#{caught in the snare} starter call

[7rabbi7s]

INTERMISSION

ALRIGHT, CHUCKLEFUCKS! THINGS HAVE SLOWED DOWN BETWEEN DYING AND DEATH, SO WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET THE BLOOD PUMPING OTHER THAN MEETING SOME SOCIALLY ANXIOUS AND UNSTABLE PEOPLE?

YOU GUYS KNOW THE RULES BY NOW. REBLOGS AND LIKES ARE WAYS WE TELL WHO WANTS TO WRITE WITH US. WE'RE HAMMERING THAT DOWN, IF YOU INTERACT WITH ANY OF OUR POSTS WE'LL BE IN YOUR DM'S READY TO PLOT. DON'T INTERACT UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WRITE WITH US.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE FEELING JAY AND CONNOR THE MOST, BUT FEEL FREE TO TELL/TAG/MESSAGE US WHO YOU'D PREFER. MUN WILL BE LISTING MUSES BELOW.

#slenderverse roleplay #everymanhybrid rp #habit rp #{listen up fuckers} important #{caught in the snare} starter call #{BLUE JAY} Jay Merrick #{THE WARREN} HABIT #{GLORIFIED CHEW TOY} Mo #{OLD YELLER} Connor Dwight #{CLOUDY BITCH} Shaun Andersen #{BROKEN TOY} Evan Myers #{ROCKHEADED} Alex Kralie #{LUCKY VICTIM} Eric #marble hornets rp #stan frederick rp #mlandersen0 rp #whisperedfaith rp #open starter call #starter call

[quillheel]

@manebloom // starter call!

School was out. the evening light drifting in through the windows, golden and light and catching dusts shadows. They would've been home by now, on a normal day. Extracurricular activities weren't their style, but still they found themselves assigned to her class. a choice made during one of the cold spells where it wasn't them but it still left the expectations on their shoulders to carry out commands even when freedom had been relinquished. ━ regardless, they were here, and class was out, and still they lingered, just a little longer.

But where they went, trouble followed, and they really hadn't meant to break anything. ━ a moment alone, something occupied in the hallway leaving them as the only one in the room, a curiosity with the ukulele Dandelion so often carries ━━ Kris wasn't good with most instruments, only piano as something they could lend their hands to, but Dandelion could make the stringed acoustic sing, and maybe part of them wondered how it felt; how keys were so different than strings, how vibration can make wood come alive, seeing her passion in it, seeing her heart in it, maybe they could learn━━

snap. like a black cat crossing paths, walking under ladders, breaking mirrors; all they ever carried was bad luck.

they freeze when they're caught, hand still gentle but almost strangling in this light on the neck of the ukulele as a broken nylon string flails helplessly and curled, the murderer; dead silent, unreadable. ( startled, rabbit caught in snare; they really didn't mean to... )

#Kris vc ok fine im stuck in the extracirricular music class maybe i can learn smth from Dandie. i really admire her passion this could be f- #Kris (accidentally breaks a string of Dandie's ukulele) vc GOD. DAMNIT. #MUSE / Kris Dreemurr #ROLEPLAY / Kris Dreemurr #manebloom #━ ♔ to jump from anywhere & make it home : threads. #━ ♔ you sing but only the pavement listens : ic. #deltarune // #undertale //

[deathfavor]

starter call. - @tsckcyomi​

   “  That’s not a very beautiful expression on your face you know. If you’re not careful, you’ll get wrinkles soon. Or end up like Saruhiko. “

   Yukari hadn’t been expecting to cross paths with the newest red king when he’d gone out today. Although Anna didn’t seem to have the usual loudmouth vanguard with her when he subtly glanced around. How strange. Conceal the traps and the deer wander out, a phrase that seemed too accurate for this moment.. Yet the beauty angel’s words had been the truth ; this was no trap ready to snare the unsuspecting prey. There was no need for the girl now that the silver king had finally made his appearance again.

   He holds up a gloved hand before she can potentially run.  “  There’s no need to worry. I’m not out for a fight or to cause trouble. Nor is Sukuna if you happen to see him running around.  “  Yukari gives a deep sigh, hands on his hips.  “  That boy is so full of energy. He was wanting some new video game that came out. It was rather unbecoming. “  He shakes his head for a moment before looking towards the king before him properly.  “  But that is to say that JUNGLE is not doing anything nefarious. We’re just having a pleasany shopping spree. And I don’t think you’d want to get innocent people caught in the cross fire if you decide to act rashly, do you?  “  

   He raises an eyebrow slightly towards Anna as further emphasis to his words. It wasn’t quite a threat, but it wasn’t a simple passive comment either. Especially not when Yukari’s infamous sword, Ayamachi, rested against his back. Shopping or no, Ayamachi was never far from his side. A few seconds pass, and then the beauty angel’s expression relaxes again into a pleasant smile. The J-Rank glanced between her and the bakery they stood outside before pointing.  “  You don’t happen to be here for the red blossom dessert debuting, are you? It’s quite beautiful. “

#tsckcyomi #yukari vc: never too young to practice good skincare #love a subtle threat but not threat going on #hope this works for you! #and if not feel free to let me know! #and i can always toss another if you want another muse / pair of the k muses! #᛭ — [IC] you are a falling star burning bright [YUKARI MISHAKUJI]

[fatedbeginnings]

CLOSED GoT STARTER FOR @tvnkerbell​​

muse: arryk lannister plot: nobles/royals meeting in places least expected of them!

as the fifth son of the ruling lord lannister, arryk would inherit neither the rock, nor lannisport, but he was granted a sort of freedom his brothers were not. most in his shoes might have sought an honorable position among the kingsguard, or perhaps a marriage to a house granted only daughters ( in hopes of gaining a land to call his own ). but arryk was content leading the men sworn to his house during times of need, or simply wandering the westerlands during times of peace.

it was during such a time, with nothing but a horse and a pack of meager supplies, that the man had decided to make camp in the wood ( a fine mist beginning to pepper the air in a manner that promised a storm come nightfall ). with his shelter prepared and a fresh catch from a nearby snare cleaned and settled above the fire to cook, arryk was all but hunkered down for the evening when the sharp snap of a nearby branch caught his attention ( a dark shadow hidden amongst the trees catching his eye ). “are you lost, friend?” he questioned, fingers lingering toward the blade at his side.

#tvnkerbell #𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐓𝐒 *⠀⸺ arryk

[zawazawanightmares]

Jade & White Fang Grunt

You, Jade (Beyond Good & Evil), are connected to White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP) Your partner selected the 18+ server. Your partner has a starter. Type /starter or tap here to see it.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): /starter

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): [Looking for a classic stuck-through-wall setup for a RWBY SRP. Nothing that's going to be super dark or brutal. Starter below!] This particular cell of the White Fang was by no means large, and the facility showed it. More of a converted house than an actual bunker or hideout, the bars on the windows of the lower story left a worn but still solid wooden front door as the only obvious means of entry. Well... that and the doggy door that had been set into it. It was pretty big for a dog door--as a matter of fact, just big enough to fit the head and shoulders of your average Huntress. What it wouldn't fit, however, was something like a combat skirt, or let's face it, a sufficiently thicc intruder. Aurelia nodded to herself with satisfaction as she looked at her handiwork through the security camera she'd aimed down the entry hall of the hideout. Now THAT was one secure entryway. It was basically foolproof, honestly! Everyone said so (except like one guy, but fuck him). She hummed to herself as she went to refill her coffee mug. ((Basic kinks: Clothed sex, hotdogging, groping, grinding, light noncon/dubcon, stuck, taunting ((Optional kinks: Anal, breeding ((Limits: Gore, vore, degradation, brutal, bathroom kinks, feet

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): ((Listen, mad respect for the DEEP cut on the franchise, that's some ancient texts right there))

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): (It is pretty acclaimed.)

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): White Fang base, heavily guarded, barely secure entryway...all these things added up to one fact for Jade: BIG scoop. Jade made her way down the hall quietly until she came upon the door. Rolling her eyes, she got down and began to crawl through the doggy dog like hole. Things were going well...until they weren't. She was stuck. Or, more accurately, her ass was stuck on the door. "Great..."

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): It didn't take long for Aurelia to notice the intrepid reporter's predicament, and when she did it was an achievement in itself that the monitor didn't wind up covered in coffee! "Hah! I knew it! I'm a genius!" she yelped, and hastily set her cup aside to make tracks down toward the front door! A few feet short of the last turn, she slowed to a walk; it wouldn't do to look TOO eager in front of a prisoner, after all. Slow walk, menacing, chest out, just like she practiced in front of the mirror. Only then did she round the bend. "Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in!" Her delivery was roughly as convincing and erudite as the dog door trap had been... which is to say, not very. "Just sniffing around?"

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Crap..." Jade struggled in the door before giving up. "Fine...you caught me. Get me out of here and I'll surrender for questioning."

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Of course you will! As is only fitting." She made a few more casual steps toward the door, then stopped short. It was a whole lot easier to open a door when there wasn't a whole person stuck through it. She had to think fast, improvise. "Let's just see about freeing you from my snare." Her eyes fell on a nearby window--locked from the inside, naturally--and she pivoted toward it, unlatching it and stepping through! "Alright, no funny business," she called, and turned toward the door, and Jade's other half.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): Jade huffed, balancing her chin on her hand as she tapped the floor in annoyance. Honestly, this was rookie stuff. She couldn't believe she fell for something that would trip up a home intruder. She felt like a complete amateur.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): Hearing the sigh, Aurelia beamed. "Despair already setting in? Don't worry, you'll be treated fairly if you cooperate." She dropped down to one knee and leaned in to try and reach in to lift the door from where it was pinning Jade... and only then did she really take in the actual view. "Uh. Whoa. I mean." She shook her head rapidly. "Just have to reach past you and lift the..." she muttered.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Is there a problem?" An unaware Jade asked as she looked back. She was already getting impatient. "I said I surrendered, didn't I? So open up the door already and let me out!"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Of course there's no problem!" Aurelia snapped, a little too quickly. "I'll free you when I'm, uh. Good and ready. Have to take adequate... precautions, and all." This was quickly falling apart. She couldn't let herself be sidetracked by... by... "A lot of ass for an infiltrator," she huffed. She thought it was under her breath, but the door wasn't exactly made for soundproofing quality.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Sorry that I'm not skinny enough for your liking." She pouted. "Would you prefer the intruder to have been thin enough to squeeze through the door without alerting anybody?"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Of course not! No, that's not what I meant, it's actually really--" Another shake, much harder this time. Don't reassure the prisoner, what the hell? "Look, I just mean it's going to take me a bit longer to... there!" With a triumphant grin, she managed to get hold of the door flap and hook it up out of the way! "Just back out slowly, no sudden moves."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "You got it." Jade planted her hands on the floor, took a breath, and shot herself back through the opening...pushing herself ass-first into the grunt's crotch before falling over on her. "Oof!"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Wha-hey-oof!" she yelped, and toppled flat onto her back on the grass! While she'd braced herself for some sort of attack or ploy, this... this was something else entirely. The loose-fitting uniform pants of the White Fang were all too happy to relay to Jade just what kind of impact she had with that little stunt, as a very noticeable tent was now jammed right up against her rear. Aurelia, for her part, was absolutely beet red--not to mention effectively stunned into silence.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Sorry! I'm not trying to resist, I pro---" Jade stopped when she felt something hard and clothed against her ass. "What the...is that a gun? Were you that worried about intruders?"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): The question made Aurelia genuinely curious, in a dazed sort of way. "A gun? Whose gun?" Propping herself up onto her elbows, she looked around on the grass under her and Jade. "I don't even... have..." Her flush cycled a few shades deeper. "Oh. That. No, that's, um." She considered trying to move, but the thought of any sort of friction was... she just filed it away for later. "I'm... Hyena."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Hyena?" Jade though for a few moments before a blush came over her olive-skinned complexion. "OH...uh, sorry about that." She cleared her throat as she froze. "Should I...move?"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "That's a good plan," she said hastily, very resolutely ignoring the very loud caucus in her brain that took exception to that. "Yeah. You can get up, and I can take you prisoner, and we can just... move on. Right?"

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Yeah, we can do that...or..." With an innocent look on her face, she began to grind her ass against the Grunt's crotch. "Maybe we can work out a trade? Just a one time thing, of course."

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): A look of pure, wide-eyed shock flickered over Aurelia's face, followed by a moan and a hasty clap of a hand over her mouth! "Wh-aaaaaaht are you d-doing?" she hissed, but the hard-on underneath Jade gave a noticeable, eager twitch!

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "You let me go and we can make each other very happy for a little bit..." She reached down and pulled down the grunt's pants. "Whoa...maybe for more than a little bit..." She pulled down her own pants, showing off her black-panty clad ass before she pushed it against the grunt's cock again.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Yeah, but I..." she trailed off, arching her back to buck up into the grinding. "Nnnnf... fine!" she growled, and her hands came up to seize Jade's hips, rocking upward to match their pace! "You've got a-a deal..."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Good girl..." Already taking charge, Jade slowly peeled down her underwear to take the grunt's cock in between her cheeks, slowly stroking her off with them. "What's your name?"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): She sucked in a breath as she felt the bare skin close around her, eyes squeezing shut as she fought to keep a handle on her own voice. "Aaaaurelia... Aurelia. What about you, what's yours? Fuck, that's... Fuck..."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Jade." She simply answered as she kept grinding against poor Aurelia's cock. "You like that? Gotta admit, I haven't done this in a while..."

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "It's... amazing..." She was a horrible liar under the best of circumstances, and these definitely weren't those; she was basically an open book being ridden like this. "I never... Never even thought to..."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Really? Guess that makes two of us." She reached back and guided Aureila's cock to touch against her own pussy. "Never thought the day would come when I get to lay a Faunus..."

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Heh... Well, happy to... to..." A low, hungry moan interrupted her as she pushed upward, slowly easing her way into her "prisoner." Her fingers took handfuls of the grass and held tight, savoring the sensation.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): Jade bit her lip as she felt Aureila enter her. God, she felt so fucking good...when enough of her was inside, she began to pump herself on her cock, clearly enjoying the feeling of the hyena Faunus stretching her. "Damn, you're pretty big...for a grunt..."

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "H-hey! I prefer to think of it as--nnf!--an.. an entry-level position..." she gasped out. Trying to be indignant just wasn't going to work with this reporter bouncing up and down on her, and she tipped her head back.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Oh really? Working your way to the top...I didn't know the White Fang worked like that." While she was clearly enjoying her time with the grunt, she suddenly got an idea. "I mean, you're pretty low on the totem pole but they at least tell you about their plans?" To sweeten her question, she took off her jacket and pulled her shirt over her head, all without slowing down.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "Here and... here and there..." she admitted. Something at the back of her mind made her think she shouldn't be saying this, but it was quickly silenced by very, very obvious reasons. "I mean... usually I'm the only one at this outpost... but I get mission reports from other... other cells to pass ooooon!"

