#written improvisation

[theimperials1]

And I stand at the gates of hell, knowing well those incantations reach and call for me to beckon my descend towards the entrails of earth; in front of me, and as a warning of the impending doom to be bestowed upon those that choose so egoistically to simply allow themselves to try and flee from destiny, i see this beast, whose entire size, its entire spirit, its so amalgamated by the hell from which it came from that it stands as a dog, with eyes of a relentless white, mandating the descent to begin, is it Cerberus? is it a Hound of Tindalos? My dread doesn't distinguish between the two, instead, my first step is set on the grave, as i'm welcomed to the placed deserved, and the beast's presence dilutes into the infinite dark of the night.

Church Grim

[theimperials1]

For when the rains brush the face of earth. For when the hair is humid and the day is conquered by the melancholy, the low spirit, and the harshness of mind... For when all of that happens and tries to overcome the soul.

The memory shall be that even on the darkest hours and the most awful of hours, the heart beats and the hope prevails.

[rosequartzandrosaries]

Me ending a prayer to the Christian god: in Jesus’ name we pray, amen

Me ending a prayer to a pagan god: k thx bye

[columboscreens]

[theimperials1]

Thé de sang

On the nightmares that followed the incursion into the deepest reaches of his mind. That moment seemed to be just playing on repeat until the exhaustion, the moment the tea was shared, the cups raised and she on her odd behavior let it go to waste in the floor, not going further, it never did. And it didn’t take too many dreams for the black tea to turn into oil, into worker’s blood.

And the table to be adorned by the mangled corpse of Uzi, that was when he would recoil in horror, that’s when the cameras, the cursed cameras, would be staring at him, he would deploy each and single weapon on his arsenal and fight for his life, parrying and trying to stall what he knew was an unstoppable ending.

The dreaded pincers holding him and, setting aside Uzi’s corpse, put him into Cyn’s very own butcher table, he would struggle, cry and kick, but it all ended with the sound of his core being pierced and a cry that lost itself amidst the thundering outside the manor.

He would will return to the waking world, then, fear still lingering to return to the sleep mode, the tears rolling down his visor as he kept shaking. That horrid voice still playing on repeat on his head, and the odd silence it always kept during his murder just something that unnerved him further.

He knew it couldn’t hurt him again, its administrator privileges had been completely revoked from his system, yet, he feared still to be reached, only to be thrown into the loop time and again.

He would cry himself to sleep, remembering of all things the cups of tea that were shared before it all came crashing down into senseless fight and slaughter. Cups of tea that contained not tea, but instead blood, worker’s blood

Teacup

[menlove]

now why would they word it like that

[starstruckodysseys]

pspspsps tell me ur headcanons abt play it by ear/off book characters i am curious

[farminglesbian]

[leporinelou]

[sometimesraven]

Murray Gold absolutely killed it with the composing on the Goblin Song btw, very catchy, still cannot get it out of my head but someone please never let Rusty write the lyrics to a song ever again, ever

[rapha-reads]

So I've decided to ignore sleep tonight (though it's already 6am so whatever), because several reasons I won't get into. Anyway I'm reading Prince Lestat and I am LOVING it. There is just so much lore?! So many new characters, fascinating characters?! A whole world of vampires whose stories are connected or totally not to the Coven of the Articulate?! There's just so much.

In my last post, about how I skipped quickly Blackwood Farm and Blood Canticle, I wrote that I was finding it academically fascinating to read several decades worth of an entire literature world in the span of a month only. To continue in this vein (pun intended), reading PL after having binge-read the original VC books is a deep dive into how history has sped up since the 80s.

I'm not just thinking about because I'm reading Gregory's chapter and that's what he's observing, and also because the changed world and what it means for vampire society ("the tribe", and how I adore that terminology) is the big main theme of this final trilogy. It's something I've been thinking about since TVL at least. How for how these novels pertain to the horror and the fantastic genres, they are also a mirror of the society and time during which AR was writing. And because she kept writing decade after decade, and kept observing the world around here, each new book is its own little observation about the early 80s, then late 80s, then first half of the 90s, second half of the 90s, and now we're right smack in the middle 2010s and these immortal characters are feeling the weight of this rapidly changing world.

And it makes me think of actual human beings born in the 40s or 50s, or even 60s, or my own grandfather born in 1931, and how, just like a lot of these vampires recounted in PL, they sometimes can't follow all the changes brought in the last three decades (the biggest thing is technology, intradiegetically Lestat himself saying he keeps forgetting how to use his smartphone, but extradiegetically, it's how AR writes "to go on the computer" and other phrases like that, that sounds weird to the ear of someone who's grown up with this tech). And AR was over 70yo when she wrote PL, so I'm imagining that she was also writing her own impressions of this 21st century world that she saw developing under her eyes.

