#the queen of smash (mun)

[getreadytosmash]

The funniest thing about that one ep where Hulk had to team up with literal children is the fact that, if we're going off Betts and Thad being Betty/Hulk kids, this means that out of all four future Smashers, Hulk is literally the father of half the team.

[getreadytosmash]

CRIES,,,,

This is SOOOO good i love it sooo much omfg kdldkd I'm LOSING it at Bugsy's face !!

@littlemeangreen HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELLE!!

Jen and Bugsy have been detained for birthday cake related crimes…

[stolenbythegods]

Anonymous sent an ask: Smash or pass: Poseidon, Dionysus, Hermes

"Oh, oh! I know this! Eros told me about this game." He looks proud of himself, clapping his hands together before his expression turns thoughtful.

"Pass Poseidon. Not because he's bad looking or anything! I just don't really know him all that well, and he's married. I already have one queen who hates me, I don't want two. Which also means pass for Dio too, I guess, though I do know him more. Hermes is the only one I could safely 'smash' without stepping on toes, and he is nice... I dunno, it feels weird to talk about. I don't really have any feelings about any of them beyond friendliness. Sorry, I'm not good at this kind of game."

(Mun note: apologies for the boring response, nonnie haha. It's hard to respond for just the general gods. It's easier if given specific portrayals, since I've know multiple people who've played these gods and each one has been different. Gany might be happy to smash one person's Hermes but pass on another, it really depends!)

[human-antithesis]

Friggjar faðmbyggvir er mér falinn

Friggjar faðmbyggvir er mér falinn, tekinn af óþekktum tívum ok sals dreyga. Tekinn til Ránar vegs undir Hlés dætr fyrir framan mig. Hve farsæll hefr verið þú, úlfs faðir! Hve máttvana þið báðir voruð, bǫðvar Njǫrðr ok Jarðar sonr. Hvar dvaldist þú, hvert ferðaðist þú meðan erfiðum svo mikið? Svo virðist sem Njarðar niðjar munu enda. Þrír arfþegar enn eru á lífi, en hvað mun koma? Þetta snáka stríð er hið harðasta, sýrar gráts Njǫrðr, Jarls skýja myrði, þennan ��ráð er svo kalt að spinna, þetta manna sjót svo erfitt að bæta. Við erum alein milli Jǫtuns krafta ok hins endalausa, djúpa, dǫkkbláa hafs æða ok þerris ósk. Megi hinar ósungnu ævin-Hildir vefja aðra þræði en þá sem við hǫfum lifað. Njǫrðr, Þór ok Freyr. Þið skuluð hjálpa! Njǫrðr, Þór ok Freyr. Gefið þessari menja mjǫrk bjartari framtíð. Njǫrðr, Þór ok Freyr. Haldið Býleists bróðr frá oss. Látið hans fǫlsku ormstungu aldrei mæla aftr í reiðar hljóðgreipar ok heyrnar skildi! Skerið hans góma sverð út, látið hann drekka eitrað sára sund að eilífu. Virðumst hafa gengið inn í hring svika, hræsævar bergja ok fjǫrbrots. Vertu með oss, Móða faðir, lyftu Hrungnis bana í reiði til að mǫlva Jǫtna róm ok Marnars fǫðr. Vápna lækjar eldr. Yggs sverðveðr er að hefjast.

[ENGLISH - My husband is gone]

My husband is gone, taken by unknown gods and by water. Taken to Rán's kingdom somewhere under he white daughters before me. How successful you have been so far, Loptr! How powerless you both were, Njǫrðr and Þórr. Where did you stay, where did you travel while we were struggling so hard? The whole kin of Njǫrðr shall end it seems. Three sons are still alive, but what shall come? This Winter is the strongest, Njǫrðr, this thread is so cold to spin, this house so troublesome to repair. We are alone between the Jǫtun's powers and the endless, deep black-blue sea of the sea queen. May those unsung Norns weave other threads than those that we experienced. Njǫrðr, Þórr and Freyr. You shall help! Njǫrðr, Þórr and Freyr, keep Loptr away from us. Let his Ormstunga never speak again into angry and false ears! Let his tongue be cut out, let him suck poisoned blood eternally. It seems we entered the circle of false words, of evil deeds and death. Be with us, Þórr, raise your hammer in anger to smash giants and evil spirits.

