#they resolve that they'll find their own way out of the city

[softquietsteadylove]

Hey I thought about an interesting AU and I wanted to ask you what you think about this one.

Thenamesh quiet place AU!

Maybe them living and surviving together and they find Makkari and Sprite and they decide to take them in?

Or you can put your own version in it! You decide

Thena looked around the campground, being careful of the sticks and leaves that might be remotely louder than silent. Of course things seemed calm, but one could never be too sure.

Being out of the city at least was hopeful. She and Gil had managed to leave together because of living in the same apartment complex. They could only hope their other friends had made it out and to some of the boats. That was the goal now; find water.

It was no guarantee, but it was a hell of a lot better than nothing.

Gil waved to her, pointing at a caravan in the back, close to the trees. She nodded. The further from the city they got, the quieter things were, but that certainly didn't mean that they were alone out here. But they needed supplies, just like anyone else.

She walked ahead, being the quieter footed of the two of them. Gil did his best, but he was a dense ball of muscle, some noises were just inevitable. She looked around the area; still nothing. Slowly and carefully, she reached for the latch on the door. It wasn't silent, but it wasn't loud either.

Gil held his hand up. She had heard it too. He walked closer, holding up the butane torch he kept on him as a weapon. It gave off some sound, but it was still a hell of a lot quieter than any gun. And fire seemed reasonably effective against those things.

She pressed her back to the outside wall of the camper. She couldn't hear that clicking sound, which was a good sign. But it could still be a stray animal in there that could let out a shriek and spell their doom. Or perhaps the things were evolving and disguising the telltale sound of their presence.

Gil opened the door and poised his arm in the air. She peeked at him from behind, ready to pull him out if something went wrong. But he just stood there. She frowned.

"Uh-"

Well, that was odd. She moved around the door and behind him, trying to see past his wide shoulder. She bent, instead, looking through the gap between his arm and his side. She blinked, "oh."

The kids were huddled together, not terribly young but no older than their early teens. One with unruly red hair was glaring at Gil from under the table. The other one was facing him head on with a baseball bat held high above her little head.

The one under the table gave them the finger.

Gil shut off the blow torch, holding his palms out to show his intention of being friendly. He pressed his finger to his lips. The girls traded a look between them. At least the baseball bat was lowered.

He shook his head as something was signed to him. He looked at her for help, shaking his head and making a face. She nodded; it wasn't her best language, of course, but she knew some.

The girl was fluent, her hands moving rapidly, and with a definite sense of displeasure.

Thena held up her palms as well, urging the girl to slow down. She already wasn't good with kids, let alone kids when communication was even harder than usual. Slower, please.

The girl blinked, maybe pleased or at least surprised to have found someone who knew sign language to any extent. She looked at the smaller one again. Maybe.

I'm Thena, she began, spelling things out in what she was sure was a clumsy way, for the girl. That's Gil. You?

Makkari, the older one also spelled out, before offering a sign that clearly was a shorthand for her name. She even repeated, clearly not expecting much from them. She pointed, Sprite.

Thena nodded, looking up at Gil and then the kids. Why are you alone?

Makkari helped Sprite out from under the table. She pointed at the door, which Thena latched carefully. They had hung blankets in the windows, either for safety or to dampen any incidental sounds.

"We were camping."

Thena and Gil both looked at Sprite with surprise. Maybe they had assumed both kids would be mute. Gil looked at her before gently motioning for her to sit across from the kids at the breakfast nook table. He remained standing. "How long have you been out here?"

Sprite shrugged, although Makkari mentioned something about at least six months. How these two girls had survived all by themselves like this was beyond them. "When everything happened, our mom went to ask someone what was happening. She...she never came back."

Thena frowned; Gil physically winced. His heart was much too tender for all this. She leaned forward in her seat, what have you been doing to keep yourselves safe out here?

The girls traded a look again. They were integral to each other's survival out here. "Kari goes looking for things. She's really fast, and those things kind of don't always notice her."

That was interesting. But if the girl was quick and light on her feet, maybe she was as negligible as the wildlife, in terms of sound.

Makkari pointed at them, you're the first people we've seen.

Since everything happened. Thena looked up at Gil. The look on his face didn't surprise her. They weren't allowed pets in the building they had lived in back in the city, but she always imagined Gil would be the type to rescue a kitten from a box in the rain. And this would be the expression he would have on when he found it. She put her hand on his arm, shaking her head quietly.

He held out his hand.

She made a face, hoping to keep the kids from seeing it. She didn't want to abandon them here either. But kids were a whole other level of liability in their mission to find a safe haven in this new world--this dangerous world.

He put his hand over hers, but gave her a much firmer look. He wasn't going to leave them here, and 'no' wasn't an option.

She sighed through her nose. She could have guessed that was the case. Gil was just too sweet.

"Uh, hello?"

Thena looked at the girls again. They were both still distrusting of them, for which she couldn't fault them at all. This wasn't the kind of world in which just anyone could be trusted. "We-"

"We're not asking you to drag us along, if that's what you're thinking."

They had to be at least 13, judging by the attitude they both had. Thena resisted the urge to roll her eyes; this was exactly why she had been poised to say no. Gil would be a great guardian and father-figure. He would make a great dad, if the world hadn't outright ended. She, on the other hand, was no mother-hen.

"It's not safe for you to stay here," Gil said oh-so gently and sweetly. His voice was comforting, like a blanket. "We can help each other."

We're doing just fine, Makkari argued, her hands smacking together slightly in her passion, right here!

Thena reached out, snatching the girls hands before they could clap together, palm against palm. Makkari looked affronted but she raised her eyebrows at the girl. Careful.

Perhaps chastised for the first time in months, both girls quieted. They looked at her with their big, sad eyes. Makkari pulled her hands away slowly and offered a sheepish, sorry.

Gil peeked out from their blanket curtains, making sure nothing was lurking around outside. He patted her shoulder.

It was all clear; Thena leaned back in her seat again. Still, she spoke barely above a whisper, "come with us."

The kids looked at each other, but rather than seeming to have their own conversation between them, they looked tentative. They looked scared, frightened at the possibility of leaving what shreds of a home they still had.

Thena sighed again. "How much food do you have?"

Both girls blushed, perhaps their stomachs were rumbling quietly as they spoke.

Gil hurriedly and happily took off his backpack and dug around in it. "Why didn't you say so?"

Thena gave the girls a smile; Gil looked big and tough, but he was a teddy bear if ever there was one. He was a chef.

The girls' eyes both brightened, big turquoise and speckled brown respectively. They clearly had been living sparingly, eating what they could manage to get their hands on after the immediate supplies ran low.

"Here," Gil whispered, putting down a cloth bundle of dried meats. "It's jerky."

"His recipe," she added with a hint of satisfaction as the girls all but wrestled over it. "He marinates it himself."

The kids tore at it like wild animals. But Gil just chuckled, leaning on Thena's shoulder. "I have more, and biscuits and roasted nuts. You guys can have as much as you want."

They would get spoiled. But Thena had to admit that it was nice to see something as hopeful as kids devouring some good food after everything everyone had been through. She patted Gil's arm as she stood from the seat. "I told you it's good."

He rolled his eyes at her, but he returned her affectionate little pat as she checked the other window. "It'll be dark in a few hours. We can stay here tonight."

The kids looked up and then at each other and then back at them.

We'll need supplies for travelling. We can collect things a little at a time and use this place to sleep safely. When we have enough food and water for everyone, then we'll go.

Sprite had a piece of jerky still dangling from her lip when she asked, where?

Terrible manners, not that those mattered anymore. Thena set her bag down too. "We have to look for water. Those things can't swim. Water is the best way for us to survive."

"Uh, we can't-"

"You don't have to swim," Gil amended quickly and gently. He leaned down, subtly reaching into his pack for more food. "I can't swim very well."

That was an exaggeration; he sank like a stone. Not that she was much better. But Thena smiled, "we'll find a boat, or something. Then maybe we can find an island that still has some people."

