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greensparty · 1 year

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My Day at Boston Calling

From Fri. May 26 to Sun. May 28 at Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston, MA, the 2023 Boston Calling Music Festival took over the city! The fest began in 2013 at a big alternative music festival that took place twice a year and after a few years it changed to once a year. For one reason or another, I never actually attended the fest, even though Harvard Athletic Complex is right down the street from my ‘hood. The closest I came was last year, when I stood outside the gate and from a distance I listened to and watch Cheap Trick’s set.

my friend Ron and I at Boston Calling

But there was good reason for me to go to Day 1 on Friday, it featured headliners Foo Fighters. They were supposed to headline in 2020...and then 2020 happened and the festival was canceled that year. Then they were supposed to headline in 2022 and pulled out after the March 2022 death of drummer Taylor Hawkins. Last week the band introduced their new drummer Josh Freese and began their tour in NH. I’ve seen the band countless times (check out my concert history of Foo Fighters here) including Fenway Park shows in 2015 and 2018. But the Foo were one part of this year’s festival.

GA-20 rocks the Blue Stage early afternoon

I think I need a bigger Twisted Tea!

After a few minutes waiting in line for the merch tent (what am I going to do, not get a Foo Fighters t-shirt?), I lost count of the amount of Taylor Hawkins t-shirts and hats. Not just Foo Fighters, but specific Taylor Hawkins shirts (the Taylor tribute concerts last year, the Coattail Riders, Chevy Metal, etc). Because Foo Fighters have been a band since 1995, there was a cross section of demographics seeing them, but definitely a ton of people in my age group bringing their kids. There was loads of booths from sponsors, a ferris wheel and multiple stages. On the Blue Stage I caught a little of Boston blues rockers GA-20. I really dug their stuff and hope to see them again soon. Later on that same stage I saw Irish singer Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction, but now has quite a following among youngsters. Over on the Happy Valley Red Stage, was NY indie-rockers The National. They brought a Brooklyn vibe to Boston for a bit. Fun Fact: The National’s Aaron Dessner is a co-curator of Boston Calling. In the food village, there were loads of foods to choose from, I chose Dumpling Daughter and Blackbird Doughnuts. On the Green Stage (the main stage), I caught Canadian alt-rockers The Beaches, who I kinda got into. I’m going to check out some of their stuff now.

The Beaches on the Green Stage

Dropkick Murphys on the Green Stage

Now I have to admit, I was excited about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs co-headlining Boston Calling. They are one of my favorite bands (read my review of last year’s Cool It Down here) and I was psyched they were going to be there....and then last week they had to cancel due to an illness within the band. The fest swiftly replaced them with local heroes The Dropkick Murphys. The last time I saw them was in 2015, when they opened for Foo Fighters at Fenway Park. You can’t get any more Boston Pride than Dropkicks at Fenway Park singing songs about Boston! For me that was a tough act to follow, but this was a very energized lively set. I’ve always dug the Dropkicks and their Celtic punk sound. When I was making my documentary Life on the V: The Story of V66, we interviewed Jeff Erna of The Blackjacks and he was the original drummer for the Dropkicks from 1996-97. Thought it was so cool my film about a Boston music outlet had someone who was in the Dropkicks (even though they came along about a decade after V66). But I digress. No one can fill the shoes of the YYYs, but boy did the Dropkicks bring a Boston-centric party to Boston Calling. They also did a song off their recent Woody Guthrie covers album.

Foo Fighters on stage

me in my happy place: watching Foo Fighters

Then it was time for the big headliners Foo Fighters. Now something to understand about a festival set is it’s a little condensed to fit into the sheer amount of bands performing that day as opposed to the band headlining their own concert. So that is to say, most of the bands performing at Boston Calling got an hour or less. Headliners Foo Fighters got 2 hours, which is more than most, but significantly less than they do at their own stadium show, which is 3 hours (plus or minus). The band broke in new drummer Josh Freese, who I think is a solid choice to replace Taylor. Frequently Dave Grohl made reference to how many of their songs were written years or decades ago and take on new meaning now. So much of their music is about resilience and carrying on after hard times. For a band to re-group after the death of a key member, songs like “Walk” and “Times Like These” take on new meaning indeed. They played a ton of classics. They paid tribute to Taylor with Dave singing “Cold Day in the Sun” (which Taylor sang) and to my surprise they performed “Aurora” because it was Taylor’s favorite Foo Fighter song (I haven’t seen them do that song live since 2003). For “Shame, Shame”, Dave introduced his 17 year-old daughter Violet. She was a back-up singer for Foo Fighters when I saw them in 2018 and since then she has performed with her dad on numerous occasions including their cover of X’s “Nausea”. Her voice is really coming into it’s own and I wouldn’t be surprised if she has her own band soon. Foo Fighters played a few new songs off their upcoming album But Here We Are. But the big moment of the night (that got national attention from numerous news and music outlets) was Taylor’s 17 year-old son Shane guest drumming on “This is a Call”. If you saw him tear it up at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts last year you know this kid learned a thing or two from his dad. It was quite a highpoint of the show. If there was a complaint about their concert (kind of a compliment / complaint) it’s that since the last time I saw them they released 2021′s Medicine at Midnight, which was one of their best albums ever, and they only did two songs off that album. I was hoping for “Making a Fire”, “Waiting on a War”, “Chasing Birds” and “Love Dies Young” and we only got “Shame Shame” and “No Son of Mine”. Maybe the next stadium show, I hope! In the meantime, it was a fun day and great to see Foo Fighters getting back on stage.

Foo Fighters taking a bow at the end of their show

I didn’t attend on Sat. or Sun., but wish I had caught The Flaming Lips, Alanis Morissette, The Linda Lindas, and Queens of the Stone Age.

For info on Boston Calling: https://bostoncalling.com/

#boston calling #concert review #Foo Fighters #Taylor Hawkins #GA-20 #nialll horan #the national #the beaches #yeah yeah yeahs #dropkick murphys #josh freese #Dave Grohl #violet grohl #Shane Hawkins #music nerd

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misterewrites · 3 years

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Masked Intentions (Solider, Poet, King. Genshin Impact)

Hey E here with a very special gift for my bestie MAE over at @hains-mae ! IT'S HER BIRTHDAY YAY! and naturally I had to write her a gift cuz she’s awesome and she makes epic art (Seriously go check it out it’s awesome!). This year, however, she chose Genshin Impact and I am honor bound to write it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAE WHEN YOU READ THIS!

Okay some author notes actually. Singing. I'm doing it again. So if it's Italics it's a single singer, Bold and Italics is a group of people singing. the song is Celtic Women's teir abhaile riu. It's a fast pace fun song I felt fit the setting of Genshin. I mean I don't play but still I know a strange amount of it based on second hand accounts. Anyway i hope it's not too confusing but I guess we'll find out haha.

Okay that's it for me. Be safe, take care of yourself and your loved ones. Wear a mask. Clean the mask. replace the mask if you've used yours forever (paper not cloth is better) get vaccinated if you can, push for world wide vaccination cuz fucking hell this is getting old. Keep an eye on Ukraine if you can mentally handle it. They're fighting tooth and nail for their home and they need everything they can get. Watch for misinformation since the Russian psyops are acting up again, double check sources, double check groups in case they're secretly shady and just watch. It's not okay what's happening and if you can't handle it and need to avoid, i understand. Have a great week and take care of yourselves please.

Here’s the chapter on the much more writer friendly https://archiveofourown.org/works/35657500/chapters/93514921

Here’s the first chapter I wrote for mae for Christmas! https://archiveofourown.org/works/35657500/chapters/88904083

And what’s this? my other works which include Arcane, Owl House, Soul Eater and, for lack of my usual modesty, a pretty decent original work? Whaaaaa

https://archiveofourown.org/users/MrE42/pseuds/MrE42

Here’s a link to one of the version of the song because tumblr probably already shadowbanned me so why the fuck not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-fFx-Edj2U

Here’s the keep reading sign, have a good one!

Summary: It's been dead end after dead end and Venti is no closer to discovering the machinations of Childe and Signora's plans. Left with little choice, Venti decides to get evidence right at the source: Childe. Attending a masquerade Venti attempts to slip the clue he needs right under Childe's nose.

-----

The sounds of laughter and music filled the air as the Windblume festival began proper. The streets were alive as people from all walks of life took to the streets to partake in the celebrations with nary a care for status or power. Beautiful wreathes of white flowers hung from every building with tender love and care as the festival colors blanketed the city like an endless ocean: Armbands, flags, flower crowns of varying shades of whites, blues and green as far as the eye could see and worn by any and everyone.

Venti had to admit it was nice to see the festival in person after being gone for so long. The Windblume festival was one of his favorite events and unfortunately did not hold the same weight outside Mondstadt. The smaller festivities he’d participated in were decent enough but nothing could compare to the majestic revelry only the city of freedom could muster.

He shook his head, shaking the carefree thoughts from within. As much as he would love to enjoy the festival in classic Venti fashion, there were work to be done.

He hated work.

Venti pulled his riding cloak over his frame, carefully making himself appear as small and harmless as he could manage. The guard glanced his way, a faint curiosity twinkling in his eyes as the bard drew closer.

Venit pulled his lips into a playful smile “Yes my good sir, is there an issue?”

“Sorry m’lord.” the guard gave a sheepish grin “I hadn’t expected you to stop. Most folks rather hurry inside instead to enjoy the show than make small talk with a humble guard such as myself.”

“I find everyone fascinating. As bard you never pass up a chance for a good story. Or better yet good gossip.”

“True that sir. Pardon my staring.”

The bard let a cherry laugh.

“Not at all my good fellow but I am curious. What catches your gaze?”

The guard mumbled awkwardly under his breath “Your mask.”

Venti couldn’t help but give a cheeky grin as he removed his mask and held it closer for the man to see. It was a white domino mask with two outstretched blue wings framing either side of the face. Unlike his Sprite mask, however, this mask was a poorer quality: The white was more egg shell than marble. The blue wings were less fairy and more avian in nature with a shade of blue that was just off enough to raise questions and of course minus one feather.

“Your local folktale!” he beamed proudly “The Windsprite that fought for the freedom of the great land of Mondstadt!”

The guard gave a polite nod “Well close enough m’lord. It’s...not quite correct if you pardon my saying.”

Venti frowned for a moment before putting the mask back on “Forgive me I am but a humble traveler to your lovely city. By the time I found out this event was a masquerade I had little choice for attire.”

As if to make a point, Venti pushed his dark green cloak open to reveal his choice of outfit for the evening. Unlike his usual elegance the bard had opted for a more modest appearance: A fine yet humble white tunic with a flowery pattern embroidered on its surface. A small dark green cape hung off his shoulder as his earthen brown dress pants were tucked into a pair of equally brown loafers.

“You look fine sir.”

“Thank you!” Venti gave a humble bow as he hid his frame beneath the cloak once more “I best be off. Have a good night kind sir.”

The guard nodded in response “You as well.”

------

The theater was as magnificent as last Venti laid eyes upon it.

It was an odd building forgoing tradition and sense for the sake of enjoyment: The building itself was circular in design and for a particular reason. The outer ring of the establishment was constructed of the finest wood with counters built into the railings angled just so for everyone to face the performers on the stage built into the far wall. Four floors tall meant plenty of people could sit back with a drink and join in the merriment. The inner ring, however, lay the smooth tile floor meant for the feet of happy dancing folks. Certainly not for the shy and easily embarrassed given how much the inner ring was exposed.

Venti currently sat upon a stool on the second floor, one hand clasped tightly around his cup of cider. He emptied his drink within seconds and slammed the mug onto the counter. Cheers rose from nearby patrons.

“TO YOUR HEALTH!” one boomed.

“TO YOUR JOY!” another yelled in response.

“MAY THE WINDS OF FREEDOM GUIDE YOU!” Venti shouted.

A fresh round of cheers went up as the clanking of mugs filled the air.

Venti’s bright smile did not match his eyes as he stared upon the inner ring: Aside from a pair of solitary figures having a rather hushed conversation not a soul could be seen. The band was set to take the stage in a few minutes yet Venti was no closer to a plan.

It had been years since last he saw Childe yet somehow the man looked the same as he did all those years ago: Tall with a lanky frame though toned with muscles. His orange hair was still short and choppy as ever. Though it was impossible to tell with that tacky and rather in poor taste red Fatui mask covering his face, Venti could still see those dull blue eyes in his memory.

Childe wore an outfit fit for a ruler which he pretended to be: A jacket darker than night with fine sliver threaded in refined patterns upon its surface. Black dress pants tucked into equally dark boots. He wore dark red collared shirt though he left the top unbuttoned and tieless. A blood red cape hung off him and made him as look as imposing as Venti knew him to be. Childe was one of the fieriest fighters he’d ever known with an unquenchable lust for battle.

His cloaked companion could’ve been any number of his underlings or even Signora herself yet from this distance Venti couldn’t be sure.

Not that it mattered. He was here for one thing and one thing only tonight.

Venti focused on his objective for the night: Hidden within Childe’s right pocket lay a notebook filled with the impostor's operations. It was neigh impossible to tail him given his status and Signora still hid in the shadows. Blindly groping in the dark led to only dead ends and frustration. If Venti was to have an idea how deeply entrenched Childe’s corruption lay in Mondstadt’s foundation he would have to be far more daring.

It wasn’t an ideal plan: Once picked no doubt Childe would note the disappearance of the item and run his operations to ground. He would be more guarded and less likely to make a mistake openly but it would give Venti the start he so desperately needed.

Of course that was under the assumption he could take the item without its owner’s notice. Each time a server approached from any direction, the orange haired brat had already raised a hand of dismissal.

What to do…..

Venti snapped out of his thoughts as a familiar sight graced his gaze.

The beautiful blonde haired princess entered and the bard could feel his heart skip a beat upon the sight of her.

Somehow she had been modest in their first meeting: Tonight she wore a gorgeous white strapless dress that went down to her ankles. A shimmering sliver sheer material covered her bare shoulders and neck while white leggings and flats completed the look.

She was beauty, she was grace! She was a seriously unneeded distraction. It took everything the bard had to pry his eyes away from her and not stare a moment longer.

“Though.” Venti murmured to himself as he noticed Childe’s eyes wandered for a moment as well “it seems like I’m not the only one who wishes to catch the princess’s eye.”

A thought occurred to him. An idea so daring and reckless that a wise man would’ve called the bard an utter fool for even thinking it.

Of course you were only a fool if it failed and as Venti wrote down instructions and handed the paper to a nearby waitress to pass along to the band, the bard had placed his gamble.

-----

Venti took his place near the steps to the inner ring when the steady, rhythmic beat of a drum began to fill the air. A moment later a violin joined with a shrill yet bouncy pulsing melody.

A pretty woman took the stage, her fellow singers standing behind at the ready. She took a deep breath as she waited for her cue from the instrumentation.

“Look how the lights of the town, the light of the town are shining now. Tonight I’ll be dancing around, I’m off on the road to Galway now!”

The others joined in. They took a step forward to take their place alongside with the pretty girl and singing their chorus in hush gossiping tones.

“Look how she’s off on the town, she’s off on the search for sailors though. There’s fine fellows here to be found, she’s never been one to stay at home.”

The chorus surrounded the pretty one, their voices teasing yet without malicious intent.

“Home you’ll go and it’s there you’ll stay, and you’ve work to do in the morning. Give up your dream of going away, forget your sailors in Galway.”

The group began to chanting the next lyrics in a language Venti didn’t recognize. They sang in the unknown language for a few phrases then the violin player took up the melody once more. They repeated the opening melodic line with more force and excitement.

Venti took it as his cue.

