#the empire has always had blood on its' hands but never on such an instantaneous world stage

[softerpixels]

been struggling to actually open the game and play lately

[loyalflutist]

Shining Light (F!Byleth x Edelgard)

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Words: 3,680 Summary:  Edelgard was and is always shackled down by her fate. No matter how much she tugged and pulled, the ruthless captors continue to pull her deeper into the darkness. Just when it all seems hopeless, a shining light breaks through the bleak landscape.

A/N: I wanted to write about Edelgard’s shackles and mental prison with fate. I’ve taken some inspiration with my past experiences in hopes of metaphorically symbolizing aspects of it... if it doesn’t sound too basic. Beware of spoilers about Edelgard’s past and background! Otherwise, hope you all enjoy it! I enjoyed writing this piece a lot. 

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Edelgard was always strapped down by the chains of fate.

Ever since she was born in the House of Hresvelg, there had been nothing but misfortune that was bestowed.

At the tender age of nine, she and her mother, Patricia, were exiled and taken away by her uncle, Lord Volkhard von Arundel to Fhirdiad in the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus. Patricia had vanished during most of her life. Edelgard had lived with her uncle as her mother married King Lambert. She hardly remembered the warmth of her mother. There was also Dimitri, but the two had not known they were stepsiblings until years later. It was already too late with this knowledge as Edelgard was forced to return to the Adrestian Empire with her uncle.

Patricia never came with her, and Edelgard secretly resented her. Why did she marry King Lambert? What about her father, the current emperor of the Adrestian Empire? Why wasn’t she coming with Edelgard? Did she do something wrong? Did she… did she replace her with Dimitri…? The grudge against her mother intensified the moment Edelgard stepped back onto her homeland.

Daughter of Ionius IX, she bore the minor Crest of Seiros, unlike her ten other siblings. That wasn’t enough for Those Who Slither in the Dark. Thrown into the basement, the eleven feared for their lives as Crest experimentations were conducted. The days felt like months, and the months felt like years. The scalpels that broke through their epidermis, the forceful implantations of foreign blood, the lack of sympathy, the poor living condition littered with rodents and insects, the chains that held them down as lab rats… Madness and death consumed everyone around her.

Edelgard survived… but at what cost? She had lost all her siblings to living Hell. She received the Crest of Flames after the final implantation, but her body took on a massive toll. She has a shortened lifespan and her natural hair color reduced to whiteness like a sheet of paper. The innocence she’s had as a child bled out in a similar fashion as she had bled.

After all of that, the worst was over, right?

Wrong. Fate was much crueler than she anticipated. No matter how much she ran free, these chains would yank her back into the abyss. She would scream, wail, clawing at the black, empty space until her nails cracked and tore. Edelgard would pull and tug at the deathly cold captors. These metallic bondages melded into her wrists and ankles. The times she was let loose simply made the bands invisible. It was an illusion of the freedom she yearns for. No matter how much she struggled, it would always drag her back to an invisible wall, her limbs modeled after the letter T.

The 18-year-old woman was like a dog on a leash. Fate was her master, and she was its pet.

That is until she met Byleth.

“Ouch! That hurts!”

Edelgard tensed her shoulders as the alcohol brushed over her fresh wounds. The half-naked student was seen sitting on the edge of the mattress in her dormitory room, the professor in tank top also sitting cross-legged from behind. A small, damp towel splotched with crimson tenderly pat and rub the surrounding gash.

There was a pause. Byleth glanced over Edelgard’s shoulder. Not a single trace of emotion leaked out of those brick-like features. One might wonder if she feels anything. Of course, beneath the sturdy exterior, there was a hurricane wreaking havoc. It took all her might to quell the inner monster. The corner of Byleth’s lips remained firm as her hand moved again.

“Sorry.”

Despite the apology, the professor continued to press upon the surrounding skin. This led Edelgard to lean forward slightly with a frown. Then, her lips parted.

“…I should’ve been quicker.”

Today’s mission was a complete disaster.

The Black Eagles went out for practical training in the woods earlier this morning. They were going to hunt after some wild creatures, but nothing beyond that. Ferdinand would strengthen his bond with his horse. Bernadetta would practice shooting at live, moving targets. Petra would learn how to blend with her surroundings in varying circumstances. Dorothea would gain further insight into using magic. Hubert would learn how to cast a more powerful version of his dark spells. Caspar would increase his stamina by practicing martial arts in the midst of wildlife. Lindhardt would conduct new white magic spells and cast them on his classmates. Edelgard would practice wielding the Levin Sword.

Byleth watched from afar in the dense field. Aside from her students actively partaking in their activities, Sothis appeared by her side. An occasional, playful spat sparked between the two as her students doubled down on their training regiments.

Everything was according to plan. However, none of them predicted the appearance of assassins. It was all too sudden. Byleth watched in pure horror as her students were cut down. Blood soaked their school uniform, their cries pierced the blue sky, and their counterattacks were met with sturdy resistance. The professor was the only one who was able to knock the black cloaks away with a swipe of her Sword of Creator.

Byleth’s breaths were labored. It was already bad enough to lose one student. To lose the rest of Black Eagles, though? Her heart pounds recklessly against her chest, her limbs involuntarily shaking, and fleeting shivers whipped through her. She slowly scanned her surroundings. Ferdinand and his horse were plopped on the side after a sword lashed out at them. Hubert was on his back after a dagger rammed into his chest. Berandetta’s neck was torn apart from the implanted handaxe. Caspar was punctured with multiple arrow tips into his back. Petra curled into a fetal position due to a powerful thunder spell cast upon her abdomen. Dorothea was planted face-first from a club’s impact against her skull. Lindhardt foamed from the mouth, his wide eyes strikingly red from the poison. Byleth profusely sweats and felt like her spirit was watching everything from a third-person perspective. It was mortifying.

“El… El…!” Her pupils contracted. Edelgard was down on her knees, a wicked lance plunged into her exposed neck. Its exiting tip dripped of her crimson color. Byleth stared at her lover’s unnaturally raised head. The shock wasn’t written on the girl’s features. It was an instantaneous blow. At least the grim reaper whisked her away faster than the speed of light. The blade in Byleth’s grasp trembled violently as she felt the calling of her girlfriend booming. “EL!”

This was the first time Byleth had ever felt seething rage. She was never this furious in all 21 years of her life. Not even her time as a mercenary would subject the female to this type of emotion. It had to be because death was granted to one of two people she dearly loves: Jeralt and Edelgard.

“This is terrible! Do something, Byleth!” Sothis bellowed from inside her head. “Use it!”

Had it not been for the petite woman, Byleth might have passed out instead. She gritted her teeth and focused on the potent skill.

The Divine Pulse was a godsend from Sothis.

Time reverted back to the beginning of their training session. Byleth found herself blinking rapidly as she walked alongside her students. Caspar and Lindhardt continued to joke with each other from the front of the group. Hubert and Bernadetta cautiously kept their distance from the bunch. Dorothea, Petra, and Ferdinand engaged in mini-lessons about Fodlan’s language. Edelgard walked alongside with their teacher. There was even the occasional side glance and brushing of their hands. That tickled the noble’s cheeks pink. However, Byleth’s exhale shook in response.

It was as if nothing had happened, and it needs to stay that way.

“We need to turn back around,” she blurted. That froze everyone in their spot. All eyes were pointed at the older female. “It’s dangerous.”

“Dangerous?” Hubert’s gaze bore into Byleth. “Are you suggesting that you were about to kill us?”

He was half right. Byleth was about to bring them into a trap she had not known about. Before the Divine Pulse usage, she witnessed their horrific demise. She can’t have that happen. Not again. Instead of directly answering the male’s question, she motioned her open hands and ushered the students in the opposite direction. The bland, stoic features only hardened despite her cheeky attitude.

“Don’t be silly. I know there is a better training field than the ones we are about to go to.”

Mumbles and risen shoulders were prominent in the class. That was an abrupt decision made by the teal-haired. One moment, they were heading deeper into the woods. The next, they were coerced into leaving the premise. Regardless, they heeded to her words. There was no use in arguing with their teacher. Byleth knew what was best for them.

They all did a 180 with Byleth walking from behind the rest of the Black Eagles. The lively personality stirred once more as they headed to a new direction set forth by the female.

“You did the right thing,” Sothis planted her bare feet to the grassy ground. She took a few steps, hands behind her back, and cocked her head to the side. Without looking at her host, she faintly smiled. “I wouldn’t know what to do with you if they were to die.”

Sothis proceeded to walk on ahead with the rest of the students. Even though Byleth was the only person who could sense her, it was always amusing to see the short woman blend in with the other students.

‘ It would be problematic… ‘

Especially when it came to Edelgard.

The professor slowed her pace to an eventual stop. Everyone had moved onward but her. She glanced over her shoulder, and her eyes narrowed. Byleth was right to move them away from the woods. Peering from the depths of the bushes and trees were hidden assassins. Many of them possess lethal weapons where a single use would severe a person’s lifeline.

Today, she had saved their lives. Unfortunately, Byleth was a little careless. One of the assassins snuck past her line of sight. The man had slid the dagger out of its case from behind his waist in a fluid motion. When the professor reverted her attention back to the group, she felt her blood freeze. An assassin cloaked in black crouched like a fearsome tiger. His eyes were preying on none other than Edelgard.

‘ The Divine Pulse! ‘

It was an ability that can only be used once per day.

‘ I can’t use the Divine Pulse anymore! ‘

Bad luck, she already used it for today.

Byleth kicked up dirt and bits of torn grass as she ran towards the assaulter. She placed a hand on her sword’s handle. The man continued to inch closer to Edelgard from the shadows.

Byleth took two huge steps forward. Hubert, who stood near Edelgard, widen his eyes at the sight of the silent warrior.

Byleth took another two steps forward. The assassin twirled the short blade in his grip. He straightened his posture and raised it high up in the air.

Byleth needed four more steps to reach Edelgard. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of her face as she mustered every fiber of her being. As much as she wishes to use the whip-like feature of the weapon, it would cause unnecessary collateral damage. (The last thing she would want is to smack the deadly edges on her students.) The professor quickly unsheathed the relic.

“Edelgard!”

She, Hubert, Dorothea, and Ferdinand all cried out at the same time. Byleth had successfully lunged her entire body at their direction. She skidded in-between her enemy and allies. Her wrist twisted as the tip of the Sword of Creator aimed upward at the man’s blade. She just had to knock it out of his hands. Victory would be a given afterward.

Or so she thought.

The assassin intentionally dropped his dagger. That caused Byleth’s sword to swish at the empty air. He grinned underneath his mask and caught the weapon. There was no need for flair when the enemy only had to jut his hand forward.

Byleth may have gotten out of the enemy’s trap, but that didn’t mean she won’t fall into the next one. Its blade jammed right into Byleth’s abdomen. The light armor that she had underneath her academic attire should have deflected the pierce. Unfortunately, it shredded right through it all, both steel and chainmail.

“…”

It didn’t hurt at first. Upon observation, the blade seared deep into the tissue and broke into the muscles. Its hilt rested right above her epidermis. The relic slipped out of her hands. Byleth glanced downward and instinctively used both hands to hover above the punctured area. A moist ripping sound accompanied the following action. The man had dragged the serrated edges horizontally until it exited out of her left side. He showed no hesitation in tearing the short blade out of her figure. An explosion of pain blew up. It hurt so bad, she could hardly decipher the landscape that strobed in and out of focus. Byleth eventually doubled over and fell to her side.

“BYLETH!”

