#wow bless our troops not actually though

[ofhomeland-a]

hello happy new year ! even though i’ve been on tumblr on and off for almost like 8 years or something , i’ve only been writing dinah on tumblr since october 23rd and even though i don’t interact with nearly as many people as i’d like to , it warms my heart that this many people enjoy what i write ! they enjoy my portrayal and they share the same love that i have for my muse , and that means everything to me ! because dinah madani ? oh , boy ... she stomped into my own home and snatched my own heart from my chest ; i love her so much , and i love writing her character so much . so uh , i know this is such an ugly post , but i was taken by surprise when i took a quick look through my followers this morning .

first of all , i want to thank each and every one of you for following me and wanting to interact . i appreciate you all not only for enjoying my content and portrayal , but just for existing and getting through it all . you’re here , it’s about to be a new year , and i’m proud of you for that . 

second , i do want to shout at a few people real quick because that’s what people do on these things , right ?

CLOSEST FRIENDS

@agentstein / @catwalksilhouette / @brightwasright / @finaldisorder — we’ve been at this for almost a decade . we met on this hellsite and we formed a relationship on this hellsite and now you’re my best friend and fiance . you support me and indulge all of my weird ass ideas . nothing is too ‘ far out ’ for you ; you never make me feel insecure about my characters or ideas . love that for me . love that for us . you’re the best and i’m just so thankful we met on our jim and molly blogs so feckin’ long ago . you’re the light in my life , and the main reason i continue on . as with every relationship , there are bumps , but god damn we work through them like the champions we are . keep on keepin’ on , you funky little love bug . i love you more than life .

@kingoftheravens / @apogexn — *slaps top of head* this bad boy can fit so many creative ideas in it !!!! no but really , no matter how often i disappear , vicious is DEADASS always here to welcome me back with open arms with zero guilt trips or anything like that . we met ( briefly ) on this blue hellsite like 5+ years ago , and i always really looked up to her as a person and her amazing world building . she was actually one of the first people i met when i made loki all those years ago , so ofc when i saw her url floating around once i made brock , i had to reach out despite being scared to , and i’m so glad i did . <3 vicious , ily and you’re just spectacular . thank you for being such an awesome friendo .

@kupale / @hadncchoice — GOBS i know you aren’t here , but i miss you terribly . we’ve been through ... a lot together LMAO but we came out stronger because of it ! i’m so glad you decided to stick around , and i’m so glad we stuck with each other through it ! i know i speak for milo too when i say this , but you’re amazing . you’re a trooper and you’re going to keep trooping on . i miss you !!!! <3

@soulstcne — !!!!!! this is another one that is literally always here and ready to welcome me back with open arms whenever i disappear and decide to come back . i can never repay your kindness and patience , but i absolutely appreciate it more than anything . shauna is always ready to plot and just spitball ideas ALL day and i love it so much ! also ashley ?? whew , she’s just as amazing <333 

BABES

@zombleeds / @griefends / @whisperswar — MELANIE . ICB !!! i know i’ve said this 100 times , but i remember being in awe of your frank when i wrote on my bucky and i’m just SO glad i decided to reach out to you !!! i know once i stop being a massive potato , we are going to write beautiful and heart breaking things >) thank you for being so positively amazing !!!

@jigscw — i know we don’t talk often , but i just wanted to thank you for always indulging my random IM’s screaming about either dinah & billy or krista & billy . you’re honestly really easy to talk to , and your billy is just CHEF KISS . i love him !!! i love the way you write him ! the tone !!! HHHH everything . thank you for writing with me !

@cynicomplex — listen i know we don’t talk a whole lot , but i appreciate you so much ! i love how open you are to my dumb ideas , and you always support them ! i also love how much i love our two idiots here ..... they’re so dumb and i just can’t with them . i know we’ve only written a few things together , and haven’t really gotten too far in any of them , but the chemistry between dinah and devrah is undeniable ! soon they’ll see they belong together ... soon ... 

@affcgato / @readyforyours / @idumean / @takeseffort / @huntersprayer — i’m so glad i accidentally liked a random thread between you and someone else , because it MADE me reach out in order to apologize for being awkward . i’ve always loved your characterization , no matter the muse . you’re such a sweet and amazing person , i’m really glad we’ve started talking !! also , i just want to point out that fact that you’re incredibly strong , and i am so proud of you !! for getting through the BS that you did !!! and the fact that you’re able to come back ,,, <3 i really hope to plot with you very soon ( with any of your muses ! ) but i just ned to stop being Potato first !!! 

@tocxmply — I KNOW I’M A SLOW ASS POTATO , but we’re 2 replies into our thread and it’s already got me feelin’ some type of way . i love your take on bucky , i love your writing , and i love your dedication . thank you so much for not only following me , but also entertaining my ideas and helping me plot something wonderful . you’re wonderful !

@hakune — !!!!! we haven’t written yet , but when we do .... oh the dash isn’t prepared for it !!! i love your characterization , your write all of your muses with such dedication and love , it’s amazing to see . also your energy on the dash ? top notch . i’m living for it !! 