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Mission reports? You must be pretty important then..." She reached down to grab Aureila's hands and place them on her breasts, letting her feel how erect her nipples are. "Like, what kind of reports do they give you?"

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): She was all too happy to explore, hands palming at the exposed breasts! She captured those stiff peaks between thumb and forefinger, rolling them with surprising gentleness. "F-fffh... Uh... Like... Operations going on... things to watch out for?"

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Dangerous things? Like former members, rival organizations, maybe something big being planned in the horizon?" She made sure to ride her faster and harder, risking making her distracted just to feel more of her wonderful member.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): Aurelia could feel the pressure building as the pace increased, and she matched it with desperate strokes! "Y-yeah, yeah, all that stuff! Addresses, sometimes? Fuck, I'm so..."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): She paused, as much as it hurt just as much as it probably hurt the grunt. "Give me address and I'll let you unload all of it inside me."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): *an address

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): The sudden stop left the Faunus gasping for air, but the absolute need to keep going overrode any hesitation. She racked her lust-fogged mind for something, anything. "86... 86 Parker Drive... warehouse district... Please!"

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): With that, Jade resumed just as fast as she stopped, tightening as she felt herself nearing her climax. "Let it all out, Aureila...give me a litter to take care of!" God, she sounded so corny...

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): As corny as it was, it seemed to do the trick! Aurelia's arms came up, locking around Jade and pulling her down until every last inch of that length surged inside! She held her there for a brief second of silence before heat exploded between them! Jet after jet of hot seed flooded into her, pumping her full in seconds!

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "Oh fuck..." Jade muttered as she felt the Faunus' juices flowing into her. The sudden cuddling coupled with the action caused her to cum herself a few seconds after, letting out a low sultry moan as she did so.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): Aurelia just panted for breath, riding out Jade's orgasm with her and basking in the afterglow. The haze hung heavy around her thoughts, but eventually she relaxed the hold--though she didn't pull away completely.

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): Jade fell back gently with her, in an almost erotic parody of how the two ended up in this situation to begin with. "Thanks...for everything." She felt slightly guilty for using Aureila like that but she wanted to remain in this pose for a little longer.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "You... are a dangerous woman," she answered, though her tone was more scolding than truly betrayed. "Can't believe all it took was the best sex anyone's ever had to get me to spill my guts..."

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "I don't suppose you'd want to do it again soon...you know, for free?" She offered.

White Fang Grunt (Futa, RWBY SRP): "What, and compromise my deepest held ideals, betray all my oaths of brotherhood, and turn against the very people who made me what I am now?" She paused, cocking her head from side to side thoughtfully. "...Tuesday?"

Jade (Beyond Good & Evil): "...Tuesday." Jade answered with a sweet smile.

You left the chat

#jade #white fang #srp

[edenmemes]

the witcher 3: wild hunt starters

including quotes from the dlcs hearts of stone & blood and wine

❝  you were always an unruly child. i adored that about you.  ❞ ❝  mmm. yes. of course. the excuse you resort to when you’d rather not talk about something.  ❞ ❝  how many have you killed? how many more might you still?  ❞ ❝  you know who i am. and why i’m here.  ❞ ❝  you're a madman and always have been. a cruel, cold-blooded killer.  ❞ ❝  a man should frame his wishes carefully. it forestalls disappointment.  ❞ ❝  no argument. you knew what you were signing up for.  ❞ ❝  maybe once, in a different time...i’d have helped.  ❞ ❝  don’t train alone, it only embeds your errors.  ❞ ❝  wanna get drunk off my ass. and it’s gotta be on cheap wine.  ❞ ❝  you’re a heartless bastard.  ❞ ❝  try to trick me anyway, anyhow, you won’t go anywhere, you know that. ‘cause i’ll take your head off right where it meets your neck.  ❞ ❝  sorry. i don’t want to talk about it. not now, at least.  ❞ ❝  we are more like a family.   we support each other and help each other survive tough moments.  ❞ ❝  so how’s it feel to be the village witch?  ❞ ❝  realize, please, that you were made for great things.  ❞ ❝  folks say a curse has fallen on that place, a dark power brought down by the bestiality of the murders it beheld.  ❞ ❝  so, now you’ve threatened me and all...are you in or are you not?  ❞ ❝  i know it must sound foolish, but in the dream - well, it was all too real...  ❞ ❝  we may not survive this. in fact, our chances are slim.  ❞ ❝  it’s always been about you. only you.  ❞ ❝  i remember finding your sense of humor both groan-worthy...and somehow endearing.  ❞ ❝  kings die, realms fall, but magic endures.  ❞ ❝  i detest banquets. vacuous conversation, food portions fit for a mouse, drinks that taste like piss...  ❞ ❝  despite what you’ve heard, i don’t lunge at every monster i see, sword in hand.  ❞ ❝  each day’s more dangerous than the last.  ❞ ❝  it’s folks like you that restore my faith in humankind.  ❞ ❝  my power lies in possessing knowledge, not sharing it.  ❞ ❝  the rotten smell brings back childhood memories.  ❞ ❝  awfully noble of you, showing so much concern for the needy.  ❞ ❝  no need to thank me. always glad to save your ass. you’re welcome.  ❞ ❝  i may be inhumanely beautiful, but i don’t have super human senses.  ❞ ❝  anyone can be made to talk, even a corpse. one must simply know how.  ❞ ❝  we’ve done the hardest part. only got the pleasant bits now.  ❞ ❝  there are few causes worth saving. even fewer men.  ❞ ❝  don’t treat me like a child.  ❞ ❝  there’s strange men lurking outside the house. watching me.  ❞ ❝  you must be careful what you wish for lest your wish be granted.    for there are consequences.  ❞ ❝  shall i be free of the suffering? the sadness?  ❞ ❝  i wish to gaze into those eyes, eyes the devil would be proud to have.  ❞ ❝  you were born with a great gift. and only you can decide how to use it.  ❞ ❝  any other words of wisdom? or can we go?  ❞ ❝  what i need is an ally. and something tells me i shall find none better than you.  ❞ ❝  i can see no row can occur here without your participation.  ❞ ❝  i and what concerns me have not been a concern of yours for some time now.  ❞ ❝  if you’d not arrived in time, things might have ended considerably worse.  ❞ ❝  if they can bleed, they can die.  ❞ ❝  a man must display some madness from time to time --- it helps him feel alive.  ❞ ❝  i was deeply troubled. you’ve no idea.  ❞ ❝  done that so many times, but...it felt like our first kiss to me.  ❞ ❝  don’t need to play tough on me.  ❞ ❝  i've lost too many mates already. i won’t risk it, i can't.  ❞ ❝  there’s just not enough of us. it’ll be a hard fight.  ❞ ❝  in lonely woods, screams carry long.  ❞ ❝  things used to be simpler.    monsters were bad, humans good.   now, everything’s all confused.  ❞ ❝  as for your missteps --- i don't rightly see why i shouldn't laugh if they're amusing..  ❞ ❝  i’ve no gold to offer you in reward...but i shall be ever so grateful.  ❞ ❝  if you’re scared, turn back. i’m gonna go on.  ❞ ❝  if anything happens, i’ll defend you.  ❞ ❝  once you say "i love you," a kiss has to taste differently.  ❞ ❝  maybe we should sit? you look a bit dazed...  ❞ ❝  drink it off, sleep it off, whatever it takes...just get yourself together and think things        through.  ❞ ❝  i shall join later, if it’s no trouble. i don’t yet feel strong enough to venture out.  ❞ ❝  awake at last. you writhed like a squirrel caught in a snare.  ❞ ❝  again you plan without even asking what i think!  ❞ ❝  come to see how i’m feelin'? thanks, not bad.  ❞ ❝  i remember that day quite well...there was a light drizzle, yet the cold tore right through you.  ❞ ❝  you gotta keep your eyes peeled wide open. someone’s taken an interest in your work.  ❞ ❝  oof...for a minute, i actually thought we were doomed.  ❞ ❝  you shouldn’t worry yourself --- it tarnishes your beauty.  ❞ ❝  i’d even embrace you...were you not covered in blood.  ❞ ❝  guess i could’ve been someone worse...just a shame i had no choice.  ❞ ❝  facts interest me. not fairytales.  ❞ ❝  hm, odd smell. blend of alcohol, blood and monster stench.  ❞ ❝  i’m old and i am wealthy. i may say what i please.  ❞ ❝  now, be so kind and leave me to my thoughts.  ❞ ❝  in your shoes i’d pack it up and go hide somewhere far away.  ❞ ❝  forgive me, but that's the blatherin' of someone who clearly can't snap out of it after a tragic loss.  ❞ ❝  that all you gotta say? i saved your life.  ❞ ❝  i swear on all that is holy: we shall be together forever.  ❞ ❝  think of me as part of the decor.  ❞ ❝  anyone who’s bold enough to fight is already a hero.  ❞ ❝  if this is a trap of some sort...  ❞ ❝  you can count on me, you know? always.  ❞ ❝  you don’t know how much it means...to have someone you can rely on in this fucking city.  ❞ ❝  i know you. you have no heart.  ❞ ❝  no room for friendship in this business.  ❞ ❝  evil is evil. lesser, greater, middling, makes no difference. the degree is arbitrary, the definitions blurred.  ❞ ❝  hands off, or i'll cut them off.  ❞ ❝  i’ll need to clear my head first. after those deranged dreams, i feel it’s full of cobwebs.  ❞ ❝  on your way? or will you stay longer? it’s far safer with you around...  ❞ ❝  really sad story, but something’s not right. got a feeling you’re not telling me everything.  ❞ ❝  gotta admit, there’s something about you. you’re...different.  ❞ ❝  with each arrow i shoot, i think of my dad. he’d be proud, i think.  ❞ ❝  i merely know when to indulge my pride, and when to swallow it.  ❞ ❝  you were born to greatness.  ❞ ❝  these’re dark, grim times. no room for knights pure of heart or happily-ever-afters.  ❞ ❝  a life without liquor’s like loving without licking.  ❞ ❝  my certainty i walk the right path grows strong as iron, firm as steel.  ❞ ❝  few make me feel awkward, but in your presence, i feel anxiety, discomfort.  ❞ ❝  some men have got good reason to fear their own shadows.  ❞ ❝  some men cannot admit defeat. some keep fighting from beyond the grave.  ❞ ❝  stare into their eyes, feast on their terror. then go in for the kill.  ❞ ❝  forget not that you are a person right and honorable, devoted to doing good.  ❞ ❝  ash shall fertilize the soil. by spring, the valley shall bloom once more.  ❞ ❝  there’s lots of wraiths here. i hear them whispering every night.  ❞ ❝  no one has the courage to face this threat! yet we must kill them, or sooner or later we will all die.  ❞ ❝  you are a step away from losing your head. speak the truth and you might yet keep it.  ❞ ❝  you carry within you the weight of a terrible tragedy. you are a good person, but lost. which is why you come across as grim.  ❞ ❝  if i understand you correctly, you would rather help a monster than kill it?  ❞ ❝  discouraged after a mere eight attempts?  ❞ ❝  easier to pat someone on the back and hope things will work out than it is to face the truth.  ❞ ❝  know that they can’t teach an old dog new tricks?  ❞ ❝  my, you’ve grown beautiful.  ❞ ❝  my swords a promise --- if i reach for it, heads will roll.  ❞ ❝  one condition: no one dies. that clear?  ❞ ❝  patience happens to be my weakness. so dispense with the dramatic pauses and talk.  ❞ ❝  you proved today you can take care of yourself.  ❞ ❝  you under the delusion you’ll complete your tasks, live happily ever after?  ❞ ❝  i will not sit and twiddle my thumbs. i'm sick of waiting, sick of hiding!  ❞ ❝  glad you know who i am. haven’t introduced yourself, though.  ❞ ❝  i’ve seen a great deal --- cruelty, cynicism, greed.  ❞ ❝  you tempt fate, because at heart you are unhappy.  ❞ ❝  we had our chance, but...let it go.  ❞ ❝  come now, you didn’t expect it to be that easy, did you?  ❞ ❝  promise me one thing --- you’ll stop risking your life for others.  ❞ ❝  instead of dwelling on the future, i’d rather live in the moment.  ❞ ❝  i adore love stories. especially the ones that end happily ever after.  ❞ ❝  we are drops of rain that together make a ferocious storm.  ❞ ❝  the path to freedom is paved in blood, not ink.  ❞ ❝  we’ll get our happy ending. one day.  ❞ ❝  i’ll never forget what you did for me...and what we had together.  ❞ ❝  don’t meddle in other people’s lives.  ❞ ❝  i don’t get attached to places. just people.  ❞ ❝  it’s dangerous, there are risks involved. understand that, don’t you?  ❞ ❝  and here i hoped someone would finally take pity on me.  ❞ ❝  seen a lot of dead in my time, but that must’ve been hard.  ❞ ❝  air is strange...like dropping into a deep cellar on a hot day...  ❞ ❝  wouldn’t carry a sword if i didn’t know how to use it.  ❞ ❝  take it you didn't summon me to reminisce about the good old days, so...  ❞ ❝  i was attacked --- had to defend myself.  ❞ ❝  guards have never stopped me, you know that.  ❞ ❝  treating the ill and wounded...it’s my calling.  ❞ ❝  you think it’s enchanted?  ❞ ❝  there are times when a woman should simply not explain her decision.  ❞ ❝  won’t find too many comforts, but try to feel at home.  ❞ ❝  i was looking for you...sometimes i thought you were just a step away. other times, i felt like i was going around in circles.  ❞ ❝  i’ll remember you. always with a smile.  ❞ ❝  i’d rather you not make anymore trouble --- for yourself, or us both.  ❞ ❝  got the stench of corpes on you.  ❞ ❝  you stood to gain --- that is why you saved me.  ❞ ❝  sages invariably have hidden agendas. altruism is simply not part of their constitution.  ❞ ❝  the gods have abandoned us. the mighty of this earth care not for our fate.  ❞ ❝  is that admiration i hear in your voice?  ❞ ❝  i started off heading in the opposite direction, but then turned around.  ❞ ❝  i’m fed up. i won’t have others deciding for me behind my back.  ❞ ❝  where’d you get this idea? what’s gotten into you?  ❞ ❝  i don't expect you to commit now. think it over, what you've heard, what you feel.  ❞ ❝  head torn clear off...takes incredible strength.  ❞ ❝  desperate fathers have been known to do a lot to find their daughters.  ❞ ❝  you cannot kill me. you know this...  ❞ ❝  "i give you my heart”? what kind of spell is that?  ❞ ❝  i’d go anywhere with you.  ❞ ❝  why? because i am a woman? in a frock, rather than plate? i can take care of myself, i assure you.  ❞ ❝  everything we discussed here, hope you’ll keep it to yourself. counting on it, in fact.  ❞ ❝  trusted you once. won’t make that mistake again.  ❞ ❝  shut up. i’ve heard enough of your bullshit. draw your weapon, let’s get this over with.  ❞ ❝  exaggerating for effect, right?  ❞ ❝  well, well...when cornered, you can bite.  ❞ ❝  you cannot win...even if you kill me.  ❞ ❝  you know i’m good at accomplishing the impossible.  ❞ ❝  it’s nothing, really. you’d have done the same for me.  ❞ ❝  you are not ready. you do not control your powers.  ❞ ❝  you’re a tool in their hands, even if you don’t see it.  ❞ ❝  i’d do anything for you, i would. you know that well.  ❞ ❝  this is a land where the fantastic is normal, and the impossible occurs daily...  ❞ ❝  know when a legend becomes a prophecy? when it gain believers.  ❞ ❝  i thought you’d become a stranger to me. that i’d look at you and not feel a thing. but it’s not like that at all. nothing’s changed.  ❞ ❝  to be honest, i just wanted to go on a walk with you.  ❞ ❝  what i really want is to be with you, to...to be together and...  ❞ ❝  this is not the kind of offer one refuses.  ❞ ❝  despair devours you like maggots devour a corpse.  ❞ ❝  before long every soul will kneel before you.  ❞ ❝  i run into dilemmas all the time. situations where it's hard to judge, hard to know what's right, make a decision. this is not one of them. you disgust me. and deserve to die.  ❞ ❝  you know me. i’m rare to praise, but when i do, it’s sincere.  ❞ ❝  i'm not a thug for hire.  ❞ ❝  i like being on adventures, sleeping under the stars, waking up with dew on my face.  ❞ ❝  the dream's within reach now. i’m not about to let it go.  ❞ ❝  unlike you, killing gives me no pleasure.  ❞ ❝  can't speak for the world you inhabit, but in mine, nothing is ever black and white.  ❞ ❝  you cannot possibly imagine how much i detest this place.  ❞ ❝  stones you’ve got. but i didn’t think you’d have the stomach for a massacre.  ❞ ❝  the dead man --- looked like a monster attacked him recently.  ❞ ❝  finish all your business before you die. bid loved ones farewell. write your will. apologize to those you’ve wronged. otherwise, you’ll never truly leave this world.  ❞ ❝  i've had nothing but nightmares lately. pretty horrible.  ❞ ❝  i was wandering through the forest, breathing deep the air, and then i heard a strange sound, unsettling.  ❞ ❝  had a few nice dreams. for example, in one we sat around a fire, drinking good wine, and all around people danced and laughed.  ❞ ❝  they’re all dead! mountains of corpses. yet here i stand alone. all alone.  ❞ ❝  this isn’t a game. men have died.  ❞ ❝  if you wanna listen, listen, if not --- i'd rather you spared me your wit and throw me out now.  ❞ ❝  you fed me, cared for me, had my wounds looked after. we're even now.  ❞ ❝  you’ll return, you shall. our fates are bound.  ❞ ❝  i’ve nothing left. not a fucking thing.  ❞ ❝  i don’t question your abilities. i simply don’t trust you.  ❞ ❝  what foolish things men sometimes do.  ❞ ❝  dare harm me, and against you will rise all the powers of nature.  ❞ ❝  did you destroy the evil powers? have you brought peace to my domain?  ❞ ❝  well, perhaps i shall tell you about it one day. one day, but not today..  ❞ ❝  times like these, you never know what tomorrow will bring.  ❞ ❝  you worry too much. what will be, will be.  ❞ ❝  have you gone completely mad? we must leave here at once!  ❞ ❝  time eats away at memories, distorts them. sometimes we only remember the good... sometimes only the bad.  ❞ ❝  you don’t need magic to strip men of their humanity. i’ve seen plenty of examples.  ❞ ❝  if i’m to choose between one evil and another, i’d rather not choose at all.  ❞ ❝  see what i’ve got on my back? wolves fear it. kings do, too.  ❞ ❝  i missed those awkward compliments of yours.  ❞ ❝  sometimes i think it’s all too lovely to be true…that something’s bound to happen, another war or some other horror.  ❞ ❝  took you a while. did you run into trouble?  ❞ ❝  i just travel a lot. and i don't always happen upon such good and civil company.  ❞ ❝  what can you know about saving the world, silly?  ❞ ❝  done my share of fighting. wouldn't carry a sword if i didn't know to use it.  ❞ ❝  all right, perhaps i wasn’t completely honest.  ❞ ❝  ever thought this day would come? me and you...peace and quiet...bees buzzing, birds chirping.  ❞ ❝  i detect a shadow of impatience in your face.  ❞ ❝  took me a long time to find you. wasn't an easy road to travel.  ❞ ❝  wipe that frown off your face, or i might think you don’t like me anymore.  ❞ ❝  always believed attack was the best defense.  ❞ ❝  once it’s all over, if we survive ... i wish to leave, go far away.   and i’d like you to come with me.  ❞ ❝  naturally, you suspect me of the worst. i don’t deserve that.  ❞ ❝  we can fight another time, in another place, where the walls have no ears.  ❞ ❝  once i was free...i shall be free once more.  ❞ ❝  believe me...a tavern, mulled wine, our boots drying by the fire --- i’d like nothing better.  ❞ ❝  prove it. kiss me.  ❞ ❝  the prophecies do not lie...you cannot survive this struggle.  ❞ ❝  i know you better than you think.  ❞ ❝  you know me. nothing i like more than breaking rules.  ❞ ❝  what’s happened? it’s so quiet, all of a sudden.  ❞ ❝  thank you, for coming with me.  ❞ ❝  i cannot do everything for you. use your head.  ❞ ❝  i'm angry and tired. had to kill a lot of people along the way.  ❞ ❝  we’ve come a long way, and i’d be damned if we’ve come to fail.  ❞ ❝  i sense your pain. i see your fear.  ❞ ❝  how’s this for an answer: kiss my ass.  ❞ ❝  how many have you already killed? how many more might you still?  ❞ ❝  i'm quite alive and extraordinarily well. better than i've ever been in this rotten life of mine.  ❞ ❝  i like it when you smile. come here. everything will be all right.  ❞ ❝  ugh. don’t fall in love with me.  ❞ ❝  i don’t like you. in fact, i feel like slapping you.  ❞ ❝  i'm too old to play the blushing bride...unless you ask nicely.  ❞ ❝  that bit of my life --- forgotten it already.  ❞ ❝  the world doesn’t need a hero. it needs a professional.  ❞ ❝  next time you wonder why i’m so bitter...well, there's your answer.  ❞ ❝  nothing wrong with having a drink in good company.  ❞ ❝  i want you behind those rocks. and keep your mouth shut.  ❞ ❝  nice of you to worry...but i've made my decision, and i won't change it.  ❞ ❝  this is my story, not yours. you must let me finish telling it.  ❞ ❝  after all that toil, i believe we deserve a bit of a rest.  ❞ ❝  i was afraid you were dead.  ❞ ❝  we’ve all some stain on our conscience.  ❞ ❝  leaving the castle walls means certain death.  ❞ ❝  right good jest. had us a laugh. now fuck off.  ❞ ❝  i’ve heard about you. you bring trouble, or thus far have, always.  ❞ ❝  ah, you’ve struck a raw nerve.    memories of a time long past to which i’d rather not return now.  ❞ ❝  we meet again. and it seems you need my help. again.  ❞ ❝  got a relative i can talk to? someone - how do i say this - a smidgen less irritating?  ❞ ❝  miss the target, you owe me fifty push-ups. hit it, you owe me twenty.  ❞ ❝  oh. serious talk coming.  ❞ ❝  i feel like one more lie'd be the last bitter drop in a chalice full of sorrow.  ❞ ❝  romantic? thought we came here as friends.  ❞ ❝  you’re hiding something. and that’s one thing i can’t stand.  ❞ ❝  tell me, how do you do it? always manage to pull yourself together, focus, no matter what’s happening?  ❞ ❝  i go wherever i please, whenever i please.  ❞ ❝  uh oh. i know that look.  ❞ ❝  sounds tempting. so tempting i don’t think i can refuse.  ❞ ❝  so, what do you say to a moonlight ride on horseback...and dinner?  ❞ ❝  perhaps...perhaps you’d stay just a bit longer?  ❞ ❝  how are you feeling? sleep well?  ❞ ❝  such a gloomy subject to broach...  simply shouldn’t have.  ❞