The kids shrugged. They weren't concerned with finding the remains of civilisation. They were only concerned with tomorrow, and maybe the day after. They had each other, and that was enough for them.

Thena pushed forward the biscuits for them to also devour like hyenas (which they did. "Where do you two sleep?"

Makkari chewed with her mouth open (great). But she gestured to the benches on which they were sitting.

Thena looked at the camper as a whole--there was a larger bed at one end and a smaller, elevated area at the other, directly under the window. She pointed at the larger one for Gil, you take that one.

She would have to teach him some sign, but he got what he needed from it. Enough to give her a look and insist that she take the larger bed. He pointed to where he stood; he would stand guard.

She rolled her eyes more blatantly at him, "you still need to sleep, Gil."

"And I will," he insisted before gesturing to the smaller shelf of a bed, "there."

Sprite gulped down some dry biscuit, crumbles flying from her mouth as she said, "what, are you guys in a fight or something?"

She frowned, and Gil looked at her too. She shook her head, "what?--no, why?"

Makkari waved her finger between them, aren't you married?

Thena's jaw dropped. These impudent kids--completely without manners, so full of attitude. And why would they assume that?! Just because she and Gil were travelling together didn't mean they were married! They didn't seem married...did they?

"What?"

She rubbed her temple, trying to conceal her frustration. It was just a question by some unruly kids. She picked up her head and smiled at him, "nothing. You should get some rest now, then you can take watch later."

He made a face at her, and at the girls giggling at him.

[sir-adamus]

so

stipulations for Salem's immortality is that she will walk the face of the world until she 'learns the importance of life and death', as punishment for attempting to 'disrupt the balance' that the Brothers created

the Blacksmith establishes that the Brothers flat out don't understand what balance really is, which is why they clash constantly in contrast to how the Blacksmith shows that RWBY - finding equilibrium in their cooperation and patience with each other - represent true balance

in fact the contrast in approach between the Brothers and the Tree is very clear; the Brothers are at constant war with each other and deal out vengeful, punitive 'justice' instead of actually solving anything (bickering and breaking and repairing the Jabberwalker to spite each other and neither attempting to fix the problems with it. not even acknowledging or questioning why Salem wanted Ozma back and instead dismissing her, then throwing a tantrum when she proceeded to not do as she was told, resulting in global genocide and later hanging the threat over Oz's head that they'd do it again if the new humanity isn't up to their exacting standards).

meanwhile the Tree, through the Blacksmith, gives Ruby the space and reassurance she needs to stop running herself into the ground and start resolving her issues. it addresses the heart of the problem, for closure and resolution, with no judgment or pressure

so, message is clear - RWBY are gonna be key to stopping Salem for good by demonstrating something the Brothers could never hope to impart to her.

and obviously the Brothers will invariably get summoned down to Remnant, if not by Salem's hand then by Cinder's (she's vengeful enough that she'd be driven to try and end all of humanity just to one-up her enemies, let's be real); because the stipulation on Oz's immortality requires them to come back so he can finally die - and that's where they'll be challenged on the cosmic levels of bullshit they've left the universe in

i guess if you think about it, it all roots back to the Brothers not even understanding what they were made for and getting too big for their boots over it - the Tree doesn't judge, the Tree helps solve the heart of the issue to help people move on (though how successful that is, is up to them), to be better than they were, and judgment and punishment have no place in that. likewise, the Brothers weren't meant to judge, but they took their powers of Creation and Destruction to mean they were the arbiters over such things, and not part of the ecosystem - and therefore got it in their stupid featureless heads that they get to judge the worthiness of the living, and dole out disproportionate punishments in the face of even a modicum of defiance

and because of their failure to understand what real balance is, it's basically become a cycle that has been repeated throughout the course of Remnant's history - impatience and conflict, petty vengeance and spite. like almost every villain is acting to punish some perceived wrong inflicted on them instead of addressing their own issues (Salem vs the Brothers and Oz, Hazel vs Oz, Adam vs the world, Ironwood vs anyone who questions him, Cinder vs Ruby, Neo vs Ruby, the Cat vs Alyx and the Brothers)

Adam refused to walk away despite being given multiple chances to do so and kept going until the only option was to kill him (and his death didn't solve the problems he created). Ironwood refused to listen to any plan that wasn't his own to the point of actively sabotaging the plans of others and threatening to bomb defenseless civilians so that he'd get his way, until he was left to be literally crushed by the weight of his own city (and again, massive problems left in his wake). neither of their deaths are treated as a triumph within the narrative either

Neo's quest for vengeance destroyed her from the inside and she actually succeeded, reckoning with the hollowness she had left sent her completely catatonic - and that probably would've been the end for her, worn as a meatsuit by the Cat until they either disposed of her for no longer being useful or killed with the Cat by the team (because the Cat, like Adam, was past the point of reason and was refusing to give up). it's only Jaune getting the idea of using the leaves that frees Neo and it does that by jolting her into the self-reflection the Tree provides (and the Tree doesn't judge - it only tries to help), after which she chooses to let go of Roman and go to the Tree (there is her once again doling out punitive revenge by setting Jabberwalkers on the Cat but that's before she makes the decision to Ascend, which was after seeing RWBYJ reunite - and two scenes later it's hammered in that RWBY represent the new, better way), Neo got a second chance to stop and choose to get help because the Tree itself ended up involved, and that was followed by the show making that statement on the ideals of balance, which i guess fits with that one post Eddy made following volume 9 about the idea of eucatastrophe, the turning point in a story where it's clear that despite reaching its darkest point, things turn out for the better and that there's going to be a happy ending - so it remains to be seen if the Brothers will be convinced to self-reflect or if they'll stick to their shitty guns and escalate the conflict

[melmedarda]

It's insane to me people think Mel died off screen. Arcane just doesn't seem like that kind of show and narrativly it would be nonsense. She'll be back, they'll see

You are SOOOOO right anon. It makes little narrative sense if she dies because her arc has not been completed. I say this based on the flashbacks. For Viktor, his flashback is telling Singed he was wrong. This is later resolved when he goes back to Singed and tells him he understands, accepts his help and becomes a version of Rio (Viktor's story has mirrored Rio from the start). For Jayce, the flashback was around his first encounter with magic, and now he has tamed magic and is able to use it like that mage did.

With Mel, she defies her mother, yes, but something about her story line does not feel complete at the end of season 1. Yes, in her flashback, Kino is mentioned, and in the present he dies. The proves his approach did not work. But Mel's approach has not yet been tested. She makes a choice at the end of the season, laying down her ring. But how will things pan out when they are at war again, and Mel has to deal with her mother taking the approach of the wolf in a city Mel sees as her own? How will she approach this? Because in the end, there are only two choices. To kill one so a lesson is learned (likely Jinx, who mirrors Mel in many ways, just as the Ionian princess did) or find a way to out maneuver her mother and paint the walls in gold.

[m34gs]

Twisted Wonderland Saw AU Ask Time! 👀

Everything is perfectly set. Months of planning, preparing, testing, and many late night are finally paying their dues. Victims? Secured. Traps? Tested and will work without a hitch. Witnesses? Never been a problem. Now, time to sit back and watch what will... what's this? Why is their phone ringing? Who would call them at this...? Wait. They pale and scramble to dig their phone out of their pocket. Caller ID says "Yuu". Reflexes snap and the phone call is answered.

"Uh hello? It's me. We're still on for tonight, right?"

Tonight? They blink before everything rushes to their brain and the only coherent thought is, "Shit, I had plans with Yuu".

Please tell me... 1) What were their plans with Yuu 2) What is their excuse? and 3) How long do they keep Yuu waiting?

I am SO EXCITED to answer this ask!!!! (further discussion with Kim clarified that rescheduling is a last resort; the boys would much rather avoid it if possible, and I fully agree!) In the interests of this post not becoming an entire novel all on its own, I will be grouping the characters into their respective dorms and giving one response per dorm.

