#this thing has LORE which must be CONSUMED

[lilli-eyr]

ꁝꏂ꒒꒒ꄲ ꉔꋪꋬꊰ꓄꒐ꏂꇙ

#dan and phil #amazing phil #dan howell #dan and phil craft #dnp #dnp slime #quite literally the best piece of media they've produced #im obsessed with this short indie horror film #its so good #also it feeds our joint brainrot #i have been consuming all these theories for DAYS now #i want MORE #this thing has LORE which must be CONSUMED #my art

[h2llish]

【╰ヾ❝ GARDEN ✧„ pt 2

LEONA KINGSCHOLAR ━━━ leona loves the boy in the garden ♡ fluff, bit angsty, pining, book 2 and 3 mentions, leona is a little insecure and pining hard, male reader, lowercase intended, more lore for reader (wow/s)

fem aligned dni (she/they, she/her, etc)

part 1

the book leona borrowed from you (and still had yet to give back) began by saying the language of flowers and plants are beautiful, and then it'd go on to list some flowers and their meanings. amaryllis meaning pride; aster is a symbol of love and even daintiness; calla lilies mean beauty. one of those flowers listed is the white carnation, also one of the flowers you had given leona. the white carnation has quite a few meanings, but they all lead to the same thing nonetheless: sweet, innocent love.

if you move through the book a few pages, you'll find the salvia. it goes on to list colors on the flower having their own meanings. the blue salvia has a meaning you've always thought to be more beautiful than the red; i think of you. it was that flower that you gave to leona because it was true, you think about him. he was on your mind even when he laid next to you as you tended to the flowers. he was always there in your thoughts even when you needed to be focused on your task at hand. he owned your mind even though he was completely unaware of it.

and of course, the chrysanthemum; the red chrysanthemum. it was your favorite flower in the way you hated it so much. you told yourself you'd never own another, you'd never plant another, and yet you did anyways. because it was a flower you knew would get your feelings across exactly for its meaning was simple and straightforward; i love you. the same thing you'd only ever wished your mother had told you before she sent you off to live with your aunt. the words your mother told you she'd never utter as you were the reason, she let the magic consume and fog her mind. the words you'd hoped to tell leona yourself even with the flowers in your hands.

i love you, leona. i love you.

but you could not, not when leona hadn't come to the botanical garden for what you realized was half a month. you understood, of course, and it was bad timing on your part. all the dorms, including your own, were busy with preparing for spelldrive. and then there was the mysterious injuries that began to take some of the best players in every dorm by swarm. so, of course, leona was busy and probably couldn't come around to the garden as much as you wished he could. (because you'd admit, you missed seeing him.) so you opted to pay him a visit at his dorm, which quickly changed to just leaving ruggie to deliver your flowers to the prince in hopes that he understood exactly what those flowers meant and what you were trying to say. (he had your book on the meaning of flowers for months then, so you assumed he must at least know some of the meanings for the flowers.)

you paid him a visit a few more times after that but was quickly shooed away by ruggie who always had an excuse. you just wanted a response; because whether it was rejection or not, you needed him to tell you face-to-face. maybe then, you'd finally be able to get over the unfamiliar racing of your heart and the constant thoughts that centered around him.

if leona wanted to talk to you, he knew where to find you. and if he didn't, then you'd just track him down after spelldrive and force him to give you an answer because you didn't like how unfamiliar it was to be waiting so anxiously for a response.

however, what you didn't expect, was to have the prefect from another world suddenly approach your dorm and request the help of your housewarden to stop the culprit behind the mysterious injuries; leona. being a part of heartslabyul, you were expected to aid in the plan as well; you didn't protest, even when you were faced with the feeling of a pit in your stomach and a tightness in your chest as the realization that the man you were in love with was the reason one of your dormmates was injured. (but you still loved him even when that thought was almost painful.)

it was a surprise, to confront the lion and have him admit what he and ruggie were doing. but it was even more of a surprise when you recognized the obvious signs of building blot (something you were all too familiar with even before riddle). watching as ruggie struggled to breath as sand picked up and the air became thin with the grains. leona's signature spell was powerful; you knew that from the time you once asked him about it during your conversations in the botanical garden. you could start to see the effects it began to have on those around you, including yourself. breathing growing short and bit of panic rising in your chest.

but for the lion, leona could never forget the way you looked at him as you wrapped an arm around ruggie and pulled him away. you coughed under the effects of his spell, eyes wide as you stared up at him and━ oh, were you scared of him? the fear in your eyes would probably be unrecognizable to those who couldn't read you, but leona noticed it, and amongst the blot that began to take over, he felt his own self crumble at thought that you were scared of him. (if only he knew it wasn't fear of him, but for him.)

you managed to stop leona just before the blot could consume him whole, much to your relief. and as the blot that took form behind leona released him, you were the only one quick to rush forward to catch him just before the prince could hit the ground. and as he lay unconscious, you held him, so carefully, as if he was another one of your flowers in your garden.

and while ruggie didn't understand flowers, and he didn't understand you or leona, he understood, in that moment, as he watched you hold leona until he regained consciousness, that you loved the prince.

leona was avoiding you. he knew that, ruggie knew that, you knew that.

leona was avoiding you and he didn't understand why. ━ okay, that's a lie, he knew exactly why. it's because he (and his pride would never admit it) was scared. scared, because after his overblot, he didn't know what you wanted nor how you felt, and he didn't want to face it either. he doesn't think he could handle a rejection from you of all people.

ruggie has voiced his disappointment of the lion on several occasions, not happy that he was sending you away every time you tried to see the prince because leona was too much of a coward to face you. ruggie's had to come up with excuse after excuse just to send you off, and he's running out of reasonable excuses, and he knows you've realized. and while he's said this to leona a number of times, leona still refuses to face you. at one point, ruggie was desperate enough to drag a confused jack over to try and get him to move from his bed.

jack sighed, standing at leona's bedside and apologizing to ruggie, as it was obvious the lion had no intention of moving to go talk to garden boy as ruggie called you. the freshman didn't understand what was going on nor why leona had to talk to the gardener of the botanical garden, but it was obviously important if ruggie was trying so hard to force the lion out of bed.

ruggie groaned, "come on, leona! talk to him!"

leona didn't reply verbally, but the annoyed flick of his tail as he turned his back to the two told them what he was thinking.

"coward." ruggie glared, arms crossed over his chest as an awkward jack stood next to him, a bit caught off guard by the sudden insult thrown towards their housewarden. when ruggie still gained no response, the hyena scoffed, turning away to stomp off, to which jack followed. but ruggie made sure to add just before he shut the door behind him, "i'm not turning him away again!"

leona scoffed, tail flicking aggressively as he stared at the three flowers in a vase, set safely on his desk. (because while he may be avoiding you, the flowers were once a confession, and he preferred to have that if he couldn't have you.)

everyone has a point where their patience dries, and they can no longer find themselves able to wait for something or someone. and for you, a rather stoic and otherwise patient person, it may take a while before you reach that point, but even you have that moment where you no longer find yourself able to sit still. (and your patience was strong because it had been a month since you last seen him.)

your patience just so happened to run out while at an unbirthday party. you had been in a conversation with trey regarding the science club (and rook's extravagant need to cause poor trey issues by almost blowing up the lab), when you overheard deuce and ace talking. you nodded at whatever trey was saying, but your mind was on the freshman's conversation as you heard them mention savanaclaw and leona.

you learned then that the prefect and grim found themselves staying at savanaclaw because the prefect had signed a contract with azul, putting their dorm on the line because they were trying to get ace, deuce, and grim's freedom back after they had been stupid enough to sign a contract with azul in the first place.

you felt frustration build, grip tightening dangerously on the teacup in your hand and eyes narrowing on the treats in the center of the table. trey noticed your silence, stopping to stare at you as your mood took an uncharacteristic turn. he was caught off guard, after his years of knowing you since you guys met in your first year at nrc, you had never been this expressive, and he couldn't understand what caused the sudden turn in mood (it's not like he knew it was because you overheard the freshman's conversation, nor why that would make you upset.) even if it was a small change in your character, it was enough to cause him concern.

"[name]?" he called.

you blinked, relaxing your grip on your teacup and turning to him with a hum, "yes?"

his brows furrowed, "are you okay?"

you tilted your head, "of course. why do you ask?"

"well━" trey sighed, "nevermind." (he's long since learned you can't be read or understood so easily.)

you nodded, leaning back in your chair and grabbing a treat from the table, biting into it slowly as you stared off in thought, feeling the frustration bubble in your chest again.

you weren't upset because the prefect was staying with leona ━ far from it, actually. you respected the prefect; you fought alongside them twice now. and they often paid you visits at the botanical garden, telling you they enjoyed coming because you made the garden peaceful and it gave them a break from the chaos, (even you were flattered by their words). they were nice and had admittedly become a friend to you.

rather, you were upset because they only mentioned leona. after a month of being turned away by ruggie and hoping for the prince to turn up at the garden, the very mention of leona caused frustration to build and patience to dry.

you were tired of waiting.

you sighed loudly, setting your cup on the table and standing from your seat. you turned to trey, who watched you curiously. with a rather forced calm tone in your voice, you said; "i just remembered i have to take care of something in the botanical garden. it's important. tell riddle i'm sorry."

trey could only nod in his confusion as he watched you take your leave from the maze. it wasn't like you to forget anything regarding plants, let alone the botanical garden. perhaps he'll ask you later, you do seem to be in a hurry.

you didn't stop for anything on your way to savanaclaw; not when cater tried to ask you where you were going and not when you almost ran into a very confused periwinkle-haired boy upon exiting heartslabyul. you didn't care about the odd looks you received from the students as you entered savanaclaw's mirror, and you had no intention of turning away when you spotted ruggie and jack.

ruggie noticed you quickly, looking a little tense as he seen the out-of-character expression of frustration on your face. when you approached him and the freshman he was talking to, he didn't bother to come up with an excuse (besides, he did warn leona). he pointed over his shoulder and nodded, "i'll show you to his room."

you nodded in return, pleased with his response, "thank you." you glanced at the wolf beastman staring at the two of you in confusion, "sorry to interrupt, jack."