❝  such a gloomy subject to broach...i simply shouldn’t have --- not during our romantic dinner.  ❞ ❝  got it. a bit of blackmail --- just your style.  ❞ ❝  it’s the crack of dawn. where do you wanna go?  ❞ ❝  shut up before you wake someone. last thing we need is a crowd.  ❞ ❝  watch what you say. the trees have ears.  ❞ ❝  no bow at hand, no spear. my sword was all i had.  ❞ ❝  never expected you’d take such an interest in my private life.  ❞ ❝  i’m special. always was the rare beauty.  ❞ ❝  damn. been ages since we last saw each other.  ❞ ❝  some charming orchards nearby. in bloom, even, so you almost can't smell the corpses.  ❞ ❝  you know me. nothing i like more than breaking rules.  ❞ ❝  man spends his whole life learning.  ❞ ❝  if only i was as skilled with my words as i am with my blade.  ❞ ❝  i wished to know what was going on in that head of yours. i thought perhaps i could help.  ❞ ❝  i can tell something’s bothering you.  ❞ ❝  dangerous times. each thinks five times before sticking their neck out.   and i can’t blame them.  ❞ ❝  now i care not in the slightest how you think or feel.  ❞ ❝  i no longer know if i still hate you.  ❞ ❝  i see how you look at me, and i see you wither.  ❞ ❝  one last bit of advice --- find a new tavern. everyone here knows you.  ❞ ❝  you won. no point bothering with ‘what ifs’.  ❞ ❝  it’s time i took fate into my own hands. lived life anew...and truly, this time.  ❞ ❝  ahh, 'cause you thought you'd killed me that time. surprise, sur-fucking-prise.  ❞ ❝  who...who’s that? gods, i’m hallucinating.  ❞ ❝  it’s no exaggeration to say i’ve never met a warrior like you in my life. you’re lithe as an eel and strong as a bear.  ❞ ❝  i’ve a heart again, yet all it feels is grief, sadness and defeat. my life is a ruin.  ❞ ❝  sought only to protect myself. in doing so, i put you in harm’s way. forgive me.  ❞ ❝  there’s a charming grove nearby where  kisses  taste  sweeter than anywhere else in the world.  ❞ ❝  you’ve handled tougher situations. you’ll figure this one out.  ❞ ❝  who you are and why you’ve come matter little. for you’ll not leave this place alive.  ❞ ❝  i’m not panicking. just trying to be realistic.  ❞ ❝  hahahahaha...i can’t believe you fell for that!  ❞ ❝  i was actually going to recite an anthem praising your glory, but if you’re not in the mood...  ❞ ❝  lying didn’t always come so easily to you.  ❞ ❝  everyone wants to rule. i can do that better than any monarch.  ❞ ❝  tell me what you want already, and make it quick.  ❞ ❝  what a mess we made of it all...if i’d only known then how it would end...  ❞ ❝  seems a faded dream now, but there were a time where i was happy.  ❞ ❝  why’d you leave me? you claimed you loved me.  ❞ ❝  never liked boats. not one bit.  ❞ ❝  you must be mad. i’ve no intention to make things easier for you.  ❞ ❝  i don’t wish to look at your face any longer than i must.  ❞ ❝  please, no. i can’t stand spells.  ❞ ❝  we agreed not to keep any secrets from one another. we promised.  ❞ ❝  that i like! a man who boldly dares, damn the risks!  ❞ ❝  i thought you bowed before no man.  ❞ ❝  smile a bit wider. ...you were meant to smile, not bare your teeth.  ❞ ❝  is that blood? have you hurt yourself?  ❞ ❝  no reason to trouble the guards. i’ll go willingly.  ❞ ❝  look at me. promise you’ll stay out of it.  ❞ ❝  the minute we’re in trouble, you make me responsible for getting us out.  ❞ ❝  they say they don’t fear the wrath of the gods. and you, do you fear it?  ❞ ❝  i’ll let that pass. i know grief eats at your heart.  ❞ ❝  we all lie sometimes. but lying to yourself is running away, whereas there’s really nowhere to run.  ❞ ❝  don’t need your sympathy, just your help.  ❞ ❝  your loss -- it must hurt, bad. but there wasn't anything we could do.  ❞ ❝  i wish to leave, go far away. and i’d like you to come with me.  ❞ ❝  i trust you have an explanation for this. a very good one.  ❞ ❝  lot of bitterness in you.  ❞ ❝  i assure you, you’re excellent at covering your tracks --- though not terribly subtle. but i’m even better at uncovering them.  ❞ ❝  glad to see you happy...but i don’t think what we did was right.  ❞ ❝  i look at you, and...and feel like i am exactly where i am supposed to be. at long last.  ❞ ❝  i’m no coward. i'll not run this time.  ❞ ❝  yes, i know you’ve trained with swords. but you’re still shit with them.  ❞ ❝  how many innocents have you cut down?  ❞ ❝  problem is, you’re not ordinary. you were born to greatness.  ❞ ❝  not too late to surrender.  ❞ ❝  men turn honest when they feel a blade at their throat.  ❞ ❝  i'm not gonna drink. why dull my senses when i’m in such pleasant company?  ❞ ❝  it’s bound to come in handy, and each time it does, you’ll think of me.  ❞ ❝  lie still or you will bleed to death.  ❞ ❝  your life is yours, exclusively. you choose who you are.  ❞ ❝  for a minute there, was almost sure you’d leave me to die.  ❞ ❝  there is never a second opportunity to make a first impression.  ❞ ❝  it’s all because of that secretiveness of yours.  ❞ ❝  plead the gods spare us, for without their favor we shall most certainly perish.  ❞ ❝  i must say -- seen a lot, but nothing like this, never.  ❞ ❝  you don’t look like you can get home on your own. i’ll walk you.  ❞ ❝  all’s in the past, never to be restored.  ❞ ❝  you know full well i never hold a grudge. i forgive you.  ❞ ❝  the good gods sent you to me.  ❞ ❝  and the guilt, the responsibility of all this, lies with me.  ❞ ❝  you’ve only been here five minutes, and you’ve already managed to offend me twice.  ❞ ❝  you will certainly fetch me a higher bounty alive.  ❞ ❝  what's wrong with my beard? always thought it added to my dignity.  ❞ ❝  if i’m to die today, i wish to look smashing for the occasion.  ❞ ❝  i was stupid. stupidity costs a lot.  ❞ ❝  even your humblest requests seem like threats.  ❞ ❝  your motives do not interest me. only results.  ❞ ❝  and you laughed, oh, how sweetly, how brightly you laughed!  ❞ ❝  you don’t know how it is. to see someone you love die. because of you, for you.  ❞ ❝  to have a scapegoat --- that’s the key.  ❞ ❝  no need to fear me.  ❞ ❝  sorry, but -- your life story? just not interested.  ❞ ❝  with you...it was love at first sight.  ❞ ❝  gotta understand. you don’t betray people like me.  ❞ ❝  i struggled long to find a place where i’d feel safe, needed. until i finally arrived here.  ❞ ❝  just don’t faint on me.  ❞ ❝  could never be there for you everyday. but i’m happy to see you always. and today, i’m all yours.  ❞ ❝  what others think...your image...that’s all you care about.  ❞ ❝  in these foul times one must be wary, even of their friends.  ❞ ❝  come on, don’t get angry - it’s not good for you..  ❞ ❝  so, apart from the sword play, you know potions and all that?  ❞ ❝  i actually envy your sense of wonder --- common in children, and morons.  ❞ ❝  a lot of misfortune for a small village.  ❞ ❝  who are you? do you seek to hurt me as well?  ❞ ❝  the hand that feeds can also strike its wayward wards.  ❞ ❝  shh. eat now. we’ll speak once you’ve rested.  ❞ ❝  brother has turned against brother, the land is soaked in blood. evil reigns stronger than ever before.  ❞ ❝  good looking and clever. where’ve you been hiding?  ❞ ❝  doesn’t bother you, having monsters for neighbours?  ❞ ❝  stay here --- no matter what happens.  ❞ ❝  i never told you this, but i’ve always felt it: i love you.  ❞ ❝  listen to me this once -- don't take matters into your own hands.  ❞ ❝  love these moments. the air before a battle -- nothing smells as sweet.  ❞ ❝  they tried to get in through the main gate. i’m afraid they could succeed next time.  ❞ ❝  too many claim you’re evil.  ❞ ❝  why are you so eager to help strangers? sit your ass down or there’ll be misfortune.  ❞ ❝  you'd never have managed without me, would you? come, now, admit it.  ❞ ❝  for those who remain, death should never take precedence over life.  ❞ ❝  thanks for coming. thanks for risking your life for me.  ❞ ❝  don’t force me to speak of it. no more, please.  ❞ ❝  when doubt plagues your mind, follow your instincts. should they steer you wrong and land you in muck, you'll land at peace with yourself. and that's most important.  ❞ ❝   just know that i know you're here. one misstep, one error...you'll make a mistake, it's inevitable...i'll be the first to learn it.  ❞ ❝  i do not know you. i’ve done you no harm.  ❞ ❝  try not to panic...just doesn’t suit you.  ❞ ❝  we’ve come a long way, and i’ll be damned if we’ve come to fail.  ❞ ❝  had i known what would happen here, i'd never have come.  ❞ ❝  i can say i’ve seen it all now.  ❞ ❝  these scars have long yearned for your tender caress.  ❞ ❝  i don’t fall victim to curses. i cast them.  ❞ ❝  come outside. we can hold hands and stare at the sky.  ❞ ❝  we’ll work well together --- i can see that already.  ❞ ❝  from the first moment i set eyes upon you that fateful evening, my heart has only beaten for you.  ❞ ❝  i trust you as much as you trust me --- not at all.  ❞ ❝  you’ve gone all red in the face just for talking about it.  ❞ ❝  wake up. it’s just a dream. wake up!  ❞ ❝  i still don’t believe everything that happened.  ❞ ❝  i never miss twice.  ❞ ❝  bit too old to believe in bedtime stories, aren’t you?  ❞ ❝  you humans have...unusual tastes.  ❞ ❝  didn’t think it worthwhile to tell me, warn me of your plans?  ❞ ❝  i think you will not attack one unarmed.  ❞ ❝  the deeper i get into this, the more i gotta wonder...why’re you even helping me?  ❞ ❝  to live in peace, we first must kill.  ❞ ❝  at times fate muddles our path, and life turns toilsome, hard to bear.  ❞ ❝  i fight for whoever’s paying the best. or whoever’s easier to rob.  ❞ ❝  do not let my beauty distract your aim.  ❞ ❝  i’ve seen what is to come, i know destruction approaches.  ❞ ❝  the war awoke an ancient power. an evil one that feeds on bloodshed.  ❞ ❝  guess you’re no stranger to fury, either.  ❞ ❝  think i’m gonna fall for that? no chance, you’re wrong.  ❞ ❝  gotta admit --- you do pretty well with a sword.  ❞ ❝  you dare tell me to calm down?! you?!  ❞ ❝  let's say i go about my business, and when there's coin to be earned, i don't readily turn it down.  ❞ ❝  i wish to know the truth...be it sweet, be it painful, i wish to know.  ❞ ❝  men, the polite ones at least, would call me a monster.  ❞ ❝  even i grow ill at the sight of you.  ❞ ❝  i’m going on a walk. or is that not allowed either? because i could break my leg?  ❞ ❝  plan’s crazier than it is sane...but there’s an irrestistible charm to it.  ❞ ❝  unbelievable! you said something romantic! you!  ❞ ❝  we may not survive this. in fact, our chances are slim.  ❞ ❝  if anything should happen to you...  ❞ ❝  there’s not been a dark cloud yet that didn’t have a silver lining.  ❞ ❝  those are some fresh lookin’ scars you’ve got there.  ❞ ❝  no. no more about the battle. just hold me. and say something nice.  ❞ ❝  stay. this is the only home we’ve ever had.  ❞ ❝  you’re so charming when you try to be funny.  ❞ ❝  not proud of it...yet i considered all the options and found none better.  ❞ ❝  i look far different from when you last saw me.  ❞ ❝  i admire your optimism. wish i shared it.  ❞ ❝  and...try not to draw any attention to yourself.  ❞ ❝  nightmares haunt our nights and days. folk sleepwalk from their homes, never to return.  ❞ ❝  forgive me. it couldn’t be avoided. i truly am sorry.  ❞ ❝  well i’ve departed, escaped, been forced to flee so many times…yet i always returned. you ought to be used to it by now.  ❞ ❝  the human mind is as wild and unexplored a place as any land far beyond the sea.  ❞ ❝  you think you’ve won. you are wrong. i can’t die.  ❞ ❝  you’re something more. something more.  ❞ ❝  barely nicked me, i’ll be fine.  ❞ ❝  it’s just that i felt...stifled, in your shadow. i’d have suffocated had i stayed.  ❞ ❝  come, don’t just stand there. i want a hug.  ❞ ❝  it’s lovely here! i could stay forever.  ❞ ❝  do what you will, but leave me out of this.  ❞ ❝  we should end this discussion -- before i say something i'll regret.  ❞ ❝  you all right? you’re as pale as death.  ❞ ❝  let’s get back to the hut. i’ll protect you along the way.  ❞ ❝  not to keen on talking about it, are you?  ❞ ❝  it’s better to die than to live in the knowledge that you’ve done something that needs forgiveness.  ❞ ❝  i was afraid you were dead.  ❞ ❝  at times one must use reason, rather than blades.  ❞ ❝  need some peace. gotta prepare.  ❞ ❝  i suspected it might not be the best idea, but i was desperate, had no choice.  ❞ ❝  so tell me how it happened. step by step.  ❞ ❝  it was a bit of a lark, a jest. i meant to bring it all back, i swear.  ❞ ❝  if i wanted to kill you, you'd be long dead by now.  ❞ ❝  that is precisely one of the reasons why i abhor your world.    your senseless brutality.  ❞ ❝  i won’t let them take you, you know that?  ❞ ❝  magic...childish hocus-pocus. it’s just not interesting. what i find fascinating are true tales of true human lives.  ❞ ❝  save your praise for others. i couldn’t give a shit.  ❞ ❝  well, well, i am impressed. doubted you still had it in you, frankly.  ❞ ❝  i like you. don’t make me hurt you.  ❞ ❝  you know very little can hurt you being immortal, so you take wild risks, chase extreme sensations. there comes a point you’ve done it all, and all seems boring and monotonous.  ❞ ❝  with you i finally feel...harmony. a calm. feel like things are the way they're supposed to be.  ❞ ❝  i'm afraid the dishwater’s as good as it gets in this establishment.  ❞ ❝  sorry to take so long, but i had to deal with the guards.  ❞ ❝  i’d never miss a chance to spend a pleasant evening with you.  ❞ ❝  you know too much. yet one more reason why you must die.  ❞ ❝  or perhaps you seek to trick me.  ❞ ❝  if you acknowledge any gods...start praying, now.  ❞ ❝  it’s very simple. you either deceived me...or not.  ❞ ❝  i am known neither for my sense of humor nor for my patience.  ❞ ❝  naturally, it would be easier with your help, but...you irritate me.  ❞ ❝  love questions like that. am i holding up? what, my dick?  ❞ ❝  we never hunt in these woods. not even if it means the whole village starves.  ❞ ❝  we’re only ever the ones to know the truth about ourselves.  ❞ ❝  you’re insolent because you believe i cannot afford to hurt you. and you’re right.  ❞ ❝  i detest graveyards, especially wandering them alone.  ❞ ❝  you know too much. you impede me too often. and i find your arrogance an annoyance.  ❞ ❝  i know it’s wartime, but try not to be a hero, all right?  ❞ ❝  i don’t know that i’ll make for engaging company. in truth, i rarely talk to men.  ❞ ❝  you know...had a dream about you recently.  ❞ ❝  i thought i could at least count on you to treat me seriously.  ❞ ❝  don’t ask questions you know the answers to. it makes you look stupid.  ❞ ❝  you’re nosy. starting to piss me off, you know?  ❞ ❝  what did i do to deserve this? have i given you cause to doubt my intentions?  ❞ ❝  don’t fret about me. i always get by somehow, right?  ❞ ❝  i wanted to go with you --- that was my idea.  ❞ ❝  i shan’t stray a step from your side.  ❞ ❝  if that’s what it takes to save the world, it’s better to let that world die.  ❞ ❝  what’s that supposed to mean? that a threat?  ❞ ❝  i’m offering a great and true adventure, an experience like no other, the fate of only the chosen few.  ❞ ❝  that’s like choosing between pestilence and the plague.  ❞ ❝  what’s it matter? i only ever thought of you.  ❞ ❝  did you know you’ve gained twenty-seven new scars since we’ve last saw each other?  ❞ ❝  i need to know the details if you want me to get my hands dirty.  ❞ ❝  don’t know you. go away.  ❞ ❝  ever vigilant, even in your sleep. quite vampire-like, in fact.  ❞ ❝  gotten used to people treating me like a freak, an outcast.  ❞ ❝  we share a cause, then. just like the old days.  ❞ ❝  ever considered becoming a burglar? skill like that’d come in awful handy.  ❞ ❝  there’s never been a frown that couldn’t be turned upside down.  ❞ ❝  honesty's an attribute of the truly brave --- and thus the privilege of the very few.  ❞ ❝  you do not have a monopoly in altruism, my friend.  ❞ ❝  great love demands great sacrifices.  ❞ ❝  i believe it wise at times to share one’s secrets, unburden oneself to those one can trust.  ❞ ❝  it would be nice from time to time if you could sit back and enjoy life, instead of going around solving everyone’s problems.  ❞ ❝  we shall dance until the break of dawn!  ❞ ❝  a man could lose his head for a lass like you.  ❞ ❝  don’t have to come if you don’t want. wait here.  ❞ ❝  never seen this side of you.  ❞ ❝  i’m to kiss the ground you walk on, is that it? but you just did your duty.  ❞ ❝  the day you give me a smile...that moment, that’s what i’m waiting for.  ❞ ❝  i need a soul intelligent and clever, an individual who fears no dare. someone like you.  ❞ ❝  if i was you i’d catch some shut-eye, not go on flapping my tongue.  ❞ ❝  the plan is simple...which does not mean it will be easy to execute.  ❞ ❝  sometimes you really get on my nerves, you know.  ❞ ❝  you shall not turn on me, use what i say against me? you shall not tell anyone?  ❞ ❝  gave you a chance. should’ve taken it.  ❞ ❝  always better to do a bit more and even gain nothing by it,    than to do too little and face regret.  ❞ ❝  it’s lovely out here. the birds singing, the bees buzzing...blissful, really.  ❞ ❝  what a lovely dress. the color suits you exquisitely.  ❞ ❝  pretty fantastic tale. hard as hell to believe.  ❞ ❝  it’s time you discovered my romantic side.  ❞ ❝  you gotta understand the whole world doesn’t revolve around you.  ❞ ❝  can you not see i am out of my mind with worry?  ❞ ❝  every rose has its thorn, and there are no happy endings.  ❞ ❝  pretty quick to reject help. why is that?  ❞ ❝  don’t need to like each other. just gotta do our jobs.  ❞ ❝  frankly, if i can do something for you, i'll do it, willingly.  ❞ ❝  you were hired you kill me, were you not?  ❞ ❝  what’s it like, going toe to toe with a monster? knowing you’ve only two options --- to kill or be killed?  ❞ ❝  this place --- there’s evil here. death hangs in the air.  ❞ ❝  intellect counts as much as strength.  ❞ ❝  i run back inside, hasp the doors, and then i hear it --- someone whispering my name.  ❞ ❝  you know i like you. unlike the rest of this lot, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.  ❞ ❝  if you love somebody, set them free.  ❞ ❝  if you hate me so deeply, why don’t you tell me to my face?  ❞ ❝  i’m afraid you’d not realize which way the wind was blowing if you pissed straight into it.  ❞ ❝  that was courageous. i'd never expect it from you.  ❞ ❝  i am not easily impressed, but i must admit you have succeeded, my dear.  ❞ ❝  kill me if you must. i’ve nothing to live for anyway.  ❞ ❝  aren’t you an extraordinary beauty.  ❞ ❝  never suspected you believed such things.  ❞ ❝  wait...you want to go with me? out of the question.  ❞ ❝  used to it. not the first time i’ve been hunted.  ❞ ❝  enough of this hesitation, this fretting, these feelings of guilt!  ❞ ❝  strange working with you. strange, but great.  ❞ ❝  give me a moment. i must don something more appropiate and concealing.  ❞ ❝  killing comes as naturally to me as blowing my nose.  ❞ ❝  ......   another tale of a life compromised and ultimately claimed by greed and ambition.  ❞ ❝  in the future, though, remember this --- i can look after myself  ❞ ❝  you'd really worry about me if i went on alone?  ❞ ❝  you have many merits. you merely hide them from the world very diligently.  ❞ ❝  is it true virtue always trumps villainy?  ❞ ❝  watch my movements. i’m spry as a cat and sly as a fox.  ❞ ❝  ah, if only this could last forever.  ❞ ❝  few i can rely on like i can on you. kinda hoping you think the same of me.  ❞ ❝  you are angry at the whole world. you feel inferior, feel pain, though you mask this with confidence, arrogance, even.  ❞ ❝  there exist worries for which there quite simply is no other medicine.  ❞ ❝  your bones look thin, your breathing’s wheezy. afraid one punch might kill you.  ❞ ❝  to love is to build a house of cards, or play a game of chess, but one word or ill-thought move and you must start it all afresh.  ❞ ❝  i’m doing what i ever wanted to do, being who i wanted to be. i believe that’s one definition of happiness.  ❞ ❝  you’ve not an ounce of refinement in you, have you?  ❞ ❝  pain rules the body, but fear is born in the heart.  ❞ ❝  either i get burned, or i’ll burn all else down. no other options.  ❞ ❝  should you decide your sword is the sole solution, i shall not stand in your way.  ❞ ❝  c’mon, come closer.  ❞ ❝  would you prefer i treated you like the lying manipulater you are?  ❞ ❝  i regret nothing. one lives but once.  ❞ ❝  i just hope this tale has a happy ending. for me, for you. for everyone.  ❞ ❝  just gonna go our seperate ways? no parting words?  ❞ ❝  you still stand to be quite useful to me.  ❞ ❝  i suppose you wanted to frighten me...alas, you didn’t in the least. after all, i’m a monster too, am i not?  ❞ ❝  i trust no one. learned that long ago.  ❞ ❝  it cannot be! you actually have a sense of humor.  ❞ ❝  didn’t ask for a lecture on probability. need a simple answer --- yes or no.  ❞ ❝  another word, and i shall spill even more blood. yours.  ❞ ❝  you feel resentment, i understand, but we shall work through all the unfortunate matters of the past.  ❞ ❝  stop playing dumb. i know everything...your plan.  ❞ ❝  honestly can’t see what all those dames see in you --- you’re a stick in the mud.  ❞ ❝  not showy, lovely location...perfect for romantic getaways.  ❞ ❝  i hope you’re not upset i came like this, without warning...  ❞ ❝  i’m still a long way from mastering anything. but i am trying.  ❞ ❝  now i know how you do it. just annoy your opponents to death.  ❞ ❝  word on the street is there’s a hefty bounty on your head.  ❞ ❝  for a few days now i’ve been having dizzy spells.  ❞ ❝  i’ve always had a way with ostensibly dangerous types.  ❞ ❝  wound doesn’t look good.    patch that up quick if i were you, before it starts festering.  ❞ ❝  always seemed to me you were a very complicated creature, by nature. not one to resort to such simple methods like drinking your worries away.  ❞ ❝  may i be honest? yes, i’m nervous. i really would prefer to just run off.  ❞ ❝  father always said a wise man learns from others’ mistakes, so here i am, learning from his.  ❞ ❝  ever since that horrid night...everything has changed.  ❞ ❝  what’s wrong? afraid? gut feeling queasy?  ❞ ❝  used to bother me, all your secrets...now i know if you have something to tell me, you’ll tell me.  ❞ ❝  i so don’t feel like going anywhere. sit here a while longer?  ❞ ❝  there’s something i’d like to know...how can you be so damned calm?  ❞ ❝  my knees quake like a carnival rattle.  ❞ ❝  honestly didn’t think this’d work. doubted anything would happen.  ❞