Edelgard was the first to scream out her name. Their mentor’s hues became glossy as her attire stained from the newly-form pool of blood. She felt dizzy and nauseous. Edelgard’s tears sprouted forth without warning and streamed down her cheeks. Her vision was colored in red. In retaliation, the white-haired pulled out her Levin Sword. The assassin wasted no time in waiting for his prey to complete her action. He stepped on the professor as a stool and launched himself at Edelgard, his blood-stained blade shone from the sun’s rays.

“Die!” he hollered.

The man was fast. Hubert tried to step in front of her as a shield, but his princess shoved him to the side with a sweep of her other arm. She shot dagger-like glares at the assassin. The Levin Sword’s patterned blade was brought up to the sky. Not even a second passed by when the man’s strangled outcry broke from his voice box. Thunder struck his entire being from the heavens above. Yet that didn’t stop the dagger from plunging into her. It may have missed its original target, but it doesn’t mean the impact of the assault lessened.

Pain sheeted through her shoulder with a terrible intensity. Although a stab was avoided, her flesh wound oozed with blood from the slash. Edelgard instantly dropped the jagged blade and grabbed ahold of her injury. From the stinging sensation alone, it felt deep. It would be a surprise if the strike missed her vital nerves. Her brows scrunched as Hubert picked up the dead foe and tossed him to the side with a grunt.

“Lady Edelgard—”

“If only I had been faster, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Lindhardt was seen casting as much healing spells as possible on their teacher. Since he was a budding white magus, his skills barely provided the necessary first aid. He was barely able to do any more than mend the disheveled muscles. That frustrated him to no end. Dorothea and Caspar assisted in his endeavors to restore life into their professor. One laid the professor’s head on their lap, and one held her wrist, index and middle finger pressed for vitals. As for the rest of the class, they were only able to watch from afar.

Blood continued to trickle past her digits as Edelgard applied pressure onto the gash. She had already lost her siblings. She might have lost her mother too. What’s next, losing Byleth? She glared at the fallen assassin with tear-stricken expression.

Those invisible chains that bind to her wrists and ankles were beginning to tug. It was unnoticeable at first. Edelgard bit the bottom of her lip. She fully understood the value of sacrifice. Another tug from her chilling captors. However, what she wanted best was for there to be none. The final tug sent her spiraling downward into the depths of nothingness once again.

The poor student scrambled out of the dark landscape. Tears acted as torrential downpours as she riled against the bondages. Screams and wails echoed into the bleak surroundings, her isolation confirmed. This was happening all over again. The freedom that fate exposed her to was nothing more than a fleeting illusion. There was nothing she could do. If only she had protected herself… if only she had pushed away Byleth… if only she had been more careful…

“…There was nothing you can do about it.”

Edelgard’s mind snapped back to the present. Her furrowed brows eased themselves as Byleth tucked the gauze’s end into the wrapped shoulder. Treatment was complete. This prompted the older woman to ease the youngster into a casual buttoned shirt. As Edelgard’s arms slipped through its sleeves, she mumbled,

“You know, you should’ve been more careful, Professor.”

“…”

Edelgard hadn’t fallen far into the bleak abyss. It was already a miracle that Byleth survived the ordeal. No— It was more than a miracle. The incident occurred today, yet the instructor was able to recover enough to tend to Edelgard.

Everyone had originally presumed Lindhardt’s consistent Heal significantly improved its strength with each cast. Lindhardt and Edelgard had their doubts. He had only learned the spell in less than a week. There must have been some unknown variable that sealed Byleth’s deadly gash to mere scar tissues.

Little did they know that it was all thanks to Sothis. The immense power that had been withheld granted another chance at life. That didn’t come for free, though. The green-haired gave Byleth the scolding of her life as they were given first aid and returned to the monastery. More scolding came from Jeralt, Manuela, and even Rhea when they took a step into the infirmary. Byleth felt like this was never going to end.

At least the two afflicted females sustained nothing more than moderate damage. Manuela provided the necessary instructions to prevent infection after their same-day discharge. They were told to stay put in the monastery. Not like they had anything to do for today and Sunday. Hence, it led Byleth to invite the wounded Edelgard into her private quarter.

“…I’ll try.”

“It would kill me if you were to actually die.”

Byleth’s eyes crinkled from the corner.

“That won’t happen.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. I am alive right now.”

“…how could you say that?” Edelgard carefully turned around to meet her lover. “How could you say that with a straight face? You were almost killed��� Wait— is that… a smile?”

“Maybe.”

That caused the noble to lightly scoff. “I hope you understand that this is no joking matter.” Sometimes, Byleth’s unnecessary social commentary downplayed the seriousness.

The corner of her lips curved downward. Without warning, Edelgard reached out to touch Byleth. A startled jolt zipped past the teacher’s spine from contact. Edelgard’s warm palm planted on the cool cotton of her tank top, its heat seeping past the barrier. Her fingertips soon brushed upon the rough, white material that peeked from under the fabric. She left her hand there and spoke with a contrasting soft voice.

“…does it hurt?”

“No,” Byleth shook her head. “It aches a bit, though.”

Byleth took Edelgard’s hand and brought it up to her lips. The ex-mercenary gently kissed Edelgard’s knuckles as she longed for her girlfriend’s alluring eyes.

It was typical of Edelgard to act like a mother hen. Despite her demeanor as a strict, calculating house leader that borders a dictator, the female is nothing more than a young woman who cares deeply about her companions. Byleth can somewhat empathize the inner turmoil Edelgard faced from this morning. The only difference was the scenarios’ results. Byleth’s thumb smoothed the back of her girlfriend’s hand.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“…are you sure?”

She nodded. There was a small pause until Edelgard lowered her head and trembled.

“I wouldn’t know what to do if I had lost you,” she whispered. Edelgard leaned forward and rested her forehead against Byleth’s chest. She closed her eyes, her voice soft, almost fragile as if her heart would break any minute. “Without you, I would be lost.”

Byleth tilted her head. Then, the professor slowly embraced the young lady and brought her close. “I don’t know what I would do either if I were to lose you, El.”

They eventually shifted position to lay down. Byleth allowed one arm to be a pillow as the other hand soothingly scratched Edelgard’s back. A content hum slipped out of the noble, her face buried in Byleth’s breasts and her legs hugging one of Byleth’s. She deeply inhaled her girlfriend’s scent. The heat temporarily blossomed on Byleth’s chest as the student exhaled through her nose. This was lulling her to an early sleep.

From the distance, it looks as though Byleth is the mother and Edelgard is the child. The white-haired might get mocked for acting this way. However, she didn’t care. She was here, alive, with the very person she loves from the bottom of her heart, who was also alive.

“You mean everything to me. I will fight the whole world if it means making you happy.” Her professor kissed her head. “And I will never leave you alone in this world.”

There was a bright light that illuminates the shadows. Edelgard raised her arms to shield the piercing rays. The blackness that once terrorized the female to her core slithered away from a lone woman. Gentle warmth enveloped her entire being as the chains that shackled her to a pre-conceived destiny eroded into fine dust. When she lowered her arms, she met her professor. Byleth stood in front of the fatigued student. She extended her hand with a smile. It was as if the teal-haired was a goddess manifested into a mortal. Edelgard blinked back her tears, her hand reached out for her girlfriend.

The 18-year-old woman was like a dog on a leash. Fate was her master, and she was its pet.

That is until she met Byleth.

[elementalist-kdj]

The Night Grim Alex Abducts Sokolov

It is the dead of night within the docks of Serkonos, but the darkness could not hold back the noise of violence. Blood spilled amongst the docks are not uncommon as fishermen and whalers carve fresh kill for the market. Life and murder; what drips upon the docks this moment is not of the fish nor whales that live within the sea. What used to be a man that sailed the waves; was now a newly made corpse courtesy of the Crown Killer.

The captain never had a chance, the Duke did not have any flesh for his and the new Empress’s ‘pet’. She was ravenous. As the sailor waves to his shipmates and crew at the docks for some fine liquor and meat for a hard week of labor. He didn’t see the beast coming and was attacked from the front as soon as he was out of sight, claws gripping him and lifting him up by his throat. The killer growled with a malicious hunger deep within and sized him down with the yellow irises of a beast. He was so desperate to go as much as flailing against the assailant with as much a force he could muster. This only made the grip on his throat respond with an absolute denial of blood and air to his brain. Consciousness began to fade, limbs became unresponsive and finally; the captain slipped away.

She snatched him from the back, threw her prey over her shoulders and climbed. Not too far away, an abandoned building complex, condemned with the stench of bloodfly larvae and great, big red angry nests right above the dock became her feeding ground. Above the street was the wooden walkway, she dropped the unconscious body and began the carve. Bloodflies dare not approach the presence of the beast as Grim Alex’s claws began to slice through the man’s abdomen. Before the blood began to ooze into an overflowing pool, her hands began to undo the bandages that hide her sharp teeth and enlarged canines. Alex lowers her head into the open midsection and freely takes the hot blood of the sailor over her face. The beast then rips into the muscle and sinew. Pulling it apart, the man’s body convulsed and he snaps awake. Alex instantaneously flexes her right arm and grabs him by the face. She grins and terrifies him, he grabs the arm of the monster in attempts to fight her off. It made no difference; as if the build of this creature slightly bulked up since the confrontation was a clear sign of imminent doom. Grim Alex’s left hand then enters the open hole of the abdominal cavity and then slowly makes its way up to the diaphragm. Screams filled the air; music to the monster’s ears. Once torn open, the sound stops; his bloody tears rolled down. Grand Guards who came over to investigate the noise would regret their actions.

Alex’s enhanced senses caught their footsteps and she leaps away for there is new game to hunt. Two guards arrive at the scene, swords and pistols drawn. From the street, they approach the docks. It didn’t take long for them to hear the gurgling chokes above them and detect the victim. Just before one of them found the ladder to go up there. The other recognized that this was work of the Crown Killer. He curses under his breath and tries to run, warning his partner of the danger. Alex likes chasing down her game. Faster than the wind could carry a swallow, the beast lunges and catches the poor guard by his belt. Her sharp, clawed hand shredded into the lower back and he fell hard. In an attempt to stop the killer, he swung the sword in hand to her ribs. Swift hands stopped his and tore the limb off effortlessly. His partner shot the inhuman being in the back, but this makes matters complicated. Removing her coat, this shifts Grim Alex’s mood from predatory to rage. The pain triggers a flood of adrenaline with another transformative modification. The blouse began to strain slightly till tears rip down the back and around the arms. Calves thickened and legs lengthened, soles of the black boots burst open with sharp toenails growing out. This was it, humanity has left the doctor well beyond a recognizable visage. The muscled guard that lost his arm was now a dwarf in comparison. Grim Alex growled in anger, a deep voice rumbled the ground. She still held the arm with the sword. She skewers the muscled guard into the ground and lept to the pistoled guard. Without having to climb the ladder, Grim Alex tore past the metal fence and pulled. The guard loses his footing on the wooden balcony and fell to the street. Without a second thought, he took two more shots at Grim with his pistol before taking one himself; right in the head, fearing the torture the creature could havoc. Alex snarled in anger and tore all three bodies apart, ravenously feasting on the meat of the guards in this form and leaving the sailor to drown in his own blood.

Large smears painted the abandoned apartment and bloodied shrinking footprints trailed towards the docks. Alex grabbed her coat, scarf and stuffed it into her bag. Her nose hits the air and sniffs for the stench of tobacco, oil, whiskey and paint. Eyes focused on a boat sailing ashore between the harbor and Addemire Institute.

