#this is such a delightfully eerie story go check it out!

[pileofsith]

The Frozen Shore

It's hungry and it wants to live.

Our entry for @theterrorreversebang: story by @acephalouscreature, pictures by me. My prompt was a crossover of The Terror and John Carpenter's The Thing!

You can read the story HERE!

[theresattrpgforthat]

would you happen to know about any ttrpg that could run/emulate the tone of STALKER/Annihilation?

Frail humain beings entering a Fucked Up Zone with the intent if reaching the center and things getting weirder and more dangerous the farther they go in?

THEME: Eerie Fucked Up Settings

Friend I have some truly excellent games for you this week.

TRESPASSER, by Binary Star Games.

The Zone is an area that's been sealed off by a nation or group of nations due to its danger. It's filled with Anomalies, extremely dangerous areas where physical laws like gravity, magnetism, electricity, or chemistry can break down to lethal effect, as well as mutants and things considered impossible.

Like many, you have entered the Zone, but not legally. You are collectively known as Trespassers. Some inside are on their own, some in groups, some part of larger factions. But most want one thing: to reach the centre and claim what it conceals.

This game can accommodate a GM but it isn’t necessary - in fact, you can even play it solo! As this game is inspired by STALKER, I think it’s going to really give you the vibe you’re going for. Troubles in Breathless games escalate as you play, so the longer you stay in The Zone, the worse things are going to get. I definitely recommend checking out this game!

BLOOM, by Litza Bronwyn.

BLOOM is a solo gmless journaling game in which you play a teenage girl trapped in quarantine at a boarding school on an island infected by the Tox, a plague that makes the trees and animals grow huge and hungry, and mutates your body in strange and horrific ways. In it, you will draw cards and write journal entries based on specific prompts in order to craft a story of survival and love.

I’ve read the book Wilder Girls by Rory Power, and it has a lot of the same themes as Annihilation and STALKER, so it might fit the niche you’re looking for. As a solo game, this uses the Wretched & Alone SRD, so you’ll probably want a Jenga tower, and you’ll definitely want a deck of cards.

Navigator, by Micheal Klamerus.

Navigator is a two-player tabletop rpg created for the Just the Two of Us Jam. It's inspired by the movie Stalker and the games Alone Among the Stars, Memoirs of a Barbarian and Thirst.

In this game two players journey into a mysterious, restricted site known as the Zone to find a room rumoured to grant people their innermost desires. One player is The Client, a person who wants to find this room and have their wish granted, and the other player is The Navigator, a person with previous experience navigating the Zone that has been hired by The Client to help them find the Room.

This game is definitely inspired by media such as STALKER, but it doesn’t have to be inspired by that. When I played this game, we decided to go for something a bit more fantastical, but if you and the person you play this with agree on the same inspiration, you should have no trouble experiencing this as an eerie, unnerving, dangerous setting.

Exclusion Zone Botanist, by Exeunt Press.

YOU ARE AN EXCLUSION ZONE BOTANIST. GET IN. DISCOVER AND DOCUMENT. GET OUT.

Another one for the solo enthusiasts, and it’s inspired by Jeff Vandermeer’s Annihilation. Your character is specifically looking for plants, which you will locate by rolling 2d6. You get a little hex map to track your progress as you play. As you go, you risk being influenced by the corruption of the zone. Your goal is to document as many plants as possible before you become the forest - because if you are corrupted too much, they can’t pull you out. A delightfully time-sensitive game.

The Zone, by Laughing Kaiju.

The digital tabletop storygame of magical realism, mutant weirdness, and collaborative self-destruction.

This is a really cool digital ttrpg, with a physical version on the way. You can play solo or multiplayer, and the website will guide you through play step by step. The game is meant to be collaborative, so everyone will have moments where they direct play. The author also encourages you to play to lose - this is a tragic game, a horror game. The game itself uses a number of cards representing locations, laid out in a spiral to form an abstract sort of map. Each location will have its own scene, probably more. And rather than rolling dice to resolve tasks, you choose whether something is easily doable, or not-so-easy - in which case you pull from a deck. This is where the mutations may come from.

If you are interested in the physical version of this game, they’re currently taking pre-orders on Backerkit!

[lady-wallace]

Abbacchio Week Day 4: I Know You're Out There Somewhere

Today's @abbacchioweek2024 fic is from my Vampire Hunter AU (if you haven't read it, check it out HERE!)

This story is set soon after Abbacchio joins Bucciarati's team in this verse so technically pre-canon Vampire AU ;)