No explicit details on the traps in this one; I don't think there are any warnings I would put for this. The rest is under a cut simply because it is so long! Hope you enjoy :D

Heartslaybul:

What were the plans with Yuu: The plans were tea-time with Yuu's five Heartslaybul friends, and then a sleepover with Ace and Deuce. Trey is the only one who showed up on time, though Cater said he is on his way. Riddle is the one Yuu called, as it's very odd for him to be late.

What is their excuse: Riddle would have gone over his plans meticulously. There is no way he would miss anything that was written on his calendar for the day...except that he wrote "tea with Yuu" on the wrong date. He owns up to that mistake easily without letting on as to what he is currently up to (he's gotten much better at owning up to his mistakes and allowing himself to have human errors). He then says he is just out for a walk with Ace and Deuce, to cover for them as well.

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: He tells Yuu it will likely be an hour as they "need to come back home and then get dressed in appropriate teatime attire" (Yuu doesn't question this, since they figure there probably is some rule about teatime attire that Riddle wants to observe).

Savanaclaw:

What were the plans with Yuu: Watching a Spelldrive Tournament on TV and having snacks together. Something cozy and casual. Except, the tournament comes on in 5 minutes and Yuu's Savanaclaw friends haven't shown up yet, so they call Ruggie (Yuu finds Ruggie to be the more responsible one when it comes to being on time, though it should be noted that Leona tries very hard when it comes to spending time with Yuu).

What is their excuse: Ruggie spouts some excuse about how some family stuff came up for Leona. Leona's trying to manage a crisis from a distance. They'll still be there, he says. It's a good excuse because Yuu is the kind of person to be understanding and not pry into the affairs of the Royal Family.

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: Ruggie says Jack will be there in 10 minutes. Ruggie and Leona will follow when the "crisis" is dealt with. Leona makes sure the trap will be over in less than 30 minutes.

Octavinelle:

What were the plans with Yuu: Dinner and drinks after hours at the lounge, and Yuu would be spending the evening at the trio's home (firmly believe those three live together in this AU). Yuu shows up a little before closing time, but now it's last call and the waitstaff are starting to clean things up and it's creeping closer to the closing hour, and it's entirely unusual for Floyd to not have found them and hugged them by now...

What is their excuse: Azul answers the phone. The excuse he gives is "there was a disruption at one of our other locations in the city; and unfortunately it escalated to needing myself there to resolve it". Yuu understands customer service jobs well. They shudder to think what awful kind of customer must have caused such a disruption that Azul felt the need to go there with both Jade AND Floyd.

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: Floyd advocates that they should completely abandon the trap and go find Shrimpy. He's upset that Shrimpy has been waiting so long for him and he wants to hug them immediately. Jade shows a bit more restraint but does suggest they move the trap up to tomorrow. Azul will not allow this; he insists it needs to be done tonight. However, he's willing to compromise. He sends Floyd and Jade to greet Yuu immediately and make them feel comfortable and happy, and he will oversee the trap by himself this time. He will join them when he arrives (estimated time for Azul: 2 hours. Less if the victim dies before then).

Scarabia:

What were the plans with Yuu: Going to a festival together. (Listen, your mafia au has given me Festival Brain Rot, lol). Yuu is ready to go, but Kalim and Jamil, who insisted on picking them up, aren't there yet...and they're worried plans have changed.

What is their excuse: Yuu calls Jamil. He quickly spins them some sort of tale of Kalim not being able to decide what to wear. At the same time, he uses Kalim's phone to text another worker for the Asim family and request they come to a location nearby to deliver festival clothes for both him and Kalim to put on, and for the car and driver to wait at that location for them.

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: It's Kalim's trap, and he always has his designed to run from a distance so that he doesn't have to watch the person die if they fail. They can leave as soon as it is set up; so Yuu only ends up waiting twenty minutes. This time would not change much with Jamil's traps, as he makes inescapable ones, so it doesn't matter to him if the person makes it through or not. Jamil only has to step away momentarily to deal with the trap if the person succeeds and survives the trap, which he can easily excuse as some duty or other to the Asim family that he needs to manage.

Pomefiore:

What were the plans with Yuu: Spa night. It was going to be a really relaxing time for all of them.

What is their excuse: Vil is extremely upset with himself for forgetting (He stuck a sticky note to the calendar regarding something related to his acting work, and the note covered up the spa night with Yuu). He tells Yuu honestly what happened with the calendar. As the cover story, he says that he is just out with Rook and Epel on a walk.

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: Vil doesn't want to leave the trap because he feels it's his responsibility. Rook volunteers to go and look after Yuu immediately. Epel would feel guilty leaving Vil alone, so he stays. Besides, Rook is better at lying than he is. He needs Rook and Vil to help him out if Yuu were to ask any questions. Rook tells Yuu that Vil and Epel are getting some groceries to cook a late dinner, and they are all back within an hour.

Ignihyde:

What were the plans with Yuu: Idia and Ortho were going to have an anime marathon with Yuu. Yuu is at their place, waiting outside to be let in. Idia actually receives the notification from their doorbell/surveillance system about half a second before Yuu's call lights up his phone. Luckily for him, all his traps can be managed from a distance.

What is their excuse: Idia makes up some excuse about misreading the time and going out to pick up a specific snack food he wanted to have for their marathon night.

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: They are nearly there instantly, just stopping on the way to buy a metric fuck-ton of snacks to add credibility to their story. Yuu only waits about 10 minutes. Idia checks on the trap periodically using his phone which is connected to the cameras, but Yuu is used to him checking his phone once in a while during conversations or movies since he plays a lot of video games with time-sensitive quests.

Diasomnia:

What were the plans with Yuu: Dinner and movie night together as a group. Yuu is hosting, but no one has arrived yet...did they get the date wrong? They call Lilia.

What is their excuse: Lilia tells Yuu a (far too detailed) story about how his lunch disagreed very much with his bowels and the other three were helping him out with getting medicine and lost track of time. They will be there shortly, sans Lilia who will stay behind for his "stomach troubles".

How long do they keep Yuu waiting: Malleus teleports there instantly, and he is deeply sorry (perhaps he kisses their hand in apology?👀👀👀). Silver and Sebek have to travel across the city. It takes them about 20 minutes. Lilia stays for the duration of the trap. He arrives about an hour later, claiming his stomach issues to have "resolved".

Here are my thoughts! Thank you so much for this ask, it was a lot of fun to answer!!! Let me know what you think :)

[seeklovenet]

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For us, there could also be a quantity of higher choices on the market that could be extra fruitful. Here are our two favourite alternative choices to OurTime. Jessica Booth is a New York-based freelance writer who often writes about health, wellness, parenting, food, travel, beauty and extra for a variety of publications. She at present writes for Forbes Health, Insider, The Daily Beast, Brides, Redbook, Woman's Day, Women's Health, Scary Mommy, Romper and Life Savvy. Her byline has also appeared on Refinery 29, Cosmopolitan, Delish, Greatist, The Inventory, and Bustle.

[laiosynth]

come away, oh ghostly child... (pt 2)

( PT 1 <-) (-> PT 3)

For about 3 months now, there's been a ghost in Gotham. He's young, maybe 3 or 4.

The people of Gotham have come to accept this ghost (who says his name is Phantom) as a regular part of life, just like the heroes, villains, and other general weirdness surrounding Gotham. He has his own twitter and tumblr tags, #phantomwatch and #gothamsnewson respectively. He's as much a part of the ecosystem as the rest of Gotham.

She kept her promise, the city is his playground.

But Danny is lonely.

Maybe that's why he starts to frequent the heroes' haunts more often.

Nightwing is Danny's favorite. He's kind, more so than even his parents had been to him in his hazy memory. He's strong, too, and he protects people. And he's like Danny- he has a secret identity! Nightwing puts on a mask to keep himself safe, just like Danny.

The other vigilantes are the same, but some of them smell- literally. They reek of rotting, decayed, corrupted ectoplasm. It's gross. Icky. They're still fun to be around, but Danny wishes he could help. The one time he did try to approach one- Red Hood- to help, the vigilante had been busy.

That night, though, Gotham visited him in a dream.

"Danny, my lovely child, you are not my only. These Bats, they are my children too. They are your friends, your brothers. They are safe. They will keep you safe. I know you are lonely, little one. They will keep you company."

