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thesmutbasement · 3 years ago

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Welcome to Under the Influence: Sex pollen fics that will put you under their spell

Everything here in The Smut Basement is for 18+ friends only! Minors and unverified persons will be blocked. Please heed ALL author warnings when you click a link.

Comandante Veracruz (Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe)

Forbidden Fruit by @yespolkadotkitty (LOL The Author's note on this Commandante Rafael Veracruz fic [I totally love that first name by the way] says: "Well, that was probably the dirtiest thing I have written perhaps ever. I hope you enjoyed." Yes, YPDK, yes I fucking DID enjoy that!! I enjoyed the HELL out of it!! :D -Claire)

Din Djarin/Mando (The Mandalorian)

Unfettered by @the-scandalorian (HOLY SHIT. The dirty talk had me so fucking riled up I was ready to take those chains off myself. I just want to be on my knees for this Din all the time. Bruising be damned. Maybe I can find a discount on knee pads? 🥵) - Lauren

Your Love Is My Drug by @storiesofthefandomlovers (Good LORD that was hot as fuck! That was like, oh my gosh... holy shit. Din and his newlywed wife doing sex pollen together as an aphrodisiac? Fuuuuuck that was hot. Hot... HOT... --Claire)

Gut Wrenching by @absurdthirst (Besides the fact that Keri was one of three people that I read when I first entered into the fanfiction world this fic changed everything for me. It is one I come back to again, and again, and again. Another again just to emphasize how HOT this fic is. Filthy, I tell you.) - Lauren

On Fire from Within by @magpie-to-the-morning (I am a repeat offender when it comes to reading this fic. It’s a goodie, ya’ll! Emma brought the filth with this one and the yearning. Sometimes when it’s late at night I’ll pull this one up and lose myself in it all over again. Come to your own conclusion, but I stand by it.) - Lauren

Frankie "Catfish" Morales (Triple Frontier)

BFDBF (Your Best Friend's Dad's Best Friend) by @anaaaispunk (Reader attends her BFF's family reunion and smokes a joint with Frankie. Holy fucking shit this is the best and it's only Part 1?? More, please, anytime. We love you, Ana. -Claire)

Jack “Whiskey” Daniels (Kingsman 2: The Golden Circle)

What About Now by @say-al0e (HELL YES!! This has suspense, slooooowww-burn, intrigue, anticipation, and made me YEARN to become a Statesman agent and get into this kinda scrape with Whiskey. Block off your afternoon to read this three times. You'll love it! --Claire)

Marcus Moreno (We Can Be Heroes)

Verum in Amore by @tropes-and-tales (This was exquisite! Marcus is such a head-over-heels dork that he accidentally knocks a beaker off your lab table and doses you both. But it’s not just an amorous chemical, it’s also a truth serum! So hot but also so lovely! -Claire)

Marcus Pike (The Mentalist)

Lujuria by @absurdthirst and @storiesofthefandomlovers (This one, holy moly. 🔥 This was an introductory to sex pollen for Lauren and may have put her down that rabbit hole since. Look, if Marcus Pike swore he was going to spend hours between your thighs as you’re giving him oral you would feel HOT too!!!)

Ezra (Prospect)

Fairy Dust by @di-kut (This was some filthy goodness. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ smut stars. I DM’d Claire this link then @oonajaeadira recommended it in an ask unaware of what was going on “behind the scenes” and now we’re here. This is 16k of pining, tons of dirty talk that made even me blush like crazy, and just take a look at those warnings ya’ll. It’s enough to have you salivating alone. 🥵) - Lauren

To be continued...

Bottom of the Basement: Filthy Fic Recs Masterlist

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talvin-muircastle · 5 years ago

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Story: Im

Another from my old November Habit, this from 2012. It is one of the stories of which I am most fond, and I hope some of you will enjoy it as well.

