#untold chronicles

[savingcontent]

Bang-On Balls: Chronicles gets an October release date when it leaves Early Access

Continue reading Untitled

[egginfroggin]

So I was tired and looking at TloZ videos and my FFCC-riddled brain came to the horrible, spontaneous conclusion that due to the combination of

physical prowess

skill with weapons

emphasis on power

and

status as a redhead,

Ganondorf would conceivably be a Lilty in such a hypothetical (cursed) crossover/au.

This also means that, unless we're pulling from Crystal Bearers, he has gone from being one of the tallest members of the cast to being approximately 4-foot-handful-of-inches -- not including the sprouts -- with a chronic babyface.

(As an aside, though, I do realize that, counting tribal lore and context, he would probably be a Yuke or a Selkie.)

(The Gerudo were pushed out of their desert and either all slaughtered or forced to move countries/continents entirely. The Yukes fought a war with the Lilties that resulted in them losing their Crystal and quite literally being forced into another dimension entirely lest they face genocide by the time of Crystal Bearers, while the Selkies are a tribe of thieves scorned by everyone else and possibly chased off to a distant desert island.)

(Counting Crystal Bearers, the Gerudo are most similar to the Yukes; prior to Crystal Bearers and whatever war caused the Yukes' flight into their literally otherworldly city, the Gerudo match up best with the Selkies.)

(But now I'm toeing the line of taking this AU seriously, and that's a dangerous line to be toeing.)

[sonsofks]

Mundos Abiertos y Aventuras sin Límites en el Nuevo Tráiler de Bang-On Balls: Chronicles.

Exit Plan Games y Untold Tales nos presentan un emocionante adelanto de Bang-On Balls: Chronicles. ¡Prepárate para adentrarte en un mundo expansivo y lleno de diversión con el trailer de “The World of Bang-On Balls: Chronicles”! Esta aventura, creada por Exit Plan Games y Untold Tales, promete llevarte a lugares nunca antes vistos en un juego independiente. Descubre la magnitud de cada nivel en…

[fairytopea]

halloween event by @fairytopea ꩜

As the moon rises and shadows dance, I invite you to

step into the unknown. With tales of the restless and

secrets untold, a chilling adventure awaits. With potion

and poison, the night shall unfold, through the haunted

halls and the whispering trees, prepare your heart for a

night of unease. Join, dear friend in this eerie embrace.

Step cautiously into the candle-lit corner, where Lady

Nocturne, a mysterious woman with secrets darker than

the night, will peer into your future.

Will she uncover hidden fears, offer glimpses of your

destiny, or stir the spirits that surround you? Only the

cards will tell . . .

☆ Perhaps you've heard the whispers of fate being spun by the cards. Allow me to shed a flickering light upon it. In this foreboding event, destiny draws you towards a ghostly tarot reading.

☆ Capture the eerie moment by seizing a screenshot of the gif below, revealing which card shall dictate your fate. The card you uncover must be taken to the spirit ( @fairytopea ) to unravel & learn its sinister meaning.

☆ Upon this revelation, you are to craft a moodboard draped in darkness, reflecting the omen you’ve received. Whether or not you choose to include the cursed card’s picture in your creation... is entirely up to you.

• message me the ss to receive the info of your card

• must include #Creepy Chronicles : Halloween Event

• due date : 30th october & remember to tag me

• comment joining + reblog tagging three or more people

• prizes :

1st 2 mbs + 1 div set + 100 reblogs + shoutout

2nd 1 mb + 1 div set + 75 reblogs + shoutout

3rd 1 mb + 50 reblogs + shoutout

[autisticrosewilson]

so I’m not a fan of Talia (this is important to my ask) but i see a lot of Talia fans. and i really want to ask, without anyone getting angry, why people are fans of her with her history?

the main things i know about her are how she drugged Bruce to make Damian in Batman and Son, and her relationship with Nyssa in Death and The Maidens.

is there more to it? i don’t want to explore on my own if its just that it’s never explained, is there an arc to reference or anything?

That arc is actually retconned because Grant Morrison admitted that it was racist characterization.

Talia had 30 years of characterization before Damian needed a sad backstory. She WASN'T raised as an assassin, she was studying to be a doctor when her and Bruce met. Because she was invented in the 70's she was modeled more after your typical bond girl, and leaned more towards spy than assassin. She hated killing and felt immense guilt the few times she had to.

Her and Bruce loved each other deeply, but Talia also loved her father. Ra's tends to get sanded down to "insane, cruel, and needlessly violent", but the whole point of the league is preserving the environment and endangered species. Talia agrees with his goal, but not his methods and this conflict is what allows Bruce to come between them.

For a lot of her history her main conflict is between the man she loves and the man who raised her, which changes in Damian's ORIGINAL origin, Son of the Demon. Bruce enthusiastically consents and is excited to have a baby with Talia, but Talia realizes that Bruce will never give up Batman and that whether she raises the child herself or gives him to Bruce he'll never get to have a normal life. So she tells Bruce she lost the baby and gives up Damian for adoption in secret.

The next big change in her character happens in JLA: Tower of Babel, explicitly said to be the FIRST time she's ever helped her father with one of his big schemes and she hates it. This marks her breaking point as she ditches Ra's entirely. This leads into President Luthor Secret Files where she takes over Lex Corp and GUTS it. Naturally Clark is suspicious of her, but she continues to help Bruce.

Then, Death and The Maidens happens. Talia is tortured and brainwashed. Batman, supposedly the world's greatest detective, explicitly said to LOVE Talia, sees this extreme shift in loyalties and behaviour, and leaves. Either not noticing or not caring. There is no resolution to this plotline.

Damian's nonconsensual origin follows this up on the basis that Talia's character after she's been brainwashed is just, who she is and who she's always been. Unfortunately it became her most popular story, and even though it's no longer canon it's done UNTOLD damage to her character.

Talia is so deeply compassionate and she cares so much for everyone and everything. She's endearing and she's insanely competent and her moments with Bruce are some of the most genuinely heart wrenching I've ever read. Batman Chronicles #8 continues to be one of my favorite comics EVER. I highly recommend you read her 70's-90's comics.

[terrorcamp]

Have questions for our keynote speakers?

Now’s your chance to submit them!

As a reminder, here are our keynote speakers:

Jessica Houston, artist and Beyond Her Horizons expedition co-leader, who sailed the Northwest Passage with an all-female team to explore, document, and honor the untold stories of Inuit and non-Indigenous women in the history of Arctic exploration.

Jared Harris and Liam Garrigan, who played Francis Crozier and Thomas Jopson in The Terror.

Julian Sancton, writer and editor whose book Madhouse at the End of the Earth chronicles the mayhem of the 1898 Belgica expedition.

❄️ Submit your questions here!

[jesslovesboats]

BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT, I'm back with more Sad Boat Books for Sad Boat People! But first, some words.

