake of pleasure that kings oppress virtue and go to hell when they die.’

‘It is due to the pursuit of pleasure,’ the Bodhisattva added, ‘that friendships fade suddenly. People tread the dirty paths of political chicanery, lose their reputations and suffer in the afterlife. Pleasures are destructive, of both this and the next world, for all kinds of people, the worst, the middling as well as the best. That is why, O Shakra, they are avoided like angry snakes by sages who seek spiritual betterment.’

The king of gods welcomed these words. Pleased at the sages’ nobility of mind, he admitted his own misdemeanor. ‘Respect for merits comes when they are tested,’ he said. ‘It was in order to test you all that I hid the lotus stalks. They now testify to the firmness of your character. The world is fortunate to have sages like you whose fame is based on facts.’ With these words Shakra presented the lotus stalks to the Bodhisattva. But the latter rebuked him for his discourtesy and audacity. ‘We are not your kinsmen or companions,’ he said forcefully, ‘nor are we performers or buffoons. On what basis did you then come here, O king of the gods, to play such a game with sages?’

Thus addressed, Shakra hastily took off the earrings which lit up his face and his crown in a gesture of penitence and bowing to the Bodhisattva with the utmost respect, asked for forgiveness. ‘You have no selfish thoughts,’ he said. ‘I have explained why I acted so rashly. You must pardon me sir, like a father and a teacher. Some people are blind to wisdom and it is natural for them to give offence even to the virtuous. But for those who are self-contained it is equally natural to forgive. So, do not be angry with me.’

Having sought forgiveness, Shakra disappeared straightaway. Thus it is that sensual enjoyments are anathema, like deception and violence, to those who know the pleasures of detachment. The Lord Buddha thus explained his birth story. ‘I, the son of Sharadavti, Maudgalayayana, Kashyapa, Purna, Aniruddha and Ananda were then brothers. Utpalavarna was the sister, Kubjottara the maidservant and the householder Chitra, the attendant. Satagiri was the yaksha, Parileya the elephant and Madhudata the ape. Kalodayi was Shakra. Thus should this birth story be remembered.’

~Jatakamala Sutra (Translated by A.N.D. HAKSAR, 2003)

[ridetherain]

Febuwhump Day 3

Febuwhump Day 3: Imprisonment Alt 1: Truth Serum

Rating: G

Words: 1051

Fandom: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Summary: Usually Link doesn't talk very much, but when he does...

He Said What?!

The Champions were all older than me. It rarely bothered me since I'm the Princess and my authority and worth come from places other than experience for all that I am associated with the Goddess of Wisdom. I choose to believe that my wisdom is established by my commitment to choosing such people as my advisors. Those who are older and wiser. Those who are currently getting drunk while I am sitting on a log by the fire, completely sober. I don't deny that they have earned the right to take time off and drink. I don't dislike that they did not offer me any alcohol - I would have refused since I am underage. So, I am not bothered by their age, the exclusion, their taking of a well-deserved break, or anything else I can think to blame. This means I am not bothered by the way that Urbosa and Daruk apparently have the same taste in bawdy tavern songs. Or that Mipha is trying to get into Link's pants again. Or that Link is so completely unaware of Mipha's attention that he is posturing with Revali without noticing that his flexing is attracting the eyes of the wrong bird.

I have seen Urbosa drunk many times. The festivals I've attended in Gerudo have ensured that I am proficient in the music she and Daruk are currently butchering. I could sing all five verses and I could probably give a passable performance of the accompanying dance. It would be almost funny to join in and see the look on everyone else's faces. I imagine that Daruk and Urbosa would find it funny. Revali would pretend that he didn't find it funny. Mipha would be horrified and Link would have kittens.

Assuming Link would even notice. He was talking tonight. That wasn't strictly speaking unusual since we have both been making more of an effort to be friends since our misadventure in the desert. I have been working on being more generous with him and he has been working on being more open with me. However, he's talking a lot.

"I've been practicing a lot with the bow, Rev," Link said in a rush, "I want to show you. I'm sure I could do better than last time. Come on, pick a target. I can do it."

"I don't know Link-" Revali started.

"-No, no, no. I'm serious!" Link said even faster, "I've gotten really good. I focus really, really hard just like you said. I can do this. Pick a target. I can do it."