"oh, it's fine." he waved off with a tilt of his head, watching as ruggie led you into the dorm building.

when you reached leona's dorm room, you could hear the familiar sound of a complaining grim. you didn't wait as you immediately pushed the door open, and right away did your eyes meet familiar green (an emerald color that you've always found so pretty to look at).

leona tensed, his grip on the monster's neck loosening. he stared at you, silent as you narrowed your eyes on him. the lion was at a loss as he noticed the frown on your lips and the tilt in your brow. (are you angry? at him? perhaps he should've listened to ruggie.)

the prefect caught onto the tension pretty quickly, grabbing grim, who was about to start complaining again, and quickly approaching ruggie, who was standing behind you in the doorway. you moved out of the way to allow them to pass, yet you remained glaring at leona, who was oddly quiet in the presence of you. the door shut behind you after their exit and the silence between the two of you seemed to thicken.

that is, until your familiar monotone broke it, "you're avoiding me." you stated, taking a step towards the prince. you hardly gave him a moment to respond other than the sound of what might've been the beginning of no, before you continued. "why are you avoiding me?"

leona scoffed (the only noise he could make, as he was unable to muster a response now that he was faced with the boy he had fallen in love with. the boy he had been avoiding because he was under the belief that your feelings had changed after his overblot.)

"leona," you said, rather sternly. (and he liked when you said his name, even if the situation for it wasn't ideal.) "why are you avoiding me? it's been over a month, why━" you went quiet, as if you had lost a bit of your nerve. or perhaps, you were just struck by a thought. you tilted your head and sighed through your nose, "if this is your form of rejection, it's terrible. i'd prefer you'd do it person instead of avoiding me. maybe then i'd feel better, because it... hurts."

oh.

you had gotten closer, your eyes still refusing to leave his even when it became obvious that he was uncomfortable under the sudden interrogation. "why are you avoiding me, leona?"

"i'm not avoiding you." he scowled, believing that would help sell his excuse.

it was your turn to scoff (and he must've noticed how you were so much more expressive around him. how could he not?) "if that's true, then why have you not been to the botanical garden? why have we not had our common banters and conversations? why do you have ruggie send me away with ridiculous excuses? what could possibly excuse this as anything but you avoiding me?"

you waited, expecting an answer from the lion. but leona could say nothing, he couldn't find an excuse that would make sense with his behavior. he was avoiding you; it was that simple.

you sighed, expression relaxing back into its usual monotonous state, finally tearing your eyes away from his. you were quiet as you stared off to the side, and leona still found himself unable to say anything. (did this mean you still held the same feelings for him? had he not driven you away?)

"reject me."

what?

"what?" leona asked, almost harshly.

you looked back at him, head tilting as you repeated your words, "reject me and i'll leave you alone. i'd feel better if you rejected me now, to my face, then continue to avoid me. reject me." you were stern and stoic as you spoke, but leona still noticed how you clenched your dorm uniform in your fists, and how your eyes were staring to gloss the more you spoke. "tell me my feelings are unrequited. that the flowers were thrown away and that you didn't enjoy the time we spent in the botanical garden. reject me."

leona knew it wasn't fair for him to feel angry at your words. he's the reason you're standing in front of him, asking the prince to reject you since that did seem to be the impression he gave after avoiding you for so long. yet he couldn't help but glare at you, who remained unwavering as you stared right back at him, eyes glossed with unshed tears the longer you waited.

leona knew he shouldn't find you so wonderful to look at, even as the air around you was thick in tension and the tightness in your chests were unknowingly shared between the two of you. you always managed to look amazing to him, even now, and even when you were covered in dirt after tending to the botanical garden.

he shifted in place and your eyes caught sight of familiar colors almost hidden behind the rectangular lamp on his desk. blue salvia, white carnation, and red chrysanthemum.

you sighed, relieved as you met his eyes again. yet more firm in your next words. "you can't, can you?"

"why are you even here?" leona couldn't help but ask, scowling at you (fake, you could tell).

"because i love you." you answered, simple and straightforward, like the red chrysanthemum. leona faltered in his persona, the forced scowl on his face turning into that of a frown, ears twitching as he searched your face. (for what, he didn't know.) you shook your head, eyes flickering between his own, frowning at him in return, "have you really not realized that? i love you ━ even after you've avoided me. i don't think my feelings even faltered. they're stronger now."

you raised a hand towards his face, but paused, "i was scared, you know?" leona glanced between you and your hand, the unfamiliar racing of his heart so loud he wondered if you heard it. "i thought we wouldn't be able to save you. i though i'd lose you."

your hand was on his face now, fingers gentle as you traced his cheek, and leona had to refrain from leaning into you. this was new. the feelings you stirred in him was new, but he didn't reject it; he couldn't, not when he began to rely on them while he was avoiding you.

"please, leona," you said, rather softly, expression gentle compared to the monotone expression you always carried around anyone else. "let me love you."

leona knows he's fallen in love with the boy from the garden, and he knows now, that he loves him too.

pt2. i actually really like how this turned out although this wasn't exatly my vision lol.

i think leona is a neat character to write for. he's seen as lazy and prideful (and yeah, he is) but a lot of the time, people fail to realize that that isn't his whole person.

he's the second born in a royal family, and that itself is reason enough to not be the biggest fan of his status. the second is always seen as second best because their older sibling, is well, older. they're the one taking the throne and what is the second born going to do? nothing, because they can't have the throne after the first born, that goes to the first's born child once they step down.

he spent his whole life being looked down on by the servants in his own kingdom because he just didn't fit up to expectations. he would hear everything, all the whispers and the insults, yet he did nothing except take it. and naturally that would make anyone feel insecure. i know i would if i was in his place; hearing people whisper about me being nothing compared to my older brother?? that's harsh, especially since he was still a child while hearing all this. what do you think all those harsh words will do to a child's psyche? absolutely destroy it.

so yeah, i think he's insecure. his entire life and talent is seen as second best; even in nrc when standing alongside the heir of briar alley he still isn't first. so of course, that would fuck with someone's already shaky psyche of viewing yourself as nothing more than second place. i also think this really plays into why he's still in nrc despite being intelligent and magically talented. riddle couldn't collar him because his magic was so strong and he's as cunning as he is smart so that begs the question why hasn't he graduated? i think it's because he doesn't want to go home any more than he already has to when it comes to holiday breaks or when cheka pays him visits. he'd rather stay in nrc, where he can keep up appearances and avoid hearing the whispers in the hall. (and plus, they already look down on him, what's failing a few years going to do? it can't get any worse.)

so when it comes to gaining romantic feelings for someone and someone gaining romantic feelings for him, i don't think he'd know what to do. in his mind he's second place, that's all he'll ever be, yet he entertains the thought of being someone's first choice. and when he is, he's unsure. can he really be someone's first choice? can he really be seen as anything more than the second-best category he spent his whole life in?

it's why i wrote the reader the way i did. he loves leona and he's willing to prove that to him by pushing past his own trauma to show leona that "yes, i love you. i pick you. i want you." and leona doesn't know how to react to this to confession so he chooses to avoid him, scared he's seen he's never someone's first and that the reader's feelings have changed. but when the reader shows up in front of him, showing a part of himself that he's never shown to anyone else and admitting to leona that his feelings haven't changed and he's still in love with him, probably even more despite leona avoiding him, leona has to accept that reader chose him, that he loves him.

in other words, i just think he's neat.

i'm done rambling now lol :")

do not repost, translate, copy or run my writing through an ai

#╰ ও ❝ fluff #╰ ও ❝ angst #twisted wonderland x reader #twisted wonderland #twst #twst x reader #twst leona #leona kingscholar x reader #leona kingscholar #leona x reader #x male reader #twst x male reader #twisted wonderland x male reader #leona kingscholar x male reader #leona x male reader

[mechanical-aristocrat]

[OOC:]

Okay I think I'm ready to talk about that leaked light cone now:

I can criticize the potential continuity error it creates all I want, but god fucking damn it this image is too compelling for me to be even a little bit angry.

THIS is how you do a fucking light cone, THIS is how you take advantage of the inherently interesting concept behind them to deliver a deeper level of characterization. Very few other light cones in the game do that anywhere near as well as this one does, and I'm going to try my best to explain why. (although forgive me if I'm still a bit scatterbrained, this image makes me so goddamn emotional that it's genuinely difficult to think clearly)

It seems very safe to assume this is depicting Screwllum soon after he became sentient, experiencing the beauty of life and existence for the first time. The thing is, it isn't an entirely positive experience; he's noticeably damaged with moss, plants, and fungi growing all over him, which can't be comfortable (just imagining what that must feel like makes my skin crawl). He was probably left in this forest by some one (or some thing) that didn't give a singular fuck about him, that wanted him to deteriorate and be forgotten about.

And yet, his body language and the overall tone of the piece suggests that he doesn't mind. He's incredibly calm (the butterflies wouldn't be there if he wasn't, he's made himself a safe place for them to rest), looking at the viewer as if the "camera" has placed us in the POV of a small woodland creature, the way his head is tilted to the side implying a sense of curiosity and/or fascination.

The tone of this image and of the character as a whole is one of awe and wonder that doesn't shy away from the negatives. It's what makes Screwllum the perfect foil to Emperor Rupert I, because while they both began their sentience in a similar manner, abandoned by a cold and uncaring universe and left to rot, Rupert was consumed by its hatred and motivated by revenge, whereas Screwllum was able to see life for what it was, imperfect but worth cherishing.

The most impressive part about it, however, is that all of this can be inferred without even having access to the light cone's name or lore description (at least as far as I'm aware). The light cones I would have considered my favorites previously, "Something Irreplaceable" and "Shared Feeling", partially rely on the descriptions to be compelling, especially with the former example because the description is honestly my favorite part. The visual storytelling in this leak is on fucking point, and I can't wait to read the description because it'll probably make me love it even more than I already do.

Screwllum nation is winning with this.