And in light of all the historic events we live week after week these past handful of years only (the 2020s want to bury us), it's quite interesting to apply that way of thinking to our generation too (millenials and younger, the 80s-90s-early 00s kids). Saw a post earlier saying "do you think one day we'll get to live in precedented times", in answer to the classic "we're living in unprecedented times", and I think of how the VC are the stories of one handful of characters in a world full of other characters who are not or relatively not concerned by these big stories. And how the Coven of the Articulate is considered as legendary amongst the rest of vampiredom, while they themselves don't really realise their fame, or when they do, they reject it. And how in the actual world, there are still a huge percentage of the world population that's not concerned at all by things that here make us all go frothing at the mouth because "omg we're witnessing history". Yes, "we" are witnessing something that will appear in the history books, but it is so because we have decided to put ourselves in the narrative. So many people are not even caring a little bit about big news that seem so important to us, because their lives have other matters to care for. And it's not that they're wrong or we're wrong, it's not about that, it's mostly about how the rapid changes of the world in the 21st century has made a category of people (all ages all nationalities alike) the Main Character, concerned by the narrative and trying to control it or change it (voting, protesting, activism) while so many others are still going on about their lives as usual, maybe seeing the same things as the first category, using the same tools, but not seeing the connection between it and them (the "mavericks" as AR calls them), or others starting to realise and not knowing how to join the narrative (Antoine, Gregory), while yet others have picked up a whole other way of being part of the narrative while not being part of it (Fareed).

I don't know if that makes sense. Maybe I do need to go lay down for a couple of hours after all.

[theimperials1]

Cracks (But of the Good Kind)

It had been certainly an…experience, that's to be sure; a little push forward from the usual handholding and nervous staring, perhaps a way to try and break the tension that their own attraction still made them have. Uzi held her visor completely embarrassed while she still felt N's warm over her own lips, on her UI some little pop-ups noticing her about structural damage on her own face made only more of those stripes appear into her own face.

"Uhh!" Uzi said nervously, not really knowing what to do now "N? you fine?" She could do little more than move her optics and stare at the disassembler, who was… "N…?"

Yeah his cracks were starting to heal almost immediately as usual with any minor (and some major) injuries he sustained, but the dreamy stare on his own factions was not the usual one, it was so carried away by the dreamy feelings that seemed to be bubbling inside his systems; she could her the fans and cooling mechanism trying to compensate, Uzi raised a finger to try and catch his attention, but soon enough, she saw herself held into a big hug, she scrambled and struggled as she was still a bit shaken at the fact they had managed to crack their own visors during their first kiss…

"L-Let me go!" She said "N!"

"That was wonderful Uzi!" The disassembler proclaimed as he withdrew his face slightly from giving some nuzzles to Uzi "I want another!" He squeaked.

"Wait, N!" She tried to object, but saw herself soon enough clacking visors with N, and she simply threw a thought of 'Bite me!' to the whole thing and went along with her boyfriend.

They were in for a long session of kissing, and those cracks they may get? those were of the good kind. They had all the time on the world to learn to kiss properly and without visor cracking.

Don't mind the cracked screens, they were a little too panicked when they tried. Given how nervous they were at just handholding, I like to think they're just. completely stumbling their way through this relationship. AND I LOVE IT. I LOVE THEM.

[dragons-for-the-win]

Now I can't help but thank

because today's afternoon

as been the best I've been

in such a long long time

I had already forgotten how

it feels to be a child,

making sand castles on the beach

with no worries on your back

And this is literally what

happened today,

who would have said that I,

someone who couldn't be

bothered by children,

would be so healed

after a day with one?

I have so much to thank

to this little 7-year-old,

as she has fixed things

she'll never know about.

I'm now thinking

how important is it

to have these kind of days

where nothing matters

just you enormous sand castle.

[fervency-if]

what was your inspiration for fervency this shit is SO!! FUCKING!! GOOD!!

Aaah, thank you ever so much; I'm delighted that you enjoy it! Regarding inspiration, Part I is based on a short story, 1100 words, I wrote a few years ago - something I simply stress-improvised from a prompt, 'write a vampire story,' and then I just went from there, coming up with things on the go, when turning it into a game!