@warhunting / @blcckbiird / @knifesavvy — i’m sorry you have to put up with so much from shitty people in your inbox . every time i see it , it makes me so angry . but honestly , you’re such a strong person and i’m proud of you for continuing to do what you love ! also rick and dinah ? cuties . i hope to continue developing them in 2020 !

@ikumkani / @sundiety — wow ... your conviction . your energy !!!! your writing !!!!!!! i really admire you and T’Challa , like ... you write him and about him with such a dedicated passion , i can FEEL it radiating from every word ! i love the fact that i can hear his voice in my head with every word , and those headcanons ??? i can’t . also hold on a second , SOL CAME INTO MY OWN HOME and stole my heart , okay . i love her concept , i love her ! i love reading about her , and learning more about her . thank you so much for blessing my dash with your wonderful creations .

@putrifyre — i’ve said it once and i’ll say it 100 more times : I LOVE TASS . I LOVE HIM !!!! I LOVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ABOUT HIM . i love how emotional he is !! how loving he is toward his SO’s ! how Soft™ he can be !!! one wouldn’t expect it coming from someone like him , and that really just adds so much to his character ! i’m in love with everything you have for him !! and then you !! oh , you’re a gem ! i know we’ve only spoken a few times , mainly because i’m Shit with keeping up w people , but you’re so ,,, nice . you’re so easy to talk to !! 

@arrowfcrged — !!! omg I LOVE victor , and I LOVE his and dinah’s dynamic so much . and i LOVE how sweet you are ! you’re very welcoming , very fun , and you’re always up for plotting and tossing ideas around ! love that ! thank you so much for writing with me , and for inadvertently helping me figure out dinah’s own sort of vigilante verse . writing with you definitely assisted in fleshing her reasoning out , and it’s wonderful that i was able to do that with you <3

LOVELIES

@cthlicdevil / @warstrike / @boundedbygrief / @elataan / @lcdiablcblanc / @stormweathered / @riddel / @deferentially / @rouqehair / @deivll / @venomtm / @hoyled / @prcsopa / @sniperwithasmoke / @br6vo / @detectiev / @dunnithole / @wardogsong / @hittcr / @fbiartist / @huntreborn / @becomedeviant / @craene / @warcharged / @lasw3ll / @childhealcr / @standsready / @tlmebreaks / @codedhonor / @marredset / @aresblessed / @avocadefense / @fairdoves / @wristful / @falsedking / @hlekter / @miserybled / @cadisfly / @brightprofiler / @healsiick / @thestarskiller / @palespyder / @shitgiven / @ashtouch / @awbartonno / @hopeswrath / @geneticempath / @conflyct / @lucifeyr / @tapewormking / @suppetior 

happy new year , everyone ! let’s make it a great one <3

#ooc. / oh worm? #(ooc.) #long post. #aaaa here's this

[loopy777]

I have to agree with the fact that Sanderson is so much better when writing an overarching story. I very much regard stormlight archive as his best work ever. That said, some of the problems you mention about warbreaker is still present for way of kings. The storyline is essentially broken into 3 main characters. Kaladin, Dalinar, and Shallan. Dalinar's story is good, but not exactly amazing. It's very, very predictable, but it's executed well enough, at least up until the climax.

Shallan's storyline is far and away the worst of the 3. Like no contest. Like, there is a lot of promise in the idea, with the whole section being focused on a couple of scholars, rather than warriors and slaves carrying siege equipment. Brandon would revisit the concept of scholars in book 4, to much greater effect, but here it's not particularly interesting. The big problem is shallan.

Shallan In book one is not particularly interesting, and the narrative is way too afraid to let her witty comments stand on its own, instead feeling the need to have characters who comment on how clever her dialogue is. Which it generally isn't. Which is bizarre, because there is a lot of genuinely witty characters in the book, shallan just isn't one of them. To make matters worse, her book one climax is completely removed from the books actual climax.

Which is kinda problem, because the climax of Dalinar and Kaladin's storylines is the big, emotional climax of the book, which just makes shallan's storyline feel even less compelling and interesting by comparison than it actually is. Shallan thankfully is much, much better in book 2 and onwards, after some character development.

The heart and soul of stormlight archive though, and way of kings more than any other, is Kaladin Storm blessed and his crew. The tale of the surgeon turned soldier, turned slave is easily the best storyline of the entire book, and it is the overarching story of the series. Kaladin's tale basically the story of the underdog personified, which by its very nature makes his story very compelling.

Kaladin is basically a superhero, in that his most defining trait is his chronic need to protect people, whether it be random innocents, his men, or others. However, Sanderson makes his story incredibly compelling by taking advantage of this. How do you prect your men when your men's job is to essentially soak up arrows for the real troop? How do you protect your men when you have no resources? How do you take what little resources you have to achieve your goals?