Brief warning for some gore

~~~~~~~

It didn’t matter how Abbacchio chose to look at the situation, there was only one conclusion he could come to:

He had fucked up. His first real solo job and he had completely failed.

He slumped in the corner of the rusty cage he was currently trapped in—though on second thought, it was probably less rusty than he had initially thought since it seemed quite sound when he tried to kick his way out. And that left a whole new connotation to the red stains on the metal.

He’d tried to stop the bleeding in his leg with strips of his shirt, but it had still soaked through. He was bleeding so much he could smell it, the sharp metallic tang of iron and fear, mixing with the fetid odor of older blood in his surroundings.

The space he was in, a hidden passage under the crypt he’d been investigating, was dark, but he could see the eerie eyeshine from the ghouls milling around, waiting for…something, as they cast hungry glances over at him.

Abbacchio snarled in fury, slamming his good foot into the door of the cage again. “What’s the matter? Am I still too fresh for you to eat?”

The ghouls snickered.

“You won’t be once ‘e’s done for ya,” one of them growled in a wicked glee, licking its lips.

What the hell could they have meant by that? Abbacchio looked around the stone catacomb. He had been here for at least two hours now, he thought. He wondered if Bucciarati would consider him missing at this point or just late. Would he and Fugo be out there looking for him?

Would they even go to the crypt first, or would they choose to look in the public houses instead?

Abbacchio felt his heart sinking at the thought. It was true that he had barely earned the loyalty of his new team, but he couldn’t deny that it was demoralizing to think they might not be coming for him. Even if it was deserved.

The ghouls suddenly started whispering amongst each other and Abbacchio felt a shift in the atmosphere as another figure entered the room, a lantern held up. Abbacchio could clearly see the red eyes indicating he was a vampire, and he curled his lip in disgust.

“I knew there was something else going on here,” he growled. “So what…can’t even hunt for yourself, fang?”

The vampire sneered, hanging the lantern on a hook set into the wall before he leaned down toward Abbacchio’s cage. “Bold words for a trapped and injured Hunter.”

Abbacchio snarled. “You think I’m going to let a blood-sucker intimidate me?”

“I don’t know, I think you already have.” The vampire smirked. “See, while someone like you might not understand, I see the beauty in the opportunity here. The ghouls get to feed their nest and I also get to eat without having to do any messy hunting.” He crouched next to the cage, grinning in a way that showed off his fangs. “It’s quite a good arrangement.”

Abbacchio reached for his crucifix, but realized the ghouls must have taken it with the rest of his weapons. He was defenseless and furious at the fear that was creeping through him.

“Oh, are you scared?” the vampire mocked.

Abbacchio glowered at him. “You wish.”

“Oh, I can smell it on you.” The vampire chuckled before his eyes traveled down to the soaked rags around Abbacchio’s thigh and he licked his lips.

Abbacchio’s heart skipped a beat as the vampire reached through the cage and suddenly dug his fingers into Abbacchio’s wound.

Abbacchio cried out in shock and agony, pressing as far back into the cage as he could as he watched the vampire slowly bring his bloody fingers to his lips.

“Stop!” Abbacchio croaked. “You don’t get to drink my blood, you fanged freak!”

The vampire chuckled as he licked his fingers. “This is actually the worst thing you could possibly imagine, isn’t it? How delightfully naïve. You humans are always so close-minded in your prejudice.”

Abbacchio shut his eyes briefly, trying not to remember what had happened to his partner, how Abbacchio had watched the man get turned, helpless to do anything, and how he had been forced to kill him before he…

Maybe…maybe he deserved this. Maybe it didn’t matter if Bucciarati and the others were out there looking for him. Not that they would care much if they found him now after he had fucked up so royally. Maybe Bucciarati would finally realize his mistake in recruiting Abbacchio to begin with.

The vampire motioned to one of the ghouls who brought him the key to Abbacchio’s cage and he opened it, reaching inside.

Abbacchio bared his teeth as he was dragged out and his hands were manacled. He fought as much as he could but a well-placed kick to his injured leg had stars bursting over his sight with dizzying agony.

He slumped against the wall as his hands were suspended above his head, panting. The vampire grabbed his chin and wrenched his head to one side to expose his neck.

“It’s always a pleasure to feed on a Hunter. A reminder that your kind don’t really have all that much power over us.”

“Don’t!” Abbacchio tried, embarrassed by his cowardice, before the vampire sank his fangs into Abbacchio’s neck. He cried out through gritted teeth, eyes fluttering at the sudden loss of blood, sick to his stomach.

He briefly thought about Bucciarati’s kindness, the way the man had firmly, yet compassionately dragged Abbacchio out of his personal gutter and into a new life. One with purpose. But what purpose did he serve now, nothing but a meal for the beasts he had sworn his revenge on?

As he felt his blood being drained, he started to feel desperate. If anyone’s out there, he pleaded. Bucciarati…if you’re out there. You were right. I don’t want to die. Especially not like this…

As if in answer to his prayers the sound of the ghouls screaming suddenly echoed through the catacombs. The vampire drew away to look around in confusion as something landed with a thump, a hiss hailing a mist that began to permeate the small space.

The vampire suddenly screamed, pulling back as his skin began to blister on contact. He raced down the hallway, only for his footsteps to stop suddenly with a meaty thump.

Abbacchio’s head lolled on his shoulders as he watched the vampire’s head roll to a stop at his feet, suddenly incredibly nauseous.

“Fugo, clear the rest of the tunnel, make sure there are no more victims.”

The commanding voice hailed a figure in blue and black, rushing over to Abbacchio as he sheathed his sword.

“Abbacchio!”

He blinked as firm hands found his face, lifting it up to inspect his throat. Bucciarati’s tongue clicked as he saw the wound. “You still with us?”

Abbacchio moaned, unable to form words right now.

More footsteps ran up. “It’s clear, Bucciarati.”

“Thank you. Help me get him down.”

Abbacchio was barely aware of Bucciarati and Fugo releasing his wrists from the manacles, until he slumped against them with a short cry, his leg collapsing.

The two Hunters took his weight easily enough between them.

“Damn, he looks awful, how much blood has he lost?”

“I’m not sure. Enough. I have to say, those holy water grenades worked out better than I could have hoped—good job, Fugo…”

Abbacchio listened to their back and forth as he tried not to vomit or pass out. He hadn’t felt this bad since he was getting over his drinking problem.

However, he still couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. His prayers had apparently been answered after all. He had half expected his admission of wanting to live to doom him via the universe’s perverse obsession in fucking him over. But maybe it had more to do with having a team he could count on now.

“Easy, watch his leg,” Bucciarati cautioned Fugo as they made their way toward the carriage that would take them back to their headquarters.

He bit back a cry as he was maneuvered inside, but they carefully laid him down across one of the benches and Bucciarati tucked his cloak around him. Abbacchio hadn’t even realized he was shivering but he was cold…and grateful for the gesture.

“Abbacchio.”

He tried to blink the blurriness out of his eyes to focus on Bucciarati as he hovered over him. “The vampire…he did not make you drink his blood?”

Abbacchio felt terror wash through him at the thought, but firmly shook his head. “He didn’t. You know I would have told you that.” He would have put a stake through his own heart if that had been the case.

Bucciarati nodded and went to sit down before Abbacchio worked up the courage.

“I’m sorry.”

Bucciarati frowned. “For what?”

Abbacchio stared at him incredulously. “For…for getting caught! You trusted me with the job and I—”

“Don’t,” Bucciarati cut in sharply, face stern. “That job was a death trap I didn’t expect. I never should have sent you in there alone. That one was on me; a move ill befitting a team leader.”

Abbacchio was shocked to hear Bucciarati admit to guilt, he tried to protest, but the other man reached out to squeeze his shoulder. “You did good, Abbacchio, accept my sincere apology to do better next time. Rest now, we’ll get you fixed up, soon enough.”

Abbacchio slumped onto the bench as Bucciarati knocked against the top of the carriage and sat beside Fugo. His eyes slid shut despite himself.

“Thank you…” he murmured.

He didn’t hear a reply, but it was enough that his team had come for him. Blood was indeed thicker than water, especially for those who spilled it together.

[the-sage-libriomancer]

Random media i love and want to recommend:

Saving Me (animated tv show) - A Canadian show about a brilliant 61 y/o inventor who, upon realizing that he's driven away everyone he ever loved, projects himself into the mind of his 12 y/o self to help save his (their?) relationships before they crash and burn. This show gives me super intense Gravity Falls vibes, in the sense that it's basically just what would happen if Ford Pines went back in time to help his child self. It also has a lot of interesting plot pieces that slowly connect over the course of the series. Currently has two seasons.

Daybreaking Romance (manhwa) - A Korean manhwa following three different college couples and their romantic escapades. This is very slice of life but also features comedic misunderstandings of epic proportions and grounded examinations of people, not to mention plenty of nice lighthearted emotional turmoil. Also two of the main characters (Saebyeok and Yeomyoung) are the most autistic twins you'll ever meet. Check it out if you like simping boyfriends, aesthetically pleasing artwork, and misunderstandings that drive you up the wall in a good way (if you're a Miraculous Ladybug fan you'll probably like this one lol). Unfortunately there's no official English translation so you'll have to read it online.

Mision: Yozakura Family (manga) - a recent(ish) Japanese manga about a high schooler who accidentally gets married to the head of a family of spies and is adopted into the family business. Now I've complained about this series in the past, but I'm still recommending it because it's funny and sweet, all of the characters are easy to love, and the main couple are incredibly shippable. Plus its myth arc is shaping up to be incredibly interesting!

The Goes Wrong Show (tv series) - a British comedy series with the premise "what if an amateur theater group tried to put on shows and they went disastrously wrong?" It's the most hysterical, side-splitting show I've ever seen - I'm not kidding when I say every episode makes me choke with laughter. The craftsmanship is also top notch. You will not BELIEVE what sort of things these actors will go through for the sake of the bit. There are two series (seasons) plus a handful of holiday specials and a wholeass movie. Also, the entire series is free on YouTube!

Small Kingdoms (book by Charlaine Harris) - a short story collection, all featuring the same character: Anne DeWhitt, an assassin trainer turned high school principal. The writing is clean and concise, in a way that grips you right from the first sentence and doesn't let go; I also really love the characters, who are delightfully practical and also super endearing. Definitely recommended if you like thrillers, good writing, and short reads.

Eerie Tales From The School of Screams (graphic novel) - a recent horror anthology comic. It's middle grade fiction, but hoooo boy it's the sort of book kids will come back to as adults and be like "holy shit, this was for kids???" You might recognize the author and artist (Graham Annable) because he's done a bunch of comics/comic strips and also worked on movies like Boxtrolls and Coraline. This one has a bunch of body horror and creepy art so genuinely don't read it if you're not interested in horror horror ^^'

[reallyunluckyrunaway]

10 Underrepresented Horror Movies to check out for Spooky Season. (List originally written in May of 2021):

1.) Happy Death Day

This movie is great if you want a (mostly) comedic movie with a horror edge to it.

Like I said, this is a horror comedy first and foremost, with a time-loop twist…

It’s fun, fast paced, and has a surprising amount of character development and conflict throughout.

2.) Get Out

Delightfully refreshing.

This movie mixes horror with meta humor and racial commentary. I thought it did a great job creating a feeling of unease throughout, and it managed to have a fleshed out and intriguing protagonist that you can really root for.

The music gave me Coraline-vibes for some reason— what with all the harp/string based instruments, and with the unsettling chanting throughout its soundtrack.

Overall, it’s a movie that mixes typical horror conventions with a couple of modern twists.

3.) Freaky

This movie isn’t without it’s faults, as the dialogue and the tropes are often very cliche…

Purposely so... But it was still a bit corny at points.

But it grew on me as it went on.

There was some great character acting, and much like Happy Death Day, it takes a familiar concept and adds a horror-style twist to it. (Which makes sense, considering they’re both directed by the same person.) This time, the gimmick is the tride and true, good ol' body swap.

There were a ton of classic slasher/ horror movie references and meta moments, and it was rich with humor. Plus there's a group of diverse leads that helm this movie… they bounce off each other well, and have a ton of chemistry together. It's just an all around fun, freeeaaaky, horror movie.

4.) Suspiria (1977)

Suspiria does a brilliant job obtaining an eerie and eye-catching atmosphere, with the use of primary/secondary colors and it’s haunting original soundtrack... It’s also the first (and only) Giallo film I’ve ever seen.

The plot is pretty straightforward. But the real artistry, is in the atmosphere it sets and in the strange surrealism and mysteries it presents.

It relies much more on supernatural thrills and horror than your typical Giallo film typically does. But it is certainly a welcome change here, it's a movie meant to be experienced. Using it's strange, uncanny nature to garner thrills in the audience, both sonically and visually.

5). Doctor Sleep

The sequel to the horror classic, The Shining.

As far as sequels go, I found this movie outstanding. They did a fantastic job recreating the iconic settings, and with the character casting. The villains were really unnerving. They presented a real danger to the heroes, (Rebecca Ferguson did a fantastic job in particular). The powers were dynamic and unique. And even though it ran at a fairly long runtime, it flew by very quickly.

6.) Halloween (1978)

John Carpenter and Debra Hall are masterful, as a directing and scoring team. The soundtrack is tense and iconic, and this is the horror movie that popularized the slasher. This movie had shockingly little-to-no gore, and mostly relied on building suspense instead. The way that this movie makes you search for Michael in the frame is amazing, and not something I've seen too often since.

7.) The Descent

(Probably?) The of the most well known horror spelunking movies…

This British-Australian movie stars an all female cast, and kicks some serious ass.

It had some serious build up, and some of the better executed jump scares I’ve seen in a horror movie.

There's themes about trauma, and not knowing who to trust. And what follows, is a story about a group of adrenaline junkies. that inadvertently get themselves lost in a cave.

Though it eventually veers into a creature feature.

The cast were convincing and distinctive as their respective characters, and the cave scenes were brilliantly claustrophobic.

The sets were impressive. The (original) ending is incredible… And the characters were capable, (and maybe just maybe,) equally as vicious as the cave dwellers.

(note: it is so important to watch this with the og ending!)

8.) The Lighthouse

This is one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever...experienced.

Shot in black and white, on Kodak Double-X 35mm footage, this movie really commits to the time period it’s set in.

Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe really bring their A+ game here, and really commit to portraying the compelling tale of strangers that slowly start to lose their sanity, while cut off from the rest of world.

The set design is immaculate and the aforementioned lighthouse is truly impressive in scope.

It feels like one big fever dream, and has the watcher yearning to know who’s actually telling the full truth. There’s a lot to unpack and analyze: from the painting inspired shots, (ie. Hypnosis.) and it's references to mythology, and even explores themes like sexuality, isolation, etc.…

It does a ton of interesting things visually, too.

If I had to describe this movie… I’d probably look to how the director himself put it: “You know, does Prometheus ever encounter Proteus in any classical mythology? Not that I’m aware of, but maybe that’s happening in this movie. And so, therefore, Prometheus is taking on some of the heroes that wrestle with Proteus’s characteristics as well as his own.” —

9.) The Banana Splits Movie

Basically, it’s Five nights at Freddy’s meets the Banana Splits show. (A REAL 1960s children’s program that actually existed.)

It’s a crazy ass horror movie that takes real life kid show characters, and makes them the bad guys...

So, if you’ve ever watched a television show, and thought that there was something just... inherently creepy about it, than this one’s for you. (Especially if you’re into crazed-animal animatronics.) (I'm looking at you fnaf fans)...

It was insane, gory… and while it’s admittedly not the greatest horror movie in the world, it certainly ran with it’s ridiculous concept and knew exactly what it was going for. (Not to mention that it also has some pretty decent practical effects.)

10.) Carrie

Sooo seventies, and sooo awesome!

This movie is another horror classic based on Stephen King’s first published work.

It's definitely more of a slow burn, saving most (if not all) of the terror until the third act.

So, if prom night movies seem boring to you, Carrie is here to shake things up… And nothing spices up prom night quite like religious overbearing parents, pigs blood, psychopathic kids, and a telekinetic massacre… right?

[roselyn-writing]

When a rose turns black- Chapter 4

“Evil is plotting”

Ashure is the name of the Mage who killed Aliyaa’s Father. And made her what she is today..

Be warned this include mentions of blood and child sacrifices. (I warned thee!)

A chamber, in a large underground in a Cave, Typically of Demon made design. A loud howls and terrifying screams Everywhere inside of it. A Mage appears Dressed in red and black robes. He came as he looks at what’s to be a mirror of old designs. He bowed respectfully to it Called.. yes .. Ashure the terrible mage of Omenvalley’s.

“O Great one. Show me what i seek.” He prayed to the mirror-figure. The mirror-figure slightly with a deafening sound of rocks moving, it turns its head to his direction. Then mutter in a Deep Eerie voice.

“What thy Seek is can be thy doom or thy eternal bliss. Choose wisely mortal!” The Mirror-figure forewarned, His voice do not promise good things, as if it tells of a warning than an easy task. It will end with. Whether he dies trying or Achieves it.

“What do thy mean! O great one!” The Mage utters. Not believing what the mirror-figure tells. He stops for mere seconds than begans.

“O great one!, All i ask is for thee to guide me to the right child!. That can give me what i seek!” Ashure Mutters plea. The Mirror-figure tsked at him for such a plea. It begans talking again.

“Thy must know, not all children are zoris!. Zoris have a significant condition on their eyes. Their nose and their skin!. I thought you clever Ashure!..” the Mirror-figure Said in a monotonous tone. Not interested in the Mage and his desires.. note:- Zoris are the children that can give the sorcereres and mages Great fortune if they were to be sacrificed in temples or caves. It is a real life stories. Not mere tales. Without any more delays he left the place to his Place. He teleports to Virgina instead. Precisely the place Aliyaa family in. While walking he heard a voice. voice of a little boy. The boy age is 8 years old he was playing with his little sister. Ashure glances at them. They were playing happy and laughing together. he then remembers the mirror-figure words. He came closer to them. Mere looking is not going to define their features. So he must think of something or a Solution to let him came to them without making them Run away from him.. he remembers what children loves .

“Ah! Chocolate!” He thoughts. He magically Created ones. Two bars one for the little boy other for the little girl. He changed his looks, magically of course. He wore a white robes and a golden hat. He came laughing delightfully to them. The children looks to his direction. He friendly offers them a bar of chocolate. As the children they are, they Accpet his wicked Gift. They thanked him and ate the chocolates. He took this chance to check their hands and eyes. if the memory did not betray him. They look exactly like the “zoris children” . He magically Restrained them. they shouts for help. then and teleport to his place. And the rituals begans ..

One of his personal servants. Brings him the dagger for the rituals. he gaved them a potion to lessen their pain and senses. Showing little mercy for his foul doings and deeds.

Ashure then begans changing his incantation and magic language for the Zoris rituals. he took the dagger, he precisely plunged the dagger into the boys heart. Ripping it and bleeding inside out. He took the dagger filled with blood and Drawing symbols around their bodies. Calling for the guardians of the treasure.

(A demon guard underground treasures). The demon magically pulled into this room. He look flustered. Then he glances at the rituals in front of him. Annoyed and anger from pulling him for the wrong time and the wrong sacrifice.. he Cried pure anger.

“What is this mockery!!” The demon sneered into his face. His red eye Pours into Ashure. Ashure maintained his composure.

“A sacrifice for the treasure is it not?” The mage simply answered. The demon tsked at his face.. looking at the dead children and their scared faces. The demon know this is not the first time Ashure fails for such activities. The demon once again looked at him then murmured.

