#those folks know exactly what they're doing and they're having a great time | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

halo-eater · 26 days ago

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i've been trying for a long time to articulate what exactly is so obnoxiously White about trans tumblr's insistence that we shouldn't even bother trying to improve the current system because we can overthrow the government and establish a leftist utopia if we just organize well enough and fight with our teeth. but i think a lot of it just boils down to the fact that it's inextricably reliant on a very naive and very white narrative about victory and power, as well as a refusal to look toward BIPOC communities and leaders, who have been honing their perspectives and strategies about resistance and liberation for decades or centuries.

most of the insistence that a queer anarchist revolution really can work if we all just get on the same page, seems informed by very little other than the narrative that Righteous and Virtuous Underdogs with the Power of The People will always prevail in the end, if they just band together and use their wits. which isn't true, not even a little bit. it would make you dizzy to comprehend just how many communities of people did everything they could to resist western imperialism and fascism, and were squashed like insects without so much as a note in the history books to remember them by. The Good Guys Can Beat the Bad Guys If They Try Hard Enough is a true enough sentiment for white folks that they get it spoon-fed to them from the moment they're born. but it's time to grow up and live in the real world, with those of us who had to understand that The Bad Guys Usually Win before we could understand almost anything else about our cultures and communities.

and very relatedly, there is no atrocity happening to trans people in america (or elsewhere in the west) right now that has not already happened to BIPOC communities. this isn't to degrade or downplay the suffering of white trans people, just to remind you that you are not the first, and this sort of victim status isn't special and exclusive to people like you. there is no special oppression or pain or grief or rage or protectiveness that you're feeling right now that ethnically marginalized groups haven't felt before. there's no new and unique and superior revolutionary tactics that no one ever thought of before a bunch of twenty-first century white 24 year olds started posting about them online. this is relevant. this gives us exponentially more data about what sorts of techniques do and don't make a material improvement or successfully send a message. it's extremely fucking frustrating watching white queer people ignore that data and just go off on their own theories and emotional instincts because they think that their position is special, and that they have better ideas and can do a better job than BIPOC revolutionaries.

there are communities all around you who have been fighting the same battle against the same enemy that you now have to fight for generations now. it makes you look like children when you act like this is a struggle unique to the queer community, or like it's one that we can punch our way out of if we all Embrace our #Rage and reblog aesthetic posts about ancient war gods. i implore you guys to look towards BIPOC activists and observe their successful and unsuccessful work, before you decide to make claims about what manner of resistance we need or what realistic goals should look like.

before anybody jumps down my throat about it, i know that there are and have always been many BIPOC activists who support a more 'tear it all down' approach. a lot of them had really compelling ideas and were great at radicalizing more people to the cause. it is also objectively true that none of them have ever successfully brought their visions to fruition, and no material benefit has been brought to their communities by their failed attempts (although many also engaged in real-time material community aid and harm reduction)

#this one might lose me a few crackers but im so mad at white people today i dont care #istggggg white ppl on this site have been acting like Nothing This Bad Has Ever Happened To Any Demographic Of People In The West Before #no. sorry. you're not a matryr you're joining a fucking club. full of ppl whose communities have gotten no respite from this in centuries.

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genericpuff · 8 months ago

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I've watched both (this is a hazbin hotel ask btw) but tend to keep my eyes closed to merch sales (and such forth) unless it can pierce my five degrees of separation

also gotta admit that I've been not keeping up with HB since... honestly the since the season end. yeah I'm behind.

What do you mean they're waiting for what's functionally pamphlets? It's taking MONTHS for a pamphlet?

That's funny in the bad way 😭

yeah so from MY UNDERSTANDING (i.e. correct me if I'm wrong) the playbill was part of some exclusive package deal where buyers would receive some keychains, trading cards, and a playbill which was supposedly going to be filled with exclusive interviews/quotes/background information/etc. about the show's production. That playbill was exclusive to the pre-orders, meaning if you didn't pre-order this merch package, presumably you could still purchase the merch package on its own (or possibly its parts separately on the merch site like the keychains n junk) but the playbill would ONLY be sent to those who pre-ordered.

The pre-orders started around a year or so ago, but then roughly 9 months ago when the bundles started to show up, people reported that the playbill - literally the centerpiece of the marketing - was missing.

Since then, the playbills still haven't arrived, but customers have gotten TWO separate emails written from the "characters" of Hazbin Hotel updating them on the situation. Yes, you read that right, the emails meant to update people on the part of their pre-order package that was still missing - a package that cost them $76 and again, the playbill was exclusive to - were written in-character like a roleplay post in a message board forum.

And for some reason, the A24 staff decided that Husk would be the best character to deliver the bad news, a character who is, like many characters in Hazbin, just an asshole.

It's wild that this even got approved as an official email from the A24 team because let's face it - if you had spent $76 with the good faith expectation that you were gonna get everything you were promised in return for that $76 is this really the response you'd want to get? I'm not exactly sure when this email was sent out but according to some of the people reporting on it via Twitter, it was around the end of January (so the end of the month that folks were expecting it to roll in). Not a great way to tell people that the product they're waiting on - and didn't expect to be missing in the first place - was delayed.

Months later, a second email rolled out, and A24 sort of learned their lesson, not by actually addressing their customers as human beings, but this time as Charlie, who is at least not a complete dickhead.

It still doesn't really answer any questions though because it's putting the responsibility on fictional characters to explain what's going on. So of course everything is masked behind the "teehee, Alastor did a naughty and Niffty got stuck in the printing press machine!" roleplaying talk which literally does not actually tell anyone what's really going on, just gives them a vague impression based on what they chose to make a fictional character say.

youtube

Sure, it's nicer than Husk, but it's still disingenuous and frankly just cringe esp when this is concerning the interests of paying customers.

I don't know if this is Vivzie's doing or someone else on the A24 team, but it really feels like they're trying to operate the same way HH would have operated back when it was just a Youtube series... but it's not a small-time Youtube production anymore, it's a full on Amazon show with hired employees and a customer base that expects the thing they paid for to actually show up. So at best this is just really immature mishandling of a situation that should be taken at least relatively seriously.

And really, out of all the things to delay... the playbills? Really? For anyone who's not familiar with what a playbill is, it's literally just a booklet. Professional, "Playbill" branded playbills that you see in legitimate theatre productions are (if I recall correctly) anywhere from 30-60 pages, but a lot of those pages are often dedicated to ad space of other productions and companies, with maybe only 10-15 pages dedicated to the actual production. People love collecting them though because you typically only receive them when you go to see a play itself, so it can be a great souvenir from limited run productions.

It's kinda like comic collecting for theatre-goers, they can serve as memorabilia or as "proof" that you were there to attend a specific show. Though playbills don't tend to accrue as much value as much as comics can, they can still have a lot of sentimental value.

Hazbin Hotel isn't a play though. It's a streaming show available on Amazon Prime that anyone can watch anywhere in the world. It doesn't exactly have the need for something like a playbill, because the exclusivity is simply tied to how much extra money you're willing to give them for the pre-order, not to any sort of unique in-person experience of going to the theatre and watching the show live with your own eyes.

Granted, Hazbin Hotel does obviously take heavy inspiration from theatre culture as it is itself a musical, so I can understand the novelty and appeal of creating a unique playbill for it. I just don't really understand why that's the item that got delayed when a booklet containing exclusive info should be one of the easiest things to make, especially when it comes to production costs (printing a bunch of playbills shouldn't be anywhere near as expensive as producing keychains and trading cards).

But there was an update on reddit about this a couple weeks ago and it seemingly contradicts what A24 - sorry, 'Charlie', sigh - said months ago that they were working hard on specifically printing and packaging the playbill orders-

FINALLY the HH fandom gets a real human being from A24 responding, but they're saying that the designs are still being worked on??? So this means they haven't even started printing the things yet?? So that's an entirely DIFFERENT issue that hasn't been addressed up until this point.

So yeah, again, I don't have any stakes in this and it's definitely not something that I'm like, putting a lot of emotional investment into, but it has still been fascinating to check in on every now and then. Big condolences to the HH fans who paid $76+ for this package and are still waiting for the MAIN CENTERPIECE to show up - if you're one of those fans and are now reading this, you're probably gonna be waiting a little while longer because apparently they haven't even designed them yet 💀😆

#ask me anything #ama #anon ama #anon ask me anything

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jcs-study · 2 months ago

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Some (More) Reflections on Casting

Hello, everyone! First, some recent updates to contextualize this post:

I've hung out my shingle! (For those who aren't American, it's a slang phrase that means one has started a business; it's commonly used by professionals like lawyers or doctors, and dates from the 19th century, when legend has it such pros would paint signs on the shingles of their house to advertise their new practice.) In my case, this means I'm opening my inbox -- both email and here -- to consult on productions of JCS as a published expert on the show, whether you want help with casting, dramaturgy, general advice, etc. Whatever your concept or your first impression of JCS, my efforts can help you make an incredible piece of theater that will satisfy your audience. The details are on the main page of my book (see pinned post), but I'm also reachable here. To date, Utopia Opera, Ltd. in Manhattan and Tumblr user @theredspecials can attest to the level of expertise I provide. I hope more will also be able to do so one day!

I've now sat in on the casting process for a JCS production. This means that I have some real-world experience in the screening and audition process for the show (in this case, Utopia's), and have some concrete advice to give for those casting the show in the future, which follows.

I've alluded elsewhere on this blog to the fact that there are two basic flavors of JCS, which I refer to as "pre-" and "post-1996." (This post breaks it down the most fully without getting too caught in the weeds.) Which version one was first exposed to plays a significant role in the type of JCS one wants to present, as one always remembers their first. This means every subsequent generation to 1970, or even to 1996, has had their own entry point with an established version. The Brown Album may not be the first version of JCS one experiences.

More specifically, each established version is "of its era." Popular music takes many forms, and these days, classic rock isn't exactly the lingua franca it used to be. Especially today, we're not trying to pull young folks who know how to sing this new-fangled rock stuff off the street anymore; theater kids typically know, and are maybe even trained in, some form of homogenized "contemporary musical theater" pop sound that is a lot like what you (mostly) get in post-1996 JCS. Not their fault, but still something you must deal with.

What this means for you, the prospective director/presenter/whatever: you have to decide early and firmly about what kind of JCS you want to do, because if you have the pre-1996 JCS in mind, your audition pool -- especially cis male vocalists primarily trained in this newer style -- will mostly sound like (and probably be most familiar with) some form of post-1996 JCS, and you must be prepared to adjust accordingly, whether that means familiarizing them with the form and breaking them out of their comfort zone (because you can't expect them to instantly "get" unfamiliar terrain) or re-setting your own expectations.

Post-1996 JCS Prep

If you're fully prepared to embrace the revival sound, you're fine. In fact, you have far less of an uphill climb. I might urge you in the direction of, say, the 2011 Vienna concert cast rather than the 2012 arena tour or 2018 NBC Live renditions so that some of the original flavor is retained, but that's up to you. Other than that, you're pretty much all set. You will find a satisfying audition pool and have a Great Mcfriggin Time.

Pre-1996 JCS Prep

Your audition pool will still be the same, and you may have to live with that. However, there are ways to get the sound you want, even from those with "professional training."

Cast outside your typical pool. This is the most obvious piece of advice: lean into the club world and look for classic rock cover bands or anybody in metal, especially if they're the (sadly now rarefied) Rob Halford variety of screamer. However, because this is typically a steadier paying gig than theater (as tenuous as live music can be) or because theater is an unfamiliar realm to them, don't be surprised if you get a lot of pushback and nos, in which case refer to points 2 through 6.

Don't be afraid to bend gender. Seriously. Especially with precedents like the Indigo Girls cast and She Is Risen, my experience with Utopia was that female(-presenting) performers were the most ready to "go there" and really stepped up to the plate. Don't be afraid to guide them in the direction of a particular sound, but first don't shy away from casting them!

Immerse them in pre-1996 JCS. There are several solid examples of what to do (Brown Album, OBC, original French cast [in places], definitely live Australian cast, '73 film soundtrack, Camilo Sesto, California Youth Theatre, Australian revival cast, Indigo Girls cast) as well as what not to do (Alan Caddy studio cast, 1992 20th anniversary cast) from the pre-1996 era in the "Listening" section of my Recommendations chapter. For some, it may be even more nuanced than that -- yes to this from here, no to that from there, etc. Either way, the point is the same: the more they are influenced away from the newer sound, the less they'll refer to it.

