#wrath’s ghost lore

[wrathofrats]

Wrath I humbly ask you go into insane detail about your characterization for Alpha

OH YOUVE FUCKED UP

Welcome to wrath’s in depth guide to alpha ghoul and his story as I currently believe it to be and usually write it. Subject to change during random fics for my convenience or if I decide differently in the future but this is currently how the story goes

Including omega, delta and pebble details because I find it important to the story.

Idk how long this is going to be, probably very. I apologize in advance.

Alpha was summoned alongside omega. Two ghouls bonded from the start. Alpha to be a guard and omega to book keep and run the infirmary when they weren’t busy with the band. Primo found them to be sweet, good company while he summoned water earth and air to complete the band. Omega and alpha didn’t talk much to them at first, at least alpha didn’t. Omega was friendly, welcomed them with open arms. But alpha was stoic, and only kept to omega most of the time. He was meant to be menacing, not to mess around.

He was in love with omega. Time spent in practice close to his side, and outside of guarding primo he would sit in the library while omega made records of new and old important information about ghouls that the ministry could use. Helping him find the books he needed or sneaking kisses behind the shelves, they were borderline disgusting in their behavior, but primo and the other ghouls found it endearing, so no one mentioned it.

When secondo was sworn in he promised heavy changes to the ministry. The band hadn’t taken off like he wanted it to. Primo was soft, didn’t have the backbone needed for the job. Secondo though had the heavy hand to make them great.

Alpha was to stay by his side at all times. Almost no break from being his ghoul. By his side at the pulpit, outside his door, he was summoned for the purpose of protecting his papa. Omega stayed doing the jobs he was assigned, only seeing alpha when with secondo or late in the middle of the night.

They were forbidden from seeing each other outside of band purposes. It was a distraction, the ghouls shouldn’t be in relationships with each other, they’re religious servants and not much more. Lake and River got away with their relationship because truly secondo didn’t pay much attention to earth, air, and the constant rotation of water ghouls. But alpha and omega? They were distracting to everyone.

They would sneak off in the middle of the night to spend the twilight in each others arms before the sun would inevitably rise and they’d have to sadly walk feet away from each other in order to be at mass on time. Sometimes alpha would fake a cough or a sprained ankle just to feel omegas touch again.

Secondo eventually stepped down and was replaced with Terzo, along with two new summons. Delta, and pebble. Terzo did away with the harsh rules, and alpha and omega could be together once again.

Delta and pebble ended up being more … interesting new summons. Delta didn’t like to be touched or talked to much, mostly sticking around pebble. While pebble was loud and rebellious, much to omega and terzos dismay as he wreaked havoc around the ministry with delta in tow.

Omega wanted to retire, it was all becoming too much, and now that he had alpha back he wanted to spend all the time he could with him.

Delta was wrong, like any other water ghoul was. Something off about his demeanor that made omega sick to his stomach to witness. He would go feral, it was only a matter of time.

Delta begged, pleaded with omega to change his element, even though omega constantly denied him because it was too dangerous. Delta didn’t care, he didn’t want to succumb to the fate of the others. He stole books and whatever he could find from the library, and locked himself away to do it himself

The transition worked, but only barely. His eyes went dark, his personality changing, the quintessence eating away at him, killing him from the inside. Omega tried every spell he could to help, but all of the fixes never lasted more than a day.

Pebble blamed him, omega could’ve stopped delta. He could’ve just given him what he wanted instead of watching him do it himself because he knew he would fuck it up, pebble was convinced omega could’ve saved him if he tried. Hell, delta was omegas replacement. If omega just decided to keep performing they wouldn’t be in this mess.

Omega went to Terzo for help, begging for whatever forgiveness he could. Day after day not sleeping in his bed with alpha, going back to Terzo to be comforted. It wasn’t a problem at first, alpha understood why omega was upset. But the bed no longer smelled like him, his clothes were halved because he kept taking them to where Terzo stayed. It hurt, that was his mate, and now he’s found someone else?

Alpha would use pebble to fill in the gap, at least sexually. Pebble was easy, and a shithead, someone he could take his frustrations out on and he would continue to ask for more. It didn’t fill the hole in his heart, he never felt better afterwards either. But it was physical touch, he could feel needed for the hour and that’s what he really was after.

Pebble told him to leave omega, he didn’t deserve to be treated like that. Omega killed delta, and was now abandoning alpha? It wasn’t fair. How could he make all the mistakes just for the consequences to come down on everyone else. He told him to go to earth, hell even air. Anyone else, leave omega in the dust.

But alpha didn’t. He sat, and waited for his mate to return to him.

Ivy was summoned along with a plethora of new ghouls, including one to replace alpha as he had decided to retire.

Pebble found solace and love in Ivy, now spending all his time with him instead of alpha. And omega never came home. He was left alone to talk to mist sometimes and watch pebble and ivy fawn over each other while his room became his once again instead of sharing it.

Terzo is killed. Taken and beheaded in front of his band. News spread to the ministry before the clock struck midnight.

Omega was distraught. Destroyed what he could get his hands on in the chapel while alpha stood and watched, let him take out his emotions in whatever way he could. Omega returned to alphas room, night’s that weren’t spent at Terzo grave instead spent in alphas arms while he let him. He never mentioned the past. He never held it against him that he left. He was back. And that’s what mattered.

And omega would eventually heal, he would spend more and more time telling alpha he loves him instead of saying how much he missed Terzo, and with every I love you alpha forgot more and more of how they had gotten to this point. It didn’t matter anymore, he had omega back.

That’s how they stayed. The ministry’s resident old married couple. Often flirting with their arms wrapped around each other in the common rooms or making inappropriate comments just to hear the newer ghouls whine in disgust. They were cute, in love, and only those who had been there really knew what happened.

Alphas an old grandpa who shows he cares for his fellow ghouls with food and remembering their favorite colors and animals, and carrying them to bed when they fall asleep in weird places, but can’t voice his own feelings with words.

I hope this helped! Sorry for the … very very long ramble

[glitchgh0sty]

Did somebody say tf pirate ghost Titian?? Did I hear somebody say tf pirate ghost Titian???

Ft: Zephyr and some beans from @innome0 and @fallisl1fe <33 [we all cobbled the big bean together 👏👏]

✨Time for lore <33 [Trumpet noises]✨

[lore- [short story] under cut]

A battle- noise- lights and colors and pain-

She shot through the universe as swift as a comet descending from madness. Crashing in the middle of a desolate sea on a planet unknown. A shutdown was eminent, frame plastered to the ocean floor with the grotesque nature only a bot of this size could maintain. Internals exposed to the wrath of the sea- she could have easily fallen asleep forever, resting in this eternal spot and becoming one with the land. But she was not the land.

And she had someone to get back to-

A lover waits for her across the galaxy- heart vast and arms wide, he needs her help. She could not die here. And she would not die here.

But she could not move- and with energon spilling into lapping waves at a speed only comparable to that of a tragedy set in motion, her eyes drifted closed,, “only for a while” she thought, “wait for me”

A while came- and a while went, and her metal grew rusted and cold,, and as vegetation of the island she formed grew insistent- people began to move in,,

Only a few at first- sea farers and traders looking for rest,, but over time, their numbers grew and grew, -she could feel them building upon her surface,, rickety docks and taverns alike- these people were filled with the joy and life of the ocean.