#also I saw a couple people in the comment section of the reddit post comparing it to the Iron Giant #which...holy fucking shit yeah they're right #that explains a lot about most of my comfort characters actually. robots built for war Choosing to be forces of kindness and love is just.. #GOD it's so fucking good #(for context The Iron Giant is my favorite movie of all time and it has been since I was like 8 #if you've never seen it before go watch it it's amazing) #honkai star rail #screwllum #honkai star rail leaks #ooc | out of character #hcs | headcanons

[embassy-of-fiction]

TNG Lore SFW Headcanons

He may be unhinged but it's not his fault. His father and the people around him are to blame for that.

Is more keenly aware of his s/o’s mental health than he is of his own

Does whatever he must in order to make said s/o feel better

He goes above what most people would in order to make your day better even if it causes some problems for other people

Steals things from other people should they be something that would be up your alley

Will fight with doctor’s if they aren’t being helpful about physical/mental health

Tends to give you a bouquet of flowers that he's grown himself which means they all tend to have thorns or poisonous if consumed

Attempts to make meals for you on any given day though he only knows how to make a couple of things well

Will interrupt your work to bring you various kinds of small gifts on any given day

Has attempted to get some kind of pet for you on multiple occasions though they've all been things that are far more dangerous than what's allowed anywhere

#sfw #x reader #star trek x reader #lore x reader #star trek tng #lore soong

[gumptiomdog]

I've only just seen your LOZ au but now I must phsycially devour and consume every single image you've drawn of these darlings. Might I see your refs of them?? (I'd also love to hear any explanation behind your design choices! But no pressure on that.✨️✨️)

lmao im working on proper ref sheets as my au has been in my head for a while, so their designs have evolved! ill post the full designs and refs separately as an intro post, and for the designs i try to mainly base them off in-game bits of lore honestly and also make them all distinct.. so many blond boys in green. Time totally gave Legend the hat btw, its the rabbit speed hat from oot :] Sky i took a lot of cues from pilot wear and. naussica yeah i think everyone knew that for her,, but Time is my favorite design, i think i spent the most time trying to decide which of the fierce deitys face markings to use, and just simplifying things :] like her stupid ARMOR ARM DIE!!!!

and some doodles and a wip for ur trouble..

#link oot #link legend of zelda #the legend of zelda #loz #legend of zelda #missing link #zelda oot #asks #zelda #loz totk #zelda au #tloz fanart #tloz #loz fanart #loz link #minish cap #wind waker link #links awakening

[skepticalarrie]

i am quite new to larry. i’m in my twenties but still fully missed the whole one direction phenomenon until two weeks ago when I saw one (1) tiktok of harry performing satellite and it has been all consuming since. what’s so strange to me about the whole experience (and i know this is not unique) is there’s no way i have thought of to talk about it with anyone irl. like how do i convincingly impress upon anyone how sincere i am in saying that these two former members of the 21st century’s most ubiquitous (and straightest™) boyband — including pop culture’s current golden boy — are actually exceedingly queer and closeted and now soul crushingly important to me as a queer person??? it’s just so contrary to the commonly accepted narrative of them, which i know is the whole damn point, but jesus. all i’ve been able to do is say “hey you should do some research about one direction lore, it’s interesting” and hope my friends accidentally fall down the rabbit hole too. tis a wild and wacky time.

This message would never feel as relatable to me as it feels right now. Because you’re right, it’s not a thing you really talk about in real life, it sounds insane.

I want to share something about Harry, specifically. I wasn’t sure if I would want to share that in the first place, but since you just sent this ask I thought it would fit this discussion just right and it literally just happened in my life. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that. I’ve been a fan for several years now and I always got away just fine with it with people IRL, I don’t really talk much about it. But apparently now everyone in my social circle is completely in love with golden boy Harry Styles, and well… people happened to notice within the last year I’m a big fan. I just went to a bunch of his shows last week and people definitely noticed that even more. I had A LOT of friends coming to me saying all kinds of things, but mostly how hot he is. *Thank god he’s single now* was something I’ve had to sit through a couple of times. And fuck… it was by far the most uncomfortable situation I’ve ever been in all the years of being a fan, it was intense, he truly causes a reaction on people and I wasn’t expecting that. The kind of things some people say about artists just because they’re famous is just… yikes. And I’m talking about friends of mine, good people, treating him like a piece of meat, like he’s not human. People don’t even realise he’s just a normal guy behind all the fame and marketing. And I’m not going to be hypocritical and say I never treated artists like that because I must have at some point, it’s such an easy concept but somehow it’s very hard to realise how human they are unless you *really* look at them and listen to what they’re saying.

Anyway, it was a very devastating situation. I was uncomfortable enough once or twice to tell people to give up thirsting over him because he wouldn’t fuck them anyway, and they should look it up online because he was definitely not straight. I was *angry*, it really got to me. And people actually looked at me like I had completely lost my fucking mind. Like, what do you mean you don’t want to fuck him?? why do you love him so much then?? So it’s what you said, maybe some of them will look up and accept the idea that closeting may be a possibility, and that’s why a lot of queer fans connect with him so much... but who the fuck knows, they probably won’t. But it truly hit me like a ton of bricks how far deep in the closet he is, most people (in my very LGBTQ+ circle) don’t even consider the possibility even though he’s out there waving pride flags every single show and defying gender norms. I’m definitely keeping it more to myself now than I was before.

#sorry i think this was just a confusing rant #ask #harry’s image

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

I’d love to read more of your (and Vinelle’s) Twilight fanfics, but I can’t wrap my head around a lot of the lore. I only have vague memories of the books, with the Volturi details being extra vague. Care to give a summary of the Aro/Carlisle situation you tend to write about? The fics seem so interesting but I’m left confused about their characters and history!

Look, @therealvinelle, praise!

And oh dear god.

If it makes you feel better this isn't a ridiculous ask as I'm having a pretty tough time coming up with what I need to summarize here. There's a shocking amount of background about very obscure characters required to 'get' all of our fics.

Well, the easy (if time consuming) answer is to go through the blog. A lot of our Twilight readers have a leg up because they've read all the metas including "what if X happened" and so are quite knowledgeable about what @therealvinelle and I will write in a given story (compared to readers of The Man Who Would Be King, HP where @therealvinelle and I have written comparably less metas, and the readers guesses are all over the place).

This will give you pretty much everything you need to know about everything we write.

Otherwise, I'll have to give a quick and dirty summary here.

The Volturi

The Volturi are the big bad of the Twilight novels if there are any at all. They're the ones who cause much of the conflict in the latter novels (if we ignore Edawrd causing all of the conflict) and are the large threat to Bella after James and Victoria are dealt with.

What's important for our fics is that they're the iron fist of the vampire world. They're not so much rulers, as they don't tell anyone what to do, don't supply any cultural institutions, nor demand tithes or taxes, but enforcers of this one law that they made up thousands of years ago. They have only one law which is "do not get noticed by humans" which has a bunch of caveats to ensure this singular law is followed.

They have such strength in gift ability and such a strong network that they're able to enforce this law across the globe and easily deal with large masses of vampires. (This has given them a terrifying reputation and causes vampires like Jasper to regard them ambivalently as he appreciates things like newborn wars not spiraling out of control but is utterly terrified of them.)

They have done this for at least two-thousand years (Meyer is notoriously terrible with dates so @therealvinelle and I get into a lot of headcanons to make this work. Given the names Aro, Marcus, and Caius and that they are reputedly Mycenean they probably gained significant power/reputation when Rome was the dominant power in the region some 1500 years after each of them was turned, meaning it's been ~2000 years that Volturi law became absolute in the Mediterranean region if not further). And have presumably been settled in Volterra since that time.

Also of note is that the Volturi (primarily Aro) recruits, sometimes heavy handedly, gifted vampires to be members of his guard. This is how he's maintained such control as he uses powerful psychics to obliterate opposition.

The Cullens run afoul of this law (or appear to) multiple times. First when Edward goes to Volterra confessing to having told Bella he was a vampire and then abandoning her while she was still human (the law is she must either be turned or die at that point), the second time hours later when Edward planned to walk into the sunlight and reveal himself to the city of Volterra, and the third time when Irina witnesses what she thinks is an immortal child and reports this to the Volturi.

This last culminates in a very tense confrontation between dozens of vampires as they try to clear up what the fuck Renesmee is and if she's a danger to herself and others.

It concludes peacefully, but tensely, as Aro concludes Renesmee is not a problem and walks away but everyone is unsure if a violent confrontation will happen later.

The Aro and Carlisle Situation

Carlisle canonically spent around 20 years (Edward notes a few decades but never specifies exactly how many) as a guest of the Volturi, specifically as a friend of Aro.

What Edward tells us canonically is that while he enjoyed his time there and was shocked to find that vampires were learned and cultured beings after all, he couldn't convert any of them to his diet and left to find kinship among other vampires (this did not go well until Carlisle turned Edward some 200 years later).

Some of the fics go over this more than others, but @therealvinelle work with the assumption that Carlisle was very young as a vampire when he came across Volterra. He'd met Alistair before that point but no one else. Volterra was then what convinced him that vampires were not inherently damned and could be learned people (something Carlisle would not have associated with demons as a 17th century priest) who have great appreciation for the arts and great knowledge of antiquity.

What @therealvinelle and I tend to presume is that Aro and Carlisle had a romantic relationship during this period (and that Sulpicia and Carlisle did as well for hilarious reasons). However, while there was true romantic affection there, it couldn't resolve the large differences between the pair and ultimately Carlisle had to leave.

Fast forward to the start of canon and Carlisle is very fond of the Volturi. He hangs their painting in his office and Edward initially speaks of them with... distant respect I suppose we'll call it which speaks to Carlisle's respect for them as Edward would get that information from him.

After New Moon Carlisle off screen was likely extremely grateful and relieved that Edward had not been executed despite Edward doing his damndest to get himself executed. That they were all returned home, Bella human even, is a relief beyond measure and Carlisle is likely very grateful for this. He is very aware that Bella must be turned though and gives his vote in New Moon (aided by the fact that the situation has become untenable for all parties involved).