Steer them toward the right variety of post-1996 JCS. There are at least three at the above link (2001 Hungarian revival, and the Vienna 2005 and 2011 concert casts) that manage to recapture some of the original energy musically while also erring on the side of post-1996 sounds and abilities. It'd be a shame to blindly ignore it.

Emphasize volume. Legend has it that George Abbott, one of Broadway's greatest all-time musical comedy directors (he lived to be 107!), used to stand in the back of the theater with a sign that said "Loud is Good." In the days before electronic amplification, this was very solid advice; you got your chin up, you projected with good support, and you aimed for the back row. "Loud is Good" is similarly useful advice if you're aiming for a pre-1996 JCS vibe, not just because it gives the soundboard something to pick up with the all-important microphones, but also because "contemporary musical theater technique" only goes so far. If you're telling your cast that they can vary their intensity for emotional shading, but that they must stay loud at all times, sooner or later, something that sounds more like classic rock is going to come out of them the harder they push, just because they're exercising the muscle to its limits and then some. Don't encourage this to the extent that they endanger their vocal health, but work for the results you desire.

Immerse them in music from the period in which JCS was written. This is perhaps the most important step you can take. If they're unfamiliar with the form, then they need to understand how it works. Devote time in the pre-production process to creating targeted playlists of music from the pre-1996 JCS era for your potential audition pool to hear, and reinforce listening to it during the rehearsal period. If they're steeped in the sound, that's what they'll start to emulate.

Playlist Suggestions

The following are some artist recommendations for music that you can target at specific groups you're seeking out to audition. The casting call for the 50th-anniversary tour was a particular help here, mixed with some of my own intuition.

(Note that wherever influence lists are combined, this is designed partly with logistical considerations in mind; for example, most productions target their PETER group to understudy JESUS and their SIMON crowd for JUDAS.)

GENERAL PURPOSES: The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, The Kinks, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes (the "Soul Girls" in the title number in particular need this sort of tight pop-soul sound)

PETER/JESUS: James Taylor for the more tender moments, Rod Stewart or Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) for the real throat-shredding stuff

SIMON/JUDAS: Stevie Wonder, Murray Head, any Northern Soul or R&B artists of the era, maybe even a little gospel from the time

MARY: Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Gloria Jones, Janis Joplin

PILATE: Kind of a broad spectrum here, but think Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, and especially Robert Plant for the big "Don't let me stop..." moment

Failsafe Options

Despite your best efforts, however, some performers just will not absorb this stuff. You get different turn-out for every show, and it's catch-as-catch-can. If you are specifically striving for pre-1996 JCS but have people who can't break out of post-1996 training, there are characters whose roles skew "typical theater" enough that they can probably get away with not quite matching the sound.

If you need to bury your "immovable theater kids" in the mix, the best spots are the authority figures: PILATE, CAIAPHAS, ANNAS, and HEROD.

PILATE -- Well, they cast Barry Dennen, after all, seeking an actor for that part as far back as the Brown Album. He didn't necessarily have to sound that rock.

CAIAPHAS -- With this one, you'll get a bass if you're lucky and a baritone if you're pressed, and as long as he can swing a little bit with the music, you're fine with a musical theater person.

ANNAS is a generic baritenor who's not asked to do anything too uncomfortable.

As far as HEROD is concerned, I mean… that's literally the old-fashioned brassy Broadway sound. That guy doesn't have to sound rock at all if he doesn't want to; hell, in many instances, he probably doesn't need to sing. This role is more about the comedy, and indeed a local production may be able to boost ticket sales by treating it as a revolving-door cameo for stand-up comics in the area, assuming a good director can break them of their tendency to be "on" and help them to improvise within the character's confines.

#jesus christ superstar #andrew lloyd webber #tim rice #jcs #jesus christ super star #jcss #jesus christ super-star #ideas #miscellaneous

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yasuheadcanons · 2 months ago

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can u tell me ur opinion on yasumondo ....................

FIRST ASK YAY also ouh i have not that about this one that often. get ready for the yap of your life this would definitely be one of the ships that depends on context. i wouldn't ship them during hope's peak because i actually have NO CLUE how old mondo is nor can I find a confirmed age, but i assume he's within the age group of his peers. i think i prefer it platonically, but if it was romantic, it'd likely be after hope's peak. maybe hiro finds comfort in the familiarity of mondo's ghost self after the killing game (assuming he's died!) or OR maybe the two catch up long after graduation and have something that slowly blossoms over a drink. i like that one a lot. plus i feel like mondo and yasuhiro are those two friends who really just have mutual friendships together (kuwata, fujisaki, ishimaru) but that's what probably makes their relationship more unique. they were never best friends but felt when alone they realize just how close they could've gotten. yee-owch i see the appeal behind that kind of dynamic in a ship! i find it amusing to think about yasuhiro hagakure, who owes money to gangs and who's own mother was an ex-delinquent turned nurse, somehow finds himself liking That Exact Thing (this is what got me into daiyakure. i will not lie). not to mention that both aren't law-abiding citizens yet are still on opposite sides of that same kind of coin. owada is exactly the kind of guy hiro would owe money to, would probably avoid and should probably keep distance from. yet instead he stays close and insists on them being friends. he likes having mondo's company even if the two look batshit insane together, and wants to help him open up more. and we KNOW mondo doesn't have a soft spot for just anyone, so I think even he was unaware of those feelings for some time. they really shouldn't be getting along the way that they are, like cat and dog, yet yasuhiro still invites him to get drinks and spends hours ranting so passionately to him as if they were still in class together and that's where the mutual crush develops. hiro made the first move but I just know mondo fell harder. they just like spending all their time together and don't know why yet. I'm SICK TO MY STOMACH and I know yall are gonna get sick of me saying this but I am mayor of yasuhiro-is-not-that-stupid town. i think was definitely just as oblivious to what was growing between them at first, but when he catches on he's so teasing and silly about it. maybe I don't know (also underrated headcanon that both would probably not be great with navigating relationships. mondo wouldn't ever defeat those closeted allegations) once they're both in it, they don't know when it's appropriate to start using the L word, when they should start announcing their coupling but they don't spend much time stressing about it. and all they ever do is spend their off days together and worry about the other's safety when they aren't. yasuhiro trying to look so casual and nonchalant but he's constantly worried about him being in the cold weather or possibly running into the wrong people. mondo wanting to be cold and independent but just HAS to know if hiro's eaten lunch yet or ran into some folks he owes money to. i enjoy talking about them both being much older anyways because there's so much to consider there. is mondo still as aggressive and emotion-driven as he was those years ago? is hiro still falling for crystal-ball dupes and in debt? i think they've both matured but when they get to be with each other they're in the permanent honeymoon phase and get so childish together. it's even funnier to think about rough-and-tough mondo who leads the crazy diamonds and definitely has enough influence to pull whatever lady or guy he'd like. yet thinks about Mister Yasuhiro Hagakure Who Owes Ten Mil To The Yakuza. oh sure what a keeper mondo whatever makes you happy

i dont think ive ever read a fic on them but god would it be nice . are there even any . can someone send me some or should i do it my dang self. can u imagine the aus? what if hiro owed money to the crazy diamonds. or what if it was gang leader x con man like they're both so in the wrong but they're like stray cats who stay together for warmth cause that's all they really have left omg anon hope u know this was my face all while I thought about this ship

#i have to torture them. where has this been #like u know what hell yeah! yes.#im trying not to dive into the angst but god there's so much potential there #idk if hiro's mother is disappointed or amused by her son's choices #yasumondo #danganronpa #hagakure yasuhiro #yasuhiro hagakure #mondo owada

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sugurushimura · 6 months ago

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What do you think the Yotsuba members thought of Kira before they got personally involved? Were any of them pro Kira?

ooh, good question.

higuchi, at least, was almost definitely pro-kira. in chapter 38 of the manga, he very explicitly says he wants to continue killing criminals. he points out white collar criminals specifically because they damage the economy, but he also talks about kira in terms of his mission to create a peaceful world, going so far as to say that everyone who wasn't a criminal wanted kira to return during his absence. this seems like a reflection of his own beliefs more than anything else: higuchi believes kira is building a peaceful world and wants kira to exist, even if it isn't him. but he was chosen to become kira, so it's not surprising that he'd support the original. rem probably wouldn't have chosen him if he was anti-kira.

other than higuchi, the most indicative lines here, i think, are from chapter 37:

Unseen Yotsuba Guy 1: Having Kira kill off criminals sure is something to be thankful for... Unseen Yotsuba Guy 2: Exactly, especially thieves. Nice for us rich folk not to have to worry about that as much.

we don't actually see who's talking, but we know at least two of the yotsubas are openly pro-kira. personally, i tend to pin these two down as hatori and ooi. "us rich folk" just sounds like an ooi line, and the first line just fits best with hatori's speaking patterns and attitudes, imo. after all, he's the one who talks about how great it is that one of their members is using kira's powers to benefit their group. i feel like this is partially posturing, but it's in a "trying to be strategic" way rather than just being dishonest.

but it makes sense for some of the yotsubas to support kira, after all. they're are a bunch of rich guys; most of them have never had to live in poverty, and i don't think they have much empathy for the those who do, so they're not really compelled to care about the socioeconomic factors that force people into crime. besides, laws tend to benefit the rich, so of course they want those laws enforced. even if they don't really care about peace and love etc., they still want to protect their own interests. and, as we can see, many of them don't mind if blood has to be spilled along the way, so kira's extreme methods wouldn't bother them too much as long as he's only killing off people who they can label as Bad. means justify the ends and all that.

so yeah, higuchi, ooi, and hatori belong in the pro-kira category, imo, although they probably wouldn't say so out loud since supporting kira pre-time skip wasn't super socially acceptable. i think kida would also feel this way for all the reasons described above, although killing his own (as in: other executives) doesn't sit well with him, even if he disguises it. namikawa also seems like someone who would support kira from a pragmatic angle, but i don't think he's that concerned with good and evil; it's more a case of "society functions better this way, and that's good for me". he's completely silent about that, though, and he probably looks down on your run-of-the-mill kira worshiper for being naive and... obnoxiously stupid is the best way to put it, i guess?

takahashi is conflicted. i think his knee-jerk response is just "killing people is bad", but he sometimes wonders if maybe it's for the best. sort of similar to matsuda, except without being as entangled in the conflict as matsuda is. his own personal involvement with kira turns him firmly against kira in the end, though. for what it's worth, i think kida also starts to question his previous stance on kira over the course of the meetings of death, but by that point he has more pressing things to worry about.

shimura and mido strike me as anti-kira. in shimura's case, i think he has a hard stance against killing people for any purpose, and he recognizes that simply killing criminals doesn't solve the circumstances that cause crime. mido, on the other hand, is more concerned with the implications that One Guy With The Power To Kill Anyone Without Repercussion has on democracy in the long-term, although she's kind of resigned to it as just... an absurd thing that's happening whether anyone likes it or not, oh well, she'll be fine regardless. haha, whoops.

but yeah, honestly, i don't think most of them care enough to start workplace discussions about kira, especially considering how polarizing it is and how outside the mainstream public support for kira is. when kira does come up before higuchi gets the death note, it's probably something along the lines of... takahashi mentions the most recent kira headline in passing, everyone sighs and looks uncomfortable, maybe kida or hatori or someone says something short and bland, namikawa changes the topic.

#asks #Yotsuba #Kyosuke Higuchi #Arayoshi Hatori #Takeshi Ooi #Masahiko Kida #Reiji Namikawa #Eiichi Takahashi #Suguru Shimura #Shingo Mido #anonymous

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shyvien · 2 years ago

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Here are 100 random quotes from Mammon!

Sourced from the OM! Wiki, chats, devilgram, screenshots I found, etc. I made this list to help with studying to write the characters in character. (Not really proofread, sorry if there are mistakes. Also, there may be spoilers. If so, they're minor spoilers)

✧༺⚜️༻✧

“I want to [CENSORED], [CENSORED], and [CENSORED] like there's no tomorrow!”

“Hey! No touchin'! Grrr..!”