Men speak of the Elven Language, as if all the Elves in the world speak only one tongue without variation. But you are of the race of Men, and so I shall say simply that her name was Darlaia, and in the language of the Elves spoken by most of the inhabitants of the Kingdom in which she dwelled, her name meant “Patience.” She was accounted by many a wise counselor to the Queen of the Wood, but the Queen thought at times she took her virtue to the extent of a vice. So it was that one day the Queen sought Darlaia in her bower. “Your Majesty, you honor me this day. How may I serve?” The Queen held a swaddled infant in her arms, which was a strange thing, but she was the Queen, so Darlaia did not question it. “The King of the humans who live to our west has been slain, and a usurper has taken his place. Most of the old King’s family has been slaughtered. There will be chaos on our borders, and soon axes shall be ringing in our forest, for the usurper will not be satisfied with one realm alone.” “Majesty, we can safeguard our borders with our bows and our blades, and the humans will settle down in time. They always do! Patience will serve.” At this, the Queen smiled, and the sight of it caused a flutter of fear in Darlaia’s bowels. “Patience will serve? Yes, indeed, she will. See you this infant? It is a human child, and with the death of his kin he is King of the humans to our west. His birthname was Huber, but while he dwells among us, we shall call him by the name ‘Im’. You shall raise him.” This was unheard of. Darlaia opened her mouth as if to protest, then thought better of it. She took a deep breath and considered her next words carefully. “I know the tongue spoken by that family, and ‘Im’ is no word in that language, nor in ours. I find this puzzling, my liege. As for raising him: what do I know of raising a human boy?” “You counsel patience, as usual. Yet I tell you that this time it will not work: the usurper is of a faction that is greedy and powerful. They need our woods for bows and engines of war, and they will have them or die trying. Even if they fail in the end, the cost to our realm will be high. So we must raise up this boy to reclaim his throne, and we must make him our friend. As for his name, and the raising of a human child? You must learn Im, Patience!” The Queen was fond of puns, riddles, and other tricks to force her Court to consider things in a new light. Yet she was the Queen, and so the child’s name was Im, and Patience would raise him to be a King. To Elven eyes, humans grow like dandelions in the spring: quickly there, quickly changing, quickly gone. Im grew into a thoughtful, obedient child, yet full of energy as if his short life meant he must use all the energy in years that an Elf would consume in a lifetime measured in centuries. Darlaia found her own patience challenged more than once, yet she was also fond of the child. She taught him the bow and the blade, and a bit of the arts that Men call “Magic”. He learned harp and flute, and he sang well, though the speed at which his voice changed challenged teachers used to a more gradual deepening. The Queen his sponsor, Darlaia his teacher, and the usurper his foes: the other Elves of those Woods received him warmly and called him friend. Too quickly—so quickly!—he reached three hands of years, and where her natural children had yet been beginning the exploration of their world at that age, Im was her height and a bit. He had gained much muscle, for teasing elf-maids have as their wont to climb trees, and amorous elf-lads had best be able to keep up. No elf-lad he, he had nonetheless learned to climb with the best of them. At wrestling and swordplay, he was no master, but he could hold his own against the recruits of the BorderGuard, and that was no small thing. With a bow he would never match an elf, but few humans would match him. The Queen came to them in that year, and she had with her Men in armor that clanked and rattled in the coolness of the forest. They wore the symbol of the old King, and while their number was few, they had the look of veterans. “Huber, whom we call Im, these are our friends, and you are their King. You must go with them now and reclaim that which was taken from you as a babe.” Im looked at these strange humans. He had met others like himself before this: Darlaia had seen to that early and often. These men were unlike the young Elven Warriors with whom he joked and sparred and flirted, and quite unlike those Elders he had been taught to revere. He looked at the scars on their faces and on their armor, and his eyes noted the manner in which they carried their weapons. Then he looked at Darlaia. “Darlaia, mother of my heart, is this to be?” She was saddened and fearful, but she said, “It is for this you were placed in my care, though having had that care of you, I am loathe to give it up. Yes, son of my heart, it is to be. You are their King, and your duty lies before you.” So Im went to the camp of these Men, hidden just beyond bowshot in the edge of the Forest, and at night they crept out to do mischief to the Usurper, and by day they rested under the trees while Elves kept watch. Im’s skills earned him respect in battle, and his calm, educated voice earned him respect in their councils. Yet after his first battle he crept away to seek Darlaia’s counsel. “Mother of my heart, I have killed another like myself.” Darlaia knew real fear then, for she thought that the son of her heart had become a Man. Then he continued, with tears in his eyes, “It was a needful thing, yet it saddens me. I would sing to his spirit, and I wish that you would join me.” Then she knew that he had become, not a Man, but an Adult, and she cried with him and sang with him. For Elves love Life, and they take it only reluctantly. Yet when they must take it, they do not hesitate, for that which must be done must be done swiftly and skillfully, and this was the way in which Im had been raised. More Men flocked to the banner of Huber, called now Im even by his followers. The day came when the Usurper was slain by Im’s arrow, and the rebellious Lords of Men submitted themselves to his terms. Then Im declared that henceforth he would be known as Imdar, to honor she who had raised him. The Queen came once again to Darlaia. “You have done well, and now I give you another task. Go you among the maidens of our Kingdom, and find you one who would willingly tarry among the humans for one of their generations, and be Wife and Queen to Imdar.” Again, this was unheard of! “My Queen, you would mingle our blood with theirs?” “Better it should mingle in the womb than mingle in the grass. If we are to have time for Patience, we must have ties of blood.” Darlaia bowed her head in acquiescence, for she knew that Im would grow old and die, and what of his descendants? It would shame them all to do war on the sons of an adopted son, and so those sons must have cause to look to the Woods for kin. She chose carefully, speaking to all the Elven maidens who were newly adult. Some she dismissed as too flighty, some as too serious. Some had connections with powerful families who might seek to use the alliance to their own ends. Among the huntresses she found one who said, “Im! I miss him greatly. He was gentle, and he made me laugh. Would that more humans were like him.” So in white silk and silver elven mail, with a coronet upon her brow and a good strong bow and swift elven arrows she went to Imdar, a suitable Elven Bride for a King. Imdar was gladdened to see the friend of his youth, unchanged in such a brief time, and he took her to wife and bore many children with her. Then there was peace in the land, and even in his lifetime the people began to speak of him as “Imdar the Good”, and Darlaia was pleased to hear it, for she had feared he might become “the Great”, and those never ended well. Darlaia attended the births of all the children herself, and laughed when Imdar, silver hairs creeping at his brow, chided her, “Darlaia, Darlaia! Patience, Patience!” when a child did not come to term when expected. Half-elven births were difficult to predict, and Darlaia would trust none other than herself to midwife. Then, too soon—too soon! She watched as the Knights of two Kingdoms shouldered the bier of a King, his young, lovely bride weeping behind, all his children and grandchildren behind her. He was laid in the earth after the Elven custom rather than given to the fire as Men had done before. She kissed his withered cheek and stroked his hair one last time before they lowered him down. “Im, dear Im. You taught me the value of impatience, for had I been patient, I would have missed knowing you, my son. Be patient for me, now: we shall meet again someday.” And on some nights, when the moon is full and the human and elven youth are chasing one another through the trees in the games of love, from one bower can be heard a woman weeping for her son still. [I wanted to do a love story of some sort. I wanted to do something about a female Immortal—most stories focus on the Eternal Testosterone Brigade. And I knew I wanted to do Elves, which fit nicely with the others. I can’t even say I worked on this story a lot: I fretted for days trying to come up with a good finale for this project, and I had nothing until the morning of Black Friday as I was heading out to handle some light shopping. Then it just…appeared. Perhaps I should have been more patient?]