He grabbed around a pair of persons by their wrists, dragging them into the inner ring without warning. They protested but Venti paid them no mind.

“Come now and follow me down, down to the lights of Galway, where there’s fine sailors walking the town and waiting to meet the ladies there.”

“What’s the big idea?” One huffed in annoyance.

“I rather not like being manhandled!” The other spoke with equal irritation.

“Either you dance with her or I will.” Venti gave an impish grin.

Before either could argue he vanished into the crowd looking for another victim.

“Watch now he’ll soon be along. He’s finer than any sailor so, come on pick up your spoons, he’s waiting to hear you play them! WOO!”

Venti noticed the longing gaze of a young wife. She sighed expectantly as her husband he chattered to some stranger to the side.

Venti paused for a moment, listening carefully for the man’s cadence.

“Honey!” the bard muttered with close impersonation of a husky voice “Would you grace me with a dance?”

The young woman shrieked with excitement “Yes my love!”

Venti watched with amusement as, with a grip unexpected of her size, the wife grabbed her husband by the collar and dragged him to the dance floor, completely ignoring his confused ramblings.

“Here today and she’s gone tomorrow and next she’s going to Galway. Jiggin around and off to town, and won’t be back till morning.”

The singers broke into the familiar unfamiliar chanting once more but Venti was far too focused on the task at hand. By the time the violin stepped up for their extensive solo Venti had tricked, coerced and otherwise encouraged more and more people onto the dance floor. What was once nothing more than Childe and his mysterious guest was now a dozen or so couples dancing without a care in the world.

Venti caught the grimace of annoyance on Childe’s smile. He muttered something to the cloaked figure and the pair began to make their away from the gathering crowd.

Venti followed suit, ignoring the pounding of his heart as the shrill shrieks of the violin grew more and more frantic. He drew closer, careful enough to not arouse suspicion yet not so fast to draw attention. He held his breath as he braced himself for impact.

Venti crashed against Childe with as much force as he could muster but also with the grace of a drunken buffoon. He pulled his hood down to ensure he couldn’t see his masked face.

“Sorry m’lord!” He apologized with a lisp “many apologies."

”Venti pivoted on his feet awkwardly as to get away when a hand clasped down on his shoulder, holding a firm grip on the bard.

The violin finished their solo, their strings now playing a soft thrum that cut through the playfulness of the room.

Venti glanced backwards to find the tasteless Fatui mask staring blankly at him. Childe held him tight and simply stared.

“M’lord?” Venti asked, letting some real unease into his voice.

Childe said nothing.

“Let him go.” the cloaked figure whispered as they realized some of the couples were starting to notice the commotion “Don’t make a scene. Not here.”

A moment paused yet Childe did not release his grip on the bard.

Another moment passed and as the singers took their place to resume the song Childe let go of Venti.

“Don’t do it again.” his voice was sharp with the promise of a threat.

Venti gave hurried nod and vanished into a crowd, clutching the notebook for dear life. It had worked! His half baked, poorly thought out plan had succeed! He was no fool, he was Venti and he was a gen…

“IT’S GONE! HE TOOK IT!” Childe’s voice boomed above the jovial sounds.

Venti could feel his heart slow to a crawl. Well turns out he was foolish after all.

He was tempted to burst into a wild sprint but such an idea would be terrible. Not only would he leave an obvious trail, the guards would respond to their lord’s wishes and it was a matter of time before Venti was caught without a place to run.

“Off with a spring in my step the sailors are searching Galway for, a young lady such as myself for reels and jigs and maybe more.”

Venti cut between a nearby couple, ducking out of sight before Childe could catch sight of him but he could hear the stomping of his pursuer close at hand.

It was a tense few moments of a wild chase between prey and predator: Venti would zig and zag, pivot around dancing couples and squeezed into any space no matter how narrow. He would double back and circle around and did everything he could to prevent Childe from pinning him down.

Childe, on the other hand, was relentless. Every time Venti thought he’d evaded the lord, he appeared without warning and barely gave the bard enough time to switch tactics. Even the slightest swish of his cloak would betray his position to the dull eyed hunter who inched closer and closer to his quarry with each passing drumbeat.

“Stay here and never you mind the lights of the town are blinding you”

He couldn’t keep this up. People were starting to question what exactly was going on and he’d soon lose the crowd’s cover as curiosity would bring all dancing to a halt. He needed to be bold once more or this would be for naught.

“The sailors they come and go”

Once he was certain he broke line of sight of Childe, he removed his cloak and threw it onto a nearby gentleman.

The gentleman was confused but before he could question what was going on, Venti had slipped into the crowd once more.

“but listen to what’s reminding you.”

Venti could hear the stomping of Childe nearby, his voice stiff yet held with barely contained violence. He questioned where the man had gotten the cloak. Within a moment or two the man would no doubt point him in Venti’s direction.

“Handsome men surrounding you.”

Venti glanced about. Nothing but quizzically faces wondering what exactly was happening.

He could feel the sweat run down the back of his neck as Childe’s footsteps thundered closer and closer. If he stayed here no doubt the gossiping eyes would give him away.

“Dancing a reel around you!”

“Then let’s give them something else to gossip about.” Venti muttered to himself.

He reached into the crowd with wild abandon and the moment his hand managed to find another, he pulled them in closer.

His eyes widened as instead of a random person like he was hoping for, he found himself staring face to face with the beautiful blonde haired princes. Her golden eyes narrowed with furious confusion.

“Beg your pardon?” she couldn’t keep the edge out of her voice.

“Pardoned.” He said with a cheeky grin.

“Home you’ll go, and it’s there you’ll stay, and you’ve work to do in the morning. Give up your dream of going away, forget your sailors in Galway.”

Venti quickly (but respectfully) placed his hand on her waist, drawing her closer. He began bouncing back and forth in an attempt to get the young woman to dance with him.

Lumine was not impressed by the brazen act by this stranger but before she could pull away from him, something caught her eye.

A figure, tall with refined black clothing appeared from the crowd wearing a red Fatui mask. Despite its smooth featureless surface she could tell he was looking for something.

Or rather someone.

“Listen to the music flow”

Lumine glanced back at the stranger who had grabbed her so rudely. Despite her unwilling to dance with him, the stranger wasn’t particularly forceful about it. While he did sway in an attempt to get her to move, he was very gentle and his hands did not wander.

“I’m falling for the flow of home”

She had no idea what she was thinking but just as the masked figure glanced their way, she began to dance. She swayed to and fro with the stranger and allowed him take control of their movements though she did not lower her guard.

“I’m home to dance till dawning”

Lumine was amazed how light on his feet this stranger was. She’d accidentally been swept up towards the inner ring when someone gripped her wrist and pulled in. Before she could utter a single world he gave a polite bow and disappeared into the gathering crowd. She was actually trying to escape out of the ring when this man had grabbed her for a dance.

“Forgive me princess.” the man muttered softly “I’m afraid I have other motives for this dance.”

Lumine paused. Something about his voice was so familiar yet it eluded her memory.

“Princess?” The man asked, unsure if he’d step too far “Miss?”

Lumine shook herself out of her stupor and she replied with a mocking tone “Oh really? I suppose men have other things on their mind than dancing with beautiful young women?”

The man let out a cheery laugh “So you are aware of your beauty princess.”

“Lumine.” She corrected him “And I have been told of my beauty. How much is truth and how much is desire remains to be seen.”

“Sharp mind and sharper tongue. Be still my beating heart.”

Lumine tilted her head curiously “What did you just say?”

Venti coughed “Nothing of importance.”

“Stay awhile and we’ll dance together, now as the light is falling. We’ll reel away till the break of day and dance together till morning.”

The music grew as the singers began to fervently chant louder and louder, the violin’s frantic yet joyful shrill growing with them.

Despite how this situation began, Lumine found herself enjoying the man’s presence: His step was graceful like she was dancing with the wind itself. His hands were firm yet gentle and they remained affixed to her hand and waist respectively. As they swayed back and forth lost in the melodic thundering of voices and instruments, she could feel her heart begin quicken at the sight of his carefree grin and quicker still with his wit.

“Dazed by my grace my fair Lumine?”

Lumine could feel her cheeks blush “I would give you an honest answer yet you do not need a bigger ego.”

“Your words wound me my fair Lumine.” The man let go of her for a moment to clutch at his chest.

“Dramatic to the last good sir?”

“Venti.” He replied with a cocky smirk “And I am nothing if not dramatic.”

“Venti?” she’d had heard the name before realization struck her “Wait! I know you! You’re the bard! The one who sang when you entered town.”

Venti let some of the surprise spill onto his face, his cheeks reddening as his voice dropped to a whisper “So you’ve heard of me fair Lumine.”

“W-well.” Lumine stammered cutely “It’s much less heard of you and heard you belting out at the top of your lungs.

Venti chuckled “I am a bard. If a bard does not sing, what use is he?”

“Well he could also tell a good story.” Lumine offered before letting a snicker escape her lips “Though I imagine your stories would be at best altered truths and at worst completely egotistical.”

Venti gave a bright grin “Wound me again yet still I remain.”

“You are rather daring or utterly foolish and I cannot hazard a guess as to which.”

“Foolishly daring I’d suppose.” he bit his lip thoughtfully “Or daringly foolish.”

Lumine giggled “Is there a difference?”

“I suppose not.” Venti answered honestly.

The song ended. The singers and instruments bowed to thunderous applause yet were lost to the pair as they still dance to an unheard song.

Venti was the first noticed excited chatter all around them.

“Fair Lumine, they have stopped.”

Lumine blinked questioningly. She looked to one side then another and when she found no one dancing, she turned a lovely shade of red.

“Ah.” She cleared her throat “I suppose your dance was not as horrible as I feared.”

Venti smiled yet did not release his hold on her “That was a compliment.”

“Do not push your luck.” Lumine threatened with a huff “No matter how silvered your tongue, you will mind your manners.”

“As you wish my lady.”

“Quite the dance you two.”

Venti and Lumine jumped in surprise at the new voice that joined them. They whirled around to find Childe standing there, the smooth featureless Fatui mask staring at them both.

“Do I know you?” steel entered Lumine’s voice.

“Of course you do!” Childe’s muffled voice replied.

Lumine blinked in confusion “Lord Childe?”

“That is I! Or rather me underneath this mask. You look quite beautiful. I take it the dress was to your liking?”

“Umm.” Lumine rubbed her arm awkwardly “It is nice my lord but I fear I cannot keep it.”

Childe chuckled “A gift is a gift. It would be rude to reject it. And whose your friend in the sprite mask?”

“Sprite mask?” Lumine answered but Venti paid her no mind. He released his hand from her waist and bowed respectfully.

“I am Venti! A wandering minstrel who seeks only the finest songs and finer cider.”

“I see.”

Lumine could feel the tension between the two, the air growing thick and cold as Childe’s voice took an empty tone.

“You are familiar to me.”

Venti gave a nervous laugh “I get that alot my good sir. Perhaps all us bards look the same.”

“No. You are familiar.” His voice replied darkly.

Silence fell over the trio and despite the happy chatter and lively noises filled throughout the room, Lumine could only feel the odd sense of dread.

Lumine sighed in relief as Childe took on his usual carefree tone “My guards will bring you back to the palace Lumine. Feel free to stay as long as you like or explore the town.”

He turned to Venti “You have the stance of a solider.”

Venti did his best to keep his face as straight as he could even though he wore a mask “I am but a humble bard.”

“Hmm. Do you carry a mighty sword o’humble bard?”

“Afraid I’ll tear your city down?” Venti couldn’t keep the threat out of his voice.

“No.” Childe answered truthfully “It’s not my city you’ll be tearing down.”

Childe left without another word, leaving Venti to stew over his words.

“Do you two know each other?”

Venti snapped out of his thoughts “No…no I don’t think so. He reminds me of someone I knew but I suspect he’s not around anymore.”

Lumine was not convinced by that answer but decided not to press the issue. She raised her hand still entwined with his “You may release my hand now if you please.”

“Oh my apologies fair Lumine. I just wanted to enjoy your touch for a moment longer but I shall never deny a lady a request.”

And with a dramatic flourish, he lets go of her hand and slips into a bow.

“By your leave.”

“Denied.”

Venti teetered uneasily, too off caught guard “Denied?”

Lumine nodded her head “Yes. I’m rather bored and you’re the first interesting thing that has happened to me all night.”

“I sense a but coming up.”

“I rather not turn in so soon. I’ve never been to a Windblume festival. You mentioned you were a bard yes?”

Venti gave quick nod, sensing a trap in her words.

“Then surely you’ve been to plenty of festivals. I can think of no better guide.”

“I’m being kidnapped.” Venti sad “This is an odd one for me I’ll admit.”

Lumine looped his arm in hers and leaned against his shoulder “Think of it as payment for me saving you from Lord Childe.”

“My dear that is how rumors start.”

Venti could feel his heart race at the sight of Lumine’s Chesire smile.

“Then let’s give the town something to gossip over.”

Oh boy was Venti in trouble. But he always liked a little trouble now and then.

#Genshin impact #Childe #Venti #Lumine #venti/lumine #Tartaglia

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oswildin · 3 years

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hii! i’d love a marvel ship if you’re still doing them/have the time! i’m 5’2, northern irish and a huge lover of celtic lore and literature, classic and contemporary! i’m also going on to study English Literature, Politics and History in sixth form. i practice witchcraft (i’m a green witch!) and i’m an aquarius with a libra rising and scorpio moon, i’m also an INFP!

i love baking, writing and reading (as you can tell with the interest in english literature). I absolutely love shows and movies like Gravity falls and Knives Out, i’m just a sucker for mystery, murder mystery or supernatural. i also listen to a lot of classical music and instrumentals from movies i like (the corpse bride soundtrack is gorgeous omfg), but i usually opt for lana del rey, hozier, taylor swift etc (my favourite taylor swift album is obviously reputation😩)

i also think im pretty nurturing and understanding, but i’m also really sarcastic and would rather choke to death than cry in front of people.

my favourite marvel movie has to be Dr Strange, Black Panther and Avengers 1, i just really can’t choose. i’m unlabelled sapphic with a male preference and i use she/they pronouns!!

two quotes/lyrics i love are ‘do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart” Jane Austen.

but my friends said i say ‘thats embarrassing’ a lot. i just really think everything is embarrassing, i even think tying my shoe laces is embarrassing.

i hope this was enough info!! <33

I ship you with… Bucky Barnes!

Things Bucky loves about you:

• You don’t baby him. He respects that you don’t treat him differently from the others, you’re level headed and treat him like you would anyone else.

• But when he does need to talk, you’re always there to listen!

• He often finds you baking treats for everyone in the kitchen, which reminds him of home/his time. It’s almost comforting to him.

• He always sits besides you when you’re reading. It’s the thing he loves most. No talking, just company.

• You show him your favourite shows and films, which leads to you explaining every reference/outlandish thing that happens in said show/film.

• A lot of eye contact. Unintentionally.

• You aren’t afraid to bite back with sarcastic quips, putting those around you in place but with a hint of playfulness. You’re the mediator of arguments that’s for sure.

• He loves your passion for History and English Lit, it helps when he talks about his old life as he knows you’re one of the ones who understands the times and events.

• He thinks it’s sweet that you easily get embarrassed. He uses it to his advantage at times to tease you.

• Sam teases Bucky about you like BFFs do.

• Upon first meeting you weren’t intimidated by the man, even though he wore his most stoic expression, you still approached him and spoke with him for hours. That was when he knew you were different.

Your BFF: Loki Laufeyson - Sharing the same love for books and witchcraft, you two make a dynamic duo. Lots of mini arguments, pranks and gossiping ensure when you’re together.