[memes-in-a-half-shell]

Villain AU - Deadlock, Part 3

Part 1 || Part 2 ||

Shorter chapter! Trying not to spend too much time on them :) I just want to go wild, ya know? Write some stupid shit!!! I'm having fun with this, so that's that 👏

She wasn't a nobody, he could at least give her that!

When going through her computer, he did find several emails, one of them consisting of an invitation to a party on this coming weekend - on top of a building close to where the 7th Avenue and Broadway were crossing. It seemed to be a social event for influencial people, may they be good or bad names. This would be the perfect opportunity for the broker to extend her name and services to some higher crowds! Donnie admired the hustle and entrepreneurship, but he knew that if she wasn't stopped nor steered, she could be quite a force to be reckoned with.

He disclosed his plan to his brothers, wanting to go meet her at that event. It was simple; take her aside for some talks, persuade her to hand over the information about the Foot investors, then recruit her for her services.

"Yeah, but do we have money?" questionned Mikey. "If that's what she does for work, we can't just have her empty her pockets for our cause. That's not fair."

"Although I'm not too keen on this whole situation, Mikey has a point," added Leonardo. "We have nothing."

Donnie sighed, knowing he couldn't keep his funds a secret anymore.

"You guys have nothing, I do."

"Watchu mean 'I do'??" questionned Raph with a frown.

The tall terrapin did unenthusiastical jazz hands: "Freelance work." He then brought a holo screen of his account. "I actually need to get some money back in ... that girl ain't cheap."

"Dude, fuck that, buy us pizza instead!" joked Mikey.

***

Vee wasn't usually enthusiast about social events, but she couldn't deny that this would be the perfect opportunity to seek out new clients and mingle around for some juicy gossip and any kind of information. She usually didn't mind dressing up for parties, her black dress simple enough and her gold necklaces a simple addition, but something about people's gazes during the evening made her wish she had dressed up more...

After conversing with points of interests, the woman decided to take a drink aside and headed towards a part of the rooftop that was more secluded. The much needed peace calmed Vee down, sipping her glass of wine as she looked over the city's lights and traffic down below.

"That's not very clever, you know?"

Vee was on high alert as she heard a voice echoing from the shadows to her left. Turning around, she finally spotted a form coming out and making its way towards her; none other than that turtle man she had seen at that Foot tower. She didn't say a word, slowly backing up as he kept coming closer.

"That tattoo of yours on your chest," he continued, still getting closer. "I clearly saw it that night, and now you're displaying it as well this evening. Quite recognizable, to be honest."

"How did you find me? What do you want?"

Vee finally bumped against a railing, feeling New York's hot breeze caress her upper back and hair. The tall mutant was now so close, she somehow considered jumping off the balcony … if only it wasn't way high above ground. The male finally got her calling card into view, an amused look on his face.

"I'd say you did good work with that for the average joe, but I was still able to get that fake tracer to link me back to its root. I'm suspecting you finally noticed my presence in your stuff last night, judging how quick I lost connection. Let me guess, you disconnected your router?"

Vee quickly got the card out of his hands, annoyed.

"Okay, you answered my 'how did you find me' question, now answer my next one."

One of his hands rested at the railing, right beside her, slightly towering the woman. He wanted to come out as intimidating, somehow, but he could also not dismiss his curiosity.

"… I wanna know who you are exactly. What's your deal?"

Vee left a quick chortle: "As if I'm going to lay all my information bare to you-"

"You seem quite capable with technology," he continued. "I'm just wondering why you're using it that way. … Selling information to the highest bidder can be a dangerous game."

Vee played her flirting card, taking advantage of the proximity. She slowly fiddled with his mask's tails, sneakily displaying herself in an enticing way.

"Money talks, turtle," she answered smoothly. "Taking leaps is what makes the world go 'round, I'm sure you know that. I do what I have to do in order to survive in here."

The mutant slightly gulped, taking a second to enjoy the view. He finally straighthened his stance, taking her hand so he could stop her motions at his tails.

"Until you land the wrong information into the wrong client's hands," he said. "… You don't have to play this kind of russian roulette. Your work could have way more worth in authority's hands."

The human puffed a quiet laugh, getting her hand out of his hold.

"I know how it goes, turtle. The police is slow and getting any freelance investigation their way can actually damage their precious work. They barely get anything done in reasonable delays. Meanwhile, my way is efficient for anyone who needs the information. I don't care where it falls – as long as I get paid, that's the only worth I'm looking for."

"Then why did you ask information about project Renaissance?"

Vee's eyes squinted: "... HookedOnCoffee?" she asked.

"You bet, smooth criminal," winked the terrapin. "I wanted to test you. I was there when you did your little escapade to the police station; you seem full of surprises."