A joy she could not feel and a life she could not go home to- she looked over her inhabitants with a solemn pride to protect what she could not have,, as her gears rusted and engines decomposed, growing weary to the resilience of the sea it was almost as though her wounds had healed in a way that attached her to the ocean floor- stuck somewhere she could not leave.

That was until a putrid day- when one organic stumbled upon the might her blood held, and with what little she had left- began to mine into it.

Towers loomed and pumps whirred and Energon spilled anew- this might’ve been the end for her-

But she had someone to get back to.

So she bode her time and held her piece till she began to heal around her instruments of agony and orchestrated- a minor destruction, at best,,

The oil rigs lulled and the metal bent and cracked- she could move it still- vents heaved and heat rose as she generated a fog that would scare even the most talented sea fairer into sorrow and she snapped- metal lunged from the Earth as half rusted transformations pierced those who inhabited her— cages swung and people screamed- rocks and boulders manifested in the deep blue at points no one had seen before and ships stopped coming back.

She was haunted.

No longer would those to whom she did not owe anything reap her of her blood- no longer would they take her chance- or life

The life she still had- guarded deep, safe and sound- as she lay

Trapped against the ocean floor.

[yenhan]

Simon Riley with an (ex-)partner who does things "for the lore" but in a not-so-good way.

Masterlist

You met Simon Riley in a café the same way people in bad rom-coms meet: disastrously. Your elbow knocked the steaming cappuccino straight onto his shirt as you reached for sugar that didn’t need to be added. Your mother would chew your head off for the inhuman sugar intake in that cup. He looked at the stain, then at you, expression unreadable behind the skeletal mask. You braced for some Hulk-flavored wrath, but all you got was a mumbled “No worries. It’s just a shirt.”

Oh, he's one of the mature types. Because for the love of whoever lived above in the skies, if someone ever poured a shit-hot cup of coffee on you, you'd go ballistic. Blame youth or anger issues. After that, you pulled your best "Let me pay for the laundry" and shoved some bills in his hand.

That was months ago. And now it was over.

He ended it on the one-year mark, right after you handed him the box with the gift you spent three weeks agonizing over. Some tactical nonsense you didn't understand but knew he needed. And who were you to decide your boyfriend's horrible tastes? Happy wife, happy life, wasn’t it? If that wardrobe of a grumpy-and-traumatized man could be called a wife. He hadn’t even unwrapped it yet.

“I can’t do this anymore,” he said. Heavens forbid, not in a cruel way. Just... in a very Ghost fashion: delicate as a boulder on your toe.

You blinked. “Is this because I tried to dye your dog tags pink?”

“No." Then, “You deserve someone whole.”

Ah. That. What a classic. You almost applauded him for not saying, "It’s not you, it’s me." You looked at the ceiling. Breathe in, breathe out.

“So... you’re dumping me on our anniversary?”

“Didn’t plan it that way,” he muttered, jaw tight.

You nodded. The moment didn’t feel real, not in the sharp, cinematic way you expected heartbreak to feel. It was more like someone else was living it. You were just watching the rerun. “Okay. Cool.”

He was frowning, you'd learned to decipher his emotions despite the constant presence of the balaclava. “That’s it?”

“Yep.” You leaned back in your chair, legs crossed. “Want me to cry? Throw a slipper in your face? Slap you with a baguette?”

His shoulders stiffened. “I thought you’d be angry. You always fight back.”

“I fight for things. Not against people,” you replied. “You made up your mind. What’s the point?”

The truth was, you should have been angry. Or heartbroken. Or something. But your feelings floated somewhere above you, out of reach. Like trying to grab smoke. Dissociation was funny like that; it felt like watching someone else get dumped, someone prettier, someone who cried prettier. You were just along for the plot, like those side characters who only appear for 1 minute and 18 seconds in TV shows.

Most of your life had been like that. Things happened. You collected the results like odd trinkets. Being chased for shoplifting a lip gloss? For the lore. Almost failing your high school senior year for the thrill? It was an interesting plot twist. Dating a man with more shadows than skin? Scientific purposes. Loving him? You weren’t sure what that had been. Something too soft to name, maybe. Fragile and a little too holy for lil' old you. Something you’d believed could anchor you to this world.

He stood to leave. Took the gift box with him, which honestly surprised you. He paused by your chair. “I did love you, you know." The admission almost slipped past you. Did it hold any value at all?

You nodded again. “I know.”

And then he was gone. The day moved on. So did you, sort of.

Somewhere in the back of your mind, a thought lingered. They called him Ghost, a spirit who was everywhere and nowhere at once. Hard to grasp, a man like him. But maybe that suited you better. You’d been the one floating through it all, untouched. Like none of it ever really happened.

[tangledbea]

Creatures and Races from Tangled the Series

Specifically, the ones featured in my picker wheel.

Hyper-Intelligent Animal

Are you an animal sidekick in Tangled? Then you're hyper-intelligent! Hyper-intelligent animals appear in most -- if not all -- episodes.

Ghost/Spirit/Poltergeist

Whether they have a mind of their own like Ruth or a mindless need to protect the Moonstone, ghosts are real in this series! Ghosts/Spirits/Poltergeists appear in S1Ep13 "The Wrath of Ruthless Ruth" and S2Ep24 "Destinies Collide Part 2."

Uumlaut

Don't let the cute face fool you, this critter is a swarm waiting to happen! The uumlaut appears in S1Ep15 "The Way of the Willow."

Demon/Warlock

There can be only one Big Bad in this series! (Unless you landed on Demon/Warlock on the picker wheel, in which case you're one, too!) Demon/Warlock appears in several episodes -- any featuring Zhan Tiri/Enchanted Girl, primarily in season three.

Disciple of Zhan Tiri

Two of the three known Disciples got a nifty green spirit form! The Disciples of Zhan Tiri appear in S1Ep18 "Painter's Block," S2Ep19 "Mirror, Mirror," S2Ep20 "You're Kidding Me!" S2Ep21 "Rapunzeltopia," and S2Ep22 "Lost and Found."

Sneeze Weasel

Never trust Lance to find you a critter based on a crayon drawing Eugene made. Sneezy the sneeze weasel appears in S2Ep04 "Goodbye and Goodwill."

Slayer Wolf

How is a slayer wolf different from a regular wolf? It's bigger, I guess? More vicious? Anyway, slayer wolves were given a specific name, so they made the list! Slayer wolves appear in S2Ep05 "Forest of No Return."

Pupshroom

The Forest of No Return: where food eats you! Pupshrooms appear in S2Ep05 "Forest of No Return."

Drexes

A spider-bat creature big enough to eat a person! Drexes appear in S2Ep05 "Forest of No Return."

Bird Fae

Not only are they mysterious fancy people who inexplicably live in the middle of the woods and serve tea that turns people into birds and use mushrooms as patio furniture, they also vanish into a shower of sparkles when their tea set is destroyed. You can't convince me they're not fae. The bird fae appear in S2Ep06 "Freebird."

Kirlok

It's like a bear, but with way more horns! It also comes in adorable cub size! Kirloks appear in S2Ep08 "Keeper of the Spire," and S3Ep15 "Race to the Spire."

Lorb

The natives of Terapi Island, Lorbs are the leaf people with German accents. For some reason. The Lorbs appear in S2Ep09 "King Pascal," S2Ep11 "Happiness Is..." S3Ep12 "Islands Apart," and very briefly in S2Ep12 "Peril On the High Seas."

Mermaid

I'm sure you know what a mermaid is, but just in case you don't remember Seraphina, specifically... The mermaid appears in S2Ep10 "There's Something About Hook Foot."

