#the owner of the house: new collected poems

[llovelymoonn]

on food

dipo faloyin africa is not a country: breaking stereotypes of modern africa \\ @medievalthymes \\ bill holm playing the black piano: "bread soup: an old icelandic recipe" \\ louis simpson the owner of the house: new collected poems: "a story about chicken soup" \\ @love-inportofino \\ @tirzahstears in this post (one of my favourite things i have ever read) \\ wendell berry a meeting

kofi

[camisoledadparis]

THIS DAY IN GAY HISTORY

based on: The White Crane Institute's 'Gay Wisdom', Gay Birthdays, Gay For Today, Famous GLBT, glbt-Gay Encylopedia, Today in Gay History, Wikipedia, and more … November 5

1698 – England: William Minton, a 19 year old servant, is used as bait to entrap Capt. Edward Rigby, the first homosexual victim of entrapment by the Society for the Reformation of Manners. He was tried for sodomy. These Societies were formed in tower hamlets, London, in 1690, with their primary object being the suppression of bawdy houses and profanity. A network of moral guardians was set up, with four stewards in each ward of the City of London, two for each parish, and a committee, whose business it was to gather the names and addresses of offenders against morality, and to keep minutes of their misdeeds. By 1699 there were nine such societies, and by 1701 there were nearly 20 in London, plus others in the provinces, all corresponding with one another and gathering information and arranging for prosecutions.

1884 – Born: James Elroy Flecker (d.1915); English poet, novelist and playwright. Born in London, and educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, where his father was headmaster, and Uppingham School, he studied at Trinity College, Oxford, and Caius College, Cambridge. While at Oxford he was greatly influenced by the last flowering of the Aesthetic movement there, under John Addington Symonds.

He died of tuberculosis in Davos, Switzerland. His death at the age of thirty was described at the time as "unquestionably the greatest premature loss that English literature has suffered since the death of Keats".

His Collected Poems (1916) were published the year after he died at age 30. His poetry shares one trait in common with that of his contemporary, Rupert Brooke: the sexuality is ambiguous. There is no question, however, that Flecker was Gay. His lover was the classicist J.D. Beazley, one of the world's great authorities on Greek vases.

His most widely known poem is "To A Poet A Thousand Years Hence". The most enduring testimony to his work is perhaps an excerpt from "The Golden Journey to Samarkand" inscribed on the clock tower of the barracks of the British Army's 22nd Special Air Service regiment in Hereford.

Bryan Lourd (R) and husband Bruce Bozzi

1960 – Bryan Lourd is an American talent agent. He has been partner, managing director and co-chairman of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) since October 1995.

Lourd was born in New Iberia, Louisiana. His brother, Blaine Lourd, is an investment advisor. He attended New Iberia Senior High School, where he played the lead in several high school musicals. He earned a degree from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism in 1982.

Lourd and actress Carrie Fisher were together from 1991 to 1994. They have one daughter, actress Billie, born in 1992. Lourd married Bruce Bozzi, the co-owner of The Palm, on October 12, 2016, and Lourd legally adopted Bozzi's daughter, Ava. They divide their time between a penthouse apartment in the West Village, in Lower Manhattan, New York City and a house in Beverly Hills, California.

Lourd was elected to the board of trustees of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2011. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. He was appointed to the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities in 2009 by President Barack Obama and to the board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2015.

Lourd 's clients include George Clooney, Robert De Niro, Brad Pitt, Robert Downey, Jr., Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Matthew McConaughey, Sean Penn, Madonna, Naomi Watts, Natalie Portman, Robin Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Duchovny, Helen Hunt, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Taraji P. Henson, and Peter Jöback.

1969 – The Homosexual Information Center protested at the offices of the Los Angeles Times to protest the newspaper's refusal to print the word "homosexual" in ads after it refused to print an ad announcing a group discussion on homosexuality.

1979 – Leonardo Nam is an Australian actor. He made his breakthrough as Roy in The Perfect Score (2004), and gained further recognition for his roles as Morimoto in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) and Brian McBrian in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008). In 2016, Nam began starring as Felix Lutz in Westworld (2016–present) which brought him widespread recognition.

Nam was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to South Korean immigrant parents. At the age of six, he moved to Sydney, Australia. Nam attended Sydney Technical High School and studied architecture at the University of New South Wales. Nam left Sydney to follow his dreams of an acting career in New York City, United States, at the age of 19. He studied with several acting teachers in New York, including Austin Pendleton and William Carden at HB Studio.

Before his Hollywood success, Nam travelled to New York City to pursue his acting career. His first few nights he slept in Central Park and then found jobs working as a waiter and bartender. His breakthrough role came in his performance of Roy in The Perfect Score (2004).

He had a small role in the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants as Brian McBrian, a hardcore gamer. He played Brian again in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2; in the sequel, his character has a larger role. In 2016, he joined the cast of the HBO series Westworld. In 2018 he was featured in the music video "Waste It on Me" by Steve Aoki featuring BTS.

Nam is married to Michael Dodge. They have twin sons (born 2017) together. The family lives in San Diego.

1983 – Andrew Hayden-Smith, born Andrew John Smith, is a British actor and television presenter best known for his work with CBBC.

Auditions for popular CBBC children's serial drama Byker Grove were held at his school and he won the part of Ben Carter, making his first appearance in the eighth series of the show in 1995.

Initially just using the name Andrew Smith, he appeared as a guest on Saturday morning CBBC show Live & Kicking with several other characters from the show. Smith soon became a regular guest on the show. This led to appearances on other shows and also in teen-magazines, as well as two pantomime appearances. In 2001 he applied for Equity membership and was accepted under the name Andrew Hayden-Smith (Hayden being another surname in his family), as the name Andrew Smith was already taken.

In 2004, the ex-Byker Grove actor and CBBC presenter Andrew did the unthinkable for a young man on kids' TV - he told the world he was gay. At the risk of being outed by a newspaper, he beat the tabloids to the punch and did an interview with Attitude magazine:

"Coming out is pretty scary. It's bad enough when you're almost certain that the majority of people around you will be totally cool with it. I was 21 and presenting kids TV at the time and was commended for what everyone kept saying was such a brave step."

It did his career no harm, and he's proved an inspiration - and eye candy - for young gay men across the country.

Andrew has since appeared regularly on stage and in Doctor Who. Hayden-Smith appeared in the episodes "Rise of the Cybermen", "The Age of Steel" and "Doomsday" as Jake Simmonds in the 2006 series of Doctor Who. He returned to CBBC having completed the filming, but decided that he wished to concentrate on acting. His final day of presenting was on 7 July 2006, the day before his third and final Doctor Who appearance.

[uwmspeccoll]

It's Fine Press Friday!

On this Fine Press Friday we present a collection of poems by Sappho entitled Sappho Revocata, compiled and translated by poet, English classicist, and Cambridge lecturer J.M. Edmonds with two drawings printed in collotype by British artist Véra Willoughby, and published in 1928 by Peter Davies in an edition of 350 copies.

Sappho Revocata includes Sappho’s complete and fragmentary poems in two sections; the first half records her poetry in Greek, while the second half has the corresponding English versions of the same works. Sappho is particularly lauded in popular culture for her frequent discussion of romantic love between women. Her poetry was so admired in the ancient world that Plato referred to her as “the tenth muse” in his writings.

This book is the first to use Jan van Krimpen’s Greek type Antigone, with his Lutetia type for the preliminary pages and English section of the text. It was printed by the distinguished Dutch printing house of Joh. Enschedé en Zonen in Haarlem, Holland. The two illustrations by Véra Willoughby were printed at the Chiswick Press in London. 150 copies were reserved for the United States and distributed by Random House.

Our copy, another gift from our friend Jerry Buff, bears the bookplate of Joan Whitney. We're not sure who that may be, but we know this copy was acquired in New York, so we're hoping that it belonged to American heiress, art collector, and co-founder and former majority owner of the New York Mets, Joan Whitney Payson (1903-1975).

View more Fine Press Friday Posts.

– Sarah S., Special Collections Graduate Intern

[aspoonofsugar]

The Third Wolf

Jabberwalker: YES! READY! STARVING! TAKING!

So, this volume is just LRRH masked as Alice in Wonderland, as you can discover by reading this. Still, there is something missing from my previous post. Or at least, I came up with a theory, which imo complements it well.

In short, Ruby's story this volume centers around 3 Wolves:

Neo

She stalks Ruby around, tortures her and manipulates her into killing herself. She waits for her in a cottage (a pink palace) in the woods and hides behind her illusions, which exhibit mismatched eyes (the Wolf's eyes giving him away).

Even when it comes to her main allusion, Neo being a Wolf fits. Trivia is just the Roman name for Hecate and what's Hecate's sacred animal? The Dog:

Neo is associated to the Jabberwalkers (dark and wolf-like creatures) in the Ever After (the Underworld). In short, the Jabberwalkers are her dogs (wolfs) and she herself is a wolf (dog-like creature).

The Curious Cat

Do I need to explain? (I did in the previous meta anyway :P) They meet LRRH in the woods, trick her while she is wandering around with a basket full of flowers (WBY) and lead her around to make sure she gets completely lost.

Finally, when Ruby reaches the cottage in the woods, they surprise her and try to eat her. Only to end up swallowing up an older woman and the owner of the house. Even when it comes to them possessing Neo, the design calls back to the Big Bad Wolf of the story:

Both the eyes and the mouth are different than Neo's usual ones. Just like the Wolf in the fairy tale is described having peculiar eyes and a peculiar mouth. These 2 attributes are even tied to the Cat completely negating who Neo is. After all, Ice Cream girl is defined by:

her mismatched eyes, which her parents forced her to hide

her muteness, which her parents and teachers forced her to compensate with devices

Right now, Neo has lost both. Her mismatched eyes are hidden by the Cat's ones and her mouth speaks.

Ruby's inner Darkness

The Wolf in LRRH is symbolic of the Jungian Shadow aka everything a person represses. The thing with the Shadow is that the most you try to ignore it, the more dangerous and stronger it becomes. Ruby has been living as the embodyment of life, which means she has been neglecting to tend to her own shadows. To her own feelings. To her own pain.

The result is her spiraling and being engulfed by Darkness. Still, this Darkness has not yet a real representation within the story, which brings us to:

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand; Long time the manxome foe he sought— So rested he by the Tumtum tree And stood awhile in thought.