I never dreamed that a silly little graphic I made for some friends would generate this much response on twitter and here, but I'm overjoyed that it resonated with so many of you! I read every single comment and tag, and by far my favorites are all of the people who say some variation of "I thought I was the only one who loved these books." We are NOT alone, there are literally thousands of people who reblogged or retweeted this list-- people of all ages and backgrounds and gender identities. Sad Boat isn't just for old white men! I was also delighted to hear from other librarians who are using this in displays and for reader's advisory. PLEASE go forth and do so with my blessing, nothing would make me happier! I was recently laid off from my librarian job as part of a restructuring under new management (don't worry about me, it sucks right now but I'm gonna be fine), so I would love to think that I'm still contributing to the library ecosystem while I'm out of commission. I would also love to keep making these lists (including one that deals with Sad Boat fiction and one with recommendations for other types of media), and I've never had more time to do it, so if you have suggestions, please drop them in my inbox!

Anyway, enough of that-- here are more books! I've either read all of these, or the recommendation came from someone I trust, so read with confidence!

First Hand Accounts

The Quiet Land: The Antarctic Diaries of Frank Debenham edited by June Debenham Back

The Voyage of the Discovery by Robert Falcon Scott

Farthest North by Fridtjof Nansen

Endurance by F.A. Worsley

Boats boats boats!

Franklin's Lost Ship: The Historic Discovery of HMS Erebus by Alanna Mitchell and John Geiger

The Voyages of the Discovery: The Illustrated History of Scott's Ship by Ann Savours

HMS Terror: The Design, Fitting, and Voyages of a Polar Discovery Ship by Matthew Betts

The SS Terra Nova (1884-1943): Whaler, Sealer, and Polar Exploration Ship by Michael C. Tarver

You'll learn about the Ross Sea Party and you'll like it

Shackleton's Heroes by Wilson McOrist

Shackleton’s Forgotten Men: The Untold Tragedy of the Endurance Epic by Lennard Bickel

The Ross Sea Shore Party 1914-1917 by R.W. Richards

The Lost Men by Kelly Tyler-Lewis*

Polar Castaways by Richard McElrea and David Harrowfield*

*These were on my other list, but this is my graphic and I'll do what I want

Sad Airships and Planes

From Pole to Pole: Roald Amundsen's Journey in Flight by Garth James Cameron

N-4 Down: The Hunt for the Arctic Airship Italia by Mark Piesing

Antarctica's Lost Aviator by Jeff Maynard

Disaster at the Pole: The Tragedy of the Airship Italia and the 1928 Nobile Expedition to the North Pole by Wilbur Cross

More Shackleton Content

Shackleton: A Life in Poetry by Jim Mayer

Shackleton's Last Voyage by Frank Wild

The Quest Chronicle: The Story of the Shackleton-Rowett Expedition by Jan Chojecki

Shackleton's Forgotten Expedition: The Voyage of the Nimrod by Beau Riffenburgh

Polar Partners

Snow Widows by Katherine MacInnes

Polar Wives: The Remarkable Women Behind the World's Most Daring Explorers by Kari Herbert

Widows of the Ice by Anne Fletcher

Sad Boat Graphic Novels

Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey by Nick Bertozzi

The Worst Journey in the World- The Graphic Novel Volume 1: Making Our Easting Down adapted by Sarah Airriess from the book by Apsley Cherry-Garrard*

How To Survive in the North by Luke Healy

*This was also on my other list, but this is my graphic and I'll do what I want

Biographies

Scott of the Antarctic by David Crane

Ice Captain: The Life of J.R. Stenhouse by Stephen Haddelsey

Cherry: A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard by Sara Wheeler

Birdie Bowers: Captain Scott's Marvel by Anne Strathie

Roald Amundsen by Tor Bomann-Larsen

Miscellaneous sad boat books that are well worth your time

I May Be Some Time: Ice and the English Imagination by Francis Spufford

Fatal North: Adventure and Survival Aboard USS Polaris, The First US Expedition to the North Pole by Bruce Henderson

Barrow's Boys: A Stirring Story of Daring, Fortitude, and Outright Lunacy by Fergus Fleming

Pilgrims on the Ice by T.H. Baughman

The Coldest Crucible: Arctic Exploration and American Culture by Michael F. Robinson

Ghosts of Cape Sabine by Leonard F. Guttridge

Icebound: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Andrea Pitzer

If you read and enjoy any of these, please let me know!

EDITED TO ADD: OG Sad Boat Books post here!

[egypt-museum]

"The history of Egyptology is often told as yet one more grand narrative of powerful men striving to seize the day and the precious artifacts for their competing homelands. But that is only half of the story. During the so-called Golden Age of Exploration, there were women working and exploring before Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tut. Before men even conceived of claiming the story for themselves, women were working in Egypt to lay the groundwork for all future exploration.

In Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age, Kathleen Sheppard brings the untold stories of these women back into this narrative. Sheppard begins with some of the earliest European women who ventured to Egypt as travelers: Amelia Edwards, Jenny Lane, and Marianne Brocklehurst. Their travelogues, diaries and maps chronicled a new world for the curious. In the vast desert, Maggie Benson, the first woman granted permission to excavate in Egypt, met Nettie Gourlay, the woman who became her lifelong companion. They battled issues of oppression and exclusion and, ultimately, are credited with excavating the Temple of Mut.

As each woman scored a success in the desert, she set up the women who came later for their own struggles and successes. Emma Andrews’ success as a patron and archaeologist helped to pave the way for Margaret Murray to teach. Margaret’s work in the university led to the artists Amice Calverley’s and Myrtle Broome’s ability to work on site at Abydos, creating brilliant reproductions of tomb art, and to Kate Bradbury’s and Caroline Ransom’s leadership in critical Egyptological institutions. Women in the Valley of the Kings upends the grand male narrative of Egyptian exploration and shows how a group of courageous women charted unknown territory and changed the field of Egyptology forever."

— Women in the Valley of the Kings: The Untold Story of Women Egyptologists in the Gilded Age, by Kathleen Sheppard

[omegalomania]

take this to your grave, 2003 // "...i'll take it to mine: the untold story of designing take this to your grave," the bad habits collection, 2021 // where did the party go, the youngblood chronicles, 2013 // fall out boy vh1 commentary on the youngblood chronicles, 2014 // "how fall out boy beat the odds and rose again," rolling stone, 2013 // "the giant white unicorn in the room," pete wentz, 2014 // alternative press #303, 2013

[medievalandfantasymelee]

Congratulations to today's champions!!

Be it known that these Competitors have triumphed on the Seventh and Last Day of Contest of Round One!