“Hey! So you're just gonna ignore me, are ya?! ...Also, I SAID you're too close! Don't get near MC! And NO touchin'! I won't allow it!”

“I don't want to have anything to do with someone like you! That's it. we're done! It's over! ...gr ...! ...! Dammit! Like I could ever really say that to you! I love you, MC! And I'II NEVER break up with you, okay?! NEVER!

“Hey, whoa! Whaddya think you're doin', huh?! You want a piece of me?! IS THAT IT?!”

“Come on, I was just kiddin' around! Now go on and unblock me. ...I'll tell ya a funny joke if you do. "Who's got two thumbs and needs some company?" 👍 "THIS GUY!" 👍 At least gimme a pity laugh, will ya?!”

“Right now it's just you, me, a bed, and no one to bother us.”

“Oh yeah? Well do me a favor and look into your crystal ball and tell me how many times I'm gonna sock you for that smartass comment.”

“I don't THINK so! Like, don't go marryin' Asmo, MC! If you're gonna marry someone, marry m...m-m-m…..m-m-ME! MARRY THE GREAT MAMMON!”

“Y'know..I wouldn't have pegged you as someone who likes to stir up trouble. But you have some pretty interestin' ideas up there in that head of yours, don't ya?”

“Whoa, hey there. Those are some pretty harsh words. Is there some sorta bad blood between you?”

“Look at those cheeks of yours. What's up with those, huh? How'd ya like me to give 'em a little poke? ...Like that! ...And that!”

“Would ya look at that? The Great Mammon really has an eye for spottin' shiny and expensive things! Who knew such a little shop would have uncut gems like these? Hehehe, come to daddy...”

“What's this here...an emerald? You're a looker, aren't ya? Wanna come home with daddy?”

“Lemme go! I'm not gonna rest until l've landed one really good hit on Levi!… Beel! Lemme go, ya muscle-bound son of a...! …All right, bring it on! Do it...see what happens!”

“Man, what's got your panties in a wad all of a sudden?”

“Yeah-heah-HEAAAH! Sweet, sweet treasure! COME TO PAPA!”

“No frickin' way!”

“Geez, I oughta wrap you up for pullin' a stunt like that!”

“Y'see, I was plannin' on hanging out with MC in my room today. And I wanted to create a romantic atmosphere, y'know? So I lit about 500 candles, and the room caught on fire. Scared the bejeebers outta me!”

“You think a little w-warnin' like that would be enough to s-s-scare me off? He thinks I'm gonna stop s-s-spyin' on him because of that? As if!”

“Folks around here won't let us forget it. But they're just labels. By now, no one knows better than us that labels don't mean anything.”

“Th-That's so coooohohohohold! Ahahaha! Why you guys gotta be so meeeeean?”

“C'mon, man. Make with the mouth openin'. The rest of us are waitin' for our turn.”

“Yeah, I know what you're thinkin'. How'd I turn out to be so awesome? You can tell I've been through both highs and lows, and that I'm self-assured and totally sexy.”

“If I can land a nice, clean blow on Lucifer just once, then whatever happens, happens.”

“And I hate the way you lock eyes with Lucifer...and then like smile and stuff... Don't do that, okay? Don't even breath in front of him, okay?!”

“Exactly. Nothin' of value is missin', except for the stuff I sold.”

“That's rough, buddy.”

“You might not know what I'm talkin' about, but I know what l'm talkin' about! Quit showin' up in my dreams uninvited! Ya gotta give me time to prepare before you go bustin' in like that!”

“D-Dummy! Don't go makin' me say it!”

“Have you forgotten? I AM evil! Demon, remember?”

“What? No, you must be mistaken, Your Wonderfulness. I said absolutely nothing of the sort.”

“Whoever's disturbed my...*yawn* my sleep... I got a pile driver with your name on it”

“Hey, you sure you'll be satisfied with just leaving things at my head?”

“If you're wondrin' where I'm at, that means ya got it bad for me, don't ya? ...Please don't pull that "stay" thing on me.”

“Levi, you son of a-- You just full-on PUNCHED me!”

“Eh, still... It feels nice when you run your hand through my hair like that. So l'll go ahead and let it slide.”

“Wha? No, I wasn't tryin' to make fun of ya... Little guy.”

“Damn straight.”

“Anyway, he said he'd be willin' to lend me money again if I managed to pay back everythin' I owed. Obviously, there's no way I can, so I pretended not to have seen anythin' and ran like hell.”

“Nighttime's when I kick into gear! Let's go out on the town! Your treat!”

“I'm still laughin' my ass off over here!”

“You're the only thing more dazzlin' than a gold credit card! Almost blinding, I'd say!”

“Final boss, my ass! Listen up, 'cause the Great Mammon's got some truths for you haters!”

“Just this once, l'II let ya film me in a bathtub full of money! How's THAT for fan service?!”

“So? Waitin' like a good boy's gone and earned me some kinda reward, right?”

“I'll raise my favorability score with MC lickety-split, profess my love, and win this game before you even know what hit you!”

“...Aww. ...I mean, now listen, you! Dammit. You really play dirty, you know that...?”

“Ah, there ya are! How'd you like to hit the casino with me, huh?! Right now! I'm feelin' lucky today. REAL lucky!”

“Just so we're clear, I ain't afraid of no horror movies. Not even a little! Not even a teensy-tiny bit, all right? Like, seriously.”

“Just to be clear, it's not like l'm afraid Lucifer might catch me if I go alone. That's not what this is about. Seriously, that's not what this is about! For real, it isn't!”

“I've got some serious business opportunities lined up for after classes tomorrow. I'm talkin' makin' some mad cheddar, yo! If Lucifer asks about me, tell him I was called to the human world by the witches, would ya?”

“You don't sleep until I do, you got that? And would ya look at that?! The ol' Sandman forgot to sprinkle his magical sand in my eyes! So strap in, buddy! We got a looooong night ahead of us!”

“Listen, Lucifer is gonna be all over my ass once he finds out…”

“No need to worry your pretty little head. I'll be around for meals and sleep. The bed's pretty big, after all”

“Yeah, a real gold digger, that one.”

“I wasn't about to give in to that jerk's demands. I've got more self-respect than that. So, I told him what the deal was: I get the room rent-free and he can shove his two-year contract where the sun don't shine. But then that snake threatened to snitch to Lord Diavolo and Lucifer if I didn't pay up.”

“Cheap shot callin' a guy stingy cause he's lookin' out for his pal.”

“Bet your wonderin' how a guy like me-drownin' in debt, frozen credit card, more lint in his pockets than Grimm-“

“Using my power and influence, I'll push you through the auditions and get you the chance to model, no strings attached! Well, maybe one string: front and center's all mine. Hope the edge is good enough for ya!”

“I swear, I'm not tryin' to pull a fast one on ya, MC, ol' buddy ol' pal!”

“We're pals, right? If ya really wanna know the details, I'll tell ya for 500 Grimm. If you've got the cash on-hand now, I'll tell ya for half the price. So, what'll it be?”

“Hey! MC! Why ya runnin' BUDDY?”

“Ya know, just a peek! So, help me out by opening the door, just a little?… But I caaaaaaaaan't! Open the door and let me see already!”

“My dear sunglasses just took their last breath... I kinda accidentally killed them. I crushed them...with my rear end. That's right, my poor sunglasses...and bum.”

“I'll whip up my special cup ramen! I'll bring it up in a bit, so just sit tight.”

“Look, l'm sendin' ya a ping! So get your butt over here, pronto!”

“Seriously, I'll bust my ass and get there at Mach speed!”

“Crap, that really does make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks, MC. I love ya a whole bunch, too!”

“I got a raffle ticket when I went shoppin' today, so I tried my luck, and booyah. Jackpot, baby!”

“I've got jack all to do! JACK ALL!”

“Listen to what I'm saying, dammit! Can't someone shut this guy up?!”

“Huh, ya don't say. Whoopsie.”

“If you're thinkin' of saving that picture of me on your D.D.D., I swear I'll put a curse on ya! I'll make it so that you never find money layin' on the street again! And don't you forget it...”

“Jealous? Wanna join me, right? Well, this isn't the sorta place that humans can just go lollygaggin' about in, so keep your pants on.”

“Haha! That's all ya got?!”

“It's an honor to be fightin' ME!”

“Muahahaha. ALL points for MAMMON! Bow down to me!”

“Hehehe, I'm feelin' GOOD today. I got ya somethin'!”

“Oh...? Yeah, that's the spot! Right there!”

“That's a good human. You're gettin' the hang of it, aren't ya?”

“Yo. So ya dropped in to pay Mammon a visit, eh? Good on ya!”

“Missin' the Great Mammon, were ya? Heh, welcome home.”

“Hey, not there! That tickles!”

“What are ya, a spoiled brat?”

“I guess everyone's like that with their first. Who knew ya could be so cute. Hey, why dontcha be more greedy? That way you'd really win my heart.”

“Hey... Oi... All right, already! Pay attention to me!”

“Hey, can't ya be gentle?!”

“Ya know what do to, doncha? Thanks!”

“Eeeew, take that back. Give it to someone else.”

“Hahaha! Is that all ya got? It's nothing compared to Lucifer's swing!”

“Don't think you can get away with this!”

“Here, I got a present for ya! Beach time, you and me! Let me show you how well I can swim!”

“Also, I'm goin' wakeboarding but... I'm gonna bring you along too, 'cause ya know, I like hangin' out with ya and stuff.”

“A Red Demonus after a long day's work is the best! Why doncha grab one too?”

“It's cool if we chill here and drink together, yeah?”

“This looks so flippin' good!”

“Hey, why don't we go this year? Keep the date open, all right?”

“They're very nice, so I thought it woulda cost ya a pretty penny!”

Couple extra for my boy

“You wanted to match with me, ya say?! Cute!”

“Someone put a photo frame in your room, right? That was me. You were eyein' it up in the shop so I bought it. You put a picture of everyone in it, but I really wanted you to put one of just us t... Never mind.”

✧༺⚜️༻✧

I love this goofy fucker

𝑀𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓁𝒾𝓈𝓉

𝒮𝒽𝓎 𝒲𝓇𝒾𝓉𝑒𝓇 ༝༚༝༚

#obey me #obey me shall we date #omswd #fanfic #obey me mammon #obey me quotes #om! mammon

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codenamesazanka · 1 year ago

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dark post-canon. The War is over. Heroes have won. It's time to rebuild. Except--

The new Hero Public Safety Commission immediately gets down to work. Rebuild an even stronger Tartarus; add a self-destruct system so that if Villains ever try to break in or out again, just kill them all. More intense Quirk Counseling for all children who even the slightest bit act out of the norm; catch them before they can put on a mask. Suppress any news of the heteromorph riot - that will only stroke more division. Parade the Hero Kids out as The Greatest Heroes, and really wring every bit of wholesome success story out of them - interviews, merch, candy shaped in their likeness. This will help restart the economy. They can even export Hero goods out of the country since they're globally recognized heroes.

As the plans are drawn out, the kids are at first uncomfortable, gradually turning horrified. This wasn't what they fought for. This is going to make things worse. Todoroki wants his brother to be able to stay with his family, not be isolated and locked away even more. Uraraka protests that quirk counseling alienates kids, makes them feel like freaks who can't share their pain. (Also, they are not letting her keep her promise of giving Toga blood.) Shoji says that it's because news never come out of the rural areas that no one thought to help the heteromorphs; it's because their pain and grief came out that light can shine on them. And Deku-- well, the war brought to surface so many problems. They can't just smile and pretend it's all fine after all that destruction. All For One and Shigaraki showed him how there are such lonely, empty people out there, whose pain can run wild - they should be helping those people, instead of focusing even more on the glory of Heroes.

The new HPSC waves away their protests. They're extremely grateful for the kids for helping them win the war. Though... what they're saying sounds like sympathy for the Villains that created this mess. Sounds like saving Villains, which... they really wished the kids hadn't done that. It wasn't part of the battle plan. It was nice and all, but so risky! Not all Villains are so easily changed. They saved... what, two villains out of the hundreds that were involved in the war? Statistically, that's useless. Anyways, look at Deku. He killed AFO and Shigaraki, and it's all for the better.

