#so my challenge is to find someone who will take me as an apprentice

[faithfromanewperspective]

the thing is, when I think about graduating from my degree in 18 months time, I think of the relief of finishing high school that we felt when we realised we’d never have to do some of those subjects again. don’t get me wrong, I love what I’m studying, but the endless pile of tasks and assignments and new information I’m bombarded with and everything being on my computer and in my notebooks and doing nothing with my hands—that I could do without. at work I always struggled with the fact that I don’t have an end date—there was no end of semester when all my assignments were done, it was just another task on top of another task and up to me to manage how I fit them into my schedule and they’d often roll over the summer break too—there was no big celebration when each task was done, and I need to celebrate the satisfaction. I also need to see a time on the horizon when all of the things taking up my mental load are finished, and in an office job, you don’t have that. but with a university degree, you do.

I’ve come to realise that maybe I’m good at thinking and solving problems and shit but when it comes to basic tasks, maybe I just cant do them and maybe that’s okay. sure, there are more medications and I can work through my traumas that distract me all day when I don’t feel the drive of purpose and the promise of relief from at least one of my burdens more than I have—but in the end, it’s going to be years and years of struggling for something I may never be good at and there is no obligation associated with sunk cost. I’ve done all the studying I need to to start up a not for profit and I’ll probably work a few contract gigs in the industries I’m trained in but damn it I need an end date in every job that I work for anyone so I can know I won’t feel like this forever.

this is why any kind of non white collar job is so enthralling to me. anything that’s about helping people and you get to see the reward when it’s done and you have a happy client and money in your pocket that I can see and actually associate with the job that got done. it’s like doing the laundry, in theory at least. I know people are going to judge me. I know my universities are going to be disappointed in me. but I can make my degrees useful in my not for profit and I can also choose a life for myself that’s simpler on my brain—which is always going to be hyperactive and laser driven on altruistic causes to the point of neglecting anything else. and you know what? if I can earn money at all that’s a win. if this is what it takes to design sustainable cities properly—and I can simply reach out to people working in industries I’m training for rather than working for them forever too—while having a perspective that no one else does because who the fuck does a trade after a master’s degree—then maybe I’ve found the gap in the market or whatever you want to call it. if I have to be cold and emotionless in a job, at least I can do something where I’m in contact with the people living in communities and sustain myself off making them feel better. at least I won’t have to rein in my active hands as well as my sidetracked mind. at least maybe I can see new places every day. maybe there’s a life for me where it’s better than the suffering of the manic grind I’ve put myself through for almost two decades.

[mylevisdontfitanymore]

A mix of the posts I see about Sebastian bulking for The Apprentice and Chris being in NYC for filming The Materialists have me thinking up my first-ever evanstan nonsense 🥺

I know they're both in long-term relationships now. Chris just got married, I knowwww, but let me wallow in this like a pig in the mud 😭🤣

I'm just saying that it would be awfully convenient for Chris to stay with Sebastian in his New York City apartment while he films... Plus, I would like to think that they already have a relationship going here. It's pre-established. Another thing I see about Sebastian on Tumblr is his submissive tendencies. There are so many signs and they make me all melt. So, they're together for the few months it takes to film The Materialists while Seb is prepping for his own film and they have their low-key dom Chris and sub Seb dynamic going.

Evanstan belly kink weirdness below! Warnings for slight weight-related insecurities (that are quickly smoothed over by Chris), kink discovery, sub!Sebastian/dom!Chris, weight gain, stuffing, etc.

One afternoon on a weekend when neither of them is required to be anywhere, they're just having a slow afternoon in as Seb confesses to Chris, finally, that doing this sugar-heavy diet - shotgunning cokes and snacking seemingly constantly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - is kind of awful. He knows he shouldn't pout or complain because he's doing it to himself. He decided to take this film; he's the one who suggested that he physically go for it rather than relying on a fat suit like he did with Lee Bodecker; further, he shouldn't complain because it should be nicer and easier than his usual pre-filming routine. Like, he complains so much about his crazy diets and workout regime for every other role he takes (having defined abs is a job in of itself, after all). So, really, it should be nice to relax and stop restricting so hard. But it isn't.

Seb vents to Chris many more things, too. For example, not only how surprisingly tiring it is, he feels lethargic all the time, but also how much work it is to make room for all this food in his stomach. Even when he was bulking up and waking up in the middle of the night to eat a whole chicken breast, keeping his protein up, he didn't feel like he had to stretch his stomach in the way he has to now. Plus... he's kind of scared, he admits as he fiddles with his shirt, that he won't "bounce back" and if he never looks the way he did before, his career will go south. Hollywood is so vain. Even more frightening is his thoughts that maybe Chris won't like him as much if he can't go back to his old body after this.

Logically, Seb knows most of his thoughts aren't true but he needs someone else to say it back to him to verify those things. He's searching for something, someone in particular, to calm his swirling thoughts.

Chris does more than verify what he needs to hear - that he'll be okay, that it is hard to make such a drastic lifestyle change, that it is challenging to bulk with fat as much as it is to bulk with muscle, he's seen him struggle every day he's been here, and that, of course, his body doesn't matter to him. Seb can look however and Chris is still going to love him. Further, he can look however and he'd still find him sexy as hell. Chris reminds him extensively, until Seb is blushing, how he couldn't keep his hands off of him when he was filming Pam & Tommy and was the tiniest he's ever been, but also how fucking terrible filming Civil War was because all Chris wanted to do was shove Seb into the nearest dressing room and have his way with him rather than reciting lines. Not to mention, of course, every other role with every other body type he's had while they've been together. Chris can't get enough of him, not matter what the shape of his body is. But...

Seeing how pouting Seb is at that moment, Chris wonders out loud if it might help him feel better if this weight gain wasn't just for work. What if it was recreational, too?

Seb doesn't understand at first what Chris means but with more explanation, he does.

Oh.

What Chris means is that what if rather than just having to put on weight for work... what if they played a game like they do in the bedroom where Chris makes the orders up and Seb follows them until he's shivering with the feeling of being obedient and good. Not having any control, ceding it all to his boyfriend, and being praised for his subservience just the way he craves in exchange. In the bedroom, being taken care of how he needs to be, held by the back of the neck, stern, with a voice in his ear, firm and inarguable. Shit, Seb always leaves his body when Chris gets like that with him.

If Seb wants to play, Chris could order him to eat and eat until his stomach aches like he already has been doing. But it will be different because it will be because Chris told him to. And it'll be different, hotter, because if he does what Chris says, Chris can soothe his upset tummy however he sees fit. A reward for following orders. Chris can rub his belly for being a good boy and doing what he told him to. Devouring everything he told him to eat. Chris can kiss the apex of his rounded, stuffed belly and trail hotter, sloppier kisses down until he's hidden behind the taut hill of his stomach, sucking his dick until Seb busts down his throat. Chris can fuck Seb on all fours to let him feel what he did for him, how good he is, his belly hanging and jiggling underneath him without an ounce of shame because he did it for his boyfriend - feeling extra stuffed than he already does when he's fucked by Chris' thick cock.

Not to mention how, if that was the case with Seb eating for him and not some production, when Seb looks in the mirror, rather than being reminded of work and how exhausting it is, he'll be reminded of Chris. He will see his reflection widened, softened, and changed with evidence of what a good boy he is. His boyfriend's marks visible on his body in a way that they usually can't risk - no hickeys or bite marks anywhere that paparazzi can catch. Not even any mark as innocent as holding hands! Further, unlike a hickey, a bite mark, a collar... that weight can't be faded as easy. Chris' mark on him will last.

Chris has always been a little possessive, Seb is familiar with it and often enjoys it seeing as the possessiveness comes out as roughing him up, taking more control, and fucking harder. Ngh. And so, Seb can wrap his brain around why the weight would be sexy to Chris. He can believe him whereas before he was having trouble understanding what about being fat would be sexy to his unbelievably attractive boyfriend. Literally movie-star-hot. Talking like this, he can see it in Chris's eyes - they're locked onto him, the tiniest hint of a smirk on his lips, and one of his eyebrows is raised. His expression turned on and dangerous but with just enough of a question to let Seb know that if he refuses, he won't push or bring it up again and they will go back to normal.

Seb isn't sure if he can go back to normal after those words, though. Jesus.

Evidence of Chris on his body. All over his body. Not something he can take off easily yet something everyone can see. PLUS, God, the thought of Chris rewarding him, giving him treats, to coincide with daily orders? Seb isn't sure he'll survive. He'll be floating through days in a cloud of arousal, he can feel it already, just knowing that he's constantly pleasing his boyfriend, fulfilling his orders.

Possibly it's Seb's background experience of giving up control to Chris and getting his rocks off as a result that's giving this the appeal it has. But maybe... maybe there's something bigger here.

Bigger.