Faramir, Son of Denethor [David Wenham], The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)

Defeats Uther Pendragon [Gabriel Byrne], Excalibur (1981) with 92.7% of the Vote

Thorin Oakenshield [Richard Armitage], The Hobbit Trilogy (2012-2014)

Defeats King Edward IV Plantagenet [Max Irons], The White Queen (2013) with 82.9% of the Vote

Ètienne de Navarre [Rutger Hauer], Ladyhawke (1985)

Defeats Sultan Mehmed II [Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu], Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020-2022) with 69% of the Vote

Vlad III Dracula [Luke Evans], Dracula Untold (2014)

Defeats Nicodemus Ravens, The Shamer’s Daughter {Skammerens Datter} (2015) with 69.4% of the Vote

Turgut Alp [Cengiz Coşkun], Resurrection: Ertuğrul {Diriliş: Ertuğrul} (2014-2019)

Defeats King Edmund the Just [Mark Wells], The Chronicles of Narnia (2005-2010) with 76.2% of the Vote

Rodrigo Borgia [Jeremy Irons], The Borgias (2011-2013)

Defeats Lord Tywin Lannister [Charles Dance], Game of Thrones (2011-2019) with 50.4% of the Vote

Prince Charmont [Hugh Dancy], Ella Enchanted (2004)

Defeats “One-Eye” [Mads Mikkelsen], Valhalla Rising (2009) with 61% of the Vote

Adhemar, Count of Anjou [Rufus Sewell], A Knight's Tale (2001)

Defeats Robin Hood [Errol Flynn], The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) with 65.3% of the Vote

King Arthur Pendragon [Bradley James], BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012)

Defeats Prince Henry [Dougray Scott], Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998) with 60.8% of the Vote

Boromir, Son of Denethor [Sean Bean], The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)

Defeats Alessandro Farnese [Diarmuid Noyes], Borgia (2011-2014) with 90% of the Vote

Sir Lancelot [Santiago Cabrera], BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012)

Defeats Chu Hun [Peter Ho], Double World (2020) with 60.8% of the Vote

Westley [Cary Elwes], The Princess Bride (1987)

Defeats Sir Lancelot [Luc Simon], Lancelot du Lac (1974) with 78% of the Vote

[simplegenius042]

Music Monday & OCs as "Patron Saints of..." Quiz

Tagged by the lovely @inafieldofdaisies @voidika and @cloudofbutterflies92

Tagging @imogenkol @josephseedismyfather @direwombat @noodlecupcakes @socially-awkward-skeleton @adelaidedrubman @hollywood-is-bleeding @derelictheretic @cassietrn @aceghosts @icecutioner @shallow-gravy @strangefable @statichvm @carlosoliveiraa @g0dspeeed @wrathfulrook @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @alypink @shellibisshe @josephslittledeputy @skoll-sun-eater @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @florbelles @minilev @justasmolbard @softtidesworld @yokobai and @seedsplease + anyone else who want to join.

Music Monday for The UnTitledverse, Wings And Horns WIP and A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore, and OC quiz results for OCs from The Silver Chronicles and Life, Despair & Monsters. You can find the Quiz here and enjoy listening/reading below the cut:

Remember how I said Lena would be uncovering skeletons from Fazbear Entertainment's closet in my Five Nights at Freddy's WIP More Than Bargained For?. Well, the corpses of children stuffed in animatronics after being murdered by a serial-killing co-founder isn't the only think she discovers; Lena, with the guidance of one "Mike Schmidt", she also uncovers a history of tragedies surrounding one family feud in a house full of nightmares and a forgotten rental service too. Unbeknownst to the young Elliot woman, she is inadvertently aiding Mike under the company's untold policy of "Paragraph 4", with the intent of bringing all Fazbear-related animatronics back to one ultimate pizzeria. What could possibly go wrong?:

"There is a legend A legend born long ago About a wicked A wicked man no one knows Went and unraveled Six innocent little souls

Those souls found bodies The bodies started to move Some say they still walk Walk the halls, staying from view

I got a secret that I am here to tell you That place is this very place And all the stories are true

This world's a scary place We're not monsters, just changed Bigger hands for grabbing ahold We were lost to foul play But we got an upgrade Lots more teeth for eating you whole

Here comes another chapter Your heart is beating faster Because you're the one we're after Five Nights at Freddy's 4 Thank you for bringing us home

We were just like you Like you, just playing a game That's when the wicked Wicked man lead us astray Without a warning Our lives have been rearranged

As for our story The story's not over yet There's still one secret One secret left to be said

Tonight when you are Safely tucked into your bed Close all the doors that you want We're already in your head

This world's a scary place We're not monsters, just changed Bigger hands for grabbing ahold We were lost to foul play But we got an upgrade Lots more teeth for eating you whole

Here comes another chapter Your heart is beating faster Because you're the one we're after Five Nights at Freddy's 4 Thank you for bringing us home

Thank you for bringing us home

Here comes another chapter Your heart is beating faster Because you're the one we're after Five Nights at Freddy's 4 Thank you for bringing us home

Thank you for bringing us home

Thank you for bringing us home

Thank you for bringing us home!"

Now on one hand, I don't initially believe this song actually fits my Wings And Horns WIP. However, on the other hand, in relation to Jezebel Ba'al's story (and maybe a bit of Cadet Azriel's too, being the implied soul of a particular bearded cult leader's dead daughter and all, plus committing to her service as an Angel of Death just so she can finally reach reincarnation), I think this can fit within the context of a story that's centered around the pros and cons of living in a world where a divine system like the Soulmate System exists, especially when you have two young characters like Azriel and Jezebel, the former hearing nothing but good things about having a Soulmate while the latter (and other's like her) have been directly harmed by the system's flawed structure, and how both are influenced by their well-meaning if extreme father/authority figures:

"Down the rabbit hole, we saw you come in Through the glass of our cages chained up where we live Where we live Please don't be afraid We're a little bent Broken souls looking for a way to start again Start again

How can we ever be free When our prison is skin deep Left to rot* underneath Buried us down below so no one sees Daddy's little monsters

Listen to the voice keeping you alive You need us, we need you, it'll be alright Yeah, it's alright We don't wanna stay under lock and key You can help break the curse, we all wanna live** Wanna live**

How can we ever be free When our prison is skin deep Left to rot* underneath Buried us down below so no one sees Daddy's little monsters!"

[*Given rust is more for metal, rot fits well enough for both physical flesh and the "soul flesh" that Cadet Azriel and Jezebel have both experienced. **I used "live" instead of "leave" because even... well... the latter doesn't really make much sense in this context, while the former can be interpreted as Jezebel saying "we all want to live our lives without being it being predestined for us" especially with out trapping being fated to a soulmate can be (especially for the likes of Jezebel whose experienced a bad fating, and Azriel wants to be reincarnated so she can live again, but not be stuck in a similar fate to Jezebel if she gets the chance of rebirth, so at this point, here is where Azriel's opinion on the Soulmate System begins to shift].

In the unnamed Fallout 2 WIP from my A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore series, Ore returns to California (where last time he was there, his father Arcane Urias had mutilated his face after Ore declined joining him on his quest of human destruction) after exploring the Wastelands a bit more and to say goodbye to a good friend. However, instead he not only meets his friend's granddaughter Finidy Mona, but also finds evidence that his father has returned in the area. He decides to partner up with Finidy to help him track down and kill his father to stop him and his nefarious deeds by retracing his steps from Shady Sands to New Reno. This also relates to how, chronologically timeline-wise, this WIP is the last prequel of sorts and closing the chapter on Ore's story in California plus Urias and Talos' origins before the focus goes onto Ress.

"You set the stage all by yourself You have a job, do it well And play your part to host their final farewell

An event Just like the first time Put to rest Their souls tonight

It's going back, back, back, back They've been through this before It's going back, back, back, back The final page of the lore The sound of cheer, the need for fear The souls of the kids are free Rewind the tears

It's going back, back, back, back Back, back, back, back, back Back, back, back, back, back Back, back, back, back, back It's going-!"