[w0efulboopsoul]

The amazing and wonderful @antvnger. Thank you for the tag! It was a lot of fun to do, and I enjoyed taking my time to do it!

Rules: Pick a song for each letter of your URL and tag that many people (only if you want to).

W - Wow, I'm Not Crazy! (AJR)

O -Oridinaryish People (AJR)

E - Ex's & Oh's (Elle King)

F - Feel It Still (Portugal. The Man)

U - Under Pressure (Queen)

L - Lost in the Wild (Walk The Moon)

S - Sunflower (Post Malone, Swae Lee & Swae Lee)

O - Outcast (NF)

U - U Got It Bad (Usher because I couldn't think of any other one XD)

L - Lost (NF Ft. Hopsin)

Free for anyone to play! ^^ If you wished to be tagged by me all you have to do is smash the heart! Thanks again ant-man & ant-mun I had fun doing this! :D

[the-silver-peahen-residence]

I love these so much! Your bad end au is good like the others ones. Can we see one for Ashley!?

Bad end au

She has lived from the infected from the black bug parasite but the queen didn't die but made her a puppet for her. Now she's become corrupted by the parasites and has taken over New York?

((Another one with Ashley? Oh boy, Joshua won't like this bad ending as the others but alright. Hold on.))

((Joshua along with some of the other fractions belong to @demon-blood-youths ))

Silver butterfly mun/Peahen mom

Everything has gone wrong. Why did this happen? They thought they got rid of the parasite. They did get rid of it true but the parasite queen has left something within Ashley. The bloated area was gone but it left her different.

Everyone was standing afraid seeing their friend Ashley standing there but the green beautiful healthy vines were gone but replaced with black thorn ones. The roses on them bloomed but they were dripping in blood. This got the Shallow butterflies worried but this had Joshua more worried. Even the other fractions got worried seeing this too. They got them paralyzed in fear seeing what she or the queen was doing.

"A..Ashley?" Joshua was shocked seeing her stand there but she had black veins showing on her body but the flower thorns were wrapped around her body while she didn't face them.

"Ashley!!"

Finally, she slowly turns to see a black monster like plant show as it hisses for her to touch it but New York was covered in black plants while she was spreading the spores to infect others in New York. Everyone will become her pets now and nothing will stop her thanks to this.

"Ashley, what are you doing!? Stop this please!! You need to wake up!" T-bone said to his leader but she held a hand out that a plant hits him hard as the guys gasped seeing this.

"Ashley, what are you doing!? That was your teammate!" Fin said but something was wrong that she only slowly held a hand as a cracked golem appears roaring at to try smashing the fractions.

"!!!" Everyone dodges but coughs seeing Ashley lower her arm.

"I'm sorry...is that the girl's name? How pretty.." she whispered but this made the others tense. What did she mean by that.

"G..guys, that's not Ashley!! That's the queen! The queen-" Hex got hit back but the others got worried.

"Get back! Hurry!" Joshua heard some say but Ashley looks to see black plant thorn grab everyone by their throats to lift them up but Joshua dodges to hit the ground but looks worried.

"GUYS!" He was worried seeing his team wincing from the spikes but he turns to see Ashley facing him. His eyes widen seeing her look at him but her gentle loving shy expression was gone to show a broken lost soul like expression. Her hair had thorns with plant vines too but a bleeding rose was wrapped around her neck.

"......Joshua..." she speaks softly but the plants quickly grabs him but she goes to him while holding his face that he was scared crying. "I won't kill you...I couldn't.....she wouldn't let me. Seems this plant lover really loves you to spare your life.." she smiled coldly to him as he was feeling the plants holding him tightly. It hurt but he sees her smiling to him gently while seeing the fear in his eyes.

"A..ashley!? Ash, can you hear me?! Please..Please come back! You have to fight the queen.." he begs only for her to chuckle to find it cute.

"You really are still trying to bring her back huh? You poor thing.." she giggled to glare at him.