“I advised thee to Give up. Not everyone have what it takes. You simply try and fail everytime. And there is limited time for such activies.” The demon utters without any emotions or feeling. Ashure was not surprised either. He knows this demon personally. Arelm the demon. Crosses his arm. Waiting for Ashure reply’s.

“No!, I will not give up!, even If i die trying!” Ashure determined. Arelm did not look Surprised nor interested either. He is just doing his job. That is guarding the treasure of it is unworthy seekers and glory-seekers. Only the worthy Shall have it.

“Time will proves this! Ashure, and your running out of it. You have mere numbered years!. Tick tock tick tock!” He says as he smiles cruelly at him, enjoying his failures and Unsuccessfullness. The demon He had enough of this, With a snap of his fingers he left this creepy Bloody place. In instant Ashure

Slams the table in Anger. He cannot Fail he must not, he cannot afford to fail, Or there is not treasure. Hopeless was creeping inside his heart. He killed many countless children for such a stupid, cannot be found treasure. Yet he continues. because no one can find him to judge him then Bring justice to those unfortunate children. He will continue his search to find the children and Get the treasure. He will have it or no one can!.

“So, Ashure! Did you finally do it?” His friend Mage grinned at him. He seems hopeful yet Failure smashes this hope. Ashure glances at him, His eyes alone tell the answer. He pressed his lips together. His friend failed. Again. No wonder it is uneasy task yet is inhuman. His friend Borēm. tries his best to cheer him up, yet he fail again. How many children will he slaughter to Achieve this? It is impossible. Virginia is very very big and wide Nation. And the population at last if not least will be 220 billion people alone in Virgina let alone the other nations. The demon is right, giving up is the only Logical choice. Or her prefer to work himself to the bone and skips a lot of nights sleepless. Bōrem offers his friend a fine wine. Then talk

About his own achievements and such..

“Ashure! There are other things more worth it than this Treasure. Like discovering new spells and new getting deeper in knowledge of Magic!, Come’on friend the treasure is not everything!” Bōrem Advised his friend. Speaking logic and truth in his words. Life does not revolve only on this Treasure. Ashure feele a little cheered up

Bōrem is right, The treasure is not everything. There must be other things worth his time and Efforts. Unbeknownst to them a sneaky bastard demon Spying on them. On their mirror he is Raquol demon of desolation. he adores it when people Fails and they are devastated to the bone. And moreover there is a problem and soon to be a war between them. It is like a food to his belly. It feeds him greatly. He grins sinsterly at them. If there is anything he hates more than Lucifier, is these pathetic mages who works for him. Raquol, the demon of desolation. Surprisingly he is the only demon who despies and hates Lucifier and plots his demise. If you’re asking who he pledge himself to? The previous leader of demons Souma. Who had his demise at the hands of Lucifier. He hates Lucifier and Mages and humans Alike. All are Equal in his hate. He listens to their conversations. Deeply intrigued by Ashure failure. Ashure then got up to walk somewhere to clear his mind. Bōrem did not stop him. Raquol then plans to destroy someone else other than Lucifier. And he is Ashure. He is happy for his failure, only for now.

“I will not let him succeed!” Raquol promised while spying at them from his mirror. In this chapter not only Ashure appears Raquol as well. Raquol is a demon of desolation as we speak earlier. What did i not mention he is 2500 years old. He know most of things, after all he lived long enough to know whats right from wrong. He knows how things work in there. Dark, depressed and desolate. He take such pleasure in people failling all around him. Even from the west or the east. All are Equal to him. Raquol magic or power is mix between demonic magic and the mages magic and shapeshifting too. Not to mention his great mastery of his shadow magic. He can steal people shadows or shades to feed him or uses it to kill them. Or inflicting them with illness and diseases. He will plots of a great demise for his enemies Ashure and lucifier. His magic mirror shows him of a two little demons.. yes Little Jaroud and Vaūm. They were happily talking and playing together. He hums with interest at then. These two are young and inexperienced a poor combination he thoughts. He cannot harm them. Because they are neither his enemy nor they are the children of Lucifier. They’re from another Father. He noted. He will find about this later. Now he must focus his attention on Ashure and Lucifier.

“These two are youthful energetic.. yet oblivious to the danger that is around them. Ah such a feeling i greatly yearns to .” He mused at them. With his fox deceving eyes. Oops! Forgot to talk about his appearance(looks). Raquol has a dark purple hair. Dark green eyes, Handsome face and a muscular body. He doesn’t has a tail nor wings. He is a human-like more than a demon. But he use shadow magic. Allowing him to transform into animals and such. He has a two dark purple lines on his cheeks. He wear tight leather jeans. Sometimes prefer go topless sometimes not. He is not an incubus. He doesn’t seduce his victims. Demon of desolation is something else not a incubus like Jaroud. Nor a Vauldren like Vaūm. He somtimes kills his Victims face to face and or silently plotting their demise. He is mostly known for killing Lucifier childrens and his descendants. He lives in South west of Virgina. In his father palace which he inherited after he killed his uncle. Who strongly Allies with Lucifier. He hears a footsteps he quickly discontinue what he is seeing in his mirror. Yes he shuts it off.

“Sire! Do you want to have dinner now or..” his valet asked him. Raquol looks at him. Smiling to him then answering.

“Yes please.” He replied To his Valet. The valet nodded then left to do his job.

•In Hadi Aepel place•

He is in his field of work. Looking at his sheeps and Guarding them from wolves or heynas. The sheeps and lambs were happily eating the grass. He then Brings a huge bucket and pours water for them to drink. They came to it drink . He was silently looking at them. He is happy after all. He is working to provide his family the money they need. After hours he called for the sheeps and lambs to him they followed him to the farm He opens the cage door for them and they Quickly entered it. He closed it. He made sure every sheep inside the cages in the farm. They were making the sheep sounds satisfied with the food, water and the nature he lets them dwell in it for hours. He locked the farm, the fence of the farm, so no thief or burglar enter it to steal. Then he left to his family house. He entered the house. He again greets his beloved

Wife and his daughter. Farrah was happy with his return. His wife kissed him and he kissed back. Farrah gently Gave Aliyaa to her father so he can holds her and hugs her. He gently holds her and hugged. She came with the Dinner. The family were happy. And content. She asked him

“Did the work goes smoothly as usual dear Husband?” Farrah asked then giggles at him. He smiles at her then utters.

“Yes my beloved wife. It did go as usual smoothly if you want to say it.” He responded at her then chuckles. He cannot has enough of her or this delicious food she cooks for him. Aliyaa laughs while playing with her hand in the Air. He chuckles at her. He holds her again. Gently stroking her cheeks she chuckles showing these lovely babys laugh.. he chuckles again.

“Let me carry her. I finished eating my lovely husband.” His wife declared. He shooks his head no. She smiles at him. She smiles at him .

“Let me carry her. You need to eat!” She insisted on that. He looks at her. She seems Serious and he then agreed to gives Aliyaa to her .

“Thank you habibi.” She chuckles at him. Then she left to cuddle her and feed her.

With that we end this chapter.. Stay tuned for more! 💁🏻‍♀️🥰😝 😘 😚

[breezesummers]

If you love poetry, especially multimodal/visual poetry, please let me rave to you about these authors who just presented their new books at a live reading I attended:

The live reading, titled “HYBRIDITIES: ‘Daughter Isotope’ X ‘Failure Biographies,’” was hosted by a person named Elæ (they/them), a representative from The Operating System & Liminal Labs. 

They began with a note on Land Acknowledgements and each speaker was encouraged to provide a visual description for attendees who were unable to see them for any reason. The group featured a number of nonbinary, trans, and queer artists and authors, and the event was very inclusive!

Every title is posted on The Operating System’s Open Access Site as they are published, in order to keep works accessible and prevent gatekeeping. Please check out this link to access the works for FREE: https://www.theoperatingsystem.org/os-open-access-community-publications-library/

If you can afford it and would like to financially support these authors and artists, please follow the links I’ve included below!

CAConrad (they/them), “Amanda Paradise: Resurrect Extinct Vibration”

Click here to access Conrad’s website and to learn more about this queer author’s poetry: https://linktr.ee/CAConrad88

Here is an excerpt:

"To know glitter on a queer is not to dazzle but to / unsettle the foundation of this murderous culture / defiant weeds smashing up through cement."  - CAConrad, Amanda Paradise, from a poem dedicated to all those they had lost to AIDS.

About the book: “The poems in AMANDA PARADISE: Resurrect Extinct Vibration reach out from a (Soma)tic poetry ritual where CA flooded their body with the field recordings of recently extinct animals. Foundational here are the memories of loved ones who died of AIDS, the daily struggle of existing through the Corona Virus pandemic, and the effort to arrive at a new way of falling in love with the world as it is, not as it was.”

Amanda Paradise can be purchased here: https://www.wavepoetry.com/products/amanda-paradise 

Bishakh Som (she/her), “Spellbound” and “Apsara Engine”

Click here to access Som’s website and learn more about this transgender artist’s comic poetry: https://www.bishakh.com

Spellbound is Som’s autobiographical work. More information and excerpts can be found here: https://www.bishakh.com/project/spellbound/

About Apsara Engine: “The eight delightfully eerie stories in Apsara Engine are a subtle intervention into everyday reality: a woman drowns herself in a past affair, a tourist chases another guest into an unforeseen past, and a nonbinary academic researches postcolonial cartography. Imagining diverse futures and rewriting old mythologies, these comics delve into strange architectures, fetishism, and heartbreak.”

Apsara Engine can be purchased here: https://www.feministpress.org/books-a-m/apsara-engine?rq=apsara

Johnny Damm (he/him), “FAILURE BIOGRAPHIES”

Click here to access Damm’s website and learn more about his work, which combines multimodal elements such as comics, Depression-era photography and lines from found postcards: https://johnnydamm.com 

Here is an excerpt:

“Art of itself is of little or no value if…it does not effect a change / in the behavior of human beings.” - Noah Purifoy via Johnny Dam, Failure Biographies

About Failure Biographies: “ Damm (The Science of Things Familiar) upends the usual fare of celebratory biographies of successful lives by finding inspiration in artists who tried and failed to change the world around them. Using collage techniques to mash up vintage horror and sci-fi comics like Tomb of Terror with WPA photography from the Great Depression, Damm documents forgotten lives and plumbs great meaning via unusual, macabre visuals that manage to jibe with their real-world subjects’ lives.” (From Publishers Weekly)

If you want to hear Damm go deeper into the process of creating 'Failure Biographies,’ check out his interview here: https://medium.com/the-operating-system/true-and-irrevocable-failure-9a4dc2d5db9d)

Failure Biographies can be purchased here: https://www.theoperatingsystem.org/product/failure-biographies/ 

In addition, you can purchase Johnny Damm’s “FAILURE” t-shirts here (I think these are very cool - follow Damm in embracing failure):  https://dammnation.threadless.com/designs/failure/mens/t-shirt/regular?color=gold

The Operating System also has a Redbubble featuring Johnny Damm’s “I am an exhibitionist” Failure Biographies merch (also looks very cool): https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86916700 

Also check out “The Science of Things Familiar” — Johnny’s 2017 OS project: https://bookshop.org/books/the-science-of-things-familiar/9781946031037?aid=4259&listref=os-class-of-2017 

And finally, the love of my life: 

Vidhu Aggarwal (she/they), “DAUGHTER ISOTOPE”

Dr. Vidhu Aggarwal is an English and visual poetry professor whose work is surreal and utterly brilliant. They also combine poetry with visual elements, such as comic collages. I’ll include photos from Daughter Isotope in a reblog of this post.

About Daughter Isotope: “Daughter Isotope is a book of ��hybrid” poems that speaks to multiple iterations of ‘daughter’ tropes across generations, national borders, and timescales. Central to the question of the Daughter Isotope is: What is a collective archive? Within a global, disparate, migrant cultural space. DI is organized in a series of four ‘clouds,’ calling up the vague, penetrable borders of our digital lives, both searching and searchable.”  

If you want to hear Aggarwal go deeper into the process of creating ‘Daughter Isotope,’ check out the interview here (also appears in the back of the book): https://medium.com/the-operating-system/a-cloud-poetics-b6f81cb5ac75

A quote I like from the book which I feel reveals an overarching theme: 

“The diasporic entity as hacker breaking into this encoded world.”

Daughter Isotope can be purchased here: https://www.theoperatingsystem.org/product/daughter-isotope

There are also two different merch series for Aggarwal’s work on The Operating System’s Redbubble:  https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/86922313 

Thank you for reading all of this if you have! I really think these experimental artists are doing some cool and important work. Once again, if you would consider purchasing their books or merch and are financially able to, please do! If not, check them for FREE here: https://www.theoperatingsystem.org/os-open-access-community-publications-library/  

I hope they inspire you as much as they’ve inspired me. 

[hq-cuties-pls]

Queen of Crows: Daichi x Reader

This is a commission I'm posting with the commissioner's go-ahead. Please enjoy this Mythology/Arranged Marriage AU

~Admin Emma

***

You’d always known you had a destined prince. Your parents told you all time time. As a girl, it had been a story. Something with which to play pretend, but it wasn’t real. You would take your pretend prince on adventures, saving him from monsters and solving puzzles and exploring the little patch of foggy woods near your apartment building. Your prince became something of an imaginary friend, but grounded child that you were, you knew it was make-believe. 

It was kid stuff… until you actually met him. 

On the day you turned 15, your apartment was paid a visit by Gods. They didn’t specifically say they were Gods, but you knew. Being in their presence was something akin to standing at the center of a storm. His father was a tall man, broad shouldered and strong. His features were hard and square, and his face was unnervingly, agelessly smooth despite the white shock through his dark hair. His mother, on the other hand, was the opposite. Soft where his father was hard, warm where he was cool, golden where he was pale. Her eyes shifted unnervingly between spring green, summer gold, earthen brown, and deep black… it was almost nauseating to watch. The aura surrounding them was unmistakable… you felt wrong for looking directly at them. Some ancient instinct wailed for you to drop to your knees, prostrate yourself before them… 

Then, you met Daichi. 

He looked about your age, with his father’s broad features and his mother’s warm coloring. He saw you and dipped into a formal bow, but he didn’t say anything. You didn’t know what to say, either. So you just bowed back… that seemed right. 

“My name is Daichi, future God of crows, carrion, and scavengers.” 

“Um… I’m ____. Please, take care of me.” 

“Lord Hades.” Your father’s sudden entrance broke the strange tension that passed between you. “Lady Persephone. So glad you could join us. Please, come in.” 

“Thank you for having us,” the man--Hades--said smoothly, escorting his wife by the arm. “I’m pleased we were able to arrange these things amicably. These negotiations used to be… quite barbaric.” 

You shivered… you didn’t know much about Greek mythology (reality… unless you were running the worst fever and this was the wildest fever dream) but the image of Andromeda chained to a rock certainly came to mind. It took so long to process what you were seeing that before you knew it, Hades and Persephone were seated across from your parents, tea was being served, and the only empty spot at the table was right next to Daichi. If you didn’t know, he’d look like any other boy from your class. Maybe one you wouldn’t even notice… he looked so normal. 

“Let us be frank,” Persephone said, folding her elegant brown hands in front of her. “We’ll spare you the unsavory details, but there is a prophecy. As we explained to your wife, ____-san, we firmly believe your daughter is key to circumventing said prophecy.” 

Despite the tumult of questions you suddenly had, there was an eerie--almost unnatural sense of calm. In short, your parents were negotiating your… your marriage. To Daichi. A future God. Figures you’d only read about in storybooks and class textbooks were having tea in your livingroom, negotiating the ins-and-outs of your eventual wedding. 

“We’ll wait until they’re 25, of course,” Persephone offered, petting her husband’s arm. “We’d like them to have a normal childhood, if at all possible.” 

“And we’ll make as many concessions to your...ah… faith?” Hades turned to his wife, as if to check his word choice. She nodded and he continued, “Yes, faith, as we can. However, in order for the union to be binding, it will have to be in the Underworld.” 

Surprisingly, Daichi was the one who interjected angrily, “You don’t have to talk about us like we aren’t in the room. I’m right here.” 

“Apologies, son,” Hades said, almost patronizing. He patted his son awkwardly on the head, and it looked like Daichi barely resisted the urge to swat at his father’s hand. Something about this amused you, drawing a small laugh out of your chest. 

“These negotiations are, unfortunately, necessary, my love.” Persephone smiled gently at you, even though she was talking to Daichi. “But you two can go spend some time together. Maybe get to know each other while we speak to ____’s parents?” 

“That might be wise,” your father said with his own easy smile. “____, maybe you should take Daichi-kun and make some more tea.” 

You shrugged, secretly grateful for an excuse to get out of the living room. Whether or not Daichi came with you, well… it’s not like you actively disliked him. You didn’t know him. Yet, it seemed that you didn’t have much of a choice, so you figured it wouldn’t exactly hurt to get to know him. 

Daichi followed you into the kitchen, where you busied yourself with making tea. He seemed interested in the various trappings of your small kitchen, but conversation was nonexistent. What did you even say to each other… 

“I’m sorry,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “About my parents, I mean. They’re… a lot.”

“I mean…” You laughed to yourself, thinking of Hades looking to his wife for help, Persephone’s gentle doting, and the loving way in which they held each other. Looked at one another… “They’re sweet. They’re nothing like I expected, given what I’ve… ah… what I’ve read.” 

Daichi chuckled to himself, looking less like a young God and more like a boy from your class. He was handsome when he smiled like that, and would probably be drowning in confessions if he went to your school; “Yeah, my aunt has it out for my dad. According to Dad, anyway. But… well. Can I tell you a secret?” 

You shrugged, measuring out tea leaves into your little kyusu teapot; “Sure. I mean, you’re going to be my husband someday, so I don’t see why not.” 

At that, Daichi’s eyes cast down to his socks...surprisingly normal for someone destined to be the God of Crows; “That’s… that’s just it, actually. I’ve… I’ve seen my mother and father for 15 years, and they’re… ridiculously in love. When Mom has to return to Olympus, Dad is… so sad, and he never smiles quite like when Mom comes back. I know that's like… gross, or whatever… but I’ve always admired it about them. It’s something I’ve always wanted. For someone to love me like Mom loves Dad.”

You opened and closed your mouth, utterly at a loss for words. Thankfully, he continued without further prompting on your part. 

“So that’s why… if you don’t want this, you don’t have to do it.”

You sputtered, nearly dropping your tea pot in shock; “B-but… the prophecy! And your parents--” 

“Hang the prophecy, and I’ll deal with my parents. Whatever they promised your family, I’ll deliver.” Daichi fixed you with a gaze filled with an honest intensity that made him look so much older than 15. “I want a partner who loves me. For me. Not one who stays out of obligation, or worse… worse if my parents purchased their affection. That’s… I can’t. It’s probably naive of me, but I can’t. So if you want out, just say the word, and I’ll get you out. I swear on the River Styx.” 

There was a distant rumble, and the sudden tense atmosphere told you that this wasn’t an idle promise. This had weight and meaning… 

“Well…” You shifted from foot to foot, unsure how to respond. “I’m… not sure. I don’t know you very well, and… can I… can I think about it? Maybe we could… I don’t know… go on a date, or something?” 

“A date?” 

Daichi tilted his head in askance, and it occured to you that he looked very cute like that. 

“Yeah. Like… I don’t know. A movie or a cafe or something. So we can talk. Then, we can decide.” 

Decide if we want to get married, went unsaid. You were teenagers, after all. How could you expect to decide on forever when you were barely in high school. Still, Daichi’s smile was surprisingly warm, and it was something you found yourself wanting to see. 

“I think I’d like that,” he said, extending his hand to you. “I’ll… arrange something fun. Well… my best friends can help me arrange something fun. I’m bad at this kind of stuff.” 

“I… look forward to it.” 