Now for the quiz results for OCs from my The Silver Chronicles and Life, Despair & Monsters series. Most of these will likely be unfamiliar to you guys:

HUNTRESS CAROLINE JÄGER (THE SILVER CHRONICLES [BLOODBORNE])

Pretty accurate given the ending she gets. Unafraid to face what others refused to see, and too stubborn to look away from it. If it's something she could fix, then the Horrors be damned. Is it a shame, though, if it meant she could no longer wake up from such a terrible, horrible dream, if just to get a glimpse of the rising sun?

HUNTER TOBIAS JÄGER (THE SILVER CHRONICLES [BLOODBORNE])

How different these two are; the sister transcends to something new and unfamiliar, but here, the brother holds onto what made sense and what was once precious to him, even if holding on stops him from moving forward. And all he has to show for it is a fragment of what he lost.

DARKBEAST CONSTANCE (THE SILVER CHRONICLES [BLOODBORNE])

No matter how much he boasts about being true to Yahar'gul's ideals, he is still a lesser man than he is a true beast.

LOGAN THE VAGABOND OF NO RENOWN (THE SILVER CHRONICLES [ELDEN RING])

Fucking poetic considering what he does and who comes crawling out of it. While Logan is an unpleasant and selfish person, he himself becomes a vessel for all the good things he'll pass on to his successor; someone that will succeed against the destined odds where he and everyone else failed.

RICO (LIFE, DESPAIR & MONSTERS [CYBERPUNK 2077])

Staying in Night City (whether it be for the guy you were always at the beck and call of, not just out of loyalty and idealism, but genuine love, even if he didn't necessarily share the same love you felt and eventually became a stranger to you, or for the mentored young woman you see so much life coursing through her veins within a city as horrid as NC, and also see so much of yourself and the other in, yet is cruelly destined for far less than she deserves and spends that little time with others that aren't you, knowing this goodbye is the last goodbye you'll ever make as she leaves behind everything for those final months of something better... or maybe you stay because it's all you've ever known and believe you'll be useful in) does not have much benefits.

LORA (LIFE, DESPAIR & MONSTERS [ARCANE: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS])

Ever wonder if, in spite of how much you try, you're just destined to be alone? Lora chases after something things that won't ever leave her fulfilled or satisfied. In the end it's this that dooms her to solitude.

[love-my-fictional-men123]

Bucky Barnes x y/n

Y/N's passion for history, especially the era of the 1940s, often left her longing for a time she'd never experienced. She had a particular soft spot for the tales of heroism and heartache from World War II. She never thought that her obsession with the past would lead her to a chance meeting with a man who'd lived through it all.

One crisp evening in Brooklyn, her love for bygone stories guided her to an old, quaint bookstore that seemed to call out to her. The moment she stepped inside, she was enveloped by the musty aroma of ancient pages and leather-bound chronicles. As she navigated through the labyrinth of shelves, she was drawn to a corner filled with war memoirs and letters sent from the front lines.

While she was poring over the delicate pages of a soldier's correspondence, a voice, both warm and slightly worn, broke the silence. "Those are some of the best insights into what it was like back then," the voice remarked.

She turned and found herself face-to-face with a man who seemed as if he had stepped out of one of the history books she adored. His dark hair was neatly combed back, his blue eyes carried the weight of many untold stories, and his left arm gleamed with a metallic sheen under the store's dim lighting.

"You're... You're Bucky Barnes," Y/N gasped, her heart racing as she recognized the famed war hero and former Winter Soldier.

Bucky offered a small, self-deprecating smile. "In the flesh, well, most of it anyway," he quipped, a hint of humor twinkling in his eyes as he gestured to his prosthetic arm.

Y/N let out a soft laugh, her initial shock giving way to intrigue. "I'm Y/N, a big fan of... history. Your history," she admitted, still unable to believe who she was speaking with.

"Not many people come looking for that part of my past," Bucky said, his voice carrying a note of surprise.

They settled into a cozy corner of the bookstore, each taking a seat in an armchair that had seen better days. The conversation began with a shared enthusiasm for history, but it quickly unfurled into deeper territory. Bucky spoke of his experiences with a candor that he rarely afforded others, while Y/N listened, captivated by his firsthand account.

"It's strange, but talking to you feels like I'm reconnecting with parts of myself that I thought were long gone," Bucky confessed, his gaze lingering on Y/N's attentive face.

"And you," Bucky inquired, "what drives your passion for times long past?"

Y/N shared her dreams of writing and her desire to keep the stories of the past alive for future generations. Bucky hung on every word, as if her aspirations were the most important tales he'd ever heard.

Hours slipped away as they lost themselves in conversation. It wasn't until the bookstore owner announced it was closing time that they realized how much time had passed.

Bucky, ever the gentleman, asked tentatively, "Would you maybe want to continue this over dinner?"

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. "I'd like that very much, Bucky."

They found themselves at a vintage diner, reminiscent of the era Bucky hailed from, and took a seat in a quiet booth. The conversation picked up right where it left off, this time interlaced with laughter and an ease that felt like the comfort of an old friend.

"You make the past come alive, Y/N. I feel like you were there alongside me," Bucky said, his eyes sparkling with mirth.

Flattered, Y/N replied, "You're not too shabby at storytelling yourself, Mr. Barnes."

As the evening wound down, they lingered outside the diner, neither willing to end the night. Bucky was the first to break the comfortable silence.

"There's an old dance hall from the '40s in the area. It's been fixed up a bit, but it still has that old charm. Would you... would you want to see it with me?" Bucky asked, his voice laced with a hint of hope and vulnerability.

Y/N's response was immediate, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I'd love to, Bucky. It's like stepping into history with the perfect guide."

Their gazes met and held, a silent acknowledgment of a bond that had been formed over shared stories and a mutual understanding. With the promise of more time spent together, they parted ways for the evening, but the warmth of their connection and the promise of a dance stayed with them, hinting at the start of a beautiful journey through time and memory.

Sorry I haven’t been posting lately I been busy with work and school and stuff

Hope you like it I’ll post something tomorrow probably💕🌸💘🎧🌸💕

[sonsofks]

Llega el caos divertido! Bang-On Balls: Chronicles estará disponible el 5 de octubre.

Nota de Prensa – ¡La Diversión Llega a lo Grande con el Lanzamiento de Bang-On Balls: Chronicles! ¡Prepárate para la aventura más emocionante! Ciudad, Fecha – Exit Plan Games y Untold Tales se complacen en anunciar el lanzamiento de Bang-On Balls: Chronicles en PC, PlayStation, Xbox y Switch el 5 de octubre de 2023. Esta noticia emocionante promete traer risas y diversión a los jugadores de…

[many-shades-of-violence]

Chronicles of the Heartbond Voyager I Chapter 1

summary:

In a world where adventure beckoned from beyond the horizon, where every breeze carried the whispers of distant lands, your story unfolded on a seemingly insignificant island nestled in the shadow of Paradise – a paradise you would never have thought to call it, at least not back then. As an aspiring writer, your heart yearned for the grand tales of the world, the untold stories that awaited discovery beyond the shores of your humble hometown. Yet, in an age dominated by pirates and peril, the prospect of embarking on such a journey alone was nothing short of a death wish. So, you clung to the safety of your quiet existence, hesitant to gamble your life so carelessly.