Vodnik

They come in salt water and a light blue fresh (or frozen?) water variety! Vodniks appear in S2Ep10 "There's Something About Hook Foot," and S3Ep15 "Race to the Spire."

Mirror Doppelganger

It's like the real you, but an evil monster verson! Mirror doppelgangers appear in S2Ep19 "Mirror, Mirror."

Eyeball Spider

Not actually an eyeball, but with unfortunate markings that makes it perfectly suited to hide in otherwise empty skulls. Eyeball spiders appear in S2Ep22 "Lost and Found."

Werewolf

Though Tangled's werewolves have their own lore behind them that's different from what we usually think of, that's still a person transformed into a ferocious wolf! Werewolves appear in S3Ep04 "Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?"

Undead

These skeletal undead act as a sort of security system against thieves. There's only one way to stop them (and it's not a head shot, they'll just pull themselves back together again). The undead appear in S3Ep05 "The Lost Treasure of Herz der Sonne."

Sea Serpent

This mama will do anything to protect her eggs, including sinking your two-masted ship! The sea serpent appears in S3Ep08 "The King and Queen of Hearts".

Dragon

The dragons in Tangled hold the unique property of being able to transfer physical features and abilities to those they care about! Dragons appear in S3Ep11 "Pascal's Dragon."

Illusionary Wish Person

Wish on a coin and throw it into the well, but the person who appears won't have a shadow. The illusionary wish person appears in S3Ep12 "Islands Apart."

Giant Disembodied Hand

We don't know what this thing is, but it's aggressive and doesn't like Eugene! Fortunately, it can be defeated with a little hand-to-hand combat. The giant disembodied hand appears in S3Ep15 "Race to the Spire."

Giant Mole

Completely blind, this creature lives entirely underground and relies on her sense of hearing to navigate. She carries her baby on her back or head. The giant moles appear in S3Ep16 "A Tale of Two Sisters."

Embodiment of a Celestial Gem

Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens... If you possess the celestial gem, you gain incredible powers based on a heavenly body. The embodimets of a celestial gem appear through the entire series, since Rapunzel is one the whole time, with varying degrees of her power awakened.

[ficcerspam]

DCxDP - ADDITIONS AND NONFICS

Magician!Danny AU - 9.27.23*

Danny learns sleight of hand and goes through Hijinks and Shenanigans. There are some DC offshoots where Zatanna is involved, with some inevitable angst from another user.

In the Interest of Medical Attention Addition - 10.02.23*

DCxDP - Red Hood goes missing. Danny, an eldritch horror tourist, just wants to be helpful. These two things are, unfortunately, related.

De-Aged Danny Angst Addition - 10.06.23*

DCxDP - Danny, having been capture and experimented on, gets de-aged with memory loss and some...physical complications. One of the Bats finds him. Dad!Dick Grayson implied.

Booo-merang Trouble Addition - 10.10.23

DCxDP - Jason gives off an ecto-signature, and tries to find a runaway/hiding/injured Danny in Gotham.

Baby Danny vs. The Joker Additions - 10.16.23*

DCxDP - De-aged Danny in a bat onesie wreaking havoc on the Joker for Funsies, and sort of getting adopted by Jason. There are a plethora of other reblogs that aren't included in the link, but this is where I've mentally stopped the AU at (personally). Highly recommend going through them for the fanart!

Candy Crush AU Additions - 10.31.23*

DCxDP - Additions written for @long-live-astronerd-ghost-king's Candy Crush AU. Dead on Main. LOTS of other reblogs that aren't included in the link, but this is where I've mentally stopped the AU at (personally).

Lucky Rush AU Additions - 12.02.23*

DCxDP - Additions written for @virgamsysxvolumes's Lucky Rush AU. Please go read it, it's so good!!! I've also designed some stuff for this AU, but Vivi has released some official art for the AU in the masterlist too!

Dan Doesn’t Like Danny Addition - 12.27.23*

DCxDP - a short sort of Not!fic where Dan comes to rain his wrath down on Trigon and the JL for different reasons. Lil’ angsty. Twoshot.

Estranged Brothers Dick and Danny Addition - 05.06.24*

DCxDP - Mr. Haley summons Danny to act in the circus, not expecting the Grayson's to take such a shine to him. The Grayson's die and Dick is adopted by Bruce, but Danny has to stay... Oneshot.

Casseroles and Confrontations Additions - 03.10.24

DCxDP - Batman sends a few of the Batfam to Amity Park to investigate the ghost sightings. When they get there, however, Jason refuses to step into the town due to some instinctual feeling he has. Check "#casseroles and confrontations" tag for non-story lore!

NOW WITH AMAZING FANART by @animal-123-crazy

MORE CUTE FANART by @jamiethebee

(a la Thor) ANOTHER! by @leesbian42

Jason, Meet Jason Addition - 05.09.24*

DC - Snippet inspired by Fanart of Red Hood!Jason meeting Robin!Jason. Morbid humor. Artist made their own continuation, just an extra panel that’s hilarious af.

Brother Bizzaro Addition - 05.13.24*

DCxDP - Danny is reincarnated as one of Superman’s clone. He escapes with a fellow clone he names Match (Bizarro, in a Project Match Clone Tube). I write a little snippet of the two at the Gotham Library learning how to read. Highly encourage you to read the extremely abundant reblogs! 

I Had a Nightmare Addition - 05.14.24*

DCxDP - Batman enters the Batcave to find Phantom sitting at the Batcomputer. Strange, for someone who has never been told the location of the Batcave. Angst. (Blood Blossoms)

Teen Titans and the Lost Boy Additions - 05.17.24* [AO3]

TTxDP - "After being on the run for a long time, Danny somehow stumbles his way into the middle of a fight. This leads to him joining the Teen Titans (much to his confusion)."

Reverse Robins with a Desiree Twist Additions - 06.19.24*

DCxDP - What if Damian wished to be the eldest? What if Desiree wanders into Gotham to grant it? Instead of turning Damian older, she turns the rest of the batkids younger in reverse order. (My additions are extremely angsty, a short Damian POV and a follow up Bruce POV)

[neurospiczzzziee]

HELLUVA Boss - Imp/ Blitzø powers theory:

Okay so since Sinsmas I have been thinking a lot about Blitzø and IMP abilities.

So in Sinsmas we got to see Loona's demon form and Vivzie has hinted before about other demons having official forms other than Goeitias.

My theory is that Imps most likely have abilities dealing with fire; however, they have not been taught how to properly handle it. Like they have this hidden power, but they have no idea how to control it. This would make sense with them being the native demons to Wrath which has fire twisters and volcanos everywhere (This is mentioned in Harvest Moon by Moxie)

This ability would also make sense of the slur "Fire Toad" that Blitzø was called during Western Energy while he was in the sloth ring.

Rings of Hell Fire types:

Okay so in Helluva boss lore the different rings of Hell seem to have different types of fire/fire colors.

Envy: unknown. Maybe black ish or kind of a like neon yellow/green. The yellow green color is what was shown in Ghost F**ckers during the Millie and Blitzø flashback scene. Kind of reminds me of pop lights.

Wrath: Seems to have more normal stereotypical fire colors. Like orangish red.

Sloth: is shown to have pinkish/purple colored fire. This is shown on the demons with the candles and on Belphegor

Pride: Pure Red and White fire.

Lust: blue fire. Seen in Ozzie's body. Also you see it at Ozzie's. In the Corners.