Revali sighed a long-suffering sigh. "Maybe later. I'm on guard duty right now." He turned and slid cautiously onto the ground. He tipped slightly to the left where he sat. Maybe I should steal his arrows so he can't hurt anyone by accident.

Link looked upset for just a moment before his face cleared and he turned towards me.

"Zelda! Why are you sitting over there? You should come talk to me," Link said. He wasn't really slurring his words, but he wasn't as precise in his vowels as usual which just made his thick Faronian accent more difficult to decipher.

"Link, you are drunk," Mipha said gently, "Maybe you should take a break and let the Princess have some time to herself."

She tried unsuccessfully to take Link's glass away.

"Mipha! I didn't know you were here! No, give me that back. It's mine, get your own. Oh! You'll have to watch when Revali and I practice later. He's going to pick targets and I'm going to show him what I've learned!"

A nervous giggle tore out of Mipha's mouth, "You haven't changed at all since you were a child, Link. I'm going to talk Revali out of your nonsense."

She left us alone and Link watched her leave for a moment before turning to me.

"You know, I think she wants me to marry her. I don't think I'd like that very much. Do you think I should say yes anyway?" I was stunned. I was certain that Link didn't know that Mipha was interested in him. I was shocked he noticed her at all, honestly. Alcohol seemed to act as a sort of truth-telling elixir on Link so I shouldn't have been surprised by the next revelation out of his mouth.

"I met her when I was a baby, did you know that? She was literally my mother's midwife so I've really, really known her forever. I'm the same age as her little brother. I don't think I could marry my sister and Mipha is basically my sister. I don't think my mother would like it either. She thinks I should marry a nice girl from Hateno who's good at math. I'm hopeless at it and Ma says that math is important for keeping the books neat and orderly. You're all sciency, Princess, do you know a girl who is good at math? I could marry her and then I wouldn't have to tell Mipha that I don't want to marry my sister."

I sat in shocked silence for a moment. Link was in earnest and did not blink as he waited for my answer. I admit that my mouth was hanging open just a little. Who do you recommend when the boy you kind-of like asks which math-focused girl he can marry so he can get out of an uncomfortable conversation? One that is completely inappropriate, of course.

"Well... I like math." I had to get that out there even if it was too subtle for his drunken brain, "So I know lots of girls who are good at it. I think the best one is Urbosa. She keeps her whole city running smoothly and sometimes that means doing math."

A small pucker appeared between Link's eyebrows as he considers my suggestion.

"I don't think that will work, Princess," He says slowly, "I think she only likes other ladies and I think she might notice that I'm not a very good lady. Besides, she's the closest thing the Princess has to a mother these days and it would probably be weird to be in love with your wife's pseudo-daughter. Don't worry. I'll think of someone."

At that astonishing announcement, Link turned on wobbly legs and shouted for Revali to pick a target. 

[anyrchyangel]

ATLA/MDZS

I never post here but here goes anyway xD

So ATLA has one of the best established “world rules” of any fictional series--imo it’s on par with Harry Potter in that the universal rules of the series could arguably be taken and transposed onto another story entirely.

And by all that I mean Avatar: the Last Airbender is rife for crossover material. So let’s go:

MDZS has some of the most complicated characters I’ve ever read--Wei WuXian and Jiang Cheng are arguably the most “human” characters I’ve ever read about, and I mean that in the best way possible. Jiang Cheng’s pride makes him so complex and yet so very relatable, and Wei WuXian’s self-sacrifice isn’t the most the relatable, but it’s mesmerizing in its own way and his journey of self destruction in the name of his morals and ideals is...breathtaking. Anyways, what I mean by all this is that MDZS characters are the perfect characters to put into a new world--a world with, say, amazingly establish “rules” like ATLA :3

You following? xD

So hear me out:

In ATLA, it’s mentioned by Iroh (Knower of All Things and Wisest of Firebenders) that the waterbenders are bound by a tight knit familial connection--that their bonds to family is what allow them to thrive in places as harsh as the North and South Poles. Familial piety is extremely important to JC and and Jiang Sect, so here’s my proposal:

YunMeng Jiang Sect as the most famous waterbending “tribe” (I don’t think waterbenders need to seclude themselves in the North and South Poles, and for this crossover I would most likely use the MXTX-verse Ancient Chinese map; but it is important to note that Yunmeng is canonically a port city/waterway intermediary) and the Jiang family is famous for producing powerful waterbenders. However (stay with me, it’s getting juicy now :3), Jiang Fangmien is canonically in a...rather unhappy marriage with Madam Yu of the  Ziyuan sect (her sect isn’t mentioned a lot in the novel, but let’s give it a little oomph, shall we? :3). 