The night after that dream, he resolves to meet one of his new brothers. Nightwing is kind, surely he wouldn't mind!

And so, that night, he follows Nightwing! On the way, while Nightwing is resting, there is a churro stand. The smell is heavenly, and he's so hungry, so how can he resist?

So he approaches the churro stand.

"Hello, Mister. Can I please have 1 churro?"

The man running the stand doesn't take kindly to Danny's appearance.

"Back, foul demon! Evil Creature!"

The look on the man's face as he grabs a cross and exits the stand to go after Danny makes him remember his parents, chasing him with ecto-guns and weapons. It makes him cry. He sobs, his wails filling the street, echoing off the walls unnaturally.

"No, no, no! Stop, stop, please!"

The man does not stop his berating. Instead, he raises his cross over his head, intending to bring it down on Danny.

The man does not get that far, because Nightwing has grabbed his hand, and is saying something to the man that makes him flee back to his churro stand. Then, Nightwing kneels down to him.

"Hey, buddy. I'm sorry about that guy, are you okay?"

Danny wails, because he's scared, and he still remembers.

"Hey, hey, Phantom, can I touch you?"

Danny looks up at Nightwing, kind Nightwing, and nods.

Nightwing picks him up, and then they're flying, a different kind of flying than he's used to, and despite himself, he giggles because it's fun and feels funny.

They settle on a roof, and Nightwing moves Danny to his lap, carefully checking him over.

Danny reaches up to Nightwing's face, brushing his gloved fingers over the black mask.

"Yeah, that's my mask. It keeps me safe."

Danny knows all about that.

"I'll be quiet so you can be safe," he whispers, "They can't find out. That would- that would be very- very bad."

Danny wonders what Nightwing needs to stay safe from. He hopes it isn't right around the corner!

"Yes, shh, they can't find out. Very good, Danny."

Danny reaches a finger up to shush him, scared.

"Shhhhh! If they find us, they'll disstect us. Molcle by Molcle..."

Danny wants to cry again. He doesn't want Nightwing to be dissected!

Nightwing cups Danny's face with his hand, and suddenly, Danny feels a lot safer.

"It's alright, Danny. They can't get us up here."

They can't get us... Danny's safe. He's really safe!

Danny lets his ghost form fall.

Suddenly, he's very, very tired...

...

tags: @basilf1res @angelheartgamer @justgray15777 @terzatheunderscorerima @phantom120 @undead-essence @crazydoughnutlady @big-flrda-kys

(tell me if this works, im still very new to tumblr ;-;)

[ellenwatchesfilms]

Sound of Metal Commentary

Sound of Metal - Welcoming the Serenity of the Sound of Silence

Director: Darius Marder

Cinematography: Daniel Bouquet

Genre: Drama

This commentary contains spoilers as I describe the plot in detail!

Upon first glance at the poster, I had an odd feeling that this film would be quite like Whiplash, one of my all time favourites. It was likely my simple mind went "about a drummer who loves drumming, must be like Whiplash!". This film is not Whiplash, and I am glad for it.

The film follows Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a drummer in a heavy metal duo with his girlfriend, Lou (Olivia Cooke). They embark on their tour of the US, performing gigs at intimate but lively venues. It is after one of these gigs that Ruben begins to lose his hearing, eventually becoming almost entirely deaf. Desperate to get his hearing back, he visits the pharmacy, and then a doctor who tells him there is not much he can do apart from reducing his exposure to loud sounds, obviously implying he stop drumming. This is something Ruben is unwilling to accept. He sets his sights on saving up for expensive cochlear implants which, he believes, will 'cure' him.

After a poor performance during one of their gigs, Ruben admits to Lou that he can't hear anything. Throughout their heated conversations, it becomes clear that Ruben used to be an addict. Lou increasingly worries that he will use again because of the distress caused by his hearing loss. Ruben eventually joins a centre for deaf recovering addicts when Lou reassures him that they'll reunite and continue their music after he gets better.

The pacing of this film was incredibly clever, and undoubtedly part of the idea of 'achieving serenity' that Marder wishes to convey. We begin the film thrusted into one of Ruben's performances, almost immediately swept into the exhilaration of it all. Then we're bathed in domestic tranquillity as he and Lou drive from city to city in their cozy RV, making each other green smoothies and listening to soft tunes, driving through lush fields and countryside.

When Ruben loses his hearing, we are dropped into a strangely silent world of chaos and desperation. It is only when Ruben agrees to join the community for deaf recovery addicts that the film really slows down, that there is room to breathe. It's a shaky beginning for him at first, since he knows no sign language and because of this is painfully isolated. Joe (Paul Raci), the leader of the centre gives Ruben only one task: LEARN HOW TO BE DEAF. Of course, Ruben has still not come to terms with the fact that this is permanent, that he is deaf. We begin to wonder whether Ruben was right, whether this was a bad idea. But with the help of Joe and sign language teacher Diane (Lauren Ridloff), as time passes, he finally begins to integrate, becoming a valued member of the deaf community.

He's no longer alone, he's laughing at the dinner table with the other residents, he's teaching children how to drum, and he's making friends! In a beautiful way, he shows that he can continue to live out his passion for drumming while spreading this joy on to others.

But Ruben can't help but wonder what has become of Lou. He can't help himself when he sneakily uses the centre's computer to check up on her. With an expression that is difficult to decipher, Ruben watches a video of her performing, though the genre is vastly different from that of their heavy metal duo days. He resolves to return to recover his hearing, return to her, and return to the music scene.

To this end, he sells his RV and his possessions, including his beloved drum kit, all so he can afford the cochlear implants he was so set upon. He undergoes his surgery and returns to the centre. But there, he finds Joe waiting for him, saddened and disappointed by Ruben's decision. His opinion of what Ruben has done is probably best summarised by his own words:

"As you know, everybody here shares in the belief that being deaf is not a handicap. Not something to fix. It's pretty important around here. All these kids... all of us, need to be reminded of it every day."

And so Ruben cannot be part of the community, because he simply doesn't share this belief, because his decision to get cochlear implants goes against everything the community stands for. Ruben lashes out, asking Joe "why it matters", stating that "everything passes". Joe responds:

"The world does keep moving, and it can be a damn cruel place. But for me, those moments of stillness, that place, that's the kingdom of God."

Ruben is asked to leave the community.

For a moment, we have some hope as Ruben goes to his second appointment, this time to set up the transmitter, but our hope is soon dashed. Of course the implants haven't restored his hearing fully - it was too good to be true. Instead he hears the world as a collection of odd robot-like sounds that are scratchy and shrill, almost unbearably so for the audience who hear these sounds through Ruben's implants.

We see Ruben once again alone, plunged in miserable solitude, and though he can hear, it's almost impossible for him to make sense of the world. We are reminded acutely of when he lost his hearing in the first place, when he struggled to communicate with Lou and the doctor, when he first joined the deaf community and sat in silence whilst others conversed in sign language all around him.

Wanting to return to drumming and still believing he will be able to, in spite of his disappointment with the cochlear implants, he visits Lou's father's large home where she has been staying. Her wealthy father hosts a rather formal dinner party, at which he asks Lou to sing while he plays the piano. Together, they sing a duet in French while Ruben looks on. Her singing is beautiful to our ears, though we cannot understand the words. But soon the sound of Lou's delicate singing and her father's harmonising morphs into something even more indecipherable and unrecognisable, something robotic and digital. We are hearing what Ruben hears. He has recovered his hearing, but can no longer understand Lou or even bear to hear her sing because of the distortion caused by his implants. This time, he finally accepts that they're no longer walking the same path, that Lou has moved on from the past, and that he must, too.

The message of the plot is helpfully conveyed through Bouquet's beautiful cinematography and colour-grading. In almost all moments of peace and serenity in Ruben's life, we see bright colours, soft greens and gentle breeze. We see this when he and Lou are driving peacefully in his RV, when he finally begins to integrate into the deaf community, and when he realises that he can bring joy to the deaf children through the reverberation caused by drumming.