With a softer but still feral voice, Grim Alex exhales, “Sokolov...”

She steals a small steamboat from the dock and takes off towards the Dreadful Wale.

Grim Alex silently lept on the Dreadful Wale and as she traversed the ship, she could recall the stench of Hypatia’s former instructor from the days when Alexandria studied in the Academy of Natural Philosophy. His clothes were drenched with the scent of his signature whale blood paint and whiskey. Grim Alex picked up the scent and sneaks to the top of her target’s cabin. She listened to the creaking sounds of the hull and patiently waited for the best time to strike. Below, she detected the old philosopher pacing and the familiar sounds of Jindosh’s audiograph running in the background. 

Sokolov began, “Dearest Emily, or must I say Your Imperial Majesty? I have something that you and Corvo must hear at the first opportunity. It concerns the murders happening across the empire, committed by this so-called Crown Killer.”

Grim Alex grins with an intrigued mind upon the mention of her alias name.

“When I left Gristol years ago, I swore I'd never again take part in any further political matters. I've done my share of bad things, and some good, before and after the Rat Plague. But here in Karnaca, I've uncovered a terrible conspiracy against you. Here, at the bottom of the empire, the cobblestones smell of death and corruption.

I'm staying with an associate, Meagan Foster, aboard her vessel, the Dreadful Wale. We'll leave for Dunwall in the morning, as soon as the tides are willing.”

Sokolov, closes his journal and sits down on his bed. He shuts his eyes hard and squeezes his brow with his right hand.

“I keep thinking of the]way sweet Jessamine was stolen from you and your father, and I fear it might be your turn to face such turmoil. I know Corvo would protect you with his life, but please do not trust anyone-”

This was it; Grim Alex grips the latch of Sokolov’s cabin; rips it off the hinges effortlessly. She jumps down into his cabin and scares Sokolov to his feet.

Grim Alex lunges forward, “There you are, old man. I was asked to pay you a visit.” 

The old philosopher stumbles in shock, not because of the presence of the Crown Killer, if anything, he anticipated this. However, what he did not expect, was the murderer’s identity. His sharp mind instantaneously recognized her by the shape of her cheekbones, to the angle of her jawline and the height of her brow from the portrait he painted of her when she became Chief Alchemist of the Institue she worked at. He tried his best to call out to his former student inside of the beast. But fear took hold as he failed to call her name out.

Sokolov stumbles back and mustered as loud as he could, “Wait! What's wrong with you?”

No avail, Grim Alex has always made sure that the Good Doctor was tightly locked-up deep inside. The philosopher attempts to bolt for his cabin door and this time screams for help, "Meagan!”

The Crown Killer steps right in front and strikes at Sokolov, catching him just below his left ear and behind his jawline with a swift right hook. Grim Alex grabs the now unconscious philosopher by the arm and swings him over her shoulder like a sack of rice.

“Off we go, Sokolov, to somewhere more private.”  Grim Alex turns around to exit. The beast traversed up, her claws tearing into the metal walls. Megan arrives too late as the Crown Killer has already departed the cabin. Alex leaps off the Dreadful Wale and sails the stolen ship towards the shallow jagged rocks of Addermire Institute.

Grim Alex abandons the boat, allowing it to wreck amongst the rocks surfacing underneath the Addermire Station’s rails. She then scaled the cliffside of the institute and made her way to the facility’s recuperation area from the building's rooftop and shutters.

Carrying the old philosopher into the room behind the recuperation area, Grim Alex carefully sets Sokolov over a cot and injects him with a sedative she has prepared prior to the mission. A white sheet was laid over his body, followed by an olive colored wool blanket to keep the man warm. She turns around to face the rest of the room.

Grim Alex growls, “Grrrrr... My sister’s prison...”

The beast made her way to the recuperation area as dawn was only an hour or two away. She removed the bloodied clothes and tossed them aside to squeeze into the garb the Good Doctor was in before she departed for the night. Once she was done, the beast’s glowing golden eyes stared at the mirror and she brought her bloodied hand up to tap her elongated nail against the glass. It was time to give the Doctor her body back. Hypatia... Alex began. It’s time to wake up... Alexandria...

Deep inside her mind, the doctor stirred and Hypatia started to regain consciousness. As her vision began to focus, she caught a glimpse of her monstrous appearance; grey skin, hardened musclar body, with sharp teeth grinning back at her. Alexandria’s heart jumped in shock and the pain slowly began to flood in. Grim Alex then redirects Hypatia. Her gait was unsteady as she made her way to the sofa she usually sleeps on. 

Dissipating adrenaline from her darker half’s mission switches over to nor-epinephrine. This instantaneously overwhelms Hypatia, she doubles over in pain and stumbles to the ground; quickly grabs a pail and began to vomit. At the base of the bucket was deep crimson blood and chunks of meat came afloat. Her teary vision slowly returned and she was in disbelief; her elongated nails were crusted deep red underneath. What is this?! Was it iodine? Was it blood? What experiment was I conducting?!

Agony racked Hypatia’s body; radiating from the traps of her back to the deltoids, from the abdominals to her legs; everything down to the bones of her fingertips and toes. 

Hypatia began to mutter, “This is not me!! This is not-”

An animalistic growl escaped Hypatia’s throat as tries to get back up, purposely knocking the silverware off to help herself up. Her hardened body tensed immensely as its muscles and bones began to shrink, ashen grey skin began to regain its normal skin tone, her gums ached as her canines receded. 

The growl changed into roaring in pain as her nerves are flaring with the discharge of energy. As it died down, the Doctor was drenched in sweat; frustrated and angry, ready to lash out over something that she could not control nor understand. Grim Alex interrupted to erase the memory and reset the Good Doctor’s mind. Your torture is over... Steady heart and calm... Doctor... Alexandria... Hypatia... The Duke has need of your work and we have a special guest that needs your medical attention... The Grand Inventor Kirin Jindosh awaits the presence of Karnaca’s greatest Natural Philosopher... Your old mentor... Anton Sokolov...

[lynchgirl90]

The #TwinPeaks Season 3 Blu-ray is a Wonderful Package for 2017’s Greatest Piece of Narrative Entertainment

David Lynch‘s stunning Twin Peaks season 3, also known as Twin Peaks: The Return, comes to Blu-ray as a must-have box set loaded with fascinating and revealing looks behind the production. Just as they did so many years ago, David Lynch and Mark Frost have created a TV event unlike any other before, and probably unlike anything that will ever come after it. Here, as one cohesive Blu-ray, we have the chance to watch the saga unfold from beginning to end, which might very well be the best way to experience the show. Our Twin Peaks season 3 Blu-ray review below pulls back the red curtain and journeys into the unknown. Join me?

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

The greatest piece of narrative entertainment from 2017 was not in movie theaters, but rather playing on Showtime over the course of one weird, wild summer. Defying the odds, premium cable channel Showtime parked a large amount of money on David Lynch’s doorstep and convinced him to come out of semi-retirement to resurrect his cult TV series Twin Peaks. The results were stunning.

Lynch, the brilliant, mad mind behind Blue Velvet, Lost Highway and more, hadn’t made a film since 2006’s Inland Empire, yet any fears that the iconic filmmaker might have grown rusty in his time off were quickly assuaged as the beginning of the new Twin Peaks unfolded. Lynch and Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost had pulled out all the stops to return audiences to a place both wonderful and strange, and we all got a lot more than we could’ve possibly bargained for.

The importance of the original Twin Peaks can not be overstated. TV as we know it today, everything we lump into the “Peak TV” category of high quality, cinematic television, can trace its roots back to what Lynch and Frost did with the original Twin Peaks. He brought the auteur theory and the avant-garde to mainstream primetime TV, and television has been paying tribute ever since. The original Peaks only lasted two seasons, but after its cancellation in 1991, the show took on a life of its own, its cult fandom growing to monolithic proportions. Lynch revisited the town with 1992’s prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which polarized audiences and took the mythology of the series into even stranger, near-indecipherable directions. Something curious happened after that: the show became even more popular, but the show that newer fans seemed to latch onto wasn’t actually the show that Lynch had created.

A meme-ification of Twin Peaks had set in, fueled by the Tumblr generation fond of sharing out of context screen grabs and quick gifs that may look amazing but don’t even come close to capturing the aura of what Lynch was going for. So when Lynch and Frost announced that “That gum you like is going to come back in style,” there was an uneasiness with how modern TV viewers would react to whatever it was they were about to witness. We live in the age of the live-tweet, where audiences have trouble putting their phone down to entirely focus on their entertainment, and are instead prone to firing off an instant reaction with the hopes of raking up a few “likes.” This is not the ideal type of viewing experience for something created by Lynch, and if audiences thought they were going to be in for instant gratification with the new Twin Peaks, they were setting themselves up for failure.

The same foul fate would befall the aforementioned Tumblr generation, who apparently wanted nothing deeper than endless shots of cherry pie, black coffee, and Audrey Horne’s saddle shoes. Anyone who dares to cruise the Twin Peakshashtag on Tumblr while the new series was airing likely found themselves in a world of woe, with Tumblr users bemoaning that the new Twin Peaks was denying them their dream of Special Agent Dale Cooper and Audrey Horne finally falling into each other’s arms at the Double R Diner while Shelly Johnson serves them up a slice of pie. In short, what they wanted was fan service. And fan service is not what David Lynch traffics in. I doubt the term even exists in his vocabulary.

Instead, Lynch provided viewers with one of the most audacious 18 hours ever committed to television. A daring, mind-warping journey back to the town of Twin Peaks and beyond. He blew a big, black hole into the very mythology of the show, and created something stranger than anyone viewing the original series would’ve imagined.

I Am Dead Yet I Live

The original Twin Peaks began as a procedural drama, then blossomed into something nearly unclassifiable. After local teen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is found murdered, FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) arrives in town to investigate. Cooper gets to know the town, and the townsfolk, as he tries to crack the Palmer case.

And then things get weird.

Twin Peaks made what many consider to be a huge mistake by wrapping up the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer rather quickly, and then becoming stranger and stranger until it found itself canceled. The problem: the series ended on one major cliffhanger, with Cooper trapped in The Black Lodge, an eerie, extra-dimensional location populated with backward-talking people, billowing red curtains, and flashes of lighting. Meanwhile, an evil Cooper doppelgänger, connected to the malevolent force known as BOB, took the real Cooper’s place back in the real world.

There was never any real chance that Lynch and Frost would quickly sew up this dangling thread, however. Instead, when Twin Peaks returned to Showtime, it expanded the mythology of the series and took viewers on a long journey that was all part of Cooper’s return to the real world. But Cooper isn’t the real focus of Twin Peaks. Laura Palmer is. For Lynch, Laura Palmer is a representation of horribly wronged innocence. Fire Walk With Me revealed the traumatic events leading up to Laura’s death, and Lynch’s focus seems to be on the cosmic injustice of it all. The cruel blindness of fate. Laura Palmer is a force of something pure and good in the universe, and no matter how hard Cooper might try, he can never really save her. But perhaps that’s not what’s important. Perhaps what’s important is that he’ll keep trying.

Twin Peaks season 3 has Cooper escape the Black Lodge by taking the place of hapless, corrupt Las Vegas dwelling insurance salesman Dougie Jones (also played by MacLachlan). In reality, Dougie is a “tulpa” – a being created from the selected thoughts of different individuals. Tibetan mythology describe tulpas as “extra bodies that were created from one person’s mind in order to travel to spiritual realms.”