~~~

One date at a Starbucks turned to two. Which turned to three and four and countless more. Daichi took you places you could only dream of, secret places between dimensions only accessible by the gods. You couldn’t take him to lagoons with pools made of moonlight, or caves with real stars dotting the obsidian walls… but he seemed equally taken aback by the cherry blossoms in Tsutsujigaoka park or the Izumi Botanical gardens. He seemed to like places like that... close to nature. 

As you got older, you spent more time together, and you got to know the delightfully silly boy at Daichi’s core. You learned of his love for dogs, born from being raised around Cerberus (ultimate dog, if Daichi was to be believed) and the many dog spirits that passed through the Underworld on their way to Elysium. You learned of his competitive spirit, of his friendships with Asahi--a son of Apollo and a nymph--and Suga--a mysterious son of Hermes. He told you of Olympus and the Underworld, and of his dreams to someday live his life in the sun. Among mortals. Not above them, and not beneath them. 

He, in turn, got to know you. Your hopes and dreams and passions. He learned of your wit and your biting sense of humor, your compassion, your enthusiasm and general verve… you were alive. Bursting with life and light, according to him. As you grew closer and closer, he started looking at you like the sun rose and set in your eyes--a look that made foreign (but not unwelcome) tingles run from your head to your toes. 

And at the end of every encounter, when your visit was coming to an end, he would ask the same thing. 

“Will I see you again?” 

The implication was clear… you knew all you had to do was tell him ‘no’ and you’d never see him again. He’d separate himself from your life, and that would be that. At first, when you were a teenager developing feelings for a boy for the first time, you’d kept him around out of curiosity and the desire to see things through. But as you got older, as you and Daichi became closer… he was more than your fiance. You were more than just a pair of kids caught in an old-fashioned arrangement… somewhere along the way, Daichi had become one of your best friends. Somehow, despite your forcefully entwined fates, you’d come to care a great deal about Daichi.

The idea of saying goodbye permanently became absolutely abhorrent. So you always answered, “of course.”

It was always like that. It was your pattern. You’d see each other, have a good time, and part on those words alone. It became a comfortable routine, even as the wedding drew nearer. And the longer you drew it out, the harder it became to leave him entirely. In the years since you met Daichi, he had become so precious to you… 

Beyond that, he’d grown up so handsome. Almost ridiculously so. All signs of softness and roundness had disappeared with the last of his baby fat, leaving behind a ridiculously chiseled face. Staunchy masculine and sharp in every way, and yet his eyes remained so beautiful and warm. The way he’d look at you, you’d see his mother’s springtime sun shining through that beautiful, chocolatey brown. When he touched you, your whole body drew up tight, greedily wanting more than a chaste touch at the small of your back, or a gentle grasp of your hand as he gallantly kissed your knuckles. 

Daichi had grown to be too much for you in almost every way… and you loved him for it.

Finally, the wedding drew near. You’d taken him on a day trip to see Akiu Waterfall on the outskirts of Sendai, and it was getting late. Your small apartment had been filled to the brim with flowers from Persephone’s garden, and Hades himself had delivered the finest jewels of his domain. A wedding dress made of dusky organza and lace so delicate it may as well have been smoke and feathers hung, flawless and perfectly fitted, in your closet.  

“So,” Daichi said softly, helping you navigate a particularly tricky bit of slick rock. “In a few days, we have to make our decision.” 

You ignored how the summer-warm heat of his hand against your back made you shiver, how it sent awareness through all of your limbs just to be near him. More than his celestial presence, something about this man had started to do terrible things to you. And he was so close… 

“I think…” you swallowed to dislodge the lump that stuck in your throat. “I think it’s a little late for that. At this point, it’d be a huge hassle to cancel. Can you even get your deposits back?” 

“You’re so funny,” Daichi said dryly, pausing to stroke the sleek feathers of a raven attempting to capture his attention. Over the years, the black birds had become drawn to him. You were sure that rambunctious Yuu and little Shouyo were your favorites. You idly wondered who this handsome devil was. “I mean it, ____. Just say the word, and I’ll leave. You can wait until the day of if you have to…”

For some reason, his insistence on your ‘freedom’ stung. You swallowed again, but your throat remained stubbornly thick; “Is that what you want? For me to leave? Call this off and never see me again?” 

There was a long pause. Long enough you turned to look at him, taken aback at the almost sad expression on his face; “If… if it makes you happy, then yes.” 

The word change was so slight… from ‘if that’s what you want’ to ‘if it makes you happy…’ 

“First, answer something for me.” You grabbed a seat on a relatively dry patch of rock, focusing on the breathtakingly beautiful waterfall and not the man just a few paces away from you. “We’ve known each other for 10 years… that should be enough for honesty, yes?” 

“I’ve always been honest with you, ____.” 

“Except you haven’t.” You balled your hands into tight fists, refusing to look at him. You had to say your piece, and if you looked into those perfect eyes… you’d be a goner. “You’ve always left this decision to me, Daichi, and we’re… we’re friends, at least. And I deserve better than that! So be honest with me… what do you want?” 

For a second, it looked like he was just going to repeat his desire for your happiness. Tell you that he didn’t care about himself or what his future. But he didn’t. He gave a long, thoughtful pause, idly stroking the raven perched on his arm. The only sounds were the guttural purrs of pleasure from the bird and the sibilant rush of the waterfall. 

“I want…” he bit his lip, his answer almost too quiet to hear. “I want to get married on Saturday.” 

You sat, frozen, unsure how to react. You always pictured this moment, and in your fantasies you were always a smooth and composed fairy tale princess, worthy of the wife of a God. The reality proved much more… embarrassing than that, given your surprised little squeak. 

“You… you do?” 

“I do.” His word choice was not lost on you, and judging by the soft, sweetly sad smile he gave you, it wasn’t lost on him either. “____, I love you. I think I’ve loved you for a long time… maybe even since the beginning. But… everything was so complicated, and I didn’t want you to feel like you had to. Maybe it’s selfish, but I wanted you to love me… just for me. Not because I’m a God or because it was your duty or you were paying a debt… I wanted you to see me. And know me. And you did… you saw me every day, ____, and… and I can’t thank you enough.

“Which is why… it’s why I have to let you make this decision, because if it were up to me, I would have been yours years ago. But you… you never said anything, so… so I had to assume…” 

“That I waited this long?” 