#My Writing #Elves #Fantasy #Who Wants To Live Forever #When Love Must Die?

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thechasefiles · 6 years ago

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 5/13/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Monday 13th May 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

COUNTRY MOURNS GIANT OF A MAN – Nation builder and media titan Harold Fitzherbert Hoyte died yesterday morning, leaving the country – from the Prime Minister to regular Barbadians – mourning his passing. He was 77. Hoyte, the doyen of journalism in Barbados and across the region, and one of the founders of the Nation Publishing Co. Limited, died at 11:20 a.m. at his home in St Thomas, with his wife Noreen and sister Sheila Brewster at his side. He served as this newspaper’s first Editor-in-Chief and held various positions, including President and Editor Emeritus, the latter until his death. He was also chairman of the board of Nation Publishing and a director of One Caribbean Media (OCM), the parent company of The Nation Group. Hoyte had been ailing after suffering an aneurysm while on holiday in Florida at the end of 2017. Ten days ago, in honour of his sterling contribution to journalism in Barbados and the building of one of the most successful black companies in the country, Nation House on Fontabelle, St Michael – which officially opened on September 23, 1977 – was renamed the Harold Hoyte & Fred Gollop Media Complex. As news spread of Hoyte’s passing, tributes from across Barbados, the region and from the diaspora were pouring in, recognising his outstanding work in journalism. Media practitioners, former NATION staff, as well as members of the public also posted their own tributes to a “giant of a man”. (DN)

PM: I'VE LOST A DEAR A FRIEND – The following a statement from Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, QC, MP on the passing of Nation builder and founder, Harold Hoyte earlier today. Barbados has lost one of its great patriots and I have lost a dear friend. It was with a most profound sense of personal sadness that I learnt today of the passing of my dear friend and a true builder of Barbados, Harold Fitzherbert Hoyte at the age of 78. While Harold had been ailing for some time and the nature and extent of his medical situation served as fair notice that his end might be near, that knowledge has not been nearly enough to blunt the impact of the news. The country has lost a prized son who has contributed more than his fair share to the development of post-Independence Barbados. It would be impossible to separate the name Harold Hoyte from the path of journalism in Barbados and the Caribbean over the past 60 years. Equally, it would be impossible to separate him for the story of success of the enterprise known as the Nation Newspaper. There is no Barbadian who would fail to recognise the critical role that the Nation Newspaper has played in contribution to the safeguarding of Barbados' stability since Independence. In fact, the Nation Newspaper, and by extension the Nation Publishing Company, with Harold Hoyte as its leader, represents one of the most potent symbols and examples of business success by Barbadians in our post Independence history. Harold understood Barbados and Barbadians. We saw the evidence in his editorial judgments and his professional and indeed political commentary. It was clear to all that he never lost contact with the pulse of the people. That, throughout his career remained a defining feature of Harold Hoyte. He loved his country and was never afraid to speak truth to power in its fervent defence. I can tell you that politicians on all sides of the political divide would think twice before they dared to ignore him because they knew that if they did so it was at their own peril - for he was an astute judge of Barbadians, particular on those matters he so fondly referred to as “bread and butter issues”. In my eyes, Harold Hoyte was more than worthy to hold any and all offices in this land. He volunteered his time and intellect in ways too numerous to count, but for me one of his seminal contributions was his service on the Commission on Law and Order, established during my tenure as Attorney General. At a very personal level, my friendship with Harold became even closer in the last ten or so years where he was a pillar of strength for me and where I knew I could rely on both those virtues of which I just spoke, but also his utter discretion and wise counsel. I shall miss him as will many Barbadians for his political and editorial commentary. But above all, I shall miss him as a warm, generous and committed human being. To his wife Noreen, his children Tracy and Bobby and the rest of Harold's family I extend deepest sympathies and on behalf of a grateful nation and people I extend to them the offer of an official funeral as a small but initial token of appreciation for his immense contribution to this country. (DN)