Something bigger like his ass. His ass that's been feeling considerably wider every time Chris can't resist but give him a teasing spank when they pass each other in his tiny apartment or the way he gropes him whenever they fall into bed now, taking handfuls of it. His flesh jiggles now in a way he didn't before and, suddenly, like a switch flipped right here, sitting on the couch with his boyfriend and talking, he's curious about how it would feel for there to be more meat on his bones. More fluff for Chris's big, strong hands to sink into. More to jiggle. He's...

Seb's mouth is dry, feeling like needs a drink. A coke?

He feels abruptly, intensely sexy in his own skin at the same time that he's thinking about getting bigger. Bigger and better to drive Chris insane with, flaunting how he can follow orders eagerly, not just eating as much as he tells him to but relishing in the eating, stuffing himself fast and moaning through bites, begging for belly rubs just to keep him close and have his hands on his body, exploring all the ways he's changing it to satisfy him. Gaining weight faster and faster, all to feel it but especially to hear Chris's praise and moans if he ever gets big enough for Chris to really fuck his pecs when he gets big enough for Chris to fuck his moobs.

Can we just admire how he squirms when he blushes? 🥴

[lettheladylead]

Hi! I was looking through Magica De Spell’s Wikipedia page today and it says that Magica has a sister named the Wicked Witch of the West, who has children named Witch Child and Warlock. I couldn’t find any information of them online so I was wondering if you knew anything about them, if they exist at all.

If they don’t, do you think you could instead do a character post on Magica’s cousin Matilda? Your old family tree posts helped me a lot in understanding Duck lore.

Aw I'm glad those posts help!! I'm still down for making them 'cause it's a lot of fun for me to find old comics and do some research.

So before I talk about Witch Child, I wanna clarify some things that are relevant to the character.

This is another case where Americans can't stop themselves from taking "sister" and "aunt" literally. Aunt can be used to refer to any older woman in someone's life. Sister is frequently used in stories about witches (because a coven is like a sisterhood/sorority, it's a whole thing). Neither imply blood relation! Even "cousin" is often used to refer to friends/neighbors. Different cultures and languages treat words like that very differently than Americans do.

Witch Child, Warlock, & Witch of the West are all from a very specific time period of Brazilian duck comics where Magica and Madam Mim (from The Sword and the Stone) were living together/dating/???? and interacted with other Disney movie characters. In this specific timeline, the ducks live amongst regular humans which is very strange but you just gotta accept it. Magica also lives in Duckburg I think? It seems like she and Scrooge just run into each other randomly so I believe she and Mim have a house in Duckburg for whatever reason

"Witch Child" is not her name and I don't know why she's referred to like that on InDucks/other wikias. Her name in Brazil (where she was created) is Magali, in Italian she's Maghetta/Maghina/Streghella (inconsistent names in translations are very common), and in French she's Seraphine. None of her comics have an official English publication so again idk where "Witch Child" comes from! But I'll probably refer to her as Streghella for the remainder of this post 'cause it's easier that way.

OKAY now for details:

In Streghella's first comic, Magica gets a letter from a friend asking her and Madam Mim to babysit her friend's daughter. Streghella is whiny and rude and a troublemaker. She ruins a magical career opportunity for Magica and it's pretty funny

Then there's a whole bunch of comics where she just appears for no reason, making trouble. She's a surprisingly powerful witch but she just loves to piss everyone off, especially Mim.

Another important note about Streghella - she was only really drawn by two comic artists during the height of her appearances (in the 70s, pretty much). The above drawings were all done by an artist named Jim Fletcher. But she had a lot of appearances drawn by an artist named Glenn Schmitz, who drew her completely differently.

I don't know if I would've realized these were even the same character if it wasn't documented lol but y'know they didn't have the same resources in the 70s that we have now so they did what they could.

Anyway, from what I can tell her personality stayed mostly in tact through most of these comics. Whiny, stuck-up, nosy, but also very funny and magically powerful. She would occasionally interact with Scrooge or HDL but mostly her appearances were in Magica and Mim comics.

Oh there's one comic where she looks like this for some reason?

BUT THEN what's interesting is Streghella making a few appearances years after her comics all came out. First there was one comic in 1995, then twice in 2011 and once more in 2016. There's also apparently a 2020 appearance but I couldn't get my hands on it :(

In her 1995 appearance she looks really cute but her personality is, well. Personality-wise she's completely unrecognizable. Now Magica makes comments about Streghella always trying to be good and getting in trouble for being good all the time.

(Ignore the bad english translation I was just popping pages into google translate lol)

She's still a troublemaker in the sense that she tries to trick Magica and Mim into consuming a potion that will make them good, kind people. But then the comic ends with Magica doing something nice by choice and it's cute but yeah the character is nothing like her original self.

Her first 2011 comic is where she...wants to go to a Jonas Brothers concert and chats with April May & June online to try and make it happen. Something like that. It follows along with "Streghella is too kind and Magica tries to teach her to be evil" from the '95 comic, but for some reason the colorist made Streghella a brunette. Idk! They also forgot her iconic hat!

Next 2011 comic has Huey Dewey and Louie accidentally traveling to a magic academy. It's very Harry Potter-y? I guess? Streghella is friendly and does some magic. You can tell it's her 'cause of the pigtails and bows. But still no hat :(

In her 2016 appearance, she's been reading April May and June's blog and wants to help them with some problem. Magica is like no be mean and Streghella's like no I want to help! You get it.

This comic is pretty fun. Magica turns herself into Grandma Duck and puts a truth potion into some cake Streghella bakes for the Duck Family and gets a bunch of secrets out of them.

There's also a joke at the end where Daisy accidentally reveals Brigitta's age to everyone (we don't get to see it) but according to this comic, Brigitta is much older than she looks lol Not that we didn't already know that.

Anyway so that's all there is to know about Witch Child/Streghella. She's cute!

Warlock time!

Warlock is Streghella's brother. He's only in four comics total and they're mostly very early comics - his real name is just whatever Streghella's name was at the time but with an -o at the end. If she's Maghetta, he's Maghetto. If she's Maghina, he's Maghino. You get it. He'd probably be Streghello if he had a named appearance more recently.

His personality is not very distinct from Streghella's. He's also magical and a troublemaker. In his first comic he arrives in the mail, in a, like...little jail cell? Crate? Idk? And then Magica and Mim eventually box both kids up into the crate and ship them away.

(Yes that's supposed to be him, apparently.)

He appears in the magic school comic as well...

And that's it! There's not really anything else to know about him.

Last but not least...the Witch of the West! Actually, that's a lie. Least. She appears just the one time. And I'm gonna be honest. I don't think she's the biological mother of these bird children.

'Cause yeah she's a human witch. Idk if she's from another Disney property or if she's supposed to be the witch from the Wizard of Oz. Idk man. But Streghella calls her "mama" and she refers to Streghella as her daughter so I'll take those ones literally.

There's nothing much to say about her - she doesn't have a name and all she does is drop her kid off with Magica and then reappear when Mim and Magica threaten to lock Streghella inside a bottle.

NOW if you're wondering...how do these characters connect to the previously known characters that are related to Magica De Spell?

They do not! The fact that Streghella has made a few recent appearances means you can decide how you want her to fit in, but trying to blend these different canons will not be seamless. You just gotta take what you like. Streghella frequently refers to herself as Magica's apprentice so you can always take that route, too.

Aaaaaaaaaand since you asked, I'm happy to talk about Matilda! God there are too many Matildas in duck comics. I have never met a woman named Matilda in my life. It's fine.

Matilda De Spell (not an official name but I call her that anyway) - Magica's teenage cousin! Is she actually, biologically, Magica's cousin? Probably not. But it's fiiiiiiine.

I did actually scanlate all three comics that Matilda appears in, so you can read them if you'd like:

There's not really anything to know about her outside of these comics. She's tomboyish, spunky, fun. Really looks up to Magica. I think their dynamic is fun and I always like to see more teen characters lol I think I've portrayed Matilda as Amelia De Spell's younger sister but that's definitely not canon, just me trying to stick the blondes together.

Anyway sorry this ended up being such a long response. I haven't had the opportunity to research random duck characters in a while. I hope this has the answers you wanted :)

[starss-artss]

Stolen Stars

Song rewrite: This Wish

Heya :D

I finally finished rewriting the song "This Wish".

The instrumental of the song sounds nice, but most of the original lyrics are odd and didn't really make sense? And I didn't really connect with Asha's character.

Anyway, here's some context (all of this is wip and needs to be fleshed out more):

SS!Asha is the apprentice to king Magnifico, and in a way got adopted by him and queen Amaya after her last family member, her grandfather, passed away when she was thirteen. Both her parents passed away in her childhood, first her mother, then her father.

As Asha got older, she became more reserved, quiet, selfless and mature. She mostly kept things to herself and always put everyone else before her.

Over the years she had seen and heard strange things, especially in the castle, that she could never really explain, but they did make her question a few things. However, she didn't want to seem like a weirdo or ungrateful so she just kept quiet. And everyone seemed...happy, so what's the problem? Still, she had this tiny feeling that something wasn't right.