Gluttony: yellow goopy honey fire

Greed: bright green fire. Seems to be the only fire that causes hellborn demons physical harm. Was the fire at the circus during the explosion.

You can also see that horses are made of fire and their colorations show what ring the horse is from.

Lava-esk red/orange fire: from Wrath.

Green: from Greed, Purple/Blue: From Lust, Pink from Sloth

Fire Blitzø motif:

Okay so fire is a HUGE motif in this show especially surrounding Blitzø. This man is always setting shit on fire whether purposeful or accidental.

First episode Murder Family

Blitzø and Millie are literally set on fire and that's how we learn that earth flames have no effect on demons. Also I love the call back to this moment later on in Apology Tour. RIP BLITZØ PLUSHIE 😭

Then we get to see Blitzø accidentally set Loo Loo land on fire in the second episode

In spring breakers and cherubs you don't really see much fire motifs. The most you see is Millie light a molotov cocktail.

Then we jump to S1 Ep 5 Harvest Moon Festival:

This is our first sighting of Blitzø's lighter as he lights a cigarette

The lighter is later used as a metaphor for him by Loona when talking to Octavia in Season 2 Seeing Stars

The lighter is acting up at first but then eventually produces a strong flame. She uses this dads mess up and sometimes they don't always get it right but at least they are trying and that's what is important.

Then we see the lighter again in Mastermind, Loona saving a photo of IMP and then trying to light the files on fire. Blitzø has to help Loona to get it to light.

In Season 1 episode 6 Truth seekers we see the first hint of flame like motifs destroying his loved ones.

The season one finale Ozzie's also has the fire motif with Ozzie's blue flames standing over him in casting his judgement and shame with his past relationships.

(He looks so ashamed of himself and sad)

S2 Seeing Stars we of course have the previously mentioned lighter scene and then the beautiful Blitzø action hero moment.

Then in Oops we learn that he accidentally set his family's circus on fire by knocking over a birthday cake, said fire killed his mom, hurt Fizz and hurt himself.

later on in Oops he causes another explosion and sets the whole area on fire and has to Rescue Fizz

Then the fire is again referenced in GhostF**kers with the infester demon.

Blitzø's main trauma is that everything he touches gets destroyed or ruined.

Apology Tour: All 2 u song

There is this gorgeous moment when Stolas is singing about his frustration with Blitzø where it shows Stolas in flames. And Blitzø sees this and sees that he hurt Stolas. Metaphorically burns him.

Cause, darlin', you're the thief

But you were mine to earn

What if I came on too strong?

What if I read this all wrong?

What if we just don't belong?

All this "What if? What if? What if?

What if? What if? What if?

Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?" Makes me BURN

In Mastermind it really shows this with him being surrounded by flames when he is about to die. There is also this lovely quote in the song by Stolas

"Does this fool deserve this flame?"

"Let his name light a fire in the hearts of his Race"

"You're my light"

I like the motif of Blitzø continuously being almost punished by the flame and his own flames. Flames hurt people they burn. They are dangerous and out of control. People often refer to love or lovers as a flame or a fire that burns.

Also Stolas literally refers to him as his light. Blitzø is a light to those around him. He inspires other Imps to go outside of their social ranking. He inspires others to break the mold. He lit the way for a new path for Moxie, Millie, Loona and Stolas

The lighter motif continues. Yes it is faulty and inconsistent but it still tries and it works.

And then we get to Sinsmas

HOW OFTEN IS THIS MAN LITERALLY SETTING SHIT ON FIRE!??

It is established that Blitzø is really good at cooking. This isn't the sims where someone is new to the cooking skill and sets their kitchen on fire 😂. It would be different if he couldn't cook. But he can cook.

Also while talking about accidentally setting shit on fire. Fire shows up out of nowhere on Blitzø! Homeboy wasn't even cooking this time! 👀

Then this after the whole Octavia fight with Stolas. This man LITERALLY ATE COALS TO BECOME A HEATED BLANKET TO COMFORT THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE!

. . .So at this point I'm like. . .Can IMPS control Fire???? Or at least be Conductors of fire??? I have so many questions.

Like it's obvious that Blitzø doesn't have control over fire because of him using a lighter to light things also the sheer amount of times he has accidentally set shit on fire. But all I can think is the lighter motif of Blitzø and how at first the lighter is erratic, but then it eventually works.

I imagine that Imps have abilities but part of the class divide made it where they lost knowledge of their abilities. Or that their abilities are extremely erratic and difficult to control. Which makes sense because their birth sin is Wrath.

Further connection to Blitzø and fire motifs meanings:

1. Fire as a Symbol of Destruction and Rebirth:

The circus, what happened to Fizz. Literally the destruction of Stola's old life and status.

2. Fire as a Metaphor for Passion and Desire:

Homie all of Stolitz

3. Fire as a Symbol of Purification and Renewal:

Renewal of ones self. Blitzø redemption arc

Think of how Millie was on a bad road but Blitzø helped her get on the right track.

Blitzø game Moxie a new life out of jail.

He also gave a new path to Loona.

4. Fire as a Representation of Creativity and Inspiration:

Giving Stolas inspiration to choose his own path.

Inspiring other Imps to question society norms.

Basically my Ted talk conclusion is that if we ever get to see BLITZØ's final demon forms it has to deal with fire. Homie is non stop symbolized by fire.

If you have anything else to add please let me know. Thank you Vivzie and helluva boss team for all of your fun metaphors you put in your work.

[xjulixred45x]

I'm trying to be active again and i though: "what could be a better way of coming Back from the Dead than a critique to the soap opera that has become Helluva Boss?"

So here we are. My personal Critique to the episodes Ghost Fuckers and Mastermind.

I'll be honest, i saw both of them in one sit bc i delay seeing Ghost Fuckers SO MUCH that IN THAT TIME Mastermind come out, then i realized i could't keep doing that and accept my fate(seeing the episodes when i was doing nothing importart and Home alone).

AND GOOOOOOOD-

First of all, Ghost Fuckers.

The first half, absolutly GROSS and incredible out of character for many characters.

I liked Millie A LOT in this Episode bc she represented how i was feeling trough this first half, CONFUSED AS HELL AND MAD AT THE BAD DIRECTION OF THE BOSS(vivziepop).

I get it, we are suposse to see this reaction of Blitz as natural and that affect him a Lot, BUT:1-that wasn't Even a BREAKUP(i'll talk of it later) and 2- it's super out of character for BLITZ OF ALL PEOPLE.

if You tell me that Stolas is neglecting His duties after what happen, yeah, i can believe that, BUT BLITZ? The one who all motivación trough the seasons was to keep His business AND employees aflot is not only neglecting His job BUT ALSO USING THE MONEY OF SAID JOB (THAT HE HIMSELF SAID WAS IN CONSTANT RISK OF BANKKRUP) FOR IMPULSIVE PURCHASES???

What the actual Hell.

Even Loona just allowing this and doing what Blitz told her to do feels strange, that's HER PAY TOO, and she just dosen't care or dosen't understand what is happening??

Moxxie is My spiritual animal when i was doing Homework from Collage. The only joke that i find funny in this Episode. Believe me kids, there's nothing more scary than BANKKRUPSY.

Also, seeing that most of our own knolege from Hell is based on Blitz since the Start, it's feels so strange and incrongruent that he still insist on the Ghost theme. Specially when he likes to make fun of humans for those kind of things.

The whole secuence of Spooky Kind of Love just have me...there.

And we got to the second half! Where i have more problems Even though is the Best party of the episode.