However, Edward is vocally suspicious of the Volturi's intentions and Carlisle trusts Edward's judgement as well as his gift. Edward notes that what Aro really wants is his and Alice's gifts to become omnipotent. Now, this doesn't make much sense as Aro's is Edward's gift but better and if Aro had wanted this then why would he ever have let the three go when he had every excuse and ability to keep them there and bind them to the Volturi with Chelsea, but it does plant seeds of suspicion especially when Aro is notorious for adding to his guard and trying out gifted members to see if they fit. Where Edward's theories start to gain credence is in Eclipse.

Victoria is obviously building a newborn army. The death rate in Seattle skyrockets as Victoria turns ten-twenty vampires in quick succession with humans floundering for an explanation (they at first state gang violence then a serial killer as they try to figure out why this is happening). Ordinarily, the Volturi would swoop in and take care of this as soon as it becomes obvious with absolutely no issue (using either Jane or Alec for the task). The Cullens wait for the Volturi. And wait. Then wait.

It becomes clear that the Volturi aren't coming. The Cullens try to get the Denali involved (this doesn't go well) and without any other option are forced to team up with the wolves where they win the battle with no losses but with great physical injury to some of the wolves (notably Jacob has a rough time of it). Then the Volturi show up at that very moment, making it clear that they'd intentionally waited so the Cullens could be wiped out or at least had their numbers thinned. Then Jane in front of them lights a girl on fire while noting that Bella appears to be very human today, doesn't she?

Carlisle at this point concludes that Edward is correct and Aro is trying to poach Alice or sees the coven as a threat and is trying to underhandedly eliminate them.

On Aro's end, the running theory in our fics is that Caius was in fact behind this without Aro's knowledge or consent. Caius had seen Aro sending Alice, Bella, and Edward home without any restrictions as a debilitating weakness that had to be dealt with/made an example of. Caius saw an opportunity, likely the only one he'd get, and he took it giving the death squad orders to stall and wait for the battle to finish before they cleaned house. Unfortunately for Caius, this went sideways. Unfortunately for Aro, he now knows that Carlisle thinks he tried to murder his entire family in the most underhanded shady way imaginable and that nothing he can say will make it look less bad.

However, all of this is okay to a point, as Bella's being turned shortly and Alice is there to tell the Volturi that it's all going to be over and then they'll have no reason to interfere.

Except Bella gets pregnant with an alien and then Irina reports that alien as an immortal child to the Volturi.

From Carlisle's perspective this is a nightmare, they've given the Volturi a valid excuse to come and wipe them off the map. Their only hope is to gather every witness they possibly can to oversee their trial and confirm that Renesmee is not an immortal child/prevent the Volturi from murdering them all over false charges. Carlisle no longer trusts that the Volturi have good intentions or that this is simply a misunderstanding, he has a very strong suspicion that they will use anything they can to kill them all.

From Aro's this is also a nightmare, as not only is an immortal child reported (something he absolutely has to kill everyone culpable over) but Carlisle starts immediately gathering what seems to be an army. Aro has to gather an army in turn and confront him at the trial where he's witness to the world's weirdest trial where it turns out the immortal child was actually an alien and uh... guess she'll grow up okay.

However, because of how that trial goes down two things happen: Aro loses face and Carlisle's worst fears are confirmed.

Aro tries to use his powerhouses against an increasingly hostile/suspicious opponents, what happens is that Bella blocks all of them. Chelsea, Jane, and Alec are refuted in turn and Bella shows in front of a large amount of witnesses that the Volturi can be thwarted provided they have the right amount of numbers. The worst gifts they have are no longer debilitating so long as Bella is around. Everyone who's ever wanted to sack Volterra now can look over at the Cullens and see Bella Swan, a woman who is now very hostile to the Volturi.

On Carlisle's end, he sees Aro use Chelsea, Jane, and Alec presumably to murder not only his family but all of his friends who had come here only to be witnesses to see that the Volturi behaved as they are supposed to in these situations. It's worse than his every fear confirmed, Aro proves himself to be a power hungry tyrant who will stop at nothing to get what he wants including the murder of children.

Aro walks away wishing he and Carlisle might somehow repair their relationship but knowing that it is likely impossible. He also leaves knowing that a confrontation is likely inevitable and that he will more than likely have to kill Carlisle's family if not Carlisle himself.

Some if not all of this usually comes to play in @therealvinelle and my stories depending if it takes place pre, during, or post series.

Other Tips

Read fics in order they were published.

@therealvinelle and I tend to use shorthand references to things gone over in depth in other fics as we hate writing the same thing twice. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream by @therealvinelle for example goes over a lot of the canon events dealing with Aro and Carlisle and how they reacted to it as well as Carlisle's hypothetical gift that @therealvinelle and I theorize is totally a thing.

A lot of the lore in the fics that doesn't come from canon was sort of uh organically grown within the fics themselves. (Unintentionally, they all kind of take place in a weird shared universe where similar things have often happened or they diverge at a single crucial point).

Otherwise

Uh... you got anything @therealvinelle?

#twilight #twilight renaissance #aro #carlisle cullen #writing #vinelle #therealvinelle #praise

[prince-kallisto]

ACvdgsvjcs okay, this is probably my wildest, crackiest theory yet, but while investing the prologue once again, when Crowley gives us the ghost camera, he makes a very odd yet very familiar sound??

Was....Was Crowley imitating Mickey at the end???

Here's a reference from Book 7 Mickey, when we finally meet him in the other side of the mirror (plus Grim scream jumpscare at the end haha)

Considering Crowley made that specific sound while giving us the ghost camera, that conveniently has a Mickey silhouette on it, it really feels like he's mimicking him?? Almost like he knows about him, or...he's really met him before.

This is based on the Phantom Blot theories, where Crowley is suspected to be THE Phantom Blot, who is Mickey's greatest enemy. Sorry to @the-hetchia-universe haha, I'm afraid my theories are very silly.

(Screenshot from Otome Ayui on Youtube)

From what we know of Mickey and the mirror so far, the other side of the mirror is another world entirely. The room he's in has all the objects moving around, and Mickey doesn't know who is casting the spell inside that room. However, Mickey can only enter this room/mirror while he's sleeping. So, whoever is casting the spell in his room is basically invading his dreams, as if the person is trying to enter Mickey's world.

So let's say Crowley was the Phantom Blot. As Mickey's archnemesis and one of the most dangerous villains in Mickey's world, it makes sense that he'd try to invade his dreams and messing up the room. Additionally, when the Phantom Blot was first introduced in the comics, he was a thief that stole cameras and broke them (I'm assuming he was looking for a specific camera, but I'm not too confident about PB's lore)

Crowley gives us a camera, which is coincidentally the same way the Phantom Blot was introduced, is very odd. We still don't know what the Ghost Camera has to do in the greater scheme of things, and why it captures part of people's souls.

Anyway, in the prologue, Crowley is the one to suggest that the MC came from a different world or a different universe. Yet Mickey is still...Mickey. He isn't based off Mickey, he is THE Mickey. But in Twisted Wonderland, all the princesses and villains and Disney stories were things of the far past. This, and Mickey and the room reference a lot of things from Disney in the 1900's. So if Mickey is alive in his world, the Phantom Blot has to be as well.

I'm thinking that the Phantom Blot (as Crowley) is trying to retrieve all the magic and blot he can to return to the other world. Perhaps he was somehow banished for his numerous, numerous crimes. Ramshackle dorm's mirror is his way back in.

In Book 6, Idia suggests that someone may be causing the Overblots on purpose, and specifically mentions how there's no signs of "bad stuff" being sealed away in Sage's Island. But STYX doesn't know everything, no matter their intel, and no matter how willing a certain someone is to hide it.

Because when Riddle first overblotted, Crowley asked if anyone saw a black crystal (the overblot crystal) lying around. He knows about them, and the crystals must have a powerful property to them. Perhaps he was initially planning to use these crystals to gather the blot, but once he realized Grim was consuming them, he used it to his advantage.

Again, after the Book 6 fiasco, Crowley is specifically happy that GRIM came back unharmed. Grim is the one with all the blot slowly building up in him- Grim would be Crowley's ultimate weapon of blot. And with Crowley purposefully starting the Overblots, the more energy Grim would unknowingly consume. So perhaps there ISN'T any 'bad stuff' sealed on Sage's Island: The blot is hiding in plain sight through Grim.

With the blot and power, Crowley/Phantom Blot could fufill any desire he wanted...even go to another world.

#ALL of this insanity happened just because of that stupid Mickey sound effect lmaooo #the twst universe is kinda fire tho. why u wanna leave PB #OK when i first started writing this i thought i was crazy #but now i feel kinda convinced??? haha #i love all my crazy theories lmao. a lot of them can't exist at the same time but its still fun #twst dire crowley #crack theory #dire crowley #phantom blot #twst theory #kallistopost #twst mickey #twst ghost camera

[thepathofreason]

Sleep Token Theory | E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Sandman”

Dropping my Sleep Token theory here – The theory is this: Vessel was inspired by a portion of text within E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Sandman,” published in 1816 – a story that resides in his book, Die Nachtstücke, which translates to The Night Pieces. I’ll provide a brief summary of the story, which can be consumed in its entirety here. 

As a child, Nathanael is told stories of the Sandman, a wicked creature that steals the eyes of children when they do not fall asleep. Nathanael becomes plagued by terrifying thoughts of the Sandman, and his mind begins to weave tales of the children’s story into his reality. This results in Nathanael projecting the Sandman’s identity onto a man called Coppelius, whom he blames for the death of his father –  causing him to internally spiral as he grows older. Nathanael confesses this information in a letter that his fiancée, Clara, reads and responds to. 

I believe her response to be a source of inspiration to Vessel while creating Sleep Token’s lore. Sleep, perhaps representative of many things, can be symbolic of a darkness Vessel and the listener encounter in their own lives and must learn to overcome. 

While reading just these highlighted passages of the story, envision Sleep as the Sandman / the “dark and hostile power (Part II)” and Clara’s response directed towards Vessel. 

Clara's Letter to Nathanael Part I.

All the terrible things of which you speak occurred merely in your own mind

Clara's Letter to Nathanael Part II.