Plus, the UA kids are still that - children. They haven't even graduated from 10th grade. What do they know about maintaining and leading society? Do they have any concrete ideas about things like policies and development? Specific enactable agendas?

The plans keep getting drawn, without any of the kids' input, if they had any in the first place. Future's coming fast, and it's looking like everything is going back to the way it used to be - except the way it used to be is exactly what led to the war. Something needs to be done. They need change; they need real reform.

So somehow Deku ends up in front of Mr. Compress.

Mr. Compress congrats Deku on the Heroes winning. Sarcastically thanks him for killing off his leader and imprisoning all his friends. Tells him to go away, an old man needs his rest. Deku asks for help, and Mr. Compress insults him. Deku says he's heard of Harima, and how he was a folk hero, stealing not because he was a Villain for his own gain, and helping people not because he was a Hero in it for the wealthy or fame. If Mr. Compress is Harima's great-great-grandson and following his will, shouldn't Mr. Compress help try to change things for the better?

Mr. Compress doesn't see the point. He tells Deku that Harima tried to change things by, yes, stealing to send a message, but did his best to minimize harm; tried to do good by redistributing his spoils. He was popular and loved by the people, just like a Hero, but hated by the powers that be, and so ended up being labeled a just a thief and Villain in the history books, his reformation was never achieved that way.

Which is why Mr. Compress threw his hat in with the League. Shigaraki was his greatest bet on changing society, but it seemed it just didn't work out. Harima couldn't change things; even someone like Shigaraki couldn't change things; if someone like Shigaraki existed and still can't change things, what's the use?

And besides, Deku went and killed Shigaraki. He did what was always done - defeating villains. But suddenly now he cares? After the damage is done? Why should Mr. Compress care about helping him at all.

...

then idk. got stuck. no idea how Deku's going to get out of this one without doing something radical. maybe even something villainous. But I think the Compress + Deku dynamic can be interesting.

#nalslastworkingbraincell

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wiltking · 10 months ago

Note

Hello, this is probably a silly question but how did you get so good at writing? I've read you fics and they're amazing, even just a simple sentence you say sounds great. (I mean it sincerely) I want to improve my writing and my english along the line, what did you do? Or do you have any recommendations?

oh gosh i still feel like a baby writer with so much to learn. but i think the thing that helped me the most is learning how to read books from a writer's perspective. especially my favorite books. i mean really taking them apart piece by piece and figuring out why they come off as such good books to me. story structure, word choice, yes even something as simple as sentence. why do i think this book is so good? why is this character so memorable to me? in what way was this incredible line set up to have such a great impact? why do i continue to think about these books even years later?

these are the things I think about while I read. and its especially helpful during a reread when you already know the whole story of a book and can pay closer attention to things like setup and delivery.

this isn't reserved for 'objectively' well written or technically complex books, either. i've said many times that nora sakavic's all for the game series was the most formative to me when i was trying to seriously get into writing. and i always hear people expressing that the writing in those books isn't the greatest. respectfully i disagree, but even if people don't think they're well written there's a reason why those books are so beloved. the intense passion that radiates off the page even during some of the most insane ideas is just one of those things.

more recently i've been doing some research while i work on my horror writing by turning to some of my favorite fantasy / dark fiction writers. resuming my reread of the hexslinger series by gemma files is part of that, because those books were also extremely formative, and reading kissing carrion by the same author last year really made me think for the first time ok, maybe i can write flowery queer horror too. because those stories really resonated with me, and i think about the ending of the hexslinger series constantly. for years. it literally haunts me. but the reason why the ending is so impactful is all the build up that leads up to it. and the way the relationships are written. and the balance of love and horror and genuine connections and the deepest betrayals and... anyway i've kind of been going through her writing with a fine tooth comb to try and understand why she's inspired me for sooo many years.

elizabeth bear's edda of burdens; another formative piece of writing for me, despite me also having some issues with it. i'd love to reread it soon too but don't exactly have the time when i'm in full writing mode, so the other day i just took apart the intro to by the mountain bound in my reading journal. by copying down the first three paragraphs, underlining my favorite lines, and writing some notes about them. my notes aren't anything profound, i was just appreciating the wolfish way mingan is described in the littlest ways that are also so integral to him, and the pretty words chosen to describe the season. the way he's set up as different and 'other' from the very first page even with something as innocent as choosing to daydream. it's all stuff i try to appreciate and learn from.

i don't use my writing journal often (because its easier to type my thoughts here, tbh) but i generally use it to collect quotes i like (and always try to leave some notes about why i like each quote). the other day i also jotted down the opening sentences to some folk tales because its relevant to what i'm working on, and i wanted to study what important information they chose to lead with to set the tone of a story.

tldr; examine your favorite books from a writing perspective. try to understand the choices that were made on both a grand scale (story structure) and little details (word choice, descriptions, paragraph flow). and always try to write your passions even if its weird!! especially if it's weird. you've got this <3

#i dont have tips for english since i learned it as a kid but just reading and writing a lot will help you #according to what i've heard from other people learning english #persistence will get you far #(also thank you!!! im happy you like my writing!)

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snellkist · 26 days ago

Text

One Final Stream

Drabble Drive #2 Anyone/Anyone (RPF) Words: 1350 Read on AO3 Note: Challenges can be submitted via ask or AO3 comment and will become their own chapter if chosen

Nobody is looking at the camera when the stream finally goes live. Most of the view is taken up by Impulse, fiddling with the camera's settings, eyes on a screen somewhere off to the left. Over his shoulder, Cub lingers, a second layer of tech support.

"Are we good?" Impulse questions, and Cub looks between the camera and the monitor.

"Seems like we're good," Cub confirms, and behind him, there's a round of cheers.

Satisfied, Impulse brushes his hands off and backs away, opening the view. They aren't in the studio anymore, that much is made clear by the quality of the "set", not much more than a living room. It's a bit cramped, the sectional overcrowded. Some people sit on the floor in front of their coworkers' legs, while others opt to fill the space behind them, leaning on the furniture's backboard or sitting on stools dragged in from the kitchen island.

"I wouldn't worry about the seating arrangements much," Grian points out. Regardless, he shifts to the left to accommodate Cub taking a seat between him and Ren, "We're not gonna stay seated."

"We might," Pearl chimes from her spot, perched on the sectional's rightmost arm, "Depends on what kinda things they ask us to do."

"We know full well what kinda things they're gonna ask us to do," Martyn says, snickering when Gem groans from the floor.

"You get one pass," She asserts, though it loses a lot of its authority when muffled by her palms.

"We're all gonna make good use of that pass," Zed interrupts, pointing his chin towards the chat monitor, "But maybe we tell the fine viewers what exactly they're tuning into, eh?"

The group's attention turns to Scar, who nods and offers a wave to the camera, "Uh, hello! Welcome, to those that weren't here for the charity livestream, and welcome back to those who were! Hopefully you all were, it was a great time," Scar looks around at the gathered faces, "And we decided that we could make it better, and get even closer to heights we've never reached before."

"Some of the more attentive folk are asking about the age restriction," Joe informs, monitoring the chat, and Scar dips his head in an exaggerated nod.

"That is correct, yep, we-" He clears his throat. Under the tubing of his cannula, the top of Scar's cheeks go a bit pink. "We've uh, been given permission to do some crazy things! You know? Some things we're gonna have fun with, fun for you guys, fun with each other..."

"So, yeah, the stream is restricted to the adult crowd," False picks up where Scar trailed off, "Mostly just to cover our butts in case we skirt too close to TOS."

"And before we get people getting all up in arms- yeah, there it is, I see it! It's happening already!" Skizz jabs a finger at the chat monitor, then at the camera, "Before anybody else gets the wrong idea, yes, all the wives and girlfriends and what have you have given their blessing."

"Some of them are literally behind the camera," Jimmy agrees, gesturing off screen. The camera wobbles, and Kirsty comes briefly into view, grinning face upside-down as she leans over the tripod.

The feed goes dark, and Kirsty gasps, "Ooh, sorry, sorry-!"

"S'fine," It's Cub's voice, and moments later the picture returns.

"I really thought I had enough room," Kirsty pouts, no longer visible.

Ren chuckles, but nods in their direction again, "Karn and Dot are back there also."

"We're helping," Karn says, but the disembodied thumbs up offered at the edge of the camera is Dot's.

"Couldn't do it without them, our little note-taking monkeys," Tango jokes, and Scar chuckles, tapping his mic against his palm before he continues.

"If it wasn't clear enough, everyone's incredibly on-board for this, and we did our due dil- diala- hff,"

"Diligence," Grian offers.

"That," Scar amends, "Everybody knows, everybody's cool with it, and everybody knows how to opt out if they change their mind or if it becomes too much."

There's a round of agreement from the group, and Scar passes his mic off to Martyn. "Hello, chat. Sick of my voice yet?" He asks the camera, "Yeah, me neither. So! The way we have this working is, you guys are gonna keep doing what you've been doing. You're gonna watch and enjoy and donate if you can, keep being awesome, except now, we ask that your donations include some kind of challenge for us. Tango?"

"Oh-" Tango takes the mic when Martyn offers it, crouching behind the couch to pick up a familiar jester's hat. The bells on the ends jingle as Tango rattles the contents, "We've got the hat of mysteries and wonder here, all geared up with some dares that Zed, G, and I came up with, y'know, just in case your suggestions are poopy we'll still have something to work with-"

"Now hold on," There's a brief struggle as Zed grabs the mic and pulls it down to his level, making Tango lean over the back of the couch with a yelp when he refuses to relent. "I just want to clarify that my involvement in these prompts was minimal. Most of them are Grian's doing, I'm innocent."

"A likely story," Impulse hums, hardly smothering a grin, "I saw you getting pretty into the prompts that you did contribute."

"Of course I did," Zed's smile is all mischief, "And I'll take credit and-or blame where it's due, I'm only saying, our contributions were not equal."

"Excuse me, Peanut Gallery," Tango fumes from where he's still leant over the back of the couch, and beside him, Jimmy gets a fist in his shirt to help him upright. Zed lets him go, holding his hands up in surrender, and Tango grumbles through laughter, brushing himself off. "As I was saying, now that I'm not getting foldificated... Your challenges are gonna get screened and written by our lovely note-monkeys back there, and we're gonna spin a wheel to pick who's digging a thing outta the hat."

"Not a wheel," Joe corrects, leaning in to share the mic, "The wheel." He picks up the same colorful wheel they'd used to pick each 100k bonus event, turning it towards the camera. The events have been erased, and each of the slices have been sliced in half again. Each sliver has somebody's name in it, with the extras being labeled 'Reroll'.

Gem looks at the wheel, exasperated, "We could've used our phones, it would've been so much easier!"

Joe shrugs, "Well where's the fun in that? The spin needed more drama, more physical representation. The weight of chance demands fanfare, Gem."

"Oh, my gosh," Gem pinches the bridge of her nose, but amusement quirks her lips in a way that makes Joe giggle when she doesn't follow up.

Ren leans forward to pat Gem's shoulder. "That about covers it, I think," Ren notes, and Tango points the mic in his direction. Ren leans away in surprise, then gets his bearings and returns, "Viewers donate, suggests challenges, the challenges go in a hat, and we spin to see who pulls. We'll be a well-oiled machine, baby!"

"That's the hope," Grian says, eyeing the donations before returning to the camera, "We're gonna leave it be for a little bit, give you time to make your donations and suggest your tasks or questions or whatever else you see fit to give us."

"Sounds like a plan," Scar says, and Tango hands the mic back as Scar addresses the stream. "You've all been so amazing, just- done so, so much more than we ever could have dreamed, and y'know, we're gonna keep it up. We're gonna keep working hard to raise this awareness and make you smile, and if you'd like to be a part of that with us, if you can be a part of that with us, go ahead and donate. Share the stream, keep talking about the cause, and we'll see how much above our smashed goals we can go now that we're in the home stretch." Scar winks.

#Snellcrossing #fics #Hermitfic #Hermitrpf #ensemble #RPF

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lucyav13 · 9 months ago

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Garson's histories 'n Carson's

Garson's Stories:

Stylish Moves So yeah, ever heard of stylish moves? They're cool poses for after stomping! After stomping an enemy, but before landing tilt Wii Remote around and give it a shake. You'll pull off some cool tricks in midair! Those are called stylish moves. What? What's a Wii Remote? …Don't worry. As long as the player gets it, we're fine." Doing stylish moves is not only cool, but it gives you lots of points. And if you hold down 2 after a jump, you'll bounce high, making it even easier. Just give it a shot!