"Well, I can tell you that she still lives..but she's mine now, little knight of darkness....." she giggled that Joshua was looking silent but then down. He couldn't believe that. If that's true then Ashley was.....

"N..No....s...she's..."

"Awwwww, don't worry. She still is alive like I said......just my little puppet as New york is....but no worries. Your friends the DBT will pay for what they almost did. And you along with her friends will see what I can do to change New York into my new hive.. "she chuckled seeing the plants holding and destroying everything as people was screaming afraid to Joshua's eyes widen as the others seeing this queen destroying everything.

He heard the others shouting at the queen to stop this but she didn't listen. She just kept taking over New york and making everyone hers. She only giggled seeing everything going on but Joshua was struggling with tears.

"Please! Stop it! Let her go! LET ASHLEY GO!!" he shouted glaring with tears in his eyes but the queen slowly turns to look at him but only showed a cold look to walk over and gets near his face with a insane smile but her eyes were empty.

"Make me. You really want to save her don't you? Like I said..she's. Mine. I'm not giving her up....I guess you should have killed her huh?" she said but she touches his cheek to look at him.

"But..I know she loved you so much but I will be sure to take good care of her for you..." she whispered to him.

New York was being the queen's new home with the parasites spreading faster but Joshua was crying while he sees this. Ashley has become the puppet for the queen till the main target returns. For now..she's forever lost to the queen.

As the others were scared now trapped in the vines, Joshua was crying looking down closing his hands in fists.

'Ash..Ashley...Ashley, I'm so so sorry...I'm so sorry..'

[painterofthe-sun]

Person: Ammy is so good! I bet she would be against swearing!

Me, laughing: Ooooohhh boy, are you gonna be in for a surprise!!

[getreadytosmash]

Me: ah yeah my kids make ok kids I guess

My kids' kids:

[draconscious]

i offer u my url

@sereina​!! (url impressions: not accepting--for now!)

Thoughts on the character: I’m going to keep it absolutely 100 here--when I first played through X and Y, the story didn’t really do anything for me. Serena was my rival, and compared to some past rivals (Silver’s angst, Barry’s energy, and Hugh’s PLASMAAAAA) I honestly thought her personality fell a little flat. When I started doing Pokemon RP, however, Serena really grew on me--people were expanding on her character in countless different and interesting directions: she’s a model, she’s a Champion, she’s a Mega Evolution enthusiast! And then I went indie and I stumbled across your blog, and your thoughtful portrayal just blew me away with its attention to detail. I had to smash that follow button, and I haven’t looked back since!  

Have you interacted before: Yes!

Favorite part of portrayal: I said it before and I’ll say it again: I appreciate your Serena because you write so much life into the world around her. Her Pokemon team is a prime example--I love Serena’s squad, and you done a wonderful job giving its members fleshed-out backstories and distinct personalities. Like, I think Rose is absurdly precious, I think Joyeuse is an absolute queen, and Loire is baby. And don’t get me started on brave Olympe--the crazy amount of detail that you’ve written into Serena’s complex backstory (esp. with Flare/Lysandre), and the fact that we can see those past events still affecting Serena’s character today is so fascinating and cool to me. Your drabbles, headcanon posts, and Pokemon interactions (shout out to Yveltal because I haven’t yet) all add a massive amount of depth and uniqueness to your portrayal. I adore it so much!     

A verse (mine or theirs) I want a thread in: Maybe a thread where Clair trains with Serena to shake her fear of Gyarados? Or Serena showing Clair more of Kalos? Options, options!

Thoughts on the mun: It’s you, Kou! I just checked and you were the first person to follow me when I made Clair an indie blog (and thank you for that!). I wasn’t really sure what I was doing and I remember nervously sending you a meme when we became mutuals--I mean, Serena...and Clair? Kalos and Johto? What an unusual combination! But, to my surprise (and joy!), you embraced the interaction and now--after some whirlwind adventures--here we are! I admire how you constantly build people up in the RPC--you’re always so supportive of other people’s ideas and super easy to brainstorm with. I (and I’m sure others!) appreciate how you get excited over your threads, new interactions and proposed ideas for Serena on the dash! Ultimately, YEAH...I really enjoy writing with you and I can’t wait to see what’s next (remind me to write those BotW hcs!) You rule!  