Your Theme Song:

#reader insert #marvel imagine #marvel #Bucky Barnes #Bucky x reader #Bucky Barnes imagine #character ship #marvel ship

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ofcloudsandstars · 4 years

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Samhain celebration advice?

Ahhh!! So much to do!!!!

So I have made a Samhain Solitary Celebration Post but it needs some updating and the fact that we are in a year where you can’t do shit lol it needs some revision so let me just make a newish post here:

Wow this took me a while to type up and it’s a lot of info so I am going to first post this with a Read More talking about a brief background of the Holiday and how I celebrate the Sabbat for context and insight for my suggestions. Then I will reblog with the suggestions haha

To get into the origins, meanings and very glossed over history of Samhain, it's a celebration from Ireland celebrating the end of the year, the descent into darkness (they observe this time as the beginning of winter or transition into winter) and celebrating ancestors and passed away loved ones as they felt the spirit world was more tangible in the darker times.

The thinning veil thing actually comes from the victorian era. Old irish people did not believe in the spirit world as another dimension separated by a veil, like they thought you can access the spirit realm in nature like in hills or forests. It’s also why they were like don’t step into anything nature makes into a ring like mushrooms or trees or else you’d fall into the faerie realm which was more like a spirit realm. There's a lot here to unpack so I am going to leave it at that. Also though Ireland has it's wisefolk and definitely has fairies, the spoopy witches up to shenanigans on the night comes from other traditions like settler American folklore that bought Halloween over.

Obviously Samhain morphed and evolved and even got a little warped from it's original source. Bringing in Neopaganism here and the wheel of the year after having invaders bringing Christianity and then apathetic atheism kind of wipe out the traditions of people from the land in England and have all of their roots and spiritual connection to the land lost, some people modern day put together a cycle of celebrations based on the agrarian cycles and a collection of Celtic festivities (mostly Irish) surrounding growth/fertility/harvest/death that many witches, wiccans and neopagans celebrate. I felt like when I was living in the US of A this distinction wasn't really important cause we were already neck-deep in American capitalism bastardized halloween lol but now I live over here with a handful of Irish people, neopagan/witchy samhain isn't the same as Irish Samhain since the reconstructed Samhain feels a bit like a conglomeration of the western Day of the Dead celebrations that people are trying to reconnect with after generations of people were stripped away from the roots of their culture. (Of course other Celtic people have their day of the dead autumn-turning-to-winter celebrations but I am just clarifying that Samhain is still a thing in Ireland where as the wheel of the year took all of these various celebrations together and smashed them in one). This is when I say I call these festivities their Celtic names as point of reference for other witches that want to celebrate the Earth's cycles and their connection but really it's more like a westernly universalish day of the dead celebrating the height of autumn (the season of dying) the return to darkness and the shadowy realm, reconnecting with our shadow selves (most people get depressed this time of year but it's good to do some internal work to make peace or find harmony then dread it), celebrating the season with delicious in-theme food and making peace with death as it's apart of nature and celebrating passed away loved ones.

Not that most Irish people may care, but to this sad day I realize that England is still doing the most harassing everyone from neighboring countries and denying them rights to celebrate or keep their culture in tact (like denying people the right to keep their languages alive and stuff like that) and already some Irish people living here expressed sadness that people don't take Halloween seriously cause they think it's some American thing when really it's a time they get together with their families and I am like yeah that's fucking wack how people here forgot that history and they pass it off as unimportant. I think sometimes context matters and knowing where and how to tread so maybe if you're in the USA it's not too much of a big deal but I try to be mindful here about it. Not saying that you can't call it Samhain, more saying that you should be mindful and know when to express the distinction in case someone asks in order to respect it's origins and respect Irish people still trying to keep the original traditions intact. (Sometimes I refer to it as the Autumn Crossquarter to make it sound more universal). Also not saying that the neopagan reconstructed Samhain is less important or less valid, more that sometimes distinctions are important in order to be respectful when the original holiday is still in practice by people discouraged to hang on to their roots.

I do have some Celtic and English ancestry but not heritage. To me heritage means that my parents or even grandparents passed it down to me DIRECT, and my dad passed down his French culture and my mom passed down some Haitian culture and so I say I am french and Haitian. Yes there was some Irish guy in my family back in the day and apparently I am 30% English which messed with my head when I found out through those DNA tests lol (like some fraudulent shit was happening on my French side apparently?!?! How do you get 30% english??) but culturally nor heritage-wise I am not English or Celtic because it wasn't passed down. Like maybe if I had kids here they would have some English ancestry and be culturally english for being born here but just cause I live here doesn't make me this.

Anyway I am clarifying this because when I celebrate the wheel to me it's a spiritual, animist and agrarian cycle where I celebrate the beginning of seasons and the middle-to-transition of each season and their parallel to our life cycle and the moon phases as well. They all overlap and I made a post about it. If you look at the wheel from this perspective it makes the experiences more universal and easier to understand spiritually and why I find all 8 holidays as equally important. I don't worship any Celtic gods or make any art or crafts dedicated to goddess etc. The only "deity" being worshipped is the earth in an animist way and the spirits coming from there. The only thing that doesn't make this as universal as possible is that they relate to 4 seasonal temperate land so if you live in the tropics or the deserts you have to come up with your own wheel but I am planning to make a guide on that cause it's not as challenging as it seems.

Anyway this is quite the large nutshell but tossing in the incredibly glossed over history, the heart of it's meaning and relation to nature (and we are obviously apart of nature so how it relates to ourselves individually), and how I and many others observe and celebrate it from a multicultural view that is all-inclusive as our middle ground is the earth underneath our feet yet also being aware of it's true origins to make the distinction when it matters, can help you understand my recommendations below!

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woolandcoffee · 4 years

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Is Celtic Reconstructionism Still A Movement?: A Not-Quite-An-Essay

Is Celtic Reconstructionism (“CR”) still a movement? And if it is, where has it gone? As some of my followers may be aware, I’m currently working my way through A Well of Five Streams, a compilation of essays, responses, and interviews by Erynn Rowan Laurie - a founder of the CR movement - about CR (btw shout out to Powell’s Books in PDX for having copies available). Much of the material is older. Most of the original publication dates for the essays and interviews are over ten years old. What is striking to me, reading twelve-year-old interviews from Laurie, is how she thought of CR as a movement that was going to continue to grow. In one interview, she is asked where she sees CR in ten years, and she describes a vision of more localized, in-person CR groups, readily availability of CR materials, and even CR-specific conferences and festivals.

While Laurie’s 2008 vision for 2018 CR might have been nothing more than a wildest dream described to an interviewer, it is still disappointing to read in 2020 when we are no where near close to having even something vaguely like what Laurie described. Localized, in-person CR groups? Maybe those are somewhere, but they’re few and far between (and I certainly didn’t run into any when I was moving in pagan circles in PDX. If you can’t find them there, then where the hell are they?). Readily available CR materials? Let’s face it, if you’re someone who happens to stumble up on CR, you still need to have the time, energy, and resources to be a scholar in order to build a CR tradition. CR-specific conferences and festivals? Arguably there are some classes, trips, and even conferences designed with a CR perspective, but those can still be difficult to hear about or access.

So what happened? Is the movement dead?

Webster’s dictionary defines “movement” as “a series of organized activities working toward an objective.” To me, that is a good definition for the goal of establishing a religious tradition. Arguably, that’s what the folks on the original Nemeton email list were doing decades ago. The CR movement began in the 90s (late 80s, arguably, but 90s for sure) when you had folks like Laurie who realized that Wicca was not, in fact, an ancient Celtic religion (honestly shout out to the grifter who got people to believe that Wicca, formally established in the 1950s, was an ancient Celtic religion. Seriously, your grifting skills are top notch), and decided to turn to existing lore, archeology, and verifiable history to reconstruct actual ancient Celtic practices. While it may not have been the original goal, the eventual goal of the founders of this movement was to create an established reconstructionist tradition grounded in fact and history, but rebuilt to suit modern culture and communities. Aisling and archaeology.

I could spend a lot of time writing about what CR is (or is supposed to be), but I think the better move is to link to the CR FAQ put together by Laurie and other CR founders. It’s a good overview, and it has been available for years both as a website and as a book. And yet, most pagans have no idea what CR is. When I say that, I don’t mean “most pagans on tumblr” or “most pagans online.” I mean, most pagans don’t know what CR is. How do I know this? I have been moving in IRL pagan circles since I was a teenage. First in the CA Bay Area, and then in PDX. In these areas, most people either didn’t know what CR was, or they had serious misconceptions about CR and CR practitioners. This is disheartening for several reasons, but primarily because both the CA Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest pagan scenes have a CR presence. Laurie herself is located in WA, and used to host events at PantheaCon every year. Yet, pagans in those areas still either hadn’t heard of CR at all, or thought of CR practitioners as those big meanies who yell at you if you get something wrong. Even the pagans who identified as Gaelic polytheists (never met an IRL Gaulish polytheist so I can’t say what’s going on there) and did essentially CR work, still tended to have a negative idea of CR.

So I ask again, what happened? Why has this movement, this series of “organized actions working toward an objective” failed to even gain visibility in the larger pagan sphere? Ultimately, I can’t say for sure. But I have some ideas.

If we return to the definition of “movement,” we’re forced to ask, what was the objective of the CR movement? To develop and establish a CR tradition? Probably. That’s a damn good objective. It’s also a damn broad one. “Celtic” is a broad term that encompasses a lot of different cultures across a large chunk of land over a large period of time. Laurie herself notes that each CR group will probably look a little different depending on what Celtic cultures they’re looking to reconstruct, and where the group itself is located. And of course, if you have someone trying to reconstruct and walk a filidecht path, that will look different than someone who is trying to build a hearth-centered tradition, even if they’re both practicing a Gaelic form of CR.

So, CR is broad, but I don’t think that the broadness is the reason why the movement isn’t doing a whole lot of moving. Honestly, I think that the larger pagan sphere makes it very difficult to build a reconstructionist tradition at all, and a CR tradition in particular. In my experience, people get drawn to paganism/neopaganism for two reasons: (1) they’re looked for a religion rooted in nature; and (2) they don’t like the dogma of Christianity and are looking to escape dogma entirely. Basically, you end up with a lot of people who want to worship the moon and don’t want to be told what to do. And I want to say right here that I’m not dunking on paganism. If you want to worship the moon according to your own terms, more power to you. The problem comes with the spread of misinformation. CR was originally founded out of a frustration that Wicca was being passed off as an ancient Celtic religion when it provably wasn’t. At the time, saying that Wicca was not, in fact, an ancient Celtic religion, was damn near heresay. That’s changed now, but the spirit of it lives on in the pagans who think that CR practitioners are big old meanies for pointing out that there is no such thing as an ancient Celtic tree astrology. It’s not that we’re telling you not to practice a tree astrology if that works for you, but don’t call it ancient Celtic tree astrology because that is provably not a thing. Misinformation is rampant in the pagan community. Walk into any Barnes and Nobel (I mean don’t, there’s a pandemic on, but you know) and the pagan/witchcraft section is full of Silver Ravenwolf, DJ Conway, and countless others who, with the help of Llewellyn publishing, have made a living telling lies. Lies that get internalized by people who don’t want to be told what to do. It can become frustrating and exhausting. Until paganism confronts this issue, and its issue of cultural appropriation/racism, it will be hard for any reconstructionist tradition to gain a strong foothold. Especially CR, because many of neopaganism’s most beloved lies have to do with the ancient Celts.

Then there’s the problems within CR itself. CR is, without a doubt, a hard tradition to break into. And without fresh blood, how can you keep a movement, moving? Now, some of this isn’t necessarily CR’s fault. It’s a hard tradition to even discover, partly because newcomers to paganism have the B&N pagan/witchcraft section pushed on them. It can be difficult for a newbie to navigate the flood of nonsense, especially when they don’t even know it’s nonsense. CR also doesn’t “put itself out there,” but I think that’s also a product of failing to get a strong movement even established. Once someone does manage to discover CR, it can be difficult to find the time, energy, and resources to begin. CR requires a certain amount of personal study. CR book lists are extensive, and include resources from the myths themselves, to expensive and difficult-to-find academic tomes. Again, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. One of the attractions to a reconstructionist faith is that practitioners have to do a good deal of their own work to find their footing. This can be extremely rewarding. It can also be a serious hindrance. When I first discovered CR in college, I was fortunate enough to have access to a university library and enough time to read the books I needed to get started. When I started law school, that was a different story. Sure I still had access to a university library, but after spending 10-12 hours a day studying for school, the last thing I wanted to do was study for fun (well, okay, I did still want to study for fun, I just lacked the energy). My practice went through a period of stagnation that I’m only just now starting to crawl out of. None of this is to say that personal study isn’t and shouldn’t be an important part of CR, but having more accessible materials available would make a difference. Obviously we do have some, but more would be better. Tairis.co.uk is, in my opinion, one of the best CR resources out there, but it is still not as well-known (and does have ties to Gaol Noafa, which I will touch on in a little bit). Morgan Daimler’s books are good places to start, but still aren’t much more than brief essays on where and how different gods appear in the folklore. We lack materials describing how to build a CR practice, how a CR tradition looks in daily life. There are lot of valid reasons for that, but it still hampers growth of a movement.

CR practitioners are often extremely adverse to sharing their personal practices. Once again, there are a lot of valid reasons for this. Some things are too personal to share; some people have had the extremely unpleasant experience of sharing their research and having that research stolen and used without credit; some people are afraid of being accused of cultural appropriation. The list of reasons goes on and on. The problem is, if we never share anything, we can never build anything. We need communities where people feel comfortable sharing new research discoveries, personal gnosis, new innovations. If folks fear plagiarism, unnecessarily harsh judgment, and even excommunication, then they won’t share. At the same time, people must be open to being wrong, and to being corrected, if they are contradicting fact and lore. Aisling and archeology. It’s a balance, and people need to feel comfortable working towards it.

Finally, when CR communities do get established, we need to hold those communities accountable. I was never a member of Gaol Noafa, so I can’t say for sure what that group is doing now or how it operated back in the day, but I remember when it lost all credibility to outsiders after doubling down on transphobia. I don’t have much more to say on that other than, if our groups are unsafe places, then we can’t be surprised when no one wants to join them.

Look, I know I didn’t cover everything in this post (heck, I didn’t talk at all about the fall of LiveJournal and the rise of tumblr). I’m also only speaking to what I have seen and experienced, so I could be dead wrong about literally everything. Maybe CR is alive and flourishing, and I’m just Big Dumb and haven’t seen it. But if it is alive and flourishing, it isn’t doing so on tumblr. It isn’t doing so in IRL pagan spaces in CA and PDX. Maybe it’s banging up in WA? I don’t know. Like I said, I’m just one person. I’m sure some of you have different takes and opinions. Honestly, I’d love to hear them.

Where did CR go, y’all? Was it ever even a movement to begin with? Are future CR communities even possible? Should I not have had three cups of coffee before writing this? Who’s to say.

#woolly rambles #celtic reconstructionsim #gaelic polytheism

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citrinemystic · 4 years

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Placing expectations on Holidays (Why I don’t do it)

I didn’t make a special post about it, but earlier this week, Imbolc came and went. Imbolc happens to be the first pagan festival I celebrated upon my return to this path last year. I don’t work with the Celtic pantheon, but I enjoyed learning some about Brigid, and Cailleach and her firewood. And it was my first time celebrating a specifically pagan holiday, so it was really special to me. I can’t recall doing too much... I greeted the sunrise, lit a candle, did a tarot spread, and made a Brigid’s cross out of paper with a wish written on it.