Interesting, the original poem mentions a fight between the hero and the monster by the Tumtum tree :P

What does the Jabberwalker represent, though? This creature is the only one, who can kill the Afterans. Why? I think because they thematically represent a loss of self:

The Tree is going to transform Afterans according to what they are and to what they want to become. This can lead to progression, like the Paper Pleasers or to regression, like the Red King, who turns into a Prince. Still, what happens if the creature just... can't figure themself out? What does happen if they choose to give up on any new possible identity?

In this case, they would choose to become nobody. They would decide to give in to anonimity, which is the opposite of self-individualization. Anonimity is a trait of Grimms, which are empty and try to fill themselves by praying on human negativity. In short, anonimity can be seen as a declination of Destruction. So, what if when Afterans can't figure themselves out... they end up becoming a Jabberwalker? Or what if the Jabberwalker is a body that collects all the souls who could not properly ascend, neither to regress nor to progress? A body with no proper identity, which can only jabber very basic and instinctive concepts, with no real meaning behind them?

After all, they very clearly allude to zombies, as RWBY even start calling them Walkers. And what are zombies if not people who lost their sense of self? And what do zombies do if not to spread an infection, which in this case is Destruction? Death?

The Tree is the path to self-actualization, so a person symbolically dies when they lose their sense of self completely. When they don't wanna become anything else. Only in this case, they really disappear and become nothing. Only in this case their existance is negated and amounts to nothing.

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if this is what awaits Ruby as she is now. She doesn't wanna change. She wants to disappear. It is possible, then, she will risk to be swallowed by the Jabberwalker. It is possible she might become the Jabberwalker herself. A mindless Wolf. Still, obvious foreshadowing is obvious:

The moment Ruby is about to get killed by Neo's Jabberwalker, her whole team comes to her rescue. This is clearly what is going to happen here, as well.

At the same time, I think what should help Ruby conquers this is also something else:

Penny's death has been eating at Ruby throughout the whole volume. It is the news of her loss, which starts Ruby's spiral and her friend keeps appearing everywhere in the Ever After and Ruby's mind. So, obviously she needs to come to terms with this. Ruby needs catharsis and right now I think @hamliet theory is right: only Jaune can give it to Ruby.

Right now, Ruby thinks Penny died by negating herself, by choosing to be nothing out of a death wish. Still, this isn't true. Penny died as herself. It is tragic, but she still managed to affirm her own personhood. She chooses friendship and trust over duty and control. Penny dies, but she doesn't become a "Jabberwalker". She isn't undone into nothing, but on the contrary she "ascends" into gold. Ruby needs to realize this. She needs to realize the kind of person Penny was. And she needs to realize what she herself is doing now is the opposite of how Penny lived and died.

I think such a realization might give Ruby catharsis and inspire her to move on. In general, it would work very well thematically on multiple levels and for multiple characters:

It means Penny symbolically saves Ruby, which would be just a beautiful conclusion to their bond. Ruby is the one who recognizes Penny's personhood first, so it makes sense for Penny to indirectly do the same for Ruby. She inspires her into becoming an idealistic adult.

It means symbolically Ruby's child self saves her. It is that purest and most idealistic part of herself that comes through for Ruby when she needs it.

It gives catharsis to Jaune, as well. It turns out what he was hiding out of pain and shame is the key to save Ruby.

It foreshadows what Jaune will probably have to do in the finale aka conveying to Cinder Pyrrha's teaching about destiny. He can start practicing with Ruby.

It completes the parallel between Jaune/Pyrrha and Ruby/Penny nicely. In volume 5 Jaune's suicidal charge is interrupted when he realizes this is not what Pyrrha did. Here Ruby should realize what she is doing is not what Penny did.

In general, it just works very well with the theme of grief explored this volume. Right now, Ruby has been going through the 5 stages of grief twice, in a neverending spiral:

Episode 1 > negation > Penny's death is hidden and Ruby refuses to talk about it

Episode 2 > bargaining > Ruby needs to bargain for Penny's sword and eventually she bargains the sword to meet the Red King and talks about her feelings for Penny by doing so

Episode 3 > anger > Ruby gets angry at the Red Prince and shouts at him in frustration

Episode 4 > depression > Ruby is undone by Herb's hallucinations

Episode 5 > acceptance > Ruby meets the Blacksmith and is confronted by Penny and Summer's ghosts, but fails to reach true acceptance

So she starts the cycle again

Episode 5 > bargaining > Ruby bargains Summer's emblem to help her friends and mentions "a mother's promise"

Episode 6 > negation > Ruby doesn't even see Summer Rose's reflection in the gallery of mirrors

Episode 7 > anger > Ruby lashes out at others

Episode 8 > depression > Ruby is overwhelmed by her pain and attempts suicide

I think episode 9 and 10 should be acceptance, true acceptance this time. I also think it would be cool if we have a call back to volume 6.

When Ruby uses her silver eyes there, the last 2 people she sees are Penny and then Summer:

Penny leads Ruby to Summer. I think here should be the same one way or the other. Acceptance over Penny should help Ruby face her feelings for Summer. After all, the majority of the narration in the trailer is still missing, which means we should get it in these final 2 episodes. Basically, Summer is coming, one way or the other.

BAD WOLF, GOOD WOLF

Ruby risking to become/to be swallowed by the Jabberwalker would work also for another reason:

Turning Ruby into nothingness, forcing the light out of her to reduce her to a mindless puppet is probably what Salem wants to do. So, Ruby going through this same struggle now will give her the strength to face Salem and her Grimms Experiments when the time comes.

I think this whole volume has a meta-theme to it, which is how stories and fictions help people process trauma and grief. Both in healthy and unhealthy ways. I will write more about it when the season ends. As for now, let's say it is not by chance Ruby is going through her spiral in a fairy tale world, where she conveniently can't die. Imagine if Ruby had drunk poisoned tea on Remnant. She would have died for real. "Luckily" she only sips tree tea, which will be no fatal to her. The metaphorical meaning is clear, right? Ruby is symbolically rereading a fairy tale of he childhood. One her mom used to read ot her. She is rediscovering it from a more mature and darker perspective. She is processing through it all her pain, trauma and grief. Still, she will come out stronger from this. So stronger she will manage to face the challenges of the real world and to survive to them.

So, how is this transformation gonna manifest? Obviously Ruby is gonna come out as herself, once again. Still, if her inner transformation has to be shown, I would like for it to happen through Little:

Mouse Leader: And on this day, we were not the prey, but the hunters!

The Mice Hunters tried to warn us and RWBY since the beginning. Beware of CATS! Still, they also claimed the prey is gonna be the hunter ;)

Now, this can become true in many different ways without Little having to change. Still, I like the idea of Little changing to metaphorically show Ruby's evolution. But if this is gonna happen, then which kind of form should they take?

Little is Ruby's child self, but also an animal-shaped companion. Basically, they represent an inner beast. It is just that at the beginning of the volume Ruby's inner beast is too immature because she is refusing to integrate with her shadow.

So, a more refined version of Little should maintain Little and Ruby's idealism, but also be wiser and show that Ruby has started to integrated with her repressed self. What better form than a Little Wolf, then?

After all:

The Hunter > The Huntress

Little Red Riding Hood > Ruby Rose

The Wolf? > Little

Ruby is unbalanced because she has refused her inner wolf all this time, so what better use can she make of it if not to change it into strength that protects her child self. To use all that repressed energy to refine herself, instead than negating who she is?

And on a light-hearted note... what is better than a wolf to hunt a Curious Cat?

(By the way, this can work well even in the case Neo stays in the Ever After with Juniper and Little. Juniper could be the March Hare to her Mad Hatter and Little might be the Dog to her Hecate) > thanks to @lintuwaterfall for suggesting this

[niibaataa]

Nishnaabe Nagamonan

Disclaimer: Some works deal with historical wrongs, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, colonialism, and residential/boarding schools. Exercise caution.

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm is a member of Saugeen Ojibway First Nation. Akiwenzie-Damm has served as Poet Laureate for Owen Sound and North Grey. In 1993, she established Kegedonce Press, a publishing house devoted to Indigenous writers. She has also authored Without Reservation: Indigenous Erotica.

Works: (Re)Generation, My Heart is a Stray Bullet.

Marie Annharte Baker is a member of Little Saskatchewan First Nation. Annharte's work concentrates on women, urban, Indigenous, disability, and related topics. She critiques life from Western Canada. After graduating with an English degree in the 1970s, she became involved in Native activism and was one of the first people in North America to teach a class entirely on Native women.

Works: Indigena Awry, Miskwagoode, Exercises in Lip Pointing.

Lesley Belleau is a member of Garden River First Nation. She is noted for her 2017 collection Indianland. She has an MA in English literature from the University of Windsor and is working on a PhD in Indigenous Studies from Trent University.

Works: Indianland.

Kimberly M. Blaeser is an enrolled member of the White Earth Reservation. Blaeser served as Wisconsin's Poet Laureate from 2015-2016. She is a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-Miluwakee. A contemporary of Vizenor, she is the first critic to publish a book-length study on his fiction. She has been writing poetry since 1993.

Works: Apprenticed to Justice, Trailing You, Absentee Indians and Other Poems.

Diane Burns was a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles band. Burns was Anishinaabe through her mother and Chemehuevi through her father. Burns attended the Institute of American Indian Arts and Barnard College (within Columbia University). She was also an accomplished visual artist. She is considered an important figure within the Native American contemporary arts movement.

Works: Riding the One-Eyed Ford (available online).

Aja Couchois Duncan is a Bay Area educator, writer, and coach. Duncan is of Ojibwe, French, and Scottish descent. Her debut collection won the California Book Award. She holds an MFA in creative writing from San Francisco State University.

Works: Restless Continent, Vestigal.

Heid E. Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain band. Erdrich is a granddaughter of Patrick Gourneau, who fought against Indian termination during his time as tribal chairman from 1953-1959. Erdrich holds a PhD in Native American Literature and Writing. Erdrich used to teach, but has since stepped back from doing it full-time. She directs Wiigwaas Press, an Ojibwe language publisher.

Works: Cell Traffic, The Mother's Tongue, Curator of Ephemera at the New Museum for Archaic Media.

Louise Erdrich is a member of the Turtle Mountain band. Erdrich is a granddaughter of Patrick Gourneau, who fought against Indian termination during his time as tribal chairman from 1953-1959. She is widely acclaimed as one of the most significant writers of the Native American Renaissance. Owner of Birchbark Books, an independent bookstore that focuses on Native Literature.