[hellcures]

WE ARE IN CELEBRATION!

both me and my hunting angel right here are turning one year older, and hasn’t it been a wild ride.  i am about to finish my first semester at college, have been a member of a dream come true contemporary singing choir for months now, lived through graduation, and found amazing new friends to share the journey’s beautiful highs and necessary lows with.

lana, on the other hand, has found a new life here, coming back to the fandom, getting back into gear with new verses, new stories and new partners in her adventures, which is why i feel like doing something special for her this year. for the first time ever i’ll be taking birthday starters for lana from jan. 9th to jan. 16th, so if you wanna show us some love, i’ll prioritize and post those as i queue other drafts before my finals start in a couple weeks. now, i’ll take this chance to spread some well-deserved love and do a little follow forever under the cut for the people without whom this wouldn’t have been the same for us, but for those leaving here, thank you for the ride and another wonderful year.   ©

@helllore​​.  my ride or die kate, you know i’ll never find a writing partner like you. you were the first person since i revamped my lana that made us feel cherished important, like we really had found a place here, and ever since you’ve remained my absolute main.  every word you write and every dynamic we’ve developed with these two feels canon to me, you’ve given me priceless memories and shipping rants, and just like lana will always be sam’s, i’ll always be here, waiting impatiently for us to keep making magic together. i love you.

@huntmyth​​. jay.  you’ve been here since the very beginning, and i remember being so starstruck that you digged my little female oc and ended up being mutuals together.  despite my hiatus and losing track of each other for a bit of time, i’ll never not be excited about a meme of yours in my inbox, or plotting crazy au’s, or anything really.  i’m so happy you made this list years later, and i hope you know how much you and your deano still mean to me.

@prophetduty​. SARA, MY GIRL, OUR PROPHET BESTIE!!!  y’know, it’s very likely that we wouldn’t have come back from that hiatus if i hadn’t seen you and angie still around.  you’ve been this breath of fresh air both on my dash and in lana’s life, and i couldn’t imagine writing her without acknowledging your babe and the fluff, angst and action she shoots into her person.  you are the ying to her yang, so do not ever make me find out what this blue hellsite is without you or we’ll hunt you down.  literally.

@tobeblamed​.  lou!!  my crazy excited, keyboard-smashing, rocket-speed reply fangirl, lou.  you’re tobeloved ( see what i did there )  'till the end of time.  in a few weeks you’ve given me not only an amazing, wholesome, pre-series universe that feels like the only truth to lana’s rookie days, but you’ve been my friend, standing me and my pointless exams anxiety, always believing in me.  i’m so happy that after being mutuals forever we grew so close so fast, and it fills my heart to think of all we still got yet to do and live through together.  you reminded me why i fell in love with dean back in the early seasons in the first place. so, bottom line?  i just think you’re adorable.

@destinedgreat​. louise.  the angel behind the hotel reception i always envisioned as a kid.  you’ve gifted us a precious familial dynamic lana thought she’d never be able to have, and she’s thriving helping someone shape their own destiny the way no one helped her.  plus, she’s def the cool aunt, let’s admit it.  you are a ray of sunshine and we wouldn’t give you up for the world, hon.  can’t wait to keep writing together.

@damnedtm​.  kiki!!  i told you this just a few days ago, but you’re the real mvp, honestly.  you’ve forever been doing teen!lana threads with me, and don’t think for a second i forgot about that new years kiss meme. these two cute dumbass idjits need to smooch already.  you’re so original with your sam, you blow me away all the time, and i can’t wait for that seals plot we discussed.  seeing you around is always such a treat, you’re such a talented writer and such a pure human, i send you the best of vibes. thank you for giving my girl a chance back in the day, hon, truthfully.

@compaession​.  anna.  the kickstarter for my newfound passion on my tvd verse.  your elena is so clean and pure and perfectly flawed in the most human way — one could think that’s because of the muse, but despite not having a doubt in my mind that you portray her so well on purpose, i think she takes after the mun.  you’ve been an amazing new addition to my fam here and i look forward to having you on more follow forever’s like this one.