The vernal equinox that followed... I can’t really remember doing too much. I know I did a tarot spread, and I probably made a point of getting out in nature, but it was rather low-key. Beltane was the same story. Definitely did the tarot spread, lit a candle, probably tried to do some cleaning in the week leading up to it, but didn’t do too much.

I had high hopes for the summer solstice, however. My sister was visiting because of an event we were planning on being at, the weather was wonderful, and I had purchased a fire-pit, so I wanted to do a kinda-sorta bon fire in addition to my now-expected holiday-specific tarot spread.

The day did not go as I planned. I had to work in the morning, which cut into my enjoying the day time, and the event my sister was in town for ran longer than expected (or more specifically we stayed longer than we expected to) so it was dark by the time we got back to my house. And it had rained recently enough that my firewood (which was already on the green side) wouldn’t start. After a good half-hour or more we gave up on the fire idea, and my sister headed home. I didn’t realize just how many expectations I had placed on having a fire until I faced the disappointment of it just not happening.

In some ways it mirrored other experiences I’d had with other holidays, notably Christmases throughout the years. The expectations I placed on Christmas, especially as a teenager, oftentimes caused me to be vaguely disappointed, usually because I didn’t get to open my presents as early as I wanted, or because I didn’t get the presents I had really wanted, or didn’t get as many presents as I would have liked. Not the kind of disappointment you tell your parents about when they had done the best they could under the circumstances.

All of this to say that I no longer place expectations on holidays. I make plans, I create “would like to do” lists, but I don’t hold expectations for how a day is going to go.

This past winter solstice is an example of how that mindset has served me very well so far. I’m sure many people recall that it was a particularly poignant solstice because a Jupiter-Saturn conjunction was happening at the same time. But December 21 was one of my last days of wrapping things up at work before Christmas, so I was fairly busy, and had an appointment that afternoon in addition to everything else, so I was extremely happy that I hadn’t actually made concrete plans, because they probably wouldn’t have happened. I did my usual tarot spread and a small ritual, but nothing else, and I was happy with that.

Placing expectations on certain days tends to leave me disappointed, so I’ve made it a habit to not do it, and I’m much happier for it.

#witchcraft #witchblr #holidays #imbloc #wheel of the year

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aethelflaedladyofmercia · 5 years

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Boundless Love

My final story for @drawlight‘s advent calendar is sort of an epilogue (or, if I’m being super literary, coda) to all of my previous stories. It might be a little cheesy (definitely a little more literary than I generally go for) but I’ve had this ending in mind since like...day 3? So I had to see it through.

The longer scenes are epilogues to several of the other stories in this set; I’ll provide links in case you’ve missed them. This will also function as an Advent Calendar Master Post.

I plan to post the entire series to AO3 under the title “Boundless Love” starting tomorrow (I’ll edit as I go, one or two stories need a bit of re-working). Thank you all for reading, it has been a wild ride!!

25 - Love (3,142 words)

Some people think that every choice we make creates a universe.

This is only partly correct.

The fifth night of the festival of Saturnalia, long after even the most determined revelers in Rome had gone to sleep, an angel and a demon stood on a rooftop patio, overlooking the quiet mountainside.

“I think I love you,” Aziraphale said, abruptly, without preamble.

Crowley turned to him, mouth wide, too breathless to respond.

“I’m not…I don’t know whether one can ever be sure in such matters,” Aziraphale hurried on. “It’s a human emotion, after all. Angels weren’t made to love one being above all others. And yet, I think I do.” He smiled at Crowley, as if what he’d said was of only passing interest. “To be honest, I don’t know what to do with this information just yet.”

Crowley moved a little closer, leaned against the raised lip of the patio. “Could be problematic. If your side finds out. I don’t imagine they would approve.”

“No, you’re probably right.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Perhaps not.” Aziraphale stared eastward, waiting for the sunrise. “I suppose I thought you had a right to know. Is that not how this works?”

“Could be. I’m not really an expert, either. Demons aren’t supposed to love anyone at all.”

“Ah.” Aziraphale nodded. Already the sky was beginning to lighten.

“Which makes it a bit troublesome, because I am almost certainly in love, too.”

Crowley shot a glance sideways, watched Aziraphale bite his lip, nod seriously.

“I understand. This person you’re in love with.” His eyes drifted over. “It’s Caligula, isn’t it?”

“Oh, don’t you –”

Aziraphale burst into laughter at the look on Crowley’s face, even as the demon reached over, pulled him close, held him tight.

“I love you,” the angel whispered, pressing lips to his neck, his jaw, his cheek. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” As if the fervent whispers, the beating of his heart, could stop the coming dawn.

Each of the infinite universes starts at the same point; they all meet again at the end.

In between, they never touch, never cross, never affect the others in any way. Each plays out its own story, independently.

An infinite number of earths, crossing six thousand years of history. An infinite number of Heavens and Hells, fighting behind the scenes in ways humans can’t comprehend.

And in every universe, there is a demon who asks too many questions, and an angel who doesn’t always obey.

“Aziraphale,” Crowley said, eyes wide, balanced on the branch of the apple tree. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I’m sorry, my love,” the angel said with deadly cold eyes. “But this is the way it has to be. Warriors, attack!”

And the platoon of children pelted the evil spirit with snowballs until he fell to the ground, gasping with exaggerated agony.

The angel bent over the fallen figure, inspecting his enemy, and Crowley reached up, grabbing him, pulling him to the ground, burying his face in Aziraphale’s neck.

“My love, you say? My love? Don’t use that word if you don’t mean it, Angel. You’ll find me quite –”

His rant was rudely cut off by a small child shoving a fistful of snow down the back of Crowley’s shirt. “If you two don’t stop kissing after every tree, this is gonna take all night.”

Why do they always find each other?

Why do they always cling to each other?

Despite infinite universes seeking to tear them apart, why do they always fall in love?

Aziraphale collapsed across the sofa, head and shoulders wedged into the corner, too exhausted to even keep himself upright. The long black serpent lay on his stomach, watching him intently.

“Oh, Crowley,” he tried to keep his voice steady, despite the tears he could no longer hold in. “You were wrong. It was my fault. I’ve – I’ve worked it out now. Obvious, really. Serpent. Human. Two corporations, woven together.” His voice started to crack. “When we changed places I…I sort of dropped a corner. Let one bleed into the other. I – I’m so sorry.”

Crowley took a moment, processing this. “Accccident.”

“Yes, but I…” He held out a hand. Crowley didn’t like to be scratched, or petted, or held. But he did glide across the hand, bringing his snout closer to the angel’s tear-streaked face. “I could have killed you, Crowley. I could have destroyed you over something so…so foolishly simple. You must hate me.”

“No. Nevvver.”

He wiped furiously at his eyes with his free hand. They itched with fatigue as they never had before. “I’m almost there, Crowley. Just a little more. I can see where I dropped it. I can see how to separate them again. I just…just need to figure out how to secure the ends, so it doesn’t happen again.” The sobs broke through again. “I’m nearly there, my love. I’m nearly there.”

“Resssst.”

“I can’t. Not when I’m so close. Crowley I…I need you back. I want to see you human again. And I know you hate this, I won’t leave you in this form a moment longer than necessary, I just…”

“Ssssleeep.” Crowley retreated, coiling up on Aziraphale’s chest. “Ssssleeep. Lovvvve. Sssssleeeep.”

Still shaking, still crying, he drifted off under that watchful golden gaze.

You could call it fate. You could call it part of the Plan.

Something written into them, a command on their souls drawing them together.

Something in their makeup that leaves each incomplete, threatens to destroy them when apart.

You would be wrong.

A fight at an airbase, a long bus ride, not a word spoken after we’re on our own side.

And after more than twenty-six centuries, Aziraphale found himself again standing beside Crowley’s bed. Not a pile of furs this time, but cotton sheets, black as night.

Crowley pulled off his glasses, met Aziraphale’s eyes, and nodded.

Almost without a thought, their bodies returned to the familiar position, as if they had only left the Celtic roundhouse the day before: lying facing each other, eyes locked, hands entwined. Bare inches apart, as if the queen-sized mattress were a narrow sleeping platform.

Nothing had changed, save that this time it was Crowley who trembled.

“I’m right here,” Aziraphale whispered, running his thumb across Crowley’s fingers. “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”

“It might. What if they come while I’m asleep?”

“I’ll wake you. Come what may, we’ll face it together.”

“You won’t leave?” Crowley knew the answer, but he needed to hear it out loud.

“I made that mistake once, twenty-six centuries ago. I thought I knew what was important. I was a fool. But I know better now.” He released Crowley’s hand and slowly, hesitantly, slid his arm around the demon’s waist. He’d never done this while awake before.

Crowley melted into it, moving closer, pressing his head into Aziraphale’s throat. “Angel. I’m sorry. I never should have –”

“You did what I asked of you. It was my mistake. But I will never, ever leave again. I promise.”

“I loved you, Aziraphale. Even back then, I already loved you.”

“I know. I loved you, too. I just refused to admit it.” They held each other tighter, as if they were always meant to fit together like this. “Rest now. I’ll think of something.”

An angel who does what he thinks is right, no matter what he is ordered to do.

A demon who rebels against everything, even the rebellion itself.

If you tried to force them together, you would fail utterly.

They go only where they choose.

Crowley woke before the dreams could begin, Aziraphale leaning over him, shaking him gently.

“You don’t have to do that every time,” he muttered, but didn’t pull away. “You can just leave.”

Aziraphale responded as he always did, in a calm, even voice: “I do it because I love you, and you’re safe.”

“Fine, you don’t have to say that every time.”

“I say it because I love you, and you’re safe.” His hand still rested on Crowley’s shoulder. “And I will keep saying both until I’m sure you believe me.”

The demon shifted under the blankets. Aziraphale’s latest idea: breaking the sleep cycle, waking him before the terrors could begin, training his mind to a new rhythm. They would talk briefly, then allow Crowley to drift off again in half an hour. “How will we even know if it’s working?”

“It is working. Your eyes are back to normal. When you have a terror at all, it only lasts a few minutes. You aren’t having nearly as many flashbacks during the day. I know you can’t see it, but it is working.”

“Will I ever be better?” He could see how the weight of caring for him wore on Aziraphale, even if the angel never said a word.

“I don’t know. A human could carry this trauma the rest of their life; it’s generally about managing symptoms rather than finding a cure. But you are a demon. Who can say? I just know, I will keep trying as long as it takes, because I love –”

“Yes, I know.” Crowley grumbled, embarrassed, not quite meeting his eyes. “I love you too, you old sap.”

That, perhaps, is the secret.

In an infinite number of universes, under an infinite variety of circumstances, the two beings who never quite fit anywhere will choose each other, again and again, every time.

Never mind the dangers. Never mind the difficulties.

They choose each other, cling to each other, heal each other.

The words they fear to say they spill out in other ways, weaving themselves into the world.

I love you. I love you.

Pulsing through the roots and branches of the ancient chestnut tree, pounding through the hearts of the two beings walking through the grove.

1967. The telephone rang at 7:43 PM. Crowley had just about convinced himself the call would never come. Now he pounced on it, lifting it before the first ring even ended, hardly able to choke out a greeting.

“– infernal, blasted device. Can anyone hear me? I’m trying to reach Crowley, Anthony Crowley, he’s been waiting for my call all day, but this wretched machine only makes incomprehensible noises! Oh, he’ll think I’m sulking, or angry, and he’ll disappear on me again, as if I haven’t been so worried about him I can hardly think straight. Connect me right now or the wrath I visit upon you and all your kind will –”

“Angel?”

A very long silence.

“Crowley? Oh, dear. How…long have you been listening?”

“Were you…trying to threaten the telephone?”

“Perhaps?” Aziraphale cleared his throat and tried for his angry, blustery tone again. “This horrible contraption is not even remotely easy to use, despite what you told me –”

“I worried about you, too.”

Another silence. So long Crowley began to panic that the line had somehow disconnected.

“Ah.”

“Do you…want to talk about it?”

“I don’t know what to say.” The voice on the line was much softer now. “I don’t think we should. These things are not…not safe to talk about.” An awkward throat clearing. “But yes. Someday, I very much think I would.”

“When you’re ready,” Crowley said, quietly, gently. “I’ll be waiting.”

Sometimes they say it in actions.

A wordless song raised in a Garden.

I see your pain. I’ll show you mine. Hear me. Help me. Love me.

A hundred healing kisses pressed to the skin.

I hurt you. Forgive me. I love you.

A warm drink by the fire and friendly company on a snowy morning.

Let me help you. Let me comfort you. I love you.

The smooth motion of thumbs on the soles of feet, every weekend, for as many weekends as were left to the world.

I love you. Don’t leave me. I love you.

1982. The phone rang at 10:08 PM. The demon stumbled out of bed, shooing the spiders away, snatching up the handset on the third ring.

“Yes? Who – yes?”

He relaxed. “Angel. Still haven’t gone back to London?” A pause. “Because the time zones go the other way, idiot. It’s the middle of the night here.”

He listened for a bit, teeth clenched anxiously. “You aren’t going to get in trouble, are you? Going over your healing quota?” Crowley nodded, even though he was alone. “Fine, just, you know. Be smart. Don’t take any stupid risks.”

He smiled a little. “No, a new hotel every night is exactly the right thing. Have you been reading spy novels again?” Raised eyebrows. “Oh, really? What kind of mystery have you encountered, Aziraphale?”

Crowley settled back on the edge of the bed as he listened. “Well, yeah, the television does play movies, that’s the point…Exactly two minutes every time? But different parts? Are you sure it’s the same movie?” He bit his lip as he realized what was going on, struggling not to laugh. “No, no, keep taking notes. You’ll figure it out…Yeah, I definitely want to hear the saga of the pizza boy and the babysitter when you’re done.”

The conversation went on, as it did every Thursday, filled with the boring minutiae of everyday life, plans, complaints, grumblings about the state of the food. And yet, through the demon’s habitual tone of annoyance and disgust shone a warmth and love that colored every word. “Yeah. No. Talk to you next week. I’m looking forward to it.”

Sometimes they say it in gifts.

A branch of pine. A remembered song. A clasp of hands on a bus.

Be happy. Be safe. I love you.

A meal delivered just in time. A friendly face interrupting soul-crushing loneliness.

Don’t give up. I need you. I love you.

Forty pairs of tickets to a ballet. A letter. An apology. A wish.

Stay with me. I miss you. I love you.

An angel and a demon walked together towards the Ritz, after a body swap and a narrow escape. Blue eyes turned towards a dark figure, again and again, sly as a puppy and just as sweet.

“So, my dear, do you suppose it’s safe to try flirting now?”

“It could still be dangerous. Especially for you. But I suppose I can’t stop you if you want to try.”

“Well then. Crowley.” The eyes batted as if there was an eyelash caught in them. “I like your…face.”

And Crowley grabbed his lapels, slammed him back against the nearest wall, and kissed him in broad daylight until his legs gave out. Aziraphale clung to him, dragging hands through red hair, kissing back for all he was worth.

When they finally parted, gasping for breath, Aziraphale chuckled. “And I thought you didn’t want a snog in a back alley.”

“This is a main road, Angel. And I said I wanted you, forever.” Sharp nose brushed along the curve of a jaw. “You’re in my clutches now. I will never, ever let you go.”

“Oooh. Promise?” Aziraphale winked with both eyes.

Crowley groaned, burying his face in his angel’s shoulder. “How are you the absolute worst flirt to ever exist?”

“Worst? Or best?” Soft arms wrapped around the narrow waist, pulling him close. “After all, I have a 100% success rate. Cassanova wishes he was as good as me.”

“You are an idiot.”

“I love you too, dear.”

Through every difficulty, every danger, they survive, they save each other, they build a life.

An angel and a demon, again and again, bound together not by the ties of fate or a Plan they do not understand.