Millie blows up and tells Blitz what we all want to Say, he gets offended for no reason, they get diferent ways, Blitz starts allucinate bc of the infester demon, making Even more OBVIOUS His insecurities. Again. For i don't know how many times.

Millie finds him and she tries to make him see that he dosen't destroy everything by remembering how they meet. It was actually a pretty cool scene. We Even get to see more of Millie when she first got out of Wrath, her insecurities, how she was at the job, when they get the IMP Bulding, etc.

Half a point for the develomp to Millie(TWO SEASONS LATE).

they find the demon and he posses(?) Blitz for some reason, and meanwhile Possesed Blitz tries to kill Millie, Blitz has to revive His traumas AGAIN. For GOD sake just leave him alone FOR FIVE MINUTES--

Millie kick His ass, they kill the demon, finished the job, the end.

This is the Best example of the Main problem of Helluva: His Tone problem.

The first half and the shorts, for example, are the characteristic humor of Helluva we are used to, that the people want to see, and just a little bit of lore. And that works ALONE, it's funny, it's dynamyc.

BUT THEN they spit lots and lots of Lore in our faces, Mysteries, Flashbacks, Angst, comfort, ALL IN THE OTHER HALF, and it's TOO MUCH.

Those halfs work on their own, but not togheter. That's the Main problem. And Vivziepop dosen't decide which one want to prevail.

NOW, MASTERMIND

Which of MASTERMIND only has the title

WHY ANDREALPHUS KEEP SAYING THAT HIS SISTER IS HOT?!? SPECIALLY IN A CONTEXT LIKE THAT???!

Stella could have been waaayyy more better for this Episode than him honestly, maybe hiding the fact that Stolas was doing something ilegal SO she can personally report him and make a case as she as the poor Woman who was cheated on(which is not a lie-) and have all the assets of Stolas for HERSELF.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE INTERESTING THAN THE GAY PEACKOWT. But WELL.

The dementors from Harry Potter go to arrest IMP, and they have a trial where Andre says that "Blitzo force himself on Stolas to take possesion of the book" which was funny for me bc is sounded just like the Stolas Stans🤣

They got Striker! He's fine! But he lies saying that Blitz is the one who wanted Stolas Dead(which is another thing that bothers me, WHY WOULD STRIKER HELP THE GOETIA WITH HOW MUCH HE SAYS TO HATE THEM??) and Blitz tries to defend himself saying that if he wanted Stolas Dead he could do it HIMSELF(good point thoug)

Blitz is sentenced to DEATH and is LIVE STREAMED IN ALL RINGS OF HELL AS A LESSON OF NOT GOING AGAINST THE LAWS OF SATAN.

But then Stolas appear and instead of explaning himself like a normal fucking person he starts to sing. I didn't listen to the Song, to much Cringe in one sit. But Stolas take all of Blitz Blame.

BUT OF COURSE SATAN WOULD'T EXCECUTE A ROYAL BC AND I QUOTE "YOUR LIFE HAS ACTUAL VALUE" ARE TOU FUCKING KIDDING ME--

Instead they take away His assets and legions and passed them to... Andre (which is weird, wasn't supposed to be Via? Andre Say it HIMSELF in a previous Ep. But WELL, i'm searching for LOGIC in this show-) and Stolas has to live like a normal Hell citizen for 100 years.

Bascically just turn him into a normal person.

The good side is that the imps start admiring and hiring IMP services more, Even seeing Blitz as a hero for standing to Satán(and honestly good for him).

Stolas dosen't have anywhere to live anymore so Blitz takes pity and they go to His place, he Even bathes him and gives him clothes.

THIS FACE

Brings me so mucho JOY.

and the fact that Blitz it's giving him SPACE, GIVING HIM A PLACE TO STAY, AND COMFORT AND HIS WORST MOMENT, KNOWING THAT STOLAS WOULD'T DO THE SAME FOR BLITZ(bc he NEVER has done it as far as we are in the series), ITS JUST AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHG-

I'll pretend the episode ends here, thank You very much.

CONCLUSION:

Episode 10 just make Even more visible the HUGE tone problem with the series, Vivzie dosen't Even know what she want in the series, if it is a comedy or a melodrama. And it end up wasting great opportunities to develomp her characters in each case.

Not only that, but that the torment to Blitz has to STOP, SERIOUSLY, the writers love to make him SUFFER but at the same time we don't confirm ANYTHING, it's a stupid attempt to generate "intrige" and to extend this series Even more. At the price of it's own protagonist.

3/10

Episode 11 feels like Fanservice with a Lot of unnecesary drama. And convenience of the script.

WHY are there the other sins?? Why nobody besides Vasago asked about Stolas or quesrioned Andre?? How could't Stolas Know about the whole trial things before?? WHY THEY ARE SINGING??

And of COURSE, the lesson of the day with this Episode is that if You are power class and Disobay, You get EXCECUTED, but if youre a Royal, You just have to pay taxes now. Fucking. GENIUS. VIVZIEPOP.

5/10( only for Stella and the Scenes with IMP)

Overall, just a soap opera i would recomend if You turn off Your brain.

Shares, reblogs and comments are very welcome!

[gaywarcriminals]

for ur prompts: shencest a/b/o scent marking. alpha sj, omega sy. in the au we’ve talked about if u like 👀

I’m forgetting some of the details, but I thiiink this fits with the Established Lore.

***

The world was always trying to sink its claws into whatever little scraps of joy Shen Jiu had managed to pull together, eager to tear it away as soon as it could.

“Ge, you’re overreacting.” Shen Jiu’s stupid, vulnerable, oblivious brother whined, squirming again the wooden door. “At least let me put my stuff down first!”

“No,” Shen Jiu didn’t bother to suppress his growl. “You’re not coming another step inside smelling like another alpha.”

Shen Yuan rolled his eyes. “Jiu-ge, I just sat next to Liu-xuedi. You’re acting like he pulled me into a corner and rubbed his wrist all over me!”

By the territorial edge to ‘Liu-xuedi’s’ scent, he clearly wanted to, despite the obvious bite mark on Shen Yuan’s neck. It was a mistake to let Shen Yuan go to university, no matter how he had begged. Sadly, Shen Yuan would never see reason, and his omega was too stubborn for Shen Jiu to incur his wrath lightly. Shen Yuan’s heat was coming up anyways— it would be better to ask for concessions then rather than forcing the issue when Shen Yuan was already getting annoyed. 

Shen Jiu held his tongue, leaning into nuzzle Shen Yuan’s exposed neck. He felt the sharp edge of his temper erode away as the interloper’s scent was replaced by his own. Shen Yuan finally relaxed into his arms, his own scent intermingling with Shen Jiu’s. When finally Shen Yuan smelled throughly his once more, Shen Jiu ghosted his teeth across his claim bite before pulling back entirely, smug satisfied as he was greeted with Shen Yuan’s blown out pupils. 

Just as Shen Yuan leaned forward seeking more, Shen Jiu turned away. “I have work to do this evening A-Yuan— you’ll have to entertain yourself.” Shen Jiu ignored the tiny, bereft whine and as he shut himself in what was theoretically his own room, but in reality served as more of an office, the bed untouched since they had moved in. He opened his laptop and pulled up some files to pretend to work as he listened to Shen Yuan shuffling around the apartment. 

He was certain Shen Yuan would be trying to squirm his way into Shen Jiu’s lap to supplant the computer within the hour. Shen Jiu smiled at the thought; he deserved the treat, considering everything his omega put him through. 