These lush greens are a stark contrast against the dull greys and browns we see when Ruben first loses his hearing, and again when he completes his cochlear procedure. The world has once again lost its colour and tranquillity, despite the fact that he can hear once more.

At the end of the film, Ruben leaves Lou's house and aimlessly wanders through a lush park until he finds a bench. Ruben sits, staring despairingly up at a bell tower that is chiming deafeningly, sounding unbearable to the audience through Ruben's ears. He takes off his transmitter and it's a relief to the audience as we are basked in peaceful silence. There are soft green bushes in the background, some pinkish flowers blurred behind Ruben.

The expression on Ruben's face is that of serenity, and like Joe said, "serenity is no longer wishing you had a different past". Ruben has finally learned how to be deaf. He has finally found his "kingdom of God".

I watched this on a plane, but a sorely wish I'd seen it in cinemas. Between the phenomenal acting, especially by Riz Ahmed, the incredible sound-design, the gorgeous cinematography, perfect pacing and surprisingly hopeful ending, I gave it a 9 out of 10.

Ellen's Rating: 9/10 (06/07/2022)

[cannibal-witchh]

"I'm No Hero, Lady"

Reader(fem) x Carlos Oliveira

Written by cannibal_witchh

Contains: Violence, gore, vulgar language, some fluff

Notes: I previously wrote a fluff fanfic about Carlos snuggling the reader in bed during a storm. The reader had a nightmare about the past which was the incident in Racoon City. This is the scenario that occurred when the reader is saved by Carlos before the end up together.

The previous story:

The city was cast in flames, the fire resembled an angry ocean of embers, quickly devouring collapsing buildings and destroyed vehicles. The decaying humans once recognizable, slowly met the fate of existing as the undead, as putrefing skin consumed them. There were several minutes of sickening screams, gnashing of teeth, buildings crumbling, and the blazing of an angry sea of heat. And the following after that was stilled silence, painful, vacant, lifeless, and numbing. The air almost seemed heavy, ears desperate and clawing for a sound to be stirred.

Several hours had past since a violent rage of a deadly pandemic disturbed Racoon City. You had been locked away in your supervisor's office at the museum, alone and terrified. You possessed no expierence in defense, you were simply a staff member of the local museum. It wasn't until an unfamiliar face offered you help, it was an incredibly risky gamble to take, but it was either be supposedly 'saved' or stay under a desk in a poorly protected office for however long.

"Y/N, I'm gonna need you to stay close to me, there's too many of those freaks roaming around, and from the little knowledge disclosed they are very contagious. A bite, maybe a scratch, will cause a nasty infection.", Carlos informed as you nervously followed closely behind. He was leading you through the south wing of the museum where the dinosaur fossils were displayed. It was eerie, the entire large room completely in darkness, and Carlos' gun light being the only illumination you both had. " Relax, I took all these fuckers out already. You're safe, lady. " he looked over his shoulder at you and gave a warm grin. It was hard to find complete emotional relief but he certainly was charming. His shaggy dark hair brushing on his forehead and above his brown eyes, his olive muscular figure, and his scruffy beard. He definitely was handsome and unusually young to be working in this field. " How many of them were there?", you whispered, darting your eyes all around the room, examining for any movement or noise.

" Maybe twenty, there wasn't too many."

" What about how many survivors you and your team found?"

" Sadly, just fifteen. Either civilians refused help and barricaded themselves in. Or they were found too late and turned into one of those monsters."

" That's awful.", you felt the sting of reality flood through your body. Just fifteen. You continued pacing attentively behind him as he held his rifle close against his chest. "Walk carefully over here, this is where I had to clear a group of them out.", he muttered as you both managed to enter the corridor leaving the fossil room. There were adleast ten dead bodies scattered along the ground. Gore staining the white tiles, the stench of expiration filling the narrow hall, and decoral tarnished and destroyed everywhere. Discomposure deluged your body, you froze, standing idle, and quivering. It was an electric feeling of absolute fear that paralyzed you. You would have to maneuver around carcuses that could still possibly be alive, and you were not in proper attire to protect yourself at all from their attacks. You dressed in a tight grey houndstooth pencil skirt, and a silk mint collared blouse. Definitely not fit for an apocalypse. Carlos turned facing you, realizing you had stopped following him. His expression was serious for a few seconds, and a few times he would glance behind him confirming nothing was there. " C'mon, Y/N, we don't have much time." He beckoned

" I can't, I'm afraid."

"I cleared all this hallway, I promise. I won't let them hurt you.'

"I'm sorry Carlos. I'm too afraid...", you admitted with humiliation.

" Lady, ugh...don't hit me ok?", he playfully smiled and swung his rifle around his back. He plodded over to you and quietly scooped you up against his chest. He let out a awkward giggle and started to regain his balance with your weight. For someone who just witnessed this horrible pandemic, killed the undead, and did this independently he sure was calm. It was comforting, though. "Sorry, but I'm not leaving you behind nor am I wasting time.", he glanced over at you, making brief eye contact. His eyes were soft, it didn't display the slightest fear, and his hair swayed side to side above his gentle eyes. For someone roaming around in rubble, blood, and sweat, his aroma smelled wonderful. He smelled of spices and his own sweat. It was strange but he didn't smell too bad. Carlos coggled back ahead, carefully stepping over corpses, and just as he promised, they really were all dead. Occasionally, he would bounce you up to gain more security when holding you. You draped your arms tightly around his neck to stay supported. His breathing was slow and quiet against your face as he carried you closer and closer to the exit. " Do me a favor, please. Please watch my back.", he requested finally making it to the exit. The exit sign flickered red, static occasionally sparking from the sign, and shimmering down onto the ground. You looked over Carlos' shoulder and with your relief, nothing was there. No rustles and no movements. Carlos was struggling to open the door, he continued to press against the bar of the wide door a few times until he finally gave up. " Fuck!", he quietly shouted as he stepped back from the door. He took a few more steps back until he had a little space between the door and him. He lifted his foot up and kicked out the door. The door rattled loudly and swung wide open. " Thank God,", he sighed in relief as he transported you outside the museum.

"OK, ok, you can let me go. Sorry, for the trouble. ", you bashfully removed your arms from over his neck, and he slowly lowered you to your feet. "Didn't like being held, huh? I'm just kidding, let's keep going.", he teased as he began walking down the alongated museum alleyway. The two of you had finally made it out of the museum, and the alleyways seemed relatively tame. There wasn't too many corpses lurking down it. And the ones that did approach the two of you, Carlos would resolve with a knife to their skull and quickly they would collapse. He tried not to resolve issues with his gun unless it was when it was absolutely out of control. A few minutes of carefully walking down the backstreet, there was an abrupt crash of shattering glass behind you. It startled you and you immediately drew your eyes to the direction of the loud sound. " C-Carlos...", you stuttered backing away in terror. The virus effected animals too. A large dog had launched itself out of the window, snarling and foaming blood from between its teeth. He stood in an agressively pose, not removing its eyes on Carlos or you. " Try staying quiet, Y/N. We don't need to attract more attention."

"P-p....please shoot it..", your eyes watered on the verge of a break down.