@unrepent​​.  kat.  unironically, my dream katherine.  ever since i conceived lana into the tvd universe, i’ve looked for a katherine to develop this complex, layered dynamic with.  it’s founded in circumstance and manipulation, but rooted in empathy, vulnerability and depending on one another in the end.  so i looked for a katherine whose dialogue would give me chills, whose mannerisms and motivation weren’t watered down at all, and with her wounded heart and sass intact. and depite having admired you from afar for years, now that we’re mutuals, it’s clear as water. there’s no one better for that one woman job than you.  you’re also such a welcoming sweetheart with such a genius mind, and your interpretation of brooke? top-notch.  i hold very high hopes for us in the future and i can’t wait to know you better and better with each passing plotting rant, if you’ll let us. 

@fatalhell​.  NOSTA!! our hell queen, honestly.  never in a million years would i have imagined ruby’s to be one of my fave dynamics, but you’re just that special.  you balance her out so exquisitely, it’s impossible not to love hating her.  it’d break my heart to ever watch such a one in a million portrayal leave, and such a dedicated, welcoming soul too. we love you way too much for our own good.

@downspiral​​.  raz.  i know, we’ve only been mutuals for a few days, but just like i’d been looking for forever for a main katherine to develop that tvd dynamic with, a damon blog who’d take a chance on us was my wish for ages.  and then you came out of nowhere, followed us back and lightened up our hearts making perfect carbon copies of his snarky, spot-on one-liners and his complicated psyche. despite the fact we still have a lot to do and have only interacted through im’s and memes and such, i just had to let you know how much i appreciate you and that your blog is one i check very often ‘cause i know the content is quality, ‘kay. 

@holykissed​​​.  jessi.  you and i go way back, to when i saw @sulfurbraved​ on my dash and drooled over all your amazing female spn muses, including some dope oc’s.  so imagine my content when i saw you’d revamped and kept a lot of those amazing muses. i was THRILLED, and i still am.  we haven’t missed a beat and it’s so nice to be interacting with you again, so just know i’m super excited to follow through on all those plots we never had the chance to write back in the day.

some special mentions are @ichorimbrued​, @seesgood​, @unfamiliarties​ /  @spitfcre​, @streetcop​, @gaebrel​, @graveburns​, plus all my mutuals ‘cause i love you all to the moon and back ( this is not a drill ).

[getreadytosmash]

While the Ultimate universe is,,,Hm with some of the stuff it does, an issue about a Polynesian hulk who protects her island after they were all experimented on is SUCH an interesting story-take.

[getreadytosmash]

KSKSKSKKSKSKS

Omfg im

I'm crying shssjloossln

ITE THE BIKINI I CANT

(Wheezes)

nsnsjsJSJSJS SAMUEL VOICE: WHO PUT MY RAT IN A BIKINI WHO OBJECTIFIED HER

@getreadytosmash

HAPPY BLOG ANNIVERSARY!!! HERE IS AN IRRADIATED RODENT!

[fartemis-crock]

ABOUT THE MUN

Rules: Tag 8 people you want to know better.

favourite colour: yellow! cause we stan the sunshine.

last song I listened to: ‘you’re gonna go far, kid’ by the offspring cause it’s a JAM. I’ve been cleaning and headbanging just to ‘dance fucker dance’ for the last twenty moments

favourite musicians: will smith’s 90s rap, abba, uncle cracker, i’m actually on a smash mouth kick right now though?? cause they did some banging covers in the early aughts that are TIGHT basically anything that has a dumb /vibe/ i will jam with

last movie I watched: Ooof-- I think it was Heathers like 2 weeks ago?? I’m not much of a movie person tbh. i don’t have the attention span

last show I watched: DANCE MOMS. it’s my trash reality show and i’m fucking into it rn. they say the CRAZIEST shit and i love it

favourite OC: one time, i wrote a very touching story about an orca whale who wanted to be a dolphin and she is still the queen tyvm. i don’t remember a thing about the story but i wrote it with stickers and she was very cute

sweet, spicy, or savory: all of the above? all of the above. but probably spicy cause I used? to chug? hot sauce? I think I could still do it?? it was like my party trick in highschool. ew. it was the aughts every dang thing was cringe don’t @ me

bubbly water, tea, or coffee: tea. we out here drinking spiked ice tea at night and having regular tea for breakfast lunch and dinner. i will fight for it

Tagged by:not! tagged. fuckin yoinked off of @manstar cause um. vibes.