Add this in with the fact that unlike Shallan, Kaladin is generally challenged(Especially in book 2, and to a lesser degree in book 1) on his beliefs. Kaladin a very flawed human being. He wants to save and help people. Above pretty much anything else, but he's also incredibly flawed, and people aren't afraid to challenge him on it. People question him, he makes the wrong assumptions, he makes TERRIBLE mistakes due to lack of understanding certain things.

And every single time Kaladin makes big mistakes, they have big, massive consequences that have an immediately negative impact. I don't wanna spoil it, but one of my favorite moments in book 1 is when Kaladin thinks he's finally found a solution, but he fails to take into account how it affects literarily everything outside of his own actions, and is very quickly punished for making this mistake.

However, like any good shonen protagonist, Kaladin keep rising up every time he's struck down, which makes for a very compelling storyline. Especially in book 1, where his exploration of his part of the planet's magic system is very limited. To put it bluntly, this book is where the technical aspects of the magic of stormlight works the absolute best, because Kaladin is very limited in what he can do, so he has to actually use the limited powers he has to his advantage.

All of this culminates in book 1's climax, which is really the best part of the book. It's where Dalinar's storyline reaches its climax, and it's well executed, but it's how it relates to the far more interesting Kaladin storyline that makes it glorious, as it's his storyline that reaches its climax, and fuck me is it amazing. It's where everything that has been built up and developed over the course of the war part of the book finally reaches the point where it all comes together into one.

If there is one bad thing I can say about Kaladin's storyline, it's that book 1 doesn't really do a good enough job of making you realise that Kaladin's depression isn't something that is exclusively tied to his shitty, shitty situation. The bouts of self-loathing and bouts of clinical depression the eternally snarky paladin has isn't going to be magically fixed. It's an ongoing problem he has to deal with long after his life actually gets better. It's extremely realistic is what I'm saying.

And the books deals with that very well over the course of the books, but doesn't really make it clear enough in book one that this is going to be a permanent fixture of Kaladin's life.

And now that I'm fully awake, I realise I probably didn't link the problems with word of kings to the problems at warbreaker. The connection is basically, that Shallan in Wok is an incredibly reactive character, who generally never actually does things. She almost always just reacts to character around her doing things. That gets better in words of radience, but it is very much the case with way of kings.

Hm. I’m not sure if I agree exactly with your diagnosis of Shallan, but I don’t entirely disagree, either. Her storyline is definitely the weakest in the first book, and while I don’t think she’s entirely reactive (Jannah is essentially her antagonist, and the interplay between them is most of what that subplot is about), what driving actions she takes are obscured by all the mystery surrounding her. And that, I think, is where the problem overlaps with Warbreaker. Siri and Vivenna might, according to Sanderson’s outline, drive the plot of the story, but because we’re stuck in their POV and there’s so much mystery, it’s not apparent to the audience what they’re really doing.

At least with Shallan, I don’t think her subplot in ‘Way of Kings’ is meant to climax with the same power as that of Kaladin and Dalinar. They get a proper climax, but Shallan’s subplot in the first book essentially ends with the reveal that she’s not the person we think she is as she comes into new power. I think it’s supposed to be an ominous note, a cliffhanger, as opposed to an ending.

But this is a bit deflating, because this mystery creates a disconnect between Shallan and the audience. We thought we knew her, but it turns out we don’t. And full clarity about her doesn’t even come until the third book in the series. I understand why Sanderson did that (parallels with Dalinar and his arc in the third book, IMO), but it means that Shallan remains at a distance for a long time. With Stormlight Archives, though, it’s more tolerable. It’s a series, so we can wait for ultimate payoff on Shallan and cool our heels for three books until we fully understand her. Plus, as you note, we have really powerful subplots for Dalinar and Kaladin that give each novel a proper solidness.

But with Warbreaker, it’s just one book (I’ve since found out that a sequel is apparently planned, but it’s going to be a long wait), and the book as it stands doesn’t come together fully and seems to be focused on characters who wind up not being the protagonists of the story. Even the villain suffers for being wrapped up in mystery, so that by the time we learn what’s really going on, the reaction becomes, “WOW WHAT A TWIST!!! ...but eh, cool motive, not really interesting.”

That said, I don’t mean to be so down on Warbreaker. It’s fine. I’ve read far worse, and I enjoyed it. It just has some flaws I would not have expected from Sanderson, but perhaps are indicative of weaknesses that his penchant for multi-books epics mitigates.

#thekingofwinterblog

[iceamericanoventi]

Blank Space - Chapter 7

Part 6

———————

Screaming, crying, perfect storms, I can make all the tables turn

Rose garden filled with thorns

Keep you second guessing like "Oh my God, who is she?"

I get drunk on jealousy

But you'll come back each time you leave

'Cause, darling, I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream

“Naah, I’m not going tonight.”

Jinki balanced his phone between his ear and shoulder while restarting the laptop in front of him.

“But you have skipped lots of gigs lately! That’s not fair.”