Because love is not something you can command.

Love is a choice.

Love is a decision to reach out, to comfort, to communicate, to make a connection and then build it, maintain it, protect it, help it to bloom.

An angel and a demon walked hand in hand through the woods surrounding their cottage on Christmas morning.

“Are you sure you can be happy here?” Crowley wondered, glancing anxiously to the side as they followed the snow-covered path.

“Crowley, my dear,” Aziraphale responded with some exasperation. “There is no place in the world I would rather be than at your side. I would rather eat runny eggs and burnt toast prepared by you than dine at the finest restaurant. I have seen the seven wonders of the world and I prefer to walk through your gardens. I have stood before the greatest artworks ever created and they don’t compare to your smile. I will absolutely be happy here, and my answer will not change in a day, or a month, or a century.”

“But how can you be sure?”

“Because, my dear, my darling idiot, we’ve been married for over a decade!” He stood, Crowley’s face cradled in his hands, giving him his sternest glare. “Are you ever going to stop asking me that stupid question?”

Crowley just grinned. “Probably not. I don’t think I’m going to get sick of the answer any time soon.” He wrapped his arms around Aziraphale, pulled him close, whispered in his ear. “I don’t regret anything, you know. Not one day, not one argument, not one stupid decision in six thousand years. Because it brought us here, where we belong.”

The angel sighed, leaning into the embrace. “Do you think, if things had been different, we still would have fallen in love?”

“No idea.” He pressed a kiss against Aziraphale’s forehead. “Though if you really want to get into that, talk to Adam. He’s on the whole alternate universes thing again. Apparently, we’re the ultimate proof of his theories on the triumph of free will and the continuity of self across infinite iterations.”

“What on earth does that mean?”

“I haven’t a bloody clue! You’re supposed to be the clever one.” Twining their fingers together, Crowley turned to walk back towards the cottage. “That kid is too smart for his own good.”

“He’s hardly a child anymore. None of them are.” Aziraphale turned the ideas over in his head as they walked. “I suppose I will ask him about it when they arrive. If he thinks its important, it probably is.”

“Good. I should have just enough time to burn the potatoes down to charcoal.”

“Crowley, you could try not ruining some part of Christmas dinner. Just for a change.”

“What? And break our oldest holiday tradition?”

In an infinite number of universes, an angel and a demon have every opportunity to give up, to walk away, to protect their own existence.

The angel could choose, at any time, to obey, to keep himself safe.

The demon could fall in line, behave as expected, and accept the role he was given.

And yet, over and over –

They choose humanity.

They choose each other.

They choose love.

(Thank you to everyone who has been reading along and sending me encouraging comments! This Calendar topped out at 51,245 words. All written since December 2.

For those who don’t know, I just finished a fic on AO3 that I declared “the longest finished story I ever wrote.” This is longer.

This challenge has not just created a bunch of stories I never thought I would ever write, but also pushed the boundaries of what I thought I was capable of. I want to thank @drawlight again for posting the calendar and getting all this started. Also quick shout out to my cheerleader @angel-and-serpent who constantly checks to make sure I’m working on this.

My contributions to this writing challenge are complete! I’m going to bed.)

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mountphoenixrp · 4 years

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We have a new citizen in Mount Phoenix:

Ahn Haeun, who is known by no other name, a 23 year old daughter of Morrigan. She is an escort at Babylon.

FC NAME/GROUP: kang seulgi / red velvet CHARACTER NAME: ahn haeun (noelle) AGE/DATE OF BIRTH: 23 / december 25th 1997 PLACE OF BIRTH: seoul, south korea OCCUPATION: escort at babylon HEIGHT: 160cm WEIGHT: 46kg DEFINING FEATURES: petite body shape and sharp eyes, ears pierced and tattoos on her cleavage, ankle and close to her wrist.

PERSONALITY: few people would suggest that haeun is the daughter of the goddess of war and death considering how friendly and soft spoken that is her demeanor. most would argue that she doesn’t have much of a strong personality. she doesn’t really involve herself in arguments, even if it isn’t easy for her to change her morals and beliefs, she just doesn’t like to get involved in conflicts in general, definitely the type to agree with someone just in her words and then do it quietly in her own way or not truly have her mind changed. haeun isn’t someone who easily judges others and is a good listener, isn’t really the first to initiate small talk or social interaction unless she feels like she needs to, but she does know how to indulge in them. haeun isn’t someone who likes to talk about herself nor show most of her negative emotions around people. so even with her mostly friendly behavior, she can come off as always putting a wall between herself and others, especially when considering that if people pay enough attention they can see how she’s keeping a friendly mask at all times.

haeun mostly acts like she’s fine with her powers, but she avoids using them at all costs, both because she doesn’t have exactly good memories with using them and also because she doesn’t trust herself with them, especially her enhanced strength so she’s actually very uncomfortable with them.

HISTORY:

i. a mother isn’t something that haeun misses.

it’s not something that makes a difference because she has her dad and he’s always trying his best, always trying to play the role of two parents instead of one so she tries her best to, so when he’s insecure and anxious around his daughter because they’re seeing how all the other kids have their moms with them or it’s a bad night, haeun draws dad and her and tells him that’s all she needs, that their family might be a little different from others but they’re still a family, tells him that she doesn’t need a mom if she has her dad.

dad has always been a little more of an emotional person and that’s why he always cries when haeun does that, but she knows that it’s ok because he also smiles and hugs her tightly.

ii. if she knew that being paired (by the teacher) with this boy from her class for art class during her second year of middle school would cause her this much trouble, she’d have insisted to have her partner changed.

it starts with small things: one or two mean notes left on her desk here and there, a missing notebook that she finds later in the school’s fountains that she doesn’t really care about since she can just take the notes again from someone else, some girls stopping you to point out that they don’t like her because her cheeks are too chubby or her eyes are too small or to bash her still in development drawing skills. all those things that are easy to ignore so haeun does exactly that, thinking that they’d stop as soon as they got bored of it, but they don’t.

things get a little worse after a while. her desk is vandalized and turned upside down when she comes to class one day, her sketchbooks are found in the school’s fountain, they put pushpins on her seat and her shoes, to bump into her and have things food or drinks dropped on her. things get worse when they ruin this huge poster she was making for the art club that they’d use in the school’s festival and then when they corner her one day after school and start bad talking about her dad and then she gets angry, angrier than she has ever been with anyone or anything and—

the last thing she remembers is sitting down naked in one of the bathrooms of the school, hands shaking and covered in blood that wasn’t her own, until her dad found her and covered her with his jacket with the promise that everything would be alright.

iii. it’s like the incident at school never happened. haeun’s dad doesn’t talk about it, haeun doesn’t talk about it— or they don’t talk a lot about it. at least her dad tries to bring it up, but in the end haeun just shuts him down right away. the further he ever got to her was to offer for her to see a professional about anger issues if she wishes so. haeun refuses because she doesn’t have anger issues. and that’s how it ends.

they’re moving to paris, france and haeun feels like this is her chance of a new her, a new life, new school and new friends. so much that she doesn’t complain or refuse when her classmates in school get her a new name, one that is easier for them to pronounce and remember. it’s so easy to pretend that the incident in the school never happened, it’s easy to forget.

but she’s a little careful now, tries to not get too close with any of the popular kids even when they approach her first, prefers to do as much assignments on her own as she can, avoids staying after school for too long, doesn’t draw nearly as much as she did before.

dad is also much busier with work now, doesn’t spend nearly as much time with her as he did. haeun doesn’t mind because she can see that he’s trying his best, that he doesn’t stay away because he doesn’t want but more like he doesn’t have a choice. and it just makes things easier, not talking about what one or both of them don’t want to talk about, to pretend that haeun hasn’t started being much more aware of her own strength, how she breaks things more often now than before, how she avoids touching people, even her dad, afraid that she’ll break them too; to pretend it doesn’t feel like her dad isn’t sharing something important with her, something she should know.

but she’s also starting picking up sketching even more now, when she gets into high school, feels a little safer now. so there’s that.

iv. but of course that peace doesn’t last forever and haeun was bound to do some stupid shit again during her second year in art school.

haeun knows the signs and the patterns because she has been there before. she probably realizes that group of students won’t leave this poor girl alone until something extreme happens. and the thing is that haeun tries her best to ignore it because she knows, better than anyone else, how that will end and she wants to be selfish for once, to keep the nice things she finally managed to gather again to herself for a bit longer.

she doesn’t want to have to move out again.

but of course that the universe had another plans for her when she catches the group cornering the girl in an empty classroom and everything feels a little too familiar. then, suddenly it isn’t the stranger that haeun sees in the middle of the group, but herself when she was twelve and scared but mostly angry and she’s moving before anyone can throw the first punch.

v. all the aggressors end up in the hospital, not nearly dead but still in bad shape, and haeun isn’t sitting in the bathroom this time, but at the principal’s office with her hands covered in blood that isn’t her own. she isn’t shaking this time either, or at least not as much as when she was a kid. no one is going to press charges because it’d be a scandal too big for the art school to handle but haeun knows that they can’t afford to have her as a student anymore.

dad tries to talk to her about it and this time haeun lets him until she realizes that he isn’t going to give her the answers that she wants— needs. so haeun pushes him harder and harder until it’s too hard, until she ends up breaking his clavicle because she grabbed him with too much strength.

so it’s with haeun feeling like she’s anything BUT human that her dad finally tell her that she might not be one. at least not entirely.

vi. haeun moves out again but without her dad this time, feels like it’d be safer for both of them and perhaps to find a little more about herself. he told her about this island that there are more people like her, that maybe she could find herself a little more comfortable there or at least it’s somewhere that people won’t freak out if she turns herself into a crow because of a mental breakdown or anything of that sort.

she also tries to see this as a yet new her, a yet new life, with yet new friends and— perhaps not university because at this point she thinks that educational institutions aren’t her thing. haeun also stops drawing altogether because it feels like it’s tainted with way too bad things at this point for her to enjoy it again, at least for now.

she adopts a cat, a pretty fluffy thing to keep her company since she doesn’t have dad with her anymore.

and just— this time she just really hopes she gets to stay.

PANTHEON: celtic CHILD OF: morrigan POWERS:

avian shapeshifting: is able to shapeshift into a crow at will. this ability is usually triggered by any sort of strong emotion, be it negative or positive.

enhanced strength: is stronger than an average human being. this is not an ability that she can turn on and off, therefore, she needs to be very careful with how she handles things (and people).

natural battle instincts: is naturally adept to fighting, from picking up fighting styles more easily to learning how to manipulate all kind of weapons, including almost like moving on her own in the very rare occasions that she needed to throw fists with someone.

STRENGTHS:

independent: more often than not she can figure and work things out on her own without much struggle.

caring and empathetic: she tries not to move out of her way to look after other people but that’s what she ends up doing that anyway, especially if they’re close to her.

diplomatic: since haeun doesn’t like conflict and avoids it at all costs, she’s actually quite good with her words and at finding a middle ground in discussions

WEAKNESSES:

even if she’s stronger than most people, she’s not invincible and her body does feel the backfire of its strength. ex: she can break a wall with her fist very easily but at the cost of her hand.

her clothes do not shift with her when she shapeshifts into a crow so she needs to be careful to when and where she uses that power.

has a tendency to bottle her feelings up and not dealing with problems head on like she should.

#kpop rp #krp #red velvet #kang seulgi #red velvet seulgi #mp; welcome

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nightwitchwriter · 4 years

Text

Samhain chapter pt 2!

Nick’s POV

I clung as tightly as I could as we flew threw the sky. The wind bristled through my hair and clothes, making me colder than the before. I sat behind Will as she piloted her broom to Heather’s party. Maddy sat in front of her, but stayed quiet

“Are you sure you know where you are going?” I yelled

“Of course I do! I’m using GPS aren’t I?”

“You’re using a dowsing crystal!”

It was true. As soon as we got high enough, Will attached as clear crystal tied to a string at the end of her broom. It floated in the air towards a certain direction and Will took off, before we could say we were ready.

“Look! I’m not saying the GPS in your phone won’t work! It’s just the city is different than it is on Earth! So shut up! And let me focus!”

I quickly shut up and tried not to look down. To avoid that, I thought about the events from earlier. As if it wasn’t scary enough, about half the kids in the trick-or-treating group were actual monsters. Monsters! Like the ones you read in fairy tales or myths. The same with the parents. Will called the devi-humans, while those with animal features were called demi-humans. Others I didn’t recognize were called Elementals. I never knew there were so many different creatures, all thought to be made up by humans. Will said not all mythical creatures are real, but I don’t believe her.

Fifteen minutes later, we landed somewhere what looked like Downtown Manhattan. I was confused.

“Hey, aren’t we supposed to be heading to Heather’s party?” I asked as she landed on the sidewalk.

“In a minute. In celebration of you guys now knowing my secret, I decided to show you something awesome, Halloween style.” Will answered

I looked around to see large groups of people in costumes, as well as children still in costumes, with their parents.

“Shouldn’t they be in bed by now?” I asked

“Don’t worry, they’ll be fine.” Will answered

“What is it anyway?” questioned Maddy

“A sacrifice?”

“No. It’s a parade. This year is special because look...” Will pointed towards the sky. We looked up to see a clear sky with a full moon out. I was actually surprised to be able to see the moon in the middle of NYC.

“Trust me. You do not want to miss this.”

So we waited. We waited and waited and waited. I looked at my phone at saw that it was one in the morning.

“Ugh, how much longer? We’re going to miss the party.” I complained

Will ignored me as she looked up at the sky. Maddy and I looked up at the sky as well.

“I’ve never seen the moon or sky before.” stated Maddy. “It’s beautiful.”

Just as it turned one o’clock, a bell tower rang. Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!

I realized it rang 13 times, then suddenly the air grew still. The lights in and outside the surrounding buildings were instantly shut off. I got nervous, but I saw that Will and no one else was scared.

In the distance, I could hear music. It sounded festive, for a scary holiday.

Bright lights suddenly appeared, bouncing up and down. Soon the lights appeared to be lanterns on sticks in the forms of skeleton heads and jack-o-lanterns. As the music got closer and closer, my eyes widened to realize that it was a parade. A Halloween parade.

Various monsters of different forms all from different cultures. I saw creatures from mythology like centaurs and harpies. Humanoids that have tree like skin, and insect like features. Will pointed out ghosts, witches and vampires. There were even demons and regular humans with multiple limbs. There was even Japanese yokai and Celtic faeries. It was freaky. It was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like this. Heather’s party wouldn’t even compare.

There were floats, dancers and dancing puppets. Light projections, mini fireworks, what looked liked holograms and other magic spells were being performed. And while it was scary, it was also not scary. Everyone looked like they were having fun. Even though they were monsters, everyone was wearing a costume.

I turned to Will and Maddy and they looked like they were having fun. If they are willing to have, I don’t see why I shouldn’t.

“Before I forget, this is what my sister was talking about earlier.” shouted Will “The special treat she was talking about. They’ll see another one like this nearby.”

“Sweet.”

The three of us ended up enjoying ourselves. Like typical Halloween style, the food was scary and gruesome, but good. We played at lot of pranks and got pranked as well. We danced like there was an actual spell put on us. I never had so much fun before.

When I decided to take a breather, I separated from the crowd and sat on a nearby bench. I was able to see the two girls still dancing. I looked at my phone again and saw that it was three in the morning. I guessed I missed Heather’s party. I chuckled to myself. She’s going to be so pissed.

I looked at moon and wondered to myself: How long has any of this been here? These places, these people, this world? Even though they look and seem friendly, according to many myths, they are all dangerous creatures, who are known to manipulate and kill humans. And whether if their true or not, now I’m worried about my sisters now with a group of them back at Will’s house. Of course, Will’s parents are there, and not only is Will’s dad human from my Earth, but we’re not the only humans who live in Arcanos that aren’t witches. Even still, I’m still nervous.