During a wish ceremony on her 17th birthday, the king and queen made her give her wish away. The reasons they gave her was that it was a birthday gift and that they wanted to "try something new".

Sometime after the ceremony, Asha follows a disembodied voice into the castle and finds a part of a secret plan Magnifico and Amaya have. Where she discovers that the wishes were never actually being granted and that they're planning to become all powerful to take over the world.

Everything that had happened to Asha in her childhood and what she had found out about the royals obviously was too much for her. And not just that, the moment she gave her wish away, she felt empty and desperate, and didn't feel like herself.

Her friends wanted to talk with her, to try and find out what's wrong, but a bad argument happened between them and Asha. And it pushed her over the edge. So she runs deep into the forest, believing that she has nothing left now.

Out of desperation, she makes a wish on a star for the first time in years...

-----

I was told my worries would be free

Yet I still feel so heavy-hearted

If I could show them everything I've seen

I'd risk their lives, so is it even right to try it?

But when I speak, they ask me, "What's wrong?"

And I'm done waiting for the dream that's just not coming

I cannot hide this now

For I see all that is wrong

But I lost myself and I am on my own...

So I turn towards the stars above me

And hope I receive some kind of sign

Because I know that there is someone who is listening

Who'd rise up here beside me when it's time

Will you grant this wish?

And give them something more like hope and bliss?

Will you grant this wish?

And give them something more to live than this?

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, ah-ah

More than this, oh-ah-ah-ah

We had these sparks inside us all aglow

We could live, we could thrive with the light that makes us whole

But the sparks that were returned were always foul

We will all have a woe, and if not stopped will overflow

If I could shake away all these hesitations

On where to even begin

Maybe I would be able to change

The wave of darkness coming in

And all I'm asking for is a sign, a star who tells me what to do

My heart is breaking, but my head's held high

The only way to make it through...

...So I turn towards the stars above me

And just hope I'll receive some kind of sign

I know there will be challenges that find me

And I faced them on alone all the time

Will you grant this wish?

And give them something more like hope and bliss?

Will you grant this wish?

And give them something more to live than this?

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah (Is it worth the risk?)

Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, ah-ah (Oh, to grant this wish?)

More than this, oh, ah-ah-ah

Will you grant this wish

And give them something more to live than this...?

((Will you grant this wish...))

((...And give me something more...to live...than this...?))

____

I imagine that this version sounds more sad and gets more and more desperate. And that the song ends on a more quiet note.

(Also, I am not a songwriter. So, I'm sorry if some lines sound off lol)

Thank you for reading :D

[clangenrising]

Hey! I sent an ask a while all the way back in February under anon praising your work, and I had been trying to follow along ever since but kept falling behind so I've just been reading a bunch of your pieces in a row in few-day bursts until I'm caught up to present lol. Anyway just now was the most recent burst I had finished, and I just gotta say. Yeah wow. Capital W Wow and the W stands for Winning. The way you're so committed to portraying real, almost tangible nuance in all your characters. How they all have deep reasons why they act the way they do but they start to be confronted and conflicted about the flaws in their views, the journeys they have to take to either change that or figure out if they even want to.

Namely with Ghost in the recent piece. Ever since I was introduced to him I knew there was more to him than just his blind following of his flawed society, that there has always been room for him to question his actions from the very start of the story and it may have always been there in him as a little inkling of an idea. But Fogpaw's confrontation was the moment that had really solidified it for him, driving it home even further since Smokyrose's death which also had to have taken a toll on his ability to trust his own thoughts (Been a while since I've read those pieces though so memory is fuzzy and I'm guessing there). He's someone who strikes me as someone who's always subconsciously suspected he's flawed, but never let it be an actual consideration until those actions he let himself carry out started having terrible consequences. And now he has to look back and face everything he's ever done, knowing full well he may never be forgiven by anybody he's wronged, but he still has the want to change for himself and I find that so inspiring. Having to face all those mistakes, learning just how much of your life you spent treating people unfairly... being confronted with all of that at once AND trying his best to make up for it all WHILE dealing with a new disability and terrible ear pain... it's no wonder he's deathly tired lol.

But the other character I want to highlight is the one who's been here and significant from the beginning - Scorch! A lot of people have talked a lot about her already but I'm in my own analysis flow state and I wanna ramble about how good of a character she is too. The walls and defenses she had to put up to protect herself, the lies she had to stick to to make other people believe things she didn't just to make sure she wouldn't die in the city... Razor's power over her and how nothing she did could convince him to truly loosen his grip on her during her time in the city, or even after she escaped and found RisingClan... The masks she has to plaster on herself and cycle through, and how the people who know her can just see right through them anyway... She's a person with immense trauma and like a solid two-thirds of her entire personality is a complex trauma response, but it served her well and protected her and so she keeps it up, and she even teaches a little of it and the affected worldview it gave her to her apprentice Fogpaw who is more confused than anything else haha. That's a very interesting dynamic too, someone who is thoroughly convinced every interaction is some kind of transaction where the other person always wants something in particular from you, and the other person who can't even fathom why or how interaction would work like that at all. Fogpaw is her perfect foil, someone who challenges her views and all the walls she's had to keep up more bluntly, and it's a very beneficial mentor-apprentice pairing that pushes them both to be better and that's a very amazing and interesting thing to see. How the student has things to teach their teacher in return.

It's just. The way I can read these character's thoughts and FULLY understand why they think in the ways they do and how those ways of thinking make sense to them... It's like I am quite literally transported into their mind in full and that is NOT an easy thing to do in writing at all. Most of the time you're just kind of a spectator, looking into a character's thoughts just to know why they do certain actions. But to understand the thoughts themselves, to see the full picture and possibly even a bit beyond it, to know the characters inside and out and see their worldviews and be like "Oh yeah, I see exactly how they came to those conclusions!" AND have those views be riddled with flaws in a way that makes everything feel SO realistic and tangible... That's like. Not just anyone can do that. Your hard work in developing these silly complex kitties has paid off in full, Rowan. Be proud of yourself, I simply demand it. lmao

AAA Thank you! this ask makes me so happy, I really appreciate you taking the time to say this all, it means a lot to me. 50 RisingBucks to you haha

[paradox-destroyer]

Today was weird.

I went to Cascarrafa, and immediately had to go on a wild Swanna chase because the gym leader was already booking it out of town to Porto Marinada by the time I got to the building.

One of the employees at the gym needed someone to get the wallet to him, so I offered, but only because I didn't want to postpone the gym battle for this.

Kofu's got stamina for days, too... I'm used to running long distances but damn.

Pompadour was there though because of-fucking-course he was, and offered to give me a ride to Porto Marinada on Koraidon. Actually he insisted; said he didn't want me trekking through the Asado Desert on foot.

I ended up taking the offer, and I... think I caught glimpse of the Quaking Earth Titan in the distance. I know the territory's in that desert.

... I'm hoping that it's my imagination, though. Because if that... THING, is a titan...

... I'm... gonna need a LOT of time, to prepare for that one...

Anyway, we get to Porto Marinada, and find Kofu, and before I could even get a word in edgewise, this pompous trainer who calls himself Kofu's apprentice starts going off on me disturbing him, and challenges me to a fucking battle!

After Foongus wiped the floor with his Floatzel and Clauncher though, I was finally able to talk to Kofu to return the wallet.

Then Kofu found a rare type of seaweed at the auction in Porto Marinada and had ME bid for it on his behalf?? At least he gave me the money to do it...

He also let me keep any of the money leftover and also gave me some of the seaweed too, when he found out I liked to cook, he even gave me some of the seaweed to work with.

... He seems nice. If not a bit silly.

Anyway the battle went pretty well; Foongus took care of most of it. Crabrawler wanted a hand in it though, so he went up against Kofu's Crabominable. It wasn't an easy match, but we did win in the end.

[Photo ID - a printed photograph showing Arven closest to the camera, and Kofu in the distance, standing on one foot. Arven had had his hand positioned in a way that made it look like Kofu fit in the palm of his hand. He was looking away slightly, rolling his eyes.]

That's four gyms down, so I'm halfway through the gym challenge already. Which is... Crazy.

I'm starting to feel like I'm making good progress.

[lya-dustin]

I Sang of Leaves of Gold

chapter 5

cw: pregnancy, mentions of childbirth inducing practices

Their bond went both ways.

She could hear and feel what he felt, and Mairon could use it to spy on his enemies. Not that Erinti could provide much information about the elves as a child, but it gave him an excuse to remember how life had been before Melkor seduced him to the darkness.

And then Melian cast her girdle and taught her how protect herself from him. Now the child had grown into a queen who put every teaching of Melian’s to use.

There were moments he could take advantage of the times she’d let her guard down. Rare and not as useful as he needed them to be, though still as entertaining as her adventures as a child in Doriath.