#roleplay starters #roleplay meme #long post for ts /

[themonstrousarchives]

Hunt: Party Pack

Description: A motley crew of fellow monster hunters, but with a twist about them. They're just a little too monstrous. A quartet of roadtripping werewolves* seized by the Hunt, given an insatiable desire to track down and destroy other avatars primarily. They hunger for the PC that has done the most collateral damage, ready for revenge. 

Hook, Session goals: Time for the most dangerous game, as we risk NPCs that the players have come across, along with any other monsters in the world- Bigfoot, an avatar of the Stranger, others capitalizing on the fears

Monster Type: Executioner (motivation: to punish the guilty) Powers: All of them have supernatural speed and strength, and can shapeshift into humanoid lycanthrope-esque beings for more effective predation. One of them is adept at using “magic,” mostly in a supportive way like a bard- helping to direct the others and prime their attacks. They try to lure monsters out, one of them faking weakness or taking on some aspect that the target might find appealing, then the bait leads them into an ambush. When hunting a group, they try to split everyone up so that they can gang up on whoever gets left behind. Attacks: Detailed below Weaknesses: The Dark, The Stranger, and the Spiral can either blind or misdirect the wolves, though actually killing them will be difficult- they have to be made into quarry to make them “vulnerable.” It’s a farfetched pull, but calling upon the owner of Lobos Ltd. (See the Deer Man adventure) and acquiring some of his cages would be effective in removing them as threats. 

The Wolves: (Attacks ordered by preference)

Greg (Armor: 1) [][][][][][][] (Shapeshifts quickly)

Bite- 3-harm intimate

Claw- 2-harm ignore armor hand

9mm- 2-harm close loud

Johnny Hobo (Armor: 2) [][][][][][][] (Bait)

Claw- 2-harm close ignore armor

Bite- 3-harm intimate 

Baseball bat- 1-harm hand 

Elsa  (Armor: 0) [][][][][][][] (Stays hidden/protected)

Magic Snare- 0-harm close restraining

Enchant- adds 1-harm to damage dealt

Shotgun- 3-harm close messy

Bite- 3-harm intimate

Pat  (Armor 1) [][][][][][][] (Fastest chaser)

Knife- 2-harm hand 

Claw- 2-harm ignore armor hand

Bite- 3-harm intimate

Greg (Hotheaded and rash. Eager to feel powerful.)

Johnny Hobo (Patient. Durable. The methodical pursuit, often tempering Greg or supporting the others.)

Elsa (The brains of the operation. Puts on a cool air.)

Pat (Jumpy, a pure manifestation of id. The fastest, but also the easiest to fool.)

Countdown:

Burgers on the Coast gets accosted by a brash customer. After they finish eating, they will leave and the table can be investigated.

The Pack arrives in town, a PC sees Johnny outside their window (if they doubletake, or run to get equipment, he will be gone).

If the PCs have convinced any “monsters” to only hunt “bad guys” or otherwise change their ways, the reformed monster gets ambushed. Depending on the monster, the Pack might kill them.

Shiro violently cuts back a mass of vines, which fight back, whipping around his arm and leg. As he pulls to get away, thorns tear into him, and the vines start to dig into him. 

The Pack tracks down Bigfoot, and kills her after she menaces some campers. 

The Pack finds Shiro restrained, spider lilies growing out of his mouth and stomach. They kill him. 

They will start the next hunt, if not found, or if not given the primary focus during the hunt. They are essentially competition for the PCs.

Bystanders:

Susan- (Gossip, Victim) Burgers on the Coast waitress. She’s worked at this same restaurant for 30 years and as a result knows all the regulars. Greg will accost her, then Johnny Hobo will smack him upside the head. Only these two are at the diner.

Anuset- (Victim, Gossip) The mask is out pursuing someone it has targeted in the past week. As it falls upon this person and begin to unpeel, Johnny Hobo will appear behind it with a baseball bat. The morning after, a hunter will see a destroyed clay mask left discarded. Further inspection will discern that a couple fragments were taken.

Shiro- (Helper, Victim) Shiro has been plagued by vines overgrowing his orange tree. While he cuts them back, the vines fight back and restrain him, as impossible amounts of blood issue from his person. Where blood spills, spider lilies start to grow... after a few days he is still restrained, but the Party Pack finds him, and will kill him.

Bigfoot (Victim) (Stranger Avatar)- aka Isadora Vila Quintana, a hiker who got too lost in the woods and now menaces other hikers. She doesn’t quite need to kill the hikers, but often puts them into precarious positions after she is finished with them.

Francesca Lopez (Victim) (Stranger Monster) sells secondhand items. She has ties to Charlotte and her trade market, wherein Frannie goes around flea markets and digital marketplaces. Having recently finished a transaction, or at least would have if she hadn’t gotten caught by the Pack. 

Minnie Taylor (Witness, Innocent) a resident who had gotten lost trying to find her own home. The Pack has promised to help her once the danger is cleared, and if they don’t return for her she will try to free herself from the place they sealed her into, inevitably getting lost and becoming a spiral avatar. She trusts the Pack to help her, and if the Players come across her, will not trust them if they don’t seem to have a good reason to kill them.

Isadora, the Lonely avatar Bigfoot

Shiro Kamada, the Slaughter avatar

Minnie Taylor, a woman about 29 years of age, who recently moved into the Strange Suburb (before it was strange)

Locations:

Burgers on the Coast (and Parking Lot)- the diner that the PCs have taken a liking to, their repeated presence dooms it to become a hub of Interesting Persons. 

The table that Greg and Johnny sat at will have some traces that can be discovered- some gum under the table, a deep cut into the particle board table, a dropped receipt (Ammo- 9mm and shells). 

Camping Grounds

In the forest, far from the sounds of the city, a hiking trail opens up to a small clearing where hikers can put down tents and keep a campfire. This is Isadora’s favorite haunt, because of it’s isolation and the sheer ability to disorient people in these woods. She can be tracked, sometimes.

RV

Parked by the beach, one of many RVs. Once the right one is sussed out, it can be broken into. It is likely that at least one of the Pack is there, keeping watch. As soon as the PCs head there, the other members of the Pack will be notified, and they will circle the party, trying to make sure that they don’t leave with anything important.

Inside the RV is a mess. Clothes in one or two piles strewn over one of the seats or in a receptacle. Projects lay unfinished- Someone’s trying to patch their jacket, someone else is growing seed starters. Plastic dishes lay in the mini sink. One bed looks like it’s been used as an operating table on more than one occasion, a big antique chest sits in the corner undisturbed, and some hefty power tools poke out of a footlocker pushed out of the way. Treat this as a Haven for the Pack, with an Infirmary, an Armory, and a Workshop. 

They also have many “trophies” from previous kills in an upper cabinet- everything sealed with an eye sigil. Some Tallow. A mushroom. A long, preserved beak. A lock of inky black hair. These hunters have been traveling the US, fighting monsters and leaving a wake of supernatural power vacuum. 

Shiro’s home

Vines stretch, having grown a strong base on the telephone pole near Shiro’s home. Runners stretch from the pole to the lines and then to the houses. They have sprouted purple flowers, and are now growing green fruit- not yet ripened, though that may change quickly.

The vines are attempting to peel under the shingles of Shiro’s home to anchor themselves, though he has managed to beat back the majority. It’s harder for him to keep up with the vines currently suffocating the orange tree, though.

Him using his ultraviolent powers to destroy the vines has attracted the attention of the Party Pack.

The Strange Suburb

An entire suburb has fallen into unreality and is distorting- building extensions without rime or reason, warping through various decades and shapes. Think McMansions but worse and more terrible and insufferably generic. Very easy to get lost in, very easy to separate people and confine them in terrible, bland, almost claustrophobic (make sure everyone is okay about this if you use it) spaces. There is no real branding on anything, and looking through the house will find very little personal effects if any.

One house is holding Minnie Taylor. Elsa had set up wards which will keep the spiralizing at bay (The door containing her room is unlocked, but there are multiple and they shift around. A golden seal distinguishes this door if the players look for it with supernatural means).

The largest, most cancerous McMansion house is wavering in the most volatile sense. The house goes through waves of eras- wallpapered walls, then painted, then cheap drywall, then wood paneling. The rooms are labyrinthine, measurements all feel wrong- hallways too narrow, rooms too big or small. Pat is the scout of the group, and will be ready for anyone entering the house conventionally, sprinting away as soon as they come in.  As the Players follow him (if they do), the rooms stretch and expand, making pursuit difficult. At the top of the house is a large, undefinable room with elements of any kind of room in the house. A little bit of a kitchen, a showerhead, photo frames on the walls and ceiling. In the center of the room lies Francesca, with Johnny Hobo holding her down as Elsa prepares Greg to execute her. Behind them all hangs a painting on the wall, from which a malevolent energy exudes.

Artefact: A Francis Bacon painting which is the source of the reality warping in the first place. Disrupting Elsa’s preparations will make the manifestation worse. The Players are able to either try to finish the Ritual Elsa was performing (containment, some reversal of the manifestation, at the cost of Francesca’s life), or find their own solution to destroy it.

Cold Open:  A beat up RV speeds up Highway 101 under the light of a waxing moon. A folkpunk song plays through the speakers as a rowdy quartet sings along. Street lights illuminate a messy dashboard with all sorts of little tchotchkes- batteries, flashlights, pocketknives, that kinda stuff. The song ends and the next one opens with a death growl, and as they roar along, their voices get loud, feral, deeper. The RV hits a bump and the knick knacks on the dashboard shift, the riders laughing with the chaos. The next time the streetlights flicker to the dash, a mugshot of [PC] has made it to the top.

#the magnus archives #tma motw #pbta #monster of the week #the monstrous archives #Hunt module Party Pack #my work #needless to say. theyre all gay #mcmansion

[sinnhelmingrmoved]

@riverheld (quinn) // historical starter call.

“You’ve a ways to go if you mean to find the main road again.”

Absently flicking salt onto the meat upon the spit, she chided herself for getting sloppy. Had she not caught the glint of their jewelry in the firelight, she might not have noticed them at all. The silence of the woods was complete, the warning that some apex predator roamed the dark.

Fortunately for the animals that now cowered in their dens, she only had an appetite for this single creature she had snared. Hel focused on that, slowly turning her dinner so it would cook evenly. Some semblance of manners lingered in how she addressed the other, however. It was poor form to ignore one’s company, even if they were strangers in the night.

“There’s usually brigands about at this hour, the closer you get to the path. They’ve already been... dealt with. You shouldn’t have any trouble on your way through, if you do wish to press on.”

At last, Hel turned her head quite deliberately, leaving her marred side to the shadows, flames illuminating the sharp lines of her good side. “It’s quite dark, and I wouldn’t mind you waiting until morning. I’ve hardly seen another traveler all day.”

#riverheld #singing i'm the queen [V: MYTHOLOGY] #hi i hope this is ok!! let me know if you need something changed!!! #we need never feel alone [QUEUE]

[iwriterpstarters]

100 sentence starters

part 1

“Snow would ruin everything. All my careful plans.”

“Snow had ruined him once before.”

“___ is going to laugh himself sick when he hears how I slept through my own escape.”

“It would have been ungracious to hope that she would smash her head on a stone.”

“It is a monstrous cruel thing to lose a child.”

“I have no right to command you, here in the castle that would soon be yours.”

“It’s better if he’s scared of me. That way he’ll do like I say, instead of something stupid.”

“I was no little girl in the dream; I was a wolf, huge and powerful.”