Her gaze was now frowning, looking the mutant up and down.

"... H- How were you there and I didn't see you? You're a freakin' giant turtle!"

She stopped herself and the other before the subject was continued.

"You know what? Pause. ... I'm usually pretty alert to my surroundings when out and about, and the only trace I leave from time to time is my calling card, either for shits an' giggles, or for potential new clients. The fact that you found me and were able to hack into my computer in very little time is just ... " She next poked at his plastron with each words: "You're. Being. A. Creep. Right. Now!"

She next took a long sip of her wine, her eyes wandering and next noticing the shapes of three other turtles hanging and waiting on another rooftop.

"Great," she sighed, vaguely gesturing in their direction. "The whole cavalry's here..."

"You don't have to be freaked out," said the terrapin next. "We're here because we want your help."

Vee paused, half a smile coming to her lips.

"Let me guess.... you want the info I took from you guys at that Foot tower?"

"Primarly, yes, but ultimately I believe that your expertise could be beneficial to our cause."

"Which is?"

"Bringing the Foot clan down, once and for all."

That brought a laughter out of the woman, confusing the other for a moment.

"You do realize that I sometimes steal from them? They're often my main bread and butter," confessed Vee. "And if they were to vanish, another organization is gonna take their place. I'm talking about the Purple Dragons, mainly. I could be generous and think of other clans, but that'd be too generous."

"And you're okay with having potential crimes on the conscience when completing work that involves the Foot?" questionned the male, sourly.

"C'est la vie!'' shrugged the human. "Eat or be eaten. I do whatever I have to do and I'm okay with that. ... Why should I care about others when all they've done to me for the most part is spit on me?"

That seemed to garner some sympathy from the turtle, his traits now softer.

"Look... I'm not here to threathen you out of your work," he started, calmly. "I believe you have great potential and it'd be a shame to have yourself get in trouble because of some poor choices."

"You don't know anything about me."

"I know! I know... But I want you to consider being a better person in this."

Vee was silent for a moment, contemplating his words.

"... I'll think about it," she finally said, ligthly swirling her wine in a thoughtful manner.

"Good! If you ever have an answer, you know where you can find me." He next extended his hand for her to shake. "Name's Donatello, by the way."

Vee considered the gesture for a moment, ultimately bringing her hand into his. The size difference caught her off guard for a split second.

"Call me Vee," she replied. "... And I must warn you, monsieur Donatello; do not log into my computer again, or else I'll find you and it won't be pretty."

"I'll respect that warning," smiled the terrapin.

The woman next handed her glass to the mutant, starting to make her way back to the party.

"Enjoy the wine, I'm guessing you need it too."

Indeed he did, taking a long swig of the drink and then watching Vee walk away. He could still feel the ghost of her hand in his...

***

Vee spent the next few days carefully combing through the Renaissance project's files. One detail she did find interesting was in regard to that alien substance - nicknamed the "green ooze" - that was injected into four turtles and one rat subjects. Basic tests had been conducted, but it had never been done to full extents, considering that the lab burned down and the chemical had been lost. Final reports indicated that traces of the ooze could be found running through the animals' veins, meaning now that retrieving the substance could be possible...

Now knowing that this Donatello guy potentially had eyes on her online activities, she proceeded to create a thread all while making sure that the HookedOnCoffee account was blocked. She silently thanked the moderators for not including an activity feed for any created accounts, allowing for things to escape possible radars or lurkers.

Her post was clear and simple:

Potential retrieval of the lost ooze from Project Renaissance.

Possibility of getting my hands of some of the alien substance lost in the Sacks facility fire. Uses may range from medical to superhuman enhancements. Starting bids at 1 million. Serious offers only.

And so the wait started. Or at least it would give her enough time to actually figure out how to obtain such ooze in the first place....

Thinking back at Donatello's offer, that seemed like her only point of entry for such an opportunity. Sure, she couldn't just come out of nowhere and whip out a needle and a vial to get some blood out of him. ... She would need to build trust with the mutant - something that seemed a bit far fetched at the moment, considering that he might mostly want a professional relationship first and foremost.

She allowed some time to pass by, completing chores around her appartment and getting some food prepared. It was only when she got back to her desk with a quick dinner plate that she froze at the thread she had created.

Last offer was going up as high as 10 millions...

Seeing that no one had outbided that for some time, she closed the deal, getting in contact with the winner.

smooth_criminal: You better not be talking shit for offering such a large amount of money. FuttoGyangu: My boss is very interested by what you are offering. smooth_criminal: I do not have a current ETA on the retrieval. I need to confirm some details before starting the operation. FuttoGyangu: To confirm our interest, we will forward you 500,000$. Keep us updated.