There was order in the kingdoms she ruled over though she was too fond of letting nature decide its place, Erinti and her oaf of a husband were so disgustingly in love that it was a major contribution to Lindon’s over-abundant nature and that Mairon’s nephew would be born any moment.

Lúthien had not been a son to command Thingol’s armies, Lúthien had not the prowess of Thingol nor her kinsmen like a son would. Gil-Galad would raise his heir to take after him, the boy would have his mother’s power and his father’s training.

His nephew could not be allowed to grow into adulthood nor his mother be allowed to interfere with Mairon’s plans.

“Do you have any family?” Galadriel asks, believing the lies he feeds her.

Half-truths that make him sound like the brooding and angry lost king and not Melkor's true successor. It had been rather easy, Mairon had expected more of a challenge from Melian’s apprentice and Gil-Galad’s most trusted general. But Galadriel the Orc Killer was desperate for an army, to vanquish the enemy right under her nose and prove to all she is not mad for thinking her husband and child are still alive and seeking to avenge her brothers.

“A sister who has washed her hands of me. Her husband loathes me and encouraged her to cut ties with me. Last I heard, she was with child and every sign pointed it be the perfect little prince her husband needs.” Halbrand was almost foolproof, Numenor’s own prejudice against the men of the south and east had ensured his lie would not be exposed by their lore masters.

Erinti had truly washed her hands of him when he refused the summons to Valinor and repent at Manwë’s feet. No one save her insufferable husband had known she’d sought him out.

It was easy for her to say he should repent, easy for someone who had never strayed from Eru’s light and never desired anything worthwhile to ask him, the new Dark Lord, to cast away all he could have to grovel like a dog.

And yet, Mairon’s fea was removed from its hroa by the same crown he made himself while the All-father had given Erinti a crown and a kingdom that worships her as if she were Yavanna herself.

Lothíriel, Queen of the Noldor.

Even the Numenoreans loved the fucking story of the Elf King finding true love with the Flower Maiden. Halbrand likes the story well enough, but Mairon hates how they paint Orodreth’s whelp as somehow worthy of an Ainur. The elf was barely out of leading strings when they crowned him for fuck’s sake, he only got lucky because Mairon’s sister had her head filled with stories thanks to Melian’s influence.

“Have you considered using your ties to this mortal king to take back your kingdom? An alliance with you should have been beneficial to him.” The blonde elf takes the vague information he gives her and goes on none the wiser.

“He would never go for it; our quarrel goes as far as the days of our predecessors. The Queen holds no real blood ties to me, he’s made sure no one knows she is my younger sister.” All knew Erinti as Melian’s sister, but no one dared to mention him. He wondered if the woman here knew about it.

“With Numenor’s backing, you may change all of that. Do you not wish to see your sister again?” Galadriel did not need much leading, she was like a shark having smelt blood in the water.

“More than anything.”

He cannot have Middle Earth as long as his sweet sister lives.

There is to be a feast for the dwarven delegation and Eregion’s to celebrate the breaking ground of Celebrimbor’s forge.

Not quite so large and yet enough to have the Maia Queen be fussed about by her attendants and husband as she goes about organizing it.

Erinti has been enjoying this activity, she gets to leave her confinement and know her hostess capabilities will ensure everything is fine until Gil-galad brings up the mithril the dwarves are hiding. The maia will smooth things over or Elrond will do it seeing as he and Durin have mended things between them.

They are alone again, he at his desk his crown already put away, his robe discarded showing off his broad and firm upper body and his wife rubbing his shoulders to get him to stop seeing to the needs of his people so he can focus on hers. She had worn her most enticing nightgown, teased him to no end so he would be in the mood and almost succeeded until something took his attention away from her.

“One of the midwives suggested intercourse to hasten the birth since my attempts barely succeeded.” The red-haired woman mentions to her husband, who cocked an elegant eyebrow and turned his face towards her willing to hear out why she is considering it.

Their marital duties had yet to be prohibited by the head midwife and they could get away with lying as to how they made their little prince come before the full year had passed. They may have to do it if they wish to remain in Middle Earth for another century at the least.

Erinti even promised to be a model patient when they beget their daughter in the near future if they helped her induce the labor now that there is only half a moon left in her pregnancy.

“As tempting as the chance to avoid the feast is, we cannot risk your health nor that of the babe.” The king shoots down her idea as if she had not asked beforehand to counter him.

“Not when I am so close to my time, besides it would not hurt to have Finnellach in his cradle instead of my womb if we are denied the mithril.” Erinti’s hand on his shoulder moves up his neck and tilts his face towards hers to keep Gil-galad from looking away and refusing.

He could not say no to that, too much was at stake here.

“Do you really think King Durin would refuse us?” the king asks fearing the worst and holding onto hope by a hair. Gil-galad is not the arrogant high king with her, not here when they are each other’s peace.

“If it means putting at risk the safety of his own people he would. You would do the same in his place, I suppose.” It is not comforting to hear, but it is perhaps the only reason it could happen.

The king weighed all his options and gently took the fair hand at his chin to place it over his beating heart. He does to show her that even when he denies her something, he does it out of love. “I couldn’t bear to lose you, nor our son.”

“Even Mandos could not part me from you, my love.” The queen leaned down to kiss him tenderly, assuring him he would not lose her in this new perilous chapter of their lives.

Darkness had returned and they could not afford to leave Middle Earth to whoever succeeded Morgoth.

Tis a shame Elrond may have to break his oath, but they would not be doing this if they had a choice. Still, they only need a small piece of the ore, Erinti is sure they do not need a talisman for every single elf in creation like Celebrimbor believes.

“Will you finally tell Elrond what we have been keeping from him?” She hadn’t wanted to bring this up, but this secrecy was driving a wedge between the king and his herald, Erinti could not bear it if the two men in her life were at odds with each other.

How is she to truly begin her confinement if their son has no idea of what is truly going around him? Elrond was her child as much as the one in her womb, this worry that there will be a rift between her husband and son does not leave her.

“After the feast, I promise. I found the legend Elrond composed when we visited Khazad-düm the first time on the chance we are overheard.” He shows her the painstakingly transcribed tale that hid the little-known fact that Maglor’s corpse with a scorched hand had been found in an underground river deep inside the mountain and not the tale he and Elrond had composed themselves.

The Roots of Hithaelgir, a very pretty lie to hide the ugly truth from the world and, most importantly, those who would betray King Durin and his house for a Silmaril.

No one save for the four of them were aware of the true origin of that Silmaril embedding itself into their mountain. Better they believe it is just an ore that came from a nameless elven commander fighting a balrog than know it is one of the bloody stones that so many died for.

A necessary lie, like so many they tell everyone these days.

“Do not push him away, for my sake, Rodnor. I need the two of you to be as you were before this.” The maia takes her husband’s hand and moves it over her own heart, making him promise to better things with Elrond before the cracks in the foundation become a chasm between them.

She already does not have a good feeling about this feast, the red-haired woman knows this reveal will hurt Elrond who already believes he is being slighted for being half-elven and not because they did not wish to burden him with the news they would all leave or die by spring.

Elrond would understand why they acted the way they did, but it wouldn’t remove the hurt cause by it. He will be wroth with them, with her most of all. She’s never lied to him even when he was a boy, the Maia knows this will wound him deeply.

“As it will be come morning.” The king assures her knowing her worries as if they were his own. “Elrond will not hold it against you, he could never make himself hate you.”

Their bond ran so deep even if his fea inhabited Mandos or hers returned to the unseen world it will never sever.

[revoleotion]

Now that the 24 hours reading challenge is completed, here's what I read (+ a quick rating now that it's still fresh)

Bruderschaft (Brotherhood) - 7/10

THE GOOD POINTS

Great Star Wars book to establish Anakin's and Obi-Wan's relationship at the start of the clone wars and where it will go

Obi-Wan gets to meet cute one of his many future side bitches (and they are immediately NOT normal about each other)

intriguing enough side characters, very on the nose with the parallels to existing characters but that's not a bad thing here

good world building, points made about sci-fi/fantasy racism and disrespect towards "ugly" alien culture, especially art

MINUS POINTS

just needless Mace Windu slander nobody needed or wanted? He seemingly only existed to show how much poor little meow meow Anakin being bullied by the bad evil jedi master who doesn't want him here

adding to this after some great takes from milena: it's not THAT bad and only ever coming from Anakin's pov (who is irrational) and Palpatine (using it to manipulate Anakin), so it's fine. But. People are already extremely unfair towards Mace and this book doesn't help.

the book couldn't have sucked up any harder to Qui-Gon if it crawled up his ass, slipped back out in the front and offered to do his taxes for him. In my personal opinion problematic (but more so just... wrong?) portrayal of conflicts between him and Obi-Wan, and he's overall just. presented as this perfect, idolized fanon version people want him to be, neglecting anything we see him do in the Episodes (or the very CANON Master & Apprentice novel)

Middlesex - 10/10

Just overall a story I really enjoyed and is beautifully crafted, both the story/pacing, and the flow of the German translation

It will always have a special place in my heart because my dad recommended and then gifted it to me, and while it clearly doesn't describe my exact experience, it is the reason he has a more nuanced and understanding view on intersex and non-binary identity

Maybe I have just read a lot of bad/sanitized fiction lately but what really got me was how believable Cal's pov was. The narration never breaks away from the protagonist's beliefs and doesn't shy away from letting anyone in the novel have problematic world views (some of which they are aware of, some of which they aren't, and some of which they never challenge). Everybody in it is a person. And sometimes people cause harm for other people. Some people shovel their own grave. Some are just killed. It's so well done.