 Tagging:if ur reading this ur tagged babe <3

[morethanaprincess-a]

🎞- Favorite cartoon/anime? 🎮- Favorite video game(s)? 🖌- Are you artsy?

Questions for the Mun meme (still accepting!)

🎞- Favorite cartoon/anime?

My favorite anime of all time is Cowboy Bebop! I’ve been a fan for almost two decades and while I’m not as obsessive about it as I used to be, it will still forever be my favorite. Incredible storytelling, characters, music, art design, just...everything. Even the episodes I didn’t care for.

Other series I’ve really loved (besides Danganronpa) in no particular order: Revolutionary Girl Utena, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Lupin III, Gundam 0079 & Zeta, Rose of Versailles, Baccano!, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, One Piece (more the manga than the anime now), and anything by Ai Yazawa (Paradise Kiss, Nana) and Akiko Higashimura (Princess Jellyfish, Tokyo Tarareba Girls).

I’m watching/catching up on (I’m slow and spend most of my time writing on here, binge-watching Netflix, or working)  Bungou Stray Dogs and Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans now.

🎮- Favorite video game(s)?

Despite the fact I write for a video game muse, this is actually hard to answer! When I was a kid and a teenager, I wasn’t allowed to have video games as my family firmly believed that they would be a waste of time and I’d never make it into a good university. So I’ve never had the skills or the patience for most video games and haven’t played games that are, in my opinion, cultural touchstones like Pokemon, Sonic, Final Fantasy, Super Smash Bros (and Mario games in general), etc. I should apologize to most video game muses who aren’t Danganronpa or otome who follow me: I probably have no idea who your muse is or their fandom. I’m sorry!

That said, what I do enjoy are visual novels and otome titles, especially those that don’t require a ton of gameplay elements beyond reading text and clicking options. My favorite games (besides Danganronpa) include: Umineko no Naku Koro ni, Steins;Gate, The Nonnary Games (999/Virtue’s Last Reward/Zero Time Dilemma), Code: Realize, and Hakuoki. I also loved playing Dance Dance Revolution whenever I could find it at a con or in a movie theater arcade (2nd mix through Max2, mostly). I also play(ed) a few cellphone games including Disney Tsum Tsum and Love Nikki Dress-up Queen. Nikki’s the primary reason why I don’t play more mobile otome at this point. I’ve also watched games of Castlevania be played through and I loved Symphony of the Night!

Before anyone asks: I still haven’t played AI: The Somnium Files yet. I do plan to play it eventually and I’ve been avoiding spoilers since it came out!

🖌- Are you artsy?

In terms of drawing/painting/CGs/videos, not at all. The only artistic talent I have besides writing is makeup, as I was a makeup artist for a year or two soon after I graduated university and music. I played flute and piccolo in elementary school through high school. I still have my instruments but I don’t really play them anymore. Most of my art involves trying to figure out cosplay wigs and props to varying degrees of success, as I cannot sew at all.

[sheflirts-a]

What this means is that I’m giving you permission ( and vice versa ) to come at me with any ship ideas you may have. Be it romantic, platonic, enemies – ANYTHING. I love all sorts of ships and everything.

This also includes the following from me:

Flailing

Lots of un-asked for HC’s and ideas

Being tagged in things

More flailing

Random starters

LOTS OF MEMES

Pretty graphic things when the mood strikes

Even more flailing

I like plotting out relationships. Working in headcanons and everything like that. Most of the time I won’t immediately jump into a romantic ship unless I’ve talked to the mun quite a bit BECAUSE I’ve been burned in the past. I get invested in all of my ships and I just don’t want to be left in the dust when another Evie comes along ( i love my fellow Queens, I just get super insecure sometimes I can’t help it ).

So smash the heart or hit me up in IM’s!

[zedecksiew]

People of Andjang

In a valley like the fold between rolls of a plump belly.