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🌈 Queer Books Coming Out in August 2024 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Happy reading!

[ Text list below ⤵ ]

❓What was the last queer book you read?

[ Release dates may have changed. ]

❤️ Failure to Comply - Sarah Cavar 🧡 I Spit On Your Celluloid - Heidi Honeycutt 💛 You're Embarrassing Yourself - Desiree Akhavan 💚 Death of the Hero - Briona Johnson 💙 Between Dragons and Their Wrath - Devin Madson 💜 The Crimson Crown - Heather Walter ❤️ Sacrificial Animals - Kailee Pedersen 🧡 Oath of Fire - K. Arsenault Rivera 💛 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💙 This Ravenous Fate - Hayley Dennings 💜 Mistress of Lies - K.M. Enright 🌈 Wolf Bite - T.J. Nichols

❤️ In the Valley, A Shadow - Samantha Tano 🧡 Follow My Lead - Adrian J. Smith 💛 The Last Woman I Kissed - Venetia Di Pierro 💚 Full Shift - Jennifer Dugan & Kristen Seaton 💙 Hers for the Weekend - Helena Greer 💜 Come Out, Come Out - Natalie C. Parker ❤️ Rules for Ghosting - Shelly Jay Shore 🧡 How to Leave the House - Nathan Newman 💛 Plot Twist - Carmen Sereno 💙 On the Far Side of a Crescendo - Kalyn Hazel 💜 Tiny Oblivions and Mutual Self Destructions - Maxwell I. Gold 🌈 Daylan and the River of Secrets - Edd Tello

❤️ The Italy Letters - Vi Khi Nao 🧡 The Gender Binary Is a Big Lie - Lee Wind 💚 The House Where Death Lives - Alex Brown 💙 Ash's Cabin - Jen Wang 💜 The Avian Hourglass - Lindsey Drager ❤️ The Heart Wants - Krystina Rivers 🧡 A Grand Love - Janna Barkin 💛 You Can't Go Home Again - Jeanette Bears 💜 Libertad - Bessie Flores Zaldivar 🌈 Her Golden Coast - Anat Deracine

❤️ Mighty Millie Novak - Elizabeth Holden 💛 Rise and Divine - Lana Harper 💚 Dying for You - L Flowers 💙 I'll Have What He's Having - Adib Khorram 💜 Changing Her Tune - Amanda Kabak ❤️ Monogamy? In this Economy? - Laura Boyle 🧡 The Rainbow Age of Television - Sayna Maci Warner 💛 Medusa of the Roses - Navid Sinaki 💙 Confounding Oaths - Alexis Hall 💜 Idol Lives - K.T. Salvo 🌈 Brother's Keeper - Quinn Cameron

❤️ Key Lime Sky - Al Hess 🧡 Crushing It - Erin Becker 💛 The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Rou Bao Bu Chi Rou 💚 Not for the Faint of Heart - Lex Croucher 💙 Tasting Temptation - JJ Arias 💜 Ami - S. Jae-Jones ❤️ You're the Problem, It's You - Emma R. Alban 🧡 Cubs & Campfires - Dylan Drakes 💛 The Dark We Know - Wen-yi Lee 💙 Practical Rules for Cursed Witches - Kayla Cottingham 💜 Riyati Rebirth - Kalani Shimizu 🌈 The Brujos of Borderland High - Gume Laurel III

❤️ A Bánh Mì for Two - Trinity Nguyen 🧡 Dance of the Starlit Sea - Kiana Krystle 💛 Scattered Snows, to the North - Carl Phillips 💚 Beyond a World Apart - Caitlin Myers 💙 Don't Let It Break Your Heart - Maggie Horne 💜 Nothing Heals Me Like You Do - Harper Bliss ❤️ How It All Ends - Emma Hunsinger 🧡 How Do I Sexy? - Mx. Nillin Lore 💛 The Palace of Eros - Caro De Robertis 💙 Prince of the Palisades - Julian Winters 💜 Better Left Buried - Mary E. Roach 🌈 Back to Back - Jo Fletcher

❤️ DITCHLAPSE / [REALLY AFRAID] - Tommy Wyatt 🧡 The Love Archives: Bonus Scenes & Excerpts for Palestine - Various 💛 Guardian: Zhen Hun - Ying Priest 💚 The Sunforge - Sascha Stronach 💙 Queering Reproductive Justice - Candace Bond-Theriault 💜 Gender Explained - Diane Ehrensaft & Michelle Jurkiewicz ❤️ The Unlikely Pair - Jax Calder 🧡 In Universes - Emet North 💛 We Love the Nightlife - Rachel Koller Croft 💙 Lessons from Cruising - Martin Goodman 💜 Wild Ginger in the Rhubarb - Eule Grey 🌈 Not My Circus - Delicia Niami

❤️ Asunder - Kerstin Hall 🧡 The Phoenix Keeper - S.A. MacLean 💛 Encounters with James Baldwin - Various 💚 Verity's Game - Jennifer Giacalone 💙 Hunt Me! I Crave the Chase - Fae Quin 💜 The Audacity Omnibus - Carmen Loup ❤️ Haunted to Death - Frank Anthony Polito 🧡 Blood Orange - Paige Grunewald 💛 The Bad Things We Did - Chris Archeske 💙 Dark Restraint - Katee Robert 💜 Worth the Wait - Kenna White 🌈 The Maid and the Crocodile - Jordan Ifueko

❤️ Loving Corrections - Adrienne Maree Brown 🧡 The Last Witch in Edinburgh - Marielle Thompson 💛 The Duchess of Kokora - Nikhil Prabala 💚 The Scales of Seduction - Rien Gray 💙 Survival Is a Promise - Alexis Pauline Gumbs 💜 Loka - S.B. Divya ❤️ The Every Body Book of Consent - Rachel E Simon 🧡 Southern Lights - Liz Arncliffe 💛 Then Things Went Dark - Bea Fitzgerald 💙 Death at Morning House - Maureen Johnson 💜 The Last Doorbell - William Parker 🌈 The Pairing - Casey McQuiston

[wrathofrats]

Delusionalbitchinthehouse got me on my lore nonsense again hi

1.1k of pebble thinking about delta, and using Ivy to cope.

Sfw, small mentions of grief. Reading through my lore helps but all you need to know for this piece is that deltas transition was botched and he left the band because of it.

“We recently got a new Araliaceae in the greenhouse, some form of ginseng root earth has been cultivating” Ivy picked at his sandwich pebble grabbed for him. He was known to forget about eating on busy days. Bits of dirt caked under his fingernails from tending to the new plants, truly just getting lost in his own mind at times unless there was someone to pull him out.

Mist rested her cheek on her palm, looking at Ivy absentmindedly. It was a habit to get lost in her own world when she was bored but trying to be polite about it, she would often do it to delta as well when he used to be around.

He used to get a hidden spark in his eye when you’d act interested in his medical journals, maps of nerves and bones with personal notes that he scribbled down while with a more cooperative sibling. Mist gave him the same far off stare while pebble tried to ask questions, even if he barely understood what he was talking about.

His voice was soothing, an almost monotone drone that had an uptick whenever he found something particularly fascinating. Ivy was similar, a higher voice that tended to flatten out as he rambled, though pebble could listen to him for hours. In all honesty it was easier to listen to flower cultivation than how different blood types react to certain experiments. Pebble would never tell delta that though.