Works: Jacklight, Original Fire, Baptism of Desire.

David Groulx was raised in Elliott Lake, Ontario. Groulx is Ojibwe and French Canadian. He received his BA in Literature from Lakehead University and later studied creative writing at the En'owkin Centre in British Columbia. He has also studied creative writing at the University of Victoria.

Works: From Turtle Island to Gaza, Rising With a Distant Dawn, Imagine Mercy.

Gordon Henry Jr is an enrolled member of the White Earth Reservation. Gordon Henry Jr holds a PhD in Literature from the University of North Dakota and is currently a professor of English at Michigan State University. He has authored several novels and poetry collections and is a celebrated writer in Michigan.

Works: Spirit Matters, The Failure of Certain Charms.

Jane Johnston Schoolcraft was Born in Sault Ste. Marie on Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Schoolcraft was given the name of Bamewawagezhikaquay ('Woman of the Sound that the stars make Rushing Through the Sky') in Ojibwe. Her mother was Ozhaguscodaywayquay, the daughter of the Ojibwe war chief Waubojeeg. Her father was fur-trader John Johnston. Johnston is regarded as the first major Native American female writer. She wrote letters and poems in both English and Ojibwe.

Writeup containing works.

Denise Lajimodiere is a citizen of the Turtle Mountain band. Lajimodiere is considered an expert on Native American boarding schools following her work Stringing Rosaries, published in 2019. She is a poet, professor, scholar, and the current Poet Laureate of North Dakota.

Works: His Feathers Were Chains, Thunderbird: Poems, Dragonfly Dance.

Linda Legarde Grover is a member of the Bois Forte Band. She is a columnist for the Duluth Tribune and Professor Emeritus of American Indian Studies at University of Minnesota (Duluth). She has written poetry, short stories, and essays.

Works: The Sky Watched, Onigamiising.

Sara Littlecrow-Russel is of Ojibwe and Han-Naxi Métis descent. Russell is a lawyer and professional mediator as well as a poet. She has worked at the Center for Education and Policy Advocacy at the University of Massachusetts and for Community Partnerships for Social Change at Hampshire College.

Works: The Secret Powers of Naming.

Jim Northrup was a member of the Fond du Lac Reservation in Minnesota. Northrup lived a traditional lifestyle in his early years. As a child, he attended an Indian boarding school where he suffered physical abuse. Later in life, he served in the Vietnam war and experienced PTSD. Much of his poetry comes from these hardships.

Works: Walking the Rez Road, Rez Salute: The Real Healer Dealer, Anishinaabe Syndicated.

Duke Redbird was born in Saugeen First Nation. He became a ward of Children's Aid at nine months old when his mother died in a house fire. He began writing to give words to his experiences as an Indigenous man raised by white foster families. He is recognized as a key figure in the development of First Nations literature.

His poetry is available on his site.

Denise Sweet is a member of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota. Sweet served as Wisconsin's Poet Laureate from 2004-2008. She has taught creative writing, literature, and mythology at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Works: Songs for Discharming, Palominos Near Tuba City.

Mark Turcotte is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band. Turcotte is a visiting assistant professor of English at DePaul University. He has published two books of poetry. His chapbook, Road Noise, was translated into French.

Works: The Feathered Heart, Exploding Chippewas.

E. Donald Two-Rivers was raised in Emo Township, Ontario. He moved to Chicago at age 16 and became involved with the Urban Native community there. A playwright, spoken-word performer, and a poet, Two-Rivers had been an activist for Native rights since the 1970s. He was the founding director of the Chicago-based Red Path Theater Company.

Works: Powwows, Fat Cats, and Other Indian Tales, A Dozen Cold Ones by Two-Rivers.

Gerald Vizenor is an enrolled member of the White Earth Reservation. Vizenor has published over 30 books. He taught at the University of California for many years and is currently at the University of New Mexico. He has a long history of political activism and he is considered one of the most prolific Indigenous ironists writing today.

Works: Favor of Crows, Cranes Arise, Empty Swings.

[neondiamond]

As the year is coming to an end very soon, I thought I’d put together a little masterpost of all of the fics, ficlets and drabbles I posted over the past year. Just like last year, the total comes down to 26 fics, which I will say I’m quite surprise by! This list is in order from most to least recent and will be under the cut because otherwise this post would get really long! ✨

🫶 All That Counts (1.2k, G, Larry, Christmas, established relationship, fluff) fic post

A soft Christmas morning in the Tomlinson-Styles household.

🍪 Cookies and Christmas Cheer (1k, G, Ziall friendship, Christmas, nurse AU) fic post

When Niall is feeling a little sad at having to work over the holidays, his fellow nurse Zayn shows him a little Christmas spirit is still possible.

🎄 Mistletoe Kiss (1.2k, G, Larry, Christmas, mutual pining, roommates AU) fic post

A little bit of mistletoe is just the thing Louis needed to let his roommate Harry know he’s got quite the crush on him.

✨ A Special Bond (1.1k, G, Narry friendship, kid fic, Christmas) fic post

Baby Lilah goes to see the Christmas lights with her Daddy Harry and her uncle Niall.

❤️‍🩹 You’re Family (2k, G, Larry, Christmas, asexual characters) fic post

Louis is a little nervous about meeting Harry’s family for the first time for Christmas. Harry’s Mum shows him he has nothing to worry about.

🏠 Not Quite Structurally Sound (1.1k, G, Ziam, Christmas, kid fic) fic post

Zayn and Liam help their two kids build a gingerbread house.

🎅🏻 An Annual Affair (1.6k, G, OT5 friendship, A/B/O, Christmas) fic post

One Direction’s annual Christmas dinner, featuring pregnant Harry and his overprotective Alpha Louis, nervous Liam and his calm and collected mate Zayn, and clueless Niall who may or may not have a death wish.

☕️ You Don’t Have to Be Lonely Tonight (2k, G, Larry, coffee shop AU, Christmas, loneliness) fic post

Louis is stuck working the Christmas day shift at the coffee shop. Harry is the sad stranger who comes in to spend the day there.

🐣 Lucky (In Love) (3.2k, G, Larry, flirting, nursery owner Harry, uncle Louis) fic post

When Louis first volunteered to drop off his nephew Lucky at nursery to help out his nervous sister, he was not expecting the owner to be the most gorgeous man in all of London. He makes sure he’ll get to see him again.

👻 I See You (666, NR, Harry, horror) fic post

An unfamiliar voice disturbs Harry during his bath.

🥰 Little Moments (429, G, Larry, mpreg Harry, donestic fluff) fic post

Louis’ birthday is a quiet affair this year, but it’s for good reason.

👨‍👨‍👧 Family Bonding (1.6k, G, Larry, adoption, kid fic, hurt/comfort) fic post

Louis forges a bond with his new daughter, June, over missing loved ones.

💞 A Sense of Stability (1.9k, G, Larry, canon compliant, domestic fluff) fic post

Harry and Louis have a very mundane and domestic routine on mornings they get to spend together. Harry loves it.

👟 Run To You (2.2k, G, Larry, minor injury, fluff) fic post

Harry injures himself while out on a morning run. Louis comes to his rescue.

💟 Because I Found You (1.2k, G, Larry, asexual characters, acceptance) fic post

Louis stumbles upon a poem Harry wrote about him.

🫃 Whipped (1k, G, Larry, mpreg Harry, fluff) fic post

A lazy Saturday morning in bed with pregnant Harry and whipped Louis.

💜 Inner Crisis (5.5k, G, Larry, asexual characters, acephobia, hurt/comfort) fic post

Louis calls an LGBTQ+ crisis hotline after coming out as asexual to his friends and family doesn’t quite go as well as he’d hoped. Harry answers his call.

🔎 Chasing Feelings (20k, M, Larry, detectives AU, A/B/O) fic post

When homicide detective Louis Tomlinson first gets assigned to work with detective Harry Styles, the newest addition to the Doncaster police station, on the biggest case of his career, he’s less than enthused about it. There’s a serial killer on the loose, and Louis has no time to waste working with a newbie, despite how attracted his inner Alpha may be to Harry’s sweet scent. Along the way, he finds he may have been too quick to judge the Omega.

🩷 June (1.7k, G, Larry, established relationship, adoption, parenthood) fic post

Louis and Harry pick a paint colour for their new daughter’s room.

🌼 I Trust You (1.8k, T, Larry, A/B/O, asexual character, established relationship) fic post

As an asexual Omega, Harry deals with his heats a little differently than most. His Alpha Louis is nothing but supportive.

🪹 Nest To You (15k, T, Larry, A/B/O, nesting, fluff) fic post

Everybody knows it’s in an Omega’s nature to nest, and Harry is no different. From the very first nest he builds to comfort himself when feeling homesick to the nest he one day brings his new pups home to, his Alpha Louis is there to witness it all.

Or: Ten different nests Harry builds throughout his relationship with Louis.

🍀 A Little Cheering Up (1k, G, Narry friendship, kid fic, fluff, St. Patrick’s Day) fic post

Niall is disappointed because he can’t go home to Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day this year. Harry sets out to cheer him up with the help of Niall’s favourite tiny godchild.

❤️ Periodic (1.3k, G, Larry, OT5 friendship, girl direction) fic post

When Harry’s period has her in so much pain an hour before a show that she’s not sure if she’ll be able to perform, the other girls take matters into their own hands to help her feel better.

💍 Literally Falling For You (5.2k, E, Larry, proposal, smut) fic post

After five years of being together, Louis decides to propose to Harry on his birthday, and he needs everything to be perfect and sentimental down to every last detail. When his plans get derailed at the last minute, he decides to postpone the proposal on Valentine’s day instead. It’s just as amazing as he’d imagined.

🏆 Backstage at the Grammy’s (882, M, Larry, canon compliant, fluff) fic post

There’s someone waiting in Harry’s dressing room after his performance at the Grammy’s.

👶 Bless You! (2k, G, Larry, kid fic, parenthood) fic post

Harry and Louis’ young daughter, Ava, really enjoys when Harry says ‘bless you’ after she sneezes.