(I will travel far beyond) the path of peril and destruction

Clara's Letter to Nathanael Part III.

These strange fears have no power over you

If I could pull any quote that represents what I wish to say, I would choose this:

"Now, if we have a mind which is sufficiently firm, sufficiently strengthened by the joy of life, always to recognize this strange enemy as such, and calmly to follow the path of our own inclination and calling, then the dark power will fail in its attempt to gain a form that shall be a reflection of ourselves. Lothaire adds that if we have willingly yielded ourselves up to the dark powers, they are known often to impress upon our minds any strange, unfamiliar shape which the external world has thrown in our way; so that we ourselves kindle the spirit, which we in our strange delusion believe to be speaking to us. It is the phantom of our own selves, the close relationship with which, and its deep operation on our mind, casts us into hell or transports us into heaven."

Perhaps we can look at Sleep as a mere phantom of Vessel, of our own selves. Amidst the courage it takes to stumble forward and look our greatest fear in the eyes, we stand face-to-face with ourselves. So how does one move forward?

While I know that this is just a theory, there is a truth in this text that connects to the message Sleep Token has gifted so many of us with: 

Overcome the cruelty of your own mind, the wicked words it feeds you, leave your past behind — and no, you cannot return to the person you were so long ago, but you can heal. Know that you are not alone. That you are so loved. That you will learn to feel again. 

Know that in the darkness you once believed to be impenetrable, and stretching until the end of your life, a creature painted black with a voice that warms the soul will break open your night — and you will know light again. The path before you is lit, so walk it now and know — you are not alone. 

#also in an early Instagram post Sleep Token used the hashtag Sandman #by no means does that mean it directly correlates with this story #it could be the Neil Gaiman comic or just a more general mention of the sandman and its many forms #Sleep Token Theory #Sleep Token #Vessel #Sleep Token Vessel #The Sandman #ETA Hoffmann #Sandman #neil gaiman #e.t.a. hoffmann #vessel sleep token #sleep token lore

[vi-who-sims]

◈ Shadow Moon Legacy Challenge ◈

Hi everyone this is my rewritten version of the Shadow Moon Legacy Challenge originally by Simbones which was rewritten by Sylvan Glade. I use attributes from both of their versions.

I hope you enjoy it. :)

◈ Basic Rules:

Gender is not specific to any of the generations, except generation 7, where you are playing as a “mother”, and generation 2 where you must birth a son, a “male heir” your firstborn male. This heir however is a false heir and will not be the heir to generation 3.

If playing a generation that specifies they are part of a coven, you must make a club using the Get to Work club feature. You may add whomever you want to the club. The only rule is they must be the relevant occult (Vampire or Spellcaster.)

If no career is specified for the generation you can choose the career if you choose a career at all. 

🧛 ◈ Generation One: The Founder

You’re a Sim that's obsessed with everything occult related. Born a human, your ultimate dream is to infiltrate the vampire work with your own Coven. Driven by your desires, you aim to produce as many vampires in your bloodline as possible.

Traits: Bookworm, Perfectionist, Genius

Aspiration: Vampire Family

Career: Stay-at-Home Mother

Rules:

Must start as a Human Sim

Marry a Vampire

Be turned into a vampire by your husband

Move to Forgotten Hollow with your husband

Become a 3rd rank Vampire

Reach level 3 of the Vampire Family Aspiration

Reach level 8 of Vampire Lore Skill

Reach level 10 of Parenting Skill

Have at least 3 children

Optional:

Complete the Vampire Family Aspiration

Max Vampire Lore Skill

Reach the top rank of Vampirism

🐍 ◈ Generation Two: The Dark Sheep

Growing up in a large family meant that there was a lot of competition when you were growing up. Secretly you just really wanted to please your parents. This led you to become obsessed with the dark arts and it has made you power-hungry. You want to be the ultimate vampire master no matter who you have to step on to get there. 

Traits: Kleptomaniac, Snob, Ambitious

Aspiration: Master Vampire

Career: Criminal: Oracle Branch

Rules:

Marry a “pureblood’ Vampire

Produce a Male “Heir” to Your Coven

Have 2 children

Reach level 3 of the Master Vampire Aspiration

Reach level 8 of the Logic Skill

Reach level 7 of the Pipe Organ Skill

Reach level 8 of the Criminal Career

Win a fight against Vlad and claim his mansion for you and your family

Optional:

Complete the Master Vampire Aspiration

Max Logic Skill

Max Pipe Organ Skill

Reach level 10 of the Criminal Career

🌿 ◈ Generation Three: The Rebel

Always walking in your siblings' shadow, you were not chosen by your parent’ to be the heir to their empire. It made you despise the vampiric culture as well as everything your family stands for. You wish to steer your life in a completely different direction. You love herbalism and pour your heart and soul away from the dark aspects of vampirism. Unfortunately, your curse will remain with you, making your love for the outdoors merely a dream.

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Vegetarian, Good

Aspiration: Good Vampire

Career Gardener: Botanist Branch

Rules:

Live outside of Forgotten Hollow

Marry a Human

Consume plasma fruits/packs as much as you can to live by your vegetarian values.

Keep your occult a secret from your spouse and children

Reach level 6 of the Gardener Career

Reach level 3 of the Good Vampire Aspiration

Reach level 8 of Gardening Skill

Reach level 6 of Herbalism Skill

Optional:

Reach level 10 of Gardening Skill

Reach level 10 of the Herbalism Skill

Reach level 10 of Gardening Career

Complete Good Vampire Aspiration

👗 ◈ Generation Four: The Icon

On your teen birthday, you stumble across an old occult book. And find out about the origin of your family. Suddenly you begin to make sense of where you came from and all the weird things that are happening to you. Soon after you visit Forgotten Hollow and realize that everyone dresses like the 18th century. This town needs a makeover… STAT.

Traits: Overachiever, Self-Absorbed, Creative

Aspiration: Leader of the Pack

Career Style Influencer: Stylist Branch

Rules:

Reach level 6 of the Style Influencer Career

Reach level 7 of the Painting Skill

Reach level 2 of the Photography Skill

Reach level 3 of the Leader of the Pack Aspiration

Makeover 5 Vampires from Forgotten Hallow using the makeover chair.

Create and run your own Coven of elite vampires

Marry a vampire you meet in your Coven

Reach level 15 of the Vampiric Lore Skill

Release your parent of their “curse” using the Ultimate Vampire Cure drink

Optional:

Max Style Influencer Career

Complete the Leader of the Pack Aspiration

Reach level 10 of the Painting Skill

Reach level 5 of Photography Skill

Meet with your Coven at least once a week

Makeover 10 Vampires from Forgotten Hallow.

🐈 ◈ Generation Five: The Recluse

Always surrounded by eccentric parties and guests, you are a bit of a loner and prefer the company of familiars. You love a simple life and only use what you need. Your small family and animals… lots and lots of animals.

Traits: Loner, Geek, Unflirty

Aspiration: Friend of the Animals

Career: Freelancer Career: Writer Branch

Rules:

Reach level 3 of the Pet Training Skill

Reach level 7 of the Writing Skill

Reach level 3 of the Friend of the Animals Aspiration

Have at least 3 pets at a time in the household

Produce a littler of kittens or puppies

Volunteer 2 times before you get married

Marry a Spell Caster you meet while volunteering

Have no more than 3 children

Volunteer as a family at least 1 time

Make money by odd writing jobs and self-publishing only

Optional:

Reach level 5 of Pet Training Skill

Reach level 10 of Writing Skill

Complete the Friend of the Animals Aspiration

Produces multiple litters of kittens or puppies

Volunteer 1 time a week with your family 

🎸 ◈ Generation Six: The Gifted

Growing up with one Vampire parent and one Spellcaster parent, you are gifted from a very young age, so to spread your wings and be more independent, so you decide to go to college. Your parents taught you to only take what you need, but you often use your powers for personal gain. Neither Vampire nor Spellcaster groups want anything to do with you, but you’re happy just playing your guitar and looking after your child.

Traits: Music Lover, Self-Assured, Noncommittal

Aspiration Musical Genius

Career Entertainer: Musician Branch

Rules:

Be a Vampire

Go to University (you can flunk out or complete a degree)

Reach level 7 of the Entertainer Career

Reach level 8 of the Guitar Skill

Reach level 3 of the Musical Genius Aspiration

Have only 1 child with a human sim

Never marry or move in with a partner

Optional

Complete University Degree

Reach level 10 of the Guitar Skill

Reach level 10 of the Entertainer Career

Compete the Musical Genius Aspiration

👩‍👦  ◈ Generation Seven: The Mother

Growing up as an only child you were the apple of your parent’s eye. You always got everything you wanted. Having one human and one occult parent, you were unable to carry vampiric spawn to full term. You insist on having a vampire baby, you choose to conjure one using “magic”. No matter the consequences.

Traits: Family-Oriented, Erratic, Neat

Aspiration: Successful Lineage

Career: Freelancer: Painter Branch

Rules:

Has to be a Female

Conjure a vampiric baby using “magic”

Reach level 3 of the Successful Lineage Aspiration

Reach level 8 of the Wellness Skill

Reach level 7 of Painting Skill

Only wear Dresses your entire life

Spoil your child like your parent spoiled you

Make a living only selling paintings and doing odd art jobs

Optional:

Complete the Successful Lineage Aspiration

Reach level 10 of Painting Skill

Reach level 10 of the Wellness Skill

Have enough money to give your child 25,000 Simoleons when they move out.