Daichi rubbed sheepishly at the back of his neck; “Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part. Or denial. I’d hoped… that you were waiting so long because… because you wanted me. But I was never sure. So--” 

You cut him off with a gentle touch to his lips that made him start so violently, the raven perched on his arm flew away with an indignant squawk. The only thing you could register was the soft give of Daichi’s lips against your fingertips… they were surprisingly plush, soft and smooth… Eye contact was intense. It burned… 

“Daichi.” You took a deep breath, in and out slowly… “I feel the same.” 

It was a small declaration, more confident than you felt. But it seemed to snap whatever thread that held Daichi together. His warm eyes filled with happy tears, and his breath shuddered with the force of his joy. 

“Really?” He reached out a tentative hand, placing those gentle, warm fingers against your cheek.

“Really.” You leaned into his touch, letting your own hand migrate to cradle his jaw. “I really, really do…” 

Somewhere along the way, you had come to deeply love this man before you. And, by some miracle, he loved you back. He loved you and it showed. It was obvious in the gentle way he pulled you to him, his gaze and touch so tender it made you feel as delicate as the flowers in your apartment. It was so clear in the way he gently--so gently--angled your jaw so he could press his lips to your forehead. The corner of your eye. Your cheek. Your jaw… and finally… finally, he brought you in for a slow and achingly tender kiss. 

It was nothing like you imagined from him. There was a thread of uncertainty and inexperience. He was gentle and methodical and almost shy… but underneath, there was a sense of rightness. Like this was where you were meant to be. Like Daichi was made to hold you in his arms. You fit so perfectly, and it was so, so warm… 

Never in your life had you felt so loved than in that moment. Affection filled your chest until you felt fit to burst, like your mere mortal vessel wasn’t built to contain the feelings you felt for Daichi. And his strong arms were there to hold you together, keep you from flying apart at the seams. And all the while, he trembled with the force of his own emotions. But he was happy… you were happy. You could hear it in the breathless, giddy cadence of his nervous laughter. You were loved, and in return you would protect Daichi from whatever ordained fate you’d been chosen to save him from. 

Because you loved him so, so much… 

By the end of the week, under the false sun in Persephone’s garden in the underworld, you became the Queen of Crows.

[whatyoufish4]

What are your favorite MCU soundtracks? What's your favorite Loki related soundtrack?

This is a *magnificent* ask and I thank you for it. :D  Soundtracks are one of my very favorite things -- I’d bet a good 40% of my music collection is soundtracks, both because I like orchestral music (soundtracks are kinda the “classical music” of our day, y’know?) and because I like music that calls back to my favorite stories.

When it comes to the MCU, I’m a massive Brian Tyler fan. Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World came out within six months of each other, and I fell hard for both the films and their soundtracks. I’ve listened to both soundtracks dozens of times, but I give the edge to Thor: The Dark World. Iron Man 3 has one of the best themes in the MCU -- but there isn’t a dull moment in the T:TDW soundtrack. The main titles, the battle music, the playfulness in tracks like Escaping the Realm, the beauty and mourning of Into Eternity. And, of course, T:TDW is the only soundtrack to give Loki his own theme, a mischievous, haunting melody that stands magnificently in its own right, but which also has some emotional versatility (I love the orchestral build of Loki’s theme in Betrayal, which manages to swing between the gravity of Loki’s [apparent] betrayal before swinging back to a hero’s theme when the double-cross -- and Loki’s loyalty -- is revealed). It’s probably my favorite soundtrack of the MCU.

I enjoy Patrick Doyle’s Thor soundtrack well enough (especially the main theme), but I’ve listened to T:TDW and Thor: Ragnarok a heckova lot more, honestly. And speaking of Ragnarok: I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Mark Mothersbaugh’s soundtrack for that film, because it’s really neck-and-neck with Tyler’s TDW soundtrack in my affections. The quirky, 80s-esque music captures the fantastical otherworldly science-fantasy of Ragnarok, with a main theme that just makes my heart happy. It doesn’t have the raw power or the fantasy-epic, Norse-esque feeling of TDW, but it has a *cheerfulness* that recharges me in a different way. The Ragnarok soundtrack still has plenty of emotion to it (the Celtic-like music during Odin’s death scene is just quietly beautiful), but I love it for its joy. The soundtrack’s opening “Ragnarok Suite” is something I listen to on long walks when I’m brainstorming stories; “Arena Fight” and “What Heroes Do” has an energy and a fun that is so delightfully unique. The end credits song is perfection. (My one regret is that Mothersbaugh didn’t give Loki a theme; I would’ve loved to hear a triumphant burst of music when Loki swoops in all, “YOUR SAVIOR IS HERE!” ... alas. ;-D)

I’m also very fond of Michael Giacchino, and I really dig his soundtrack for Doctor Strange -- the main theme is fantastically fitting, and the haunting eeriness of some of the “reversal” music, when time is going backwards and it sounds like the music is too, is masterful.

When it comes to Loki-related soundtracks -- I admit I have some songs and artists that I have just sort of arbitrarily decided are “Loki-esque,” for one reason or another. The Decemberists (and, in particular, their album “I’ll Be Your Girl”) have a whole bunch of songs that puts me in mind of Loki. I also have a handful of Panic!At the Disco music that makes me think of the Agent of Asgard series in particular -- some of which I think make arguable sense (”Do You Know What I’m Seeing?”) and some which I really can’t explain (I don’t know WHY I associate “Let’s Kill Tonight” with the first issue of L:AoA, but here we are).

In the past few years, I have been building up a playlist of songs that reference the sun ... because there is no line more important to me than The Sun Will Shine On Us Again. It’s a playlist by the same name; check it out on Spotify if you’re curious, and if you have any suggestions for additions, let me know!

Ask me anything.

[mabelpodcast]

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[rebelsofshield]

Panels Far, Far Away: A Week in Star Wars Comics 10/10/18

This week, more creepy tales are spun from the lava fields of Mustafar and Marvel adapts the latest big screen Star Wars adventure.

Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader’s Castle #2 written by Cavan Scott and art by Derek Charm and Kelley Jones

It’s honestly shocking that 16 years after his introduction in Attack of the Clones, we are just now getting our first Count Dooku vampire story. Outside of fallen wizards from both space and Middle-Earth, Christopher Lee is perhaps most famous for his long stint as none other than Dracula himself (playing opposite fellow Star Wars actor Peter Cushing as a matter of fact). Whether Dooku’s title is an intentional homage to this or not, the Count of Serenno seemed prime for this sort of Gothic horror tribute. Luckily, writer Cavan Scott is here to finally scratch our Transylvanian itch.

Tales from Vader’s Castle is shaping up to be a wonderful novelty series and it certainly makes for a fun Halloween tie-in, but at the moment outside of the basic fun of seeing Star Wars redressed into eerie but mostly inconsequential eerie yarns, it may not have much to offer. Cavan Scott balances the tone of this family friendly horror story well, but this issue falls into many of the problems that the regular “Tales from Wild Space” feature runs into in the pages of Star Wars Adventures. The frame narrative storytelling device is fun, but it’s hard not to feel a little disappointed by the lack of progression in its plot here, especially considering how stellar Derek Charm’s pencils and coloring are.

As for this week’s “tale,” clever use of Dooku aside, Scott’s story of Obi-Wan, Commander Cody, and Adi Gallia facing down space vampires is entertaining in concept and in many ways feels like it could have easily been a fun seasonal one-off episode for The Clone Wars. However, Kelley Jones’s pencils are often distracting and lack the pop of Charm’s pages, even if Dooku’s full on vampirization is filled with delightfully classic vampire poses. More Sith vampires please. Dooku and Nihilus can find a castle together or something

Score: B

Solo: A Star Wars Story #1 written by Robbie Thompson and art by Will Sliney

Marvel’s most consistently disposable work under the Star Wars brand have been their adaptations of the newer films. Whether these range from upsettingly dismal (The Force Awakens) or unnecessary (Rogue One or The Last Jedi), it is often hard to figure out just who these comics are made for as they often add little to their source material and feel like they are made more so out of obligation than inspiration. For this reason, one couldn’t really be blamed for going into Marvel’s take on Solo, a fun but entirely forgettable Star Wars film, with a little bit of trepidation. However, surprisingly, Robbie Thompson and Will Sliney have produced a product that is actually fun and entertaining in its own right.

Perhaps the most welcome surprise here proves to be Thompson’s script. While it still closely adheres to the plot of the movie and lines of dialogue are still frequently identical to their silver screen counterparts, Thompson liberally takes the time to recontexualize, reframe, and even expand upon the events of Solo in a way that not only expands on our understanding of its central character and plot but are often more flashy and enjoyable than their source material. Whether it’s a prologue that expands the film’s start or a new sequence that offers a much welcome glimpse into Han’s time in the Imperial Starfleet, Thompson’s Solo feels inspired if not original.

Will Sliney’s pencils are also a standout and helped graciously by some great coloring by Federico Blee. While the theatrical Solo was often marked by its drab and cloudy cinematography, Sliney and Blee add a level of detail and color to the story that make it one of Marvel’s more visually impressive installments in the Star Wars line. Outside of a few awkward facial expressions in rendering Alden Ehrenreich’s Han, the two pair well with Thompson’s script to deliver a few rather great moments of visual storytelling including the early chase through the streets of Corellia, Han and Qi’ra’s celebration, and Chewbacca’s reveal.

It still may not be a product that is for everyone, but Marvel’s creative team feels like they put their all into this adaptation and in a way it may actually do a better job of telling its story than the film. If this level of quality continues, it may just be the first Star Wars film adaptation under the House of Ideas’s belt that will be worth checking out in full.

Score: B+

[katie-dub]

CS Writers' Hub Fic Recs

Happy International Women's Day everyone! What better day than today to celebrate some of my favourite ladies in the world - the girls of the CS writers' hub?

Caesura by @seastarved

Chinx breathes life into every word she writes and this is never more true than in her stunning world war one fic. Her writing is so vivid that I can taste it, smell it, feel it in my bones. It makes me want to pick up a brush and paint, to bring Killian's art to life. Except of course, no picture of no mine could ever live up to a thousand words of this fic. Utterly gorgeous.

A Fixed Point by @mahstatins

Honestly I could just say read Clare's entire back catalogue (you should, it's totally worth it), but in the interests of brevity, check out this utterly incredible tale of time lady Emma and her travels in the tardis with Killian.

Given the Choice by @winterbythesea

I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful season 3 canon divergence. It's got pining pirates (and definitely not saviors, saviours don't pine. Ever. For sure.), the best banter and amazing angst. Read it.

CS 0155 Data Witchcraft by @hencethebravery

Alana's magical modern au is a slice of poetic perfection that apparently makes me want to use excessive alliteration.

The Cuddlist by @the-reason-to-sail-home

A fic that's as cute and sweet as it's lovely author Tessa. Emma needs a little TLC and who better to give it than professional cuddlist, Killian?

I Thee Wed by @justanotherwannabeclassic

Shea's the master of putting a twist on the tropes we know and love. For her contribution to last year's CSBB (don't forget, sign ups are open for this year @captainswanbigbang!) she wrote this intriguing and poetic insight into the political and personal ramifications of the Emma and Killian's elopement. Usually the ending to lieutenant duckling fics, this takes a look at what happens after the happily ever after, and features one of the best OC's I've ever read! I ♥ Leo 5eva!

An Evening Away by @dassala

A witty and mischievous one shot set in the enchanted forest with Princess Emma meeting a very clever pirate. Lots of fun and guaranteed to make you smile.

Serendipitous Melody by @killiancygnus

Musician Killian is such a great trope - and why not make it better with musician Emma too? This cute modern au will keep you guessing and make you laugh, cry and seriously envy Killian's house. (Like, seriously, I want that house!)

Jolly Cafe by @captainswanandclintasha

An adorable coffee featuring Emma, Elsa and the Brothers Jones. A fun, fluffy read.

Should I Stay or Should I Go? by @distant-rose

Eerie and atmospheric Stranger Things au. This story will haunt you in the best possible way.

What We Wouldn't Do by @sambethe

Do you have those fics that you feel like you could read a million times and never get tired of it? This is one of mine - a fantastic friends (with benefits 😘) to lovers story that's smart, witty and steamy as sin.

Take Me to the Church by @optomisticgirl

Speaking of sin, (smooth segway, huh?) can we just talk about this amazing fic by B? We're talking peak priest Killian here people, and it's as hot as hell.