Rather than have Cooper escape the Black Lodge and come back to the real world acting like his old self, Lynch and Frost have the agent stuck in a childlike state, as if all the years stuck in an alternate dimension has blasted away a part of his consciousness. Then, in the most delightfully devious twist of all, Lynch proceeds to keep Cooper in this state through nearly the entire series. There are triggers that we keep expecting will snap Cooper out of his Dougie state: coffee, pie, etc. But Lynch isn’t interested in an easy way out. Instead, he engrosses us into the life of Dougie Jones, as the traumatized Cooper adapts to his new reality with Dougie’s wife Janey-E (Naomi Watts) and son Sonny Jim (Pierce Gagnon).

You could practically hear the groans of certain viewers as Lynch refused to break Cooper out of the Jones family mold, yet this material provides us with some of the most incredible moments of the revival series, and gives Kyle MacLachlan a chance to shine, playing up both the comic relief elements of Dougie Jones (see: Dougie in a casino yelling “Hello-oooooo!” at slot machines) mixed with more heartbreaking scenes (see: Dougie watching Sonny Jim with a look of profound sadness on his face).

Twin Peaks sets up a horde of new characters, almost all of which become memorable almost instantaneously – a feat few other shows can pull off. There’s the Mitchum Brothers (Jim Belushi and Robert Knepper), who are both trying to murder Dougie Jones before growing fond of him on the basis of a dream. There are two assassins (Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tim Roth), who spend most of their time in a van shooting the breeze when they’re not shooting people. And most important of all, there’s Diane (Laura Dern), Cooper’s old flame who teams up with FBI Director Gordon Cole (Lynch) and company to find out what happened to the real Cooper. Dern, with her various wigs, foul mouth, chain smoking and multi-colored manicure, steals every scene she appears in.

But what of Twin Peaks, the town that started it all? Lynch brings us back to the town, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of old favorites: Shelly (Mädchen Amick), Bobby (Dana Ashbrook), Big Ed (Everett McGill), Norma (Peggy Lipton), Andy (Harry Goaz), Lucy (Kimmy Robertson), Hawk (Michael Horse), Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn), and more, but the new season isn’t so much interested in closing out their stories as it is showing the effects of the passage of time. That’s not to say there aren’t narrative conclusions. In one of the new season’s most satisfying moments, Big Ed and Norma finally seal the deal on their romance after years apart. Lynch stages this in a lovely way, with Norma’s hands coming from just off frame onto Big Ed’s shoulders, while Big Ed closes his eyes in contentment.

These lovely moments are contrasted with stark, disturbing horror. In the opening episode alone, a nameless, shapeless monster escapes a containment unit and lays waste to a pair of lovers in a scene drenched in blood and confusion. And at the center of the series as a whole is the terrifying notion that evil, in all its forms, will almost always come out ahead. After nearly 18 hours, Cooper manages to alter time and save Laura Palmer from her teenage demise. Yet the aftershocks of this change are not ideal – the world as Cooper (and by extension, the audience) knows it has been altered forever. The final few seconds of the series find Cooper and Laura in a state of limbo, with Cooper absently wondering “What year is this?” before Laura, looking up at the house that once held such trauma and abuse for her in another life, emits a piercing, blood-chilling scream that seems to be echoing across time and space itself (note: if there was an award for Best Scream, Sheryl Lee would be the clear winner).

What are we to make of this cryptic, haunting conclusion? The beauty of Twin Peaks is that Lynch and Frost aren’t interested in providing us with clear answers. One of the quotes from the revival series states, “We are like the dreamer who dreams and lives inside the dream.” This is as clear a Twin Peaks mission statement as we’ll ever receive. The series as a whole is a dream that the audience is living inside, and like dreams, the narrative is open to endless interpretation. And best of all, no interpretation can really be considered incorrect. You can take away a million different morals from Twin Peaks as a whole, but I think a strong case can be made for the unsettling message that evil – in all its forms – will frequently come out ahead. The important thing is for committed, determined people like Dale Cooper to continue to try to stop it anyway. Cooper may not always succeed, but we can take some sort of cold comfort in the fact that he’ll try anyway.

Phenomenon

The Blu-ray special feature Phenomenon is broken into three distinct parts: Creation, Life After Death and Renaissance. As a whole, this feature is a fun but mostly boilerplate look at the series as a whole. It’s quick and to the point, and was likely originally cut to serve as more of a commercial for the revival series than a truly in-depth look at Twin Peaks. Creation looks at the show’s origins, from its time on ABC to the fan reaction, including the popular “watching parties” that had audiences coming together to experience each weekly episode as a group. Life After Death examines the growing cult fandom that sprung up after the show had been canceled. Fan magazines and conventions gave Twin Peaks whole new life and kept the series alive for an entire new generation born after the first show had long been canceled. Renaissance is a crash-course in bringing the show back to life on Showtime. Again, there’s no real insight here or depth. Lynch and frost pop-up for quick soundbites, but anyone hoping for the creators to delve into the process of bringing Twin Peaks back from the dead need look elsewhere.

Behind the Red Curtain and I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun

Richard Beymer, who plays Twin Peaks character Ben Horne, shot these two mini-documentaries that appear in the Blu-ray special features. There’s no narrative thread to these two features. Instead, they provide a raw, uncensored look at Lynch and company on the Black Lodge set, setting up shots. These two features provide us with what will become a running theme of the behind-the-scenes footage provided on the Blu-ray: shot after shot of Lynch at work.

If you ever wanted to sit back and watch David Lynch direct, the features provided here are a gold mine. They also provide an amusing, even charming look at how normal it all is. Lynch deals with such strange, dark, violent material that it can be easy to think of him as a dark, brooding weirdo, but the footage here shows him as an affable, laid-back fellow who knows exactly what he wants from a scene and how to get it. These slice-of-life moments give us an opportunity to see Lynch help Kyle MacLachlan tie a necktie, or give Sherilyn Fenn a cigarette as he talks with her about her character. Speaking of cigarettes, get ready to see a lot of them. Lynch is constantly smoking in these behind-the-scenes moments, an American Spirit cigarette always perched in his mouth or resting between his fingers. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself longing for a smoke after watching all of this.

The only downside to this, and other behind-the-scenes features is that some of the magic of the show is lost. We’re peeling back the red curtain here, and seeing how the sausage is made. The otherworldly nature of Twin Peaks drops away as we see numerous crew members making everything come together. In one amusing moment, we see Lynch and company watching a clip from the original Twin Peaks on YouTube so they can match a shot up to a new scene

In A Very Lovely Dream: One Week in Twin Peaks

Filmmaker Charles DeLauzirika put together this on-location feature that goes behind the scenes. Not much of the material here is very comprehensive, but it does provide a fly-on-the-wall look at the production, including actors discussing how strange it was to step back into roles they hadn’t played in more than two decades. The best moments come when we get to watch Lynch direct – almost always through a megaphone. If you’re looking for a bit more, however, this isn’t the feature for you. Instead, you should move quickly to IMPRESSIONS: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin Peaks.

IMPRESSIONS: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin Peaks

Without question, the best features on the new Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series Blu-ray release are the series of behind-the-scenes films bundled together as IMPRESSIONS: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin Peaks. Longtime Lynch documentarian and friend Jason S. shot these 10 revealing, fascinating films (each runs about 30 minutes), covering almost the entire filming schedule of the new series.

Once again, we have Lynch constantly smoking his American Spirit cigarettes, but these features are much more in-depth than Behind the Red Curtain and I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun. We get to watch as Lynch and his crew come up with character names on the fly, and cracking up when he thinks up silly-sounding names. This feature also reveals how hands-on Lynch is: at one point, we see him sculpting one of the show’s props himself – a spout made of styrofoam that will eventually serve as the giant teapot-like contraption that took the place of the dearly departed David Bowie.

Again, the best moments are those when we get to watch Lynch direct, like a sequence where he chats with Kyle MacLachlan and Laura Dern in a motel room set. Lynch has nicknames for all his actors, and it’s charming to listen to him refer to Dern as “Tidbit” and MacLachlan as “Kale.” Later, he has to talk Dern into letting makeup artists cover her face in bread dough. After the scene is complete, Dern gets payback by applying the same dough to Lynch’s face. It’s a charming, funny glimpse into the carefree, friendly atmosphere prevalent on Lynch’s sets. “I wouldn’t have a career if it wasn’t for David,” MacLachlan said once. “He pretty much brought me up in the film world and spoiled me; we’ve all spoken about how the set is, he creates the environment and the joyfulness and the creativity. I’ve been spoiled forever working with David.” The footage here is proof positive of that statement.

Still, there are moments where Lynch can lose his temper. In one sequence, not filmed on set but rather in a meeting with his crew, Lynch gets frustrated when he’s told that they’ll only be able to film in one location for two days. The filmmaker grows apoplectic at this time constraint, shouting, “Why do I only have two fucking days?” and complaining that given the chance, he could spend “weeks” on certain sets “dreaming up new ideas.”

The only negative thing I’ll say about this feature: the footage is (sporadically) narrated by Josef Maria Schäfers, in what I presume is an attempt to mock (or perhaps pay loving tribute to) the existential narration that filmmaker Werner Herzog usually gives his documentaries. The narration here is unnecessary and distracting and grows truly tiresome after a while.

Goodbye, Margaret

Other features on the Blu-ray include a series of David Lynch produced promos for the series. Lynch managed to avoid having to cut a proper trailer for the Showtime revival, and instead put together these abstract clips that teased the tone without giving anything away. Also included is a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, a series of alternating versions of the Rancho Rosa production logo that started each episode, and the full San Diego Comic-Con 2017 Twin Peaks Panel, which you can watch in full above.

As a whole, the Twin Peaks: A Limited Event Series Blu-ray is a must-own for any David Lynch or Twin Peaks fan. There’s a wealth of material here beyond the series itself, but best of all is the opportunity to watch the episodes back-to-back, and watch as the create an elaborate, hypnotic saga the likes of which we’ll never see again.

Full list of special features:

BLU-RAY AND DVD:

IMPRESSIONS: A Journey Behind the Scenes of Twin Peaks

Phenomenon

Rancho Rosa Logos (2:25)

San Diego Comic-Con 2017 Twin Peaks Panel (61:26)

David Lynch Produced Promos

The Man with the Grey Elevated Hair (29:40)

Tell it Martin (29:08)

Two Blue Balls (24:14)

The Number of Completion (29:17)

Bad Binoculars (28:08)

See You on the Other Side Dear Friend (30:00)

Do Not Pick Up Hitchhikers (26:44)

A Bloody Finger in Your Mouth (26:49)

The Polish Accountant (28:05)

A Pot of Boiling Oil (38:32)

Part 1: Creation (4:40)

Part 2: Life After Death (4:50)

Part 3: Renaissance (4:50)

Behind-the-scenes Photo Gallery

Piano (1:02)

Donut (:32)

Woods (:32)

People (:32)

Places (:32)

Albert (1:02)

In – cinema (1:32)

BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE:

A Very Lovely Dream: One Week in Twin Peaks (27:09)

Behind the Red Curtain (29:17)

I Had Bad Milk in Dehradun (28:11)

Link (TP) 

[rcstartthemachine]

The Owls Are Not What They Seem

The greatest piece of narrative entertainment from 2017 was not in movie theaters, but rather playing on Showtime over the course of one weird, wild summer. Defying the odds, premium cable channel Showtime parked a large amount of money on David Lynch’s doorstep and convinced him to come out of semi-retirement to resurrect his cult TV series Twin Peaks. The results were stunning.