The Pure Hearts So yeah, ever heard of the Pure Hearts? They're great treasures created by the ancients… Supposedly really powerful. Folks say that heroes will appear to collect them all and save the world. The source of power in these Pure Hearts? The power of love itself! The love of a parent…The love of the smitten… Great power, indeed. The Ancients researched this power, believing it to be the universe's only salvation. And these Pure Hearts were thus created… The shining embodiment of love itself. Their combined brilliance will negate the destruction born of the Chaos Heart… we hope.

The Dark Prognosticus So yeah, ever heard of the Dark Prognosticus? Everything that'll happen in the future is written down in this book. The author and the source of his knowledge are still a total mystery, though. Over the years, many have fought over it… Entire countries have fallen. And the fall of those countries was already predicted in the book… Imagine going through awful stuff to get the book, only to READ about it all after! Anyway, someone hid the book long ago, and now no one knows where it is. I wonder what sort of person has it now…

The Ancients So yeah, ever heard of an advanced civilization called the Tribe of Ancients? They were, like, a thousand times smarter than you or me. There were four austere sages among them. You know one of these as Merlumina. But when it came to love, these sages were unreserved… Their passion burned HOT. I've heard some pretty spicy legends about the love life of Merlumina, in particular… In fact, her love life threatened to destroy the world on a few occasions… I don't know if these stories are true or not. And I guess we'll never know.

Flipside Secrets So yeah, these were the words written in the book left behind by the Ancients… 'On the outskirts of town, third floor, look for the hidden platform to go up.' I don't know what this means, exactly… Maybe it's a way to find secret treasure? Maybe you ought to go check it out!

Descendants of the Ancients So yeah, you meet Merlon and Merlee yet? They're descendants of the Ancients and distantly related to each other, I hear. The Ancients hid the Pure Hearts in various worlds to stop eventual destruction. Then the Ancients scattered to various world to pass the rest of their days. Most of them were wise and kind like Merlumina. And like Merlumina, many of them would totally lose their cool when they fell in love. But it was this very passion that let them build the vessels of love, the Pure Hearts…

Pit of 100 Trials So yeah, you know about the Pit of 100 Trials? It's supposedly this 100-room labyrinth underneath this very town. Many have searched for the entrance, but it still remains hidden. The only clue we have is this saying from the Ancients: 'Pit seekers! Go to the town outskirts, the lowest floor, and seek the hidden platforms.' …It sounds sort of like the clue I gave you earlier, doesn't it? What's all this stuff about hidden platforms, anyway? If you find out, let me know.

Flipside History So yeah, Flipside is a town between dimensions created by the Ancients. You can open up paths to many worlds from here, as the Ancients designed it. And you've seen the white tower in the middle of Flipside, right? It controls the flow of dimensional energy, so it can beam people to worlds. I think that's why the doors to other worlds appear up near the tower. I hear there's another version of the tower…A dark one. I wonder where the dark tower is… Yeah, I admit, I don't know. Do you?

More Flipside Secrets So yeah, the town of Flipside still has so many secrets to hide. I just found this passage not too long ago… 'Flip is flop. If you cannot break through in flip, you should try it in flop.' Now, I don't know what that means… But I'm sure it'll lead you to something pretty good! So go try it out!

The Hero Legend The Ancients traveled to many worlds to entrust people with Pure Hearts. It was to keep them safe from destruction or misuse by those with evil hearts. The Pure Hearts were drawn by their own power toward those strong with love. The Ancients used this trait to find suitable guardians in each world. And a few romances also began as a result of these little journeys… Many of the Ancients who found guardians fell in love with those they met. And so they lived their days happily in the world they'd visited out of duty. This is how the legend of the hero was passed down to future generations…

More Stylish Moves So yeah, you master all of the super-graceful stylish moves? After stomping a foe, move Wii Remote in different ways while in midair to get stylish! Doing a bunch of them in a row gets you really high scores, so it's worth it. Today I'll tell you about some special moves that are really hard to do. After stomping the enemy, alternately tilt Wii Remote left and right while in midair. You should perform more amazing stylish moves than you've ever seen! But make sure you don't get too excited and throw the Wii Remote! Use the strap!

Pixl So yeah, you know about Pixls, right? Heh… Yeah, I see that you do. Those wily Ancients were smart, but not too strong. They needed muscle. So they made the Pixls for anything physical they couldn't do on their own. With the help of the Pixls, the Ancients built amazing worlds. But now that technology is mostly lost, as the Pixls are scattered and forgotten. There are even some original Pixls, stronger than the rest, who still wait to be found. I see you've found a Pixl already, but there are others you haven't found yet.

Merlon's Love Life So yeah, those Ancients were passionate and romantic… Did I already tell you that? Even Merlon, their descendant, is wild for love, you know… Why, he had quite a thing for Saffron the cook. He went to her cooking shop every day and wooed her constantly. He finally broke down and confessed his love for her… And here's what she said: 'If you can finish an entire serving of my Saffron Special Galactic Meal, I'll date you.' …And this is one of the biggest, most filling dishes anyone's ever seen, mind you. But he dug right in. According to spectators, he finished all but a sprig of parsley left on the plate. Just then, some poor girl appeared in town who was severely injured. Merlon had to help her, so Saffron let him suspend the challenge. I don't know what happened to that girl next… But then Merlon became engrossed in his studies, and he hasn't wooed since. Maybe he'll get back to it when the world is peaceful and safe again.

The End of the World So yeah, ever heard of the Sammer Kingdom? The king there controls an army of 100 loyal soldiers. Each one has a different personality and unique skills. King Sammer was entrusted with a Pure Heart by Merlumina's younger sister… She was madly in love with King Sammer I, so they married and had 100 kids. The 100 princes and their royal parents ushered in an era of prosperity. Therefore, the number 100 became important to the current king. Imagine all the budding romances with 100 strapping princes around… The kingdom of that era would have had no problem fighting our current woes…

More Pixls So yeah, you know all about Pixls by now, am I right? Yeah, sure you do… They were a new form of life created as tools to help the Ancients' lives. But seriously, they're way more useful than any normal tools. Being able to think on their own made them more useful…and problematic. There was always the fear that if they grew too wise, they'd ignore their masters. Some say the original Pixl personalities were created to prevent this. There were some very bright Pixls… But then something dramatic happened, and the Pixl personalities changed. I wonder what happened? If you find out, let me know…

Restoring the Pure Hearts So yeah, the Pure Hearts are powerful treasures created by the Ancients. The secret of that power is the ability to detect and amplify love energy. Some among the Ancients believed strongly that the power of love was infinite. They believed this power to be so great that no forces could ever defeat it… They believed it would last and survive unchanged for the 1,500 prophesied years… This is what they believed about the power of love. The power of the Pure Hearts. As long as there's love in the world, the Pure Hearts can overcome any setback. You could say the Ancients believed in love abiding. Kind of romantic, really…

Returning to Peace The Void disappeared and ruined worlds have returned. It's like a miracle! You should go check out the various worlds to see how wonderful they all are! You might even see people you thought you'd never meet again. The martial-arts competition in the Sammer Kingdom is even up and running again! If you beat all 100 warriors, I bet you get a fantastic prize! Do you think anyone could do it? I'd love to meet the winner…

More Pit of 100 Trials So yeah, there's a Pit of 100 Trials below town somewhere… It was used by the Ancients to research the power of the Pure Hearts… Their experiments involved all sorts of really nasty beasties down there. So they stocked it with nasties from all the different worlds. I'd recommend only going if you're really serious about it… But there's a secret treasure of the Ancients hidden down there somewhere… If you feel up to the task, you should go look for it!

Carson's histories:

More Flipside History So Flipside's convenient, created by Ancients in a space between dimensions. That means you can open up portals to all the other worlds from there. But on the other hand, it's strangely susceptible to influences from other worlds... So the Ancients built the town in a way that would stabilize this effect. And that particular way was... Do you know what? The town was build in duplicate with both Flipside and Flopside versions! They realized that light without dark, or vice versa, would never be stable. You need both sides for perfection, you know? Having two opposite sides is the secret of the town's stability and longevity.

Flopside Gossip So you heard the famous charmer Merlee moved into Flopside somewhere, right? If she casts a charm on you, good things happen when you beat enemies. Try it! ...Oh yeah. But I hear that something's been bothering her lately. If you talk to her directly and not across from the ball, she'll tell you about it. If you have some free time, why don't you go see what's going on with her?

O'Chunks So Count Bleck has four minions, does he not? The biggest and brawniest of these is the one named O'Chunks. So about this O'Chunks... He was once the general of an army in a certain land... I hear he led a force of a thousand strong across enemy lines. But one of his trusted advisors sold him out... And all of his men fell to the enemy. I guess that's when Count Bleck scooped him up. Bleck played upon his shame and depression to enlist him in his service. Cruel...

Tribe of Darkness So have you heard of the Tribe of Darkness? Nolrem and others like him are descendants of this shadowy, odd people. Long, long ago, they broke off from the Tribe of Ancients to live alone. They avoided mixing with other people out of pride... And no one even knows where they went to live, they were so secretive. There are rumors of a secret castle deep in a forest... Must have been lonely...

Mimi So Count Bleck has four minions, as you know. The one named Mimi has the ability to mimic any person she wants to... She's so good at it I hear she even sometimes forgets who she is... This Mimi... Her true identity is shrouded in mystery. some say she's a failed Pixl experiment of the Ancients... Others say she's the unintended creation of a witch... A witch who was researching potions that would allow shape-shifting... If you ever meet her, could you ask her for me?

More Tribe of Darkness So let me tell you more about the Tribe of Darkness I mentioned earlier... They started as a group within the Ancients who had more magic power. Fearing their power would be diluted, they forbade marriage outside the group. Their power was considered an important resource by all of the Ancients. But no one knows why their power was so important now... One day, they all just disappeared from the Tribe of Ancients... And since then, no one has seen them... Did their games end? All is now shrouded in darkness.

Dimentio So Count Bleck has four minions, as you know. I hear that one of them, Dimentio, wields powerful magic. I don't know where he comes from or who he is... But I hear he approached and befriended the count all on his own. And the count even turned him away once... Until he read in the Dark Prognosticus about the role of someone similar... Why was he mentioned in the Dark Prognosticus? Sounds fishy to me!

Final Tribe of Darkness So let me tell you more of the Tribe of Darkness, and why few talk of them... They did something so bad that mentioning them has become forbidden. I hear they stole the Dark Prognosticus from the Ancients and hid it. But I don't know why they would do such a thing. Some say they did it to use the book's power to enhance their dark magic... Some say they hid it from others who would use it for evil... But, I heard of the last person who was known to possess the book... If the rumors are true, then you know this person as Count Bleck...

Nastasia So as you know, Count Bleck has four minions. One is an authoritative young woman named Nastasia, his right hand. She has the ability to brainwash people by looking them in the eyes. She can enslave even very powerful beings this way. And it seems none of the count's underlings can resist her power. That's how she's been able to order them around. She rarely expresses her innermost feelings, but she seems to love the count. she has eyes only for him, you might say. I'm a little jealous...

Flopside Pit of 100 Trials So have you heard of the Pits of 100 Trials below Flipside and Flopside? I hear they were created long ago to test the forces that guard the Pure Hearts. The Pit of 100 Trials here in Flopside was used to study the powers of darkness. I don't know exactly what that means...but it sounds pretty terrible. There's even a rumor that treasure awaits those who make it to the bottom. Do you have the courage to find out for yourself?

Of Bats and Men So how about we change the pace and I tell you a nice story for a change? This is one I heard in a distant land long ago... 'Once upon a time, a man went to look for the girl he loved, who was missing. As he passed through a forest, he found a bat stuck in a trap. He set the bat free. It promptly thanked him and disappeared. As he lay down to camp that night, he heard a voice and looked about. He noticed the sky was filled with a huge, round moon. There stood before him a woman he had never seen. The bat had transformed into the species of the one she had fallen for.' Now, I don't know if that's true or not... The last part of the story was... 'The bat pledged eternal loyalty to the man out of love on that night.' ...And that's the end of the story. I wonder what happened to those two? If there's more to that story, then I'd like to hear it.