Taemin groans from the other side, anyone can tell he’s more than annoyed by his voice.

“How come it’s not fair? It’s not like I got paid doing nothing.”

“Mom said we shouldn’t count our good deeds but my dear brother, I got you famous. Remember?”

“Tell me once again, so you meant I should help myself for something I didn’t ask for? Do I look like God or what? It’s not my choice that I appeared charming to those people.”

Taemin snorts, “Wow. Look how cocky you are now.”

“I know right?” Jinki sure knows how to tease his brother.

“Come on, Jinki! You cannot do this to me. This supposed to be done by two people, not a lone troop!”

“Since when you got fancy words from your mouth? You may start writing your own music, baby brother!”

“Screw you and your girl!”

“Hey! Leave her alone! She has nothing to do with anything!”

“As if,” Taemin scoffed and kicked the foot of his bed, and thank God he wears his boots because the sound is not pretty, “You’ve been away from home more than three days. Everyone knows you will get it right away that you’re with her. I probably should tell Mom to hire a wedding planner as soon as possible.”

“The hell with you, Lee Taemin! I’m struggling to get my work done here and you’re out of the lash spreading some cheap rumor, does that sound supportive?”

Satisfied with his little revenge, Taemin’s ready to cut the call.

“Gotta go! I have no time for traitor! When I make it to place record with Minho, you will never get an autograph from me!”

Jinki cracks when he had no chance to say anything after Taemin left the line hanging on the other side.

“What happened?” Gwiboon asks when she returned from the bathroom.

“Taemin is such a little girl sometimes,” Jinki turned his head to the side and almost got a heart attack when he saw Gwiboon only wrapped with towel, thighs covered not even half, his mouth went dry with the view, “Ermm, can you not? How am I suppose to do if you.. you know, dress like that?”

She couldn’t believe what she just heard, “What do you expect from someone got off the bathroom? I just finished shower, not going to attend a banquet! You and you uncontrollable desire can be so handful sometime!”

When she walked across the room as if nothing happened, Jinki is more than convinced that the heat crept up his face is not because of room’s temperature. He shakes his head lightly, gave up with the circumstance, it’s Gwiboon’s room anyway.

Jinki camped there since four days ago. Initially, to finish some drawings since he needs to submit some draft by the beginning of next week. Initially. But what can he do when he only have limited space, 28 square meter to be exact, with the prettiest girl he ever encountered in his life who turned out having quite strange habit – if he might say – to take of her pants whenever she reached her room. However, this time he’s lucky enough to survive the trial. The other day when he sneaked inside her room after bribing the guard downstairs, Gwiboon open the door smiling so wide with oversized worn out t-shirt one sleeve fell of the shoulder showing perfect skin on it. The second she hugged him, he knew there’s nothing under that blessed piece of clothes.

Usually, Jinki will lock himself inside his room or move to the studio at the left wing at the campus which known to be a public hotel for the last year students. But lately, the studio is too crowded. Plus, Jonghyun will be there. Doesn’t matter how much he wants to resolve the cold treatment Jonghyun gave him since he found Jinki’s been going out with Gwiboon, the words just didn’t roll off his mouth and the urge to hide whenever Jonghyun in his sight is slightly bigger than his guts.

To think about it, it’s not Jonghyun’s fault to come out cold. Jinki’s the one who avoid him at the first time and somehow just lost his track on the way. On the other hand, as the nature of Kim Jonghyun, he doesn’t really care about his sister’s affair. Well, not that he wanted people to see it, though.

“Taemin’s okay? It’s been a while I didn’t see him. I think since he started to take the part time job as junior graphic designer at that lifestyle magazine.”

“Yeah, he’s barely home these days my Mom started to think to cross his name of her will. Tonight he has a gig, and he asked me to go with him.”

“So?”

Jinki looked to Gwiboon’s direction, her eyes saying why-you’re-still-here-then. He stretched his back a little bit, “I love singing but Taemin always loves it more. I used to go on the stage with him because he was scared. So I encourage him and offered to accompany him on some gigs. Now that he found his way, I don’t think he needs me anymore. Or maybe I’m just lazy.”

“So?" she repeated her word, "If I were you, I’d be so stressed if I stayed inside the house hours and hours without any break.”

She casually slips her panties whilst, judged by the tremble on his jaw, Jinki tried so hard tune down his heart beating, “Of course I get stressed. But going out there with my mind kept telling me that I still have so much to do make me even more stressed.”

Gwiboon walked closer to him, messed with his hair and kissed his side, “You should just go. Take a breath a bit.”

“By any chance, are you kicking me out?”

Contrary with her nice intention, Jinki’s voice raised from what it supposed to be. Gwiboon stoned on her ankles, her arms hung on the air for seconds before pushed down the big t-shirt and peeled the towel from her skin.

“Excuse me? I just said go out there for two or three hours, take some fresh air, it won’t hurt. You can go back whenever you want. I know you are a hard worker but that’s not how you do it. Since yesterday you’ve been staring on that screen not drawing any other line than two boxes on the left.”