It also included several quotes that had the audacity to come into my house, punch me in the face and steal my lunch money. For example the moment of describing undressing in the bedroom during two very traumatized people's first time as unwrapping the bandages of a wound. Really made me pause for a moment. Fuck.

This is how you lose the time war - 13/10

I wouldn't even know where to start. I don't think I have read a book this good in years. It will haunt me. It made me want to write countless essays about it. It made me want to savor the words one after the other like a meal that's so good you're terrified of finishing it. I predicted the ending a few pages in. It still caught me off-guard. I expected my heart to be broken but it didn't.

A lot of media nowadays just makes you feel like shit. This novel managed to make me cry multiple times and still didn't leave me feeling destroyed. (So that is possible. Not everything needs to be dark and depressing for the sake of being dark and depressing. What a concept.)

A dowry of blood - 10/10

Vampires. Many, many complicated feelings. Sex. Beautiful language. I loved it.

What I really, REALLY want to praise it for is that the character narrating the events wants to find humanity in someone repeatedly choosing cruelty over it, and even when she has to admit that he is dangerous, her (and any other characters') hope in him is never presented as naive or wrong. It's simply presented as a specific single case of a single person choosing cruelty, and we are left to wonder if her realization could've come earlier but never get an answer.

Also just really hit a lot of my tastes from a smut perspective. That's all I'm saying for now.

[eepy-erin]

Why Palpatine is the perfect Villain

HI I AM BACK WITH AN ATROCIOUSLY LONG POST BUT THIS IS AN INFODUMP AND ALSO JUST LIKE- A RAMBLING SO IT'S OK ANWAY

Sheev Palpatine is the best villain in cinematic history. I don’t care whether or not you like Vader, the Joker, or hell someone like Gaston from Beauty and the Beast more, I am standing my ground and proclaiming (in my opinion) that Palpatine, Darth Sideous himself, is the perfect villain and here is why. This post also marks a return for me to Tumblr so hi to all 12 of my followers ily all <3. ANYWAY, time to get into our deep deep analysis of what makes Palpatine so good, and why his execution of the Sith’s grand plan to rule the galaxy is an absolute chef’s kiss in villainy.

SO FOR CONTEXT, at the time of the prequels, the Sith have been destroyed in the eyes of the Jedi for over a millennium. The last of the Jedi-Sith wars culminated in the perceived destruction of the Sith by the Jedi Order and the foundation of the Galactic Republic. However, we all know that Darth Bane was the only sith to have survived this destruction of the Sith Order, and of course brought about the rule of two. The rule of two stated that only two Sith Lords could exist at any given time, the master and their apprentice. This rule of two has allowed the Sith to survive until the time of Episode 1, the Phantom Menace, and allowed each subsequent Sith Lord to grow in power as time went on. So by 32 BBY (the year which Episode 1 takes place), Darth Sidious has become the preeminent Sith Lord after the death of his own master, Darth Plagueis the Wise. Sidious/Palpatine is now working with Maul and Dooku as his puppets and apprentices to put the grand plan to destroy the Jedi order into action, and the Jedi are none the wiser for it.

SO, THE PLAN. The plan that Palpatine has essentially started ten years before the Prequels begin. He and his master, Darth Plagueis have learned to essentially manipulate the force in such a way that one could feasibly create life. Now, is the Anakin Skywalker story kinda like the story of Jesus Christ? In a way yes as they were both conceived by a mysterious cosmic force and are destined for greatness. But that’s neither here nor there I don’t have the spoons or energy to compare Star Wars to the bible right now lol. Anyway, Sidious and Plagueis manipulate the force to essentially create Anakin, which in turn due to Anakin begin conceived from the cosmic force itself, makes Anakin incredibly powerful and force sensitive. This insane level of force sensitivity, greater than even Master Yoda’s, makes Anakin the chosen one in the eyes of the Jedi who eventually find him. I think this is step one in the master plan of Palpatine. He knows that the Jedi will eventually find Anakin and proclaim him to be the Chosen One, which will inevitably lead to Anakin being treated differently by the Jedi Council and such.

Another part of the plan of course consists of the Clone Wars. Basically, Palpatine wants to weaken the Jedi and put them into a position where they essentially become hypocritical of themselves and their teachings. The Jedi code stipulates that the Jedi are supposed to be keepers of the peace, not soldiers. Additionally, prior to the prequels the Jedi had a higher degree of popularity in the Republic. This would mean that for Palpatine, there was a real challenge in the Sith’s goal of defeating the Jedi. Thus, Palpatine’s grand plan would come into shape. To defeat the Jedi, he would need to make them both hypocrites and fairly unpopular in the eyes of the wider galaxy. To do this, Palpatine would play on the fears of the galactic population through his apprentice, Count Dooku. Palpatine would maneuver himself into the position of Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, while Dooku would take his position as leader of separatists who would seek to leave the Republic. Of course, I am talking about the Clone Wars and the way that Palpatine would manufacture a crisis to gain more and more power for himself. In Episode 2, Attack of the Clones, Palpatine would state that he would “not allow this Republic, which has stood for a thousand years, be split in two.” In a cruel twist of fate, he kept this promise. While it would appear on the surface that there were two sides to the Clone Wars, in reality both sides were simply serving as means to an end for Palpatine and his grand plan. I mean really, are there any other villains around who are able to take two sides and play them against each other for their own gain without no one being the wiser?

ike Joker manipulating Harvey Dent in the 2008 film, The Dark Knight, Palpatine is able to manipulate the hero of the story to his own ends, and turn him into his ultimate puppet. I am of course talking about the chosen one himself, Anakin Skywalker. After it is revealed that Anakin is the chosen one and accepted into the Jedi Order, Palpatine moves to turn himself into the only one that Anakin will trust. Because of the fact that Anakin was already nearly ten years old when he was accepted into the Jedi Order, he had already been allowed to form emotional attachments with those he was close to, including Padme and his mother. This would of course come into conflict with the teachings of the Jedi Order, as they forbid emotional attachments. Additionally, Palpatine knew that with the death of Qui-Gon Jinn by the hands of Maul, Anakin would not have the mentor that he would actually need to feel connected to and fully comfortable with the Jedi Order. Palpatine would then move to position himself as the only one that Anakin fully trusts, and would act as the father figure that Anakin actually needed. In this way, Palpatine was able to pray on Anakin’s fears and insecurities created by his relationship to the Jedi Council, and manipulate him into eventually turning on his fellow Jedi. I feel like this is one of the hallmark traits of a villain, turning the motivations of the hero against them for their own gain. Anakin wishes to save the ones closest to him, and the dogma of the Jedi prevents him from feeling like he truly can accomplish that. Thus, Palpatine is able to become the father figure that Anakin needed in order to seduce him to the dark side in a way which the Jedi couldn’t have foreseen.

I think in the end the characteristics that make Palpatine a perfect villain in my eyes are just how unashamedly evil he really is. When he is revealed to be the Sith Lord that orchestrated the Clone Wars and manipulated Anakin during Episode 3, Revenge of the Sith, he clearly revels in his villainy and in the Sith grand plan coming to fruition. The Jedi are destroyed by the newly christened Darth Vader, who is of course our fallen hero Anakin Skywalker, and the clone army that was seemingly created to protect the Republic. I think the irony comes when the galaxy largely accepts the narrative that the Jedi were traitors and deserved their fate. Palpatine made the Jedi the ultimate hypocrites in a way which few villains do. The Jedi became generals and soldiers in a war where, often times during the events of the Clone Wars, the Jedi are shown to be aggressive and attack more often than defend. This transformation of the Jedi Order into something which they were not supposed to be shows just how genius Palpatine really is in my opinion. In the end when the Jedi Temple is burning, Palpatine emerges triumphant at last. When Anakin burns on Mustafar, Palpatine imprisons him for his failure in killing Obi-Wan, and locks him into a metal cage, with a skull where his face used to be. This is such an evil move and Palpatine could not be more pleased with himself in this moment.

Honestly I just really love the character of Palpatine/Darth Sidious so much. He feels as evil as Satan himself, and the fact that his plan is so complex and yet when executed, is carried out almost perfectly, is just so cool to see. Idk I think I’ve rambled on long enough but Sheev, you’re number one to me.