The dog darted forward directly at you, something yanked at your wrist pulling you backwards. Carlos had grabbed you leading you both into a full on sprint. " I don't want to fire off in such a small space. I'm not sure if other freaks are around and they'll go towards the sound. We have to be careful." He quickly clarified, dragging you by the wrist to the very end of the alley. The dog continued racing towards the two of you, snarling and barking loudly. "Carlos!!!", the dog jumped forward at you, nearly biting your arm but a bullet dove forward directly into its skull. The dog flew backwards in a pained whimper. " Shit!", Carlos cursed in frustration, he moved his head around examining all directions. " Fuck, fuck, fuck...we gotta go!", he gripped your wrist and began to guide the both of you back towards the middle of the alley. The dead had be drawn to all the barking and the gun shot. Unfortunately, a group was forming on both ends of the alleyway, and blocking any escape. " Y/N, look! ", a broken fire escape ladder hung in the middle of the alley, it was the absolute only opportunity to escape. Carlos squated down, holding his hands together to give you a boost up to it. " Go, go, go, ", he chanted trying to sound as hopeful as he could. You hoped up and grabbed the ladder, with as much strength as you could gather, you began to pull yourself up. The swarm of creatures got closer and closer and you feared for Carlos' safety. Come on climb already! He jumped as high as he could, latching on to the ladder, and pulling himself quickly up. He let out multiple gasps of air in exhaustion and then gestured with his head to continue climbing all the way up. "Let's get all the way up, away from these fuck faces!", you both felt rattling from the fire escape with each step and climb you both took. You felt unsecure having your weight, Carlos', and his equipment. Within a few minutes of climbing up very high, you both managed to get to the roof of the building. Carlos immediately dropped his gun to the ground and laid on his back. For minutes, he laid there breathing heavily as if he ran a marathon. You walked a few feet away from him, dropping to the ground, and covering your face in your palms. So many emotions churned inside your mind, you were exhausted, terrified, confused, and livid. What was going on? Tears began collecting in your eyes, you failed to suppress the tense emotions clenching your chest, your body quivering in shock, and you began to fall apart in your own hands.

"What's wrong, Y/N? Are you hurt?", a large hand squeezed your shoulder.

" No..., I just, I dont know if I can take all this.", you sniffed continuing to conceal your face away from Carlos'. You felt his large arms wrap around you, pulling you close against him, and he rested his head against your's. " I get it. I'm scared shitless too. But you know what, we aren't doing so bad. We've survived this long."

" I only survived because you decided to be a hero and save me! I would've died on my own. I'm useless!", you cried, feeling tears escape between your finger tips. "Woah, no, you aren't useless. Its not like every other day a random pandemic hits and you get used to this stuff. I've never dealt with this shit before in my life. This is new. Everyone is just trying to survive, you made it on your own for hours with no help. Don't be so hard on yourself." Carlos brushed his large hands against your arms trying his best to calm you. He wasn't exactly great with words but you could tell he tried to make effort. You lowered your hands, revealing your tired red eyes, your face sticky and hot from crying. You felt embarrassed but it was just so difficult to keep it together. " We are almost out of here, chin up.", he grinned, squeezing you against him warmly. " T-Thank you, I'm so sorry you're putting up with my shit.", you glanced from the corner of your eyes at him, too embarrassed to completely turn over to show your reddened face. " Stop. Look at me.", you obeyed his request, although it was hard, you turned to face him. " This is what I'm here for. I want to help and I am happy to help you. Its a plus that you're a cute lady running around in a pencil skirt too. " He teased patting the top of your head, ruffling your hair and giving a light hearted giggle.

Unexpectedly, Carlos' walkie talkie beeped and static flooded through for a brief moment. " Carlos, where are you? Are you alive?"

"Tyrell, I'm alive, surprisingly. I'm up on a roof across Racoon City's museum with one survivor."

"Good! I hadn't heard from you for hours wanted to make sure you weren't having too much fun. So you only found one survivor?"

"Just one. I looked in several areas in the B territory but either the survivors were barricading themselves and uncooperative or turning."

" Shit, well, the boss man says we have to make this our last run. Things are getting bad and we are borderline at max capacity. Hurry up! I will stall."

There was a beep following static and it then it ended. " Looks, like we have to go. I have to take you to the exit we made. There will be a bus and they will take you far from this city to safety."

"What about you? You make it sound like you're not coming?"

"My commands remain. I have to stay."

You felt your cheeks buzz with heat, he was directed to remain?

****

Carlos and you had waited on the roof top for adleast half an hour. He had given Tyrell an update before the two of you finally climbed down the ladder. Luckily, all the zombies had migrated else where. The two of you quietly hurried, it took nearly another fourty minutes before you finally saw a buses gathered by an exit. It was filled with a civilians, and surrounded by military workers. You felt relief hit you, as you saw other evidence of survivors and humanity. You looked over at Carlos, he turned to face you completely, and he placed a hand on your shoulder. "It was a pleasure helping you.", he smiled, squeezing your shoulder as he walked you to the bus. A doctor on his team examined you for any signs of infections before you boarded, thankfully, you were ok. Thanks to Carlos. You entered the bus and turned around to properly depart from Racoon City, and to depart from your hero. " Thank you, Carlos. You really are a hero.", you smiled displaying truely appreciation. Carlos chuckled for a second and shook his head. " I'm no hero, lady. Hopefully, I see you around. Hopefully, still running around in a cute pencil skirt! ", he winked playfully, as blush scattered across his face and your's. Was he flirting with you? "Just try finding me at museum then. Well, thank you, Carlos. Really. Thank you.", you leaned forward and pecked his cheek.

"Until then."

The bus door closed, and you moved to your seat. You watched as the bus began to leave, your eyes fixed on Carlos, as your view grew smaller and smaller of the city and him. You hoped maybe one day you would see him again. You hoped your hero would survive this. You believed he would.

[st-agatha-city]

St. Agatha Gazette, Issue #3 🌹

Hello, again citizens! Despite all odds, we have all survived the last week, and lived long enough to read (or in my case, write) this update! Congrats, on making it - life can be so hard. I am glad we meet here, again.

Traffic

I'll be real with you, folks, I took a bit of a break, what with my new job starting and all, but fortunately, as of writing this, I've found the time to work on the writing aspects of St. Agatha City! Character intros are being worked on for the Day One stage of St. Agatha City, and once that's done... well... that's Chapter 0, baby! Meeting characters, getting situated, setting up the plot. I can then, after editing of course, upload it to Itchio as a demo for you lovely people to try!

I reckon that will take at least another month, and that's being optimistic. I was raised to expect the worst, but hope for the best. Last week, I did a lot of the concept art, which you've been seeing in the form of character sprites for the base game! The initial nine potential love interests were decided, and are rolling out in their beta forms for you to meet! The designs likely won't change much (still not too sure about Tara's hairstyle, Denver's shading, and etc.) but they now exist! Which is more than I can say about them as of last week!

We ended up culling off the tenth character (at least for now) as it was hard to find a suitable gap, but I've recently come up with some ideas.

Once I am able to code in their entrances, and actually incorporate the cast into the game, they'll get proper, less meme-y intros than they are currently being given :)

This was a very weighty traffic. Let's move on to the weather!

Weather

My god, it has been raining. The gales of wind have been really ripping through downtown St. Agatha, and even uprooted a tree in my backyard. It was dead, anyways, but I liked to watch the birds perch in it as I worked.

As you might have heard, with the character sprites conceptualized, I've been writing in their in-game introductions! Mindy, Ross, and Ian have already gotten a strong start (Ross' is my favorite, so far) and Marjory is next! I am currently struggling with some mechanic implementation, namely of sequences? But I've been working on resolving it, my main hold up is not having the energy, but the actual fix is there. Or, at least, my current attempt :)

Sadly, the map is still ugly as hell for the time being.

Sports

I'm still not exactly what the sports section is for... I guess just breaking developments, huh? This'll get streamlined over time. Due to work, and other family matters, I had a solid three day break from actually coding St. Aggs. But, that didn't stop me from meeting with my boyfriend editor to talk about plot and game mechanics. I've come to the conclusion, at least for now, that each character will have their own arc you can go on, with additional lore, teasers, and events in each. And, of course, a piece of Pixy's own personal mystery.

So, in truth, as it currently stands, the only way to 'beat' the game is to 100% it, but I won't force you to necessarily date every character (but like... I imagine you'd like to see the exclusive romantic CGs, and of course you don't hate to date every character at once in the same run.) But I think that's kinda fun. Each character lends you not just a better perspective on themselves, but on you, Pixy, and the world she lives in.

Closing Thoughts

Another week goes by in the city of St. Agatha. The streets seem busier, the world a little brighter, the gleaming entrance sign to the shining metropolis a little... sparklier. And in the distance, as the sun sets, a strange body of water glints a little too invitingly.

Why are you here?

It's a question everyone asks themselves, in this game.