“What did he want?”

“More than you can ever give me, Father.”

“Ser ___ has his uses, as did his brother.”

“Every lord has need of a beast from time to time... a lesson you seem to have learned.”

“I knew the answer before I asked.”

“Eighteen years since __ joined the Kingsguard, and I never once raised the issue.”

“I must have known. I must always have known.”

“Men’s laws give you the right to bear my name and display my colors, since I cannot prove that you are not mine.”

“To teach me humility, the gods have condemned me to watch you waddle about wearing that proud lion that was my father’s sigil and his father’s before him.”

“Dying would be easier.”

“They were my companions, with me every hour of every day, and in time I had come to think of them as friends.”

“It might mean life. If I wanted it.”

“Why should I live? Gods be good, why? My sons are dead.”

“How can a father outlive so many strong young sons?”

“How would I go on? I am a hollow shell, the crab’s died, there’s nothing left inside.”

“There’s nothing left inside. Don’t they know that?”

“Hide, smuggler. Hide, and be quiet, and die.”

“The fire took my luck as well as my sons.”

“The fire took it all... the fire...”  

“Perhaps the invitation was no more than a simple kindness, an act of courtesy.”

“Maybe I truly am as stupid as ___ says.”

“Perhaps the invitation was no more than a simple kindness, an act of courtesy.”

“Kiss me, child.”

“Hush, don’t take that tone with me.”

“And don’t call me Mother. If I’d given birth to you, I’m sure I’d remember.”

“I’m only to blame for your husband, the lord oaf of Highgarden.”

“Feathers, in this case. What did you imagine I was speaking of?”

“My son? Or these lovely ladies?”

“No, don’t blush, with your hair it makes you look like a pomegranate.”

“All men are fools, if truth be told, but the ones in motley are more amusing than ones with crowns.”

”Should you ever have a son, beat him frequently so he learns to mind you.”

“ I only had the one boy and I hardly beat him at all, so now he pays more heed to fools than he does to me.”

“A lion is not a lap cat, I told him, and he gives me a ‘tut-tut Mother.’”

“There is entirely too much tut-tutting in this realm, if you ask me.”

“All these kings would do a deal better if they would put down their swords and listen to their mothers.”

“Lord Eddard, yes, he had that reputation, but they named him traitor and took his head off even so.”

“He promised me he would be merciful, and cut my father’s head off.”

“He said that was mercy, and he took me up on the walls and made me look at it. The head.”

“He wanted me to weep, but...”

“I’ve said too much, oh gods be good, they’ll know, they’ll hear, someone will tell on me.”

“Go on.”

“I can’t.”

“What if she tells him, what if she tells?”

“He’ll kill me for certain then, or give me to Ser Ilyn.”

“I never meant... my father was a traitor, my brother as well, I have the traitor’s blood, please, don’t make me say more.”  

“Calm yourself, child!”

“She’s terrified, Grandmother, just look at her.”

“Dead, all dead but me, and I am dead to the world.”

“D’ya think you’re the first crow ever flew down off the Wall? In your hearts you all want to fly free.”

“___, someday try thinking before you speak.”

“___ had been stupid and vicious, yet sometimes I missed him all the same.”

“Is she an enemy too, or only a dangerous friend?”

“___ was my friend and teacher, but sometimes I just wanted to hit him.”

“It is for me. What good is it to be a skinchanger if you can’t wear the skin you like?”

“You be quiet, or I’ll stuff rocks in your big stupid mouth,”

“Not everyone who speaks you friendly is really your friend.”

“Have I lost two sons, or three?”

“Let them think what they will. It is ___’s judgment that matters.”

“No man calls my lady of Winterfell a traitor in my hearing.”

“Love’s not always wise, I’ve learned. It can lead us to great folly, but we follow our hearts... wherever they take us.”

“I have not lost this child, at least.”

“The wolf. The wolf is not here.”

“Follies done for love?”

“He has bagged me neat as a hare in a snare. I seem to have already forgiven him.”

“It is swords you need, not gentle hearts.”

“Big enough for you?”

“You can kneel to him if you like, he won’t mind.”

“I know your kneeler’s knees must be itching, for want of some king to bend to.”

“Watch out he don’t step on you, though. Giants have bad eyes.”

“He asked me if that was my daughter riding there beside me, with her smooth pink cheeks.”

“___ grows sore wroth when I’m not found in my accustomed place.”

“Is it true you killed a giant once?”

“Now why would you doubt a mighty man like me?”

“It was winter and I was half a boy, and stupid the way boys are.”

“I went too far and my horse died and then a storm caught me.”

“I knew I’d freeze to death before it broke.”

“So I found me a sleeping giant, cut open her belly, and crawled up right inside her.”

“The worst thing was, she woke up when the spring come and took me for her babe.”

“If she nursed you, you couldn’t have killed her.”  

“I never did, but see you don’t go spreading that about.”

“And Joramun blew the Horn of Winter, and woke giants from the earth.”

“Are all crows so curious?”

“Well, here’s a tale for you.”

“It snowed so hard the whole village was half buried.”

“Never was a woman gave me such a fight, nor such strong sons neither.”

“She’d hardly give you any fight at all, seems to me.”

“Too bloody plain, and it seems that half the column has seen it.”

“I am a man of the Night’s Watch. So why do I feel like some blushing maid?”

“Cold is better, if you’ve got someone to warm you up after.”

“You’d freeze me to death.”

“A little ice won’t kill you. I’ll jump in with you to prove it so.”

“And ride the rest of the day with wet clothes frozen to our skins?”

#sentence starters #rp starters #game of thrones starters #a storm of swords starters #dialogue prompts #got starters #my starters #mine

[wickedwclves]

Cut Too Deep || Open Starter

Status: Forever Open Muse: Syn (age: 21) Note: Syn is a packless omega. In this a/b/o verse, it’s not so much couples as there are more so packs made up of a small number of alphas, more betas, and even more omegas. Your muse can be in a large pack or just a solo however! Open to: any muse 18+ and any mun 18+; would prefer alphas but am open to betas!

Snares wrapped around her arms and chests like snakes slowly crushing her. One of the more vicious packs had set up traps after they caught Syn sneaking food out of their supply shelves. The summer had been hot and dry and getting into the city to try and work a job was too dangerous. More and more packs had reverted to brutal ways of inducting omegas. Syn had long since abandoned her last pack and she wasn’t about to jump into another abusive relationship. 

Having no money meant no food and shelter, meaning that she had to do what she could to survive and make it to winter. Once winter hits, most of the packs stay in their little villages, buildings, or otherwise retreat. Most do not go out hunting for omegas, although some were known to be well suited to winter conditions. 

The metal of the barbed wire snare became slick with blood. Silent cries of pain escaped her lips as she took out her only knife and tried to cut through a weak part in the wiring. After much twisting and sawing, the wire snapped and Syn took off. The coil was still tight around her muscles, ripping and tearing at her flesh. Dark spots began to form and the trees turned to green and brown blurs around her. 

Syn had no medical supplies as her shelves had been ransacked a week ago. Being out in the dirt wouldn’t help her chances of infection either. There was one group she hadn’t had run-ins with only a couple miles away and it was her best choice. Syn hated the idea of willingly seeking a superior rank but she had no option. 

The woman crawled up to the front door after following the smell of the alpha and weakly knocked, her knees promptly buckling and her body tumbling to the front step. “Please, please help me!” She scratched at the door as she called.

#open starter #open to anyone #open to nonmutuals #open to mutuals #indie rp #roleplay blog #roleplay #rp #open rp #indie starter #open indie starter

[rainbows-fanfics]

My New Reason (Chapter 10)

Chapter 1 |   Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 |  Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12

Summary:  Louis is falling for someone he really shouldn’t be, and the same is happening to Clementine.  Lousentine/Clouis

Louis' P.O.V. It was the favorite part of my day! Well, actually, no it wasn't - but this came close. It didn't happen very often, either. I was sent out with my one-and-only girlfriend, Clementine, to check on the traps to see if they caught anything. A job that was not only boring, but the trips were short because rabbits were becoming scarce. But I was more than happy when I heard Ruby assigning me with Clem. Aasim refused to have us work together for scavenging trips nowadays, the whole "walker piñata" thing and all. Said I was a distraction. Ass. I was equipped with Chairles waiting for her near the front gate. She was still getting ready back in the dorms. I decided to kill time by whistling a tune, batting my weapon against the brick wall to match the beat. I expected someone shushing me any second now, but remembered everyone was still dealing with the aftermath of the raider attack. Things had been silent for days. "Shit." I muttered to myself. "What a way to get depressing, Louis." "Wow. And I thought I was the only one that talked to myself." I jumped hearing a voice. I turned on my heel and found my girlfriend in all her beautiful prestige, her hand on her hip and the other holding the strap of her backpack. A.J. was by her side, snickering from what I assumed was her comment. My ears burned in embarrassment.   "Sometimes the most interesting person to talk to is...yourself." I flashed her a grin. "You guys ready?" "Yeah, I think we are." She glanced behind herself hesitantly. "Let's not take too long though, okay?" I furrowed my eyebrow, but opened the gates anyway. I let them out first before following behind, resting my weapon on my shoulder and listening around for the groans of the undead. The first part of the trip was quiet, not only walker-wise, but Clementine-wise. She hasn't said a word to me ever since we left the school. She looked a bit worried, actually. She was on guard more than usual. A.J. hasn't let go of her hand at all. Not that the latter concerned me - but when her other hand wasn't gripping her knife, it was over her stomach. "So..." I started. "I wonder if we caught something that wasn't a rabbit? Squirrels, maybe? Chipmunks? I'm tired of rabbit stew, no offense to Omar. Actually - don't tell him I said anything." "Food's food; no point on being picky." She finally spoke up. "They all taste the same, anyway." I frowned. That was a bad conversation starter. I mentally flipped through the list of things to talk about, wondering which would lighten her mood. I didn't mind silence so long as it was comfortable silence. And judging by the way Clem was hunched over, tenser than usual, she was not that. It was almost as if she read my mind. "Look, I appreciate the talking, Lou, but could we keep this trip quiet? Until we're back?"