When talking about details, Gwiboon is the best. And used to be Jinki’s major stalker, she owned a skill for collecting clues, information, and evidence with single glance only.

“Besides, I need to prepare the layout of the catalog for the fashion week. This room will turn into a sunken ship when I started to spread all those mock up dress. And I will have no more extra hand to cheer you up while your photoshop crashed for the nth time.”

Jinki let out bitter chuckles, “Wait, wait. Am I disturbing you?”

“Oh, here we go again. Don’t you get it? I am the one who afraid will disturb you with my works. I cannot use the studio because the first years are currently using it exclusively to prepare their class assessment. We are very busy and tensed with our projects, one of us should spare some common sense, and for this time I am volunteering myself to remind you that you’re too exhausted already.”

The dejected look on his face tells her that none of her words are taken.

“Don’t humor me, Gwiboon, you know it’s useless. You can just say that you want me to leave, I have no problem with that. But listened to you drive me out this way, doesn’t help. At all. What’s with the purposely soft tones? I’m not a baby who will easily get deceived with your lure.”

The second he finished his word, he mentally slit his throat for saying some stupid stuffs to Gwiboon. This must be nicotine deprivation, Jinki thought. The more he spent his time with Gwiboon, the more he didn’t smoke. She confiscated his cigarette right away whenever that thing appeared before them. For his own good, she said.

“Are you on your period or what? Or you just forgot to tell me that you are excessively sensitive over tiny things?”

Jinki rises from the small couch near the window where Gwiboon set up there to make second working space if her desk was too boring, collects his other belonging and shoved his laptop to his backpack.

“I had a feud with my best friend for nothing then, huh?”

“Come again?”

“Nothing.”

She grabbed his chin, forcing his eyes to be on the same level with her. She doesn’t look pleased at all.

“It’s your choice to stay or leave, Lee Jinki. I never once give you an order to detach yourself from your brother. OR MY BROTHER. It’s your damn choice!”

He removed her hand carefully from his face. As much as he mad at her right now, he doesn’t want to harm Gwiboon, “You already know what I said, huh? Why bother asking me then?”

She bites her inner cheek to calm her down before exploded into some mess.

“Are we having our first fight? Because if it’s so, I’m not. Something must be wrong with you. I just suggested you to take a break and you’re offended out of nowhere? What the hell!”

“Suggested? Seriously? This what you called suggestion? Pushing me away once you got bored on me so you can.. I don’t know.. maybe hangout with some random dude you like the usual infamous Kim Gwiboon? Do I look like fucking spare-part for you?”

Restless with the atmosphere, he accused her for something which actually only happened in his mind due to his own paranoia. It’s not like Gwiboon uncomfortable with his presence so close to her. The truth is, it was the first for Gwiboon, having someone sharing the same air under her roof more than 24 hours besides Jonghyun. Not even Minho. Before this, Jinki only spent the night and went back to his sanctuary in the morning for the next two or three days before his voice greeted her again on the phone or the door of her studio. It feels new. Feels a little bit foreign.

And beyond that, Gwiboon had been skipping her bistro duty for some days. Her father started to interrogate her and she ran out of excuses already.

“Why you always turn everything into some scenario that I’m a whore who supposed to be very guilty by your denunciation and you're the poor man who made terrible mistake by being with me?”

Jinki's heart flopped to the end of his abdomen, which at this moment seems bottomless. She's not crying. Unlike the first time he accused her of doing some shit. But the torn eyes stared sternly to his own tells him everything more than she would say by words.

“Tell me what my fault is for you always suspect me doing something behind your back.”

Gwiboon has a trust issue. However, apparently, Jinki has bigger one. He didn’t mean to say say something hurtful. It’s his automatic self-defense whenever he felt insecure, which he hopes he never had intention to ever do that. Seeing how it goes right now, it’s more like a boomerang instead of a shield.

“Shit.”

He unconsciously took a pack of cigarette on his jacket pocket and light it up right away while he still gathering his stuff. And Gwiboon is not pleased with the view, but this time she restrained her hands to snatch it away.

“You think you’re allowed to smoke here?”

“Some douchebags might as well smoked on those countless nights, am I right?”

“Just leave when you finished writing the novel inside your head.”

Once again, she didn’t cry. She just left Jinki standing awkwardly there and rushed to the bathroom before she slammed the door so hard, Jinki can feel soft wind sweep his cheek when it swung closed.

He wanted to leave, but he just can’t. So he marches to the bathroom door and knocked it with all his might.

“Gwiboon, I’m so sorry. I’m really sorry.”

He realized he crossed the line, but for Gwiboon is way too late. She’s not the nicest girl in the world, she knew that. But it doesn’t give him right to judge her for whatever seemed favorable to him at the moment.

Gwiboon promised herself not to cry again over a man. But Lee Jinki seems to be an exception. When she heard light steps leaving the room, she melts down on the cold tiled floor.

***

“Kim Gwiboon!”