Also, why do I keep hearing about a beach? Where is the beach. We live in Missouri. St. Agatha is in. Missouri. How on Earth is there a beach...?

I hope you stick around to maybe get a little closer to an answer, possibly next week, with the St. Agatha Gazette. I hope the answers we reach do not give birth to newer, scarier questions. Watch where you're going, citizens. Be careful who you trust - be kind, of course, but be cautious.

Till next time, with love;

~ Fairyfly

[treacherycuphq]

𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚄𝙴𝚂:

AH, BLUDGER - Celebrating a victory? Best do it with alcohol surrounded by adoring masses. But don't do that here. Nah, that yappy shit's reserved for GOODWIN'S. Now, if you're in the process of trying to forget a loss? Well then, we're keen to serve ya. Misery loves company, and Ah, Bludger is ready to pour you and your whole team a pint, a shot, or hell, we'll even hand ya the entire bottle at a very reasonable cost.

BARREL GOAL - The prime seller of all things Quidditch. They. carry regulation quaffles, cutting edge broomsticks, and jerseys for every team - yes, even the Cannons! Every Sunday, they hose a market on the strip outside their shop where independent broom makers, leather workers, uniform tailors, and hopeful gameday vendors peddle their wares and wisdom.

BENCHER'S PITCH - So called for its history as a pick-up pitch for players that never quite made it to game-time glory, Bencher's Pitch stands as the only unofficial pitch large enough to host an unscheduled game of Quidditch. The stands aren't as large as regulation pitches, but they're frequently just as raucous. While its function has evolved over the years, the pitch frequently serves as a secondary practice field. The catch? No team can schedule a specific time or date. What? Did you miss the part where it's entirely unofficial? No one's paying for book keeping here - except maybe those swinging by to place a bet on the latest pick-up game. If you stay around long enough, you may even see star players from different teams trade in their uniforms for the night.

GOODWIN'S - The premiere hotspot for all things celebratory! Goodwin's boasts live music, a zero tolerance policy against fighting, and a VIP section saved exclusively for players of the winning teams. This bar may be for winners, but general admission allowes boisterous fans to bask in the glory of their Quidditch heroes - occasionally, one might even descend from behind the velvet ropes to engage with their newfound groupies. But be warned - Goodwin's has an agreement with the Daily Prophet for exclusive photo rights to any patron that steps foot in their bar.

QUIDDITCH CENTRAL - A boring name for a rather boring location. If it weren't necessary, the game would be happy to be rid of it. Unfortunately, every great event needs orchestrators, and they need a place to work and gather. Hardly anyone involved with the sport has been able to avoid an annual visit to QC, be it to enroll as a player that season, to disclose their investment in a team, or to sign up as a vendor. The only real mystery of the place is the stranger standing ahead of you in the queue.

𝙵𝙰𝙼𝙾𝚄𝚂 𝙿𝙸𝚃𝙲𝙷𝙴𝚂:

BODMIN MOOR, CORNWALL - Surrounded by lush farmland, Bodmin's Pitch makes for a very scenic, albeit smelly, game. Many players remain rather fond of Bodmin, largely because it's the pitch with the largest safety radius should snitches or quaffles find their way outside the confines of the stands. Yet where players delight, fans find monotony - until 1884, at least. After the snitch escaped capture in the nineteenth century, fans always arrive at Bodmin a little on edge. Will this be another six month game, or will this finally be the day the long-lost snitch finds its way back onto the field?

EXMOOR, SOMERSET - A new stadium nestled on the banks of the river Exe and resting snuggly within a national park? What's not to love! The proximity to mildly adventurous muggles, unfortunately. For its first decade, Exmoor was concealed via an invisibility charm and patrons had to pick up Visibility Spectacles. After several incidents of fans falling down the invisible bleachers or being utterly incapable of finding the washroom, the Ministry lifted the invisibility charm and instituted a Masking Fog. The Fog is infamous for infiltrating the field, making the field infamous for particularly violent collisions and dirty play that goes unnoticed by referees.

CLIFFS OF MOHER, IRELAND - A seaside pitch, the stadium is considered one of the best for training players to handle any obstacle thrown at them. Almost constantly raining thanks to its proximity to the ocean, the Cliffs of Moher have sustained a characteristic salt-bleaching to the wood using the erect the stadium, and it's image is iconic to even the newest fan. Created to appease Irish teams, who otherwise had to join their English brethren to practice, this stadium is the newest & most controversial, given it was almost entirely funded by the owner of the reigning champions, the Ballycastle Bats, and tends to cater to that particular team's strengths.

ILKLEY MOOR, ILKLEY - The most sacred of all pitches, Ilkley Moor is the oldest Quidditch pitch known to the British and Irish Leagues. As such, the sport's most ceremonial games (such as the season opener, National Team try-outs, World Cup matches, and regular season championships) are hosted here. Prime seats in the stands are passed down through generations rather than auctioned off each season, and many fans will quickly tell you that if they can only attend one game per season, they'll be at Ilkley Moor, no matter the team.

YORKSHIRE MOOR, YORKSHIRE - Ah yes, everyone's least favorite pitch. Given Britain's limited landmass and borderline overpopulation, there are few places remote enough to support full-scale Quidditch games, and Yorkshire made the most unfortunately sacrifice: volume. Located close to muggle communities, Yorkshire pitch is known for drawing muggle attention, and after several close-calls, the Ministry has resolved to only use Yorkshire Moor for low-level games expected to draw small crowds. Starting or ending your season at Yorkshire Moor is the largest insult game schedulers may inflict upon players and fans alike.

ELLIS MOOR, LONDON - Unlike its competitors, there is nothing particularly special about Ellis Moor except that it doesn't technically exist on Muggle maps, despite the fact that it hosts the most practices of the season. Protected by a city overhead, Ellis Moor is a nod to where Quidditch has come from, rather than being the exact location of where it is. Connected to Quidditch Central headquarters, the Ellis Moor stadium is an underground pitch that uses the most advanced hiding charms to keep it protected from the Muggles being transported overhead. Much like a Muggle sportsdome, the inside is bare-bones, just the necessities, as most teams cycle through its stands whenever they have a game in the area, with their own equipment in tow. Since it is the home to any team for practices, it often has the most quarrels over scheduling - the partial necessity to have Quidditch headquarters right nearby. Some may even say the bureaucracy draws more blood than the scrimmages at Ellis Moor. However, it is large enough to allow up to (2) teams practicing at the same time - which has its own drawbacks, for sure.

𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙼 𝙰𝚂𝚂𝙸𝙶𝙽𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚂:

Note: Due to limited secluded locations across Britain and Ireland, teams have been barred from establishing their own pitches. Instead, they select their pitch from the five official Moorland Pitches, above. Teams select their pitch according to their rank at the end of the prior season. Some teams select based upon location, some based upon the ease of scheduling practices and likelihood of muggle interference. This season's selections are listed below. Strikethrough team's are not open for application ( yet ! ).