DLP: HOYTE CHANGED POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN BARBADOS - The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) joined with those remembering the late Harold Hoyte, Editor Emeritus of The Nation Publishing Co. Ltd. Hoyte passed away earlier today, and in a statement, the DLP said his commissioning of polls forever changed “the tenor of political discourse in Barbados”. The full statement follows: It is with profound sadness and deep regret that the Democratic Labour Party notes the passing of Harold Hoyte, co-founder and Editor Emeritus of the Nation Publishing Company Ltd. Even though we were aware that he was not in the best of health in recent times, his passing has still come as unwelcome news. Harold was an icon of Caribbean journalism, an entrepreneur who staked everything he owned on a fledgling tabloid that would become Barbados’ leading newspaper and later the precursor to the regional media giant known today as One Caribbean Ltd. His visionary leadership initiated the sponsorship and publication of political polls, something previously unheard of in Barbadian media, which in itself would forever change the tenor of political discourse in Barbados. Following his sojourn in journalism, he authored a series of books chronicling the life and times of scores of local politicians as well as reviews of the roles of others; texts that are being used and will continue to be reference points for local political scholars and the merely curious. His passing will unquestionably create a void in the regional journalism and political arena. His contribution cannot be duplicated. The Democratic Labour Party would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincerest condolences to his wife, his children, siblings and close friends. May his soul rest in peace. (DN)

BBA: HOYTE’S CONTRIBUTION TO JOURNALISM WAS WORLD CLASS – For a man who always had an interest in becoming the ultimate journalist, Harold Hoyte’s name will forever be etched indelibly on the pages of media history in Barbados. His vision for the Nation Newspaper is adequately chronicled and his first Editor Carl Moore reminds us of the precision and professionalism the profession demonstrated at the time it was established in 1973. Harold Hoyte was the archetypal journalist. He was curious about everything; astute in his observations as evidenced in his writings; amiable and affable in dealing with people, with the most infectious laugh that brought a smile to the most wooden of faces. His advice to young journalists remains as relevant today as it was when he first gave it: "If you do not bring a sense of social conscience to the job, then you’re not going to carry it out in the way that you should, because you will not be able to appreciate the role that the media has to play". Perhaps our best tribute to this eminent journalist, who often shared his political analysis in the broadcast media during elections, is to raise the bar in the quality of our local journalism. His death is a timely reminder of what world class journalism looks like. It behoves us all to revisit the tenets of the Fourth Estate and honour this noble profession. Let us all place less emphasis on being a star and more on the substance of the story; less on fake news and more on facts; less on personality and more on principle. Harold Hoyte was an exemplar for the media profession. We honour his work and salute his legacy. The Barbados Broadcasting Authority joins the media fraternity in sending condolences to his wife and children as well as his immediate family and extended media family. May he rest in peace. (DN)

ST. MARY’S RECTOR ‘WILL BE MISSED’ – While rector of St Mary’s Anglican Church Reverend Jilian Crawford is remaining mum on her imminent transfer, some of her parishioners are not. In fact, not only is Crawford going to be missed, one member of the congregation went as far as to say she was the best thing to have ever happened to that church. “She is friendly and hard-working; she has done work with the Sunday school no other priest here has ever done. I will miss her – this had me crying all the time. She is the best priest we ever had,” said Vernise Codrington. Crawford is scheduled to be reassigned after May 26 to St Peter Parish Church, where she will be assistant rector. Reports indicate Crawford agreed to move on although last year it was also reported there was tension between Crawford and the Church Council over her refusal to move into the vicarage in Rock Dundo, St Michael, after the church spent $50 000 in renovations and had been paying $2 300 a month on a rental house for her in the meantime. (DN)