Now I was confused. I narrowed my eyes, trying to think of what I had done wrong recently. She was happy with me, wasn't she? Or - I, thought so, at least. She gave me a kiss goodnight and let me sing her to sleep just last night. That wasn't something she wouldn't have done if I upset her. Before I could ask, we heard some groaning nearby and found a straggler coming towards us slowly. "Monster," A.J. warned. Clem unsheathed her knife and advanced on it. We stood back to let her take the kill, my hand protectively in front of A.J. It was like her to take first initiative, plus she took care of walkers quickly. Just as she got ready to stab it through its jaw, the effective process she used ever so often, a groan escaped her lips. She hunched down in pain, wrapping her arms around her stomach and bending over. She dropped her knife in the process and I watched in horror as she tried to grab it, all while the walker had free rein for her head. A.J. shoved my arm aside and ran to her. "CLEM!" The scene was painful - the walker grabbed a hold of her and went to bite down on her neck. Before it could, I came forward just in time to swing Chairles upside its skull and send it to the ground. Clementine regained her senses and smashed its head in with her boot, grunting angrily as she removed her heel, only to crouch down again in pain. A.J. went to her side right away, feeling around her neck desperately. "Shit," She hissed through clenched teeth. I came to her other side and knelt down, just as distraught as A.J. was. "What the hell happened, Clementine!?" The words left my mouth before I could think. "You had the kill! What stopped you?" "Don't...yell at me!" "Clem, I'm so glad you're not bitten..." The two of them held each other close. I heard A.J. sniffle. He looked like he was close to tears. I even saw one drip from Clem's eye as she tightened her grip. It fed into the remorse that was eating me inside, feeling like such an ass for yelling at my own girlfriend. I couldn't help it - I haven't been that scared ever since...Marlon died. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." I knelt down and hovered my arms around her cautiously. "I didn't mean-" "I know, Louis, I know..." She let go of A.J. and wiped his cheek with her thumb. I felt numb as we inspected the walker beside us. It was dead now, no doubt about that. I could see the part where Chairles tore its flesh open, as well as the scattered, bloody mess of its brains after Clem stomped on it. It made me sick just looking at it - the same thing that nearly killed the girl I love just a few seconds ago. Brushing the thought aside, I turned back to her. "Clementine, I know something's wrong. If it's something I-" "It's not you, Lou. It's not anyone. It's...me." I gave her a look, clearly indicating I was lost. I didn't have the patience for vague games right now. Not after what happened. She noticed my short temper and sighed, letting her arms drop to her sides in defeat. "Look, it's just my time. Okay?" She said irritably. "Not a big deal." "Your...'time'?" "My 'time of the month'. Or...whatever you guys call it." "Your time of the m- oh. Oh." I held my hands up instantly, silently telling her I understood. She crossed her arms and looked away from me, leaving a feeling of guilt in my chest. God, I felt like such a fucking idiot. She was on her...her thing. Sometimes I forgot that still happened, what with Ruby and her 'code of conduct', plus Violet didn't want to talk about it. God forbid I ever asked Ms. Martin about 'female issues'... "I'm sorry. Again." I swallowed. "If there's anything I can do, or, or something you need-" "I'm fine. It's just...It was never this bad when I was on the road, moving all the time. Just a nuisance more than anything." She shook her head. "Now that I'm settled back down, sleeping properly...the cramps are unbearable." "You could've just told me; I wouldn't have been mad, you know." "I'm sorry I kept it from you. I didn't think it was going to happen when I tried to kill that walker." She kicked the dirt. "I didn't want you going by yourself, either. Considering the raiders and shit right now." "Swear," A.J. reminded gently from the background. I ignored it and went closer to her, laying a hand on her back and rubbing her shoulder slightly. "I'm a little relieved." I confessed. "Not that you got your - thing - but...I thought you were upset with me. You can be pretty scary when you're angry, you know." She looked back at me before shrugging my hand off, walking back on the trail. A.J. followed and I joined her other side. We didn't say anything for awhile - checking the traps we passed and collecting only a couple of trapped rabbits(that Clem had the pleasure of snapping their necks...I still couldn't stand that stuff). I reset the snares and cracked a few jokes, but other than that, things were quiet again. I was staring at the ground in thought before I heard some smaller footsteps join mine. I noticed A.J. joined my side, leaving Clem alone in front of us. I smiled at his company - if she wasn't going to talk to me, than I may as well talk to her kid. Just as I opened my mouth to greet him, he interrupted me. "She likes chocolates." "Who? Clem?" "Yeah. One time, she kept talking about this chocolate bar. We even went looking for one. She likes them when it's her 'time'. Her favorite is the ones with the al....amon....alma-" "-Almonds?" I asked, my smile growing. "Yeah. Those." I took one last look at her back, smiling at this newfound information, before turning back to A.J. and offering him a fist bump. He bumped it and laughed when I "exploded" my fist. He copied the gesture and returned to her side. I was glad he told me that - I deemed such information important. Anything that could make Clementine happy was, in my book. We walked a bit more before she stopped. I went to her side right away - thinking it was another cramp - before she leaned down and picked up something off from the ground. She held it up and admired it out of my sight. I could hear A.J. 'ooo'ing from the side. "Looks interesting," She said. "What? What's interesting?" I asked. She turned around and showed it to me. I backed off once I realized what it was. It wasn't a rock or a lizard like I'd been expecting - it was a skull. Not a walker or a human's, but it looked something like...a squirrel's? It was small enough to fit in her hands. I took a step back wearily. "Here's your chipmunk," She teased, moving the jaw so it clacked against the upper teeth. I cringed. The sound was...god. I almost gagged just listening to it. To make matters worse, she tossed it into my hands. I wanted to avoid that thing at all costs but it fell in my arms before I could move. I slowly took it in my hands and eyed it with a similar face to when I held a cantaloupe. Which wasn't good, mind you. "Aaaand I have a girlfriend who likes to collect dead things." I stuck my tongue out and looked at it from the side. "Just when you think you've seen it all..." She swiped it from my hands, glaring at me with those golden eyes of hers. My heart skipped a beat seeing her so defensive. She normally could give less than two shits about what people thought about her. So it was safe to say that this was new. She dusted it off, acting as if it was clean to begin with. "I just like skulls, okay? They look awesome." "Don't worry, Clem. I think it's cool." A.J. grinned from beside her. "I'm not sure what's creepier: a guy wearing walker skin, or a girl keeping the remains of animals." I placed a finger on my chin. "Actually, give me a second..." "Hey, it's not like I'm mounting them on sticks or anything. I use them as room decorations. Well, when...we had a room." She flipped the skull in her hands sadly. "Now I just carry them around with me." "But what if the soul of the chipmunk starts haunting you?" I teased. "Soon enough you'll get a craving for nuts, and you'll be hibernating in the winter. All just because poor little Henry here didn't get a proper funeral." I went forward and knocked on the top of the skull with my knuckle. It hurt only slightly, but it was worth seeing the way she chortled. She had that look of vexation mixed with amusement. The reaction I longed for on a daily basis - only an ounce of her annoyance coated with layers of my rich, sugary humor. She may not act like it, but I knew she loved it. "Shut up." She threw the skull back down on the ground and continued on our way. I watched as A.J. caught up with her before ducking down and picking the skull right back up. I cringed as I slid it in my coat pocket, knowing I was going to regret this decision later. I picked up my pace. We finished checking on the traps and made our way back to the school afterwards, only a few rabbits in our hands. -------------------------------- I hummed a song underneath my breath, holding the bowl in my hand with great caution. I watched as its contents threatened to spill with every step I took and slowed my pace down once I entered the dorm rooms. The bowl was still hot and it had its usual mouthwatering scent. At least - if you loved rabbit stew. That was our daily special, and even if I'd grown tired of it, it still managed to work up my appetite. This bowl, however, was not for me. We were short one rabbit coming back, otherwise Omar could've fed everyone. I gave my ration to A.J. again, seeing as he was the only one left without a serving. The other bowl they gave to me I saved for someone more important, who was still in bed after the events of today. Nearly being eaten by a walker and the traumatizing stress that came from that, and all. An unwelcoming feeling crawled up my spine just thinking about that. I shook it off as I approached the door, opening it with my free hand, and kicking it open. I trotted in saying my greeting in a singsong tone, turning to face my bed with a grin. "And here I have the finest rabbit stew for the girl who escaped death again. She does that a lot." I extended my arms to offer the bowl to Clementine. She slowly sat up in the bed, taking it from my hands before carefully setting it in her lap. I'm guessing I just woke her up, judging by her drowsiness. She looked at it twice before clacking her tongue, getting a spoonful of the stew and pointing it in my direction. "I'm surprised you didn't spill it with all that singing," She said incredulously. I swooned. I just loved it when she flirted with me! "Hey, you're lucky you even got that. We didn't have enough to feed everybody tonight." Her frown deepened, her eyes turning troubled as she set the spoon back in the bowl. "...Who didn't get fed?" She asked sadly. "Not important. Make sure you eat it all - I'm sure you need the strength." "It was you, wasn't it?" She sighed, handing the bowl back to me. "Louis, you should eat it. I ate yesterday." I pushed it back to her gently. I couldn't live with myself if I ate while she starved.  "No, Clem, you eat it. I'm not the one bedridden here." She gave up and started to eat. I smiled in relief. She knew how persistent I could be - especially when it came to her. I glanced outside the window nearby and could see A.J.'s figure sitting at the table with Tenn and Willy. I could tell from here that he already finished his serving. I grit my teeth as I listened to my stomach growl. I held a hand over my abdomen trying to silence it. I didn't need a reminder of how hungry I was. Clem and A.J. were more important to me. It was worth being hungry for them. "Oh, Vi said you could use these, by the way." I dug through my pockets and fished out a packet of pills. "Said they helped with the, uh, cramps and all." She took them and observed the box. She took a couple of the pills out and downed them right away, using the stew to settle her stomach. I blinked once or twice, trying to remember what else was on the label. I wanted to make sure what I gave her wouldn't have any bad effects in the long run. "Said it may cause drowsiness," I warned her. "So if you pass out, you can blame me." She gave me a look before finishing the rest of her dinner. I remembered what I also came in here for and turned away from her, approaching the nightstand beside my bed. I opened my lower pocket and grabbed the chipmunk skull I kept earlier - placing it in the center carefully. I heard her choke on the stew in the background while I adjusted it. "You kept that!?" "Of course I did." I took a step back and admired my work. "Huh. Not bad, if I say so myself. May have to add interior decorating to my talent list." "Are you sure? I mean, this is your room." "Correction: It's a room I share with you. And A.J." I added quickly. "It's been in need of a refurbishment, anyway. You guys should feel at home too, right? So, no, I don't mind the skulls - if they make you happy, then they're allowed in here." She smiled, discarding her bowl to the side. "Well, if you say so...I have a couple more in my backpack. You should put those up, too." I just made a grave mistake, didn't I? With slight reluctance, I approached her backpack and found the pair of skulls. Not like they were hard to find - considering the antlers of the deer's. I held them away from my body  as I debated where to put them. I decided the cat went next to the chipmunk's and left the deer on top of my bookshelf. "There," I shuddered. "Does that make you happy, your majesty?" I turned around expecting a sour look on her face, but she was delighted. Her eyes were lit up. Even as I joined her side on the bed, her gaze was still glued onto the skulls. I glanced at them twice and finally found the appeal - it did look kind of badass. Like she was. Maybe it wasn't a mistake, after all. I remembered something else and grabbed it from my pocket, offering it to her. "Here." She looked back at me and realized what was in my hand. It was a chocolate bar I found earlier, filled with almonds. Her favorite, like A.J. told me it was. Judging by how quickly she snatched it out of my hands, I knew he wasn't lying. She opened the wrapper and found it intact like I had hours ago. A little melted, but hey, this was the apocalypse, right? "I'm afraid to ask where you got this," She said, taking a bite hesitantly. A very small 'mmm' escaped her lips. She started to eat the rest and I watched from her side with a smirk. "So don't ask." I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. "But let's just say I'll be finding one of these for you every month. Balance that sour with a little bit of sweet." She rolled her eyes, but I could tell she didn't have the energy to argue with me. She leaned closer to rest her head on my shoulder, nestling in my arm. She finished her dessert right after that. Before I could ask how it was, she fell asleep on me. I knew because I felt her relax and use my arm as a pillow. The only words I could say were: "Damn, those pills work fast."

#long #long post #my new reason #louisentine #clouis #the walking dead game #twdg #fanfiction #fan fiction #fanfic #clementine x louis #clementine #aj #louistine

[expatimes]

India’s Mohammed Siraj stars against Australia with 5-wicket haul

Mohammed Siraj did not go home in November when his father died, deciding instead to stay in Australia and try to fulfill his dad’s dream.

In a matter of weeks, the 26-year-old has been elevated from a back-up bowler – picked for the tour as cover following some injuries to veteran pacemen – to leading India’s injury-depleted attack in the series-deciding test match at the Gabba in Brisbane.

He snared his maiden five-wicket haul on Monday, helping to dismiss Australia for 294 late on the penultimate day of the fourth and final test, leaving India a target of 328 to win.

“If he was alive, he would’ve been so happy,” Siraj said. “But I had his blessings and that’s why I took five wickets today. I’m speechless today, about this performance.”

Siraj reacts after he is clean bowled by Josh Hazlewood of Australia during day three of the fourth test match between Australia and India

Siraj said he recalled a conversation with his mother, who encouraged him to stay our tour in Australia and to do his father proud.

“I spoke with my people at home. I felt strong after talking to my family, talking to my mother, and I was also strong mentally about this. My focus was that to accomplish my dad’s wish for me. Thank God, it got accomplished today. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

The highest successful run chase at the Gabba was in 1951, when Australia finished 236-7 against the West Indies. The Australians have not lost at the Gabba since 1988, but nobody is counting India out.

And it is because of the way the likes of Siraj and the other players – drafted in to fill voids left by the absence of regular starters – have taken on the game that gives the tourists so much confidence.

Siraj celebrates the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne of Australia during day four of the fourth test match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane

The openers faced 1.5 overs before rain stopped play and India was four without loss – one scoring stroke from Rohit Sharma.

Stumps was called shortly after 5pm local time (07:00 GMT), giving India three sessions, weather-permitting, to try to get 324 more runs.

Siraj put down two catches before picking up the key wicket of Steve Smith for 55 in the middle session.

Australia was 243-7 at tea on day four – a rain shower forcing an early break – with an overall lead of 276 and a declaration seemingly imminent.

But the hosts continued batting when play resumed in gloomy conditions in the evening session, adding a further 51 runs for three wickets.

Pat Cummins finished unbeaten on 28.

Nathan Lyon, in his 100th test, took Australia’s lead past 300 when he hooked a six off Siraj but was out soon after for 13, giving Thakur his fourth wicket of the innings and seventh of the match. Thakur took the catch off Siraj’s bowling to dismiss last man Josh Hazlewood (9).

Siraj, right, celebrates with Mayank Agarwal, left, after getting the wicket of Josh Hazlewood of Australia

Siraj, leading the India attack in just his third test in the injury-enforced absence of Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, returned 5-73 for his career-best figures.

Smith said the match was well-poised and typical of a series that has “ebbed and flowed” throughout.

Australia won the first test by eight wickets in Adelaide, India responded with an eight-wicket win in Melbourne – where Siraj made his debut – and then got the emotional better for a draw in the third test in Sydney, where the tourists batted through the last four sessions to salvage a draw.

“The game is in a nice place for us,” Smith said. “The wicket started to play a few tricks today, a couple of balls shot up, so tomorrow is going to be letting the natural variation of a day five wicket do its work, and hopefully we can hold onto our chances.”

Smith said there was a lot more happening with the wicket at the Gabba and it was different to the Sydney Cricket Ground, where India batted for 130 overs to save the match.

Australia started Monday on 21 without loss and cruised to 89-0 before losing four wickets in six overs to slip to 123-4.

Smith then combined with Cameron Green to boost the total to 196 before a sharply-rising ball from Siraj hit him on the glove and deflected away to Ajinkya Rahane in the gully.

Smith, who got a reprieve on 42 when he advanced to off-spinner Washington Sundar and Siraj put down a chance in the deep, reviewed the decision, thinking his hand wasn’t on the bat at the time. But replays clearly confirmed the dismissal – a big one for Siraj.

Green (37) had a reprieve when Siraj put down a sharp return catch, but his 90-ball innings ended when he edged Thakur to Rohit Sharma at second slip to make Australia 227-6.

Australia captain Tim Paine scored a quick 27 before he attempted to hook Thakur and was caught behind.

Thakur got things rolling on day four for India when Marcus Harris (38) gloved a catch to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant in the 25th over.

Sundar, on test debut, trapped David Warner (48) in the next over before Siraj got among the wickets by removing Marnus Labuschagne (25) and Matthew Wade (0) in the same over to keep India in contention.

While the series is level at 1-1, India needs only a draw to ensure it retains the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

#sport Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=16917&feed_id=29125 #asia #asiapacific #australia #cricket #india #news #sports

#Asia #AsiaPacific #Australia #cricket #India #News #Sports

[junker-town]

5 NFL players who will benefit most from their change of scenery

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

Here are a few players who can bounce back now that they’ve landed with a new NFL team.

Each year during the frenzy of free agency, there are a few players who stand out because they land in a much better situation with their new team. Whether a player was unhappy with his previous team or simply underperformed, some guys simply need a change of scenery.

That’s still true this year. Even during an unconventional offseason due to the coronavirus pandemic, there have been dozens of signings and even a few blockbuster trades. Free agency continued unabated, and with it many players looking for a fresh start.

Below, we’ve highlighted a few of those guys who should benefit the most from their new surroundings.

Marcus Mariota, QB

Titans —> Raiders

Ostensibly, Mariota is going to Las Vegas to be a backup to Derek Carr. Realistically, he’ll be competing with Carr — who has been involved in trade rumors in the past — if the starter falters even a little bit. That’s a good place for Mariota to be after he saw his Titans career end with a whimper last year at the hands of Ryan Tannehill.

Mariota threw 45 total touchdowns in his first two seasons in the league, but he fell far short of those marks in each of the following three seasons, while interceptions remained a problem. He was benched last season and replaced by Tannehill, who had the best year of his career and got the Titans all the way to the AFC Championship Game.

Mariota can do the same thing that Tannehill did to him if Carr gives him an opportunity. The No. 2 pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota is still 26 years old and has a lot of upside. He has struggled with accuracy and his decision-making thus far in the NFL, but he has shown flashes of high-level play:

This is the craziest play EVER! Marcus Mariota throws a touchdown to... MARCUS MARIOTA! No, seriously...#TitanUp | #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4DbkZieCMI

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) January 7, 2018

One area he really needs to improve is his pocket awareness, because he frequently takes hits and sacks that better quarterbacks avoid, either by throwing the ball away or escaping the pocket.

Still, there’s a chance he can improve with his new team. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden was a big fan of Mariota when he entered the draft, as was general manager Mike Mayock. Mariota is on a two-year contract as well, so if he makes his way into the starting lineup and surprises, the Raiders don’t have to worry about him taking off after one season.

Vic Beasley, DE

Falcons —> Titans

Beasley was a first-round pick in 2015, drafted to be a force on the edge in Atlanta’s defense. In his second year, he put up 15.5 sacks, forced six fumbles, and had a fumble recovery for a touchdown. However, he never reached those heights again, compiling 18 sacks over the next three seasons.