She adjusted the silk and put the last pin on the tall model in front of her before stepped back and observed the model’s waist line. The model turns around when she asked, but when she faced her again, something’s still off and she can only shake her head in disappointment.

“Yaa! Kim Gwiboon!”

She let out subtle growl and tells the model to have fifteen minutes break.

“This hall is exclusive for the fashion design department, you ogre!”

“I am part of the lighting design! That makes me 100% allowed around here!”

She rolled her eyes out of habit, “Can you see I’m busy?”

“You’re not the only one!” Minho flails a piece of paper in front of her face, “You got two hours. Maximum two and half.”

She scanned the paper and got blood rushed to her head, “Are you guys out of your mind? How can I get only two hours?”

“Your girls are going to walk no more than one hour!”

“But to make a perfect one hour walk you need lots of time of rehearsing! You think it’s easy to walk down the stage while hundreds eyes anchored to you ready to scream out tiny mistake you accidently made? You people are so shallow!”

Minho sighed, as if knowing this is exactly what would happen, “Don’t throw your tantrum on me! I just delivered lighting schedule.”

“Oh now you turned into a messenger after some important lighting designer is not giving you sort of privilege you wanted?” Gwiboon jumped of the stage to be on the same eye level with her best friend, more than five years he knows him, he still awed by her ability to jump and run on heels, “Who is in charge with this shit? I need at least one whole night to check everything, Mangoooo.”

Embarrassed by the nickname he raised his hand right away, “I got you a whole night but it can only be done on Wednesday.”

“I’ll take Wednesday! I can finish everything this Sunday! Or even Saturday! On Monday and Tuesday it would be only the final touch.”

“Wednesday? What about your bistro duty?”

Obvious frown appeared on her pale face, Minho really wants to help but he has no idea what he should do.

“Gwiboon?”

“I’ll take Wednesday! I’m taking double shift this weekend.”

Saturday and Sunday supposed to be her quality control day, Minho knows it very well, “Are you in your right mind? That won’t do. I know your tailor schedule. You need to asses bunch of sample those days!”

“Let me take care of myself. All I need from you is make the whole Wednesday for me and my crew. Exclusively. Can you do that?”

Minho can only sighed, he took out a pen and scribbled something on his notepad, “Remind me to send you the loading’s rundown tomorrow night.”

“You’re the best!”

And Gwiboon just flew back to her station leaving Minho with his mixed feeling.

***

“One salmon and one lamb for the table 5! Two pouched pear for table 18! Last one!”

“Thank God.”

Gwiboon wiped her forehead and headed back to her station. Though the bistro belongs to her father, she’s still under the sous chef – sous chef’s assistant as he introduced her for the first time – making her jam-packed with rage toward the way of her father’s thinking. It’s Friday night, all tables are booked and orders keep coming to the kitchen, leaving her to hours without even rest her finger down. She had been purposely avoiding weekend previously. However, since the next two weeks she wouldn’t be able to do her duty, the schedule needs to be rearranged. And it costs her two cuts on her finger and one dessert plate smashed to the ground.

The head chef’s clearly not happy with that.

“Kim Gwiboon, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Yes, Chef!”

She immediately entailed him to the vegetable’s stockroom.

“Are you okay?”

He asked once the door completely shut behind her.

“Of course, Chef. I’m just tired.”

“You sure?” she looked at her left hand with two fingers wrapped in rubber protector, “I don’t care what’s your father intention suddenly putting you here. What I care is all my employees are present 100%. And you, my little friend, no matter how you hate this, you never disappointed me before. You worked hard like a horse. Well, at least before tonight.”

“I’m sorry, Chef.”

“I remembered thirteen years ago you wore that apron which too big for you that time, it looked like a dress instead. You were running around the kitchen helping me carrying the bell peppers. I wonder where that little girl had gone.”

She’s completely not aware where this conversation is going to end and decided not to say anything until the man before her asking her opinion.

“The point is, Gwiboon,” somehow he seemed able to catch the confusion roaming the air, “Don’t force yourself. I know this is like volunteer work for you. I know I cannot help but asking you to keep attending your schedule. But if you need a break while on duty, asked. We’re in this kitchen may not your preferable family. But we’re a family here. We’re a team. And lesson number one, team always got your back.”

Funny how some people that she supposed to be her least favorite person turned out so much better than some people bonded by blood. Turned out, not everyone in this world had heart and head as tiny as sesame seed. Overwhelmed with so much compassion she thought she doesn’t deserve, small rivers ran down her cheeks instinctively.

“Take your time as much as you want. We’re closing the kitchen in five minutes, so don’t you worry, kid.”

Gwiboon can only nod weakly when he tapped her shoulder lightly while passing her. Once the door closed again, she moved to the stool in the corner and drown her face in both hands. Shoulder shaking hard indicating how bad she breaks down even she didn’t make any voice.