[dreadfutures]

For the director's commentary ask game thing: I'd *love* a director's commentary on your inspiration for/ thoughts on the academic texts in your amazing Dorian & Solas fic "strike a match (whisper my name)." Particularly Memories of Callistus, Magister and Scholar that shows up in chapter 3. Your descriptions of it and the passage you wrote for it were just *so* cool!!

Oh, thank you so much!

FIC: [strike a match (whisper my name)]

Rating: T | Pairing: Dorian & Solas | Multichap: 7/7

Dorian and Solas go back and forth during Inquisition, arguing over whether Corypheus' magic is powered by blood, red lyrium, the Blight itself, or some unholy combination of the two. An academic rivalry that leads to friendship - even in the face of the end of the world.

One thing Dorian expresses canonically in DAI, especially if you take him to the Fade in HLTA, is that he does not find it a beautiful place at all. Despite his disagreements with Vivienne on most things, he does align with her on the idea that everything beautiful in the Fade is a lie, a danger, and that underneath there is something that cannot be trusted and may very well be repulsive. In this fic, Solas offers Dorian a bit of an olive branch between their Blight-vs-Blood-vs-Red Lyrium tete-a-tete, and he lends Dorian a book that he hopes will show Dorian that there is beauty in the Fade, that can be trusted.

This book is a diary of Magister Callistus.

And... Callistus, the book, and the passage Dorian reads is from a Codex: Walking the Fade - Frozen Moments.

Only when I let go of my desires and humbled myself was the Fade opened to me. The spirits came and took it upon themselves to be my guides, my lanterns in the darkness. At their command, the paths grew still, and I could walk them again and again. I was shown vast oceans, containing not water, but memories, drawn from the minds of dreamers. I drifted through frozen moments, like paintings, perfect in each detail. As I explored this impossible realm, the spirits kept darker things at bay. I came to trust them, even love them, and I saw my own love reflected in them.

To know the Fade, one cannot seek to master it. The Fade is the master, the teacher. We are merely apprentices.

—Writings of Magister Callistus of Taraevyn, known to some as "Callistus the Fade-Touched"

I've been really touched that more than one person has so enjoyed the book exchange Solas and Dorian engage in! But this one isn't mine.

I go lore-hunting quite often and stumble across these codices, and then I dream up ways to include them in fics. Most often, these are notes and letters to discover, if I am trying to include them specifically, OR, they point me in directions of ideas and concepts that are known and discussed IN UNIVERSE between characters, and thus give me an idea of what people generally might know and talk about.

In this fic specifically, I knew I wanted Solas and Dorian to engage in a book exchange. Now, there aren't a lot of texts on the subject they're actually debating (blood magic, blight magic, and red lyrium). However, they are both surprisingly stuffy academics...each with a softer side that challenges and entertains the status quo. That's why Dorian was such a prodigy, a thaumaturge, becoming an Enchanter so young. He's a researcher, entertaining whimsical ideas others might write off. Solas, as both a Dreamer and an ancient elf who literally created the Veil, has a breadth of knowledge and experience beyond most - and because he values intellectual discovery, dangles that knowledge like a lure, hoping that someone else will appreciate the shiny things he has gathered.

And I needed them to be friends, after establishing them as barely tenuous, and quite contentious, allies.

So I thought: what's an event that might trigger Dorian to express an opinion that Solas can challenge? and how can Solas challenge it as an academic, rather than relying on the ol' "i dreamed about it" deal? How about a book! I listened to a bunch of Dorian's dialogue, latched on to this idea of a) Tevinter Magisters *know* about Dreamers, and have records of them! b) How do they truly view the Fade, and Demons? What do their *academics* think, versus Dorian's somewhat traumatized post-HLTA reaction? c) Are there any codices or books that relate to Dreamers, their experiences in the Fade, and beautiful experiences?

And with just a little bit of googling and wiki-walking, I found Callistus.

Now the other "text" in the fic is an unnamed tome written in both Elven and Tevene:

Dorian knows what the book is the moment he sees that the pages are mirrored — on the left hand side there is the unfamiliar and thought to be lost elven script, and on the right there is ancient Tevene.

And the pages are soaked in blood.

It is an ancient academic text, written by two collaborators studying the newly erected Veil! He has no idea where it has been hiding his whole life — or for the past several centuries — but it is the find of a lifetime, to be sure.

I knew pretty early on (because my brain is hung up on my own AUs) that this would take place in Ixchel's young!lifetime. Solas does not want to win. Solas sees modern people as people. He knows what will happen to them if he wins. And he is desperate for someone to stop him. Young!Ixchel gave up. But Dorian? Dorian, presented with a clue? Would he ever give up the search? No!

So I thought about what kind of thing might be the key to unraveling this mystery of the nature of magic and its subtypes, and the nature of time. They are all connected in DA, that's pretty clear to me. The question of how and why and when it all became that way is another mystery.

And I like to think about the peoples of Thedas as...people. Ancient elves survived the Fall of Arlathan/the Creation of the Veil. They interacted with the nascent Tevinter Imperium, exchanging ideas, religions, practices, beliefs, and skills. Surely--surely!--there were people studying the Veil, which had not been there before. What if they worked together?

People are people!

And how useful would it be, to have information from someone who knew what it was like before the Veil, and who could analyze and describe this new phenomenon in detail, and perform tests and such with lifetimes of experience and wisdom guiding them? Surely that would save Dorian a lot of time. And that would certainly be something that Solas could get his hands on, I'm sure.

This was roughly the same time as the DA Comic, The Missing, was coming out, which seems to be a game of cat-and-mouse and leaving clues behind between Solas and Varric, so it really felt in-character for Solas to leave this book where Dorian could find it.

I initially envisioned the fic to have Solas in the audience at one of Dorian's lectures, ask an impertinent question, and argue with Dorian briefly before Dorian realizes--this is Solas! but Solas would get away before Dorian could end his seminar and give chase. That didn't happen (boy, I did not want to write that seminar and question session!!! LOL just #thesis hell getting too real), so instead I implied that Solas was in the audience, had listened to Dorian's theories, and knew exactly what to give Dorian to push him to the next realization, and left it in Dorian's house.

Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble about how I find obscure codices lol. DA has so many! of them!

[shynmighty]

🖊️🖊️ for Taijax and Vhespasian?

This makes me so happy, I do love an excuse to ramble!

Here we go with Taijax!

First of all, I'm so glad you asked about him because I feel like he falls by the wayside a lot (which is totally my fault), so I've been trying to show him more love! Thank you!!

I've mentioned this in some of the descriptions I've done for him, but he's my little mystic woo woo. He is perhaps overenthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of Jedi proverbs and mystic lore. Whatever crazy adventure he finds himself roped into, you can bet he 100% would rather be lost in some ancient library. He's a nerd, but he embraces that about himself.

His heritage and culture are also a point of fascination for him, but more in an academic sense. He's interested in the Chiss because it helps him better understand himself as a Jedi.

His full name is Srost'aija'xani. That was all the information that was given to the Jedi when he was given to the order. The pair of Chiss who handed him over as an infant were never seen or heard from again.

As part of the Silverblade legacy, he is not the Barsen'thor but does become a reputable Jedi master, and obtains a seat on the council for a time. When he is not seeking out lost knowledge or exploring ancient ruins, he accompanies Aeseca and her crew, which is how he eventually meets and falls in love with Nadia Grell.

He and Aeseca are old friends, and they grew up together in the Jedi Enclave overseen by Aeseca's mother. When the enclave was destroyed by the Sith, he and Aeseca remained good friends, to the point where they were separated for an alleged romance. This never took place, but it would be years before they saw one another again, this time as adults. As Yuon Par's apprentice prior to taking on Aeseca, Taijax had a vested interest in curing his old master from the plague inflicted on her by Lord Vivicar. He traveled with Aeseca during this time, and assisted her in ending the threat.

This got pretty long-winded... let's move on to Vhespasian!

This guy! I created him totally by accident and he's become one of my favorite OCs. Galactic Seasons told me to complete a few missions as an Imperial Agent and I made him to delete later... except he was really freakin' cute and I couldn't bring myself to get rid of him. So with him began the Imperial side of the Silverblade family.

Vhespasian is the youngest in his family, and great things were expected of him, even when he proved to not be Force sensitive. He took this to heart, throwing himself into every challenge he faced with all the passion and gusto a good Imperial baby should display. Unfortunately for him, his efforts went mostly overlooked by his Sith grandfather, the Silverblade patriarch, Darth Aemnos.

Perhaps predictably, all this negative reinforcement had an adverse effect on Vhespasian psychologically. Although he excelled academically and rose meteorically to the rank of Cipher Nine within Imperial Intelligence, his accomplishments never delivered what he thought he truly wanted: his grandfather's love and acceptance.