Lynch, the brilliant, mad mind behind Blue Velvet, Lost Highway and more, hadn’t made a film since 2006’s Inland Empire, yet any fears that the iconic filmmaker might have grown rusty in his time off were quickly assuaged as the beginning of the new Twin Peaks unfolded. Lynch and Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost had pulled out all the stops to return audiences to a place both wonderful and strange, and we all got a lot more than we could’ve possibly bargained for.

The importance of the original Twin Peaks can not be overstated. TV as we know it today, everything we lump into the “Peak TV” category of high quality, cinematic television, can trace its roots back to what Lynch and Frost did with the original Twin Peaks. He brought the auteur theory and the avant-garde to mainstream primetime TV, and television has been paying tribute ever since. The original Peaks only lasted two seasons, but after its cancellation in 1991, the show took on a life of its own, its cult fandom growing to monolithic proportions. Lynch revisited the town with 1992’s prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, which polarized audiences and took the mythology of the series into even stranger, near-indecipherable directions. Something curious happened after that: the show became even more popular, but the show that newer fans seemed to latch onto wasn’t actually the show that Lynch had created.

A meme-ification of Twin Peaks had set in, fueled by the Tumblr generation fond of sharing out of context screen grabs and quick gifs that may look amazing but don’t even come close to capturing the aura of what Lynch was going for. So when Lynch and Frost announced that “That gum you like is going to come back in style,” there was an uneasiness with how modern TV viewers would react to whatever it was they were about to witness. We live in the age of the live-tweet, where audiences have trouble putting their phone down to entirely focus on their entertainment, and are instead prone to firing off an instant reaction with the hopes of raking up a few “likes.” This is not the ideal type of viewing experience for something created by Lynch, and if audiences thought they were going to be in for instant gratification with the new Twin Peaks, they were setting themselves up for failure.

The same foul fate would befall the aforementioned Tumblr generation, who apparently wanted nothing deeper than endless shots of cherry pie, black coffee, and Audrey Horne’s saddle shoes. Anyone who dares to cruise the Twin Peakshashtag on Tumblr while the new series was airing likely found themselves in a world of woe, with Tumblr users bemoaning that the new Twin Peaks was denying them their dream of Special Agent Dale Cooper and Audrey Horne finally falling into each other’s arms at the Double R Diner while Shelly Johnson serves them up a slice of pie. In short, what they wanted was fan service. And fan service is not what David Lynch traffics in. I doubt the term even exists in his vocabulary.

Instead, Lynch provided viewers with one of the most audacious 18 hours ever committed to television. A daring, mind-warping journey back to the town of Twin Peaks and beyond. He blew a big, black hole into the very mythology of the show, and created something stranger than anyone viewing the original series would’ve imagined.

I Am Dead Yet I Live

The original Twin Peaks began as a procedural drama, then blossomed into something nearly unclassifiable. After local teen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) is found murdered, FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) arrives in town to investigate. Cooper gets to know the town, and the townsfolk, as he tries to crack the Palmer case.

And then things get weird.

Twin Peaks made what many consider to be a huge mistake by wrapping up the mystery of who killed Laura Palmer rather quickly, and then becoming stranger and stranger until it found itself canceled. The problem: the series ended on one major cliffhanger, with Cooper trapped in The Black Lodge, an eerie, extra-dimensional location populated with backward-talking people, billowing red curtains, and flashes of lighting. Meanwhile, an evil Cooper doppelgänger, connected to the malevolent force known as BOB, took the real Cooper’s place back in the real world.

There was never any real chance that Lynch and Frost would quickly sew up this dangling thread, however. Instead, when Twin Peaks returned to Showtime, it expanded the mythology of the series and took viewers on a long journey that was all part of Cooper’s return to the real world. But Cooper isn’t the real focus of Twin Peaks. Laura Palmer is. For Lynch, Laura Palmer is a representation of horribly wronged innocence. Fire Walk With Me revealed the traumatic events leading up to Laura’s death, and Lynch’s focus seems to be on the cosmic injustice of it all. The cruel blindness of fate. Laura Palmer is a force of something pure and good in the universe, and no matter how hard Cooper might try, he can never really save her. But perhaps that’s not what’s important. Perhaps what’s important is that he’ll keep trying.

Twin Peaks season 3 has Cooper escape the Black Lodge by taking the place of hapless, corrupt Las Vegas dwelling insurance salesman Dougie Jones (also played by MacLachlan). In reality, Dougie is a “tulpa” – a being created from the selected thoughts of different individuals. Tibetan mythology describe tulpas as “extra bodies that were created from one person’s mind in order to travel to spiritual realms.”

Rather than have Cooper escape the Black Lodge and come back to the real world acting like his old self, Lynch and Frost have the agent stuck in a childlike state, as if all the years stuck in an alternate dimension has blasted away a part of his consciousness. Then, in the most delightfully devious twist of all, Lynch proceeds to keep Cooper in this state through nearly the entire series. There are triggers that we keep expecting will snap Cooper out of his Dougie state: coffee, pie, etc. But Lynch isn’t interested in an easy way out. Instead, he engrosses us into the life of Dougie Jones, as the traumatized Cooper adapts to his new reality with Dougie’s wife Janey-E (Naomi Watts) and son Sonny Jim (Pierce Gagnon).

You could practically hear the groans of certain viewers as Lynch refused to break Cooper out of the Jones family mold, yet this material provides us with some of the most incredible moments of the revival series, and gives Kyle MacLachlan a chance to shine, playing up both the comic relief elements of Dougie Jones (see: Dougie in a casino yelling “Hello-oooooo!” at slot machines) mixed with more heartbreaking scenes (see: Dougie watching Sonny Jim with a look of profound sadness on his face).

Twin Peaks sets up a horde of new characters, almost all of which become memorable almost instantaneously – a feat few other shows can pull off. There’s the Mitchum Brothers (Jim Belushi and Robert Knepper), who are both trying to murder Dougie Jones before growing fond of him on the basis of a dream. There are two assassins (Jennifer Jason Leigh and Tim Roth), who spend most of their time in a van shooting the breeze when they’re not shooting people. And most important of all, there’s Diane (Laura Dern), Cooper’s old flame who teams up with FBI Director Gordon Cole (Lynch) and company to find out what happened to the real Cooper. Dern, with her various wigs, foul mouth, chain smoking and multi-colored manicure, steals every scene she appears in.

But what of Twin Peaks, the town that started it all? Lynch brings us back to the town, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of old favorites: Shelly (Mädchen Amick), Bobby (Dana Ashbrook), Big Ed (Everett McGill), Norma (Peggy Lipton), Andy (Harry Goaz), Lucy (Kimmy Robertson), Hawk (Michael Horse), Audrey Horne (Sherilyn Fenn), and more, but the new season isn’t so much interested in closing out their stories as it is showing the effects of the passage of time. That’s not to say there aren’t narrative conclusions. In one of the new season’s most satisfying moments, Big Ed and Norma finally seal the deal on their romance after years apart. Lynch stages this in a lovely way, with Norma’s hands coming from just off frame onto Big Ed’s shoulders, while Big Ed closes his eyes in contentment.

These lovely moments are contrasted with stark, disturbing horror. In the opening episode alone, a nameless, shapeless monster escapes a containment unit and lays waste to a pair of lovers in a scene drenched in blood and confusion. And at the center of the series as a whole is the terrifying notion that evil, in all its forms, will almost always come out ahead. After nearly 18 hours, Cooper manages to alter time and save Laura Palmer from her teenage demise. Yet the aftershocks of this change are not ideal – the world as Cooper (and by extension, the audience) knows it has been altered forever. The final few seconds of the series find Cooper and Laura in a state of limbo, with Cooper absently wondering “What year is this?” before Laura, looking up at the house that once held such trauma and abuse for her in another life, emits a piercing, blood-chilling scream that seems to be echoing across time and space itself (note: if there was an award for Best Scream, Sheryl Lee would be the clear winner).

What are we to make of this cryptic, haunting conclusion? The beauty of Twin Peaks is that Lynch and Frost aren’t interested in providing us with clear answers. One of the quotes from the revival series states, “We are like the dreamer who dreams and lives inside the dream.” This is as clear a Twin Peaksmission statement as we’ll ever receive. The series as a whole is a dream that the audience is living inside, and like dreams, the narrative is open to endless interpretation. And best of all, no interpretation can really be considered incorrect. You can take away a million different morals from Twin Peaks as a whole, but I think a strong case can be made for the unsettling message that evil – in all its forms – will frequently come out ahead. The important thing is for committed, determined people like Dale Cooper to continue to try to stop it anyway. Cooper may not always succeed, but we can take some sort of cold comfort in the fact that he’ll try anyway.

[rarespine]

What Lurks Below

I’m going to die. Plain and simple, the end of the road is pretty near for me. I’m floating around in space, alone inside the small scavenger ship that has been my home for what feels like an eternity now. I have no idea what time it is, or even what day it is… But honestly, does that really matter? It’s all the same out here in the empty black void, and the concept of time is now lost on me. At some point, I was heading back to Earth after an intensely bad asteroid mining run… but now getting home is just a pipe dream.

So here I am, propped up in the pilots chair with nothing but a pen, an old instruction manual to write on, and a story to tell. I’ve got limited ship power to spare, so the ship’s systems have all been powered down save for life support and basic dimmed lighting – and they won’t last much longer by my estimation. So I better get this thing done. If someone out there happens to be reading this over my dead body… Give me a proper send off, please?

Now, being a one man crew wasn’t initially the plan, but being a one man operation does mean 100% of the profits, right? I’m such an idiot. Plus, do you want to know what the real kicker is? I’m losing my mind. I’m going insane. I’m actually going bat-shit crazy with what I’ve seen and heard!

It all started happening during an otherwise routine mining expedition. I had been feeling a bit more tired and lethargic than usual, but I put that down to needing time to acclimate back to space – Life out here is a lot different than back at my apartment in Neo Melbourne (The Australian Empire represent!... how I miss it). I had discovered a small asteroid field in the region between Jupiter and Saturn, way beyond the usual hotspots in the asteroid belt on the other side of good ol’ Jupe. It wasn’t a United Galaxy Federation sanctioned zone, but what they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them.

The trip wasn’t much of a problem for my (admittedly tiny) ship’s FTL drive, but there was always the concern about space pirates. A risk I was willing to take for a big score of course… and boy did I find one. After combing through the field for a little while, I found a small group with several small objects and one massive asteroid. Like, I’m talking unusually huge here for what is normally seen inside sanctioned mining zones.

There was a shimmer about it too, an almost neon reflective glow to it as you moved around it. The rock almost seemed to be stuck in place, as though it was unmoving and held still by an invisible hand. I was honestly a bit unsettled at first, but that quickly gave way to excitement. Big score! One big thought came to mind; could this potentially be some kind of exotic material that nobody has seen before, or at the very least an extremely rare mineral? I had to collect some of this and take it back home, make a big score, and then sneak back to my little secluded spot for more!

Now, I know my ship is far too small to be making any kind of safe operation on such a large and potentially unstable rock, but I could not pass up this seemingly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I went in very slowly and carefully towards the asteroid, and when my landing gear made contact with the side of it, the ship shuddered violently as if the asteroid was trying to shake it off. I honestly thought she was going to tear in half! All told that lasted only several seconds and then everything instantly calmed down. Nerves pretty rattled, I decided to get on with it. This turned out to be another stupid move.