But fortune had other plans in store for you, my friend, and your destiny would soon be known as that of no other than that of a Heartbond Voyager. Little did you know that on that fateful day, when the winds of change set sail upon your life, you would become part of a legendary crew, embarking on a journey that would defy the very essence of danger and adventure.

characters: Reader & Heart Pirates

a/n: I've already shared the first seven chapters of this story on AO3 here. You're welcome to continue reading the rest of the chapters there.

If the response and engagement here on Tumblr are positive, I might consider sharing the remaining chapters here too. Your feedback and enthusiasm mean a lot to me!

In a world where adventure beckoned from beyond the horizon, where every breeze carried the whispers of distant lands, your story unfolded on a seemingly insignificant island nestled in the shadow of Paradise. You would never have thought to call it that back then, at least not back then, but as your journey would show, maybe it was that all along.

As an aspiring writer, your heart yearned for the grand tales of the world, the many untold stories that awaited discovery beyond the shores of your humble hometown called Rust. Yet, in an age dominated by pirates and peril, the prospect of embarking on such a journey alone was nothing short of a death wish for a novice in navigating and steering a ship, like yourself. So, you clung to the safety of your quiet existence, your heart squelched into the tiny room that you had closed yourself off to.

However, fortune had other plans in store for you, my friend, and your destiny would soon be known as that of none other than a Heartbond Voyager. Little did you know that on that fateful day, when the winds of change set sail upon your life, a yellow submarine arrived in the safe haven of the small town that caged your adventurous heart. You would become part of a legendary crew, embarking on a journey that would defy not only the very essence of danger and adventure but also that of your very own heart.

Normally, you should have known better than to react to the provocation of three ruffians from one of the many wretched pirate crews that dropped anchor on Rust regularly for supply stocking. Despite your awareness that every child on the island received lessons from the moment they could run around, you had ignored years of lectures. Most would have thought your outburst reckless, if not plain stupid, when they saw the reason for it: three men snatching a small black notebook you were writing in with a long fountain pen. However, for you, there was every reason to be fueled by rage, as the notebook not only continued with your full dedication-crafted stories but also held the essence that kept you driven to cling onto your life, played out on the stage that was this silly little haven.

Suppressing your initial response to snatch at the hand of the large man who had taken your notebook in his greasy hands, you calmly requested its return. But when they ignored you, mocking your writing aloud after a solid second of staring at your font, your restraint was shattered by their laughter, which sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

With your heart pounding in your ears, you sprang from the wooden chair you were seated on, the nearly empty coffee cup on the table nearly tumbling over in the process. You attempted to reclaim your beloved notebook with a precise jump at the large man holding it, only to be swiftly sidelined by one of their cronies with a strong push to your shoulder mid-jump. You stumbled a few steps away, gripping the table next to you to stabilize yourself.

"Hey now, no need for such a fuss, sweetie. Don't you know anger causes wrinkles? Put that pretty face to good use instead," the tall man who seemed to be their leader taunted, his patronizing tone infuriating as his lips curled into a smile. He invaded your personal space in a swift movement, tilting your chin upward as if inspecting a prize.

As his greasy hands wrapped around your chin, your patience expired, your teeth clenching in disgust as your palm instinctively swatted his hand away from you with a sharp slap. Your eyes ablaze with rage, you growled at him, "I'd rather have wrinkles than be as witless as your lot." His reaction was immediate, a scowl on his face.

At the exact moment he wanted to retort, a familiar face emerged from the café's kitchen—Tenshû, the kind coffee shop owner with whom you often shared your creative musings and who had offered you a place to sleep in exchange for helping him during busy hours at the café. He seemed to have been drawn by the commotion in the dining area, his concerned green eyes scanning the unsettling tableau as he arrived on the scene. He opened his mouth to ask with worry in his voice, "Y/n, what is going on here?" His outcry earned a stern glare from one of the other intruders, who grabbed the next best chair and toppled it over as a warning sign. The elderly café owner came to a halt at the bar counter, his hand gripping the wooden counter in a mixture of anger and panic, unsure of what to do as he tried to catch your eyes.

Worried for his well-being, the man, already in his late 60s and therefore more fragile with each passing day, your head snapped around, your voice smothered with as much reassurance as you could muster, "Don't worry, Tenshû. I've got this under control." However, before you could take further action, the idea forming in your head to lure the guys out of the café, the group's leader sprung forward, seizing you by your collar, his grip way stronger than you had anticipated. With a sneer, he posed a challenge, his brow furrowed in anger, "I don't really think so, bitch."

You widened your eyes in horror as the man raised you in the air, and in an instant, propelled you through the nearby café window with brutal force. The cacophony of shattering glass and your own pained gasp merged into a disorienting symphony, dizziness making your head spin as you hit the cobblestone ground in front of the café. Pain coursed through your body as you slowly lifted your bruised form from the ground. The sting of glass embedded in your palms was a cruel reminder of the chaos that you had just unleashed, and your instincts screamed at you to get up and run for your life. However, there was something you needed to get back, no matter the cost.

Your notebook.

Amidst the disoriented hubbub of you trying to get back on your feet, the café door swung open toward the street, and the trio of ruffians swaggered out, their laughter echoing behind them. The leader's jeering gaze met yours as you struggled to stand on the cold, stony ground, your eyes fierce with determination to not give him a hint of recognition, acknowledging that you were clearly outmatched. Behind the shattered window, Tenshû's frantic gestures painted a picture of his anxiety, and his voice pleaded with them to cease as he rushed behind them.

Your heart constricted painfully as one of the thugs retreated into the café, his actions cruel and abrupt as he pushed Tenshû forcefully, knocking him unconscious with a brutal hit to the gut. You cried out his name, frustration gnawing at you. Had you submitted to their demands, the poor man might have been spared this useless suffering. You gripped the ground beneath you, ignoring the searing sharp pain of cold glass digging into your hands, to lift yourself to your feet.

"Still spunky, I see," the tall leader jeered, his tone dripping with mockery as he gestured to his cohort and threw your cherished notebook right before you on the ground. Your eyes widened, quick to scoot forward to retrieve it, but before you knew it, the group's leader had given you a harsh kick to the gut, the tip of his leather heel connecting unpleasantly with your abdomen. You coughed up spit, falling back onto your knees.

With a heavy sigh, you directed your gaze downward, the urge to retaliate stifled by the realization that their attack had already taken its toll. The sharp glass splinters embedded in your palms hurt like hell, your head was dizzy from being thrown around, and your gut still throbbed from the assault mere seconds ago. "You ought to learn to pick your battles more wisely, sweetie," the leader's harsh laughter resonated, his intention clear as he aimed to stomp on the precious paper strewn on the ground. Your body resisted heavily against his attack, but you couldn't stop your instinct to thrust your hands between the notebook and his relentless boot, your teeth clenched against the pain that shot through your fingers as the hard heel of his boot connected with your knuckles. You cried out in pain, but despite the agony, you persisted, your grip unwavering on the small booklet.