MEDIATOR CALLED IN – Antigua’s labour commissioner has been asked to mediate the matter between sacked West Indies selectors Courtney Browne and Eldine Baptiste and their former employers. Browne and Baptiste are claiming damages from Cricket West Indies (CWI) for unfair dismissal after being axed when the new Ricky Skerritt administration took office in March. Baptiste and Browne, the former chairman of selectors, were served termination letters on April 10. However, their attorneys Thomas, John & Co. sent correspondence to CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave stating that their clients were unfairly dismissed and were demanding compensation for loss of earnings, future earnings and gratuity. However, CWI hasn’t responded favourably and subsequently, the attorneys have sent correspondence to Antigua’s labour commissioner to mediate in the matter. CWI matters of this nature fall under the labour code of Antigua and Barbuda. In a letter obtained by NATION SPORT, the legal representatives for Browne and Baptiste stated: “The said termination letters of April 10, 2019, make reference to a Task Force established to review the selection system at all levels and that this . . . committee will be chaired by vice president Dr Kishone Shallow and is expected to present recommendations to the board at its next meeting in June 2019. (DN)

SPECIAL DAY FOR SPECIAL LADIES – Mothers were shown just how special they are yesterday. Many were treated like royalty by children and spouses at a number of dining spots across the island. At the Savannah Beach Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church, events manager Dionne Vaughan said they usually got a big turnout on Mother’s Day and yesterday was no different. “Today [yesterday] we booked 180 guests and it’s always a big celebration here on Mother’s Day,” she said. “It’s not only about biological mothers but people who also really play a big role in young people’s lives.” The buffet-styled luncheon also saw guests being entertained by saxophonist Mylon Clarke. At Ocean Two resort in St Lawrence Gap, also in Christ Church, mothers were greeted with freshly mixed cocktails before dining. Assistant front desk manager Katrina Cumberbatch explained that after lunch, the mums were treated to a tour of the resort that included a visit on the roof deck. The restaurant catered for 100 people, including in-house guests. Patrons also had the opportunity to win prizes, such as a day pass for two at the hotel and a day at the spa. Some of the highlights on the menu were the eight-hour, slow-baked pork leg with apple sauce, grilled Mahi with lemon caper butter sauce, and penne pasta. There was also a special Mother’s Day buffet breakfast at the hotel which catered for 60. A large Mother’s Day cake was shared among the ladies as well. Among those dining were the Inniss and Brathwaite families. Lois Inniss said her family had been celebrating Mother’s Day together for more than 20 years. She added they cherished special occasions to bond and catch up with each other. Members of her family included former deputy chief educational officer Thelma Brathwaite, former principal of Eden Lodge Primary School Samuel Brathwaite, past principal of Sharon Primary Ruth Trotman and retired journalist at the Barbados Advocate, Heather Greenidge. (DN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 232 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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darkcloud-kcalifornia · 7 years ago

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OK, got a lot of things to do today, but first off I really do want to get the next episode of Nanoha down. Um… where were we again? Oh yeah.

That’s where. So, let’s get down to business with episode 10, “Destiny”.

* The episode starts off with a flashback to a dimensional ship called the Hestia, and how everyone’s panicking over a little thing like their losing control over the BoD. I wonder why that caused a bunch of roots to appear in the ship? I mean, obviously it’s supposed to represent the Book spreading its control and what not, but why roots? Did it take over some potted plant left in the room it’d been sealed in?

* Graham is in one of the other ships in the fleet, and has been informed that the BoD has gotten control over Hestia’s flight controls and Arc-en-Ciel, which it’s now charging and pointing at the rest of the ships.

* Graham orders Clyde to evacuate, but apparently there isn’t time, though he’s gotten everybody else off. So Graham sadly orders his own Arc-en-Ciel fired. Yeah, you know those parts jutting out from the TSAB ships? Unlike Star Trek, those aren’t engines.

* Those are part of one big gun.

* The Hestia was a very pretty, albeit tragic, boom. Surprisingly loud boom too, considering they’re in space and all. But eh, sci-fi shows gotta have their noisy space, I guess.

* Graham blames himself for this incident. And it’s revealed Clyde was Chrono’s dad via desktop picture. There’s also the fact that Graham had a desktop picture of Clyde and his family shows how close they were.

* Back in the present, the Arthra gets visuals back now that the Wolkenritter are no longer around to jam the signal. Also, the masked men have the Durandal that the Lieze Twins mentioned to Graham earlier. DUN DUN DUN

* Uh, Fate. I know this is all a shock and all, but it would probably be a good idea to shift out of Sonic mode and help Nanoha with defense here. Just saying.

* The Masked Men think it’d be nice if Nanoha and Fate can keep the BoD busy until it goes completely haywire. Chrono thinks they left themselves open to a bind attack. One that dispels other magic, revealing the Masked Men to be Aria and Lotte. Dang it, I blew my “dun dun dun” too early.

* Oh sure, Fate switches back to her normal form after Nanoha saves them from the Diabolic Emission.

* The BoD has a very impressive aura around her. Very menacing. Thing takes up almost the entire rooftop.