Creation of the Pixls So do you know how the Pixls came to be? A powerful magician among the Ancients created them about 3,000 years ago. He did it by transferring a spirit into a vessel he created for that purpose. He's said to have created 12 Pixls like this before he passed away. But his apprentices kept researching Pixls after his game ended... They learned to create many more Pixls based on his original 12. These Pixls became widely used as 'thinking tools' for the grateful Ancients. Through the work of many Pixls, the Ancients prospered as they never had before. But that was a long time ago... There are no more Pixls now, I understand... Well, except for some of the original Pixls, who were scattered far and wide... They lie in wait for a new master to arrive. I wouldn't be surprised if there was one hiding here in this very town...

The Pixl Uprising So have you heard about the Pixl uprising? It happened in the capital of the Ancients some 2,000 years ago. The Ancients lived in prosperity thanks to the work of many Pixls... But one day that all ended. A huge Pixl calling herself the Pixl Queen suddenly appeared... At her command, Pixls everywhere rebelled against their Ancient masters. It seems that most Pixls were well-contained spirits, but she was different. In her case, a demonic spirit was contained within a Pixl vessel. And this queen Pixl had the power to command all other Pixls. The Ancients had become so dependent on the Pixls. They were devastated... They suddenly lost their ability to build and rule their empire effectively... ...And what happened then, you ask? Come back for the next installment!

More Pixl Uprising So now let's continue my story about the Pixl uprising... The Ancients were overthrown and enslaved by the Pixl revolt led by the Pixl Queen. In the midst of the ruin appeared the inheritors of the twelve original Pixls. They defeated the waves of Pixl soldiers and freed the enslaved Ancients. They used Catch Cards to trap the mind-controlled Pixl soldiers, then healed them. They saw their friends fall one after the other in battle, but they persevered. The last survivor managed to make it to the castle of the Pixl Queen. But the Pixl Queen used her powers of illusion to hide. She then unleashed horrific images upon the surviving freedom fighter. One of the Pixls at his side was immune to this, for it could see truth. It helped the survivor fight, and he and his Pixl finally defeated the Pixl Queen. But in the process, the Pixl's game was ended... Oh...Looks like the coins you paid will only get you this far through the story!

Pixl Uprising's End Now for another exciting installment in the Pixl uprising... The vanquisher of the Pixl Queen was confronted with an awful truth. It turned out that the Pixl Queen was actually the very first Pixl ever created... The master magician had made her after studying the Dark Prognosticus. So when the last surviving apprentice took the Dark Prognosticus from the queen... He decided to disappear with the book so that this sort of catastrophe wouldn't repeat. But even as peace returned, the Ancients could not lose their fear of the Pixls. So, the elders among the Ancients gathered to discuss what to do. They decided to limit the powers of all Pixls from that day forth... And the creation of new Pixls was outlawed. But, as a result, the power and influence of the Ancients began an irreversible decline. Now the secret of Pixl creation is lost forever. Though rumors abound of awakened Ancients and newly created Pixls... Is that true? If you know anything about it, please tell me!

The Pixl Queen So about the Pixl Queen from the Pixl uprising... Did you know there have been interesting theories published about her? In one book left behind by the master magician's apprentice, I found this: 'The spirit within the Pixl Queen was not a demon, but rather a human... The master magician had a beautiful wife, a son, and a daughter. But he lost his wife and son in an accident. Soon after, his daughter caught a terrible illness, and her short game ended.' Perhaps he transferred her spirit to a Pixl vessel? ...Well, that's the theory. Is it possible the other Pixls were spirits from the game-overed? ...Anyway, the person who published this has already disavowed that theory. I mean, it does seem a little unlikely, right? But if it WERE true... I'd bet the daughter was so horrified by the deeds of her father... That she wanted no one to ever use Pixls again. ...But what do I know? I DO think nothing less would have broken the Ancients' Pixl dependency. Oh, and some say the son of the magician miraculously recovered from the accident. If so, the bloodline of the magician could endure... Did they find happiness? Or otherwise...

(A/N): If you want, idk, to have these stories at hand, here is the link to these stories on Google Docs. Without further ado, I'll say goodbye. I hope everyone has a great day!

#spm #super paper mario #count bleck #my researches #dimentio #tippi #spm villians #new part!#Carson's histories #Garson's histories #Spm Investigations

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theresattrpgforthat · 2 years ago

Note

Do you have any games involving candles/matches/fire as mechanics? Ten Candles is the only one I know. Thanks!

Theme: Candle-lighting.

Hello there friend. I do have some games for you! Many of these games are very good at digging into your emotions and make you feel things, so I hope you enjoy perusing some of the options I’ve got here.

What Little the Flames Leave Us, by Kumada1. (@sprintingowl)

What Little The Flames Leave Us is an 8 page TTRPG played by setting your character sheet on fire.

Burn away pieces of yourself to fight the odds, and at the end a portion of your identity might survive.

This is a story about quests that you will not survive. Your characters are doomed from the beginning, and this is represented by burning away parts of your character sheet as you play. This game doesn’t need a candle exactly, but a candle will do just grand at holding a small flame for you to hold your character sheet up to. This is a game mostly played out through consensus, and destruction happens when one player feels like they should succeed in a case where others disagree. It’s a very thought-provoking and emotional game, and you should check it out.

BurnBright, by kumada1.

Three seasons ago, the Dimming came. It started in midwinter, where its effect was almost unnoticeable. But then spring came, and summer, and the days did not grow longer. Instead, the sunlight became thin and strained. The nights turned grim and inescapable. It is clear something is wrong, and it is clear that no one else has the means to stop it, so you have packed your bags and slung a quiver of torches over your shoulder and you have set out for the one place where the Dimming might be stopped. Candlehold is an ancient fortress, built on cursed grounds. Crops grown near it weaken and die. Animals in the woods that circle it wear forms lean and strange. And every night since midwinter, the top of its tallest tower has burned like an earthbound sun.

This is another game about fate and doom. Characters play heroes exploring a fort in a world that has gone dark. The world is collaboratively built, and the players are granted two stats: Wick and Flame. Flame allows your character a better chance at success; Wick allows your player to last longer.

The primary resolution of BurnBright is blowing out a candle. If you blow out a candle in one breath, you succeed at your goal. If you fail, your Wick becomes shortened. Success is possible in this game, but it definitely comes at great cost. The designer also recommends some ways of altering the difficulty, in case blowing out the Wick is too difficult and the game wears folks out.

The Ghost Game, by amandalee.

The Ghost Game is a one session ttrpg for 4-5 players and a gm, inspired by abandoned places, found footage horror, and the improvised rituals kids make up when they're trying to scare each other. You and the players work together to create a ghost and convince yourselves it's right there in the room with you.

If you want an atmospheric and spooky game, this is definitely worth checking out. You are playing teenagers exploring a haunted house, undertaking a ghostly ritual at night. There is one candle for each player, including the GM, and at some point, those candles will be blown out. A great game for Halloween!

Light to Your Heart, by Jacky Leung.

Light to Your Heart is game about building intimacy through candles, sharing, and the dark. Over the course of the game, players will learn about each other and possibly by the end, no longer need lights to truly see each other. There candles that separate you and your gaming partner, as the candles go out, the room darkens but that's alright, because you get to truly see each other by the end of the game.

This is a two-player game that requires a deck of cards and eight candles. You will make characters who have no reason to be in a room together, but who will inevitably grow closer as time passes. The players line up the candles between the two of them and draw cards that represent questions that their characters will ask each-other. A question will spark a conversation, which must continue until the person who asked the question blows out a candle. This will represent an acknowledgement of what has been shared, an act signifying that you need less light to see the other person’s true self. All in all, a very touching game.

#tabletop games #indie ttrpgs #dnd #game recommendations #asks #candles

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shewolfofvilnius · 1 month ago

Text

The Sorceress of Ramazith's Tower Ch. 37

Mementos No smut in this chapter, but this is ch. 37 of a Lia/Gale story and the continuation of Rolan & Tavaria's epilogue story. Words: 3500ish The one in which I make everyone cry.

Read on AO3 (or keep scrolling)

Lae'zel disappeared for a few hours, the very night after her and Cal are formally married, the night before they're to leave.

Where had she gone? Taking advantage of the time and space dilation the Astral Plane provides, she'd disappeared to Elturel - where she'd had a few words with the current leadership, and had her soldiers hastily pack up a certain half-ruined home in the Docks District.

In the process, Rolan formally returns some books (childhood primer books on magic) that he'd borrowed when Lia had no longer needed them, and in the process, a letter from their mother Telinda is discovered.

Lay down. Try not to cry. Cry a lot.

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a/n: This is the penultimate chapter in the events that lead to Cal leaving Lia and Rolan for a while, and set up the final arcs of the story (Rolan and Tavaria's own departure, Lia's continued mage training (at least one more sheep situation) and the difficulties of being first enchanter especially as a novice, and a final showdown with a certain other goddess, one of Gale's acquaintance. Because Shar wasn't bad enough.

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Here's the whole fic for folks who just want it here:

Lae’zel’s words were straightforward. “Travel across this realm takes time, however from the Astral my people...our people...can cross great distances much more quickly. Had we had the ability to make use of this tactical advantage against the Absolute, we could have ended it’s menace much sooner. Nonetheless, while the remainder of those under my command ready themselves for battle, I crossed great distance to arrive in the city your kind knows as Elturel.”

“Elturel...you went...to Elturel? Why? Can’t imagine you were very warmly received to say the least.”

“On the contrary, I was received quite cordially by the local government – at least, once I drew my blade.”

Tavaria interjected. “Lae’zel, exactly what did you say and do?”

“Because of my conflict with Vlaakith, I know that I will never be able to return to my Creche, at least until Vlaakith has perished. I know how it is to be cast out, and to be left unable to return home. What those of Elturel did to innocent tieflings after your return from Avernus was a despicable matter and one worthy of attention.

It is this plane’s custom to exchange gifts after a ‘wedding’, correct?”

Tavaria’s gaze grew steely. “Lae’zel, what happened in Elturel?”

Reaching into her pack, she produced a scroll. “Between the chaos of the Absolute, and the madness of the Descent, the ones known as ‘Hellriders’ have once more assumed control of the city. The one known as the ‘High Rider’ is currently overseeing their government. She naturally put up a small fight, but she quickly realized she did not wish for total war with the United Gith.”

Gale interjected. “Lae’zel, you threatened Elturel with a war?”

A grin crossed the gith general’s face. “I did not threaten. Regardless, the High Rider proved amenable. This is a decree, an order, that no tiefling shall be banned from or cast out of Elturel due to their heritage. It is effective immediately, and permanently.”

The four stood around speechless. Lia finally emerged first from the haze of confusion. “Wait, so Elturel’s just gonna let tieflings in, just like that? And the Elturians, the same one pelting us with rocks and stones and rotted food and gods know what all else, they’re just going to magically be okay with that? It’s one thing to have a decree, but ultimately if all the people there hate us, that decree’s barely worth the parchment it’s printed on.”

Another voice rang through the halls. “Perhaps, but the weight of an official alliance between Baldur’s Gate and the gith people – and a declaration that any war with the Gith would also be a war with this realm – the case for peace, and for acceptance, was a very firm bargain indeed.”

Wyll – Grand Duke Ravengard – emerged from the shadows, Cerys nearby grinning, as though finally relieved to be letting everyone in on the punchline to a joke.

“Gith general is married to an Elturian tiefling refugee. Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate is dating a rather gorgeous and ferocious one. The new First Enchanter of Baldur’s Gate? Elturel refugee. The former First Enchanter of Baldur’s Gate? Her brother. The Hero and Saviour of the Realms? Lived there as a child. Funny how quick the political types are to shake the hands of those they were ready to smack and praise the names they were ready to curse the second it’s convenient for them. No offence, babe.”

The slight sleight brought a grin even to Lae’zel’s face. “Your lives take you into different directions, into new adventures, into battles unknown. All who fled Elturel will have to decide if they desire a return home – but as for the four of you…”

On Lae’zel’s signal, an entire fighting company of gith soldiers came charging in, carrying crates upon crates.