"Why do you care so much about that useless thing, anyway? It's pathetic," he barked, his leather-clad feet mercilessly targeting your hands again and again. Each brutal kick felt like a hammer striking your hands. You could feel the heat of the bruises forming beneath the onslaught as your skin was getting bruised more and more. The pain was searing, but you held on tightly, determined not to let go of what meant so much to you.

After all, if you let go of that last piece that kept your sanity in this cage you had locked yourself into, what else would there be?

You knew that all of this was nearly insane, especially since help from the other townspeople was nearly out of the question, now that Tenshû was unconscious. While some surely would have loved to reach out a hand, wishing to be a hero for someone in need, you knew all too well that only a few selected had the true strength to act on their desire. Honestly, you weren't too sure if you would have helped yourself in the first place. After all, to most of them, you were just the silly coffee girl at Tenshû's with those funky ideas to travel the world and write about it. Give her a few years, and the nonsense would leave her mind.

You clenched your teeth, your heart sinking. Your survival instinct made you dearly wish that someone, just anyone, would reach out, but at the same time, you knew this was out of the question. Humans, in their innermost, were foolish beings. Your decision to stay for your cherished notebook was proof enough.

Tears welled in your eyes from the anguish, but you remained resolute, shielding your notes with every ounce of strength. With each repeated kick, more and more tears collected at the edge of your eyes, the pain of your hands being stomped like this making you reach your pain limit torturously fast. Amid the onslaught, the townsfolk's apprehension was palpable, and silent pleas started amidst the crowd for the ordeal to finally end.

"You know what? Maybe if you beg and apologize to me, I'll consider stopping!" your assaulter taunted, his kicks stopping for a second. From the way he spoke, you realized he was clearly getting out of breath, using the line to make some time to not look utterly pathetic in front of his mates. However, you were keen to prove him wrong, shaking your head vigorously, your grip on the notebook unyielding as you looked back at him with fierce eyes, tears close to spilling over. “Try me.” You braced yourself for the inevitable escalation, his fist or foot connecting with your face. But as the anger vessel on his forehead nearly looked as if it would burst, his movement ceased abruptly, as a blue light enveloped your field of sight.

“Room.”

For a quick second, you couldn't comprehend what you were witnessing in front of your eyes, the sight being absolutely new to you. Then the nerves in your brain finally connected to the information your eyes were trying to send them. If the blood in your ears wasn't drumming like crazy from the adrenaline in your body, you would have heard the horrified cries of the townspeople and their hastened shuffle of footsteps to flee the stage. However, all you were focused on was the sight of your assaulter slashed into pieces, his body parts seemingly disconnected from one another as they fell gruesomely to the ground.

You looked at the dissected head of your assaulter in awe, trying to comprehend what was going on. He apparently was doing the same, his eyes ripped open widely, looking around in desperation.

You tried to get your body moving, the urges to investigate what was going on and to flee the scene too confusing to prompt you to act on either one of them. Amid your horrified contemplation, the goons of your assaulter sprang into action. One shushed away the remnants of his paralyzed leader, while another fled into the distance. Though you were aware of individuals with Devil Fruits, witnessing such a surreal manifestation was beyond your previous comprehension.

Your decision was finally taken from you, as a firm hand wrapped around your shoulder, making your head turn towards whoever was touching you from behind.

You slowly blinked, turning your head to three strangely hatted young men, one of them right next to your right shoulder, a long blade in his right hand, his left wrapped around your shoulder as his piercing eyes connected with yours. His short black hair was hidden away under a white hat with black spots, golden piercings adorning his ears.

The same voice that had intervened earlier resounded from the man. “Are you okay?" Still startled, you gazed up at him, only nodding in sheer disillusionment. He regarded your form, registering the extent of your response and injuries with a stoic expression. His head snapped for a brief second as he instructed the two mates behind him.

"Penguin, Shachi, tend to the guy in the café." Sheathing his sword back into its scabbard, he kneeled down beside you, gesturing toward your hands and raising an inquisitive brow. "May I? I'm a doctor." You nodded curtly, realizing with a quick look back at your hands the state they were in, the searing pain finally returning to your bloody hands. You winced as his hands carefully encircled yours, inspecting the damage with an experienced look.

Your gaze flickered to the cobblestone in front of you in the meantime, confirming that your notebook was still where you had last seen it – brutally but because of your best efforts still halfway alive on the ground. A small sigh left your lips at the realization, the snap of the young man’s fingers in front of you jolted you back to reality.

"Hey. Are you with me?" You looked up, locking eyes with the stranger, his golden gaze piercing through you. He sighed at your response, his gaze softening. "Listen, those injuries need immediate treatment. There are no fractures or broken bones, but the glass fragments must be removed, and the wounds disinfected to prevent infection and further swelling. I have supplies on my ship at the harbor, so I can treat you there." You nodded in understanding as he continued. “Can you stand?”

Affirming your ability to stand, you slowly lifted yourself up, suddenly recognizing the challenge of retrieving your notebook in your current state. Bloodied and battered hands wouldn't make the task easy and probably only taint it further. You wouldn't want your efforts from before to give the delicate booklet lasting damage. Your gaze darted back to the notebook, the young doctor following your gaze. Swiftly comprehending your unspoken concern, he responded with a nod, "I'll get it." Retrieving your notebook, he expertly cleared off the mud, his eyes briefly scanning its title site before slipping it safely under his arm.

"So, you're a writer, huh?" he remarked, a hint of a sympathetic smile tugging at his lips. Your own smile was tinged with pain as you recollected the recent encounter. "Well, not according to the ruffians who tossed me through that window, but yeah."

The man’s eyes peaked with interest, his look back on the notebook for a quick second before he tended back to you. With his guidance, you moved forward, your damaged hands a painful reminder of the events that had unfolded, blood dripping slowly from the tattered wound.

"Obviously, they were a bunch of morons. You've got to have a good reason to endure a beating like this just to protect a notebook," Law commented, his dry humor drawing a light smile from you.

"Yeah, guess so. Or maybe I've really gone crazy. Can't really say much for the quality of what I'm exactly doing," you shrugged your shoulder, wincing at the pain in your hands.

"So, what's the name of my savior?"

"The name's Law," he introduced himself, his name carrying a certain weight that you couldn't quite pinpoint. “Law…” you murmured, trying out the name on your tongue. “That's a nice name. Short but nice.” The young doctor arched a cocky eyebrow at you. “You sure you’re okay? Not delirious from blood loss?” You shook your head. “Shouldn't you know better?” you chuckled before replying to his introduction. “Ah, I'm y/n, by the way.” Law nodded appreciatively before you continued to walk along the last few meters of the cobblestone street towards Rust's small harbor.

Arriving at the harbor, you were taken aback by the sight of not a ship but a yellow submarine, its quirky hue juxtaposed against the expanse of the rich blue sea. The word "DEATH" was emblazoned on its side, adjacent to a bold jolly-roger crest. You couldn't help but gawk at the sight, a mixture of intrigue flooding your senses. "I hope that's not your motto for treatment?" you quizzed, surprised by the revelation that your savior was none other but a pirate himself.