[jonmartinweek]

The First Valentine's - Part 2

A Communal Choose-the-Adventure Mini Story

{Previous Question. Next Question.}

The idea of surprising Martin with a romantic gesture bubbles to the forefront of Jon’s mind. The only problem is, Jon has never really given romance, or the gestures that come with it, much thought. He knows the cliches—chocolates, roses, that sort of thing—well enough, but they always seemed so impersonal to him. Giving a gift tailored specifically to the one it’s for, something meaningful that they’d cherish, is a far better option.

Jon sits down on the end of his and Martin’s bed, a frown on his lips and his brows worried together. Of course, there’s always the possibility that Martin is the sort that likes being given roses and chocolates. He’s never actually asked, or has had the opportunity to. Jon considers going to the kitchen and doing just that, but that would clue Martin in that he’s planning something. Jon wants this to be a surprise. He just needs to figure out what that will be.

Jon’s eyes wander to look out the window. Sunlight gently streams down on their small, well-kept back garden. He needs inspiration. Sitting here will only lead to him circling back to the same thoughts again and again. Jon takes hold of his cane and uses it to push himself up.

“Martin!” He calls through their house. “I’m going out on a walk!”

“Not without at least eating some toast first, you aren’t!” is Martin’s immediate response.

A couple pieces of buttered toast, a tall glass of orange juice, and some strawberries later, and Jon steps outside. The air is crisp. A gentle breeze rustles through Jon’s hair. He smiles, closes his eyes for just a second, and savors the warmth.

Jon looks about the quiet street they settled on.

He knows if he turns and starts walking to his right, he’ll soon pass by a eclectic cluster of small shops. Most of his and Martin’s secondhand furniture and comfy clothing, their admittedly small and poetry-heavy book collection, and pile of documentaries they’re saving for a rainy day was purchased in one of these shops. Every time they’ve explored the shops, Jon and Martin have always found something new and interesting they haven’t come across before. Usually a friendly cat Jon gets immediately distracted by befriending or a book of poems Martin can easily get lost in.

However, if he goes left, he’ll come to a square with a fountain in the center where he and Martin occasionally sit and throw birdseed to a flock of pigeons that have seemingly permanently taken up residence there. Around the border of the square are a small bakery, a cafe, and a tea shop they alternate buying drinks and pastries from. Even if Jon occasionally loses Martin for over an hour to an intense discussion with the tea shop owner he can hardly keep up with himself, he enjoys sitting and people-watching there with a warm and comforting drink clasped between his hands.

Of course, Jon could always choose to wander the park a block over. It’s small, but well-kept and well-loved by the local community. Plenty of benches are scattered about its paths where he can sit and ruminate. Jon is fairly certain it’s one of the days where vendors set up their small stalls and sell everything from flowers to artistic baubles too. An independent theatre troupe occasionally does performances there. He and Martin have spent many a pleasant evening on a picnic blanket watching their current production. Even if they don’t have any representatives at the park right now, the troupe usually hang fliers advertising their next performance.

[mogai-sunflowers]

MOGAI BHM- Belated Day 18!

happy BHM! today i’m going to be talking about seminal Black authors! there are way too many to fit into one post, so i’m choosing a few for this post and including more resources at the end for looking further into the subject!

Phillis Wheatley-

[Image ID: A fuzzied portrait-style painting of Phillis Wheatley, a thin Black women. In the painting, she has a somewhat stoic expression on her face, and her hair is up in a crown of braids. She is wearing a pair of dangling earrings, a pearl necklace, and an off-the-shoulder, puffy-short-sleeved white gown. End ID.]

Phillis Wheatley was perhaps the very first Black person to become a famous writer in America. She was enslaved, but her owners believed she was exceptionally smart, so they taught her to read and write. Phillis began writing poetry at a very young age, and at the age of 13, she published her first poem, called “An Elegiac Poem, on the Death of that Celebrated Divine, and Eminent Servant of Jesus Christ, the Reverend and Learned George Whitefield ...”, or the Whitefield Elegy, which elevated her to national fame.

Phillis was rejected by many publishing houses in the North because she was of African descent, so she went to London publishing houses instead. There, she met with many noted abolitionists and activists of the time, including Benjamin Franklin. By the age of 18, she had published 28 poems. Her poem anthology, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious, And Moral” was the first collection of poems ever published by an African-American person. 

Phillis was deeply religious. She often incorporated biblical themes into her writing, and she wrote many elegies, poems about notable people, and poems about her employers. She also wrote poetry about slavery in America, and combined biblical commentary with poetic depictions of slavery to decry the institution. An example of this is her most well-known poem, “On Being Brought From Africa To America”.

It is now believed that Phillis Wheatley wrote around 145 poems, though not all of them were published. She has been both heavily criticized and heavily praised by Black literature critics, but the significance of her poetry and her efforts are undeniable.

Olaudah Equiano-

[Image ID: A color portrait-style painting of Olaudah Equiano, a thin Black man. The painting has a brown background. In the painting, he is wearing his hair in the style of George Washington’s hair, and he’s wearing a two-layered, red, buttoned overcoat over a fancy white turtle-neck. End ID.]

A contemporary of Phillis Wheatley, Olaudah Equiano was born to Igbo heritage in West Africa. When he was only eleven, he was kidnapped into slavery. After a few years of travelling with his master, learning the mariner’s trade and being sold a few more times, he was allowed to purchase his own freedom, and after he did so, he moved to London, where he joined the abolition and anti-slavery movement active there. There, with a friend named Ottobah Cugoano, he advocated fiercely for the end of the slave trade.

In 1789, Olaudah’s abolitionist efforts culminated in his publishing of his autobiography, called “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African”. This book was a narrative and exploration of his experiences during his kidnapping, selling, the Middle Passage, and his few years of being enslaved. This autobiography became very popular, and it ushered in a new genre, dubbed the ‘slave narrative’ genre, wherein Black people wrote narratives of their experiences with slavery. This genre helped sustain and advance abolitionist movements.

His narrative was internationally popular. It went through nine editions in some places, was translated into many languages, and became a huge part of abolitionist scholarly work. When he died in 1797, Olaudah hadn’t gotten the chance to see any British action against slavery, but he nonetheless was pivotal in inspiring such action, even posthumously.

Maya Angelou-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of Maya Angelou, a thin Black woman. In the photograph, she is smiling and her hair is held up in a checkered head scarf. She’s wearing a fancy, intricately patterned dress with flower patterns and checker patterns. End ID.]

Born in 1928, Maya Angelou was many, many things- a singer, an actress, a director (Hollywood’s first Black female one), a teacher, an activist, and a dancer- but she was most famous for her writing. Maya was a humanitarian civil rights activist who worked with both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and her writing was a beautiful example of her deep drive for justice. In her civil rights work, she was the northern coordinator of Dr. King’s SCLC.

Maya had a traumatic childhood, which she expressed through her most famous work, the one that promoted her to national and even international fame amongst circles of writers, called “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings”. In this autobiography, she spoke of her childhood, including the trauma behind how her love for language developed. Maya was a contemporary of another massively famous and important Black author, James Baldwin, who convinced her to write “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” after she returned from living in Cairo and Ghana with her son.

Maya Angelou wrote other autobiographies as well- 6 all totaled. These biographies depicted real-life experiences with racism, sexual abuse, sexism, and other deep issues, which have made her autobiographies somewhat controversial to some. In her final autobiography, titled “A Song Flung Up To Heaven”, she discussed the span of four years in which so much racial violence, including the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, had such a deep impact on her and the Black community in America. She spoke about how difficult it was to express that pain, and the impact those events had on her.

Maya Angelou was also an incredibly accomplished poet. Her poetry, including volumes like “Just Give Me A Cool Drink Of Water ‘Fore I Diiie”, was very diverse- she wrote about Black beauty and Black pride, womanhood, Black womanhood, social justice, Black American experiences, sexuality, and anti-war activism, and her poetry is perhaps best known for its unabashed celebration of Black female power. 

Maya Angelou also wrote several children's books throughout the 1990s, including “My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken, And Me” and “Mrs. Flowers: A Moment Of Friendship”. She has won many Pulitzer Prizes for her work, and is one of the most prolific and influential Black female writers of all time. She passed away in 2014.

James Baldwin-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of James Baldwin, a thin Black man with short greying, curly black hair. In the photograph, he has his head rested in the palm of his hand and the other arm laying on a table in front of him as he sits, looking to be deep in thought, in front of a crowded bookshelf. He’s wearing two watches and a denim button-up short-sleeved shirt. End ID.]

Born in 1924, James Baldwin grew up in poverty in Harlem. Having always had a passion for Black justice, he grew up feeling like an outsider due to being a Black gay man. Throughout his life, he would write about the intersectionality of Blackness and sexuality, long before terms for the concept of intersectionality were outlined.

Baldwin is most famous for his earlier works, which he published during the 1950s and the 1960s, the heart of the civil rights movement. Baldwin did work closely with notable civil rights activists. His two first novels were two of his most famous- Go Tell It On The Mountain, a semi-autobiographical work about his childhood and Black issues, and Giovanni’s Room, a book that was ahead of its time for depicting the white world but especially for depicting the struggles of a bisexual man. Around the same time, he published his first collection of essays, titled Notes of A Native Son.

He published another book of essays, called Nobody Knows My Name, in 1961, which became a huge part of Black civil rights movement literature and is known for exploring interracial dynamics and relationships during the time period. This theme, coupled with themes of sexuality, also dominated a second book of his, called Another Country.

Baldwin, who lived in Paris for awhile in later commuted back and forth between America and Paris, embraced an outsider’s position. He was able to gain an outside view of America through living in Paris- he felt that he could not truly be a writer in America due to the stress of always having to look over his shoulder and the suppression he faced in the field as a Black gay man. His work reflected an international view of American racial dynamics.

An article about Baldwin on Black Muslim separatist politics, published in a newspaper in the early 1960s, was turned into a best-selling Baldwin work called The Fire Next Time, undoubtedly one of Baldwin’s most famous works. James Baldwin is also known for his plays- one of which, Blues For Mister Charlie, was performed on Broadway.

Throughout his life, James Baldwin forged a unique path for himself, exploring the realms of Black masculinity and Black sexuality and gender- which both ostracized and elevated him. Today, he is rightfully considered one of history’s most influential and seminal Black writers, and he remains the paradigm for Black gay male literature.

Toni Morrison-

[Image ID: A color photograph of Toni Morrison, a heavier Black woman with long, thick, greying dreadlocks tied back in a braid. She’s sitting at a table with her hands folded, and she’s wearing a loose grey cardigan over a black shirt. End ID.]