* Arf and Yuuno show up as reinforcements! It doesn’t matter! The BoD raises her own barrier so the heroes can’t escape.

* Her next spell is Sleipnir which, um, allows her to flap her wings to fly? Gotta say, the coolness of that spell name is in contrast to the results.

* Meanwhile in space Chrono is making the arrest of not only the catgirls, but Graham as well. Nice to see Chrono remembered to have guards outside the door if things turned violent.

* Wait, if the book has been with Hayate for 11 years, what with that being when Graham had to fire upon the Hestia… that’s pretty much since she was an infant. Literally a newborn. She still must have had parents at that point at least. Well, unless she was a ward of the state from the word “go”. Did they ever think that the creepy chained eldritch tome that appeared next to their baby girl might be something to worry about?

* Anyway, Chrono guesses at what Graham’s plan is here. Early attempts at capture or destruction would just cause the BoD to reincarnate again, so instead Graham found where it appeared and then proceeded to bide his time until completion so he could try and seal the thing away for good.

* Graham’s perspective on this whole thing is interesting. As much as he felt that Hayate’s situation was pitiable, she was already an orphan and in failing health due to the Book. Once she died, nobody would mourn her. If he tried to force the book elsewhere, well, even assuming he could find it again in time that wouldn’t make things any easier with the next potential victim, nor would it necessarily improve Hayate’s chances for survival or change the fact that she was all alone. Graham found himself in the hypothetical situation where you can throw a switch to divert a runaway train away from an orphan trapped on the tracks, but in doing so direct it towards others. And he made his choice.

* I like how Graham derides his own financial support of Hayate to try and at least give her a comfortable misery before sealing her and the Book away in an icy prison between dimensions forever. Dude has some serious self-loathing here, and it actually helps to make him sympathetic.

* Chrono argues that Hayate hasn’t actually done any criminal deeds, and thus there’s no grounds to take action against her even in these kinds of messed up circumstances. The counter argument from Lotte is that while it’s illegal that particular law in getting in the way of saving lives here, going for the low blow of pointing out Chrono’s dad was a victim of this thing.

* Chrono’s rebuttal to that is an interesting one. Setting aside morality Graham’s plan here is still a mistake because it relies on people not looking for and freeing the metaphorical end-of-the-world button. There are a lot of people out there with delusions about what they can handle, and so Graham’s “final solution” for the problem of the BoD would be anything but. Some idiot would look for it, would free it, and then the whole would start all over again with Hayate having died for nothing.

* You know what you never see in other sci-fi shows? The space admiral with a mad and amoral plan actually deciding to back away from the crazy and work with the heroes after all. While it’s hard to read Lotte and Graham, Aria actually seems to consider Chrono’s argument here, and Graham gives Chrono the Durandal and trusts him to make the right choice. Graham is probably hoping that Chrono will go through with the plan now that it’s gotten to what he sees as a point of no return, but he’s at least admitted it’s out of his hands now and isn’t going to interfere.

* Yeesh, how’s that for a cheery eye-catch. Don’t those families look so happy in those photos?

* Meanwhile back at the fight, the Book is dominating.

* So, one bright side to having a knowledge devouring instrument of destruction around, you get to find out what the full chant for some of the heroes’ spells are. Like Starlight Breaker. By my subs at least it’s “Shed the light of destruction on the criminals. Stars, gather. Become a light that penetrates everything. Penetrate, beam.” It’s also hilarious that Nanoha protests that they don’t have to get that far to mitigate damage while Fate grabs her and nopes away as far as she can.

* Why is Bardiche giving measurements in yards? I’m pretty sure that Japan uses the metric system. Oh, and also HE AND FATE ARE FROM SPACE. I DON’T THINK THEY HAVE THE IMPEREAL SYSTEM IN SPACE. And don’t tell me that’s a translator’s error, that axe speaks English and clearly says yards. Is Bardiche secretly an American axe or something?

* So, speaking of noncombatants, do you think Suzuka and Arisa wound up inside the barrier because of their connection to Hayate, or because they actually have some latent magical talent? Also, I can’t blame them for being scared and confused about the world undergoing color shift and splotching while everybody around them suddenly vanishes.

* Poor fools don’t even know to be terrified of the pink spirit bomb building up in the air.

* Unfortunately for Nanoha and Fate, their magical girl costumes don’t come with any identity concealment. Though it might be best for everybody to save their shock until you get further away from Little Miss Death Star.

* And here we see the proper distance for actually avoiding a Starlight Breaker. Namely, don’t even be in the same city as the thing when it goes off.

* Suzuka and Arisa are gonna need some coping time after this. Everybody around them disappeared, their two friends suddenly show up wearing weird costumes and shield them from a pink nuke, and them while they’re still trying to recover from that they’re suddenly transported onto a spaceship. I’d be very surprised if they didn’t faint out of shock after all that.