When I sat back up, I noticed a strange fog surrounding me. It wasn’t foggy earlier, and it wasn’t humid and wet since yesterday. I stood up, inspecting my surroundings. I could still see and hear the crowds, but it sounded far away.

I started to make myself over there, when I heard someone calling my name.

“Nick! Nick! Nickity-nick!”

I turned around to see Felicity in her witch’s costume. She smiled at me, and playfully stuck her tongue out at me before running away. I quickly realized that Felicity was there.

What a minute? What is Felicity doing here? Isn’t she suppose to be at Will’s house?

I quickly ran after her without a second thought.

“Felicity! Wait! It’s too dangerous to be here!”

Without paying attention to my surroundings, I followed my non-responding sister into the darkness.

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Will’s POV

“Felicity! Wait! It’s too dangerous here!”

Despite all the noise and chaos, I heard Nick’s voice yelling for sister. I then see him running after someone.

“What”s wrong?” asked Maddy

I looked closer and saw Nick chasing after a girl. About to roll my eyes, I saw that the look liked Felicity, Nick’s younger sister. That’s when I realized what was happening.

“Will?”

“Maddy, I need you to stay here and wait for my mom. Don’t leave with anyone else.” I warned her.

“Will?”

“Please.” I begged. I don’t want to leave my best friend here, but I can’t let Nick be trapped somewhere in Arcanos.

Maddy looked at me hesitantly, then nodded. “Okay.”

“Just say that you’re blind and they’ll leave you alone. But stay in the crowd. I promise.”

“Okay.”

I hesitated for a moment, then ran after Nick. I made a mental link to mom.

“Mom! Is Felicity there at the house?!”

“Yes, why?”

“Nick ended up following an imp disguised as Felicity! I left Maddy at the parade so that I can go after him!”

“What? Maddy! You should have waited with Maddy! I’ll call the police and-”

“He’s heading towards the Underworld!”

The next few seconds was silence.

“There was all this fog surrounding him, and-”

“Alright.” Mom answered. “I’ll go get Maddy. Did you tell not to go anywhere or leave with anyone?

“Yes. She should be near where Times Square would be.”

“Okay. Please be careful.”

“I will.”

I chased Nick through the fog. I don’t know what he was chasing, but I don’t care. I just need to get to him.

Finally, I caught him.

“Nick! What the hell are you doing?!” I yelled

“What the hell are you doing? I’m trying to catch my sister!” he yelled back

“Your sister is fine! Let’s go!”

I tried pulling him towards the direction I came from, but he wouldn’t budge.

“Come on!”

“I’m not going without my sister! And why do you care anyway? Ever since we first saw each other, you hated me!”

“I tolerated you!”

“That still means that you don’t like me! You don’t like anyone! And I may not know much about your world, but I do know that its dangerous! And I am not leaving my sister in a place like this!”

As much as I admire his love and commitment to his sisters, I don’t have time for this.

“Look, I know you came for your sister and you’re worried but we have to go! Now!”

I continued my futile struggled to make him move. I needed him to trust me, so I didn’t use magic for force him to move. Damn him being on the football team! I struggled to contain my tears.

“Give me a reason! Give me one reason why I should leave my sister in a place where she could possibly get killed? Why do you want me to leave here so badly? Why?” he berated

“Because I’m scared!” I screamed at him and began sobbing.

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Nick’s POV

I looked at Will in shock. I’ve never heard her yell like that to anyone before, nor seeing her cry. What scared me more, is that all thoughts of my sister vanished and my main focused was on Will. I don’t think she was using magic on me. Despite the way she acts towards people, she’s not the type to force someone to do something, even with magic.

“I’m... I’m sorry...” I apologized. “I-I didn’t mean to yell like that.”

I’m stammering and hesitating. I never stammer or hesitate.

“I don’t care.” she sobbed. She crouched to the ground, wiping away her tears, not caring if her make up and dress was being ruined.

“I just want to go home.”

Seeing how she looked, I looked back to where my sister was headed. I sighed and turned back to Will.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

I gently grabbed her hand and led her in the direction she came from.

“Wh-what about your sister?” she asked quietly

I turned back to see if Felicity was nearby, but she was gone. Hesitantly, I shook my head.

“Don’t worry about it. If what you say it true, then hopefully someone will find her, soon.”

As we walked back, I know it might should wrong, but I decided to ask anyway.

“So, where are we that caused to you to have a panic attack?”

“The Underworld.” she whispered

I halted in my tracks.

“The Underworld? As in Hell?”

She shook her head. “No, it more like Limbo that leads you to the Underworld. Since the veil between the two worlds is thin around this time, imps like to pranks humans by leading into the passage way. If you don’t escape by the next morning, you’ll be stuck there forever.” she whispered

Huh, now I know why she was so scared earlier.

A few minutes later, we some people nearby. I don’t know if they’re dead or not, but I wrap my arm around Will.

“Well, lookee here, boys. Humans.”

When he smiled, I physically stopped in fear once i saw his teeth. Vampires. Oh crap. What do I do?

“What are humans doing here? Did’ja get lost while making out?” one of the chuckled. There were three in total.

“Look, we’re not bothering anyone. So please just leave us alone.” If what the facts about vampires are true, I don’t stand a chance with one, much less three.

“So what? We’re curious. So why don’t you tell us?” One of the quickly got into our personal space within a blink of an eye. Shocked, I reacted by quickly pushing him away. Bad move.

“Hey what the hell?”

One of them grabbed Will and ripped her away from me.

“Will!”

The other in front of me gripped my arm really tightly and grabbed my throat, with his other hand.

“Now I don’t know how you folks got here, but I know of an exit for you. And we’re really hungry. We didn’t get to eat all night.” the vampire chuckled along with his friend.

I was beyond scared. I could barely breathe and was beginning to panic. Now I realized that Twilight was beyond wrong. Vampires aren’t romantic. They’re terrifying.

As the vampire brought me closer, revealing more of his fangs, about to bite me, someone interrupted.

“Hold on a minute.”

It was the third vampire who had a hat on.

“What?”

“Will?”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Will look up at the other vampire who took his hat off.

“Antonio?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, as she began to bawl. The other vampire let her go as she ran to Antonio.

“Will? What are you doing here? You know humans aren’t suppose to be here, even witches aren’t suppose to be here.”

Will didn’t answer as she continued to cry.

Antonio, surprisingly, hugged her and began to comfort her.

“There, there. It’s alright. You’re fine,”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

“No! She’s a distant cousin of mine!”

“Ah! A relative. And this one?”

“Probably one of her friends. Put him down.”

The vampire shook his shoulders, and dropped me on the ground.

“Sorry about that. Didn’t know you were a friend of her’s.” He held out his hand to help me up, but I scooted back in fear.

“Aw, come on now. I didn’t mean to scare you that bad. It’s Halloween, ain’t it?”

“Look, for now, let’s just take these two home alright?”

“Alright.”

“Sure. Knock him out, will ya?”

The vampire glared at him. “Fine.”

The next thing I knew, is that my head felt fuzzy and I became dizzy. Then, blackness.

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Happy Halloween to you witches and monsters out there!

#halloween #all hallows eve

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fayegracexo · 5 years

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How to Celebrate Lughnasadh

Somehow we are already to our first of three harvest festivals in the wheel of 2019! This year is flying by crazy quick! I can’t believe July is already over and it’s time for Lughnasadh on August 1st! (Fun Fact: The Gaelic word for August is ‘Lunasa’ - Lughnasadh is pronounced Loo-Na-Sah!)

If you happened to catch my last post (if you didn’t, click here! ‘Lughnasadh vs. Lammas’) then you already know the difference between ‘Lughnasadh’ and ‘Lammas’, and some of the history, which means it’s time to get into the fun part...how to celebrate it!

To keep this post simple I’ll put it in list form, and I apologize in advance for mentioning some things more than once, there’s some things that end up being good crossover ideas, so sorry if it sounds repetitive at all! (Just your typical chronically apologizing Libra over here!)

I’ll start with some traditional ways to celebrate, then list the correspondences, THEN go into a longer list of celebration ideas! I’ll try to keep this short but there’s lots of info and I wanted to give plenty of options, so if you don’t see what you're looking for, just keep scrolling it’s probably there! ;) (It’s long, i’m sorry oh geez)

If not, I’m always available for messages and questions, and i’ll be posting craft ideas, recipes, and more ways to celebrate on my Instagram account that’s connected to this blog. Check the ‘Lughnasadh’ highlight and my story on August 1st for more! @selfcarewitchxo

Now let’s jump in!

How To Celebrate Traditionally

To start, I wanted to suggest some basic ways to celebrate in a more traditional way, and then go into a list with lots more options and details! Some of these might repeat in the list below so sorry in advance! (Libra problems again, I tried to organize the best I could...I’m so OCD)

Lughnasadh is about giving thanks for what has grown in summer, and for the abundance in our lives. We gather what has grown and begin to prep for winter and the darker, colder months, but not before celebrating a successful harvest season!

In the old days, it was tradition to climb a hill and bury or leave an offering of the first and best of your harvest to Lugh, usually the first loaf of bread you've baked. Offerings are left in exchange for blessings, gratitude, abundance, strength, protection, and growth. You can do the same hill idea, or leave your first loaf or other offering on your altar, or another special place.

Lughs’ original festival, was also focused on feasting, games, and athletic competition. Try recreating the same and have some friends over for a BBQ and some friendly competition!

Gods, Goddesses, Animals and Other Deities

The Celtic God Lugh is the patron deity for this festival, but if you’re not from a Celtic background, don’t use Lugh in your practice, or are from a Dianic tradition, there are many other Gods, Goddesses, animals and deities to choose from to incorporate into your Lughnasadh holiday.

Tailtiu (Lughs’ adoptive Mother who passed away, the festival is held in her honor) is a traditional female option, but any grain/agricultural/Mother Goddess/Father God figures make great picks.

For Goddesses, Rhiannon, Annona, Persephone, Cerridwen, Ceres, Demeter, and Isis are all options, and Odin, John Barley Corn, Dagon, Taranis, Vulcan, Mercury, Loki, Tammuz and Adonis are suggestions for the males! This is just to name a few of course!

As for animals, agricultural animals such as roosters, lambs, sheep, calves, and pigs are associated with the holiday, you can also use the majestic stag! For more mythological options, the centaur, phoenix and griffin are also associated.

Try adding statues, figurines, feathers, bones or other things associated with these Gods/Goddesses/deities/animals as altar decorations!

Decorations

How can you have a holiday without some festive decorations? Take some time to redo your altar space, room, or even your whole house if you want, to get into the holiday spirit! Being a harvest, nature based holiday, there are many cheap, easy, decorating ideas, that include many things we already have at home!

To start, use some seasonally scented candles, wax burners, or essential oils to make your sacred space smell like Lughnasadh vibes!

Candles in holiday colors, or tied with holiday colored ribbon, make a good altar addition! (See below for list of color correspondences)

Dried corn, rice, wheat, corn dollies, fallen twigs, dried straw, herbs, crystals, corn stalks, pumpkins, squash, dried oats, dried beans, a cornucopia, sunflower seeds, flowers, a scythe, a sickle, or a cauldron are quite seasonal options! (Keep reading for suggestions for crystals, scents and herbs!)

Crystals

These crystals are associated with Lughnasadh. Try using them as altar decorations, in your spellwork, or to meditate with during the holiday!

Amber, aventurine, carnelian, citrine, moss agate, topaz, golden topaz, obsidian, tigers eye, brown agate, clear quartz, cats eye, lodestones, peridot.

Plants/Herbs/Flowers/Scent Associations

Lumping this one a little since these have dual uses!

Wheat, Basil, Mint, Queen Anne’s Lace, Calendula, Yarrow, Sunflowers, Marigolds, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Rose, Rosemary, Rose hips, Blackthorn, Vervain, Peonies, Poppies, Ginseng, All Spice and Chamomile all have associations with Lughnasadh. Use these to decorate, make tea, cook or bake with, scent your home or altar space, or to leave as an offering! (Keep reading for suggestions on how to use these)

Colors

Try candles and ribbons in shades of green, brown, bronze, orange, yellow and gold. Personally, I always choose a yellow, brown, gold, and green candle for my Lughnasadh altar space.

Yellow represents solar energies, happiness, and transformation.

Brown represents earth energies, strength, protection, and animals.

Gold is to illuminate, for success, divine power, and the harvest.

Green represents abundance, prosperity, fertility, growth, wealth, life, and vegetation.

Food & Drink Ideas

As Lughnasadh is a feasting holiday to give thanks, consider having some friends and loved ones over for a BBQ or potluck! both are great traditional ideas. Try these food and drink suggestions to indulge in holiday flavors!

Foods: BBQ, breads, roasted lamb, pot luck, berries - like blueberries and blackberries, potatoes, pies, nuts, pumpkin, mushrooms, garlic, honey, acorn squash, summer squash, apples, oats, rice, beans, fried chicken, berry pancakes

Drinks: Since wheat is a big thing, beer is a staple drink, but if you’re more of a wine person try elderberry, blackberry or blueberry wine. For alcohol free options, cherry or apple ciders are great, or plain apple juice.

Mint and chamomile are associated herbs, they make a great tea suggestion! Sweet mint, peppermint or spearmint make lovely iced teas. Blueberry or blackberry teas are also delicious!

I’m also personally adding mojitos to this list as a modern update. Since mint is associated, adding some from your garden in a refreshing mojito sounds like a good way to incorporate it to me!

Try some oats or blueberry pancakes in the morning with a seasonal juice or herbal tea, then do a bigger feast for dinner of lamb or chicken, with a beer, then pie for dessert!

More Ways to Celebrate

Bake Bread

There’s lots of recipes online for you to bake your very own loaf. Try adding herbs, or twisting the dough into Celtic knots for extra flair. You can also ‘paint’ the bread! Try Pinterest for some great recipe ideas. Bake extra to give away to a loved one or leave as an offering!

Have a Popcorn Party

Since Lughnasadh is associated with corn, try having a movie night wit friends and making different varieties of popcorn! Do you like spicy, or sweet kinds? This is a great idea to try with kids!

Have a Beer

As a grain holiday, relaxing with a cold brew is a good way to relax this Lughnasadh. Safely and responsibly of course.

Create a Besom

A besom is a witches broom. This is a good time of year to use dried straw, fallen twigs, ribbons and charms to create your own. Personally I love to see lavender in them, gorgeous!

Make Candles

If you have the supplies (even cooler if you have you own bees and wax!) try making candles. Bonus points for seasonal colors and scents, triple points for recycling old wax and bringing life back to old candles!

Harvest/Canning

Harvest your fruits, veggies, and herbs you’ve grown to use them in thanks in teas, tinctures, salves, your cooking, spellwork, and to hang up to dry. Make salsas, or preserves or jams to try on your Lughnasadh bread, or try canning to have a treat in the cold months!

Spend Time Outdoors

Take a walk, hike up a hill, have a picnic, visit a Farmer’s Market or produce stand for local goodies, or go pick fruits, like apples, berries or peaches at a local orchard! Find a way to soak up the last of the season’s warmth.

Have a Fire/Light a Candle

Have a bonfire solo or with friends, and consider burning away some things that need to be released. Throw things that don’t serve you (that are fire safe of course!) into the flames and let them be released. Let the fire ‘reap’ the bad from your life, and ‘sow’ positivity back into it.

If you can’t have a fire, choose a seasonally colored candle, or a few, and give thanks by it’s light! You can carve runes into them if you’d like also!