It’s been ten days she hasn’t heard anything from Jinki. Every single night passed with the longing to reach the phone and dial his number buried among her doubts and anxiety. Whenever she found her hand stretching to the side of her night desk, she convinced herself not to be a fool for Jinki left that night by his own will. She didn’t kick him out. She didn’t push him away. And history told her not to bother begging people coming back to her pathetic life.

Presumably life is a fast food restaurant and they order the same happy meal, in his room, Jinki sit on his mattress, rejecting Jonghyun who two days ago started talking to him again as if nothing ever happened between them and his invitation to become his wingman, both knees flushed to his chest while phone laid in front of his feet, inviting him to grab it in any second.

Since the first step Jinki made outside Gwiboon’s door that night, he’d been walking on earth with guilty mocking him on both sides of his head. He wanted to run back upstairs once he reached the ground floor of Gwiboon’s building. However the fear of being really chased away after his stupid mistake took over everything.

He wanted to apologize, told her he’s sorry and beg her not to leave him but then reality knocked him out. Who do you think you are, Lee Jinki? They never define what they are. Never labeling what kind of the relationship they’re having. In Jinki’s mind, he has no right to asking Gwiboon to forgive him. Supposed it would be the easiest thing to do to someone he cares a lot. Who knows the hardest thing in the world is realizing you hurt them even if you kept telling yourself you didn’t mean it?

Jinki pressed the home button of his phone. The screen tells him the day will soon turn Saturday. After five minutes contemplating if it’s polite to visit someone’s house in such hour, he put his jeans haphazardly. Snatching his jacket and key’s car from his desk, he dashed out his room almost like lightning.

***

‘Remember, Kim Gwiboon. You’re more than welcome here. If you had something in mind, let me know. I cannot lie to your father and cover your absence but as long as you’re in my kitchen, both my ears are open to everything you want to say.’

The words from the head chef rings beautifully inside her mind. The first time she saw him more than decade ago, she knew already that he is a very kind person despite his harsh words while on duty. If only she didn’t fall in love to fashion first, she must be willingly to be taken under his wing in his father’s bistro.

“Sir, take the left street, please. There’s a new small bar at front, they occupied more than half of the street every Friday and Saturday.”

Without saying anything, the taxi driver headed to the left as instructed. She found out she’s not in her right mind she might kill herself on the way if she insisted to drive back home. Gwiboon decided to leave her car at back of the bistro since she will be back again on Sunday anyway. And she can always take the bus or taxi to visit her tailor’s place tomorrow. Well, technically today since it’s almost one in the morning.

Tomorrow, tomorrow might be the last time she will ever visit her tailor again. Tomorrow might be the last time she can joke around with her, share some latest gossip, and sketch ideas together and argue which color or type of fabric they can use for their next collaboration. She’s a married woman with one son, twelve years older than Gwiboon but in her she found her best friend. Her girl best friend she never had since the other girls at the university only see her as a competitor. She decides she will tell Amber she's going to move soon after she finished this semester. It will be hard but her grandmother will be sad if she kept weeping like any other day.

"We’re here, Miss.”

“Uh, right, sorry,” she was drowning in her thought, didn’t realize the car has stopped five minutes ago, “Here. Thank you so much, drive safely, Sir.”

She went out the taxi hesitantly for being at her own house is the last thing she wants now. However, too tired to even mentally curse herself, she didn’t even realize there’s another sound of car’s door being slammed.

“Kim Gwiboon.”

She’s about to pushed the gate when a voice recites her name almost inaudible but beautifully. A voice she knew by heart. A voice she missed the most. Timidly, she turned herself to the source, almost afraid she’s still dreaming in a short nap during the ride home. But he’s there, standing weakly next to his car, losing his strong presence which Gwiboon fell for the very first time they met.

She wants to throw her shoes to him for what he said to her the last day she saw his face. She wants to bust his nose with her purse for what he did to her. Those desires nevertheless left her soul instantly when she found his face looked as awful as hers and a pair of eyes mirroring her own sadness.

Without ado, she sprinted to his spot and threw herself on his chest which the latter response by wrapping her weary figure with his arms. His heart shrunk when he felt tears seeping through the thin material of his t-shirt, making him tighten his embrace straightaway. Without her heels, Jinki can bury his nose on the top of her head and breathe in her trademark vanilla scent as much as he want, in substitute for the past days it was missing from his life.

They stay chest to chest for the longest time, indulged each other presence, sharing the warmth left on their skin in the coldness of the night, letting their hearts do the talk.

Jinki couldn’t help but break the silent first.

“I’m sorry, Baby..”

This time, it’s Gwiboon’s turn to tighten her embrace.

***

crossed-post already to my AFF      

Part 8                              

#onkey scenario #onkey fiction #onkey fanfic #onkey #jinkibum #gwiboon #jinboon #onew #key #jinki #shinee scenario #shinee fiction #shinee fanfic

[vorthosjay]

Let’s Talk About Hour of Devastation

It’s finally here: Hour of Devastation by Ken Troop. This story has a lot of baggage to work through, being the pivotal moment that shifts the Gatewatch from their ‘Phase 1′ to ‘Phase 2′. If you’ve ever wondered if Wizards realized the problems inherent in the Gatewatch, this story should settle all doubt.