Vee blanked for a moment. That couldn't be real...

FuttoGyangu: We have heard of your excellent work. Do not disappoint us.

She indeed received the amount, accepting it with a wide-eyed stare. ... ... Throwing herself out of her chair, she gleefully danced and stimmed around, celebrating this huge hit! Her head was spinning, her heart beating fast and hard. She couldn't back away now, she didn't want to disappoint indeed!

Swinging back into her chair, she completely disregarded her food, instead opening back her conversation with HookedOnCoffee. She shook her hands a little before writing, wanting to calm her nerves and not write any gibberish.

smooth_criminal: What's up. Let's meet up and discuss.

She could give him the Foot info, anything he wanted! Who cares!! As long as she could get into his good graces, that could only get her closer to her goal and that sweet, sweet money.

HookedOnCoffee: I'm guessing you finally considered my offer? smooth_criminal: Sure thing, pal. I'll be a good girl, I promise ;)

She snickered at her response.

HookedOnCoffee: I'll disregard the play on words :D ... State a place and time of your choice, I'll be there. smooth_criminal: I suspect you don't want to be seen much. I'll send you the address of a rooftop I like to hang out to. I'm free tomorrow night. smooth_criminal: I'll also bring some coffees and that delicious data you requested~ Gotta start on the right foot - unless you want to bring it down once and for all as well.

God she felt like such a smartass, quoting him from that evening at that party.

HookedOnCoffee: Ain't you a sweetheart... Forward me the address and I'll meet you there. HookedOnCoffee: And don't worry, I'll be alone.

Happily punching in the address and sending it his way, she next swiveled her chair around with a cheerful laughter. She couldn't deny being on such a high - yet the realization that she had now to prepare for this delicate mission brought her celebration to a stop.

Serious once again, she approached her computer, then opening a new web browser screen and shopping around for blood extraction equipment...

((Part 4))

[theimperials1]

Swirling Dance

It was a swirling dance, little more than that, as the winds kept blowing through the windows on the great hall. Tessa avoided by some sort of miracle an attack with a pincer that almost harms her, it was an ultimate example of how much those fencing classes did took root on her muscular memory, it was a parry that stunted for seconds Cyn and allowed her to smash against an array of limbs afterwards, like a swordswoman from one of her many books, she withdrew, her trusted blade whirling into her hands, she had to to hold it with both, yet it kept her with the elegance of a landsknecht, she pointed it towards the emerging ‘worker’ drone that soon enough appeared amidst the tons of tentacles and other limbs that had filled the place as their battle moved from the dancing floor to the hall.

“And yet, you keep resisting” Cyn stated, the lack of emotions on her voice perhaps slipping, as much as it could due to the text-to-speech tone it had “Intended function of ‘Citizen Murder’ will not be accomplished I’m afraid”

Two rounded and spinning saws appeared as Cyn made gestures with her hands, the Absolute Solver Glyph appearing and directing those spawned items towards her, on a jump, she stabbed one of the saws to the floor and the other one flew past her.

“Running out of tricks?” Tessa asked, as she started running towards the drone gone rogue with the intent to kill it.

“On the opposite!” An answer, a hesitation hidden between lines, was it perhaps a sight she was nearing the end of this fight? “May you encounter a Citizen Dead suiting yourself only!”

Cyn levitated as more aggressive limbs came in to obstruct Tessa’s path, she started swinging her blade with fury as she was halted once again from her objective, this night was certainly NOT going to plan, but so long as she kept fighting, she would most probably make it to the next day; and as she kept cutting through pincers and tentacles, she could not that the so quick dance and pace she had been keeping on with this menace had been ebbing, somewhat, she was growing tired too, but a being this size was probably going down before her.

“Only if you can overcome the energy wasted by trying to crush something as small as me!” She taunted as sparks came from the sword as once again she did a parry to a pincer, practically mangling it as oil stained her face slightly “C’mon!” She said in frustration.

The dance will keep going, and the sword and limbs remain at odds; the question as to who shall triumph stood on the air; the ruthless vindicator? The heroic paladin? It was a question that didn’t got answered even after it all closed with a flourish, and yet, as the memory of the Swirling Dance, one of parry’s and sparks and of the toughest battle she had been on kept living on Tessa’s memory, she regarded it as a tough night. And she hoped for the second act of that dance to take place, soon.

Cyn commission for her VA!