Law responded matter-of-factly. "I try my best not to. It's more of a memento to keep up with my work than anything else.” You nodded absentmindedly, his statement raising your intrigue further. It wasn't every day that you heard of somebody using a counter thesis as a prospect of motivation.

"Just hang on a moment. I'll grab some supplies and be right back," Law informed you before disappearing quickly into the vibrant submarine, leaving you alone on the long wooden jetty. As you waited, slowly sitting yourself on a wooden box close by, the calls of seagulls and the cool breeze provided a moment of respite, allowing your tense shoulders to finally relax for the first time since the whole ordeal began back in the café.

You were still a bit too shaken up to revisit what had just happened. Your brain was still trying to process the grotesque picture of your assaulter slashed into pieces. Your thoughts turned to what you would do once treated – either trying to clean your notebook or evaluate the time-cost factor of the arduous task of transcribing. The latter seemed the more viable option, though it would undoubtedly be labor-intensive. Lost in these musings, you suddenly realized that this Law guy still had your notebook with him.

An internal reminder pushed you to ensure he returned it to you once your treatment was done.

In your predicament, there probably wouldn't be any crueler joke than for the notebook you had let your hands be beaten to pulp to travel the world with some pirate crew, while you were still stuck in your little terrorizing haven that was this island.

Your contemplation was broken when the two hatted figures from earlier emerged on the landing stage of the submarine, making their way back to it, their voices making you snap out of your train of thought. You looked up to the two men, the one with the casket-hat, shrouded in dark sunglasses, seemed taken aback by your presence.

"Didn't expect to see you here again," he remarked, a hint of interest lacing his tone.

The other pal next to him, a man with a penguin hat and a bit taller, regarded you with curiosity.

"Did the Captain bring you here for treatment?" he inquired. You nodded, realizing that the man you had encountered was not only a doctor and a pirate but the captain of the goddamn vessel. With the memento of DEATH latched onto the submarine, it should've been clear to you directly, but you attributed it to your current state that you couldn't put one and one together so quickly.

Talk about a jack of all trades, you thought before continuing your conversation.

“Yeah, I'm just waiting for him. I think he wanted to get some supplies from inside that thing,” you said, motioning to the submarine with your head.

The casket-hatted man gave your hands a quick look before a sympathetic grin crept on his lips, exposing a set of pointed teeth.

"The Polar Tang? He's an impressive one, isn't he?" he commented, admiration evident in his words.

You looked a bit perplexed at the red-head. “Who? The ship?”

The man nodded again, as if he hadn't said anything unusual. “Sure thing. Boy is made for our adventures on the Grand Line.”

"The Grand Line?” you mumbled fascinated. “Sounds like you're on quite the adventure. Must be quite an experience.” With a touch of reverence in your voice, your gaze swept over the endless expanse of the blue sea, imagining the many potential adventures and stories to be jotted down waiting out there.

The man in the penguin hat responded with enthusiastic energy, "Want to hear some of our recent stories while you wait for the Captain?"

Your head snapped back to him, eyes sparkling for a brief second, however, Law’s return interrupted the conversation, his presence commanding attention as the joy bubbling in your stomach was put to a halt. “That won't be necessary.”

In his hands, he held a few bandages and disinfectant, a signal that your hands would finally receive the care they needed.

He queried towards both men as he slowly made it to your side. "Did you get the café owner treated?"

"Yeah, he's alright. A solid punch to the gut, but some rest will do him good," The man with the casket-hat said. Law responded with an approving nod before turning his attention to you. "Alright, let's get those hands treated. You guys go up ahead. I'll join soon."

His crewmates bid their farewells, offering waves and a grin to you before heading back onto the yellow submarine. Law took a seat on a wooden crate beside you, his focus shifting entirely to your injured hands. “You mind if I use my devil fruit during the procedure? Might be less painful then.” Your eyebrows widened. “Devil Fruit?” Law nodded, summoning a small blue dome in his hands, which you recognized as the sphere you saw earlier seconds before your assaulter got dissected. “I ate the OP-OP Fruit. Basically, I can manipulate everything that happens in this blue dome, including feelings of pain.” You gulped, your throat suddenly dry. “So, it was you who slashed this guy before?” He gave you a sinister grin. “Sure, but that's only a practice I use on my enemies. Not my patients.” For a brief second, you mustered the blue dome with skepticism, then you sighed in defeat, the pulsating pain in your hands finally making you give in. “Alright, I'm counting on you, doc.” The young man chuckled, the blue dome surrounding your hands in a second. “Sure do.”

You were amazed to realize that the moment the blue dome surrounded your bloody hands, the pain stopped. Your eyes widened in amazement, your lips parting slightly as Law started with the treatment of your hands only moments later. With quick movements, he pulled on a pair of gloves over his tan hands, a pair of tweezers suddenly in his slim fingers to pull out the small shards of glass from your palms. You followed his every movement, stunned by his professional demeanor. “Not that I mind, but you don't have to watch if it's unpleasant for you, y'know.” Law murmured, concentrated on freeing a particularly treacherous piece of glass from your right palm. “I don't really mind. Besides, witnessing this firsthand only adds to my writing.” For a quick second, Law looked up at you, stilling in his movement before putting the tweezers away, the final shard of glass apparently gone from your wounded flesh.

Next, the young man drenched a cotton pad with disinfectant, carefully rubbing the drenched wool over your hands, clearing the tissue not only of the blood but disinfecting it in the process. Usually, the sting of disinfectant would have elicited a wince from you, however, due to the blue sphere around your hands, you felt only the pressure of Law's hands carefully dabbing the wet cotton pad over your hands. “A fruit like this, sure comes in handy as a doctor.” You stated still amazed at the procedure you were witnessing. The stoic features of Law elicited a small smile at the corner of his lips. “Sure does.”

Finally, the young man discarded the now bloodied cotton ball to his side, grabbing a pair of bandages in exchange. “Alright, just gotta wrap them, and we're done.” You nodded, your gaze drifting slowly back to the wide sea right next to you, the sound of the ocean waves calming your nerves with each passing moment the water hit the close-by shores. “Can't say much for how well your body heals right now, but you should be back to finishing the story you're working on in a week or so…” Your head snapped back to Law as he issued the words, apparently hyper-focused on wrapping the cotton fabric around your hands, because he suddenly stopped dead in track, meeting your irritated gaze. There was no way he could know about what you were working on except if he did what you think he did.

"Sorry, I couldn't help but take a peek at your notebook. I should've asked first," Law admitted, a touch of what you interpreted as embarrassment in his voice at being caught red-handed.

Your initial surprise shifted to understanding. "It's alright, really. They're mostly just silly stories anyway."

His hummed in response, his yellow eyes assessing your bandaged hands before he voiced his thoughts. "I don't have the full picture, but I enjoyed what I read. You have a captivating way with words."

His compliment stirred a mixture of emotions within you, your heart fluttering with a blend of disbelief and appreciation for his kind words.

"Thanks, I guess,” you responded, a hint of bashfulness in your voice as you regarded your bandaged hands. Your focus shifted to the yellow submarine in the distance, a new topic to explore. "What brings you guys to a quiet island like Rust? We're not exactly known for being relevant in the pirate world," you inquired, curiosity piqued.