Undoubtedly one of the most famous, influential, and seminal Black authors of all time, Toni Morrison is perhaps most well-known for her fierce exploration of Black issues in her work, including colorism, slavery, misogynoir, and Black relationships and love. Black culture and storytelling was very formative in her childhood, and influenced the content of her work. An alumnus of Howard University, a famous HBCU, she taught there for several years. In 1993, she won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

In 1970, Morrison released her first book, a novel called The Bluest Eye. A bold novel about beauty standards in the Black community, it told the story of a Black girl who wanted deeply to have blue eyes and was heavily influenced by white beauty standards. This theme of body image issues among Black girls and how colorism affects them, was also echoed in a much later (2015) Morrison work entitled God Help The Child. 

Some other seminal works written by Toni Morrison are Beloved, Song of Solomon, and Jazz. Beloved, which won a Pulitzer Prize, tells the tragic true story of an enslaved woman who tried to escape but was recaptured, causing her to kill her infant daughter because she wanted her to escape a lifetime of slavery. Song of Solomon, a tale from the perspective/narration of a Black man trying to find his identity, elevated Morrison to national fame. Jazz, a 1992 novel set in the 1920s, was about passion and violence during the time period. 

Toni Morrison has also written several childrens books along with her son, as well as essays and speeches, the latter two of which have been compiled in such volumes as “What Moves at the Margin: Selected Nonfiction” and “The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations”. In 2005, Morrison won the Coretta Scott King Award for her book Remember, which chronicled the lives of Black children during the fight for school integration during the Civil Rights Movement. In 2019, after passing away at the age of 88, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor.

Amiri Baraka-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of Amiri Baraka, a thin Black man with an afro and a beard. In the photograph, he has a stoic expression on his face, and he’s wearing a black cloak of sorts with a necklace over his garments. He’s standing at a podium crowded with several microphones and gripping the side of the podium. End ID.]

Born in 1934, Amiri Baraka was for decades one of the most prominent Black voices in American literature, especially as it pertained to civil rights and racial justice. After attending Howard University, an HBCU, and spending 3 years in the Air Force, he began publishing very incendiary works, like his essays and poetry, which spoke fiercely about racial pride and racial justice, and were often very difficult for white audiences to engage with.

In the 1950s, he aligned himself with beat poetry and beat poets like Allen Ginsburg and Jack Kerouac, and in the 1960s, he became more radical, aligning himself with Black nationalism and the Black Power movement. He is well-known for his poetry about Black politics, which was critical to the literature of the Black Power Movement. In 1965, he ushered in the Black Arts Movement by founding a studio theater for Black artists in Harlem.

Amiri Baraka aligned himself more with third-world movements during the 1970s. His plays and poetry expressed his desires, and though he remains controversial to this day, he is also undoubtedly one of the most important Black writers from the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power eras.

Summary-

Phillis Wheatley, the first famous Black American writer, wrote large amounts of poetry during the 18th century, and was propelled to national and international fame

Olaudah Equiano, a contemporary of Phillis Wheatley, helped largely to promote British abolitionist politics through his internationally famous autobiography which he published in 1789

Maya Angelou was a multitalented singer, dancer, actress, and most famously a writer whose poetry and memoirs detailed civil rights and Black existence in America

James Baldwin was a Black gay man who was active in the Civil Rights Movement and wrote seminal works about Black sexuality

Toni Morrison, who won the Nobel Prize in 1993, explored Black womanhood, Black culture, Black community dynamics, and Black sexuality through her prolific novels and writings

Amiri Baraka was a controversial, nationalist Black artist who wrote incendiary essays and poetry about Black identity and Black power, and helped found the Black Arts Movement

tagging @metalheadsforblacklivesmatter​ @bfpnola​ @intersexfairy​ 

Sources-

https://www.britannica.com/art/African-American-literature/Prose-drama-and-poetry

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/phillis-wheatley 

https://npg.si.edu/blog/phillis-wheatley-her-life-poetry-and-legacy

https://slaveryandremembrance.org/people/person/?id=PP003

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Olaudah-Equiano

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou

https://www.mayaangelou.com/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Toni-Morrison

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/amiri-baraka

https://poets.org/poet/amiri-baraka

https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Baldwin

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/james-baldwin-s-sexuality-complicated-influential-n717706

[cocosnows]

A Lone Sword

This is an AU that explores a different outcome on the incident at the twins’ house, as well as insights on Vergil’s attachment to the Yamato and overall a new perspective on their brotherhood.

NOTES: It is super self-indulgent and might be out of character/I got the DMC lore wrong. English is not my first language and I have no experience in writing, so excuse me if it’s poorly written.

Thank you for reading! ^^

———————————————————————

Chapter 1

“Life had always been this way… and it will always be” — a young Vergil pondered as he walked around his house. He had always thought Dante was a spoiled brat. Even as twins, he felt Dante always did whatever he wanted whenever he said so; and the worst part was that his Mother always gave him the right.

The silver haired boys were both 12 years at the time. And they didn’t seem to get along too well, as they both seemed to differ in energy levels and preferred activities. But somehow, Dante, seemed to always win the arguments whenever they fought (which was very often, by the way). This bothered Vergil greatly, as he felt it unfair.

“When am I ever going to get MY time…”, Vergil pondered.

“It’s always do what Dante wants… but why can’t I do whatever ~I~ want once in a while”

As the child thought this, an idea popped up in his mind. He thought it would be a good idea to watch over the books of the local library as he usually did, to keep those stressful thoughts away; and have that desired alone time after a long day of dealing with Dante’s carefree whims.

When Vergil arrived to the library, the shopkeeper was actually joyous to see him. It seemed that the child’s visits came more and more often as time passed— and the librarian loved his enthusiasm and curiosity towards the books, which was rare amongst the children of that small city.

The child couldn’t stop looking at that one specific book: a collection of poems written by William Blake. The librarian felt some sort of deep compassion and understanding for the child, and turning to him in a gentle voice he said:

“Do you like that book…?”

The child turned to see the man and nodded with a worried expression. The man smiled, and told him:

“It’s ok… you can have it. It’s all yours”

The child’s face lit up.

“Really?! Thank you so much!”

The child picked up a pen and drew his initial on the cover of the book, much to the librarians’ surprise. After he finished drawing, he told the librarian:

“My twin brother… he’s always grabbing my stuff… so I have to make sure this is mine”.

The librarian let out a soft chuckle as he witnessed the innocence and spontaneity of the child.

Vergil thanked the shop owner and took off to his home. The librarian watched over him as he walked away with a fond expression.

—

After some time, Vergil arrived home. He was greeted by his twin brother’s usual high energy, which rarely ever matched his own. Today, he was carrying the wooden swords they use to play with. Vergil’s face instantly turned serious.

As soon as Dante opened his mouth, Vergil already had an answer:

“No, Dante. Not now. I want to read right now, so don’t disturb me”.

Dante frowned and told him:

“You didn’t even hear what I had to say!”,

to which the other child answered:

“I don’t care Dante! Just leave me alone!”.

Dante dropped the wooden swords in an instant and threw a slap to Vergil’s face. After this, they just kept on throwing punches to each other in a very common scene for that family… just until Eva arrived.

“Children! Oh my… what did I tell you about fighting? Look at you, you’re bleeding!”, said Eva to the boys.

The twins, having all sorts of bruises on their faces, stood up in a jolt as soon as they saw her.

“He did it! He started it!”, Vergil exclaimed, pointing at Dante.

“He didn’t even listen to me, mom! He was so rude!”, Dante answered.

The woman just sighed in distress, as she has dealt with these same quarrels countless times, and said:

“Vergil, please don’t ignore your brother—”

Just as she was about to continue, Vergil let out a loud groan.

“It is ALWAYS my fault and never HIS, I am SO DONE”, Vergil exclaimed as he ran away from his family and into the house’s garden.

“VERGIL!” Eva exclaimed, but the child refused to listen.

Dante looked over to the floor and saw the book that Vergil had brought. He picked it up and kept it. His mother decided to leave Vergil alone for the time being, so he had time to unwind. She escorted Dante back inside, while thoroughly scolding him for his aggressiveness and behavior.

Vergil walked over to a little playground and sat down on one of the benches.

“It’s always the same… he gets his way and I’m the one at fault. I can’t stand it.”

Vergil groaned.

“I wanted to read that book so bad and now he completely spoiled my mood.”

The child crossed his arms and pondered for a short while.

“It’s all Dante’s fault as always…”

Just as he was thinking this, he felt a dangerous presence behind him. In just a second, he had a swarm of demons wanting to kill him behind his back.

He swiftly dodged the demons’ attacks, but as he ran towards his home he found a grim scenario that made him froze: his home was burning in a pillar of flames. The moment he stopped in his tracks to watch the horrible scene, the demons took the opportunity and attacked him.

They pierced his body countless times with their long, slim swords. His chest, arms, legs, hands… all pierced by the demons’ weapons.

“It hurts… it hurts… it… HURTS…!”

The child was silent, but under his painful expression lied a yearn for help.

“Someone… anyone… please… help me”

The image of his mother and brother appeared inside his mind…

But no one came to his aid.

And the demons were ruthless in his endeavor, as they pierced his body until they left him unconscious.

After some time, the child woke up. His body ached and everything burned. But even so, he stood up and was determined to walk towards his home. His mind was fuzzy and the tears rolled uncontrollably down his face, but something made him go towards the house- towards his family.

As he walked, he felt some of his wounds closing and healing due to his demonic lineage, which made him able to survive such ruthless and deadly attacks. This allowed him to move a little more freely with each step.

However, the moment he picked up his pace, a second horde of demons approached him. But this time, something unexpected happened: the legendary sword Yamato appeared right before his eyes as if summoned by his desperate cries for help. He picked it up from the ground and wobblily started fending off the attacking monsters.

The boy was panting and grasping for air, but he kept walking towards his burning home, holding the Yamato close and using it to help him walk. His clothes were all ragged: he was left shirtless and covered in his own blood.

As he got closer to his house, he thought of his mother, his brother, the demons… the emotions were overflowing and he couldn’t stop crying. He thought to himself as he sobbed uncontrollably:

“I’m alone… no one is here anymore… Dante and mom… they must’ve fled… they’re… gone… … maybe mom didn’t even—”

Just as he was thinking, he heard a distant sound that made him stop in his tracks. It was a voice… a faint voice. The child’s expression changed from helpless to worried, and he turned desperate to find the source of the sound.