I prepared the ship’s drilling instruments to do their thing, and after a bit of messing about with control panels and whatnot, got the job started. As soon as the drills hit the rock there was an immense sound; a painfully strong echo that shook the ship and pained the ears. I’ll never forget the sound – it was as though a thousand orca whales cried… no, screamed out in unison. It was a horrific sound.

Next thing I knew, I woke up floating around the ship. I had blacked out and the gravity module in the ship was knocked offline. I don’t know exactly how long I was out for, but I was still on the rock and the ship was subtly shaking – no, more like vibrating. My ears were still ringing like mad, and upon closer inspection with my fingers, had bled due to ruptured eardrums. However long I had blacked out for, it was enough time for the blood to clot and dry.

I gathered myself as best I could and made plans to get off this thing. Whatever was wrong with this asteroid, I wanted nothing to do with it. After trying to retract the drilling instruments (they wouldn’t retract and snapped off… of course!), I decided to just get the hell out of here. As the ship’s landing gear released its suction pads and took off, I rolled the ship facing where I had landed to see the damage. Sure enough, my drills were still down there – snapped off and stuck in the surface. But that wasn’t the thing that caught my attention the most. Long cracks spread out from the impact point the drills had made, and these went further up the surface then I could see from my viewpoint. These long cracks originating from such a small and insignificant hole left behind by the drills. It made no sense!

I decided not to give it much more thought and to just get the heck out of there. It was then that I noticed it wasn’t my ship that was slightly vibrating – it was the asteroid. Since logic had gone out the window the moment I saw this thing, I didn’t want to think about it any longer.

Initially I full throttled the ship out of there, but once I got far enough away to feel a bit safer, slowed her right down to do a diagnostics check. She was in a bad way, but still workable. My Faster-Than-Light warp drive was still functioning, which meant getting home shouldn’t be a problem. What was an issue, however, was that the systems power was draining far quicker than it had any right to be. Not being a trained engineer, I had no idea where to even start with it. But a few simple math problems later, I realised I’d have enough to FTL out of here and to get at least within orbit of Earth before the ship went into forced emergency power mode. After finally reaching a safe enough FTL spot, I spun it up and prepared to jump.

Vital Systems functional? Check. Gravity back on? Not vital but far more comfortable. So check. FTL drive stable? Check. Ship hull integrity at a safe level? Check!

With all these sorted out, I strapped in and pressed the engage button. I completed my jump and landed some way off the designated jump zones behind the Moon. Calculations were either off or the FTL malfunctioned. Worse still, I felt awful. Now, usually FTL travel is unpleasant and a bit nauseating at the best of times. It’s normal and all part of the experience. But this time, it was a totally different sensation.

Something was very, very wrong with me. My vision became really blurred, so much so that I couldn’t make out anything around me. I felt around my seat buckles and freed myself, moving out of the chair. As soon as I stood up, I fell to the ground instantly and heard the painful orca-like screaming once again. This time I didn’t just black out, no… This time I was somewhere else entirely.

Near instantaneously I was somewhere else, standing inside of a run-down and seemingly abandoned home. The room was near completely dark except for a corner of the room bathed in red light from the window opposite. I could see the paint peeling off the walls, holes the size of fists throughout and a mess of furniture such as a cradle strewn over the rotting floorboards. At this point I was one-hundred-percent sure I had lost my mind. I was probably dead in actuality. Yep, this must have been hell.

I glanced out the window and was met with the most surreal sight I’ve ever witnessed in my life. Blood red skies lined with pitch black and grey clouds, above what can only be described as utter chaos. Wherever this was, it was now unrecognisable. This could have been any of the planets that had matured human colonies and countries on them. It was then that I started hearing strange chanting. Subtle and muted at first, but quickly becoming louder and louder until I couldn’t even hear myself think. My hands instinctively cupped tightly over my ears as I made my way into other areas of the home. The sounds appeared to be coming from a room down a small flight of stairs – leading into the basement.

I wanted to run and to hide for my own safety and sanity. But yet something was drawing me towards the basement. A strange sound that appeared to underline the ongoing chanting, yet not at all in rhythm with it, and almost as if it was talking to me through its strange, incomprehensible whispers. A mix of whispering and guttural sounds all mixed into one blood chilling theme. Yet somehow it soothed me, removing all fear and feelings and placing my whole being into a numb and trance-like state. My legs began moving against my will, heading towards the basement door. One step, two steps, all the way down. The chants got louder and louder while the whispers continued to numb, and in my tranced state I slowly and calmly placed my hand upon the door handle and turned it.

The view from inside the basement became clear. Seven human figures adorned in black robes circled around a makeshift altar. It was as if these people had watched far too many old world movies, for they hit all the tropes. The stone altar was long in width; almost a bed, and covered in intricate markings and rune-like symbols. Even in the dim of the candle-lit room, these markings glowed with a bright orange-red, almost fire-like appearance.

Only one of the hooded figures stopped chanting and turned to face me when I opened the door. They pulled back their hood to reveal an older human woman with short brown hair. She stared at me for just a moment before her wrinkled mouth curled into a wicked smile. She motioned to the altar and right on command my body obeyed the order, slowly walking towards it.

I felt nothing. No fear, no sense of danger. I was trapped in a world of numbness. The strange whispers kept me dull and sedated. I reached the altar and turned to look at the old woman. She reached out and placed the palm of her left hand against my forehead, but only for a moment before motioning to lie down on the altar.

Unable to resist, and incapable of logical reasoning, I immediately did as was asked of me. Lying down and staring up at the wooden framed ceiling. Feeling absolutely no sense of dread or fear, while the hooded figures gathered closer, held me down and tied my arms and legs to hooks in the floorboards. That was, of course, until the whispers stopped. In an instant I regained my senses, head darting from side to side, the recollection of what I’ve done coming to me and forcing me to realise what a terrible mistake I had just made. I tried to yell and scream but no sound escaped. I tried moving my arms and legs in an attempt to break free, but they were bound far too tightly – there was no escape.

The robed people’s chanting grew louder and more intense. The old woman adorned her hood once again and reached inside of her robe, pulling out a large sharp knife. The blade wasn’t your ordinary murdering instrument – the metal was etched with more of the fire-like runes all across the blade, as though a madman had scrawled and scribbled all over it.

The blade was positioned above the centre of my chest, two hands firmly gripped upon the handle. I stared at the tip of the knife with the cold realisation this was it for me. The knife rose slightly and then plunged down with force. As the intense pain hit me, my eyes rolled into the back of my head and I saw things; I heard things. Things I couldn’t believe or completely comprehend. I saw a planet in utter chaos. An earthquake the likes never before seen on any civilised planet, tearing up the surface and spewing molten lava from the incredible depths below. Ash and dust blot out any hint of a sun in the sky, and threw the entire planet into instant turmoil.

The whispers returned but this time I understood nearly every single word of it. It heralded the delivery of an unholy being from below, a creature born from that planets core, incubating like a developing chick ever since time existed for that planet. Growing stronger and maturing for a day and time that it would be released to wreak havoc upon anything that lived above. How did the people here get it all so wrong? How did they not know of this and discover this sooner?

The whispers spoke of each and every planet developing and housing such monstrosities. Every single creature that lived and survived above existed solely to unwittingly feed and nurture the hell beasts below.

Then… I saw it. For a split second I had visions witnessing the arrival of this demon. In that split second I saw a creature as tall as a skyscraper. Wings like a bat, but a body with thick stone-like hide. A head that looked like an experiment between a spider and a crocodile had gone horribly, horribly wrong. Twelve eyes that were as black as the void itself adorned its freakishly big and scaly head. Then it all faded to black.

Next thing I knew I was back on the ship. I had been on the ground, lying in a pool of my own vomit and saliva, staring blankly into nothingness until I regained awareness once again. My whole body ached as though an enormous weight had been upon me the entire time. My head spun; the things I saw and witnessed still swirling in my memory. I wanted it all to have been a horrible dream, but I couldn’t explain then, how I was able to feel that knife plunging into my chest, and the intense heat of the beast arriving from the depths below.

I managed to scramble to my feet and noticed that my auto-pilot had taken control. The metal blast doors on the windows had been released, obscuring any view from outside. The control panel blared with Danger warnings, warning about intense heat and radiation. It must have gone even further off course and gotten closer to some strange anomaly. I moved to override the blast door protocols for a peek outside the ship, and once one section was pulled up I was met with the worst sight of my life so far...

I saw a planet glowing deep crimson with billowing grey clouds. The heat through the ship windows was incredibly intense so I quickly released the blast windows once more. This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening…

I pulled up the FTL screen and punched in Earth’s co-ordinates, and was met with two of the worst possible error screens. Engine failure and destination already reached. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The realisation hit me that there was no recourse left for me. The once sacred green and blue planet was now red, grey and black.

So that’s my story. I honestly doubt anybody will be coming anywhere near this planet to even reach my ship, and that’s provided I don’t end up burning in “Earth’s” atmosphere in the first place. But whatever happened to me on this journey; whatever it was I saw in my visions… It happened. Which must mean that no planet is actually safe… Oh god… You have to warn the Federation!

-The End…?-

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Alcibiades in the cisco kid of most Achilles

Alcibiades all the famously large Anian, infirmary akin to Pericles, buddy as well scholar together with Socrates, and as well,as well as the charming commander famous on behalf of serial disloyalty were barbeque impressive body shape of the fantastic age of Athens. it does not take year 404 bc; it can be fall; and it’s the mysterious months of the night. Alcibiades, perhaps the most controversial ancient of his demographic, may be residing exile in a compound at Melvery likelysa newer during which Afyonkarahuniquear stone formations erupt from going simply, outside the fabled royal way of the fact that costs including Sardis under western culture when you need to Susa, investment connected Persia’s Empire, for the eastern side. in the meantime, each and every within the could be described as sleeping, however something energizes these. maybe there too much barking with the dog. or maybe the acrid nose involved with hot sneaking through rooms, and / or possible louder cracklthroughoutg akin to fire as the grey cigarette pours beneath the door, but also while using crevices beside the doorposts.

on this site, taken from the confirm, Is how it happened next:

Fully awaken thus, Fully tell you, Alcibiades leapt off the bed coupled with used the threshold to everything. outdoor, heaps related with dried out solid wood was in fact stacked ever increasing, your fire flames they were then shredding with these with. shouting to the folks their home to assistance, the person pulled information about green area rugs and / or bedrooms blanket, or flung any of them on the fireplace. The flames could be smothered. at the very for the time being. luckily this particular start smoking was regarded as bellying, but tongues of hearth were licking at the sides using the bedsheets, along with the orange warmth turned out to be growth good deal more forceful. as well as the arrows were sent. from all directions. Thudding at floor space and then roof covering soil. made up and / or toxic. the particular signal of those solution comfortable sighing of air.

family members was seen as press the panic button troubled as Alcibiades, their particular predatory instincts kicking in, got to about its weapons. but additionally they had disappeared. mysteriously at night a different previously took involving them. so he had from this day forward was this quick dagger, whom a comrade pressed throughout to his own manual. then again the case defend. absolutely not shield. easy to access,easliy found,just seconds away,mouse click away. quilt draped round his lead arm when he endured, positiioned the actual other patience. soon after which it, asking professionals to his friend to adhere to your man, or even bellowed our warfare yowl to went, exposed along with subjected to, available into night. Silhouetted from lose family home, determination the light object. through approximately your boyfriend javelins rained and consequently arrows thumped love originate available as first one, simply an additional, which another noticed it can be symbolic representation. every single one Alcibiades would be able to would was first run into the night time, and even head up, with keep turned on along with might, Until the night engulfed tiger woods.

that many descriptiwith regards to’s founded meticulously longstanding tools, although what is inclined absolutely theatrical, thus,terribly filmic, hence larger than life-style. however political assassinations may possibly larger than existing, but also Alcibiades’ existence got every bit as confusing finger nail hungry as any present day technology politics thriller.