They were both easy to listen to in that way. Like someone reading a story before bed. Delta had always been a calming presence in the abbey, before he started declining at least. Not much genuinely threw him off, never panicked when things went wrong. Quiet, sure, and sometimes said concerning things but mostly he kept to himself. Pebble and alpha tended to just talk for hours while delta was more than content to just be included.

When things went wrong he was usually the one to silently attempt to fix it instead of panicking like everyone else tended to. When earth accidentally started a fire in the kitchen, delta simply went over to smother it while air was trying to grab water. No strong emotions, quiet and reserved but did his best to behave as a ghoul should.

Pebble thought about why he even took to delta so fast. Ivy continued talking, now having a conversation with mist on seaweed and moss for water filtration. Things pebble should be interested in but his mind was long gone into its own space.

He was fascinating in a weird way, the other ghouls didn’t want to be around him much. Only alpha entertained the idea of a friendship because pebble was there too. But pebble was more than entertained. Maybe it was because he was a loner in his own right, wanted to make sure the new kid had someone with him too. New summons into an already bonded pack, really no one was surprised air and omega kept to themselves more. Hell alpha only interacted because omega made him at first.

And delta never tried to further his relationships with any of the ghouls. Truly he seemed to be disgusted by romance and sex. Grimacing when alpha and omega would kiss in the kitchen making breakfast, Hard to sit through, makes his skin itch.

Earth and air were bad about it sometimes, wrapped around each other in the kitchen while delta just wants a glass of water and can’t move past them. Pebble just plops down next to him on the couch, a sneer on his face as he watches with him.

“God they’re disgusting aren’t they?”

Delta looked confused as pebble sat, he didn’t realize he was being that obvious about his disdain before pebble jumped up to yell at the two to move so he could grab a snack. He almost always broke people up when delta was uncomfortable, he joked it was his job as the designated asshole ghoul.

Hell pebble and mist are the only two who could actually touch delta without him flinching away. Small pushes or slaps on the back while mist usually had more care in her touch. Alpha and omega tried but delta would jump and grimace, and he pushed down his discomfort for Terzo.

“Pebble?” Ivy finally piped up, making pebble blink away whatever memories he was having about the old water ghoul.

“Yeah sorry D-Ivy. What did you say love?” The slip has pebbles stomach falling. Both ghouls quiet and introverted, truly a mistake. Ivy doesn’t notice, continues talking but mist gives him a knowing look.

It’s hardly his fault. Isn’t it? Ivy carries himself the same way, even sighs like delta does, did. Pebble cringes to himself for the correction. Even worse as Ivy settled in and mellowed out from the ball of anxiety he was summoned as. More put together and steady and the way he speaks makes it almost hurt to hear Ivy say his name.

Even when off putting, it’s comforting after a visit with him. Heartbreaking but familiar in a strange way and pebble can’t help but cling to Ivy when he comes back from the isolated room deltas locked in. His speech pattern changed after the transition, shaky and stuttering and his whole voice feels rushed and anxious, like it’s hard for him to put the correct words together.

Sometimes pebble just asks Ivy to repeat stuff delta used to talk about, just to hear it in a familiar cadence.

Pebble will lay there wrapped around ivys torso, close his eyes and just ask Ivy to talk to him. Explain the technical mechanics of something on stage that pebble could never understand. And Ivy always does, could never say no to him, and honestly sometimes it does more harm than good.

Ivy will never know. As long as pebble can keep it that way. He doesn’t need to, doesn’t deserve to think pebbles using him. They aren’t the same and never will be but-

It’s not often. Early days right after Ivy is summoned along with the new quintessential ghoul to replace delta. It wears off with time but it feels just as fresh sometimes. Pebble tries not to blame himself for his bad coping mechanism, at least as much as he’s able.

Mist doesn't miss it. Cant miss the way pebbles voice slips and how he goes silent when he catches himself. shes heard him ask ivy to talk to him the way delta used to. it worries her.

its a bad habit. only ever happens on particularly bad days anymore but it still hurts, still makes him feel guilty. he loves ivy, he loves ivy because hes ivy. but he cant help it when he misses his friend.

ivy seems like the only one who wont judge hin at times. mist mostly worrying about him, and pebble would never share his emotions with alpha. and omega is half to blame. so he goes to ivy.

It’s easier to let it die. Their relationship hasn’t been affected by it, he refuses to let it. He refuses to let it affect Ivy too.

[tw1nkee28]

Do you have a ghoul oc? 👀

Assuming you mean a Nameless ghoul oc,

I do!

These are all my up to date sketches of him as of now

I really need to remake a colored ref of him hsgdh

His name's Atlas 'Wrath' Hayes, he was originally human before he was turned into a ghoul during a ritualll

Once I patch up some old lore holes I might share some more, but he hasn't gotten too much attention in a while since I've been out of the Ghost fandom for some months havhd

I'll go dig up some old art of him real quick

He's been through a lot of design processes HSGDH

Extra ghoul in the 5th image is my brother, @/duskmidnight7331's, old ghoul oc

One thing I've kept through the years is absolutely the paw pads LMAO I just think they're neat

——----------——

But yeah, I've got a ghoul oc

If you've got any questions about him, feel free to ask!

Until then, I gotta settle down and actually make a colored ref ╥⁠﹏⁠╥

Thanks for the ask!

[secretly-awful]

I remember someone getting angry at me for my Herobrine fanart.

Aparently my reimagining disrupted the prestablished lore of Herobrine by depicting him as Gaia's wrath personified instead of a dude who stares at you.

Like are we really putting restrictions on how to depict a ghost capable of possessing the code of a video game, like I'm sorry but I only want to continue reimaging creepypasta characters however I want thank you very much.

[in-love-with-the-snake-sannin]

Nameless Things

I found you in the hush between heartbeats—

a whispering thing of chaos and crimson stains,

where secrets slithered soft and slow

and dreams died beautifully in chains.

They said you were a cursed creature-

a ghost who fed on blood and lore,

but what are curses to this girl

who's never loved with less than war?

You touched my cheek with frostbit hands,

and smiled like the calm before a storm.

No hero's touch could thrill me more

than yours, so cold, precise, deformed.

Eldritch serpent, you never lied -

not with your venom, not your smile.

You offered me eternity,

in coils, in skin, in glass and guile.

So carve your mark along my spine,

with ink or fangs, I do not care.

I'll drink your dark like sacred wine—

a poison I would gladly bear.

Let other women sleep in light,

with simple men and sunlit bliss.

I'll take the crypt, the spell, the bite-

your voice, your wrath, your fatal kiss.

And when the world forgets your name,

when dust devours all its kings—

I'll still be here, your shadow bride,

in love with monstrous, perfect things.

[samueldays]

Previously, I tried using gpt-chatbots to brainstorm RPG content and found that they tended to 'hog the spotlight' - suggestions were too often about the most important character, the mission with the world at stake, the unique legendary artifact. Each one should have been a climactic finish, but I can't make a game out of only that.

Between bot improvements and prompt improvements and giving an example, I've gotten Claude to a point where it's usably good at generalizing from an example, and I thought I'd share some. The first prompt I gave in the session at hand:

I want help writing small modular backstory episodes for Exalted RPG characters. Summarize what you know about the Dragon-Blooded Exalted.