He wasn’t even a full-time starter for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, but he made his way back into a regular starting role in 2019. Playing on the fifth-year option, he had eight sacks and two forced fumbles. Despite the slight uptick in production, the Falcons elected to let him hit the open market. He joins the Titans, who need help in the pass-rushing department and are trying to improve on defense after their hard-nosed offense pushed them to the playoffs last season.

It’s a one-year deal, so there’s little risk for Tennessee. For Beasley, he’ll get an opportunity to earn a much bigger deal a year from now, especially if he can return to his 2016 form. The Titans will be hoping he can complement outside linebacker Harold Landry, while providing an upgrade over guys like Reggie Gilbert and Derick Roberson on the edge.

Beasley occasionally dropped back as a linebacker with the Falcons, but his best chance of success with Tennessee would be rededicated himself to one task: chasing opposing quarterbacks.

Eric Ebron, TE

Colts —> Steelers

Ebron was the Lions’ first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but he’s struggled with consistency over the years, especially in Detroit. He made it to the Pro Bowl in 2018 after joining the Colts. That season, he went off for 750 yards and 13 touchdowns, but injuries limited his 2019 campaign. Last season, he caught just 31 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns while playing in 11 games. Of course, some of that decline can be attributed to the Colts losing Andrew Luck to retirement before the season.

Ebron plays like an oversized receiver, and with the emphasis on big pass-catching tight ends in the NFL these days, there’s still hope that he can become elite, along with guys like Travis Kelce and George Kittle.

In Pittsburgh, Ebron will get a chance to catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger (provided he’s healthy after a season-ending elbow injury), who has been searching for more help from the tight end position for years. Last season, Vance McDonald was the team’s top tight end, and he totaled just 273 yards. With the lack of depth at the tight end position in the upcoming NFL Draft, Ebron’s two-year deal with the Steelers seems like a good match.

Nelson Agholor, WR

Eagles —> Raiders

The Eagles have a fanbase renowned for not being shy about ... let’s call it voicing their displeasure with the team and its players. Over the past several seasons, nobody has drawn that ire like Nelson Agholor, who never quite lived up to his status as the 20th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Agholor’s biggest knock is he is prone to drops, but in reality, it’s more that his drops were high-profile. He only had four drops in 2019 and three drops in 2018, neither of which are ideal but are within the normal range for a wide receiver. Still, he was often the scapegoat for any problems that Philadelphia had on offense, despite issues at the quarterback position and the running game.

He eclipsed 700 yards in 2017 and 2018, but he managed only 363 yards in 11 games last year, when he spent some time on the injured list. In five seasons, he has 2,515 yards, which is well below expectations for a first-round pick. Agholor is making barely over the veteran minimum on a one-year deal, the very definition of a “prove it” contract.

In Las Vegas, Agholor will be dealing with a no-nonsense head coach in Gruden, who will do his level best to get Agholor to be the player many thought he could be. Carr (or Mariota) makes plenty of mistakes, but he throws for a lot of yards and the Raiders need a receiver who can step up alongside tight end Darren Waller.

Karl Joseph, S

Raiders —> Browns

Despite making Joseph a first-round pick in 2016, the Raiders took a long time to develop him into a starting safety, and it was never quite clear why. When Joseph saw the field, he played well. He was having his best year for the Raiders in 2019, until he suffered a season-ending injury while snaring a game-sealing interception against the Chargers.

Karl Joseph: Game Ender#LACvsOAK | #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/P5uCmtAzGb

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 8, 2019

However, Joseph wasn’t a player they seemed to like, even with his consistently strong play. The Raiders had tried to trade him in 2018. When they didn’t make a deal, they declined his fifth-year option before the 2019 season. Then the Raiders drafted Johnathan Abram in the first round that same year.

The decision to move on from Joseph feels a bit like the situation they saw with cornerback Gareon Conley. Another first-round pick, Conley wasn’t a fit in their system and they wound up trading him to the Texans, where he played much better. Both Joseph and Conley were drafted before the Raiders switched to Mayock at general manager, and both dealt with the Raiders running through multiple defensive coordinators during their time with the team.

Their loss will be the Browns’ gain, as Joseph is coming in a one-year contract. He’s snared an interception per season with 15 passes defensed, and that’s while the Raiders mostly used him as a box safety despite him being more of a coverage corner. He should be able to get back to a proper safety role with the Browns, who have openings after Damarious Randall and Morgan Burnett departed this offseason. Don’t be surprised if Joseph winds up in the Pro Bowl in the near future.

[agecfmiracles-archive2]

👁 Wake my muse up during a nightmare ( natasha from steve? )

nonverbal rp starters

accepting || @lexpxrdus​

Natasha doesn’t remember her dreams most of the time. Most of the time, she wakes up with her heart galloping and in a cold sweat but with no inclination of what it is she dreamt about. Other times, like this one, are much different. Memories, or bastardizations of memories, chasing themselves through the labyrinth of her mind when it’s at its most vulnerable—when she’s asleep. She assumes none of her memories are actually real; it’s safer that way, when most of them probably were manufactured by the Red Room. 

In the memory, or dream, she’s about twelve years old. It’s one of her first solo camp-outs away from the base, and she’s eating fistfuls of snow because she’s starving but hasn’t caught anything in her snares yet. Her hair sticks to her damp forehead. Then she hears a sound in the nearby shadows, a rustling. She is supposed to be the most dangerous thing in this forest, but instead she’s terrified. Long ago she heard a folk tale about a forest spirit called the Leshy, and even though she’s far too old for those sorts of things she can’t help feeling convinced that the Leshy is coming for her like he comes for all children. As the rustling grows louder she’s sure he brought his wolves with him, that they’ll tear her apart and suck the marrow from her bones, they’ll eat her, they’ll kill her...

She jerks awake, eyes stinging with sweat and tears, unsure what woke her until she Steve standing over her. His eyes are gleaming in the half-dark; there’s a light on in the hall outside. It’s good that she can see him or she might have thought the Leshy escaped her dream and is in her room.

“Steve, what the hell?” she asks breathlessly. “Was I...?” She doesn’t want to ask if she’s crying, doesn’t want to invoke that word when she’s spent so many years building up a tough, impenetrable, exterior. “You shouldn’t have woken me like that, I could have hurt you.”

#lexpxrdus #lexpxrdus: steve #IC: Natasha #answered: natasha

[escaperail]

Samuel’s 3 TDs lift South Carolina over NC State 35-28

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — When Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley rolled out of the pocket and heaved a ball downfield in the direction of a streaking Deebo Samuel he had complete faith his favorite target was going to haul it in.

Well, sort of.

"If he would have dropped that pass in the end zone I might have killed him," Bentley said with a laugh.

He didn’t drop it.

Instead, Samuel reached out and snared the ball with one hand in the corner of the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown reception, giving South Carolina the lead and propelling them to a 35-28 victory over North Carolina State in the season opener for both teams.

Samuel returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score and caught two touchdown passes from Bentley in an impressive victory over a Wolfpack team that started the season five spots outside of the Top 25.

"He probably won’t say it, but I don’t think anyone in the country can guard him," Bentley said of Samuel.

Deebo, what do you think?

"No comment," he said with a smile as the press room erupted in laughter.

Samuel may not be much of a talker, but he certainly can play.

He finished with five catches for 83 yards and his kickoff return set the tone for the game. North Carolina State pulled even three times, but could never grab the lead.

"We work on scramble drills every other day in practice and when he rolled out I kept running," Samuel said. "When I see the ball coming I knew I had to make a play."

"Phenomenal catch," Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said.

Bentley threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including strikes of 39 and 6 yards to Samuel as the Gamecocks won their 17th season opener in the last 18 years.

Gamecocks safety D.J. Smith broke up a pass from Ryan Finley in the end zone on fourth and goal with six seconds left to preserve the win.

Finley threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns on 45-of-64 passing for North Carolina State. Jaylen Samuels had 15 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown and Kelvin Harmon had 10 for 114 yards for the Wolfpack.

But the Gamecocks scored 14 points off two North Carolina State turnovers, which turned out to be the difference in the game.

"Turnovers is a skillset we work on every day and he will have to look at as a staff how we’re coaching it," Doeren said.

The biggest came in the third quarter right after Samuel’s touchdown catch.

South Carolina defensive end Dante Sawyer came crashing through the line and sacked Finley, stripping him of the ball. Bryson Allen-Williams hopped on the loose ball at the Wolfpack 13.

Two plays later Rico Dowdle scored on a 7-yard run for a 14-point lead.

___

THE TAKEAWAY:

South Carolina: Bentley has been touted by some as a NFL-level quarterback and he displayed that promise on Saturday with some precise passes, none better than the 39-yard strike to Samuel. It was a huge win for a team that was a combined 16-22 over the past three seasons but finished strong last year to make a bowl game.

"This sets the tone for the season," Bentley said.

NC State: Entered the season with high hopes after returning 18 starters from last year, including 11 seniors — the highest number in at least a quarter-century. So this was a huge setback for a program looking to take the next step with a statement win. Two of the biggest concerns have to be the lack of a running game.

THE GREAT START: Samuel got the season started in style for South Carolina, taking the opening kickoff and bouncing to the outside and racing up the field. Only one player touched him as he turned on the afterburners and outran the field.

STAT GAME: South Carolina won despite being limited to 31 yards rushing on 21 carries and being outgained 504-246.

KICKING WOES: N.C. State brought in graduate transfer Carson Wise to solve its kicking woes, but the former Division II player from Carson-Newman shanked his first field-goal attempt of the season from 29 yards off the left goal post. Coach Dave Doeren last week called Wise "really level-headed."

SUSPENSION: Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said offensive tackle Will Richardson was suspended for the first two games of the season for a violation of team rules. He said it stems from an undisclosed incident that occurred back in the spring.

UP NEXT

South Carolina: Will travel next Saturday to face Missouri, which defeated Missouri State 72-43 in the season opener.

NC State: Hosts Marshall next Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

__

More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source Article

The post Samuel’s 3 TDs lift South Carolina over NC State 35-28 appeared first on ESCAPE RAIL.

Read full post at: http://www.escaperail.com/samuels-3-tds-lift-south-carolina-over-nc-state-35-28/

[jessicakmatt]

Sample and Hold: Modular Synth, Field Recording and Gated Reverb

Sample and Hold: Modular Synth, Field Recording and Gated Reverb: via LANDR Blog

Welcome to Sample and Hold, the series on the LANDR Blog where we highlight one unique crate-digging session and the digger’s gold we came back with using Selector—the world’s first AI sample recommendation tool.

Starter Loop: Modular Synth

Today on Sample and Hold I’ll start with modular synth.

After a bit of digging I uncovered this filtered, undulating percussive loop with the signature drippy resonance of a modular rig:

Modular synthesis means that individual parts of a synthesizer like the oscillators, filters and envelopes are arranged as separate components.

To create sounds on a modular you have to make the connections between modules physically using patch cables.

To create sounds on a modular you have to make the connections between modules physically using patch cables.

The learning curve for modular synthesis is steeper than with integrated synths, but the payoff is that the signal routing is limited only by your imagination.

Modular synthesis has been steadily growing in popularity since the introduction of the Eurorack standard in the late 90s.

Before Eurorack, modular synth builders had different conventions for patching, power supplies and module size that prohibited musicians from using modules from different manufacturers in the same rig.

Eurorack standardized those conventions and created a massive boom in the development and adoption of modular synthesis.

Today some of the wildest rigs you can find online belong to hardcore modular enthusiasts.

And with the number of creative Eurorack devices growing by the day, it’s hard not to get sucked into the craze. Get your wallet ready!

Selection 1: Field Recording

Right there in the first few recommendations for the modular loop I found an eerie, realistic soundscape.

There’s no doubt—this is a field recording of a real environment.

Using field recordings in your music is one of our favourite creative techniques at LANDR.

We’ve created a full guide to using them in your workflow and done a rundown of the best field recorders available to capture your own.

There’s something amazing about how a well-rendered soundscape can immediately transport you to a different place.

There’s something amazing about how a well-rendered soundscape can immediately transport you to a different place.



It’s important to remember that real people in real places are the ones listening to your tracks. Actual environmental sounds are one powerful way to acknowledge this in your production.

LANDR Samples has an amazing library of ambience and field recordings—just click on this Selector session to browse through a fraction of what’s out there on the platform.

Don’t get too caught up in them though, there’s always something slightly creepy about eavesdropping on real life as a disembodied listener…

Selection 2: Gated Reverb

On page 3 of the field recording session I found a lively snare with rich gated reverb:

https://samples.landr.com/recommendations/d8bbc4c5-39fc-45e2-aaac-994621d1f684

Gated reverb is one of the signature production techniques from the 80s.

Gated reverb is one of the signature production techniques from the 80s.

Some consider it a cliche, but gated reverb is a fun bit of sound design with a distinctive flavor that can radically change the timbre of some sources.

Here’s how it works. Gated reverb is essentially a combination of a reverb and an expander/gate.

Gated reverb is essentially a combination of a reverb and an expander/gate.

Once the level of a reverb tail drops below the gate’s threshold, the gate will cut the decay off sharply.

The effect is a disorienting unnatural reverb that’s great for emphasizing percussive hits.

The effect was made famous by Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel—almost by accident. Sophisticated 80s studio consoles had dedicated listenback systems for artists to communicate more easily with engineers in the control room.

Since the listenback microphones were often mounted far away from the musicians, these systems needed an aggressive compressor in the chain to bring up the level enough to be heard.

With all that compression the noise floor was naturally much higher. To solve it the engineers implemented a gate that would kick in whenever the artist stopped speaking.

When the engineer accidentally monitored Collins drumming through the listenback system, the gated reverb effect took everyone by surprise

The compressor would bring up the ambience of the room drastically and the gate would cut off the trails much quicker than the natural decay.

This effect became popular enough to be implemented in the newly developed digital reverbs of the time. The most famous of these is the AMS RMX 16, where it was called “Nonlinear.”

The AMS RMX 16s non-linear presets were used on some of the most famous recordings of the 1980s.

Selection 3: Synth Sequence

Finally, on page 3 of the gated reverb sound I found another undulating synth sequence to bring things back to where we started.

There’s no way of telling if this clangy burbling rhythm was created on a modular, but it doesn’t sound too far off.

This sound has a uniquely effective use of rhythmic delay to emphasize the sense of action in the pattern.

The cascading delays multiply the clicky onsets of the synth and spread them around satisfyingly in the stereo field.

This is a classic technique for creating enveloping ambient textures that’s been used by famous delay users like David Gilmour and The Edge.

That’s it for today’s Selector deep dive!

The post Sample and Hold: Modular Synth, Field Recording and Gated Reverb appeared first on LANDR Blog.

from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/sample-and-hold-modular-synth/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from Steve Hart https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/189703068649