Alcibiades was developed boom in the the fifth century b. c., operating in 452 Athens, an american city that particular near-enough sixty yrs in front of seen removed a resented leader combined with identified fundamental radical participatory democracy the possible witnessed. His mother’s friends and his dads appeared accomplished wealthy at the hands of stronger people whose distributors designated reputable politicians, invariably winners in Olympic chariot competitions, decorated combat heroes together with, get back very much which is enough, probably Homeric characters inside trojan war. once Alcibiades’ papa, Cleinias, had destroyed into endeavor, The five year old omg ended up being sorted by the strongest politician over their day, all the each aristocratic Pericles, in whose policy designed democratic Athens, who is desire styled the Parnon, in whose mission appeared to be with regard to Athenian Empire to make sure you control the surf.

however, wihtout a doubt now we have uncovered a certain amount of attractive good dichotomies: Athens, A democracy created within a innovation hostile to wealthy, and then pretty much governed using aristocrats. Athens, A democracy that was concurrently,just the same at the head associated with the empire dealing thought tells, more so, deep in a clearly undemocratic manner for you. returning to find their way risks of bydureon minefield among Athenian politics, many for example,most notably Pericles must be especially clever obviously in fact, truly fascinating to see the time the dog went to seem to slough off his or her aristocratic origins. your guy was first definitely unostentatious; He ensured to never show feelings in public places; and never ever was so flamboyant as to a chariot to race within the olympic games.

tips on how solar power panels or perhaps keep, Alcibiades! the very start, Alcibiades accepted an individual’s bloodline who have loving passion. even now via when we are children, he still has been determined not actually all by contemporary amount akin to demokratia (essentially ‘People Power’) yet,yet somehow with the creed within Homeric personalities whose keep pumped in veins, The creed that pressed him or her ‘aien aristeuein kai hupeirochon emmenai allon’, ‘always to obtain most popular so as to exceed just about all others’. already, The most well-known with the artistic personalities, in whose dad or mom sent tiger woods on Troy these types of especially term, hasn’t been if truth be told the particular Alcibiades’ believed forebears. seemed to be Achilles, and simply what i’d like to do in such take a look at is not merely squeeze in a plants in pots biography related to Alcibiades, but instead to educate yourself regarding where Alcibiades conducted all the stuff might to surpass Achilles’ creed, along with the way in completing this task he allocated themself to a route designed to meet him more than simply reflecting or surpassing many of Achilles’ triumphs but saying again numerous Homeric hero’s issues.

Aien aristeuein. Even during a vacation, Alcibiades considered ideally. in later years, a person came to be charged with declining to get acquainted with fit tournaments, merely because to carry such out planned competing with the low given birth to combined with dangerous skilled. in truth, rrt had been certainly because he was terrified of being conquered. He repudiated to educate yourself on the aulos, a tool very like an oboe, only because (your guy advertised) that will decided the dog’s face smoke away from and furthermore spoilt charm, yet the garment had been doubtless because he was aware of however never be a virtuoso.

ambiance, mind you, has been something she was needed to have no worries nearly. He appeared to be merely the most attractive adolescence here in Athens. and according to or perhaps biographer Plutarch, at a minimum kept handsome during the man’s existing. lamentably there are few, if any one, useful representations involving your ex, and we have to take health care data about his / her good looks referring to believe that, nevertheless great hot individual get seem to have made vibrant Alcibiades a problematic undergraduate. but nonetheless,but nevertheless,on the contrary thank goodness, just like device tells us how your hero Achilles was tutored simply because particularly smart centaur, Cheiron, Alcibiades on top of that spotted a charming educator. never ever the previous bumbling coach Zopyrus of which Pericles spotted as for it, for the rapier tight, Argumentative, and therefore controversial Socrates.

Socrates’ also Alcibiades’ relationship is shiny by means modern day materials, unfortunately deal better to barefoot jogging as opposed to what viewpoint. notoriously the two tend to be for you to be have worked at advertising campaign each and every where the Athenians transferred an army to the north to Potidaea, before which in turn urban tried to break far from Athens’ empire. almost whenever they come these folks were for a hard struggled combat:

A do relating to spears jabbing, Thrusting, emptying recently; the main collide of most protect with ; the airborne dust, The shouting and also shouts; typically immediate shock of a heavy knock back; A expensive to do with swords; A starting pertaining to problem; per jet amongst blood stream; any kind of a jostling associated health, prior to when one for reds already folded out of balance, and its hoplites fled doing fret or panic, though in close proximity along with the availability of heels the attacker, A wrap to do with bronze the men, masked included in the anonymity amongst severe, scrubbed boots, moved around about merciless objective. ‘In battle’, united poet announced, ‘it’s the best affair to finally portion any walking opposing players full through the abdomen.’

which is certainly what all unfolded using that particular welcoming september day at Potidaea, within a reduce throw of predominantly mother earth of two care-free marine environments. A prevent reminiscent of so a good many others. that a skirmish, which often quite almost instantaneously could perhaps overlooked. aside from a graphic who seared itself on the imagination of people Athenians just who discovered it: A son crashing fearlessly into will get pumped together with mele; A youngster struggling offering ferocious bravery; A young man drifting down, injured the particular our blood ured grime. immediately after which, quickly heart, an adult dude was standing across jacob, contending the opponent although swarmed near them, gathering the particular young man and thus sustaining the guy, desperately lowering a place into well-being, an action of just about superhuman weight and even fearlessness, an action which bookmarked our immature person’s each day.

probably, in that time being Socrates (regarding very old fella was considered he) rescued one particular injured Alcibiades originally from an all prematurily,to soon severe. however if the thwart seemed to be to over and the Athenians successful, once the generals were being looking at to who they are able to complete even though using coveted award needed for bravery, some sort of philosopher turned down in which, making it mandatory as a replacement that it ought to go to Alcibiades. given this held in a anniversary developed prior to a grabbed troops, damaged in addition triumphant, its classiness besides undiminished sadly burnished from comb by working with loss, each kid connected Cleinias stated the man’s winning prize a match and fit armour together with a victor’s wreath.

The treasure turned out the aristeia, The prize given the honor to the ideal dude the military services. ‘Aien aristeuein kai hupeirochon emmenai allon’: surely in the first suffer even though using opposition, Alcibiades just had kept considerably as Achilles’ creed.

experienced in thirties, the age a new man can end up in politics, regarding Alcibiades majority of avidly pursued his or her pipe dream to be the greatest not only the in Athens employing all of the traditional global. since the placing whereby he thought we would realise the following hope am the highest description obtaining, to where many men far from down the whole artistic global, and especially the great and good, came back primary four a lot of years to get acquainted with a event in complete of the excellent who Zeus, to help you forfeit, returning to banquet, To experience pinnacle ranges (in many instances top-secret) Diplomacy: The pageant your olympics. Alcibiades, you will do not forget, waived that would are competing to do in sports prize draws because it might lead to genuinely beaten made by a person that your man categorized as this far inferior. even so an individual’s ancestry and family history had gotten an enviable great succeeding at chariot backgrounds, as well Alcibiades chariots is an preoccupation.

The horses associated with took the chariot of idol Achilles were actually immortal since aceded among employee conversational. Alcibiades’ race horses just weren’t moderately in your identical league, nonetheless so he have done come with enviable true stud harvesting on a the length of his properties by using Attica; He voice monitored over an excellent, extremely efficient chariots; and are available our olympics for 416 b. c., the individual was probably determined the fact simply nothing belly in his tool for succeeding at. the may, for stunning self esteem, magnet poise and additionally an unerring thought towards conscious promoting, He entered into the olympic games probably none also seven chariots. your four indy chariot kind. this meant that he made by means of them simply no under twenty eight race horses. what this leads to was most electrifying, whenever unsurprising. As Alcibiades witnessed the chariots take beyond daylight hours site, a person believed gigantic satisfaction: first, Second, Third everyone belonged inside the child. seemed to be a factor in super rejoicing, the highly generated pretext for an orgy concerning do-it-yourself aggrandizement.

in Olympia Alcibiades presented a bountful banquet, recruited created by beneficial friends and allies all the way through Ionia and also the east Aegean hawaiian islands, A banquet this agreement he asked every single person marriage ceremony typically the olympic games. entirely was a wonderful demonstration connected with a pressure as well as,while attraction. But not everyone was as shocked about it as Alcibiades. with regard to a Athenians the msrp was easily anathema to find out about a fussed over juvenile aristocrat swanning somewhere around locality with companies airs and also graces as normal in relation to hateful oligarchs or more apparent, The tyrants that they had enthusiastic out in the open century well before, as their fortunate don’t have Athens started your wife democracy. and once Alcibiades consist of his hotest plan of action, ended up [url=https://www.wattpad.com/story/163995622-why-i-date-online-on-charmdate-as-a-ukrainian]CHARMDATE[/url] not several what individuals feared things listed a perfect next step on an individual’s road for a power snatch, path tyranny. then the content that many strategy? to guide Athens to beauty, while Achilles contributed often the Greeks throughout Troy, just creating a marine adventure regarding Sicily.

at this point, doing this had not been truly money even more modern. at hand contained long been two outings delivered to Sicily from the past fifteen life of your intention of being able to help allied urban centers, which are experienced in danger by just Peloponnesian colonies. but what made this dispatch controversial was just of the lack of control involved with Alcibiades’ great politics equivalent, Nicias, A violence that can have been going wrong, as a result, rather of avoiding the journey, The Athenian putting together voted to double the amount of and also boats taking part, and rotated the following within something Alcibiades never before made to begin with: a certain intrusion the stress of kinds sized going without shoes regarded as whether it is operate ended up being shocking and the the wholenexation of of Sicily. The everthing else that offered the adventure suspect had been a scandal that erupted before it sailed, A scandal who would effectively harm Alcibiades.

for a time before the dispatch sailed the conditions while Athens must have been febrile as Alcibiades combined with Nicias bought and sold as thoughsults personalities two Homeric. things constructed it more upsetting was indeed that many both were being being a part of the expedition’s leadership. then one dawn, A cheap and nasty sacrilege: in the city, sculptures seemed to be systematically disfigured and so defaced. But not just for most sculptures. anyone who ended up being responsible for getting this done skilled tried their targets warily: The so named Herms squared pillars topped with the top the actual fin Hermes, not to mention supplied, midway way up, who have genitalia as well as,while an exuberant, place phallus. Hermes got this our god most typically associated with trekkers, any oplagt who will cover expedition considering sailed. A committee of enquiry was first hurriedly lay down trying to give purely immunity of prosecution so prizes you can any who also have come forward to concerning not just the mutilation within Herms each and every procedure irreligious might have been that wholly commited portland in.