“The Elturians were fastidious record-keepers, and while your previous dwelling had been damaged and had been scheduled to be razed and reclaimed, I and the gith under my command were allowed to secure the dwelling and remote all remaining even plausibly personal effects.”

The three began running towards the boxes. As the gith began snapping free the tops of the crates, several boxes revealed piles of hastily-packed clothing. Mage’s robes. Ranger’s leathers. Lia suddenly cried out in shock. “Guys…mum’s apron.”

A cooking apron. White, with red and yellow floral print – and bits of faded green. Wholly undamaged, just aged. In a black-threaded script, the name Telinda sewn into the fabric. Below the stitching for the name were three hearts – two side by side in orange thread, with a third sewn in slightly later with yellow thread.

The sight of their mother’s cooking apron was almost too much. The three siblings began crying in a huddle, each seemingly in competition to see who could sob hardest.

The sound of another box nearby revealed several books. Cal’s attention was drawn immediately to a joke book on top. “Who do you call for a tiefling that’s ripped his trousers? A tail-or!” The pun immediately drew massive groans from most – and threats of violence from Lae’zel.

J ust below the joke books, several of Telinda’s prized cookbooks. A few of these held mild fire damage, a clear memento of Avernus, but a few more had stayed remarkably intact. As the three siblings and their loves began looking over a well-preserved desserts guide, each page nested several smaller scraps of handwritten notes. A guide to casseroles was the same way.

Beneath the cookbooks, a few were books on magical theory. More advanced topics were on top, and the ones held undamaged, it was decided, would be split between Rolan’s new library in Reithwin and the one that Gale and Lia would make available there. Same, it was decided, for the intermediate subjects.

A beginner’s tome near the bottom caught both Rolan and Lia’s attention however. Rolan’s eyes grew misty. “Colour Spray – a Picture Book.” “Timothy and the Thunderwave.” “Santella and the Snowstorm”, “Volo’s Guide to Dancing Lights – For Kids!”.

All of those years ago in Elturel. The very first magic books that had ever entered their house. The teaching stories that had first sparked a young Rolan’s interest in magic. “Of all the bloody...I...I thought she’d thrown these out ages ago. I’d dismissed them as mere child’s play and wished to put away childish things...without these books, who knows what my destiny might have…”

The words caught in Rolan’s throat. His eyes grew heavy and stinging. It had never truly stopped weighing on his mind, ever since Lia had been able to photographically recall the week that Paladin Ronaldus as well as his mother had di...disappeared. While he had outgrown them long before he’d ever met Tavaria, in truth, he’d taken them from someone else in the first place.

“Lia...here. I, I know they’re children’s books and all of us are far from those days now, but a decade and a half ago, I took an inheritance that had been meant for another. These books, they had been bought for you. Until you lost your magic thanks to Shar’s machinations, to be the family mage had been your destiny, dearest sister.

I know that this cannot make up for lost time, or the grief because of what was taken from you by Shar, but please allow me tonight – with Lae’zel’s apparent and extraordinarily welcomed assistance – to return back to you that which I once took from you.”

The books themselves contained no enchantment. There was no weave woven through their pages. The two siblings were well past a decade older than the target age for those primers. But as the elder brother handed the four children’s tomes back to his sister, from whom he had claimed them when she’d had no need fifteen years prior, healing sparked.

All of their silly fights. All of Rolan’s jealousy, all of Lia’s anger and resentment. The years of Lia’s literal headaches and the years of Rolan and Cal’s figurative ones (as combatant and peacemaker), all began to fade into the warm, filed away confines of their now resolved history.

“I’m proud of you, my sister. You too, Cal. To know the two of you are my family is the most satisfying feeling on this planet or any other.”

Lia clutched to the books almost as a child would hold onto a doll. Rolan pulled Lia into a hug, and Cal pulled them both in.

As the Gith finished unloading the last of the crates from Elturel, Lae’zel gave them a nod to depart. Wyll and Cerys, who had remained in the shadows watching the unboxing, stood to announce to the room they’d depart as well.

Cal was beside himself. “Wyll, Cerys...Lae’zel, especially you. My amazing, incomprehensible wife. I...tieflings allowed back in Elturel again? All of the things we had to leave behind when we fled? Gods, I don’t think we can ever repay you, couldn’t even begin to try.”

Wyll stuck out a hand to Cal and gratefully shook it. “A handshake, the knowledge that equality has been furthered, and the potential for peace in the realms with Lae’zel’s people, are more than a lifetime’s worth of thanks for me, Cal. As for your siblings, if they can help rebuild Reithwin, and help set a new destiny for Baldur’s Gate – then their actions are beyond sufficient as well. Please, do not be too mad at the missus, she’s given us all a tremendous gift tonight – and with my blessing. I bid you all a most great of nights. Cal, if I do not see you before you depart, good luck on your mission.”

The three siblings – and Tavaria’s – attentions turned towards Lae’zel now. Lia was still in shock. “Lae’zel, there are people who will get to go back to their homes because of this. People who can visit their families graves... our mum’s grave marker, Lae’zel. All the things that survived from our childhood home, that we bloody well thought we’d lost forever. You disappear for five godsdamned seconds...and all three of us, we got back everything we thought we would never get to see again, get to touch again. If ol’ Tav will forgive me for this, you just became my favorite person to ever join this family.

Lae’zel stood resolute. The mission was unfinished. “It is...important...that you mention the one who taught me how to stand defiant. How to challenge the would-be-God who I assumed had dominion over me and taught me, in a loud clear voice, that some things – that, as you say, love is worth fighting for. When the High Rider learned that the Slayer of the Absolute had once performed as a bard in her very same city, she dispatched several Hellriders to the club where you had performed.

The githyanki general retrieved a metal bar and pried open an unusually-shaped wooden crate.

“It was the policy of this recreation venue to retain the advertising paintings posted out front in case an act returned for subsequent performances. Just as I was about to leave, peace concord in hand, I received word of this from their storehouse. It actually arrived last of the things we brought.”

Four tieflings in colourful outfits were posed, instruments in hand, on the front cover. Mikolaus, the baritone sensation and devilish drummer. August, the eldest. A master of the lute, and in the later years of the act responsible for increased performance tickets sold to teenage tiefling girls in every city they visited. Sofija, the mother and the heart and soul of the group.

She’d long known that Bhaal had returned Tavaria to the two after having used Sofija’s essence (or whatever it is that makes a tiefling a tiefling, determines appearance, etc.) as the blueprint for his sinister creation. But Tavaria hadn’t seen Sofija since she was a teen, and this painting was lifelike.

Tavaria was the spitting image of her mother. Her mother. She might’ve been Bhaalspawn. She might have held the essence of the God of Murder. But there was no denying it, Tavaria was just as much Sofija’s as she was Bhaal’s.

Rolan was the first to speak, gasping. “Gods. You look just like her. Hells, I remember this hanging up outside of the Paladium. We’d all wanted to go see you ‘in your element’, but Telinda...mum...was getting sicker, and we needed every copper we could spare. Besides, we knew we’d get to see the real you at school anyway.”

Lia nodded excitedly. “Damned right!”

As Cal joined in and the four hugged, the quartet profusely thanked Lae’zel once more. It’s a soul-wrenching thing to be cut off from your own past, from your history, from the people, places, and spaces that had once defined your life. She’d gotten that back for them – as a present for her own wedding. Tavaria had been right, all those many months ago after they��d liberated the four tieflings from Moonrise: Lae’zel had the biggest heart of all.

Conversation continued, Lia still clutching the books that Rolan had returned to her,. None of the siblings noticed as a scrap of paper fell from Santella and the Snowstorm and landed on the stonework floor. Tavaria’s eyes, though misty from the sight of her family as they once were, were still keen. This amazing gift had renewed her.

“Hey, you three. Piece of paper just fell out of one of the books.” She looked towards the ground as the three siblings followed her eyes. Lia gently placed the treasured books – which would certainly remain with her in Baldur’s Gate, no question – onto the top of a crate, and bent to retrieve the fallen page. The paper appeared to have one or two faded water spots, but the hand-writing was otherwise perfectly preserved. After a few moments scanning it, Lia let out an audible gasp.

“Shit. You guys. It’s a letter from mum. To me.”

Gale placed his hand tenderly on her shoulder as she shakily held the letter. The events of this gift had been so deeply personal to the siblings – and Tavaria – that he had held back. Still, Lia’s shock at seeing this letter had snapped him alert. “If you’d wish some privacy, my beloved, we would be more than welcome to give you space while you read over it, at a time and place of your choosing.”

“No...no...that’s sweet Gale. I think my brothers should hear this too.” Lia’s eyes skimmed the sheet of paper, covered front to back and top to bottom with writing – Telinda had been economical with her use of the single sheet.

=======

To my dearest daughter Lia,

As I write this letter to you, it’s the 15 th of Uktar, 1483. The fifteen year old you used to be when you read this has just gone to bed for the night. I know you have troubles with your memory, my little hellrider – it’s a tenday after my left hand started shaking, and three since the wheezing began. I wanted to start writing this now before the right hand joins in the fun. I know it will only be a matter of weeks or months now until I move on to the next life, to hopefully rejoin your father.

That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. When I’m gone, it’s just going to be the three of you. I know you’re going to be scared, and I know you’re going to be really, really angry for a while – you’ve got your father’s stubbornness and anger in baskets. As you and your brother grow more and more into adults every day, I see so much of my Ronaldus in you, Lia.

Your passion for doing the right thing. For helping those in need, even when you don’t have the copper; even when you have to put up a fight. I still think a couple years back when you and that bard girl that kissed your brother stood up to those bullies. Heard through the grapevine recently, back when I could still get out more, that one of those bullies has been thinking about joining the Ilmater temple across town once he’s of age next year. I hate seeing you come home hurting, but I think you – or her – must have knocked some sense into that one.

Let’s talk about the three of you.

Rolan is intelligent but prideful. Cal is compassionate but naive. You’re determined – but aggressive. Once I’m no longer here, it’ll just be the three of you to balance each other out. Learn to love, Lia. I don’t mean romantic love, just find that compassion in your heart – and learn to think through your problems, don’t just always rush in headlong. I hope Rolan learns to find joy in the little things, and I hope Cal finds a cause that stirs his heart so strongly he’d jump between worlds to save them both.

And no matter what happens, remember that all three of you are my children and that I love you deeply and am proud of you.

The rest I write this letter, though, is because I know you struggle with your memory. Just like every time I try to tell you I get more sick. But I HAVE to tell you. While Cal still recalls his father, you barely can. It makes me weep seeing simple things graze your memory only to pass into the abyss. I’m worried it’s going to get worse when I’m gone – just like how they started right before your father passed. Just like how I keep getting worse.

Do you remember, Lia, that you were starting to be able to cast spells all on your own, right before he died? Just a small child, and roasted an entire garden of vegetables. Turned your teddy into a nightlight, you did. I was so proud of you – but your father was afraid. I don’t know if he said something or did something, but ever since right before… ====

“The writing trails off into hard to read squiggles after that, but there’s more writing just below it in a different colour -”. Lia tried to avoid crying onto the paper, and continued on.

====

It’s three days after I tried to write that. The shaking started in my right hand. Must’ve overdid it. I’m determined to finish this letter, though. Lia, I need you to remember who you are. You’re my daughter. You’re brave. You’re determined. And somewhere, sometime long ago, you were SUPPOSED…

====

Lia struggled against the failing writing. “There are some words I can half make out, I think she tried to write the word ‘mage’, but the letter trails off into shakes and mess again. Gods...just...there’s one more bit at the end.”

====

Not sure if safe to give you this. Might wind up like me. Rolan, Cal, Lia, I LOVE YOU ALWAYS!

====

“I love you too, mum.” The words left Lia as a whisper. "That...was the last of it that's legible aside from some little shaky squiggles that look like heart. One big one, and three little ones...Gods. Mum...I hope you and daddy are together again.”

A weeping Cal moved towards Lae’zel to offer another hug, only to have the githyanki woman stop him.

“Back at the Shar temple, I did what I must in order to keep my family safe. I do not regret it. Still, I know that one of them met their end at the end of my blade. The very least I could do was to make sure that one day, should you wish, you can return home again – and that in the meantime that a piece of your home was brought to you. The fact that a letter of just significance was found among the belongings…”

A small grin began to emerge from Cal’s tear-rained face. “Shh. Just let us hug you.”