What if we made Madam Yu and the Ziyuan sect famous firebenders, ones known most notably for their (hehe wait for it) purple lightning (you see where I’m going with this, right?). Madam Yu is a very interesting character but I think her effect on Jiang Cheng is even more interesting than her characterization. Madam Yu made JC believe that Jiang FengMian found JC lacking--that JC doesn’t understand the Jiang sect motto or what it means to be a true Jiang; let’s take that and amplify it. Let’s make JC a firebender and take after his mother--and even bigger and louder sign that JC and Jiang FengMian are intrinsically different.

If that wasn’t enough, let’s add some extra spice to this juicy tale (I’m enjoying myself so much right now xD): let’s make Wei WuXian a prodigal waterbender, descendant from two famous waterbenders (who had the same relationship with Jiang FengMian as they did in MXTX canon--and also their unfortunate ends). Which means that JC grew up with a waterbending master whom Jiang FengMian adores. Oof, poor JC--no matter how well he excels are firebending (come one, not everyone can produce lightning, especially not purple lightning! JC is a baddie too! ;A;) it will never matter to Jiang FengMian because...he’s not a firebender. He respects the element and its benders (his wife is a baddie too) but he’ll never love it the way he loves waterbending. That right there is some yummy angst and inferiority complex :3

So if WWX is a waterbender, you know for an absolute fact I’m gonna have to make him a bloodbender--come on, the parallel is like right there. 

But what about our honorable Hanguang-Jun? Don’t worry, I didn’t forget him :3 I think the Gusu clan would make excellent airbenders--their love of music and...well, their asceticism translates well to the nomadic and spiritual airbenders of ATLA. Aang was literally descendant of monks. Buddhist monks. LWJ’s ancestor, Lan An--who founded the Lan sect--was also a monk who (and correct me if I'm wrong, my MXTX-lore is...well it’s good but everyone makes mistakes) descended from heaven and found a partner to cultivate with (very romantic :3) and spend his life with.

ALSO (it gets better, I swear this crossover was meant to be [and I’m sure someone else has done it/will do it better than I ever could, but here’s my take on it]) the air nomads, at least from the temple Aang hailed from--and likely the rest of them, but I'm not sure if that’s canon confirmed--were vegetarians. Gusu dietary restrictions? Come on. It’s right there.

One more lovely little add-on: the arrow tattoos Aang is famous for? Those are given to airbending masters (fun fact, Aang received them because he invented a new airbending technique--the air scooter :3), but what if we take that lovely tradition and transpose it onto GusuLan? What if the arrow tattoos transform into cloud tattoos for the direct ancestors of the first air nomads? :3 And the guest disciples (such as Lan JingYi) wear forehead ribbons with the same pattern? This crossover was truly meant to be, I swear. 

So now we have:

 -Wei WuXian a waterbender/bloodbender (who is denounced by the world for his “heretical” and “demonic” technique)

-Jiang Cheng, a firebender leading a sect famous for waterbending with an intense inferiority complex to his shixiong (the cultivation familial honorifics are too lovely to leave out, but I will need extra research to make sure I’m using them right o.o)

-Lan WangJi, a master airbender (oh and for aesthetics, I’ll stick with the white and blue “mourning robes” of the MXTX Gusu sect instead of the...eye wateringly bright orange and yellow of the ATLA airbenders...sorry Aang, but LWJ looks downright ethereal in white and it's a crime to put him in orange) known for his love of music and righteousness. Oh and music + airbending is just ridiculously overpowered, which fits our icy Hanguan-Jun quite well, imo. (P.S. Lan Xichen is also a music lover and his Liebing is arguably just as famous as lwj’s guqin [zither? honestly I’m still confused about the difference]).

And now we need a plot to rip off :3

MXTX did such an amazing job with the cultivation world and the QishenWen sect, so why don’t we...merge the Fire Nation from ATLA with the Wen sect from MXTX? It fits better than you would think.