Spellwork

Lughnasadh works with themes of success and abundance, so it’s a great time of year to do spellwork involving your career, health or love life. If you or someone you know is trying for a new job, or hoping for a new relationship, or maybe buying a house, or moving to a new location, try a little spell to help you manifest your (or theirs!) goals.

Scrying/Divination

Break out your tarot, oracle cards and scrying/divination tools! This is a good time to try new methods you haven’t worked with before, such as bones or runes. If you’ve never tried fire scrying, use your Lughnasadh bonfire or candle as a first attempt!

Cooking/Baking/Drink Making

Feasting with friends or loved ones is a good way to celebrate! (Try the menu ideas above!) Try using herbs you’ve grown or purchased from a local stand in the recipes!

Make a Corn Dolly

Traditionally the least sheaf that was ceremonially cut was used to make a ‘corn dolly’, and carried to the village. The corn dolly would be made into a corn maiden (or corn mother) if the harvest was good, or a ‘cailleach’ (Celtic word for witch, hag) after a bad harvest. These dollies could be clothed, or dressed with ribbon. If you make a doll at Lughnasadh, she can be used again in six months for Imbolc, and can be dressed in spring colors. The harvest Mother, becomes the Spring bride! (Some traditions don’t believe in reusing the doll, but that depends on your practice!)

Smudge/Cleanse/Bless Your Space

Smudge away that negativity that’s been lingering, clear the air, and your life, so that you may grow bountiful! Buy a smudge stick or make your own with sage and added herbs if you’d like. Mugwort, rosemary, lavender and juniper are good additives. Open the windows, let the light and breeze in! Start fresh and clean this holiday, and reap those bad energy places!

Make a Gift

Acts of service and selflessness are important on Lughnasadh. We’re in a place of abundance, and it’s time to share the bounty and love with others. Make a gift for a friend, loved one or neighbor to share the holiday spirit. Try flowers you’ve picked, breads or foods you’ve made, jams or jellies you preserved, or another homemade craft item. Make it with love! They’ll be sure to feel the positive vibes. They’ll see this act of kindness, and pass it on...the world needs more love!

Acts of Service

Lughnasadh is centered around themes of prosperity, generosity, continued success, and giving thanks; which makes it a great time to help those around us, and share the blessings of our abundance with others.

Consider volunteering your time, organizing a community cleanup, picking up trash at the beach, having a friend, neighbor, or loved one over for a hot meal, or offering to help a neighbor with something they need. Devote your time, and watch the blessings come back to you.

Make a Gratitude List

What has ‘grown’ in you life this year that you’re thankful for? Have some seasonal tea, sit by a candle, and make a gratitude list of everything you’re blessed with in life.

Make a reap/ sow list

On that note, you can also try a reap/sow list. Write down what you’re proud to have “planted” in your life, and watched grow, and also what your’re not proud of. What needs to be ‘reaped’ from you life? What weeds are strangling you, that need to be pulled for a bountiful harvest next year? Use this time as personal reflection, and choose what to reap and sow to live your best life in alignment with your true self. Think in ‘Regrets’, ‘Farewells’, ‘Harvest’ and ‘Preserves’

Regrets: Think about things you meant to do this summer that did not come to fruition. Project your regrets onto fire safe objects, like pine cones, and throw them into your fire. You can also write on dried corn husks or paper.

Farewells: What’s passing from your life? What is over? Say goodbye. You can use visuals or writing for this, and also throw into the fire to release, or a lake or ocean. You could also use a flower bulb and plant it, to watch it grow back next year.

Harvest: What have you already harvested this year? What is sprouting? Find a way to represent those things and create a visual reminder to hang in your home.

Preserves: Think about the fruits you have gathered this year and how you can hold onto the sweet memories. Make a remembrance box, or box altar, to help remember special things, times and people.

Make a Craft

Lugh is the God of craftsmanship, so try making something festive to decorate your home or altar! Wheat can be used for wreaths and door decorations, apples can be turned into seasonal candle holders, or try making your own corn dolly or besom. Search Pinterest for these great ideas or check my Instagram account for the how-to’s! (@selfcarewitchxo)

Go to a Craft Fair

And again, on that note! Since Lugh is the God of this, see if there’s any local craft fairs in your area and buy some local goodies!

PHEW!

That’s it folks! Your complete guide to celebrate Lughnasadh! Thank you for being patient with me as I got this posted. If you hear from me on other sites you know I already typed this whole thing once and it got deleted! Ahh! I’m glad to have this up finally!

Connect with me on Instagram to see what i’ll be doing for the day, and send me the ideas you’ve decided to try out! I’d love to see your crafts or anything you’ve baked! Also if you have any ideas to add, let me know and I’ll post them!

HAPPY CELEBRATING!

Blessed Lughnasadh Witches!

~ Faye ~

@selfcarewitchxo

#lughnasadh #witch #witchcraft #witches #lammas #lughnasadh 2019 #lammas 2019 #pagan #pagans #witchcraft blog #beginner witch #beginners witchcraft #pagan holiday #celtic holiday #lugh #celtic

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nicolasnelson · 5 years

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Headcanons about Sizzie in 2x09?

So I actually went through the trouble of lining up the Necromancer’s events with the current timeline. According to the “3 months ago” title when the Necromancer kills the jogger in the cemetery, which happened in September during 2x02, the current time of the events of 2x09 would be December. Last episode (2x08) Hope actually stated “it’s October.”

That means we have two whole months for Sizzie to get busy between 2x08 and 2x09. Some of these headcanons will include that and some will of course go along with the episode. (This ended up including a few general Sebastian headcanons too.) My theory for why they waited so long to “test” Sebastian is that Sebastian can’t start school in the middle of the semester. Alaric insists he has to start with the new semester.

Lizzie teaches Sebastian about Halloween. He’s not familiar with it, but he is familiar with the celtic festival Samhain and teaches her how that is celebrated. They combine the traditions to celebrate the day. Sebastian dresses up as Dracula and Lizzie dresses up as Mina (based on the version in the 1931 film). Lizzie does sex up her outfit a bit more though. For the Samhain part, they light a bonfire and cast stones into it.

For Thanksgiving, Sebastian has no one to celebrate it with, and Lizzie cannot bring him to her family’s celebration since her dad doesn’t trust him (and she hasn’t told him she’s been hooking up with Sebastian). They have their own celebration the day after Thanksgiving, filled with them attempting and failing to bake pumpkin pie, and cuddling on a couch together at the Old Mill. Okay, so they definitely do more than just cuddle.

Lizzie catches him up on the drama around campus while they are making out. She thinks he’s not paying attention, but he has learned quite a lot about the people at the school.

Sebastian is fascinated by Hope since he never knew it was possible to be a tribrid. Lizzie answers all his questions about Hope that she can, but often she would rather be kissing him. A part of her worries that Sebastian is crushing on Hope.

When Sebastian finds out Lizzie is jealous, he assures her he only has eyes for her and teases her that she does indeed fancy him.

Sebastian has been feeding on humans off campus and compelling them to forget he fed on them. Lizzie tries to persuade him to try the bunny blood, but he refuses. It’s the one thing she can’t sway him on.

Landon doesn’t resent Sebastian for killing him. Sebastian assures him he was merely curious to know how phoenixes worked. He was disappointed to find out all Landon did was rise from the ashes. He thought he would at least be a bit harder to kill.

Sebastian teases Landon about his lack of powers in hopes of unlocking more of his abilities. He doesn’t believe Landon can merely rise from the ashes every time he dies.

Sebastian still calls MG and Kaleb turnips whenever he gets the chance. He finds it far too easy to tease him and enjoys how it riles up MG every time. Lizzie asks him to stop doing it, and he stops teasing them around Lizzie (but continues when she’s not around).

When Alyssa exposes Sebastian’s fear that he’s not good enough for Lizzie, Sebastian realizes that he’s just going to hurt Lizzie if he stays at the school. That’s why he decides to goad Alaric into attacking him. He knows he would never be able to just leave Lizzie behind on his own. He has to literally force someone else to stop him.

Sebastian expects Alaric to desiccate him again or kill him. He hopes it’s the latter because then Lizzie will never get the chance to rescue him, and she will remain safe away from him.

#legacies #sizzie #lizzie saltzman #lizzie x sebastian #sebastian #trying to catch up on my asks #still a few sizzie/sebastian ones to go!#Anonymous

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psyga315 · 4 years

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Rewriting RWBY Volume 2

This is going to be a bit of a challenge, as Volume 2 is, compared to the other Volumes, meh. It’s not as great as Volume 3, it isn’t as bad as Volume 5, and it doesn’t split the fanbase viciously like every other Volume. It merely has its ups and downs. However, I’m going to try and tweak Volume 2 so as to fall in line with other Volumes.

As with before, I’m going to keep the story beats intact and try not to introduce as many new plot elements like with other rewrites. If I do, it’s to help build to a later plot point in the canon of the show, like how I had Gretchen be in Volume 1. But don’t expect me to completely rewrite the history of Remnant and have Bondrewd make a cameo or staple CFVY onto everything to try and make it better.

But, TL;DR: Celtic Phoenix’s fixing of Volume 2 is your better bet for a tweaked Volume 2.

With that out of the way, let’s begin.

Character Short

There’s one thing I’d completely change about the way the show works and that’s the tradition of a Character Short to introduce the Volume. To save on breath for future Tweaks, this means the four trailers that kickstarted RWBY are the Shorts for Volume 1, the Ruby Character Short is for Volume 4, the Ilya Character Short is Volume 5, and the Adam Character Short is for Volume 6. This leaves 2, 3, and 7 to have Character Shorts.

Though, the big question is who will have the short for Volume 2, though, I think the obvious answer would be Roman & Neo. At the time, we don’t know too much about Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury and while a Character Short involving them would have worked, Volume 2 is Roman’s grand finale as the head villain before he gets arrested and Cinder’s plans come to the forefront. Besides, Volume 3 would be a better fit for them having a Short.

What would the Short be about? Well, it’d introduce Neo to the audience. As for the scenario, it could be the chain of events that led to him meeting Cinder for the first time. Because we don’t know much about it outside of the implication that Mercury knew and introduced Roman to Cinder, the best I can think of is that, during a heist gone wrong that led to him taking Neo in, he bumps into Cinder and while we don’t see what she says to get him to join her side (yet), it seems enough to cause Roman, the previously chipper gentleman thief, to feel fear and despair, a feeling that will become very familiar to various characters who see Salem.

The White Fang Investigation Arc

Episode 1: It has been a day or so since RWBY and JNPR had formed officially and Ruby has had planned a lot of things out. This plays out like before, complete with a food fight, though downplay the “Weiss ‘dying’ in Ruby’s arms” bit because after her thing with Gretchen and what’ll happen later with Penny and Pyrrha, this feels less like comedy and more foreshadowing.

Episode 2: Huntsmen from different Kingdoms come together, including the debut of the following characters: Sun, who arrived with his team and not stowing away for whatever reason, Penny, who eerily becomes quick friends with Ruby, and General Ironwood.

Now, given the events of Volume 7, I feel like his Reasonable Authority Figure moments should be played up to help twist the knife. That or downplay it and bring forward a ruthless nature that foreshadows the lengths he’ll go to save Remnant. Either way you slice it, he’ll be a foil to Ozpin.

Either he becomes Ozpin if he valued Huntsmen as humans and thus seeks to find ways to protect them or even replace them so that they don’t have to die or he’s Ozpin if he goes overboard with using Huntsmen as a means to an end. For the sake of future tweaking, he’ll be the former.

Ozpin and Ironwood, while they’re both involved in the conspiracy, don’t see eye to eye. Ironwood believes that Ozpin is being too reckless with his Huntsmen and is the major reason why he’s focusing on robots instead, while Ozpin thinks Ironwood’s approach is too detached and that robots lack the feelings of humans to do what is best.

Now, Ironwood appearing in Beacon in this tweak is because part of the festivities of Vytal is that the four Headmasters come together to discuss matters and the future of the four Kingdoms. Think one of those UN meetings. However, this is what the public believes. In reality, it’s a front for Ozpin to command the other Headmasters on what the next phase for the Academies and the Kingdoms would be. However, it’s also been known to Ozpin that Haven and Shade have grown apathetic to the meetings in the past decade and while Haven sends in a representative instead of their Headmaster every meeting, Shade does not even do that.

This is to foreshadow two things: The obvious one is that Lionheart has been Salem’s pawn for a long while and that if he were to go to these meetings, he’d crack under pressure and fess up. Thus, representatives are needed, fed lines that only serve to keep Ozpin placated and not arouse suspicion while being fed information from Ozpin and Ironwood. It’s that very reason why the representatives for Haven get switched around, to prevent Ozpin from picking up on tells and feeding false information. In fact, most of them aren’t even pawns of Salem but genuine people that Lionheart believed would best represent Haven, much like how he picked Pyrrha.

The other is somewhat also obvious: Vacuo is Vacuo.

Some of you guys might know where I’m going with this, but for those who don’t, sit tight…

Ironwood talks with Ozpin about the message Qrow had sent about the Queen having pawns. Ozpin has nothing to fear with this and tells him “It’s something we have known for a long while.” To which Ironwood replies “So why did he tell us this now? The only purpose for a pawn is to either fall within the first hours of battle or be promoted within enemy lines. I fear it’s the latter he’s referring to…”

This goes back and forth before Haven’s representative speaks up as Ozpin remarks that everyone has pawns.

“So… is that what your students are to you?” Ozpin looks at the big, burly man, Haven’s representative. He says nothing, which only makes him frustrated, leading to him leaving the room. Ozpin makes a remark about how he and Ironwood are the only people who care for Remnant’s safety, only for Ironwood to give a barbed response of: “Do you?” before he too leaves.

The rest of the episode plays out, but during the end of the episode, rather than Ruby bumping into Cinder and her squad, she instead bumps into the big man. While she would have just left there and then, he stops her and asks if she is Ruby Rose. She answers yes and follows with a “why do you ask” before he responds:

“… Thank you… For being there for Gretchen…” And that’s how we’re introduced to Hazel Rainart.

I feel like Hazel is underutilized as a villain, only having a big moment in what most consider the worst volume ever and only serving to make his character weak. This is why I made Gretchen’s death an in-show event and why Hazel debuts early: to paint him as an anti-villain.

Episode 3 & 4 relatively stay the same, but with Ruby’s interactions with Penny being the first time she’s meeting her. However, with the rememberance of Gretchen, Ruby begins to keep a distance from Penny, fearing that something like Gretchen will happen to Penny, especially after she finds out she’s a robot. Likewise, Blake is weary of Sun and has no idea why he wants to help her defeat the White Fang, believing him to be only doing it for her attention.

There’s only one major change, and I think this would be much like with Celtic Phoenix’s rewrite, in that Tukson is introduced as an ally who helps Blake and Sun get disguises to infiltrate the White Fang.

The Dance Arc

Episode 5 still happens like before, with Pyrrha fighting CRDL, though perhaps with some pretext as to why she decided to take on all four at once. Something like “payback for what you did in that extra episode on the DVD” that conveniently gets released to the public on Rooster Teeth’s Youtube Channel.

However, Pyrrha is given a challenge from the new star pupil of Haven Academy: Mercury Black, who wants to see if Pyrrha’s prowess is comparable to his own. They have a fight and Mercury forfeits the moment he feels Pyrrha’s Semblance on his legs. We don’t know why from the get go, but it’s far from the “Just studying her” excuse that canon presented.

Okay, it is that, but mixed with his resentment towards people with Semblances in general. I guess I’ll explain, but the idea of his father taking away his Semblance might be a cool way to write a character flaw for him. A sort of complex towards people with Semblances, loathing that they use their Semblances as a crutch whereas he had to get by without one. He does lament that Jaune would be a better fight to have, which most of the students of Beacon consider an insult.