CLIFFS OF MOHER: Ballycastle Bats (1), Kenmare Kestrals (5), Pride of Portree (6)

ILKLEY MOOR: Montrose Magpies (3), Banchory Bangers (7), Wigtown Wanderers (12)

YORKSHIRE MOOR: Appleby Arrows (2), Holyhead Harpies (9), open slot

EXMOOR: Puddlemere United (8), Caerphilly Catapults (10), Wimbourne Wasps (11)

BODMIN MOOR: Tutshill Tornadoes (4), Falmouth Falcons (13), Chudley Cannons (14)

ELLIS MOOR: OPEN TO ALL

[ask-the-riders]

Playlist #5: Famine

We Know What Scares You - TryHardNinja

Ignite - Alan Walker

Ainsi Bas La Vida - Indila

Diamond Heart - Alan Walker

Love The Way You Lie - Alan Walker

Lost Control - Alan Walker

If I Killed Someone For You - Alec Benjamin

Alejandro - Lady Gaga

Dancing With A Wolf - All Time Low

Alone - Alan Walker

Another Way Out - Hollywood Undead

Jaws - Aviators

I Can Walk On Water - Basshunter

Believer - Imagine Dragons

Bernadette - IAMX

Redemption - Besomorph and Coopex

Nightmare - Besomorph and RIELL

Anxiety - The Tech Thieves and Besomorph

Black Christmas - Jubyphonic

I'd Rather Burn - Blackbriar

Break My Mind - DAGames

Bullet - Hollywood Undead

Eat You Alive - Cadmium x Skrybe x RIELL

Dangerous - Cascada

Centuries - Fall Out Boy

Control - Halsey

Crazy - From Ashes To New

Fears - CG5

Davy Jones - Fialeja and Man On The Internet

Demons - Imagine Dragons

Don't Forget (Deltarune) - CG5

Evermore - Dan Stevens

Every Time The Rain Comes Down - Anna Blue

Everybody Cries Sometimes - Damien Dawn

I Can't Fix You - CG5

Face Reality - Victor McKnight

Faded - Alan Walker

False Desire - Deskant

Far From Home - Five Finger Death Punch

Find Da Wae - CG5

Gone Away - Five Finger Death Punch

Forever Alone - Smash Into Pieces

Glowing In The Dark - The Girl and The Dreamcatcher

Good Time - Owl City

Get Out - DAGames

Hello Hello - CG5

Happy Halloween (Eng. Cover) - Jubyphonic

Haunting My Dreams - Groundbreaking

How Does It Feel? - Anna Blue

Hungry For Another One - JT Machinima

I Got No Time - CG5

I Love The Sound Of Silence - Disturbed x Eminem

I Scare Myself - Beth Crowley

I'd Rather Burn - Blackbriar

Bad Liar - Imagine Dragons

Whatever It Takes - Imagine Dragons

I'm In Love (With A Killer) - Jeffree Star

Join Us For A Bite - JT Machinima

End Of Time - Alan Walker

Circles - KIRA ft Gumi

Close Your Eyes//In The Next Life - KIRA

Monster - KIRA ft Gumi

Karma - Jubyphonic

Rise - Katy Perry

People Like Us - Kelly Clarkson

Left Behind - DAGames

Dangerous - Left Boy

Land Of Broken Promises - IAMX

Warriors - League Of Legends

Legends Never Die - Against The Current

Wasabi - Little Mix

Monster - Aruvn

Proud - Marshmello

Medicine - Hollywood Undead

See You Again - Miley Cyrus

Miracle - CG5/Alicia Michelle

Miss Wanna Die - Jubyphonic

Monster - Beth Crowley

Voices In My Head - NIVIRO

Natural - Imagine Dragons

Nightmares - All Time Low

No Hero - JT Machinima

What You Deserve - No Resolve

Stand Out Fit In - One Ok Rock

Reap What You Sow - CG5

World Of Grey - CG5

Pirates of the Caribbean theme

Pretty Little Psycho - Porcelain Black

Regular Sans (Pacifist Version) - Groundbreaking

Towards The Sun - Rihanna

Me And My Broken Heart - Rixton

In Your Eyes - Robin Schulz

SOS - Indila

Counting Sheep - Safia

Monster - Starset

The Christmas (I'll Burn It To The Ground) - Set It Off

Bad Guy - Set It Off

Tokyovania Control - SharaX

Silent Scream - Anna Blue

Feel Invincible - Skillet

Arcadia - Smash Into Pieces

Everything They Say - Smash Into Pieces

Godsent - Smash Into Pieces

Like This! - Smash Into Pieces

Wake Up - Smash Into Pieces

Lullaby - Smash Into Pieces

Can I Get A Witness - Sonreal

Starlight Starbright - S3RL

Monster I Have Become - Three Days Grace x Skillet

Super Psycho Love - Simon Curtis

Sweet Dreams - Aviators

I'm Dangerous - The Everlove

The Ghost - NIVIRO

House Of The Rising Sun - Chase Holfelder

The Killing Kind - Mariana's Trench

The Return - NIVIRO

Dangerous - The Tech Thieves and Besomorph

It's Been So Long - The Living Tombstones

They'll Find You - Griffinilla

Titanium - David Guetta

Judgement - TryHardNinja

Secret Garden - EmpathP (cover by LittleJayneyCakes and djsmell)

Unforgiven - Blood On The Dance Floor

Everything Black - Unlike Pluto

Wash It All Away - Five Finger Death Punch

We Are Aware - Dolvondo

We Don't Bite - JT Machinima

We Are Family - Keke Palmer

Welcome To The Show - Britt Nicole

When Can I See You Again - Owl City

Who Owns My Heart - Miley Cyrus

Aquarius - Within Temptation

Shot In The Dark - Within Temptation

Wolf In Sheep's Clothing - Set It Off

You Can't Hide - JT Machinima

Faded - Cascada

Nightmares - A-ONE

No Guardian Angel - A-ONE

Time Will Tell - A-ONE

Zombie - Besomorph and N3WPORT

Reaper - Glaceo and RIELL

House Of Memories - Panic! At The Disco

[kosegruppaa]

3 questions and a thought: what do you think the couples are like, a year later and how is the dynamic in the squads since they have three couples within them? what will they most likely do on graduation day and the ball if they have one? What do you think they'll do during the summer and fall? And...I'm re-watching s4 and I'm still annoyed Yousana's drama is resolved in text messages not even between them, it's really anti-climatic and then he went away and didn't come back. 😕

hei anon! i’m sorry this reply is like a month late or something! i hope you’re still around and see this! 

in my mind it is a little like this: 

isak and even still live together in their teeny tiny apartment. even started a program last fall at westerdals or another creative type school, and he really really enjoys it and he will pester isak or the ballon squad or the boy squad to be in his projects all the time. isak has secretly started to like it a little, even though he always puts up a little fight (even sees right through him though). isak has been going to therapy with even a few times, and he might even start going himself sometime, because even has been telling him about how good it can be sometimes. and isak is starting to realise that choosing to live in the basement of a strangers apartment instead of in your own house was an experience that has scarred him more than he first thought. even has had another episode since last year, and it was because of that that they decided it would be a good idea for isak to know even more about how to deal with it and understand how even feels about it. also isak has applied for several different science programs at the university of oslo and he hasn’t decided which one he wants yet, nor what he wants to do with it, but he’s sure he’s staying in oslo with even for now. 

i think sana and yousef are still dating, and yousef has started the education programme to become a kindergarten teacher. i think they’re definitely in love with each other, although sana still has her doubts about ever marrying him because he isn’t religious as her. i do like iman’s headcanon that yousef eventually goes back to being a muslim and that sana is a big part of that rediscovery for him. maybe he’ll never be as devoted as sana, but he gets back his faith at least. i think sana has applied to medicine in oslo but also in other cities and countries, and she’s not gonna stay in oslo if she gets in somewhere else. 

the other couples i don’t really know if i see still together tbh. vilde has obviously broken up with magnus (they’re still friends though), because she realised that even though magnus loved her and she loved him, and he was nice and kind and a great support for her, it still wasn’t right. and she finally came out as a lesbian right before russ started, and pretty much nothing turned out the way it was “supposed to be” according to vilde’s long standing plan for all of that, but it was still a great time. noora and eva have both applied to folkehøgskole (a type of boarding school, typically lasts for one year and there are no grades or anything, many people do it after high school and chose things they find fun!). noora for a writing program, and eva didn’t really know what she wanted but she picked a program about global issues which involved some travelling and volunteer work. while she doesn’t really have any experience or particular interest in it from before, she read the course catalogue and really fell for the program right away so she just went for it. 

also yes about the yousana thing. i had already kinda lost interest at that point, i think their whole drama was stupid. i felt like it made very little sense, and i think it was poor writing, especially considering yousef’s character. them having different beliefs, and the possibility that sana might not be able to see past that was much more interesting. the noora thing didn’t really have that much to do with neither yousef nor sana, it was just this “whops, sana happened to see them kissing in the 2 seconds before yousef pulled away, and we’ll drag out that misunderstanding for half a season”. i do really like sana and yousef together though, and their scenes in the first half of the season (and maghrib) were super lovely!