Separate Lives by @lenfaz

A canon divergence that sees Emma and Killian reuniting after leaving Storybrooke separately at the end of season 3. The characterisation is incredible, you'll adore Lena's OCs (the family who "adopted" Killian) and Killian the cop is as hot and sweet as hot chocolate with cinnamon on top.

Flower Crowns by @the-savior-swan

A lovely little future fic about daddy Killian, the prettiest pirate in all the land (😉) spending some time with his daughter.

Anonymous Swan by @swanandapirate

I don't know what I love more here - the fic itself or the story behind the fic. Just kidding, it's definitely Manon's delightfully witty fic with a awesome and unique set up, what if Killian and Emma met when they were bickering in the comments of Dave's Google doc? If you have ever beta'd for anyone, you have to read this.

9 Ways to Eat Radishes by @zengoalie

A funny one shot with some excellent lines telling the tale of how salad-dodging Emma picks up more than vegetables when she is persuaded to get healthy and get fresh produce straight from the farm.

On Sleepless Roads by @euphoric-melancholyy

An angsty season 6 canon divergence with hauntingly beautiful imagery. It'll make you wish this is really how season 6 began.

The One With The Blackout by @imhookedonaswan

Remember that time Chandler got stuck in an atm vestibule with a Victoria's Secret model? Imagine that playing out with Captain Swan and you've got this fun fic! 😊

Bird of Prey by @shoedonym

Oh God this fic has poetry woven into every line stitching together perfect metaphors to produce this beautiful fairytale of shape-shifting swans and the boys who love them.

I only came for the dancing by @ofshipsandswans

I had to single out this cute fic after my own life inspired it (I'm keeping schtum about how). Ruhi is on top form, showing off her wit and her brilliant way with words in this story of maid of honour Emma and "tall, dark, and absent" best man Killian at Regina and Robin's wedding.

The Happily Ever After by @acourtoftruelove (AKA @captainwiley)

Do you need gorgeously sweet fluffy fluff to perk you up on a bad day? Then this is absolutely the fic for you. A canon divergent peek at Valentines Day with Captain Swan to warm your cockles.

A Grande Mocha and a Brand New Life by @phiralovesloki

I reach for this wonderful one shot whenever I'm feeling down. Emma strikes up an unusual friendship with the charming Brit who works the squawkbox at the drive through coffee shop on her way to work. It's bright, breezy and brilliant.

Serious Treble by @businesscasualprincess

A short, sweet and fantastically cute one shot that'll give you heart eyes and the warm fuzzies.

A Wing and a Prayer by @xhookswenchx

Another CSBB fic, this time Cee's magical dragon au. Some of my favourite moments happen later in the fic so suffice it to say that it's got action, adventure, enchanting twists and all the romance your shipper heart could desire.

The Darling Affair by @icecubelotr44

Renée's thrilling story features angst, whump, kisses, bad ass Emma and ex-military Killian that'll make you desperate to see Colin play James Bond (if you weren't already). It's dramatic af and you won't want to put it down.

A Place in Time by @swanslieutenant

This fic is utterly compelling - an intriguing sci fi set up gives way to a fascinating story of a whole host of people out of time - including a certain pirate. The characterisation is incredible and the whole story is a delight.

you are the sea, upon which i float by @thejollypirate

A fantastic one shot that's fluff with a bit of bite. The perfect antidote to a dreary day.

And just to prove that I have earned my spot in a writers hub.. The Masks We Wear

Killian and Emma are colleagues, friends and they’re madly in love with each other. If only they could work out that their feelings are totally requited. But then, if they still haven’t figured out that they work together as superheroes in their spare time, there’s probably no hope for them. Probably.

[todaydreambelieversfic]

Author Spotlight: lilyvandersteen day 4

This is honestly one of the finest rec lists because it’s thematic. I couldn’t make all of the authors tag so have tried to list them in the tags too

Day 4: Recs!

Ooooh… I LOVE reccing fics! Only five, though? All right, then… 

I’ll try and stay off the beaten path for this. It would be easy enough to mention one of the classics by @anxioussquirrel, @chazzam​ , @mrscriss2012, @zavocado​, @missbeizy , @nadiacreek​, @heartsmadeofbooks​ or Rainjoy, but you already know and love those stories, so what’s the point?

 1.      One of our fandom’s most original and imaginative writers is @sunshineoptimismandangels​. I love her stories. She can take an age-old trope and completely turn it upside down and inside out. I love her take on Kurt and Blaine, and she writes Cooper so well, too. The fic of hers I’m going to rec is Missing Pieces. I’m not going to spoil the plot for you. All I’ll say is that I’ve read and re-read this story countless times, and it never fails to move me. Absolute must-read!

Excerpt:

"Why did those men think we were gross?" he asked. "What did we do wrong?"

"Nothing," Kurt said, turning in his seat to face B. "We didn't do anything wrong. Some people just don't like to see two men together."

"But… They were all men and together."

"Yes, but they thought we were on a date, and they don't like gay people."

"They don't like people just because they are gay?"

Kurt sighed. He hated that this was something B had to learn about the world. "Yes."

"People are scared of things they don't understand," B said, remembering the words Kurt had told him before.

"Yeah, and sometimes people don't want to understand."

B was quiet for a moment and Kurt watched him closely, trying to determine what he was thinking. Slowly, a smile grew on B's lips.

"They thought we were on a date?"

Kurt rolled his eyes and laughed. "That's what you got from what just happened?"

B shrugged and smiled. "I don't mind people thinking we were on a date."

 2.      I’m a fluff writer, and I also love to read fluff. Nothing brings me more joy than waking up to a new story by @hazelandglasz​, @whatstheproblembaby​, @a-simple-rainbow, @chatterboxrose​, @sir-pyllero​, @notthetoothfairy​, @skivvysupreme or @fablewriter . They never fail to make me smile and they improve my mood a thousand-fold. If you’re fever feeling blue, I encourage you to look up these authors on AO3 and read some of their offerings – it will make you feel happier in no time.

The piece of fluff I’m going to rec here, though, is a wonderful cross-over between Glee and Enchanted called That’s How You Know, and written by the lovely @afterthenovels . It’s still a WIP, but there’s more than enough of it to capture your attention, and there’s no cliffhanger that will make you count the days until we get the next chapter. And oh, I love this story SO much. Kurt and Blaine are so sweet and shy and oblivious, and they complement each other so well. *Happy sigh* Read it, you’ll LOVE it, that’s a guarantee.

 Excerpt:

Blaine steps closer as quietly as he can, but Kurt doesn’t even stir, his eyelashes fanned out over his cheeks as he sleeps. He looks... younger. Less like a prince and more like a regular man.

“I guess you really were tired,” Blaine says quietly.

He unfolds the blanket in his arms and spreads it carefully over Kurt’s body, making sure it covers him from neck to toe. Kurt shifts in his sleep, huddling closer to the warmth and letting out a pleased hum, his lips curling into a small smile, and Blaine can’t help the smile that spreads over his own face.

His hair is a mess, he has no idea where his boyfriend is or why he missed their date tonight, his best friend is worried about his love life, and there’s a strange man sleeping on his couch, looking surprisingly at home for someone who’s clearly very far away from home.

Yeah. Maybe he can deal with all of this tomorrow.

 3.      Much as I hate scary movies, I love to read scary stories once in a while. Ghosts and vampires and djinns and the like stirring up no end of trouble. I’m reading a delightfully eerie nail-biter right now called Callaway Place (also by @sunshineoptimismandangels), but the story I’m going to recommend here is All the Beautiful Pieces by @lady-divine-writes​. Once again, it’s a WIP, but I hope you won’t let that scare you off, because this story has everything to keep you spell-bound: a house with a dark past, voodoo magic, a protagonist with second sight, and a sweet love story between Kurt and Blaine, because of course they find each other and fall in love in spite of all the craziness surrounding them.

Excerpt:

Blaine slips a hand beneath the puppet’s shoulder and another behind his head, lifting him ever so gently and relocating him the final distance.

“Just a few more inches,” Blaine says in a soothing voice, “and we’ll wrap you up and put you in the box.” Blaine gazes at the puppet’s face, into his single good eye. He smiles wider as he lays the puppet on the blanket, but his hand beneath the puppet’s head starts to feel warm. It begins at a spot in the center of Blaine’s palm and radiates like a single ray of golden sunshine. It’s liquid heat, pouring into his veins, shooting out to his fingers, filling his body up like a cup of cocoa on a cold winter’s day.

His eyes are open, his mind awake, but the haze returns. It obscures his vision in a veil of white mist. It drifts in front of his eyes. He can only peek through in random spots where it thins, revealing shimmering images that disappear like the dreams you hold on to in those seconds right before you wake.

“Can you feel that?” Blaine hears his own voice whispering inside his head.

“I do,” another voice replies. It’s high and lilting, pure as silk and singing in his ears.

“What does it feel like?” 

“It feels like…like summer all over my body…”

Blaine laughs, pressing his lips to cool skin. “And what else?”

A giggle answers him in that same musical voice. “It feels like…”

The voice gasps, and Blaine feels his body tighten.

“It feels like you,” the voice whimpers breathlessly. “Everything is you…all around me…it’s you…”

Blaine closes his eyes as the world collapses in on him. Behind his eyelids he can see another set of eyes gazing back at him – perfect blue eyes, patient blue eyes, loving blue eyes that shift to grey and glimmer like rare jewels. Quivering pink lips smile at him, part, and then whisper a single, blissfully choked-off word.

“Blaine…”

 4.      I much admire writers who can make their readers laugh their heads off. So the fourth fic I’m going to recommend is a very funny one. In this category, honourable mentions go to @skivvysupreme’s Drunk Kurt fics, Sexy101 by Sweet Emii, Seduction & Straight For A Week by @Crazy4Klaine and When you read my mind by @alexwishington​. But the story I’m choosing to spotlight is called Teenage dreams and movie scenes, and it’s written by @saraklaine100​. Both Kurt and Blaine are famous in this fic, and Kurt has a huge crush on Blaine, so his best friends corner Blaine until he agrees to meet Kurt. Cue a very embarrassed Kurt, and an instantly smitten Blaine. This story is amazing. Guaranteed to cheer you up however blue you’re feeling.

 Excerpt:

 Kurt was working on autopilot. He had no conscious decision to outstretch his hand or the time to process it. He just stared at those hazel eyes he found so fascinating one moment and the next he could feel Blaine's warm hand squeezing his own. He felt prickles all over his skin. Well, up until the moment James and Oliver clasped their hands and all but yelled "We now pronounce you Kurt Hummel and his teenage dream" and Kurt facepalmed at this, ripping his hand away from Blaine's hold.

 "Get the fuck out" Kurt hissed at his friends and they knew better than to stay. They patted Blaine's shoulder like he's an old friend, still smiling and he could swear he heard Sean say "Condoms are under the sink" before they left.

 Kurt was still craning his face in his hands. "Please just leave" he said. "Just...Look, I'm gonna keep my face covered and you can just run away and you can pretend this never happened. Send me the bill from therapy. "

 5.      And of course my fic rec list wouldn’t be complete without a smutty fic rec. It’s so difficult to narrow this down to just one fic. Some authors you should definitely check out in this category are @dualwielding, @stellata, icedwhitemochas, flyblckbirdfly and rayychel infinity, but the fic I’m going to recommend is by @caramelcoffeeaddict. It’s called Desperate Times… and it’s absolutely smut-a-licious, but definitely more than just PWP. It’s a wonderful story, and I promise you that you will love it.

Excerpt:

Devon takes a few steps back, so he’s now standing in front of Angel, and starts teasing the removal of his pants; all while dancing seductively to the music. His fingers twist in the waistband of his pants and then he yanks hard, pulling the breakaway pants off, and throwing them at the wall behind Angel. He’s left in just a tight red thong that leaves nothing to the imagination.

Once again, Devon straddles Angel, hovering just above his lap. He stretches his arms above his head, crossing them at the wrists, and rolls his hips down, teasing Angel. Devon turns himself around, bending at the waist, showing off his ass. He cranes his head around to see Angel licking and biting his lips as he stares at Devon’s ass. Devon smirks, and then smacks his own ass once, before righting himself and winking at Angel.

Turning around to face Angel, Devon starts to play with the straps of his thong, giving Angel tiny glimpses of his cock. He straddles him once again, gyrating to the music. “Would you like to touch me, Angel?” Devon asks in a low, sultry voice.

Angel visibly gulps, lets out a shaky breath, and slowly nods his head.