He walked even closer to the house and heard the faint voice again:

“Ver…gil!”

The voice was followed by several coughs.

The child’s eyes turned very big as he let out a big gasp. He exclaimed his brother’s name, hoping for an answer. He ran towards the main entrance of the house, but as soon as he was about to enter, the door busted open.

A sobbing, coughing child came out of the door, extremely agitated.

“VERGIL!”, the child exclaimed as soon as he saw his twin brother, and ran directly into him for a hug.

Vergil was suddenly petrified.

He looked behind his brother, and caught a glimpse of the grotesque scene that occurred inside his home. Dante noticed and immediately ran to close the door, sobbing profusely.

“N-no, Vergil… *hic* y-you can’t see! *hic*”, he exclaimed as he blocked the door with his body.

Vergil, with a somber expression, and tears rolling down his face, asked his brother:

“Dante… what… what happened?”

Dante started sobbing even harder. It was hard for him to catch his breath, as he inhaled a great amount of smoke. He gathered a little bit of air and, just when he was about to speak, a demon peeked behind his brother.

Dante peeled his eyes as he screamed his brother’s name.

“VERGIL!”

The child’s reflexes activated instantly, drawing out the Yamato and fending off the demons in a whim. Vergil turned to Dante again and exclaimed:

“It’s not safe here, Dante. We have to go, NOW!”

Vergil’s expression turned serious and determined, but Dante was still inconsolable. Vergil grabbed Dante by the arm and dragged him out of the house.

“With the Yamato…”, Vergil thought, “no demon… no… nothing can hurt us”.

And thus, the silver-haired children ran away from the burnt house that was once their home… with no destination and nothing more than their own company and a lone sword.

CHAPTER 2

[mistydeyes]

hiya!! i know you’re probably SWAMPED with pairing requests right now, so if you can’t get to this please do not sweat it ^^. i just binged all of pharmacist!reader and i’m obsessed lmao.

personality !!

get ready for this to read like a crappy tinder bio ahshdgd. i’m definitely an extrovert, with my personality type thing being enfp! although, i used to be /painfully/ shy so i feel for people who hate social situations. apparently i come off as flirty? i think i’ve just got an offbeat sense of humour— courtesy of growing up in scotland— and i tend to just show a lot of affection to anyone, even if it’s simply platonic. 

interests ?!

i love to make things, like writing and illustration (which is what i’m working on a degree for)! i’m currently working part time at a florist store though haha, i got my certification in high school instead of studying for math. i try to embrace the small things and leave crappy little post-it poems and silly doodles at my friends’ places. my main attitude towards what i do is very punk? if that makes sense? apart from the fact that i love punk and heavier music (xray spex, death, pinkshift, big joanie, etc.), i’m a big believer in being relentlessly loving of yourself and others- self love and supporting your friends is the ultimate rebellion!! :D. 

appearance ?? (if it matters)

i’m on the taller side, about 5’11. damn my genes for perpetuating scottish stereotypes, but i’ve got green eyes, freckles, and a propensity to sunburn. i’ve got black hair with sections of it dyed really light blonde (this has reminded me to go fix my roots later whoops), and it’s a sort of veronica sawyer type bob? my hair is really thick so i’m struggling in the summer heat lmao.

thank you again <333

Johnny "Soap" Mactavish (a/n anon you're living out my dream like I WOULD love to drop out of pharmacy school and work at a florist shop! so happy you enjoyed my pharmacist series though!)

How you met: Civilian Working in a florist shop in a busy part of the UK meant you had a good flow of customers. From old grandmas to boyfriends making up for forgotten anniversaries, you've seen it all. You were finishing up on a large bridal order when a young man walked in. He made sure to shake off his umbrella before entering. "It's pitchin it douwn 'ard out 'ere" he said as he approached the counter and you could see it was monsooning outside. Before he could translate, you replied to his exclamation. "A fellow Scot!" you said enthusiastically and his face beamed. "I'd recognize that accent anywhere," he responded and you soon fell into a conversation about growing up in the Scottish countryside and missing home in the rainy London climate. "So what are you here for?" you laughed as you set your elbows on the counter. "A houseplant, bonnie," he responded, "thought this was the right place." "Well Johnny, I have a fair share of options, but I think," you began to say as you walked around the counter and towards your collection of houseplants. You finally found the perfect one, a medium sized fiddle-leaf fig plant. "I think this wee lad is your new best friend," you smiled and handed him the potted plant. "How much do I owe ye?" he asked before you shook your head. "It's on the house, pleasure to make you a new plant owner," you replied. He smiled widely before exiting into the pouring rain. "Hope to see you again!" he waved and you hoped he kept his promise.

A peek into your relationship: "I don't think I'm doing this correctly," Johnny said as you felt the cold hair dye coat your scalp. "You're doing a better job than I could, babe," you joked underneath the pile of your hair. Having a boyfriend meant you didn't have to struggle bleaching and dying pieces of your hair when it needed a touchup. You couldn't even imagine how you used to do this. "You should just cut if off," he joked and you pretended to be shocked. "And have an ugly mohawk? I would never," you responded and you could hear him chuckle behind you. "Careful now, I might just dye your neck," he countered and you knew his threat was an empty one. "I'll kill your darling houseplant if you do, Mactavish, don't push me," you replied and that shut him up. After a few more minutes, he finally finished applying the dye to your bleached roots. You lifted your head to see his smiling face, hands coated with the bleach and his ratty shirt adorned with plenty of stains. "Thank you," you smiled happily and kissed his stubbled cheek. His ears tinged pink at your actions. "Now just have to wash this off in the shower," you said as you walked over to the bathroom. "Can I join?" he enthusiastically asked as your laughter filled your flat and he followed you like a puppy.

[myastrouniverse]

August/2024🌘♎️Justice is coming…

🌘 < ♅︎ The choice is up to EVERYONE. Do you want America to be an apocalyptic shit hole, crated by the extreme, demon possessed, Zionist monsters from Israel? OR, is it possible we could TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK TO AMERICANS AND EMPOWER THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION AND THE WORLD TO COLLECTIVELY EMPOWER EACH OTHER FOR A MORE PEACEFUL, HARMONIOUS AND ABUNDANT REALITY?

🦺▪️🎸 We must bridge the gap between ancient knowledge and this hyper bullshit reality these Israeli DEMONS have been trying to create out of their ABOMINATIONS AND LIES. it’s a house of cards built on a false reality which allowed to continue would create a BLACK HOLE of existence, IN THAT FALSE REALITY.

🌘🔺 ♂️Try to reclaim your strength and will to live. Everyone matters, and we have to start building on positive relationships.

🦚 ☌ ♎️ Realtionships be them professional or personal must be respectful, equal and collaborative. How can anyone expect RESPECT if they haven’t EARNED THAT RESPECT by BEING RESPECTFUL TOWARDS OTHERS? The ZIONIST ANIMALS cannot demand respect after they have literally SHIT on everything around them with their fucking COVID POISON, MEDIA PROPAGANDA, DRUGS AND PSYCHOTIC BILLIONAIRE ALLIES.

🌘🔺 ♃︎ I’m nearly 100% clear btw. Even the scars on top of more scars are fading.

🌘 ☸︎ 🌞 I was reminded of my mother’s old Daycare center today, she owned it with her friend Debbie Larson. They named it: Wig Wam Daycare. They even set up a cute totem pole in the front. It must have been a real local one, but I can’t recall where she got it. I’m not asking her right now. If you got in trouble, you had to sit in the caboose of a giant wooden toy train she had set up in the garage. That was a really cool train btw. I guess it went to the new owner when she sold it. Every year my mother and Debbie took all the Daycare kids to see Cheif Lalooska. He must have been close to or over 100. I think he died at nearly 110. He told ancient totem pole stories and he performed authentic tribal mask dances and music for the visiting kids. He did this for all the local school districts for over fifty years. It was incredible, and it felt like it was in another dimension, because it was in a way. The ancestors are here.

🌘 Λ ♄︎ It was weird. I saw my old teacher Ms. Hawthorn-Smith at the store. I accidentally called her Mrs. Hawthorn. She used to bring her kids to my mother’s Daycare. It was weird she didn’t remember me, since I’ve known her so long. I even went on a writing beach retreat with her and published a poem in African American Reflections. No, I’m not African American, but they still published me. That was the whole assignment, get published. Anyway, I told her everyone was trying to kill me. She asked me if it was over MONEY. That seemed like a suspicious response. Consider she claimed to not recognize me at first, but can easily guess the motivation for attempted murder? I don’t have any money. The little I had was my own retirement fund which is gone now. Then she left, but I spoke with the security guard about Peace Health medical malpractice lawsuits and a local class action lawsuit, would be a good idea to advertise around town.

🌘 < ☿︎ I CAN CREATE MY POSTS ANYTIME I WANT. I DO THIS FOR MY PERSONAL SANITY PRIMARILY, NOT FOR OTHERS. If you are upset I don’t always post at the same time everyday, it is because you are probably a fraud or a stalker pig cunt, like my whore inbred sister-in-law Angie.