Needless to say, his class story went and messed him up. He came out of it, however, more devoted to the Empire and helping it become the best version of itself. He realizes there's a lot that needs to change... but he also knows that as a phantom agent with the galaxy's secrets at his fingertips, he's in a fantastic position to help that along.

It should also come as no surprise that Vhespasian has some difficulty forming lasting connections with other people. Especially romantically. His love life is a disaster. While quite adept at the art of seduction, the thought of commitment still makes him uneasy. Hopefully, someone someday will come along and sweep him off his feet. Raina Temple came very close, but Vhespasian backed out of the relationship when she asked where it was going.

I'm still back and forth-ing over who he should romance, if anyone. Major Anri is my top contender at the moment, but I can also picture him with someone like Empress Acina (I'd just headcanon it, I know she can't be fully romanced) and of course I could always just make a new OC and pair them up... It's a conundrum. I'm open to suggestions!

I should probably wrap this up, but I'm always happy to answer questions if I raised any! Thank you so much for the ask!!! 😁

[cookiesandbiscuits]

Cookie's Writing Challenge Day Three: Rest

Prompt of the day: Rest

Pairing (Platonic): Solomon x Margarette Camellia Sanchez (OC)

Genre: Comfort/Fluff + Crack

Summary: Solomon tries to convince his apprentice to take a break from her attendant duties for a day.

Cookie's 18th Birthday Bash Countdown Event

Cookie's Writing Challenge Prompts

< Day Two: Sunflowers

"Camellia, you have to listen to me. You should take a day off tomorrow."

Solomon says with his arms crossed as he stands by Camellia's bedroom doorway, watching his exhausted apprentice flop down forward on her bed.

She's been coming home always looking worn out for the past few days and it's worrying him.

"And I told you, you don't have to worry about me. I'm doing fine. Just a little tired."

He sighed. Camellia's stubbornness was one of the things he loved about her. But it can also be troublesome at times, like this moment.

He walked towards her and sat on the edge of the bed. She was still lying on her stomach.

"Would someone who's doing fine complain about her aching shoulders and back almost every day?" He quipped while gently massaging her shoulders.

"Oh, come on. You know that I already had issues with my shoulders and back even before I came here– oof! You hit a spot!"

Solomon took his hands off her shoulders when she groaned. "Does it hurt?"

Camellia shook her head. He sighed again.

"I just don't want you to overwork yourself. I know it's your way of coping with your situation, but it wouldn't hurt to give some time to yourself to unwind. And you know I'm always here to lend an ear to you, right?"

"......"

After a moment of silence, Camellia rose from her position. Solomon moved a little to give her space.

"It's just... I can't help but sometimes think that I might not be able to find a way to go back to our time. That I might not be able to see my family and friends again. It's... it's a scary thought. I know you're also trying to find a way for me to get back. I just don't want to add more worries for you to think about."

Solomon's heart clenched at her quiet words.

"Nonsense. You will never be a burden to me, Camellia, so you don't need to worry about that. You can share your thoughts with me as much as you like. And we'll find a way to get you back, I promise," he assured her as he pulled her in for a hug.

"...Alright, I'll take the day off tomorrow. I'll call Lucifer later to tell him."

"Good."

They stayed in that position for a while. The silence between them was comforting.

"...Hey, Solomon?"

"Yes?"

"Did you, perhaps, cook something again?"

"...No."

Camellia pushed the white-haired sorcerer at arm's length.

"Lies. I can smell burnt food from your clothes."

"W-well... you were tired, so I can't let you use up your remaining energy to cook for us both! Please, Camellia...!"

She sighed as she watched her teacher fumble with his words trying to find excuses. Looks like her day isn't quite over yet.

Tag list: @azulashengrottospiano @amberheavendremurr @yourlocalgrass @aqua-beam @identity-theft-101 @officialdaydreamer00

[xarrixii]

I wanted to take a more creative spin than just "overhealing" or "healing the wrong places deliberately." So here I go:

They don't elaborate any further, despite constant prodding. Eyes saddening as they gloss over the patient currently lying on the bed.

The healer drew a magic circle in the air above the unconscious body in front of them, letting the magic fester as they reached for one of the vials in a rack.

"But, you, I don't understand."

"I'll tell you later."

Truth was, they didn't want to talk about it ever. They didn't want to discuss their failures, their experiments that only ended in death. The endless struggle to find better, faster ways to heal people.

It all ended in death.

The healer swirled the green liquid in the vial around, contemplating the use of yet another new formula. They didn't like to use experimental formulas on the worse patients, so simple sicknesses were far better test subjects. Each formula had to go up the steps. When it failed, it got reworked and started over.

They popped the cork and trickled the liquid over the magic circle, turning bright green and beginning to glow.

The best healers always used both potions and circles at once.

This healer was considered the best. People jumped at the chance to get even minor sicknesses cured, to sign contracts saying they accepted the chance their case may be used for a medical trial.

Other members of their party had their kills recorded in the stars for slaying the monsters of the forest. Some people had kills recorded for hunting their next meal. Some for killing others in war. The healer's were told in the stars of monsters, of hunting, and of the citizenry who let the healer take their faith in them and fail.

But they didn't like to talk about their failures.

Their party covered it up for them, gave them places to cry over each death. Sometimes, the counter would rise at random, and they'd known the long-term effects of healing had caught up with someone. They wouldn't know who.

The stars were ambiguous like that.

"It's amazing," the young mage beside the healer said, "How clean your magic is."

"Someday, the academy will have trained your magic to be just as good."

The mage scoffs. "Not if they keep sending me on apprenticeships."

"Ah," the healer laughs as the circle dies out, feeling the patient's head for fever. It was disappearing. "You're either a troublesome one or you're learning much too fast for the scheduled coursework and they're trying to find you something to do. If you would rather get through the coursework faster and do apprenticeships later, you should talk to the Headmaster."

"That's a thing?"

"They don't sign people up for the gifted mage programs if they don't want it."

The young mage takes the rack of potions and strolls over to the next bedridden citizen. The healer follows, quiet and ghostly smooth in their movements.

The healer sweeps two fingers to check the patient's pulse, closing their eyes as they can feel the stars beginning to change the number tally.

They're not about to fail in front of the mage apprentice.

The magic circle is drawn above the patient, this time with four more rings than the last with one. They were dying, and they were dying fast.

"If this person survives another day," the healer promises the young mage, "I will tell you how my constellation of death rises faster than my comrades."

The young mage smiles with the challenge, already unclipping their cloak and tossing it to the side. "On it."

man why do i always add levels of lore to these short prompt stories

“You’re a healer. Actually, you’re the best healer in the world… so how do you have more kills than everyone else in your party combined?” “Simple. I heal.”

[anthonybialy]

Elect This

It’s all over.  Plus, results are in. The electoral college grading failed.  I thought so Monday.  True professionals didn’t need to wait and discover which messianic twit got however many suckers supporting them.  This was not the election for me.

Grover Cleveland wept.  The last person who deserves to be president gets to be president twice.  The lesson of the least welcome reboot is about never learning lessons.

Image is all that matters for the alleged fearless savior.  We’ve been over this for a few elections and decades.  Cassandra got tired or repeating the same ignored warning.  Donald Trump thinks that’s a porn star.

The obsession with looking like a winner has been indulged again, so forget teaching humility.  The pending president gets to continue pretending he embodies winning in the only possible way, namely by besting someone who was disagreeable and incoherent even for a Democrat.

It takes great vision to compete with an inflation specialist who didn’t appear to know English.  America missed an opportunity to increase diversity by electing someone who can’t speak.  Kamala Harris searches for the words to put her loss into perspective, or any words at all.

Trump once again proved how unbeatable he is by facing someone with Barack Obama’s pinko policies minus the charisma to sell them.  Oh, and he’ll always be the one who lost to Joe Biden if you’d like to mock him during peak arrogance.

The biggest loss is pettiest person getting to gloat.  Oh, and there’ll be the damage to the country that’s about to become even more of a deadbeat while continuing to not have a wall along the border known for welcoming trespassers.  Political scientists also remind everyone to factor in the added false security of pretending one’s getting built.  But decline will feel patriotic.

We already knew.  My research indicates Trump has already been president on top of being a regrettably prominent person for some time.  Maintaining the same view is for those whose principles remain even as a party which once at least made a show of standing for limited government brings back the cargo cult.

Liberals should be happy about the triumph of the tariff-loving big spender who never finished his property line construction project and vowed to keep entitlements in place.  A win is a loss if it means crummy notions are on the platform, especially from the party that theoretically occasionally resists them.  Another woeful try from the alleged alternative to conventional politics won’t stop insufferable smirking from people with so little sense that they thought this election could have a pleasant outcome.

It doesn’t take a soothsayer to forecast how the second try will go.  Just check Facebook Memories from eight years ago.  We already know what voting like this means.  There should be no more arguing about figurative possibilities.  Of course, another season of The Apprentice won’t stop ceaseless bickering about hypotheticals.  I’m sure the contestant challenges will differ this time.