[svartalfhild]

The Paladin and the Prodigy

Rating: K Words: 2,522 Genre: Friendship, Hurt/Comfort Summary: Heliodoro is a young half-orc Paladin of Corellon just a year outside of his training, making his way in the world as a stage actor.  In the middle of the High Forest and halfway to his next performance at Loudwater, he has a fateful meeting with a girl in silver spectacles.

A/N: This is the true story of how the new DnD characters @betweenrivers-betweenworlds and I made met (they tell a very different story to other people).  They don’t yet belong to a campaign, but I’m so excited by all the little ideas about them that we’ve come up with that I felt compelled to write some of their story.  I may write more of their adventures in future, especially if people turn out to like this.  If things get really out of hand, I may even do a webcomic, because I just love these two so much. As far as setting context goes, these characters exist in the Forgotten Realms setting and this story takes place on 4 Tarsakh 1487 DR.

- - -

The scent of a recent thunderstorm clung to the air, seeming to add a further softness to the damp soil beneath Heliodoro’s feet as he walked along a well-trodden path within the High Forest.  It would have been a refreshing sensation if not for the evening fog that permeated the area, lending an eeriness to the atmosphere that, while delightfully dramatic, had him uneasy.  He was well aware that this land was ruled by elven tribes and fey who would not necessarily show him mercy let alone any kind of friendliness.  Even the most beautiful places could be dangerous.

Something was about to happen.  He could feel it in his gut and like a tingling under his skin.  His dark eyes scanned the area, alert for anything out of the ordinary, made no more easy by the fog, as he could only see perhaps twenty feet ahead.

And then he heard it.  A shifting of foliage.  It was faint, barely audible, but he caught it, coming from somewhere at the left side of the road up ahead.  He gripped the hilt of the sheathed sword hanging from his hip more tightly, anticipating a surprise of some sort.  But one never came.  Not really.

What he found instead was a woman, thin as a switch with a pair of cracked silver spectacles on her pallid face, curled up on the ground, partially obscured by wet underbrush.  He rushed to her, feeling her wrist for a pulse.  She was still alive, but not by much.  Her skin was cold and clammy to the touch and her vital signs were fading. Placing his hands on either side of her face, he closed his eyes an concentrated, thinking of his oath to Corellon.  There came a soft gasp and he opened his eyes to find the woman’s had a little as well.

“It’s alright.  Corellon smiles upon you,” he told her, giving her an encouraging smile.  She didn’t say anything in response, only weakly grasping at his sleeve and giving shuddering breaths.  She needed proper healing, that much was obvious.  “I’ve got you.”

Putting his arms under her, he lifted her up and returned to his path along the road.  It would be no trouble, he was sure, even as far as he still had to go to the next trade outpost.  She weighed about as much as melon to him.  He supposed that most people might be concerned that she was actually a nefarious person, but he sensed nothing untoward about her, even with the aid of Corellon’s sight.

A light rain began to fall, creating a chorus of soft pings against his fine half-plate armor.  He quickened his pace.  His new companion would not recover if she was kept out in the cold and wet much longer.

He walked for what must have been a few more hours without incident. The woman he carried had been lulled to sleep by the gentle motion of his strides.  He knew it would help her recover, but it still made him a tad nervous and he checked her pulse every now and then to be sure that she hadn’t slipped away.

They were almost to the trade outpost when he heard the sharp snap of a stick and he turned to look where the sound had come from.  Instead of seeing the culprit, he felt an arrow swish past his head from behind, leaving a cut along his left cheek.

As he set his companion down and drew his sword and shield, bandits descended from the trees, surrounding them.  He puffed out his chest in a bold, challenging stance.

“Come at me, if your dare, but know that you are facing a Paladin of the Protector,” he declared.  The bandits were not deterred, some of them seeming even more enthusiastic, in fact.  They rushed him and he dispatched the first few with a hard shield bash and a thrust of his blade, but he took a kick to the small of his back, causing him to lose his footing and stumble.  He swung wide, slicing open the gut of a bandit about to attack him from the side, leaving just two to harry him.  His sword was knocked from his grip as he tried to recover, and he was put in a choke hold by a ruffian who was even larger than him. The remaining bandit lunged and he kicked, keeping his enemy back as he attempted to free himself from the other.

And then there came a horrible cry of pain in his ear and suddenly he could breathe again, leaving him free to roll out of the way of a sword thrust to the gut and recover his own blade, which was followed by another cry of agony.

When Heliodoro looked around, he saw the woman on the ground, propping herself up on one elbow with her other arm extended out as if she had thrown something.  There was a definite look of steely determination in her grey eyes and in his relief and surprise, he couldn’t help but give her a broad, tusky grin.  He wiped the blood from his blade on a bandit’s cloak and sheathed it before he returned to the woman’s side.

“Are you alright?” he asked, slinging his shield over his shoulder and helping her into a sitting position.  She nodded silently and tried to get up, though her legs were too weak and her feet kept slipping out from under her along the mud of the path.  Heliodoro was quick to take her by the shoulders and hold her steady.  “Let’s get going. You’re not well and I don't think either of us want this to be your grand finale.”

He made to pick her up again, but she recoiled.  She seemed determined to walk on her own two feet.

“Alright, but at least hold onto me.  I don’t want you to fall and hurt yourself,” he told her, which she silently accepted, leaning on him and holding his arm with an unexpectedly tight grip.

It was slow going the rest of the way to the outpost and it continued to rain steadily, but Heliodoro didn't make any attempt to pressure his new companion into speaking, even to learn her name.  He had a feeling that she was easily spooked in her current state.  He said nothing at all until they had finally reached the inn.

Her cracked glasses fogged over upon entering the building and Heliodoro helped her into a chair before pressing a dry handkerchief into her small hand.  She looked away, as if she were embarrassed to have to take further charity from him, but he didn't call her out on it. Instead, he turned and approached the bar to introduce himself and request a pair of rooms and two hot meals.  The innkeeper looked a bit confused at first, seeing only him, but when she leaned over to look past his broad half-orcish shoulders, she spotted the woman he'd brought in, soaked and shivering in the corner.

“Who's your friend?” the innkeeper asked with a concerned frown.

“I found her unconscious by the side of the road.  I think something terrible may have happened to her,” Heliodoro explained, bringing deep sympathy to the innkeeper's face.

“Oh, the poor dear!  Gods smile upon you for helping her, sir.  Too many people ignore the misfortunes of others these days and who knows what might have claimed her if she'd been left out there.”

“Well, Corellon says that lifting up the helpless is an important step towards a better and more beautiful world, and I live by his teachings.”  At this, the woman took notice of the silver crescent amulet hanging around his neck and she smiled warmly where once she had regarded him with a polite distance.

“Any holy man of the Protector is welcome in my inn,” she told him before looking back at his companion.  “I think I have an old dress of my daughter's that might fit her.  It's nothing so fine as what she's wearing, bit at least it'll be dry.”

“Thank you kindly, ma'am.  I'll let her know.”

“It's no trouble, dear.”

With a smile and a small bow, Heliodoro turned away and sauntered back over to the corner.  He slid the key to the half-elf's room across the table to her and she silently took it, at which point, he noticed that the lenses of her spectacles were no longer cracked.  Oh, now that was interesting.  He decided, however, that he'd leave that discussion for when she was more comfortable.

“The innkeep says she might have some dry clothes for you.”

“What about you?”  The question was the first words he'd heard her utter in the entire few hours since he'd found her and he beamed, unable to hide his delight at her finally speaking.  He had been beginning to doubt that she could.  Her voice was quite soft, but there was an unmistakeable brogue to her accent that he knew to be common among the dwarven citadels and parts of Luruar.

“I'll be fine.  I know how to pack my things so that they won't get wet.” This answer seemed to satisfy her, as she nodded and passed back his handkerchief.  She was very wobbly on her feet as she got up and he watched her carefully as she made her way over to the bar, ready to leap for her if she should fall, but she made it alright and she allowed the innkeeper to patiently guide her up the stairs.

About an hour later, Heliodoro was lounging at the corner table, out of his armor and sporting dry clothes, when he saw his companion return. She looked much recovered, if a bit uncomfortable in the woolen cornflower blue dress she'd been given.  Her gait was steady but apprehensive as she approached him and reclaimed her seat across the table.

“I believe I haven't properly introduced myself.  My name is Zvezda Eliander, but I much prefer to be called Heliodoro.”  The paladin offered his hand to shake.  He didn't normally give out his real name, but he got the distinct feeling that if he was going to get anywhere with this woman, he was going to have to be very honest with her.

There was a long, awkward moment in which she gave no response beyond staring at him and his hand fell to rest on the table.

“What do you want from me?” she finally asked pointedly and he took notice of her very guarded, distancing posture.  Oh.  That explained a lot.  She clearly thought that he'd helped her with the idea of incurring a debt or to otherwise use her for his own gain.  Well, he would just have to set her straight on that.

“Nothing, I promise.  Just doing my duty to Corellon,” he told her, tapping the amulet hanging around his neck.  She narrowed her eyes at him, as if she were trying to discern whether she believed him or not. Whatever she saw must have satisfied her, because she stopped glaring at him.

“You're a paladin of the Order of the Protector, aren't you?”  She had switched to Elvish with this question, which surprised him, but his smile did not falter.

“I am indeed.  When I completed my training last year, I decided to travel and honor my patron through the theatrical arts.  I'm currently on my way to Loudwater for my next performance,” he replied in equally flawless Elvish.  He seemed to have passed another test, because the woman relaxed from her defensive posture.

“Mornath,” she said.

“Sorry?”

“My name.  Mornath Sparrowswood.”  At this, Heliodoro beamed at her and offered her his hand once again.

“It's wonderful to meet you, Mornath.”  She seemed startled by his warm, sunny disposition, but she nonetheless shook his hand, which almost completely swallowed hers to rather comedic effect.

It was at this point that the barmaid appeared with their meals, setting two steaming plates before them and mugs of ale to match.

“On the house,” she told them, winking at Heliodoro.  He winked back. Mornath raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't comment until the barmaid had walked away.

“So you're that kind of holy man.”

“No, I just like to be friendly is all,” he laughed.  Mornath said nothing to this and instead simply looked very pensive as she dug into the baked potato on her plate.  It was odd.  For someone who was so clearly approaching the particularly worrisome stages of starvation, she was not showing it at all in how she ate.  She used her knife and fork and chewed her small morsels slowly, like some upper class lady who had had her knuckles smacked with a stick as a child for reaching for the wrong spoon.  It made Heliodoro even more curious about her than he already was.

“Mornath, you don't have to tell me anything about yourself that you don't want to, but I must admit I'm very intrigued by how notably unbroken your spectacles are,” he piped up after a long silence between them. She seemed startled by the comment and looked around as if she were afraid that others might be listening in.

“It was a simple Mending spell.  I'm, er...I'm a mage,” she confessed in a hushed voice, nervously tucking a lock of her damp bluish pale hair behind a pointed ear.

“You do arcane magic?  Well, color me impressed.  It's one thing to beseech a god for power, but to command the Weave through shear personal effort?  That's just badass,” Heliodoro practically gushed.  He could count the number of mages he'd met on a single hand and each of them had left him with the distinct feeling that arcane magic was this mysterious, formidable force that should not be trifled with.  It fascinated him.

He had not at all expected the bright sound that came out of Mornath in response.  It took a moment to register with him that she was giggling.  He found that he quite liked it and wanted to hear more of it, even if it was directed at him.

“Laughing at me, eh?”

“No, no!  It's just...you're so genuine.  I don't think I've ever heard someone talk about magic like that,” she replied through her laughter.  “My father would not like you in the slightest.”  Upon saying this, a sudden gloom came over her.  She stopped laughing and a look of abject misery took hold of her features, almost as if she were in pain.  Heliodoro was smart enough to realize that the reason he'd found Mornath in a ditch might well have had something to do with this father she spoke of, but he didn't pry to find out.

“Do you know where you're going?” he asked, trying to steer the conversation away from whatever was upsetting her.

“No,” she murmured, not looking at him.

“Well, you're more than welcome to come with me to Loudwater while you're figuring that out,” he offered, giving her another bright smile. For the first time, she gave him a proper smile in return.

“I'd like that.”

[operationrainfall]

Title Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition Developer Stegosoft Games Publisher DANGEN Entertainment Release Date March 26th, 2020 Genre RPG Platform PC, Mobile, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One Age Rating E for Everyone 10+ – Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language Official Website

It’s kind of remarkable I didn’t play Ara Fell a lot sooner. After all, a friend gifted me the original game at least a couple years ago, where it quickly got lost in my massive Steam backlog. But then something wonderful happened – Stegosoft Games went and remastered the original game as Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition. That same friend suggested I review it for the oprainfall site, and I’m incredibly happy I finally listened. And while you could make the argument I would have enjoyed this whimsical adventure sooner, I’m glad I waited. Because Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition is just a much smoother, easier to access game with the same meaningful story intact.