Dinosaur Jr. - In a Jar

[mybookplacenet]

Author Interview: V.Ophelia Rigault

Tell us about yourself.: "I am a highly accomplished professional with a Master's degree in Education specializing in Educational Leadership. With over 20+ years of experience in the field of equity, diversity, and inclusion, I am a sought-after Speaker and Trainer. I am also the owner of Real Talk Solutions, a company dedicated to providing training in equity and diversity to inclusive leaders and organizations. I am passionate about creating communities of belonging, and I am committed to partnering with inclusive leaders and organizations to foster equitable and inclusive work cultures and communities. Through my engaging keynote speeches, impactful training sessions, community-building initiatives, and media appearances, I actively promote inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. Having personally experienced exclusion based on gender and race, I bring a deep understanding and empathy to my work. Drawing on my extensive background as a business consultant, entrepreneur, educator, and mindset coach spanning over 20 years, I possess a unique ability to engage diverse groups of people across various sectors. My expertise lies in facilitating difficult conversations about race, gender, privilege, mental health awareness, and equity. I empower HR managers, business owners, and community leaders to develop their equity-building skills and create spaces where everyone feels a genuine sense of belonging. Approaching my work with empathy, compassion, and encouragement, I am dedicated to forging a brighter, more inclusive future for all." Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?: The first six years of my life were spent in Trinidad, a where I had vibrant and strong matriarchal community that shaped my early views on leadership and entrepreneurship. Moving to Canada exposed me to inequities and challenges, highlighting the importance of individual allies and leaders in making a positive impact. I aim to share the message that despite societal messages of inferiority, everyone has inherent value and potential. Do you have any unusual writing habits? I don't have any unusual writing habits; I simply need to be in the right mood, have some solitude, and create a peaceful and calm environment to write. What authors have influenced you? The first six years of my life were spent in Trinidad, a where I had vibrant and strong matriarchal community that shaped my early views on leadership and entrepreneurship. Moving to Canada exposed me to inequities and challenges, highlighting the importance of individual allies and leaders in making a positive impact. I aim to share the message that despite societal messages of inferiority, everyone has inherent value and potential. Do you have any advice for new authors? My advice to writers is to take it step by step, not feeling pressured to write the entire book at once. Start with smaller pieces and gradually bring them together. What is the best advice you have ever been given? The best advice I've received, from my mother, is to never let anyone, not even myself, steal my joy. This advice has helped me navigate tough times and appreciate both the good and bad experiences in my life. What are you reading now? I'm currently engrossed in "The Two Lives of Sarah" by Katherine Adele West, the author of "Saving Ruby King." The book is set in 1960s Memphis, portraying a young mother finding solace in a boarding house where family extends beyond blood ties, capturing the essence of being Black in that era. What's your biggest weakness? My weakness? Plain old-fashioned cheesecake, the baked kind, paired with a perfectly brewed cup of tea. What is your favorite book of all time? Choosing a favorite book is tough, but Maya Angelou's collection of poems and "The Four Agreements" by don Miguel Ruiz hold special places in my heart. I find myself revisiting them multiple times, always discovering new truths and inspiration. When you're not writing, how do you like to spend your time? When I'm not writing, I enjoy relaxing and spending time with my niece, engaging in silly activities that bring out my inner child. Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you? The first story that deeply impacted me was Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye." The main character's struggle with self-worth due to societal standards of beauty resonated with me, reflecting on my mother's experiences with colourism and feeling unworthy due to her dark skin. This novel provided insight into my mother's challenges growing up in a society that equated darkness with inferiority, shaping my understanding of the power in embracing one's identity as a Black woman. What has inspired you and your writing style? I am driven by curiosity and a passion for storytelling. I enjoy simplifying complex information into a conversational format, allowing people to explore various aspects of leadership in an accessible manner beyond academia. I was inspired to write my first book because, during my time completing my masters in education, I noticed the challenges faced by full-time students and business owners in balancing their responsibilities. I wanted to create a book that would provide research-based insights on leadership, equity, and diversity in a digestible format, emphasizing the importance of caring and seeing people as human beings to be truly inclusive leaders. What are you working on now? Currently, I'm developing the SHINE Club program for racialized children, focusing on empowerment and resilience in the face of racism in schools. This initiative aligns with my passion for fostering caring leadership through training and consultation for inclusive organizations. What is your favorite method for promoting your work? Through my website, showing up on social media and by doing in-person book readings. I find my friends, family and strategic partners are really my biggest supporters. I have also found a lot of great connections and support through a local women-identifying entrepreneurial group. What's next for you as a writer? The next step for me as a writer is to focus on promoting my current book and developing it into a training tool for creating courses on caring leadership. I believe the future of my leadership book lies in collaborating with real-life leaders to incorporate self-care and resilience, as their ability to lead impacts the realization of equity. How well do you work under pressure? I thrive under pressure by setting deadlines and having an accountability partner to keep me motivated. The right amount of pressure pushes me to accomplish tasks without feeling overwhelmed. How do you decide what tone to use with a particular piece of writing? I chose a conversational tone in my writing to make readers feel like they are engaging with me personally, reflecting my approach in real-life interactions. This style aims to create a sense of storytelling and connection. If you could share one thing with your fans, what would that be? To my fans, I would share that I have a playful and curious nature, always eager to learn about others. I deeply appreciate their support and am grateful for their encouragement of my work. V.Ophelia Rigault's Author Websites and Profiles Website Goodreads Profile V.Ophelia Rigault's Social Media Links Facebook Page Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest YouTube Account Read the full article

[strangcbeauty]

𝓑𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓮  𝓥𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓾𝓿𝓮 ;; ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛʏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴀ ꜰᴜɴɴʏ ɢɪʀʟ

Bisexual ⋆ She/Her ⋆ Thirty-One

Occupation ;; Owner of Rose’s Books

♫ Currently Playing ♫ ;; Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

☀ Virgo ☾ Taurus ↑ Libra

For as long as Belle can remember it has just been her and her father Maurice. After her mother passed away when she was a baby, her father brought her to Echo Isle where in order to raise her back in his hometown. He worked full time as a dad and part time as an inventor. That meant money didn’t always come easy but Belle was never one to desire material things anyway. All she ever needed to be happy was a simple book, the local library become her best friend growing up. She did well in school, though most of the girls found her strange and tended to avoid her. It was frowned upon by some that she was always off in another world she found through the pages of her latest novel but to her it opened up a whole new world. A place beyond Echo Isle, a world left to be explored, but she knew she wouldn’t see it at least not for awhile. Her father was the only family she had and she his, not to mention his ailing health. She watched him grow old and knew this was where she needed to stay. Instead explored through reading, able to see the world through the eyes of her favorite authors. She knew exactly what she wanted for herself after high school, she wanted her very own bookshop right here in town. That’s why she ended up double majoring in english and business. She did well in school, spent most of her free time with her father or studying, and even ended up graduating with honors. Then she fulfilled her dream, opening Rose’s Books in the place she called home, her father’s house just a few blocks away. It’s sort of become the way she makes friends anymore. The most unlikely being Adam had come in looking for a book. He confronted her about her father’s debt to him after promising to return an invention that never came to be. Instead of sending him to her father she took the responsibility upon herself. She gave him books for free but then he started to come back to read there or just browse. Belle didn’t know why he was there but he just seemed to keep coming back, sometimes even bringing a friend or two. Eventually she got invited by Blaise to join them all for dinner and to her surprise Adam agreed. At first she was opposed but the Frenchmen was quite convincing. It was there that she was able to meet all of his closest friends and see them through their eyes. She’d seen him in a way she hadn’t before. She could tell there was more to him, though he was certainly rough around the edges. The group became like her second family but she can sense they’re hiding something from her. Then everything changed one night and Adam disappeared from her memory without a trace. She couldn’t remember him or their lives together. Belle can’t put her finger on what it is, only knowing there are certain things that get talked about in hushed tones so she can’t hear. She can’t help her curiosity of what it is her friends could be keeping from her. 

Belle is textbook, the girl who wants something bigger, brighter, better. Not that she isn’t thankful for the life she has now, in fact she loves it. But she knows there must be more out there, more than just the worlds she reads about in books. 

Belle loves her father more than anything and she fears losing him more often than she wants to admit. She knows she can be a little overly concerned for him but she does it out of love, not wanting anything to happen to him. The truth is Belle isn’t sure what she’d do without him. 

She has a stamp collection. It’s how she feels like she travels the world and explores without ever leaving Echo Creek. They are each unique and reflect the culture of where they came from.

The only writing she ever does herself is always in pen and usually found on scraps of paper. Perhaps a napkin, an old receipt, a ripped up piece of paper. They are always poems and usually never see the light of day. She calls them her passing thoughts that sometimes need to get put down somewhere. 

She loves tea of all kinds. It’s part of her morning routine to wake up each morning and drink a cup. Rarely will she get coffee but it isn’t unheard of. 

Even though she doesn’t talk about it, she misses her mother dearly. She wishes she’d gotten to know her or at least have a memory of her. When she tries to ask her father he never seems to want to talk about it to where she’s practically stopped asking. She knows it’s difficult to talk about but she worries once he passes the memory of her mother will too. 

[missrubybird]

TS4 Cottage Living Sims Part 2

Here are some more country folk to populate Henford-on-Bagley! Thank you again to the EA Game Changer Program for making this content possible! All these Sims have backstories which intertwine with each other and those of the Sims of Part 1.

Below the cut you’ll find:

Individual Download Links for the Sims

As well as a Zip File containing all the Sims

Sims’ Backstories and Traits

CC Links

All Sims have all 8 Outfits using only CL and Basegame except for those Sims with pets, those require Cats&Dogs as well, obvs..

Note: There is CC included in the Download Files, make sure to put it in your Mods Folder along with the CC linked below! ♥️

Have fun!   🐮 ♥️ 🐇 ♥️ 🐥  

CC LINKS:  Lashes // Skintone // SkinDetails // Jake’s Glasses

Credits: @cienzroza @kijiko-sims @annamsblue @pyxiidis @tamo-sim @squeamishsims @berryconfetti @vibrantpixels @vegantrait @rheallsim @simbience Thank you to @maxismatchccworld for reblogging ♥️

Note: You need the No EA Eyelashes Mod by Cienzroza for the Sims to look exactly like they do in the pictures!

➞ Cottage Living Sims Part 1

DOWNLOAD ALL SIMS HERE or individual Links below

Sim Links from Top to Bottom:

Melanie Koenig

YA // Quick Learner // Cheerful // Bookworm // Clumsy

You might think that being the local nerdy librarian and a former teacher’s pet (which her peers always resented her a bit for) means life wasn’t always easy for Melanie. Granted, she is one smart cookie but her people skills never were the best. And yet, while Melanie definitely is a bit awkward, she also has a very sunny disposition and there is very little that can dampen her spirits. She loves reading and has a huge collection of books that she adds to regularly, although the classics are her favorite. And she does prefer watching old Hollywood films on her couch with Pete her cat but every once in a blue moon when Melanie closes the library for the night, she lets Milly and Sabina drag her to the pub for a spot of karaoke.

Bella Teeluck

YA // Quick Learner // Music Lover // Childish // Neat

Bella, like Melanie, was always a good student but what Melanie lacks in people skills, Bella has in abundance. She’s especially popular with the elementary students she teaches because she starts every lesson with a song and she’s never lost the joy of playing with kids’ toys. Bella loves children and they love her because they sense that Bella is still a kid at heart. Music is very important to her and she will often get out the guitar and play pop songs while her nb kid Robin dances and sings along. And sometimes, when he has closed up the shop, Bella’s brother Jonas comes over and joins in, to the great joy of Robin, because Jonas always brings along a new children’s book.