* Yeah… they just need to talk down the genocidal monster who think they killed her family. Good luck with that.

* It’s interesting that the Book expresses Hayate’s wish not as vengeance for her loss, but wishing that it was all just a bad dream. But if she wants reality to be a bad dream, then well, reality is going to have to go.

* And the Book of Darkness is actually hurt that even those who know the truth about her past call her the Book of Darkness.

* So… apparently the spell they got from the sand worms was to, well, summon sandworms. With all those rapey looking tentacles. Yeesh. …Did Hayate keep that spell after all this was over? Because I may not have finished the next season, but I still know that girl’s got a certain reputation among the fan base. Not that I’m saying that she’s actually rape somebody with a sandworm. Just, well, she might get an idea or two for a “fun film project” once they’re all of legal age.

* Fate and Nanoha have a point. It’s hard to believe the Book’s claims of being a heartless device when she crying right in front of them.

* And so the episode ends with Fate charging the Book, only to get flat out absorbed into it. Which is odd when you think about it. Unlike the Wolkenritter she doesn’t have a body composed entirely out of magic. As stated in a previous episode, they’ve run the tests and found her to be completely human, just born a weird way. So, was this transportation into a pocket dimension? Conversion of matter into an energy signature and then absorbing that?

So yeah, that’s it for that episode. The reveal of the mastermind is made, but honestly, I can’t bring myself to hate Graham for what he did. The last moments of Hayate’s consciousness were cruel to be sure, but unlike Precia Graham actually does obviously feel guilt over that. He thought he was doing something horrible, but necessary. And unlike her, like with the Wolkenritter, there’s no actual malice in his actions. He doesn’t hate Hayate. He even tried to do what he could to at least make her life more comfortable before he ruined it. Which ruing was a terrible act, but well, he’s not the one who gave her the book or took her parents from her. He just happened upon an already crap situation and tried to do what he thought would be the best for everybody with it. He screwed up massively, but he’s not a bad person.

Other than that though it was a whole lot of fight scene, and the heroes are clearly already out of their depth here. And with Fate being nommed down, half defeated already.

#tv talk #episode reactions #magical girl lyrical nanoha #nanoha a's #nanoha s2e10 #destiny

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talvin-muircastle · 8 years ago

Text

Writing: Im

Story by Talvin Muircastle, written in 2013.