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For all intents and purposes, Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition is the same game that was reviewed on the oprainfall site 4 years ago. However, there are some key differences. The battle system has been revamped, the user interface for menus is really easy to parse, and they even added new character classes and skills, apparently. They also upgraded the systems present in the game, such as crafting and enchanting, added difficulty modes, a handy autosave and more. While I wasn’t able to compare and contrast these changes much, not having played the original, I did find a few videos online, and I can say the UI has been wonderfully streamlined. Battle menus aren’t clunky, and it’s clear and obvious what your options are, and even in what order attacks will happen. And while I’m not usually a fan of crafting, here it’s very well implemented. All you need is to buy the recipe for an item, have enough of the requisite ingredients, then hold A to craft. You can craft single use items, as well as upgrade your equipment to provide better stats for your team. Enchanting is also very easy to do, and works pretty much identically. The key difference is you can attach up to 4 passive enchantments of your choice to character equipment, such as increased health, critical hit rate, the capacity to poison with regular attacks and much more. By contrast, crafted items have set properties.

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Steve was dead on when he said the game is one of the best RPG Maker games ever. I honestly didn’t even realize this was a RPG Maker title at first, since it has such polish and poise. Sure it looks like an old game, the same way Chrono Trigger looks like an old game. Meaning this looks totally authentic to a certain time period, and that’s not a complaint. Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition could easily have been a touchstone RPG from the 90s, chock full of heart, great gameplay and a really interesting story. Take it from a wannabe fantasy author, that last part is hard to do, especially in a genre full of cliches and overused tropes. And while the story isn’t the most complex, it also does a great job of introducing key elements organically and tying them together in a satisfying arc. The tale revolves around a floating continent, a mysterious relic, elves, vampires and one fierce young woman. I don’t want to ruin it by saying too much, but trust me that it’s a joy to experience, and the lore of the world of Ara Fell is really intriguing.

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A large reason I enjoyed the story of Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition so much is because of the characters that populate it. Lita LeCotta is the spunkiest, most deadpan little tomboy you could ever want. She’s delightfully snarky and full of personality, with hilarious one liners aplenty. What I especially love about Lita is that she fights against the mantle of hero, and just sees herself as someone that stumbled upon her destiny. But her strength of character, determination and desire to protect her loved ones makes her truly heroic. Or take Adrian, Lita’s childhood friend who has grown up in harsh circumstances, yet found the drive to become a knight. Sure he gets taken by the occasional schemer, but he’s always there to protect his friends, and he may even have some feelings for Lita. Then there’s Seri Kesu, a strong and beautiful sorceress with some serious hard edges. She’s a master of her craft, and her only weakness is one bad relationship that’s soured her to this day. Finally there’s Doren, a mysterious turban wearing bard that’s immensely passive aggressive, and who seems to have a surprising reservoir of knowledge of ancient times. It’s a great cast, and their interactions make the whole story a delight to experience. Even the villains set against them are complex and unexpected. All in all, the entire cast of Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition makes for a very compelling tale.

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None of that would matter if the game wasn’t fun to play, but I can say that Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition is a glorious retro RPG. I played on the normal difficulty, and found the combat easy to understand, yet challenging. It’s turn based, with an ATB showing the turn order. One unique aspect is the Injury system, where your character is weakened if they perish and are revived, and only fully recovers by healing at an Inn or other safe location. As the game progresses and your team fills out, the challenge scales accordingly, but I never found anything unbalanced. It’s really fun and hard to put down. You select attacks and engage the foe, and as you battle your Ultimate bar fills up. This allows characters to use super powerful attacks against the foe, but you can’t rely on these. Each character’s Ultimate takes a different amount of time to charge, and your entire team uses the same Ultimate bar. So once I use any Ultimate attack, the bar resets. Thankfully, you have a lot of control over how your team grows, and even can tweak how they fight. Every time you level up, you are allocated points to distribute to various stats, and the game clearly tells you what each corresponds to. I decided to focus on making Lita a speedy assassin, while I supercharged Seri’s spellcasting at the cost of her speed and defense. As you wander the world, you’ll find magical stones that an be used to augment your character’s abilities. At first all you can do is make them more powerful, but once you have fulfilled their class quests, your options blossom. You can pick from one of two advanced classes for each character, with pros and cons. Once that’s done, you can choose branching options for your abilities, such as Adrian’s Whirlwind attack healing your team, or Doren’s Holy Light affecting all foes. You can even tweak their Ultimate attacks, allowing for a lot of customization options. By the end of the game, I had a really powerful team that was capable of taking on any foe without worry.

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The combat is a lot of fun, but so is just exploring the world of Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition. Normally I don’t like getting lost in games, but this one was built to accommodate exploration and reward you for it. You’ll constantly come across natural resources you can harvest for use with crafting and enchanting. Lita will grab fish from the water, pluck leaves from various plants and mine ore from cavern walls. I just wandered and wandered, and probably spent a good extra 4-5 hours enjoying myself. It’s fun to jump across ravines, crawl through narrow tunnels and swim all around. The world of Ara Fell is a big one, and it’s truly beautiful. Since the entirety of the game takes place on a floating continent, you’ll see eerie sights like waterfalls descending hundreds of miles, or haunting ruins suspended in mid air. Yet, as much as I explored, I only got lost a handful of times in my 20+ hour playthrough. Once was late in the game when a group of damn faeries got me mixed up, and later I couldn’t find the class quest for Doren. Thankfully most activities are well signposted, and you can always check the pause screen for a reminder where you’re supposed to go for continuing the main quest. The only optional quests that were really flummoxing to locate were the various Bounties, of which I only managed to find half.

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Visually, this is a really attractive game. The portrait art for the characters does a great job of expressing their personality. Meanwhile, the overworld and sprite work is both faithful to the retro focus and eye catching. Pretty much all the enemies are distinct, with no color swapped nonsense. The game runs at a smooth clip most of time, and I only had very few moments of slowdown, and only while exploring. The music does its job. I wouldn’t say it was the best soundtrack ever, since it’s mostly low key, melodic and occasionally haunting. If you’re coming here for snazzy rock and roll tracks, don’t bother. But all the music and sound effects do their jobs well, if perhaps without much distinction.

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Honestly the biggest negative for me is that Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition ends at all. I really got lost in this wonderful RPG world, and was sad to see it end. I know I love a game when I even enjoy the puzzles in it. Thankfully there’s an epilogue after the credits roll, which does a decent job of tying up plot threads while still leaving room for a potential sequel. Suffice to say, I really hope Stegosoft Games has a sequel in the works, cause I desperately want to return to this fascinating world. If you love classic RPGs and want something you can get lost in for only $14.99, look no further. It’s easily one of my favorite RPGs of 2020 thus far.

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[easyreview cat1title=”Overall” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4.5″]

Review Copy Provided by Publisher

REVIEW: Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition Title Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition

[djzena]

Article Halloween Song (111)

Halloween Social gathering Music Playlist If it haunts, chills, or creeps you out, you'll discover it at Perpetually Halloween , the place it's Friday the 13th, Satan's Night, and All Hallow's Eve 365 days a year. This Seventies bluegrass music is in regards to the satan's failed effort to 'steal' a young man's soul in a fiddle-taking part in contest. The Kids's Music Archive - lyrics, sing-along solutions, colouring sheets and actions for a lot of youngsters's songs. Not to mention, sinister dance numbers so infectious you may change into a slave to the rhythm—Michael Jackson, Missy Elliot, and Stevie Surprise, we're laying the blame on you. This classic music is not only great in movies, however retains the spooky vibes of Halloween alive. On this case, they are high of the heap, as a result of actually—and this is not mentioned sufficient—that is THE SCARIEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME. Before he foisted that bunch of helium-voiced terrors on the nation, he provided us with this pleasing novelty hit, which will get a nearly 7x raise each Halloween.

We are doing a nice role play activity to include more functional English in the Halloween lesson. This is a Halloween adaptation of The Night time Before Christmas, and over 50 years after its original release, songwriter Invoice Buchanan's gloomy voiceover is still delightfully creepy. Most folks in all probability do not realize there's a whole trunk full of Menken & Ashman songs on the market that had been deleted from Disney's Aladdin. This amazing piece of music by Michael Jackson has been extremely in style among listeners because of its fantastic lyrics and the creepy really feel which is connected with it. It was produced in 1982 but it's nonetheless thought-about as some of the wonderful songs of the period. These are songs that I've found on-line for preschool lecturers and childcare suppliers. On the eleventh day of Halloween my true love gave to my eleven masks a leering, ten ghouls a groaning, nine ghosts a booing, eight monsters shrieking, seven spells are going, six goblins gobbling, five scary spooks, four skeletons, three black bats, two trick or treaters, and an owl in a lifeless oak tree. The songs beneath are all parodies of songs that many kids shall be familiar with-titles such as The Itsy Bitsy Spider and The Farmer In The Dell. Mike Oldfield's instrumental was probably thought of quite a pleasant little music until The Exorcist got here alongside and used it, instantly reworking it into an eerie Halloween classic. In case somebody does not wish to read the whole https://www.google.com/doodles/halloween-2012 thread.I will repeat what I in all probability posted last yr...at Sunnycamp we had the honour ofhearing this incredible tune by Kate Lengthy...about an individual with some kind of deformity who was celebrating Halloween and it was the only day of the 12 months she felt good about herself and the way she seemed ahead to it...it takes some time into the music to figure it out. Though many of those songs weren't specifically written for kids (some have been even recorded within the late Fifties), generations of toddlers grew up on these classics. Raining Blood: it is the brutality, the scene setting intro and the truth that it's Slayer's final calling card that makes this the final word metallic Halloween track. It's one other a type of songs that may get stuck inside your head for a while. It has a really laid back surfer rock vibe, and the acquainted melody carried by the bass guitar all through will get stuck in your head for hours. It's so scary that I have usually seen kids stroll on the opposite aspect of the street to go past my home! As soon as you've received the PDF file for the Halloween theme songs, feed only one web page at a time, until you realize you could have high-high quality paper which will not seize extra sheets when being pulled through the feeder. The sound that will make so uncomfortable and it'll finally appear to be an ideal Halloween. Celtic celebrations had been marked by bonfires and edible choices not noted to appease the spirits. WHY?: It would be scary to not know whether or not someone loves you for you or to your fame.

Once you check out its lyrics and listen to the music, the track Pistol Product of Bones” will turn into your favourite Halloween tune for many years to return. The Pumpkin Competition in Retzer Land -just outdoors of Vienna, Austria-is the most famous of them, however a bit of googling is more likely to flip up a pumkpin patch with Halloween events nearer to home.

It is on the album Circle of the Seasons, track #9. You may listen to this Samhain Track on YouTube, and this model has the lyrics right on the web page. This song is a simple Halloween variation of the classic Who took the Cookie from the Cookie Jar?” Like most children, my boys love sweet, so I think will probably be enjoyable to get a number of totally different candies to put in a bowl or a printable trick-or-treat bag Then we will play the What's missing?” game. Students of Professor Carole Terry carry out spooky classics on UW's Littlefield organ. Keep reading to find 22 themed parties you'll be able to throw on your own, complete with ideas for decorations, invitations and party-throwing.

Ray Parker Jr.'s theme to the 1984 movie Ghostbusters was a hit and even earned an Original Tune nomination at the Academy Awards (it lost to Stevie Wonder's I Just Called To Say I Love You”). The symptoms of contracting the plague included a crimson rash within the shape on a ring on the skin, as well as sneezing (which explains ninety five% of the lyrics of the rhyme). In case you have any requests for classroom worksheets, depart me a message and I will be glad to work on them. Maya Kalman, of Swank Productions , says that Halloween is one among her company's favourite holidays and so they've thrown a lot of themed parties. On the checklist are songs like Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Creep” by Radiohead, Ghost Town” by Adam Lambert, Sweet Desires” by Marilyn Manson, and Superstition” by Stevie Marvel (a must have). The British youth, disillusioned and dispossessed, saw the song because the anthem of their anger and uprising. A nicely ghoulish ballad, that is set to Christmas, however it matches higher with Halloween and the myth of Yama/James, with the refrain, Jamie's been murdered by the overseers...” I'd have thought-about the title Jamie to be a coincidence besides that (Spoiler Alert) there are such a lot of other points in common with the story of Yama-poor Jamie is murdered, necessarily dismembered, and eaten for dinner.