🦇 ◈ Generation Eight: The Enigma

Nobody really knows where you came from, being that your mother was never pregnant. You’re a bit of an outcast in school… no one really trusts your origins. Conjured by “magic,” you often wonder if there is a reason for your existence. However, you are naturally skilled at vampiric lore far beyond your age and you don’t know why. A dark illegal Coven takes interest in you and eventually takes you under their wing and from there you never look back

Traits: Insider, Mean, Active

Aspiration: Public Enemy

Career: Criminal: Boss Branch

Rules:

Cheat to level 10 of the Vampiric Lore Skill

Reach level 7 of the Criminal Career

Reach level 3 of the Public Enemy Aspiration

Join a powerful Vampire Coven

Marry a Vampire in your Coven

Have 2 children you are very protective over

Send your children to “Private School” (make sure one of their everyday outfits is a school uniform)

Adopt to dogs as guard dogs

Have a home with at least 150,000 Simoleons 

Optional:

Study Vampire Lore until you reach level 15 of the Vampire Lore Skill 

Reach level 10 of the Criminal Career

Complete Public Enemy Aspiration

Never let your children out of your sight except for school

🎨 ◈ Generation Nine: The Fairytale

Being brought up by a Coven Boss, your household wasn’t the greatest for your love life. Having overprotective parents meant you always had your nose in a book, dreaming of your very own romance story. Wishing someone would save you from your parent’s life of crime. You decide you will do whatever it takes to find your one true love.

Trait: Paranoid, Romantic, Jealous

Aspiration: Soulmate

Career: Actor/Actress

Rules:

Runaway from home as a teen

Always have an A Grade in School

Reach level 6 of the Writing Skill

Reach level 8 of the Piano Skill

Reach level 6 of the Actor/Actress Career

Reach level 3 of the Soulmate Aspiration

Have a big family with at least 3 children 

Marry a Human

Options:

Reach level 10 of the Writing Skill

Reach level 10 of the Piano Skill

Reach level 10 of the Actor/Actress Career

Complete the Soulmate Aspiration

🧪 ◈ Generation Ten: The Ultimatum

You had a privileged upbringing and are very well aware of your human and vampire roots. You have a deep love for potion-making and think alchemy may be your one true calling in life. However, this leads you to have to make a very difficult decision. Do you give in and become a legendary Potion Master as a Spellcaster or do you retain your vampiric heritage and form? Would turn on your family heritage and give all up for your one true love?

Traits: Cheerful, Squeamish, Outgoing

Aspiration: Purveyor of Potions

Career Culinary: Mixology Branch

Rules:

Reach level 7 of the Mixology Skill

Reach level 8 of the Culinary Career

Reach level 3 of the Purveyor of Potions Aspiration

Have a well-cared-for garden in your home

Meet a Human Sim at work and fall in love with them

Observe the premature death of your Human lover

Give up your vampirism to become a Spellcaster

Create the Shadow Realm drink or Potion of Prompt Resurrection to bring your Human love back to life

Live an eternal(either choose to become a Vampire again or remain as a Spellcaster)

Optional:

Reach level 10 of the Mixology Skill

Reach level 10 of the Culinary Career

Complete the Purveyor of Potions Aspiration

Have your Human lover become the corresponding occult to live eternally with you

#the sims 4 #legacy challenge #ts4 legacy #sims 4 legacy #rewrite

[thestalkerbunny]

Is part of why you dislike shojosei the fact it seems weirdly obsessed with random incest? It's not even just crap like "Love Slave of the Dark Prince" schlock that has it, it feels like even otherwise normal mangas throw it in.

I MEAN. PART OF THE REASON IS THAT.

Like It makes me want to run up to someone, clothesline them by their neck and WWE BODY SLAM them into the ground, taking me down with them so we BOTH snap our fucking necks.

Let me tell you the ACTUAL DEEP LORE on why I hate 'oh it's a technicality' incest plot points CAUSE BESIDES OBVIOUS BLATENT NORMAL HUMAN DISGUST, I have a deep grudge with it.

It's called My BEEF with that BITCH VC ANDREWS.

So I feel like. At some point, everyone has seen or had the misfortune to TOUCH this book.

Flowers in the Attic. Brief lazy man synopsis. Woman hides her kids in the attic so she can marry hot new hubby, grandmother abuses them. They eventually get out. My mother had this book and the cover weirdly haunted me as a child.

BUT A FUCKING MAJOR PLOT POINT. IS THE ELDEST TWO SIBLINGS JUST START FUCKING.

And they get away with THAT I GUESS.

But that's not what got me mad.

Cause homie let me tell you.

I Fucking *WATCHED* the movies.

The Life Time Movie Network Channel, or as I call it, the Women's Horror Channel because everything BAD that can happen to a woman will happen, was doing a marathon of ALL THE MOVIES based on the books. Bored and with nothing else to do. I watched them.

I watched all of them.

All Fucking 4 of them.

And it was one of those viewings where you're like 'maybe it'll get better with the next one. MAYBE consequences will rear their heads. MAYBE We can pull this off as a 'don't fuck your brother' moral play with something bad happening.' It was honestly like a train wreck you couldn't stop looking you just kept staring in horror.

Nearly 4 whole movies-INCLUDING the alleged ORIGIN movie about the grandma. And when it stopped being about the two eldest siblings incesting it up.

*It went to FUCKING STEPFATHERS, EMOTIONAL INCESTING GRANDMA, TO UNCLE AND NIECE* and I don't know WHO ELSE cause at that point my brain CLOCKED the FUCK OUT and I think I blacked out for the rest of the afternoon. I'm still waiting on my 'time wasted' refund.

I Hate those plot points SO MUCH. The only time I tolerated it was in Crimson Peak which at LEAST THEN IT WAS REACTED TO CORRECTLY AS SOMETHING INHERENTLY FUCKED UP THAT ONLY ABSOLUTELY BONKERS PEOPLE DO. I fucking HATE the ROMANTIZATION of it. I can't fucking FATHOM that bullshit happening in real life but it fucking DOES. IT FUCKING DOES AND I HATE THAT TOO. I wish the body had a fucked up adverse effect the same way our bodies have adverse effects when we consume human flesh.

If it must be a plot point in a story or a movie-then let it be something to be viewed with revulsion. A thing to be UPSETTED by. Not romanticized with 'oh how cute this is' no-fucking bullshit. I read a Lot of fucked up pieces of media. I go out of my WAY to do so by indulging in Splatterpunk. At least when it pops up THERE-it's regarded as disgusting.

I have gone on a long enough tangent, I fear I may give myself another headache if I go on.

#TSB ask

[mnemo-li]

Major spoilers for Bg3 Act 3 below

I really wish the mindflayer monster romance was better written. I feel like the Emperor — AKA fucking Balduran, the founder of Baldur’s Gate — was too much of a human, and a shitty human being at that. He lusts after power, willing to kill his closest friends and allies for it (Ansur etc). He claims to have had a relationship and friendship with Belynne Stelmane, but we later (if we reject his advances and call him a freak) find out that he has been pretty much mind controlling her. And he implies that we should’ve been grateful that he’s giving us a chance to love him out of our own free will rather than being mind controlled like Stelmane was. He’s incredibly nice towards us… until we say no to him. At which point, the masks drop and he hits us with this line:

"But since you insist on thwarting my craft, let us be blunt. You are my puppet. Make no mistake. Without me, you have no value. You will take me to the brain because you have no other choice. And once we are there, you will do exactly what I tell you to. And you would do well to reconsider unlocking your potential. Your puerile attachment to your material form jeopardises us all. If I must, I will force you."

His mindset feels less like an illithid/mindflayer who operates on this blue-and-orange morality, and more like just a manipulative, narcissistic, piece of shit human tyrant.

In DnD lore, illithids are vampiric creatures who simply could not comprehend human emotions like love and care and happiness. That is why things like resonance stones exist. That is why eating a brain is such a sensual experience for them, to the point where they’d hold eating performances to extract as much emotions and memories and feelings from the brain they are consuming as much as possible. Human emotions are an object of fascination for the mind flayers.

In other words, mind flayers are anything but human. They don’t think the way we do. They don’t feel the way we do.

Meanwhile, the Emperor keeps insisting that he is “just like you”, that he is human just like us. And frankly, the writing makes him a very power hungry and selfish human being… and I don’t want that.

I want a romance with something inhuman.

The whole point of a monster romance is that you’re falling in love with something inhuman— and inhuman doesn’t have to mean evil, just not human.

It would be so interesting to be able to romance a rogue or an outcast illithid like Sangalor (who feels a lot like the inspiration for Omeluum, another friendly mindflayer NPC). I’d rather date something inhuman that finds human beings fascinating and is curious about what it means to be human, even if it can never truly comprehend it. Or, just straight up give us something inscrutable and incomprehensible, something Lovecraftian to fall in love with.

Anything but this abusive boyfriend simulator.

There’s so much potential in the Emperor’s character, it’s frustrating. If the writers are going to make him Balduran, can’t they at least use that as one of his motivations for wanting to save Baldur’s Gate? The music also went hard in this game too. The Song of Balduran is the main musical motif for Act 3. A darker version of the OST plays when we first meet the Emperor in his illithid form. A dark instrumental version of it plays too if we have sex with him. The normal version of it plays when we camp in the Elfsong Tavern.

He clearly has a musical motif to foreshadow his identity as Balduran along with his fall from grace. There’s so much more depth we could’ve had with him but it all went away the moment he gave that monologue about how we’re nothing but puppets to him. I’m just a bit sad at how much potential there is to his character — as a hero, as a villain, as a lover — but frankly the writing falls flat In the end.

#baldur’s gate 3 spoilers #the emperor #just my opinion #im a bit raw so maybe im being harsher than usual #i just… wanted a proper romance #hhh #rambling at this point #either way im happy with my Shadowheart and Halsin ending #i guess i wanted the Emperor to be an Emet-Selch level villain who is fucked up but still sympathetic #but alas lol

[nacricissa]

Explaining why singers conceive faster

I now have the lore (I am reading through the illustrated guide) and would like to do more Vampire Biology.

It is noted in the Guide that Joham "had noticed that the more appealing an individual woman smelled to him, the more likely she was to conceive quickly." pg294

I can explain this.

Some people think it strange that such a thing would occur. Surely, it would be evolutionarily favoured to promote reproduction by enabling sex with potentially fertile partners, if such a thing were in fact detectible to vampires. However, sex is not the primary method of vampire reproduction. In fact, the continued existence of vampires is disfavored by sex, because it requires such careful control of bloodlust. This control makes it significantly less likely that the vampire would accidentally turn a human, in the way Carlisle was turned, and thus any mutations that favored such control would be less likely to propagate.