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dalliansss · 1 year ago

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Hi! It’s me again 😜

Or I was thinking maybe some Angbang?? “ can't you see they're taking advantage of you?”

PROMPTS FOR THE GRUMPY VS SUNSHINE TROPE

Mairon isn't sure exactly how the matter was brought up-- or perhaps he was. He met with his recent attraction by the outskirts of Almaren; Thu -- a maia of Namo who didn't behave like many maiar do, just unquestioning obedience and endless praises for their Valar overlords. Thu left his workstation whenever he pleased (or how Mairon understands it; they might have a different system in Mandos), went about discussing some details about his Valar, and sometimes even voiced opinions that weren't decidedly friendly or courteous. This spark of defiance (and maybe rebellion) was one of the things that attracted him to Thu in the first place, and as they continued to meet, it drew Mairon in deeper each time.

The conversation somehow diverted into part of the work system he has in place for Aule's forges. Mairon had been telling his friend somehow that while the system ensured full productivity and efficiency, it left the higher ranking maiar with little to no vacant periods.

"Can't you see they're taking advantage of you?" Thu says, cutting him off a bit.

Mairon pauses at the hint of vehemence in Thu's voice. He looks to the maia of Namo (and again, silently admires Thu's dark hair and purple eyes and the hint of strength and power he sees just lurking in those eyes). "What do you mean?"

"I mean it for most 'workers', Aule is a worker, of course -- the smith of Arda, but then, must you work on any damn thing all the damn time? Your folk, his maiar, venture rarely out of your forges and caverns and mines, and so you yourselves little appreciate the entirety of Arda, the Notes put into the Music of its Firmament. I see it as taking advantage of you all. Probably keeping you all in line so nobody gets any strange ideas."

It is instinct in Mairon to defend his Vala, but as he processes Thu's words, it does make sense. And, the entire implication of Thu's insinuations does appeal to him.

"What do you mean strange ideas?" Mairon asks cautiously, remembering Melkor the Great before his fall.

"I don't know, asking for paid leaves, probably," Thu says.

"What is a paid leave?"

"You're allowed to wander around Arda and explore and learn while still...getting your...I don't know, regular share of the ores you eat, I suppose." Thu gestures as he speaks, as if he's waving away a pesky fly.

Mairon lapses into quiet. He turns to the puzzle box in his hand. But it does make sense. He, Mairon, helped sing and shape Arda to existence, but even now he has not really...seen it. Or seen it all. Perhaps Thu is right. Maybe he needs to speak to Aule about this. Some designated time where the maiar under his lead can venture out of their lord's halls and not on an errand for him, but just to....be. As Thu says.

Maybe.

#my drabs #silmarillion #thu is melkor #mairon #almaren

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azmenka · 6 months ago

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a'ight, cos I said the Reddit posts calling for Ironborn genocide were pissing me the f*** off . . . let's have a historical mini rant about why the Mainland simply cannot simply wipe the Ironborn off the map of Westeros, shall we.

context - about once every two weeks a new post on any given asoiaf sub-reddit pops up on my timeline asking why the Westerosi mainland doesn't simply eradicate the Ironborn entirely if they're so annoying. lemme preface this by saying that while I'm aware that we're talking about fictional people here, I personally find it pretty . . . distasteful to call for the genocide of an entire population just because you don't like them but oh well, that's just me. as an open and obvious Ironborn stan I sometimes ( yes, I admit it ) feel personally offended by this kind of bullshittery because I will continue to believe that people who don't like the Ironborn a) don't understand them and b) clearly have no idea of their overall history whatsoever. neither the showrunners nor GRRM himself unfortunately intend to ever put the Ironborn in a non-negative light however ( cowards ) so, y'know - I will.

so . . . why can't the Westerosi Mainland simply subject the Ironborn to genocide. let's see.

one. they have no reason to. shocking, I know, but there literally is not a single reason in the current timeline as to why they would even consider genociding the Ironborn. ever since the conquest, when the Greyjoys first came into power on the Iron Islands, the Ironborn have actually been behaving themselves. they have stopped raiding the mainlands and instead moved on to raid Essos instead and while, sure, Ironborn lords were never exactly faithful to the crown, they also didn't really do anything to warrant suspicion or violence against them. the only Greyjoys who did try to start shit on the mainland since the conquest were Dalton Greyjoy ( largely, mind you, by order of Rhaenyra Targaryen ) and later Dagon Greyjoy. Balon is the most recent and also the most persistent Ironborn lord in hundreds of years of peaceful co-existence, that really tried to piss the mainland off again. naturally with the crumbling of the Targaryen dynasty and then Robert's death, the Ironborn are using the overall upheaval in Westeros for their own advantage but . . . so does Stannis. so does Robb. so do the Lannisters. so do the Tyrells. they are not unique in trying to get the best possible outcome for themselves. there is no point in trying to off an entire population that literally hasn't done anything harmful to you in centuries. but let's say you're a bag of dicks and you just want to . . .

two. location. wanna know what is surprisingly difficult to conquer? especially when your naval force is limited and most of the soldiers you have are used to fighting on foot or horseback with solid ground under their feet? islands. and we're talking about multiple islands here. the Iron Islands consist of thirty-one (31!) main islands. all of them with their own lordship and each lord has control over his own little fleet of ships. for the more prominent lords, we're talking about a hundred ships per island. some larger islands, such as Pyke, Great Wyk, Harlaw or Saltcliffe are home to thousands of Ironborn. first thing you'll thus need to have if you wanna genocide a whole ass archipelago is a strong naval force. the Mainland has the Redwyne Fleet and the Royal Fleet as the two sole fleets that can match the Iron Fleet. that's good. but is it good enough? you'll need a ton of siege weapons. you'll need a lot of soldiers that are qualified to fight on water. you'll also need a ton of patience because sieges can take months ( hey, Stannis, remember eating rats? ).

so you go and start on one island. maybe two. in the time you're busy attacking those two islands, the remaining 29 will gather their hosts and either fortify the remaining main islands, gathering the folks from the smaller islands, or they'll simply disappear. it's funny how you can just leave when you have ships. and on the Iron Islands everyone has ships. they are also all armed to the teeth and have fortified their castles to withstand almost anything. ( take one look at fucking Harrenhal and you'll know what I'm talking about. and because, surprisingly, a lot of people don't know this: yes, Harrenhal was built by the Ironborn. Harren Hoare was the reigning Ironborn king during the conquest who has managed to take over the Riverlands. ) if Pyke can hold up against sea storms and the goddamn ocean itself, it can hold up against a couple of Westerosi soldiers. let's consider . . . it took the combined forces of the Stormlands, the Westerlands, the Reach, the Riverlands and the North to bring down only five (!) islands in the Greyjoy Rebellion. out of 31. and in all that, they only managed to damage one wall of Castle Pyke ( sorry Maron, I know it was your wall and you probably did your best ).

three. battle prowess. the Ironborn are one of, if not the most notoriously battle hardened people in all of Westeros. they have been a kingdom of fighters for most likely up to three thousand years, way before the Andals came to to Westeros and even longer before the conquest. their prowess in battle is legendary all the way to Essos. sure, they lack the discipline of the Mainland forces but they make up for it through fearlessness and sheer ferocity. these guys aren't scared of anything. we're talking about men going full #yolo and fighting in full-body armor on water. if they fall in and drown . . . they fall in and drown. shit happens. they don't care. historically, they have been rumored to basically go berserk on the battlefield, with their opponents saying they are "blood-drunk" and stop feeling pain. if there is one people in Westeros that was born to be warriors ( and I mean warriors, not soldiers. the reachmen are soldiers. the westermen are soldiers. none of them are warriors. ), it is the Ironborn. they live for battle. it's how they come to glory in the eye of their god. and they continuously hone their skills, too. how? through all the raids they do. when the rest of Westeros is at peace, they are at peace. they joust and have tourneys, but that is it. the Ironborn constantly seek battle through raiding. all the time. while your average Westerosi knight hits straw dummies for training, an Ironborn reaver kills six people in real time and has a beer afterwards. their idea of a fun drinking game is to throw axes at each other. need I say more? speaking of battle prowess . . . the main Iron Fleet consists of one hundred ships readied for war. those are ships that are commanded by the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet ( hey, Victarion, who never made it into the show cos he apparently was too fucking badass for D&D to comprehend ) and belong to the Seastone Chair, but these 100 ships do not include the individual fleets of each Lord and the respective islands they govern. as GRRM himself said, each Ironborn Lord can float about 100 ships. and we know there are 31 main islands, some of which having more than one lord. so you do the math on how many ships actually can be used by the Ironborn in case of an invasion of their islands. and not just that, the Ironborn are also famously known for capturing enemy ships in battle and simply using them themselves afterwards. they thus got a hold of a variety of ships, a lot of which are bigger, faster, and more aligned with warships than the usual longships they use for raiding. ( Maron's own ship, Kingfisher, is a prime example for that, considering that she wasn't built on the Islands but claimed by Maron in a battle against some pirates just on the coastline of Great Moraq in Essos. Kingfisher thus was and still looks like a pirate ship, giving her a large belly for cargo, but also making her bigger and faster than your average longship. )

four. reputation. aks anyone in Westeros and they'll tell you the Ironborn are delulu. and they're right. sure, their reputation has changed over the centuries, but one thing is still very clear all over the Mainland: the Ironborn are insane and you don't mess with them. the Ironborn, along with the Northmen, have been there before everyone else. they are old. insanely old. they know the lands and the seas by heart, they have a reputation as "the wolves of the sea" and "the terrors of the sea" and they have worked hard to get that reputation. they also have an air of mystery around them that probably puts most of the Mainland at unease. they believe in a strange deity and they are fanatic in their religion. they perform blood sacrifice and ritual drownings. every attempt to push Mainland habits and customs on the Ironborn has largely failed. knightdom is barely a thing, most Ironborn don't employ Maesters or similar Mainland house staff and most don't follow Westerosi customs with titles etc either. Balon, for example, wasn't adressed as "Lord Greyjoy" but "the Greyjoy", just as Aeron refers to the ruling Lord of House Merlyn as "the Merlyn" ( write that down for interactions with Maron, btw. he won't correct you if you call him "Lord Greyjoy", but he won't title himself that what ). the people on the Mainland simply don't understand them and thus have started to "other" them because, naturally, that's what you do when you don't understand something and it scares you. they are known to be exceptionally stubborn and if you try and tell and Ironborn what to do, at best he'll show you the finger. I have said it before and I will die on this hill: the only reason why they were subdued by the Mainland was the threat of dragons. that is it. these people would have never bent the knee if Aegon didn't threaten to kill them all via dragonfire. and if you don't think that invading a foreign kingdom that has never done anything to you with a force that simply cannot be matched and telling those folks to kneel or die is a real dick move overall then you have issues, my friend. another hill I will forever happily die on is that ( hear me out ) the reason why Theon was taken and given to the Starks as a hostage to be killed if Balon acted up again was not to threaten Balon's line of succession but because the Westerosi lords that decided on this were scared shitless of what Balon was capable of if he tried again. all that being said, keep in mind that Balon is a fucking idiot and entirely incompetent and they still feared him. all the mockery we see of the Ironborn at court, to me, forever screams masking fear. belittle something enough and you may believe it really isn't significant, but deep down they all know they are wrong.

so now . . . we have Euron. and while we can all agree that Euron is an awful pile of garbage human being and deserves a most horrible death, I, personally, do believe Euron is exactly what Westeros deserves for all those centuries of oppressing and belittling and subdueing a people they had no business of messing with in the first place. we applaud the slaves rising against their slavers in Meereen, we applaud the fight for Northern independence and most people I know fully support Dornish independence, too. the Ironborn deserve it just as much, if not more because no other former kingdom was as disrespected since the conquest as the Ironborn. and up until now, the Ironborn quietly sat it all out and let it happen. abiding their time and waiting. so sure, let the Mainland try and genocide them. go ahead. just remember that it would be the dumbest dick move in history.

#study . [ headcanon ]#-sighs into the void-#now I feel better.#wall of text btw.#props to anyone who actually reads this.

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