Law grinned lightly, his demeanor relaxed. "Just passing through. Some of the crew gets a bit restless when we're under the sea for too long. Also, it's always a handy way to stock up on rations." He gestured toward the depths of the ocean, which you now realized were part of their unconventional mode of travel. You couldn't help but notice that each member of their crew had individual letters tattooed on their fingers, although you couldn't quite decipher the full message, except for the word "DEATH."

Hearing about their unique method of exploration made your curiosity soar. It was indeed a first to hear about a pirate crew traveling with a submarine. However, on the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, it certainly seemed like a practical choice.

"And what about you? Any plans to travel for your craft?" Law posed the question, and your gaze returned to the young doctor as he completed the final steps of bandaging your hands.

"I wish. But it's a far-off dream," you sighed, your gaze shifting to the horizon. "I've always wanted to venture beyond this town and write about the wide world out there. But I've never had the courage to do it alone. I mean, you saw how well I fared on my own back there," you chuckled lightly, your self-deprecation tinged with a hint of melancholy.

"What if you tried it with a crew?" Law's question caught you off guard, his suggestion sparking intrigue. You chuckled softly, appreciating the irony of his proposal. "Me? Lead a crew? That's a comical thought."

Law hummed again in response, slowly backing up a bit. “Alright, we're finished. I'll remove my Room now, so the pain in your hands will return.” You nodded, preparing for the initial wave of sensations in your hands as you rested them on your knees. With a snap of his fingers, the blue dome was slowly lifted from your hands, disappearing into thin air. You hissed as you once more felt the uncomfortable sting in them, though it already felt much better than when the glass splinters were still embedded.

You examined your bandaged hands, recognizing the skilled work the young doctor had done on them. You weren't an expert, but they looked pretty well bandaged to you. Just as you wanted to look up at Law to thank him for his hard work, you were surprised to see him holding your notebook out in front of him, focusing you with his piercing eyes.

"How about joining my crew?"

With wide eyes, you stared at Law, your heart beating loudly in your ears. You looked down at your notebook, lips parted in sheer disbelief at his offer. “B-But I've got no seamanship skills, let alone fighting-.” Law cut you off firmly. "All skills that you can learn. However, I've been on the lookout for a capable log keeper, and I believe I've finally found the perfect fit." Law's gaze remained unwavering, his eyes steady and determined.

The setting sun cast a gentle radiance over him, while the wind tousled your hair and the distant cry of a seagull echoed in the background. In that moment, the world seemed to fall into place, the sky's hues suddenly bursting with vibrancy you hadn't noticed in a long while.

"I can't promise you an easy or safe life, but if it's adventures you're searching for, we're your best bet," Law offered. You stared at your notebook, glossing over its cover on which the words “Tales of…” were written in ink, your crucial reminder to someday go out into the world and find an answer to the missing part.

You knew that joining a pirate crew could cost you not only the comfort of your current life but life in general. However, deep down inside, together with the pulsating beating in your ears, you just knew that you didn't have to think long about this. You knew your answer, and dancing around the fact that somebody had finally opened the door of the cage you had locked yourself into wouldn't change anything.

Just as Law was poised to offer you a moment for contemplation, you lifted your gaze from the notebook to meet his, determination shimmering in your eyes as the sun's rays glistened.

"Count me in, Captain.”

Law's smirk spread like a contagion, his expression carrying the aura of someone who had not only expected your response but also reveled in your direct commitment to him.

"Then, allow me to welcome you to the Heart Pirates. I´m counting on you.”

You smiled at his words, a wide grin apparent on your features, as you carefully took the notebook between your fingertips, pressing it close to your chest. Just as Law wanted to reply something to you, two unexpected voices coming from the deck of

"I told you she'd join, Penguin!" "Wah, can't believe such a cutie will join the crew!" The men with the penguin and casquet-hats from earlier were leaning against the railing of the submarine's deck with big grins on their faces, hugging each other excitedly.

"Excuse those two, they're always like this," Law let out a sigh, his hand rising to his forehead in exasperation before continuing, "We'll depart tomorrow morning, so you still have a bit of time for goodbyes."

A chuckle escaped your lips at the antics of the two young men on the deck, and you waved a greeting to them with your bandaged hands, to which they happily replied. Then, you nodded to your newfound captain. "Then I'll join you in the morning."

Law nodded before slowly rising and turning towards the Polar Tang with a content look on his face. "Alright. Be sure not to use your hands too much, alright?" You nodded, waving him goodbye and making your way across the jetty. Suddenly realizing you hadn't thanked Law for your treatment, you turned around, shouting, "Captain!" The young man turned from the deck, surprised as you lifted one of your bandaged hands towards the sky, a smile on your lips despite the initial pain from the movement. "Thank you for the treatment!"

In that instant, as the sun descended in the sky, your captain pulled his hat closer to his face while raising his hands in reply. The world around you seemed to glisten with untapped potential, and you sensed the currents of destiny shifting. Your heart set ablaze, its excited drumming followed you on the way back home, accompanied by the low sound of the tides clashing against the shore.

[dream-this-nightmare-over]

THE CHRONICLE OF OZ ADAPTATIONS FOR ANYONE LOST THESE DAYS

1900. The Wizard of OZ Novel by L. Frank Baum

1939. The Wizard of Oz Movie

1995. Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West Novel by Gregory Maguire

2003. Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz Musical

2024. Wicked Movie

[transhuman-priestess]

I saw your post on that nuclear war book; do u have any recommendations for actually good ones? (I’m interested in both fiction and non-fiction)

I have several!

None of them are quite in the same vein, they are concerned with actual history rather than speculation and chomping at the bit to portray North Korea as The Joker.

Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety by Eric Schlosser walks the reader through the history of both US nuclear weapons development, and nuclear warfighting 'strategy' (such that it is), as well as numerous accidents and incidents of weapons mishandling, misfiring, and going missing.

Raven Rock: The Story of the US Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself - While the Rest of Us Die by Garret M. Graff is probably the closest thing to a "real" version of Jacobsen's book, it talks about US "continuity of government" plans, the bunkers, communication systems, and operational plans to "fight" a nuclear war after the infrastructure of the US has been obliterated. Spoiler alert: It doesn't work that well and is largely a bunch of cope by powerful men.

The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes is the definitive history of the Manhattan Project, and more. It begins near the turn of the century and walks us through the discovery of radiation, fission, and finally the construction and use of the atomic bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is unflinching in the extreme about the realities of nuclear war. The final chapter is almost entirely first-hand accounts of the bombing of Hiroshima in particular. I've heard people say that Jacobsen is "incredibly detailed" in her descriptions of the effects of nuclear weapons. She is not, but Rhodes is.

The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and its Dangerous Legacy by David E. Hoffman is the best English-language account I am aware of that chronicles the Soviet side of the Cold War arms race. Its focus is primarily on the USSR's biological and chemical weapons programs, but it also talks about their nuclear infrastructure, and documents the post-Soviet efforts to corral and control nuclear weapons and materials scattered in the former Soviet Republics.