Anyhow, this explains why it would not be evolutionarily favoured to make sexually compatible partners less appealing than others, but not why the opposite might be true. The answer, I believe, is immunological.

Vampirism is a retrovirus. It is a condition, spread through fluid, which cannot reproduce without a living host and which inserts DNA into that living host. It is not specified if it's actually a virus, in the sense that it is unclear if venom contains actual virus particles, however, this would explain how vampire bodies have "venom-like" fluid throughout them; they have venom with the virions removed, thus those substances are not infectious.

Now, since we know that vampire sperm contains some, but not all, of the viral DNA (since hybrids exhibit vampire traits but clearly the egg is not infected in the same way vampires are or it would never be able to develop), it is reasonable to assume that the single copy of the extra vampiric chromosomes is having some effect on the presentation of the sperm cell. This could mean that some viral proteins are expressed by the sperm.

If this is the case, the female's immune system would pick them up, triggering chain reactions that notice pathogens. However, if the cells were more similar to the female's, fewer of those defenses would be triggered, as your body trains it's immune system not to recognize itself.

This is not normally as relevant when fertilization is possible, because the more discriminating parts of the immune system are suppressed when the body expects foreign material (sperm, then maybe a baby) to be present. However, this window is based around the life expectancy of human sperm, which is not very long. If we are assuming the sperm cells are presenting enough vampiric traits to be recognized as a pathogen, it is quite likely that they would be more able to survive the harsh environment of the vagina for longer than human sperm, leaving a larger window where fertilization is possible. This would mean that for two partners having regular sex, more of the vampire's sperm would be in the fallopian tubes when the egg passes, increasing the likelihood of fertilization, if the vampire's sperm was presenting more cellular structures that closely resembled those of the female.

This still doesn't explain the smelling good thing. That one is pretty simple though. Things tend to smell good if they are good for you. This has been somewhat broken as a heuristic by humans' ability to manufacture taste as a separate thing from nutrition, through cooking and chemical synthesis, but in general, the reason a corpse stinks is because it's really hazardous for you to eat it, and so on. This would indicate that singers, which we established above are people more biologically similar to the vampire, are more nutritionally advantageous. This makes sense. Vampires have no digestive tract, no way of processing and extracting nutrients from varied food sources. This is why they cannot eat food, they must consume blood. This would indicate that biologically similar structures are more accessible to the vampire, in terms of nutrition, that the more similar parts can better be incorporated into their bodies. They don't have a method of disposing of waste, so particles unfamiliar to the vampire would simply be used, but less efficiently.

#correlation is not causation #vampire biology #twilight #twilight renaissance #team edward #nacricontent

[italoniponic]

Golden Like Daylight | Diasomnia

Synopsis: Malleus couldn’t make it to the party in Scarabia that Kalim invited him and, as usual, Diasomnia falls into quiet sadness and frustrated thunderstorms. He thinks about all his parents taught him and how the world can really be cruel sometimes. But after the most violent storms in the nightfall, there are little glimpses of daylight as well.

platonic diasomnia family / angst with a comfort ending / based on ch10, vol 2 comic anthology ft. my own lore hcs / 1945 words

Notes: Since half of this fic deals with my hcs about the Valley of Thorns in general, I made a separate post that will summarize it so we don’t have long ass author notes~~ Also, it’s based on that chapter from the comic anthology but apart from context, it’s not a need to read it to understand this story Hope you enjoy it!

Golden Like Daylight

Malleus has been alone for much longer than anyone could have imagined. Born into a family of noble blood, all he could remember from early childhood was a lot of people around him, caring and watching over his well-being. His parents always had a glimpse of his special power and told him stories of the glory days of the Valley of Thorns.

But the more time passed, this special and happy atmosphere ended up like wood consumed in the fireplace. Lilia’s presence was one of the few things that truly remained unchanged.

The Lady of Thorns’ gaze grew colder every day. The countenance of the Lord of Thorns, direct son of the Queen, harder than stone. Malleus wanted to believe that they didn’t ever realize how much they left their son aside to deal with the affairs of the kingdom — without rest, just gathering together at dinner. Still, he was almost always aside.

Not that he didn’t understand why. His father worked as second-in-command for the Queen and his wife dealt with diplomatic issues. It was amazing how a place so isolated from the world could have so many problems. 

It was only a hundred years after the Last Great Fairy War and they were just organizing the policies of coexistence with neighboring human villages and trying to maintain the peace between the two fairy valleys in which a lot of blood was shed to achieve.

As a prince, Malleus had everything at his disposal. Toys, books, comfortable clothes, access to quality lessons. But he had only one wish. A simple, even silly wish.

“Go outside?,” his mother repeated his words in a confused tone.

The Lord of Thorns took his eyes up from the treaty papers of the new diplomat of the Valley of Flowers, Florian Braginsky — which he was being forced to read — in order to face his son.

“Malleus, why are you talking about this?,” he asked.

“I wanted to see what the eastern mountain village looks like, it is near here. Lilia could take me there.”

The sound of his former tutor’s name made the Lord’s blood boil. How revolting it was to see the man who taught him everything he knew lower himself and abandon all his ideals, those he used to deeply believe. He was right when he said, that night a hundred years ago, that Lilia had lost more than one wing in the Battle of Dornröschen. 

“I do not see why you should go. There is a cruel and terrible world beyond the mountains that surround our kingdom. Not even among our own can there be anything greater than mere alliance. These fairies should be grateful every day for the good fortune of being in our presence and keep living,” the Lord of Thorns put down the papers on the table.

The hard thud made Malleus cringe a little. His mother took the papers and arranged them better in a perfect pile. 

“Malleus, you know that our species is very rare and therefore, it is not surprising that the other fairies fear us. We don’t want these people to say bad things about or to you. Therefore, above all, you must stay in this castle,” she said to her son, perhaps not as docile as she thought her tone would come out.

The marriage between Mephisto and Tauribeth was, as with Malleus’ grandparents, a way to keep the dragon-fairy species alive. There were really few such families around the valley, the most powerful House managed to rise to the throne — and these were the Draconia, the center of everything being the Queen of Thorns.

Still, Malleus wondered how the most powerful and feared fairies should need to hide from others. Malleus knew about the scars that the human kingdom nearby, now not so numerous, had made in the fairy valleys. His species was one of many clans that still held grudges against them.

However, he wasn’t going to a human village. It was a place inhabited by faeries. Lilia would be next to him, he would be well protected. 

“No more talking about it,” his father cut off before Malleus could try to argue once more.

“Yes, sir my father.”

There was a brief sound of doors opening and, for a moment, Malleus had a glimmer of hope as he saw his grandmother enter the dining room. The air around her was heavy but elegant, full of ceremony and honor. As a queen should be — what the young prince should have become from there many hundreds of years ago.

In general, the Queen of Thorns was a little more compassionate to the wishes of her grandson than his parents might like. However, this didn’t mean that she didn’t share the opinion and hesitation of keeping him inside the castle rather than showing the kingdom beyond the heavy wooden doors.

‘Well, well, well,” she said as she sat down on the other side of the table, in a large, thorn-adorned chair just like the one her son was sitting in.

The Queen looked tired and perhaps a little frustrated that Lilia was planning yet another future trip abroad — a distant and sandy land, something alike — in yet another of his usual “whims”.

“What were we talking about?,” the Queen of Thorns asked.

“Nothing, madam my mother,” the Lord said, giving his son a sideways glance to remain silent.

  But Malleus had already given up hope of mentioning the village he wanted to visit again. 

Over the centuries, he began to wonder at certain times if his parents were not right. Well, they were no longer there with him to face him and silently state how obvious it was. That realization was a sad thought two hundred years ago, not so much nowadays. It was neither time nor age that mattered in the present to Malleus.

The day before, he had been invited by Kalim to a party. 

And it folded as it would usually happen: Malleus missed the event due to a mysterious circumstance. Sometimes he didn’t really notice the time, other times others forgot about him. 

At the time, Cater forgot to tell him that Kalim’s banquet night had been rescheduled at last minute to that same night. Since Lilia had orchestrated for Malleus to participate in his place, he also couldn’t have known about this sudden change. 

In order to help Malleus make friends on his own, things got complicated. As per usual.

Because of this, strong thunder crackled through the skies in Diasomnia and a torrential rain fell on the outskirts of the castle, becoming a misfortune for any student who was outside the dormitory at that moment.

Lilia would like to say that the situation wasn’t so bad because Malleus distributed all the treats and souvenirs he bought in Sam’s store to the students, but his aura didn’t change at any time. Each gift was delivered as if they were objects rescued from a disaster or belongings of deceased soldiers being returned to their families.

It was undeniable that Malleus had a special sense for gifts of the highest quality — of this no one dared to complain. Sebek’s voice competed with the storm outside in all his praise of his generous veteran and sovereign prince.

But Malleus was still in his worst “Nihilleus” form. 

Nothing made sense, everything was worthless. That was what his eyes of emerald flames said, burning low. How many times had he been through these situations? How many more would you have to overcome before fate is satisfied with his humiliations?

The world always abandoned Malleus, and he no longer strove to try to hold its sands in his hands. In his thin, light marble fingers there was only loneliness. The nothing. His grandmother sometimes held those same hands and repeated the words of their family.

A Draconia can only trust a Draconia. A fae can only owe to a fae. 

He was alone in that vast world that pushed him away with fear and distrust. Just like his father said they would. Malleus sighed, asleep in his own thoughts as he sat on the sofa in the Diasomnia lounge. The place made him feel at home — but sometimes, that was exactly the problem.

His parents were right. He would never leave the confines of the royal castle. He should not, that was his world. The only place where he would be safe and well received. Still, none of this comforted him. Not only would he be completely ignorant of the human world and the other fairies around him, he would be alone.

Always alone, as if trapped in a long night of eternal sleep. For eternity, eyes closed. The rest of his semi-immortal days would be a mere drop in the greatest of oceans. Would he ever die? Impossible. Few things can hurt faes, especially dragon-fairies. 

Sitting on his throne of thorns, nothing could reach him. Not even death. Much less life.