Folk bend in flooded terraces, full of beet-red water. “It’s the soil,” they tell you. Rice seedlings grow lurid green.

No chickens or pets. No animal sounds, besides insects. There are cowsheds -- but unless a trader has been by, these are empty. Ploughs are hand ploughs, pushed by people-shaped rattan puppets.

+++

PEOPLE OF ANDJANG

They live in raised houses. The space underneath is storage: sieves and threshing screens; palm-leaf mats and cooking pits.

Also:

1: Bolts of cotton and fine silk. A person-sized calabash mounted on a post, wearing a half- finished vest. He is a seamster. 2: Sickles leaning against a thatched workshop. The forge fire burns low. Only women are allowed in. She is a blacksmith. 3: A balance scale, big as a loading crane. Per-day rooms for visiting traders; porridge meals provided. They are a rice-seller. 4: He rehearses. Before you see him you hear him: feet stamp-stamp-stamping, the Mountain’s heart, beating. He is a dancer. 5: Unguents for newborn babes; a meteoric-iron mallet to smash undead spirits. Midwives watch the boundary. She is a midwife. 6: Sealed earthen pots. Loud talk offends the wine spirits snoozing within. “They will curse you,” she whispers. She is a vintner. 7: Wood shavings from a whittling knife. Each piece murmurs wordlessly. If burned they shriek in agony. He is a charm-carver. 8: Wildflowers rainbow the roof. Roots curtain the eaves, long and wispy. The sound of a pestle, pounding. They are a herbalist. 9: Rattan, woven into arms, two legs, a head -- a rattan puppet, in parts, still unspelled. She is a skilled disciple of the rattan art. 10: The outline of a dog, on a flag of white silk. The flag of Andjang. Jars, in a row, full of blood congealing. He is a bloodletter.

Here a pearl earring, there a gold anklet. Wealthier than you expect, for rubes. And thinner than you expect. They are all a little wan.

Look at this one:

1: Only ever stares past you. Can’t focus, or doesn’t want to. 2: Narcolepsy. Yawning mid-sentence, they keel over, asleep. 3: Tattooed scalp and eyebrows. Totally hairless, otherwise. 4: Always sweaty. To shake their hand is to hold a cold fish. 5: Always sniffling. If they stop blood leaks out their nostrils. 6: Vomit on their breath. When they leave this smell lingers. 7: Hard to understand. Their tongue looks like an ox’s heart. 8: A dwarf. Has a complex. Hears insults in anything you say. 9: Fingerless on one hand. Irregular stumps, as if bitten off. 10: Hungry. Always eating. Literally never seen not chewing.

They have puncture scars on their inner elbows or necks. Spots where the bloodletter has put his needle.

Something is up:

1: They have caught the eye of a princess. Serving her as consort would be the highest honour. Too bad consorts tend not to live out the year. 2: Their face erupts, extending a proboscis made of chitin. An assassin bug in human skin, hoping to catch one of Andjang’s royal insects. 3: In love with a neighbour. This situation is hopeless -- neighbour-boy just doesn’t swing that way. Not above using mind-control love potions. 4: They miss their dead wife. Plans to summon her spirit into a rattan puppet. Will mispronounce the ritual, and summon something else, instead. 5: Afraid of needles. They will pay you for your blood. “Don’t tell anybody,” they say. Dodging the tithe is very taboo; a breach of community trust. 6: Genial and generous when you meet them in the village. You meet them again, on the trail down the Mountain. Leading a gang of bandits. 7: Kicking their step-son. The boy is a bastard, a vagrant’s get. “Please take me with you!” he begs. To leave he needs the Queen’s consent. 8: Bleeding from multiple bites. They were attacked by a swarm of babies, in the forest. Fleeing, their daughter tripped, fell. She was left behind. 9: Their philtrum splits. Three jaws twist themselves into a trefoil arrangement. An agent of the Leech Temple. A spy, sabotaging rival parasites. 10: Their brother was killed by a prince. Now they spit whenever anybody mentions the royal family. Now they are secretly brewing firebombs.

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( Working on another zine for the Thousand Thousand Islands. Art and project by Mun Kao. 

Photo source: https://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2018/12/03/farmers-want-more-than-incentives.html )