Jake Rowland

YA // Essence of Flavor // Lazy // Bookworm // Jealous

Oh, Jake.. See, here’s the thing with Jake: Jake is majorly in love with Jonas, the local what’sitshop owner, and they have been on and off for a while but Jonas is just a bit too much of a free spirit to believe in monogamy, much to the dismay of Jake, who, let’s be honest, wants Jonas all to himself. And it could all be so perfect, because they both love to cook and they share a great passion for a good story. But Jonas can’t quite be tied down and Jake spends a lot of his time thinking of ways to convince his friend to settle down together (although Jake does like living with his sister Milly because she doesn’t mind when he slacks on his chores.. yet again). Oh, and Jake is not at all too keen on the looks that newcomer Cai is giving Jonas every time he visits the shop!

Kamilah Sabry

Adult // Domestic // Self-Assured // Ambitious // Family-Oriented

Kamilah is the proud mom of recent university graduate Cai and she’s the mayor of Henford-on-Bagley where many say she’s the best mayor the little town has ever seen. Kamilah is a power house and a doer and ‘impossible’ is not in her vocabulary! There is a lot to be done and, by golly, will it be done, if it weren’t for a certain prominent senior Henford-on-Bagley citizen, the formidable Lilly Lindgren, who seems to fancy herself a bit of a deputy mayor. The two can often be seen around town, with Lilly talking to or rather at Kamilah, giving her (unsolicited) advice and telling her how things should or shouldn’t be run and if Kamilah weren’t such a diplomat, she might just tell Lilly to shove it where the sun.. flowers don’t grow.

Prof. Saatvik Acharya

Elder // Gregarious // Cheerful // Genius // Perfectionist

Ah, yes, what would Henford-on-Bagley be without Professor Acharya, another one of the town’s staples. He still holds the occasional lecture at Britechester University but these days he prefers working in his lush garden where he cultivates the most exquisite roses, envy of many a hobby botanist around, and where he can be found playing chess and contemplating the meaning of life with Sabina or Herbert on many a lazy afternoon. Saatvik has a witty and warm sense of humor and even reclusive Delphine doesn’t mind when he comes by to chat about her roses, not only because Saatvik is so charming but also because he’s gentleman enough to leave a lady’s secrets alone. Quite unlike Lilly, who is always on everybody’s case but Saatvik and Delphine alike know well enough to hide behind their rose bushes when Lilly comes by.

Herbert Birch

YA // Muser // Gloomy // Foodie // Lactose Intolerant

Poor Herbert. Life really did a number on him when it made him lactose intolerant because, see, Herbert is a dairy farmer like his parents before him and their parents before.. you get the drift. Herbert only found out recently about his affliction but at least now he knows why he’s always been so, uhm, bloated. It’s a bit of a tragedy because Herbert loves blue cheese like no one else but he also likes writing poems ~ Herbert is a bit of a sensitive soul ~ and dreams of publishing them as none of his friends have the heart to tell him that they’re not very good. So, clueless Herbert milks his cows, composing in his mind a poem to win over Rosa, the pretty girl with the raven hair and the strawberry earrings. Maybe his friend Milly can put in a good word for him! 

Sabina Buckland

YA // Collector // Animal Enthusiast // Vegetarian // Outgoing

Sabina is a true child of nature, she lives at the edge of the forest and will often be found wandering the woods, talking to the animals and collecting what nature has to offer. You might think she’s a loner but Sabina loves people and she will always stop by the Prof’s cottage for a casual musing about the universe and how the stars are aligning that day, cheer up Herbert as he fusses over his newest tragic poem and have some coffee with Jonas who she sells the crystals and fossils to that she finds on her wanderings. Yet, for all her approachability there is something a little mysterious about Sabina and the town folk sure wonder why the mushrooms around her little house grow so abnormally large, winning the Finchwick Fair Competition five years in a row!

Note: There is CC included in the Download Files, make sure to put it in your Mods Folder along with the CC linked above!

[blueiscoool]

Medieval skull ring and gold coin hoards discovered in Wales

The macabre jewelry is a unique example of “memento mori” art, which aimed to remind viewers of their mortality.

Officials in Wales have designated nine recent archaeological finds—including a hoard of Tudor coins featuring Henry VIII’s portrait and a gold ring inlaid with an enamel skull—as treasure, reports Cathy Owen for Wales Online.

Per a statement, metal detectorists unearthed the artifacts, all of which belonged to elite members of 9th- through 17th-century Welsh society, in Powys and the Vale of Glamorgan. Highlights of the cache range from a ring-shaped medieval silver brooch to a trio of gold coins dated to the reigns of Edward III (1327­–1377) and Richard II (1377–1399).

Graeme David Hughes, senior coroner for South Wales Central, declared the discoveries “treasures,” a term that “refers to bonafide, often metal artifacts that meet … specific archaeological criteria” outlined by the United Kingdom’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), notes Laura Geggel for Live Science.

In the U.K., amateur treasure hunters are required to hand their finds over to local authorities. Current guidelines define treasure relatively strictly, but as Caroline Davies reported for the Guardian last December, the U.K. government is working to expand these parameters to better protect the country’s national heritage items. Objects designated as treasure become the property of the state and may be displayed at national or local museums.

A key highlight of the Welsh trove is the golden skull ring, which dates back to the Tudor or early Stuart period. The ring is embossed with the Latin phrase memento mori, which roughly translates to “remember you must die,” according to Tate Britain.

As Menachem Wecker pointed out for Artnet News in 2017, artists throughout history created memento mori–themed paintings, sculptures, drawings and tokens to remind viewers of their own mortality. Though these objects may appear morbid to modern viewers, Artnet notes that they often carried “optimistic, carpe-diem messages” about making the most of one’s time on Earth.

“This is a rare example of a … memento mori ring with a clear Welsh provenance,” says Mark Redknap, deputy head of collections and research at Amgueddfa Cymru—National Museum Wales, in the statement. “Its sentiment reflects the high mortality of the period, the motif and inscription acknowledging the brevity and vanities of life.”

Another notable artifact recently deemed treasure is a posy ring dated to the 17th or 18th century. Per National Jeweler’s Michelle Graff, these items were often engraved with brief poems or sayings alternatively “religious, friendly or amorous in nature.”

The message on the Welsh ring, which is embellished with interlocking symbols and silver gilding, reads, “Be constant to the end,” reports Sarah Pirano for Ancient Origins.

Also of note is a silver, double-hooked fastener dated to the ninth century. The object may have helped its Anglo-Saxon owner hold their garments together or was perhaps worn as a chic piece of jewelry adorned with animal patterns.

“This unusual object is the first ‘Anglo-Saxon style’ double-hooked fastener to be identified in Wales,” says Redknap in the statement. “Reflecting the status of the original owner, it provides new evidence for the exposure of Anglo-Saxon styles within the early Welsh kingdoms, and of the melting-pot of styles and influences from which Welsh identity was to emerge.”

The Y Gaer Museum and the National Museum Wales hope to obtain the cache of objects for their galleries. Officials have yet to announce which institutions will ultimately house the artifacts.

The recently discovered items are just some of the 20 to 45 treasures reported in Wales each year, according to Live Science. Experts have identified more than 550 treasures in the country since 1997, when PAS was established in England and Wales.

By Isis Davis-Marks.

[misumeaw-blog]

More time with You, Valentine Spacial 💛

Pairing : Albedo x Reader

Genre : Fluff, Established relationship

Warning : Pet name (Sunshine)

Word Counts : 630 words

——————————————————————————————————-

The wooden door of the Knight of Favonius Head Quarter closed behind the two Captain walking out after reporting to the Acting Grand Master. The wind greets them with the essence of romance breezing in the City of Freedom. The street is filled with lovers and many shops decorated their stalls with heart-shaped items and roses. Valentine’s approaching, the day of love is upon the city gate.

“Love is in the air. I heard that even our aloof alchemist also requested a day off on Valentine’s” A taller man with an icy tone in his voice chuckled, he bent down slightly to tease his collective co-worker.

“I would rather my significant other not feel left out on such special occasion. I will continue with my duties after, as one should, Captain Kaeya” The Captain of the Investigation Team informed the teaser back, with a little bit of passive-aggressive to hit him back.

“Come now, Albedo. No need to be harsh. Would you care to tell me what’s your plan for Valentine’s?” Seeing his co-worker with no response, he adds

“I’m an expert, I even wrote a love poem in Hilichurlian” He crossed his arms, a grin appeared on his face.

“I must admit that I’m new to this kind of relationship, but I’m confident in my planning. I’ve done much research and I acknowledged what my significant other would enjoy the most” Gloved finger rest on his chin as he speaks. The first-time love spent days observing and coming up with an idea to please his beloved.

“Such a shame you wouldn’t let me help” The taller man secretly felt loneliness creep in his heart. As everyone around him was driven in love.

“I thank you for your offer to assist me. You are well versed in a romantic relationship; however, I’d like to do my way” The blonde yet again politely declined.

They soon part ways to the place they desire.

The sun is about to rest as the sky turned hue orange and stars start to appear in the dusk sky.

Knocking on your door, the sofa spunk back to its original form, as the one sitting on left it. The word ‘coming!’ rang through the corridor, while the wooden floor makes noises after each time it got stepped on.

The door flung open. The enthusiastic owner of the house fell forward, and nearly got their lips imprinted with the person standing in front. He catches the person he holds dearly in his heart in his arms in time.

“Evening sunshine, please don’t do that again. What if it’s someone else besides me?” The blonde holds you tight, rubbing the back of your hand gently.

“I remembered how you knocked, I knew it was you” giggling as you answered, arms around his neck.

“I missed you” you added. He tightened the hug in reply.

“I’m taking a day off on Valentine, I was hoping we could.. spend time together” He pressed his lips near the temple, blush renowned itself on your face after he did so.

That is his way of saying he missed you too, he wished to spend more time with you; talking, drawing, strolling around, anything.

There is never enough time to do everything for Albedo, but he chose to spend it together with you.

Releasing him just enough to look deep into his eyes, sweet words flew out from your lips “I’m all yours”

The calm and collected alchemist turned red. A shade of pink decorated his pale cheek, all the way to his ears.

“Come on, let’s head inside. Tell me about your day during dinner, alright?” Holding his hand, leading him into the cozy place.

Oh, how he wishes to spend more time with just the two of you.