Claude replied with a decent Exalted lore dump, which I vaguely intuit is helpful for chatbot-wrangling: have more setting context on the record without me needing to write it all out, and have the bot get on a roll of providing "correct" information by starting with low-effort recap before I get to my actual request. Second prompt:

Here is one example backstory episode: "You spent time traveling in a thickly haunted region of the Threshold, near a shadowland. The people begged you to be their savior against blood-drinking ghosts that plagued them. Their material gifts were nothing compared to your home lifestyle, but their devotion moved you, and their lore was not entirely without value. Gain a Major Intimacy of Contempt for Ghosts, and the one-dot Exorcist merit." Suggest five backstory episodes of this general nature, phrased in the second person and associated with a Major Intimacy and a narrative drawback.

Claude returned:

1. The Salt-Swept Village You spent a season in a coastal village devastated by tsunami, sent as part of your household's charitable works. While rebuilding their shattered homes, you witnessed how the villagers maintained their dignity and resolve despite losing everything. Their quiet strength moved you deeply. When mercenaries arrived to press-gang the survivors, your elemental fury was unleashed, and the bandits fled before your wrath. You left behind a grateful community who still sends you messages and small tokens of appreciation. Gain: Major Intimacy of Respect for Common Folk Drawback: Gain the Favor (••) Merit toward this village, which will occasionally ask for your help against impossible odds

(continued below the cut)

2. The Wyld Hunt Failure You joined your first Wyld Hunt with pride and anticipation, expecting glorious battle against Anathema. Instead, you found villages burned by your overzealous comrades, innocent lives destroyed on mere suspicion, and ultimately, the Lunar Exalt escaped after killing three Dragon-Blooded you had befriended. The Hunt Master blamed you for questioning orders and "causing delays." This experience left you deeply conflicted about the Immaculate teaching on Anathema. Gain: Major Intimacy of Doubt toward the Immaculate Order Drawback: Enemy (••) - the vindictive Hunt Master who blamed you for the failure now works to undermine your reputation

3. The Forgotten Library While on assignment near the borders of the Realm, you discovered an ancient library from the First Age, partially preserved through forgotten preservation magic. For months you secretly studied these texts, learning forbidden history about the Shogunate and the Usurpation. What you read there contradicted everything you had been taught, including disturbing details about your own Great House's past. When your elders discovered your activities, they had the library destroyed "for the good of all." Gain: Major Intimacy of Dedication to Historical Truth Drawback: Dark Secret (••) - you preserved and hid several texts that would be considered heretical by the Immaculate Order

4. The Threshold Diplomacy You were sent as a diplomatic envoy to a Threshold kingdom with valuable resources. What began as a simple mission became complicated when you discovered your counterpart was a God-Blood with legitimate grievances against the Realm. During months of negotiation, you developed mutual respect and eventually crafted a treaty beneficial to both sides. Your superiors were pleased with the outcome but would be horrified to know how deeply you came to understand the "barbarian" perspective. Gain: Major Intimacy of Conviction that the Realm Must Reform Drawback: Persona Non Grata (••) among the hardliners in your House who suspect you've "gone native"

5. The Elemental Sanctuary During a dangerous journey through the deep wilderness, you sought shelter in what appeared to be an abandoned shrine, only to discover it was a sanctuary for elemental refugees fleeing exploitation. You witnessed firsthand how your people's binding practices had disrupted the natural order, as elementals shared their stories of being bound to power Realm devices or serve as battle fodder. You helped them strengthen their sanctuary's defenses before departing, keeping their secret. Gain: Major Intimacy of Protection toward Elementals Drawback: Foolish Commitment (••) - you have sworn to free elementals bound against their will when you encounter them, regardless of political consequences

It still needs tweaks, Claude is applying fake stat ratings to some Capitalized Drawbacks that aren't in the book, it didn't understand what I meant by "narrative drawbacks", the bot examples feel overly standardized, a bunch of details don't match my view of the setting and my game plans... but those are small tweaks, this is solid raw material that I can adapt instead of having to brainstorm from scratch.

[but-a-humble-goon]

Decided to start reading Ghost Rider because 10 year old me thought he was the coolest looking fucking thing ever (and he was right) and my inner child could do with some healing these days.

I'm interested in this lore tidbit that Ghost Rider's hellfire can't burn the bible.

It makes me think if I were some sort of evildoer bound for hell in the Marvel universe I could just build myself a suit of armor made of bibles and be totally safe from the wrath of Zarathos.

[xx-p3l0ntr1x-xx]

liveblogging canto 6

charon seems to have some light sensitivity, given that she says 'Lightning go boom. Eyes go ow.'

rodya's ability to chill the entire room, then break the ice immediately

ishmael insanity over nobody reading the pamphlets they get given

verg is naturally somewhat standoffish from what i see

the return of the happy story theme

heathcliff gets knocked out twice, then left there for at least thirty minutes

heathcliff getting excited over being allowed to wear clothes other than the allotted work clothes

what did wuthering heights do to you?

don still craves the ice cream

charon hates heathcliff's new fit

meursault gives some lore on society, that being the bigger the gate, the richer a person is

don truly is the hyperactive-type adhd

A SQUIRREL GETS FUCKING HIT BY LIGHTNING

hong lu mentions that weather-changing systems are extremely expensive, even to someone like him

it's theorized that the lightning is a security system of sorts

sinclair's family would often discuss getting a security system during dinner

nelly

nelly seems happy to see heath

meursault is very perceptive

fuck you josephine

ALSO FUCK YOU HINDLEY

tfw linton actually stands up a bit for heathcliff?

heathcliff's large hands

dead rabbits boss matthew

bar named The Wolf's Fall is totally not fucking foreshadowing

we know of the pointillists and the fauvists, i wonder if there's any more subsections of the ring?

hindley is a drunken piece of shit and i like seeing him get insulted

linton tells hindley to stop AGAIN

linton also has to tell heathcliff that cathy is fucking dead because everyone else is being too vague about it

heathcliff says about hearing catherine's voice the moment he set foot into the manner. oh dear.

final warning from the oufi association

the voice acting here is fucking amazing

don quixote...

ryoshu detects that something's off

yi sang mistakes Y.S. for standing for him, ryoshu has to tell him that it's actually You, Stop.

bug guy moment

gregor trying to cover for ryoshu, how many times has he covered for other soldiers? did he ever face wrath from hermann for something that another soldier did?

nelly knocks out heathcliff, rodya asks if she just knocked heathcliff out with her bare hands despite being the only one to knock heathcliff out with her (rodya's) bare hands in one of the story portions of the chapter

hong lu says another fucking comment which makes me go insane

(it was something about him seeing the move before)

hong lu says that butlers are the most loyal and trustworthy people he's ever known, what the fuck

gregor being mildly passive aggressive about being interrupted

don's fixer obsession helps with explaining some lore moment

don infodumps

nelly is fixer-grade material

nelly also fills in on info

a lot of famous association-based fixers retire to serve as butlers as well

'tiny bairn' from don qui????

hindley gets what he deserves

the golden bough is cathy's personal property

heathcliff inherits this

cathy, younger, asks about an x corp all-purpose wrench, did she have an interest in engineering?

suddenly snapping to an older catherine

she no longer fears ghosts?

there's also apparently two golden boughs in the manor, thus probably leading into why dante can't pinpoint one of them

heathcliff is suddenly in his regular work clothes

catherine is and apparently always has been fairly unpredictable

nelly wonders if the entire funeral is a jest

cathy prefers riddles, heath prefers direct

i think josephine is supposed to be scottish?

being a butler can theoretically be a generational job

heath refuses to let his abuser die

panic effect for the dead rabbits that are fought in 6-17 and 6-18 is explicitly called splitting

stopped for now, will continue when i get around to it