The Fire Nation sought to conquer the four nations under one banner (it was actually inspired by Imperial Japan in WWII) and that’s exactly what the Wen sect was trying to do (but honestly the Wen sect did a pretty...pisspoor job of it compared to the Fire Nation. Like, dude, the Fire Nation nearly won--if Aang had remained frozen for another year, the world would have been f*cked). 

The crossover wheels are turning :3 but, alas, I am riddled with writer’s block and the likelihood of this getting written is...well it’s not zero but it’s not very high either. I have a lot of other WIPs to work on >.<

So, I am sharing it with Tumblr (and,,,,idk whoever follows this account? Honestly I never post here so I doubt anyone will see this anyway but o.o whatever.) in the hopes that it either A) magically writes itself, B) inspires someone else to pick up the sad crumbs I’ve left behind, or C) somehow motivates me to work on this project. It’s by no means original--I’m sure other people have had this crossover idea, and I know I’ve seen some amazing fan art for it, but well, here’s my contribution ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

[westernchords]

2020: a replay & reflection

so... here we are at the near end of a very long, unsettling & strange year. and at this particular moment in time, spotify has released its 2020 wrapped feature, an annual highlight for gay people everywhere (self VERY included). since the world is very large & this is a personal blog with a limited scope, i'll talk about what i know best: the view from my corner of the musical world.

i only had two songs in common with any previous year -- i wish i missed my ex by mahalia & sugar by brockhampton (... i know, the heartache is loud already,)

4 unique rain asmr audios made it into my top 15 (they help me sleep lolol)

show tunes was my #4 most listened to genre and yet not a single one made it into my top 100. (i'm pretty sure it was all of my late night waitress sing alongs)

i discovered 1,012 new artists and 162 new genres

all very fun and interesting things! however, in looking at this year, there are two things to discuss that are most important: the amount of time i spent listening to music (111,989 minutes) and my top song, fake mona lisa. let's discuss both.

on time: in short, music means a lot to me. in long, i mean that music has been central to my life for as long as i can remember. i think of my church choir and my mother singing eartha kitt and corrine bailey rae in the kitchen, my father's surprise talents at piano when he would play in chapel, and how i like to make up little ditties to sing for my dog or while i cook or to solely entertain myself. if one was to take a look at my journals, each entry is annotated with the song i was listening to or suited my mood at the time i was writing. at any moment, i am capable of revisiting the emotional landscape of old memories all set to the very soundtrack that holds that particular past closest.

i still remember plucking violin strings at 5, how i used to stack music books so i could sit up straight on my piano bench because i was too short at 7, picking up woodwinds in highschool and letting my best friend act as conductor, and now, singing endlessly- day in and day out, because it makes me feel like i am traveling home. i think of creole folk songs that connect me to my family, my diaspora. i remember the favorite songs and artists of people i don't know anymore, but still. it stays with me. my friend cj says i have a great emotional sensitivity to music, but more so, music simply connects to every cornerstone of who i am. the creation of it, the listening, the love of it. the constancy.

music is integral to my daily routine and life. since i was 13, maybe younger, i have always believed that the first song i hear in a day sets the tone so i always try to play something i love and makes me feel joyful to start off on the right foot. i will do this my entire life. every day is permeated by sound and the data shows it. 111,989 minutes is almost 3 months straight. this doesn't even count soundcloud listens or youtube tracks or music i play on my own. this felt fitting. music, this year in particular, has been a salve to both new and old hurt. and maybe i am picking at my scabs, but 2020 has amplified so much anger and shame and fear and despite that, there is so much joy in art. music is a balm for the world, it is poetry in its own right.

on fake mona lisa: so .. i am kind of obsessed with this song. fifteen hours worth of listening, i text my friends i'll join the video call soon - i just need one more replay, i got high and played this song while lying in the middle of a meadow and experienced more emotions than i had had in a very long time, my friends lovingly tease me about it so it's sort of like a character trait now, kind of obsessed. my turning to this song was the sort of romance that i didn't anticipate, but fell very hard into and, if you know me, you know that's my favorite kind. let's get into why: when dedicated side b came out, i was heartbroken. there's really no other way to put it. i was alone, back in my childhood bedroom, and harboring a reopened wound from past relationships that maybe had never closed in the first place. i was in this strange, melancholic knee-deep-in-emotions place & if you're an avid CRJ fan, you recognize that's a place she knows and sings about well.

as a song, fake mona lisa tends to be one of carly's more lyrically opaque tracks. which is fine, i'm a storyteller at heart, i'll craft my own narrative. (and honestly, there wasn't much legwork here.) without doing a full blown analysis, here are pieces that i find important to note about the song lyrically and resonate most with me -- big or small.