Men speak of the Elven Language, as if all the Elves in the world speak only one tongue without variation. But you are of the race of Men, and so I shall say simply that her name was Darlaia, and in the language of the Elves spoken by most of the inhabitants of the Kingdom in which she dwelled, her named meant “Patience.” She was accounted by many a wise counselor to the Queen of the Wood, but the Queen thought at times she took her virtue to the extent of a vice. So it was that one day the Queen sought Darlaia in her bower. “Your Majesty, you honor me this day. How may I serve?” The Queen held a swaddled infant in her arms, which was a strange thing, but she was the Queen, so Darlaia did not question it. “The King of the humans who live to our west has been slain, and a usurper has taken his place. Most of the old King’s family has been slaughtered. There will be chaos on our borders, and soon axes shall be ringing in our forest, for the usurper will not be satisfied with one realm alone.” “Majesty, we can safeguard our borders with our bows and our blades, and the humans will settle down in time. They always do! Patience will serve.” At this, the Queen smiled, and the sight of it caused a flutter of fear in Darlaia’s bowels. “Patience will serve? Yes, indeed, she will. See you this infant? It is a human child, and with the death of his kin he is King of the humans to our west. His birthname was Huber, but while he dwells among us, we shall call him by the name ‘Im’. You shall raise him.” This was unheard of. Darlaia opened her mouth as if to protest, then thought better of it. She took a deep breath and considered her next words carefully. “I know the tongue spoken by that family, and ‘Im’ is no word in that language, nor in ours. I find this puzzling, my liege. As for raising him: what do I know of raising a human boy?” “You counsel patience, as usual. Yet I tell you that this time it will not work: the usurper is of a faction that is greedy and powerful. They need our woods for bows and engines of war, and they will have them or die trying. Even if they fail in the end, the cost to our realm will be high. So we must raise up this boy to reclaim his throne, and we must make him our friend. As for his name, and the raising of a human child? You must learn Im, Patience!” The Queen was fond of puns, riddles, and other tricks to force her Court to consider things in a new light. Yet she was the Queen, and so the child’s name was Im, and Patience would raise him to be a King. To Elven eyes, humans grow like dandelions in the spring: quickly there, quickly changing, quickly gone. Im grew into a thoughtful, obedient child, yet full of energy as if his short life meant he must use all the energy in years that an Elf would consume in a lifetime measured in centuries. Darlaia found her own patience challenged more than once, yet she was also fond of the child. She taught him the bow and the blade, and a bit of the arts that Men call “Magic”. He learned harp and flute, and he sang well, though the speed at which his voice changed challenged teachers used to a more gradual deepening. The Queen his sponsor, Darlaia his teacher, and the usurper his foes: the other Elves of those Woods received him warmly and called him friend. Too quickly—so quickly!—he reached three hands of years, and where her natural children had yet been beginning the exploration of their world at that age, Im was her height and a bit. He had gained much muscle, for teasing elf-maids have as their wont to climb trees, and amorous elf-lads had best be able to keep up. No elf-lad he, he had nonetheless learned to climb with the best of them. At wrestling and swordplay, he was no master, but he could hold his own against the recruits of the BorderGuard, and that was no small thing. With a bow he would never match an elf, but few humans would match him. The Queen came to them in that year, and she had with her Men in armor that clanked and rattled in the coolness of the forest. They wore the symbol of the old King, and while their number was few, they had the look of veterans. “Huber, whom we call Im, these are our friends, and you are their King. You must go with them now and reclaim that which was taken from you as a babe.” Im looked at these strange humans. He had met others like himself before this: Darlaia had seen to that early and often. These men were unlike the young Elven Warriors with whom he joked and sparred and flirted, and quite unlike those Elders he had been taught to revere. He looked at the scars on their faces and on their armor, and his eyes noted the manner in which they carried their weapons. Then he looked at Darlaia. “Darlaia, mother of my heart, is this to be?” She was saddened and fearful, but she said, “It is for this you were placed in my care, though having had that care of you, I am loathe to give it up. Yes, son of my heart, it is to be. You are their King, and your duty lies before you.” So Im went to the camp of these Men, hidden just beyond bowshot in the edge of the Forest, and at night they crept out to do mischief to the Usurper, and by day they rested under the trees while Elves kept watch. Im’s skills earned him respect in battle, and his calm, educated voice earned him respect in their councils. Yet after his first battle he crept away to seek Darlaia’s counsel. “Mother of my heart, I have killed another like myself.” Darlaia knew real fear then, for she thought that the son of her heart had become a Man. Then he continued, with tears in his eyes, “It was a needful thing, yet it saddens me. I would sing to his spirit, and I wish that you would join me.” Then she knew that he had become, not a Man, but an Adult, and she cried with him and sang with him. For Elves love Life, and they take it only reluctantly. Yet when they must take it, they do not hesitate, for that which must be done must be done swiftly and skillfully, and this was the way in which Im had been raised. More Men flocked to the banner of Huber, called now Im even by his followers. The day came when the Usurper was slain by Im’s arrow, and the rebellious Lords of Men submitted themselves to his terms. Then Im declared that henceforth he would be known as Imdar, to honor she who had raised him. The Queen came once again to Darlaia. “You have done well, and now I give you another task. Go you among the maidens of our Kingdom, and find you one who would willingly tarry among the humans for one of their generations, and be Wife and Queen to Imdar.” Again, this was unheard of! “My Queen, you would mingle our blood with theirs?” “Better it should mingle in the womb than mingle in the grass. If we are to have time for Patience, we must have ties of blood.” Darlaia bowed her head in acquiescence, for she knew that Im would grow old and die, and what of his descendants? It would shame them all to do war on the sons of an adopted son, and so those sons must have cause to look to the Woods for kin. She chose carefully, speaking to all the Elven maidens who were newly adult. Some she dismissed as too flighty, some as too serious. Some had connections with powerful families who might seek to use the alliance to their own ends. Among the huntresses she found one who said, “Im! I miss him greatly. He was gentle, and he made me laugh. Would that more humans were like him.” So in white silk and silver elven mail, with a coronet upon her brow and a good strong bow and swift elven arrows she went to Imdar, a suitable Elven Bride for a King. Imdar was gladdened to see the friend of his youth, unchanged in such a brief time, and he took her to wife and bore many children with her. Then there was peace in the land, and even in his lifetime the people began to speak of him as “Imdar the Good”, and Darlaia was pleased to hear it, for she had feared he might become “the Great”, and those never ended well. Darlaia attended the births of all the children herself, and laughed when Imdar, silver hairs creeping at his brow, chided her, “Darlaia, Darlaia! Patience, Patience!” when a child did not come to term when expected. Half-elven births were difficult to predict, and Darlaia would trust none other than herself to midwife. Then, too soon—too soon! She watched as the Knights of two Kingdoms shouldered the bier of a King, his young, lovely bride weeping behind, all his children and grandchildren behind her. He was laid in the earth after the Elven custom rather than given to the fire as Men had done before. She kissed his withered cheek and stroked his hair one last time before they lowered him down. “Im, dear Im. You taught me the value of impatience, for had I been patient, I would have missed knowing you, my son. Be patient for me, now: we shall meet again someday.” And on some nights, when the moon is full and the human and elven youth are chasing one another through the trees in the games of love, from one bower can be heard a woman weeping for her son still.

#My Writing

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