We just sort of stumbled into a historical phase.  The election was a romantic comedy where a series of misunderstandings leads to finding the unlikeliest partner.  Nobody feels romanced.  And movies always end when the real work of a relationship begins.  Obtaining more electoral votes should only be the start.  The winner’s faction should be the one most eager to hold their side accountable.  But they don’t want to be branded disloyal.  Our politics somehow become more factional.

Seeking less intrusion our lives is out of fashion in the advanced 2020s.  The problem is politicians keeps seeking us.  A stalker that won’t get the hint was bound to win.  Republicans now tell markets what they should decide.

There’s bad news for those who just want to be left alone.  It was pending regardless of tally, so at least there’s been time to brace.  The wish to not be bothered in an allegedly free country is asking too much.  Pretending one party is interested in letting everyone be is even less plausible today, so at least we’ve dispensed with the illusion.  Conservatism is in fine shape if it means maintaining the forced negative return retirement scheme, condemning fighting terrorism as endless war, and calling processed food poison.

One can’t be disappointed if one expects developments so diabolical that Satan wonders if they’ve gone too far.  Dreadful people replacing same has become the default setting.  The only possible worthwhile scenario a cycle from now would be if the pending pushy executive ticked off the nation enough that it led to nominating someone who couldn’t be bothered to bother us.  But the precedent would be established, not met.

The loser is 2028.  We’ll be waiting at least another presidency for a grownup.  And we’re on track for another hissy hair-pulling bout, anyway.  Existence is graciously teaching us to be patient while enduring suffering that seems endless.  Modern political parties fail to help, at least not in the way they think.  An election whose sole benefit is teaching that life presents challenges has so far failed to inspire.

Don’t select someone appalling.  That seems like obvious advice.  Yet neither of those two parties takes it.  The disregarded notion applies to both sides, and it’s nice to maintain something bipartisan.

The days after the election are a good time for perspective, which is something people say in an attempt to comfort themselves when conditions are even more rotten than usual.  There are always positive things to take away from even the most unfortunate situations, like how an asteroid landing on your house means more outside time.  Despondent recipients of election scores should focus on an awful human losing to distract from awful one winning.  Sure, that only evens out even in the most optimistic sense.  But a marginal upside is the best hope: this is life we’re discussing.

Explaining the difference between winning and whether it’s good is pointless for Trump zealots who endured an empty term and begged for more.  We have not been saved from anything except a different kind of dire presidency.  But at least debt won’t decrease.  The best businessman ever already showed he’s uninterested in balancing books that aren’t Think Big and Kick Ass.  He already held this job, remember?  That somewhat important detail would’ve been helpful to retain.

[stars-n-moons]

Tarot Cards

Sunday 3rd December 2023

Question:

Will positivity lead me to a better mental state?

Answer:

Two of swords

Five of wands in reverse

Clearing

108

X

Two of swords: You are facing difficult decisions, weighing up options, an impasse, avoidance, she cannot see the entirety of her circumstance. You may be missing something, such as the threats or potential risks, alternative solutions or critical pieces of information that would help guide you in a particular direction. Are you trying to hide from a challenging situation or impending decision, hoping that if you ignore it long enough, you won’t need to worry about it? The issue is unlikely to resolve itself, and the longer you delay, the longer you will prolong this present situation. You can only put it off so long. Make your choices with your best intentions, fully aware of the possible consequences. Avoidance will lead to greater conflict and stagnation.

Five of wands in reverse: You are facing an internal conflict, conflict avoidance, tension release. You may try to work through your point of view on contentious topics. Or you may navigate personal issues. Other around you have strong views and this is causing disagreement. Just when you think you have a clear perspective, someone challenges you on it, or you discover new information, and you change your standpoint again. This process is beneficial and will help you come to a well-researched and well-thought-out viewpoint. Find the option that sits best with you. Align your head and your heart to discover a sense of peace within yourself. You have the tendency to avoid conflict. You may find that any tension makes you feel uneasy, and you wish it would just go away. You may just be pushing some of your concerns to the side without dealing with them or asserting your point of view

Clearing: Make room for growth

108: He bars doors and windows to stop the messenger from entering. To his wife who begs him to calm down he says: “My son is still alive. If the news about his death doesn’t enter the house, my son is still alive!” Don’t be obsessed. Try something new.

X: He reaches land on a small boat, dressed with a worn tunic. He tells that he has been a merchant, though now he is an apprentice carpenter. In the same space of a year he becomes the greatest joiner in the village, rush and respected by everyone. Then he takes off his expensive clothes, he wears the old tunic that he has kept, and he puts out to sea on a small boat. When he reaches land, he tells that he has been a carpenter, though now he is only an apprentice painter. Spin the wheel.

All together meaning:

Take the blindfold off, I can’t see all of what’s doing on or what the alternative solutions are. There are threats and risks.

[wreckclan]

Moon 2 - Willowchest and Rimepaw

Rimepaw has been apprenticed to Willowchest.

Willowchest knows that Stormstar and Puddledawn had wanted to mentor Rimepaw at first, and Stormstar was especially insistent that he get his first apprentice (yet another reason why Stormstar’s leadership is so unusual). And to prevent any further argument between her leader and deputy, Willowchest had swooped in at the last second and, being the big hero she is, dramatically declared that she will be Rimepaw’s mentor!

And then left without giving either of them the chance to argue.

Well, it’s nice to know that at least someone can appreciate her theatrics.

Now Willowchest is asking herself what she was thinking as she takes Rimepaw out to gather moss, and the younger molly’s paws are stamping against the ground as she reluctantly follows her. “But can’t we do something more…I don’t know, exciting?” Rimepaw asks, her tail drooping low. “Like practicing hunting and seeing who can catch the most amount of prey before the sun sets! Or beating each other up–without claws, of course. Or putting a thorn in Baysplash’s nest. Or collecting bugs! Why gathering moss?”

“First of all, I already thorned Baysplash’s nest a few days ago,” Willowchest says. “Second of all, I think you’ve already got enough dead bugs in your nest. Third of all, this will really help if you do it consistently. I mean, I get it, I get it, gathering moss isn’t the most exhilarating thing to do in the world but does everything have to be? This is only moss-tly harmless, after all.”

Rimepaw flicks some dirt onto Willowchest’s snout.

“Okay,” Willowchest coughs. “Not my best, I’ll admit. But I promise that gathering moss is going to help build up some strong muscles and make you the best warrior that you can–hey, where’re you going? You know, if you fail to gather all the moss all of it is just going to clump together and create the Mossster! You don’t want any Mosssters lurking around in our beaches, do you?”

Huh. Did the Mossster only ever work on me?

No matter what Willowchest does, however, she can’t quite get Rimepaw to take it seriously. And by the next morning after Rimepaw’s received a thorough scolding from Puddledawn, Willowchest finds her waiting by the fresh-kill pile. Willowchest approaches Rimepaw again, raising her chin slightly. “Alright, well, I hope that you’re ready to learn again today, otherwise Stormstar might just put both of us on moss duty for the next moon. And trust me, you don’t want to hear what either Puddledawn or Baysplash would have to say about that–stuff of nightmares, you hear me?”

“It’s not that bad, is it?” Rimepaw asks, tilting her head.

“That depends, do you consider smug looks and condescending mews ‘that bad?’” Willowchest retorts, lashing her tail. “Nobody likes a stuffynose, alright? They fill your ears with dust and make you sneeze on it.”

“What?”

“Now come on,” Willowchest says. She sighs, and lowers her voice this time. “Look, we can do something more exciting this time, okay? I’ll even let you catch the biggest, fattest fish in the ocean…so long as you don’t challenge me. Then I’d catch something even bigger, but when has a little competition ever hurt anyone? But–no, I should focus on teaching you. So…can we at least try to work together today? So we can both learn things from each other.”

Plus, she’d look ridiculous if that whole dramatic mini speech she made to Stormstar about being ‘the best possible mentor for Rimepaw’ would go to waste.

Still, what she said is enough to make Rimepaw nod her head tentatively, her blue eyes deepening with contemplation. “Alright,” Rimepaw finally says. “I’ll try harder this time. Sorry, about, uh…yesterday. I just thought I’d do something more–”

“–Dramatic?” Willowchest purrs. “Totally representative of all your future potential at once? Yeah, I get it. But let’s just start with small bites at that fish for now, okay? I’ll teach you how to hunt and use your claws and teeth for things other than nagging at other cats–which is also a very useful skill!–and then we can hold all the hunting competitions we want. I can’t promise that you’ll win many of them, though.”

“Okay, I get it,” Rimepaw says, her voice hardening–not out of hostility, but out of eagerness. “Fine! Show me how to fish then and I’ll catch anything better than you can!”

Well, that’s done it.

As Willowchest and Rimepaw playfully bicker with each other on their way out of camp, Willowchest starts feeling a little better about her impulsive decision to mentor Rimepaw. She can see all the potential in her now.