Rest of the episode plays like normal, but it’s everyone feeling off, not just Blake and Jaune. Ruby feels guilty about letting Gretchen die and thus can’t approach Hazel. Weiss has been getting calls from her father that unnerve her. Yang can’t shake off Neo giving them the slip. Pyrrha is struggling to feel if Mercury’s comment about fighting Jaune is an insult to her. And Jaune and Blake have their canon reasons.

In the middle of all this, Mercury rendezvous with his team mate Emerald and go to give Tukson a visit. As Blake begins to receive a call about what happened to Tukson, his assassination plays out, before the episode ends with them reporting to their teacher, Cinder.

Episode 6 begins with Roman berating Mercury and Emerald for killing Tukson, as he fears that the White Fang will retaliate, only for Cinder to reassure him that it’s exactly what is needed to rile them up, especially since Mercury framed the scene to look like a cop did it, to mirror what Roman said about the government.

After that, Mercury talks with Cinder about the plan or rather the apparent lack of one. Emerald gets ready to bitchsmack him for daring to question her divine savior, but Cinder calms the two down and explains her M.O.: They’re dealing with a man who sees the world as a chess board and as such, visualizes what moves to make and which pieces to sacrifice, all in an attempt to win. To which she says, while sewing her dress, “but I’m different. I don’t play to win. I merely make a beautiful pattern.”

And then we cut to the infamous Bumblebee scene. What? Foreshadowing to Raven or hinting towards Yang’s abandonment issues? Naaaah! Everyone knows it’s just Yang wanting to let Blake know she wants that sweet, sweet honey.

… Okay, joking aside, this scene can be kept in as it is, but it is to set up Yang’s plot with Raven first and foremost. She explains more detail about Raven to Blake. She talks about Team STRQ. “I’m cool and cocky, like my uncle Qrow. Weiss prioritizes technique over strength, like my dad, and Ruby, well, she’s like mom.”

Blake is confused and believes that she means Raven and not Summer. When she makes the assumption clear to Yang, she bitterly remarks about how she lost the right to be called mother when she dropped her off at her dad’s doorstep in a half-assed basket. She then explains how Raven was the black sheep of STRQ, getting booted out of Beacon the moment Ozpin found out about her intent to use the training to kill Huntsmen. Summer had faith in Raven, as did Taiyang, but that faith was only rewarded with pain. The reason she wants to find Raven? Because she had reason to believe that Summer’s final mission was to bring Raven back and she wants to find out what happened to her.

Of course, she explains that she doesn’t let that control her and she tells Blake that she shouldn’t let the White Fang control her. It doesn’t end with Yang flirting with Blake, but when has that stopped the shippers.

There’s a B plot about Jaune wanting to dance with Weiss, but he sees that she’s asking out Neptune. Dance continues like usual.

Episode 7 is the dance. Most of it is perfect, but I feel like we can tweak it just a little.

For one, Ruby works up the courage to apologize to Hazel about what happened, only for the two of them to notice Cinder and investigate. More on this later.

Jaune confronts Neptune about not going to the dance with Weiss until he reveals why: he knows that she’s a Schnee and as such, are wicked rich and powerful. To reject her would be a death sentence for him, especially if Jacques found out. Jaune reassures Neptune that this isn’t some sort of cartoon where Weiss is a rich alpha bitch and that he just needs to know the real her.

Back with the fight between Cinder, Hazel, and Ruby, it goes about as well as you expect, but Hazel attacks Cinder and causes the two of them to leave while Ironwood finds Ruby in the room with the hacked CCT.

Meanwhile, Hazel and Cinder fight each other for a little longer before Cinder talks to him about Gretchen and who he should really blame for her death. He stops, then asks “… How do I make him pay?”

So… Yeah. Hazel was a good guy before he became evil in this tweak. Again, the idea is to paint him as an anti-villain, which also means showing just how easy it is for Cinder (and by extension, Salem) can manipulate others into joining her cause.

Mountain Glenn Arc

Episode 8 has Ironwood talk with Oz about how they found a virus on the CCT but that they managed to erase it (before anyone asks, no, it’s not actually deleted. The virus only feigned being deleted and still lingers in the background, waiting for a backdoor to activate it again) and calls out Ozpin for the lack of security at the CCT. He reassures Ironwood that the threat is averted and that now they know that the enemy is in their territory. He had asked Hazel prior but he feigns not knowing who she is, which leaves Ruby to describe who she is.

Obviously, Cinder’s infiltration outfit is more than just her in a domino mask but a full-on stealth outfit complete with a mask. The only thing that can be used as a finger print is her use of a Semblance, but as Ruby tries to explain what abilities she’s used, but they get justified as anything but a Semblance. “She used fire!” “That was dust.” “She used glass!” “That was dust.” The only thing Ruby managed to get in was the hideout, but even then, that is put under scrutiny by Ironwood and Glynda, who both call her out on the contradictory information that she never said anything.

Ozpin, however, excuses Ruby, then talks about the person to his band, saying that they might have found “Autumn’s Assailant”. Ironwood insists they send an army to take her out, but Ozpin advises to exercise caution and that, were the army were to attack and she manages to win, that would only make things worse.

“It’s times like this that we need a more… human touch.”

Rest of the episode plays out like usual, though instead of Ozpin going all “I’ll just overlook that you guys are going to a dangerous mission”, he instead gives them the mission before they even see the board. This is something that is noted by Penny.

Episode 9 plays mostly the same, but with an obvious change in that Oobleck talks about Dr. Merlot’s experiments being the cause of Glenn’s destruction and that the possibility of the White Fang using it as a hideout would be risky, since the Grimm are attracted to negative emotions. “And believe me, despite how old the racism towards Faunus is, the Grimm will always smell it like it’s a fresh wound in water.” … Okay, bad analogy, but you get the idea.

Oobleck picks the brains of the members of RWBY, including Ruby herself, as he believes her reason for being a Huntress isn’t as pure as she thought it’d be. It’s not as brain picking as the others, but it’s something that gives the audience something to wonder.

Oobleck: “Ozpin told me why you wanted to be a Huntress. It’s not too far from what your sister said.”

Ruby: “Apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree, ehe…”

Oobleck: “But… do you really want to protect people… Or is there something more to this ideal of being a Huntress than what you told Ozpin?”

Ruby: “Huh? I’m don’t know what you mean.”

Oobleck: “You will soon…”

Episode 10 has Ironwood confronting Glynda about Ozpin in that he’s become too passive in the war and had allowed a traffic accident that left dozens injured and at least one or two casualties to happen. Glynda asks what he should have done, to which Ironwood responds with why he wishes to replace Huntsmen with robots. “Pawns only have two purposes: to be promoted within enemy lines… or to fall. Ozpin cares only for the latter…”

Blake and Weiss talk about the SDC and the White Fang and how their war has cost Weiss her childhood innocence. She then says it’s not the Faunus’s fault that people have died. It’s her father. She reveals that the real reason she wants to be a Huntress isn’t to save people from Grimm like other people, but to use what she learned to defeat her father and take the SDC for herself.

Blake talks about Adam, someone who was scarred by the SDC, and how that pain caused him to resent humans. That whole “at first it was accidental, then it was in self-defence” speech comes here as she justified why she left the White Fang. Her reason for being a Huntress is similar in that regard, to atone for what she did as a member of the White Fang. After that? She doesn’t know.

Them talking about their motives brings Yang to confess her motive is even more selfish. She wants to experience the thrills of being a Huntress while the others want to change their worlds for the better. Blake brings up Raven, which only causes Yang to try and quiet her to not let Ruby know. She also brings up that Ruby wants to be a hero and that if she was to command them, she’d tell them to leave their businesses at the door in the name of protecting people, though Oobleck eavesdrops and hurms.

Ruby gets kidnapped like usual, but the bombs are explicitly the dust that Roman stole because that wasn’t going to be brought up in later volumes.

Episode 11 is one of those episodes that remain the same, though with a lot more emphasis on how RWBY dispatching the White Fang isn’t going to be ignored anytime soon, as Ruby ends up knocking a White Fang member off on to the train track. He gets up, but is soon mauled by a Creep. Ruby shrieks as she realizes this is the first time, she’s killed someone, even if it wasn’t by her own hands. Meanwhile, Yang manages to beat a White Fang member up, but he dies to his wounds from Ember Celica, with Yang seeing that there’s blood staining her right glove.

Weiss and Blake aren’t as shocked to be killing White Fang members, but Weiss seems to enjoy it a little too much for her liking (“I get to kill a Schnee!” “And I get to kill another White Fang.”) and Blake is called out as a traitor, which makes her killing the White Fang members all the more tragic.

The rest plays out like usual, but with Raven’s appearance, it’s foreshadowed as one of the White Fang members talks about how they have an infiltrator that is also killing the group.

The final episode is the infamous Breach. And I think I know just how to tweak it.

Don’t have any comedy moments.

Make this a battle that can’t be won so easily.

Have. Civilians. Die.

As much as I want to defend the Breach as a contrasting prelude to the Fall of Beacon, we still need to ensure that the tonal shift doesn’t become a total whiplash that alienates the fanbase. This means we need to make this episode, not bloody, but brutal. Punches are pulled, however. No one important dies, but it is an obvious tragedy that the council feels could have been avoided.

The council call out Ozpin for allowing such a death toll to be in the hundreds and that, because of the Festival, they can’t make a proper assessment of just what exactly he did until it’s over. However, they entrust security over to Ironwood, which earns the ire of Glynda. Ironwood gets his first ever taste of what it means to do the right thing, even if it means being a villain in the process…

And he is okay with it.

Adam approaches Cinder and co like usual (Cinder says how the Breach was a beautiful pattern), but gives the stipulation that “The cat is mine.”

And the Stinger is Raven telling Yang about her one time save before she departs. Yang asks what she had to do with Summer’s disappearance, only for Raven to say “she was merely a pawn in a grand game…”

DVD Extra Episode

Nothing big. JNPR and SSSN’s hijinx working on their missions.

And that was Volume 2 tweaked. It fell more in line with its canon volume in contrast to Volume 1 and that’s due to how Volume 2 is structured more as a problem of the week format than an outright multi-arc Volume like most other Volumes are.

Next tweak will be a challenge as this will tackle what people consider the best Volume of RWBY.

#RWDE #RWBY #RWBY Rewrite #Rewrite

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lilquill · 5 years

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lil! concerning ur latest post abt white authors making their characters of color seem like racebend white poepel, do you have any advice to give concerning fantasy stories? if real life cultural groups don't exist in a story so cultural details can't b included, how can someone avoid their characters of color being inauthentic?

Hello anon omg!!

And for readers who don’t know what anon is talking about, it’s this post. The notes are also a really great read!

Here’s a couple pieces of advice I can think of at the moment. If anyone has any resources or additional advice they’d like to share please add in the notes/reblogs!!

1. Consider the character’s race, and the culture(s) analogous to your character’s background.

This is the step everyone probably saw coming, probably! But since you’re starting off with a character of color, pin down what ethnicity/ethnicities they’re supposed to be.

Since characters of color exist in your fantasy place, their places of origin must be floating around somewhere in the sea! Even if this place of origin doesn’t actually show up in your story, figure out some basic ideas of what this place is like. The easiest way to do this is by basing it almost entirely on a real-life culture.

Feel free to also come up with your own culture by (tastefully) combining some traits from various cultures! What you’re doing doesn’t have to be as fully developed as your story’s actual setting, but figuring out a few basic things will help you in deepening your character by fleshing out their identity.

For example, in Jade City, author Fonda Lee creates a fantasy East Asian country. She pulls some things from various different East Asian cultures and politics and such things to create Kekon, and main city of Kekon we focus on, Janloon. She also does the same with Espenia, which is based on western countries but has cultural and political elements of a lot of different western countries and their relationships to East Asia. Her worldbuilding is intense and detailed, and it’s a level of worldbuilding I don’t expect from most fantasy books, but she creates a fully fleshed-out world and culture even though it’s a combination of different elements from different places.

Once you’ve pinpointed this, a lot of the character development starts falling into place a bit better. After all, the world hasn’t suddenly shrunk down to the typical fantasy setting of Europe From The Past; in fact even Europe From The Past was the way it was because of other, nonwestern cultures (e.g. the Reconquista in Spain, trade routes to various Asian and African countries especially because the Mediterranean Sea is literally RIGHT THERE, Romani people, etc.). Other cultures and places certainly did exist, and tbh you can’t write a character of color and ignore that fact.

2. If the story is set in some fantasy historical period, take a peek at history and culture of the character’s analogous place of origin.

If your character is fantasy!Filipina, consider what was happening in what we now call the Philippines, and in Southeast Asia, at the time period your story is set in. What was culture like at the time? What were important or notable historical events that would have shaped this? What did people like to eat? What did people like to wear?

Just as food and fashion and music and such things have evolved in the west over time, these things have changed in nonwestern countries as well, with as much or more complexity!

3. Research history and culture regardless of historical period.

Things like Greco-Roman mythology, Celtic mythology, etc. have deeply shaped the west, millennia later. Holidays, values, traditions, idioms, stories, etc. are heavily rooted in lots of these things.

Nonwestern cultures have important mythology and stories and holidays and cultural practices and things like that too! These things often show up in the world today, too. For example there’s idioms and sayings and stuff based on very old South Asian mythology that are still in use today.

Read some of the mythology! Understand religious practices! Think about important values and how they are reflected in those groups.

4. Consume fantasy media from that culture.

Don’t stick to just white western fantasy media for your inspiration; that’s how you end up with trying to use white western archetypes and things for your characters of color! Try to incorporate elements of nonwestern storytelling into your portrayal of your characters of color.

Your conceptualization of your fantasy world doesn’t have to be white and western! There are so many unique kinds of fantasy in other cultures; magical realism is an example of that!

5. Consider assimilation and ethnic groups in western places.

How did your character of color get to the setting of your story? Was it immigration, where they or their ancestors went there? Was it colonialism, where they had been living there and now others have taken the land? Are they a refugee? Are they part of an ethnic group that has simply been living in a “western” place for a really long time?

For instance, my parents are immigrants. My family wears a lot of western clothing, but we still do have some traditional ethnic clothes that we wear for festivals and religious events and things like that.

6. It’s the little things!

Things like an ethnic name, the way the character addresses family (e.g. a South Asian character calling her grandmother “nani”), maybe a lullaby they know in another language, family heirloom jewelry, recipes, form of prayer, etc. can all indicate being of a different culture without having to, y’know, fully create a whole different place!

Even consider things like accents. Look up how people from the culture your character is based on speak english, or even just what the language sounds like. I would highly NOT recommend trying to write the accent into the dialogue, but you can reference what the language itself sounds like. The accents people have often reflect in how they speak other language.

Another thing I’d like to add:

Usually, with other forms of representation in these settings, such as with lgbtq+ characters and neurodivergent characters and disabled characters, etc., these identities are expressed through actions.

For example we learn that a female character is queer, not because the author called her lesbian or bi or something, but because she has or has had romantic interest in other female characters.

We learn that a character is autistic, not just because they are called autistic and then act like your average neurotypical character, but because they think and perceive and act differently.

It’s not just about throwing out a descriptor for an identity, it’s about showing that identity in action. The same goes for characters of color!

I hope this was helpful and relevant!

Good luck anon!! Have a lovely day, and happy writing!!

#please feel free to send a follow-up ask if i didn't actually answer your question LOL #writing characters of color #writeblr #diversity #representation #writing tips #writing advice #representation matters #answered #anon #anonymous #ask #Anonymous

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