“Malleus-sama? Could you teach me more about this gargoyle?” 

Malleus awoke from his deep thoughts as if awakened by a kiss of the dawn. Soft morning rays passed gently across his face to bring him out of that dreaded darkness. Thus, Malleus faced Silver who was holding a miniature gargoyle in his hands. 

Ever since Lilia had brought that little human into their life, Malleus had wondered what his parents — mainly his father — would think of Silver if they could have had the chance to meet him. 

Silver with his crystalline eyes, lilac as the most delicate wildflower. Dedication to the prince of his people — because he was raised among thorns — in every action. A human he could trust.

Malleus knew Silver had pity for him, but there was something in his mercy that didn't make him feel completely ashamed. He then noticed how Sebek continued to praise him, his words worthy of the best books in the Royal Thorns Library. Nearby, Lilia gorged himself on sweets.

A small smile appeared on Malleus’ face almost at the same moment when the rain outside slowed down.

“Well, Silver, this one is a pretty simple model, but…”

Malleus always felt good about talking about gargoyles, maybe that was the benefit Silver had in mind. He remained silent and paid attention to Malleus’ words as much as he could — at least, to understand part of the matter. Soon after, Sebek joined Silver’s side as an avid spectator.

“Um, it reminds me that I had saved some cookies that I made last night,” Lilia suddenly commented. “Let's rock this party, boys!”

The young fellows suddenly jumped off the couch to go after the old fae, trying to convince him that he didn’t need to do this — and “the wise words of the Young Master about gargoyles will feed our hearts enough!!”, as Sebek said.

Watching them closely, Malleus let out a soft laugh. He was incredibly grateful for the company and patience of those three.

They were golden like daylight. 

The thin rays of sunshine that appeared after the gray clouds of rain stopped its dreadful crying, slowly making it into a new time to step outside. Of course it wouldn’t be enough forever. Malleus needed to learn more about the world around him, make new friendships and understand the purpose of his own existence.

But sometimes all he needed was his family. Maybe not exactly his grandmother or his parents. Just Lilia and his awful cooking skills and jokes. Just Sebek being this tall, endearing and energetic child. And just Silver being like the morning dawn, sleepy but gently welcoming to view. 

Not his servants or soldiers but his friends. Malleus’ friends. Precious lives he loved with all his heart.

Special notes: yes, this is a tiny little reference to “Daylight” by Taylor Swift. It was meant to be a Silver fic, then turned out to be more suited for Malleus, then it just got too deep… And I’m planning on doing a little omake about Lilia’s cookies. I just thought that randomly inserting some comedy would break the flow here (and it would be too long lol), so I’ll let it for another time. But thanks for reading 🩷

#twisted wonderland #malleus draconia #lilia vanrouge #silver #twst silver #sebek zigvolt #twst scenarios #twst fanfic #platonic relationships #diasomnia #angst with comfort ending #cherry's writing #cherry's mumbling about twst

[ninjastormhawkkat]

Blood Curse Au

This idea stems from discord chats with my friend Eris who is known as @erraticeris and @dualnaturedscientist on tumblr. She came up with an idea for curse for her oc Athena Cartwright where Athena's family was cursed by a sorceress. The curse affects only women born into the family and it slowly drives them insane over time. Originally the "blood curse" idea was something for the mousebraingirl au and it was more scientific and had to deal with Lexiconian behavior combined with human blood. Then I thought, (with Eris's support and agreement) what if it could be magical in origin like with Eris's oc. The blood curse was born. There is a lot of dark stuff and gore. Trigger warnings are in the tags but be prepared for blood and devouring of flesh along with mention of mass killing. So the Blood Curse affects the Boxleitner (or Woods family depending on the au and lore). It only affects males born in the family. The curse originated with an ancestor who was a fierce and ruthless warrior from the Medieval period. This warrior was fighting an enemy army and had chased the remaining survivors into a village. Instead of waiting for the enemy soldiers to come out, the warrior set fire to the village, causing many to die by not only the flames but also by the warrior who slaughtered any male who tried escaping. After the village was destroyed, only one old man survived. This old figure was a powerful warlock. He was a kind soul but was horrified and outraged at what this warrior did. So, using eldritch magic, the old man cursed the warrior and his male descendants for the rest of time. The curse goes is that every male would have an insatiable urge to consume blood of living things born on this world through any means. They would also be prone to attacking and sometimes killing their victims to get the blood. They can still eat regular food and drink other liquids, but their desire to kill and drink blood will be a part of them like a need to satisfy hunger or to breathe. If they are near someone who has a simple cut on their finger, it drives them ballistic and animalistic. Their ears become pointed like wolves, their teeth become sharp fangs, their tongues elongate, their fingers become claws, and their eyes become a deep red. They can't be reasoned with nor can they control their will and actions in this state. It is almost like they are in a type of trance. The blood curse progresses with age. Newborns up till age 8 will only have desires and are satisfied with feeding on animal blood. 9 to 14 they will only be interested in the blood of those weaker and smaller than them and no longer can be satisfied with just animal blood. 15 to 19 those with the curse will only go after those just weaker than them. When they reach their 20s, then all human blood is a buffet to them. Each male in the Boxleitner (Woods) family has taken precautions to make sure they don't try to kill. Blood banks help to satisfy the curse. They also aren't attracted to the blood of females who are born into the family nor anyone who marries into family. Those with the curse are also not attracted to drinking alien blood as aliens are technically "not born of Earth" which negates the effects of the curse. Also the presence of alien blood in a male born into the family can delay the beginning of the curse which normally happens at birth. The only way to break the curse is not pretty either. The curse must be transferred to a descendant of the old man that cursed their ancestor or they must kill every last living family member of the old man. Let's just say about every member of the Boxleitner (Woods) family prefers to deal with their curse rather than let someone else suffer with it. Next post connected to this one will be called the blood brothers au which derives from this au. @melodythebunny @liloskull343

#wordgirl #wordgirl au #steven boxleitner #dr two brains #becky boxleitner au #blood curse au #tw: violence #tw: death #tw: mass killing #victor boxleitner #tw: cannibalism #tw: blood #tw: body horror #erraticeris #dualnaturedscientist #professor athena cartwright

[miloscat]

[Review] Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4)

Dark Souls But I Can Only Parry

Continuing my very sporadic playthrough of From Software's games, it's Sekiro! I knew going in that it's deliberately breaking the Souls mould in certain ways, but I didn't always get on with its choices and experiments. It's a narrower, more focused experience, which works both for it and against it.

The setting is Japan—yes, the country on Earth—late in the Sengoku period. It's not exactly historically accurate though, as you encounter phantasms, fishmen, strangely intelligent animals, supernatural ninja powers, and forces divine and demonic; and yet it's more grounded than some "fantasy Japan" games I've played. The part of me that loves to make connections between From's games was a tad disappointed that this takes place on The Earth when it didn't necessarily need to be, but that's a nitpick.

Having a strong sense of place and tone was a part of what endeared Bloodborne to me, and that applies here too. I have come to appreciate Elden Ring's complex and layered lore more over time, but both approaches have merit. In the case of Sekiro, it's a personal story with a small cast of connected characters. I struggled at times to grasp the precise political situation and how they fit into it but the themes of how various people and factions struggled for immortality and how it corrupted them in turn resonated.

The story and themes come together in the person of the player character Wolf, a ninja sworn to loyalty and protection of Kuro, a golden child who inherited the powers of a godly dragon. Many seek to exploit his gift but he bestows on Wolf the power of resurrection, which serves as a gameplay mechanic to help you bounce back from defeats (which will be many). Their ultimate goal is to rid Kuro of this tainted gift, which is done through a series of convoluted steps that take you to the corners of the isolated Ashina fiefdom and beyond to the divine realm.

Wolf's nature as a specified character ties into the removal of many RPG elements, relative to other Soulslike games. His ninja skills and prosthetic arm open the door to many new gameplay features: acrobatic grappling, various limited-use combat tools, and stealth takedowns. I enjoyed engaging with the sneaking to pick off enemies, and combat while risky is ultimately satisfying, but I felt restricted by the emphasis on consumable items and what I saw as prescriptions on how the game is to be played.

I spoke about a narrow focus: Sekiro's combat is all about the back and forth of parrying. More important than an enemy or boss's health bar is their posture meter, which is worn down by your attacks or by blocking theirs with precise timing. The lack of a stamina mechanic and speed of your attacks rewards aggressive play, but you can't just go all-out; you absolutely must read cues that suggest counterattacks, and on top of this learn the timing and behaviours of the various enemies. I particularly struggled with the more difficult attacks: grabs, thrusts, and sweeps are denoted by a warning kanji and have totally different responses, but in the heat of the moment I could never distinguish between three complex characters. They could have at least made them different colours!

More than any other From game, I got mightily upset with certain encounters and sequences. I was walled hard by difficulty spikes in the early game, with little recourse but to push through by repeated attempts. My chief nemesis: a simple one-armed ninja in a cramped well who becomes a regular mook later in the game! The midgame was more to my liking when things opened up and I got more of a grip on the mechanics and flow, but lategame bosses and the final fight completely stomped my arse again. Looking up tricks and strategies online helped, but you still have to build muscle memory yourself.

Sekiro doesn't seem to want to help you develop it though. FromSoft has implemented needlessly player-hostile mechanics before, but death in Sekiro is especially punishing. You'll instantly lose half your money and experience towards your latest skill point, unless a percentage chance happens to save you, and this chance goes down the more you die! It's actually not too bad if you go out of your way to farm XP and spend your dosh when you know there's a boss coming, but death can happen at any time, and the in-game economy felt out of wack while the skill trees are bloated with dubious abilities.

Overall I think Sekiro is a success. It builds on a Souls skeleton but with new flavours (to mix some metaphors), and delivers a cool ninja fantasy with some powerful imagery and setpieces. I just can't decide if its action-adventure mechanics make it more accessible than other From games, or if the prescriptive parry playstyle and lack of levelling make it a harder sell. My feelings are mixed; I'm glad I played it but also relieved to have beaten it... it can't hurt me anymore!

#sekiro #from software #souls #review #ps4