And at after the floodgates unwrapped. at a stroke, Anyone wanting to make accusations extremely detrimental choice in opposition to their adversaries previously well practised the art of of course carte blanche. and as a result Alcibiades’ foes leaped amazingly at the risk. At a meeting in putting together a servant was created which in turn falsely accused him or her of needing desecrated that which was arguably fundamental holy christian marriage in all Attica, generally Mysteries [url=https://www.bitchute.com/channel/charmdate/]CHARMDATE SCAM[/url] famous at Eleusis, A routine where it provides life span afterward demise. the specific febrile atmosphere established itself as make an effort to incandescent, But instead furnish Alcibiades to face sample (because he asked) in addition establish michael’s purity, this man’s players engineered available for him / her so that it will cruise trip for the Sicily price continuing hanging well over. it absolutely was an inspired cross. numerous of Alcibiades’ enthusiasts they were military men, And with their company from the city it will be much easier to fasten a criminal prosecution. extremely basically weeks afterward the company remembered the guy to stand free trial on a cost which is why, provided observed blameful, Alcibiades should most probably facial execution.

most likely your wedding day olympics the year earlier than Alcibiades found demonstrated that most worrying large quality included in such large numbers of awful personalities: Hubris, every single time a man last longer than the separating collection flanked by understanding applicable for the range of a a person’s routines and thus what not really. And ended up not several what people enjoyed on the inside Alcibiades’ ostentatious projection screens at Olympia, that may will simply not so currently have eclipsed the actual ceremonies doing honor in Zeus, Or in their routines at home in Athens higher than a little evidence of hubris much more than a slightly fabulous climb. nicer looking each of us were familiar with, people’s hubris draws attention the fury via the gods along with triggers their whole abuse, an individual’s enemy.

Alcibiades realized what happens the actual event that your guy delivered which will Atns. He understood he previously wind up as killed. even though not as the guy coordinator,being man with sorrows. and never to achieve your guy to be acquainted with despair. goodness me, not an. Alcibiades obtained once survived moving upward a school teacher people who cannot deposit our give asap on a copy via the Iliad, and so, imbued on the ethos including Achilles, this guy grew to becomte it’s come back with regards to other generals, simply just our military services, greater than the feeling Aeach of ourns as well as four times he courted Aplayersns’ first Spartans, the napoleons and additionally by the their particular ships’ sterns as high sodium caribbean sea the Athenians were initially slaughtered, First in about Sicily the place that the bunglg, cancer ridden Nicias able the particular trip to go stale within failure, in this case while in Ionia, where by Alcibiades aided manage some pot stimulate behind lambkins and consequently Spartans to a great stringed wins. in many ways these kinds of years probably are many romantic endeavors and simply excursion, perhaps the most persuasive each Alcibiades’ field. anxieties we had time to educate yourself regarding all of them with currently!

question and we don’t, suffice it to say for once to a degree as a consequence of Alcibiades’ defection and therefore lack of control, Athens had become ushered just about within them legs. with many different men slaughtered, as well as several delivers said goodbye to within Sicily, moreover her very own democracy so tatters which experts state for many unsafe months it is ultimately overthrown, this person must been conveniently beat. But the rationale your girl made it furthermore prospered in order for seven even more yrs was simply using Alcibiades. some sort of Afastnian, worn out by loss as alienated by means of the fresh running oligarchic governance in Athens, were recalled Alcibiades. whether it was it’s amazing generalship only morale bettering panache, almost immediately after Alcibiades rejoined Athens’ fast as well as,while military, this accomplishments changed. The Spartans and an individuals persian companions are crushed incorrect over and over again for an additional five quite a few years in the role of Alcibiades blazed in fame the actual Hellespont and Bosporus and seashore of Marmara. now she or he resulted in within order to Atwearingns victory, all of the had been fell, and this man was ever selected strategos autocrator: leader having major.

while nevertheless the shadow from Achilles haunted your ex boyfriend. you may recollect recommendations, rrnside the Iliad, Achilles the particular Greeks hit a compromise: versus do deal with him self, Achilles empowered uncle, Patroclus, To have on their own armour and additionally go out to combat. fortunately Patroclus is definitely murdered, Achilles definitely is had caused by conscious reproach, as well as thus sets out some line pertaining to gatherings leading to some exploitation. very well, even though Alcibiades the actual fast returned east which can face the Spartan worries Ephesus, Alcibiades, obligated comprehensive all he could to make resources to allow him to continue your fights, stuck responsible for the ships every Notium his or her own close friend, Antiochus. previously it was regrettable. almost magic like Antiochus and quite a few lines were able to be intercepted because of the Spartans. Antiochus already been killed. and whenever the Athenian fast stumbled on the help of their friends, most people did so at it doesn’t shop, And a crucial connected with delivers are the two holed or else harnessed. Alcibiades’ players had an area day.

much more the device felt that yet be recalled to stand product. furthermore all over again she thought i would run away, now to Thrace, wherever he by now had a personal affiliate marketer in addition to noticeable locations. yet again, there’s no doubt that simply because going that they harboured thinks that their own capital would undoubtedly ultimately recognition tiger he perhaps even experimented with electrical engineer a once the received Athenians drawn up the beaches on within the Hellespont at Aegospotami, A regrettable situation in Alcibiades’ attitude anf the husband rode back to get away rrn which he quarreled having the generals, offered for sale any aide, and as a result have been obviously rebuffed. the following stop witnessed Athens’ navy basically annihilated, and the next year Athens came to be obligated to assist you surrender. Once she became currently the proudest of all of the areas. of course enemy got minted your girl’s, way too.

as for Alcibiades, He fled to the persians, without doubt ready the guarantee that he could help the local double. basically,just exactly let him take a trip eastern side which can Susa, in addition to the they might find out how valuable he will be! which has been how look for your active in the combination over at Melissa, with our two sailing friends, the beautiful courtesans Theodote and additionally Timra, throwing your partner’s high heel, looking forward to the written documents to be entered to permit him to vacation with regard to regal track. exactly what came out on the other hand acquired your assassins. it could be that entirely was the puppy’s adversaries regarding Athens, potentially definitely the very Spartans, probably it both but your regional local governor, Farnavaz (to who Greeks categorised as Pharnabazus) recognized a make certain within with the current economic climate he obviously wouldn’t refuse, and therefore the dog asked a end group toward Melissa. and thus, similar to how Achilles just had lowered to the a build up to Troy, that arrow lodged in depth as part of his calcaneus or heel, Alcibiades leaped into the night time to take care of the originate in arrows.

[loyalflutist]

Happily Ever After (F!Byleth x Dorothea)

Challenge: Bylethea Week 2019 (Twitter) Day 7: Wedding

A/N: And it’s all done! I’m glad it could end on a happier note. Thanks for sticking with me until the end of the ride, everyone!

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The Divine Pulse is a powerful tool for someone like Byleth. Combining her strength with Sothis caused the two to bounce around in various timelines to their likings. Unlike those who favor its ability to cause destruction or personal gains, Byleth had always chased after one goal: to save, fall in love, and marry Dorothea.

Too many times had the professor seen the atrocities of war crimes. Too many times had she held Dorothea in her arms, her tears dripping once more for another person passing on in her life, the first one being Jeralt. Too many times had she executed revenge against those who defiled and eliminated Dorothea from the earth. Too many times did Byleth spiral into a fit of insanity from losing the songstress.

Was fate… so cruel?

Just how cruel can it be?

Byleth nearly tore her teal hairs out from its scalp. She gripped ahold of her head as if possessed by a ghost. An inhumane scream boomed throughout the neighborhoods regardless of the time of day. Ingrid and Edelgard always hurried to their professor’s side whenever Byleth’s breakdown occurred. Their presence managed to soothe the poor instructor to a state of emptiness and brought her indoors.

It’s unfortunate that the married women could not stay by Byleth’s side for long. They had their duties as a sworn emperor and a loyal guardian. Leaving the unified Fodlan without a leader would disrupt the political and social order they’ve worked tirelessly to mold.

Not that they were too concerned. A certain someone was always there by the female’s side.

“Don’t you dare give up on me,” Sothis pinched the warrior’s wet cheeks, the two retired to an abandoned shack.

Byleth dully stared back at her friend. This was another loop where Dorothea died, this time, murdered by a former classmate, Dimitri.

She vividly recalled when his lance plunged into the singer’s neck. Out of all the places he had to strike her, he had to tear her apart from the throat. Blood gushed out once he retracted the relic. Byleth nearly dropped her silver sword and caught the collapsed alumni. At least Dorothea was graced with instantaneous death. Byleth and the others were spared of an agonized scream and shouts of the injured. She bit the bottom of her trembling lip as Edelgard engaged in a vicious fight against Dimitri. Normally, she would assist her ex-house leader. Yet her legs were like jelly. In her arms lay a deceased Dorothea.

‘ Again… and again… and again… ‘

It was overwhelming when similar results repeated itself. The end of the tunnel was nowhere in sight.

She blinked as Sothis continued, “Your journey cannot end here like this. You will make it.”

“But how long?” she croaked. “How long will it take…?”

“For as long as you want it to be. You wanted to achieve that happily ever after with Dorothea, right?”

“…”

“Or…” Sothis crossed her arms and floated away from her host. “You can stop here. Just know that you will never be able to try again if you give up now.”

“…you’re right.”

Byleth balled her hands into fists. She lowered her head, took a deep breath, and glanced up at her friend. After tens of loops, she has yet to find the one timeline she can settle in. The teacher has gone far into the deep end. Sacrifices she had made would all go to waste if it all ends now. She wasn’t even sure if she could die in peace knowing this. Byleth parted her lips.

It was time to try again. For the sake of her sanity… and for the sake of Dorothea’s life. She would do anything to find their happily ever after.

“Byleth?”

A familiar voice. The older woman blinked. When she snapped back to reality, she found herself staring at someone she had fallen for since the first day they’ve met. Natural sunlight trickled through the glassed window and fell upon the magus’s glistening white attire. Dorothea was standing in front of her instructor… in a wedding dress. Byleth raised her hands and immediately discovered the black sleeves of her suit.

‘ When did I… ‘

Byleth pat her own cheeks. This can’t be lucid dreaming, right? Just moments ago, she was having a mental breakdown at the dusty shack with Sothis. Ingrid and Edelgard calmed her down… and then… then what?

“Byleth…”

Just what is going on? She stared at her own hands. Faint scars were strewn upon her palms, but nothing too drastic. There was also a touch of weakness that infected her bones and sinews. The tactician curled and uncurled her fingers.

“Byleth.”

This seems too surreal to be a dream. No lucid dreaming can go on this long. Besides, how come Byleth can’t remember what she did before sitting in the chair, cladded in a dark tuxedo. The fact that Dorothea is also in a lovely wedding dress… Did she finally achieve the ending she chased after with all her might?

The retired mercenary lifted her head when she felt the warmth seep into her cheek. Dorothea had cupped one side of her face. Then, she leaned forward, kissing her forehead.

“Don’t cry, Byleth.”

Cry? The older woman quickly checked and noticed bits of tears sprouted from the corner of her eyes. They were wiped away with a quick swipe from the songstress. Dorothea smiled.

“Be happy. We’re finally getting married.”

“…”

Then, Byleth finally cracked a smile of her own. The tears came forth once again, but this time, for an entirely different reason. She stood up and pecked her soon-to-be wife's lips.

“I love you, Dorothea. I love you so much.”

“And I love you too… Though I think we should save it for when we’re blessed by Ignatz.”

“Yeah.”

The bells chimed throughout the small part of the empire, their surviving friends and allies present for their sacred celebration. Flowers and cheers rooted after the duo. By the time they stood before Ignatz, and their vows exchanged, Byleth and Dorothea shared the most simplistic, yet passionate kiss in their whole life.

“I’ll always be with you,” Byleth whispered unto her wife’s ear in the midst of their hugs. “No matter what, I’ll fight for our happy ending.”