(transcription at bottom)

what i'm basically saying is that this song is about risk and young love and sex. its about secrets, cheap thrills, fast & easy desires, and the fantastical euphoria of a dead-end-but-still-fun “we're young so what's the matter,“ relationship. (very reminiscent of LA hallucinations, imo) and to me, someone who has been in and out of this same subset of emotional affairs, fake mona lisa stuck with me. vegas is a city of high risk, high reward- where else to chase that superficial, unattainable someone? more so, the song gives you the understanding that the relationship doesn't last, but that was not what carly ever truly wanted out of it. fake mona lisa is, at its core, about over indulgence in pleasure as a stand in for actual love + commitment, something i am oft to do myself & only did more of after dedicated side b dropped. i latched onto the slow and simmering exposition into glittery pre-chorus, starlit imagery, shiny-faraway vocals, and frankly, there was no competition for my song of the year. the song is a dream. i love it and i know what that says about me, but i stand by it. 

dedicated side b, especially fake mona lisa, carried me through the healing process of heartbreaks that crystallized into many other things- indulgence, desire, risk, short lived romances, secrets, joy, kisses i should've kept to myself, spontaneous dance breaks, tears, etc., it is an album about love, recovery, and returning to the self. fake mona lisa is just my favorite stop on a long train ride to an okay-ness with aspects of romance (both with the self and others) that i am still figuring out the messy, rose-tinted, contours of.

and sonically? i just adore the key of d minor.

as a last touch point, fake mona lisa was only the tip of the iceberg of songs  i obsessed over about not-exactly-ideal romances. again and again and again, heartbreak anthems appeared in my top 100, a deviation from my typical warmth towards romantic sentiments that appeared in past years. instead, there is a sense of love-at-a-distance, a painting yourself as the object of desire, a severed attachment, a not wanting to commit at all (see let's be friends, heartbeat, want you in my room, all by crj ... all appearing on the list.) however, much of what appeared celebrated love and having tremendous, special, struck by cupid, feelings. it's all there. what i'm saying is that carly rae jepsen writes music for lovestruck people- both lucky and not so much, hopeless or hopeful -- you name it. she writes about how you can fall in love with almost anyone, soundtracks for the highs of the first throes of intimacy, the first (and last) kiss, the shared moments between two people when they are each other's whole world, and the palpable distance of heartache, separation, and the landscape between. 

she writes as though she is both eros and psyche, armed with arrows of cascading melodies, tipped with a salve for suppressing+healing+amplifying heartbreak, and lyrics so intimate and dreamy, you really can't help but believe in love with the way she speaks of it. love is a venture from shame, a fantasy that is more real than anything else, tender and kind, pleasurable, and escapable into. the world is better in it, the world is better because of it. in carly rae jepsen's discography, love is the defining pillar of experience. a northern star and guiding principle. it is the only thing, no matter what form. & frankly? i cant help but agree.

as a final note, in hanif wills-abdurraqib's emotion review for MTV, carly rae jepsen's public displays of affection, he says this:

thats all for now. bye 2020.

- august

///

transcription of my notes:

verse 1:

city/star light imagery

i am known for wearing a star stamp on my cheek

infatuation & attraction

paints a photo of a starlet and her lover, a fair weather affair

pre-chorus:

always waiting fro a chance the object of desire

a high from love, addictive pleasures

chorus:

sex & art & risk taking (art synonymous with beauty. + seduction)

she knows she cant handle this in a real way, but wants it

desire vs/& (in conjunction with) pain

verse 2:

an idealistic worldview, hoping for the best, always somewhere else not present. 

dreamy lyrics + dreamy state of mind, cloudy even.

specifically the words fake mona lisa:

contrast, beautiful yet fully acknowledged to be unreal/superficial

a stand in for “real art“ aka “real love“