It’s fun. We certainly get better insight into Nicol Bolas than any time in the last ten years, but if you were looking for resolution to any lingering plot threads, they’re not here. And that’s kind of disappointing.

This is a LONG one, people, so settle in.

Hour of Devastation by Simon Dominic

Either he would have deaths, screams, and blood, or he would, perhaps, have something better.

Okay, so the first thing we have to get out of the way is that we don’t have resolutions to those lingering Bolas threads between Alara and Amonkhet. On that front, this story is very unsatisfying.

This is the first of the new mysteries that we’ll be tracking going forward. Why does Bolas want the Gatewatch broken and in the wild? I have enough faith in the post-Origins team setting up for the long term that I think there’s something planned there... but will it be satisfying when it pays off?

They fancied themselves The Gatewatch. As though for some bizarre reason there were gates scattered throughout the Multiverse. That deserved watching.

And here is the beginning of Bolas disassembling everything about the Gatewatch. Bolas is exposing those obvious flaws in the Gatewatch.

Why does Bolas want heroes out in the wild? What possible reason could it serve?

The heroes, Nicol Bolas thought. Bless them, each and every one.

I didn’t know Nicol Bolas was from the south.

No matter. There were others, if need be.

Who? The Takewatch, maybe :D

His roar echoed the cries of countless other predators throughout the eons, predators who have no more need to be silent. Over the long years, Nicol Bolas knew it served him poorly to be too much the dragon. But it was no fun to be the dragon too little.

This is so relatable.

Oh, they probably had a plan. A plan, charitably, could consist of kill the dragon. Or, you burn it, you zombie it, you elemental it, you illusion it, you block it. These were all, given enough leeway, plans. And plans of similar competence had served them well enough in their recent escapades. Nicol Bolas could appreciate efficiency. Why bother being smart when the Multiverse so conveniently conspired to keep your idiocy alive?

This story is more or less Bolas reading directly from the storyline forums.

He wondered how much it would crush their spirits if he applauded. Metaphorically, of course. His talons did not clap together well.

Look, for all that I wished we’d have learned some whys in this story, Bolas is great. He chews exactly how much scenery I would expect him to. He is both witty and terrifying.

More than several, ideally, but unless you are a brilliant elder dragon archmage planeswalker, several would suffice.

That’s a heck of a creature type.

They were children of a civilized and gelded age, these planeswalkers, this Gatewatch. They had no idea of the dangers lying in wait, ready to kill them . . . or worse. Their lack of actual power had somehow protected them from all the ways they could have died.

Catch that he says gelded, not gilded? I missed it the first time and it was John Dale Beety on twitter that made me notice it.

He’s referring to the relative safety of the post-Mending era. How things have seemed to be calm because evil god-like planeswalkers aren’t being constantly created (or evil just-a-guy planeswalkers).

Nothing about this day had gone as planned.

The irony of this comment, multiplied by all the Gatewatch members who’ve expressed it, is great when juxtaposed with what Bolas thinks of their planning.

We hit him with everything we've got. He will fall, Gideon thought back at him. 

No, this is a bad idea and I’ve been telling you for a while Gideon is a terrible leader and just keeps doing dumb things that will get people killed.

Jace had never encountered a mind so impenetrable, except for . . . the merest moment of a memory surfaced of a mind as smooth and dazzling as a wall of crystal. But even as the thought entered his mind, it erased itself, and he could not remember where he had seen such a thing—or even what kind of thing it was.

What . . . Jace shook off the sudden fugue that had overtaken him. It hadn't seemed to come from Bolas, but rather from inside himself. What was I thinking about? But he could not recall. Bolas's mind still loomed in front of him, closed and locked, as he futilely sought purchase.

Here’s our Jace story hook. Before Jace’s mind is wiped, we get a hint that his old memories are still there. This is clearly a reference to Alhammarett

He did not move to attack them, merely continuing to fling a helpless Gideon against the wall.

Look, the idea that all Bolas had to do against Gideon was keep flinging him against a wall with his tail is amazing. His over-reliance on his aura has always been a mistake. Where is Gideon’s hieromancy? Why wasn’t he summoning magic chains to bind Bolas?

Without conscious thought, he began planeswalking away blindly, not knowing or caring where. He had to avoid that darkness.

He felt himself being pulled across the Blind Eternities as the wave of darkness struck, and then he knew nothing at all.

Okay, so as we enter Ixalan, Jace is playing the part of the amensiac castaway. Will this lead to an alliance with Vraska?

Find out Monday on my first look at Ixalan!

"That was your mind expert, I believe? Do you have a spare? I can wait, or I promise not to listen if you shout at each other."

I thought Nicol Bolas was an Elder Dragon not a Troll.

Nicol Bolas lingered on each word, his voice rumbling through the open plaza, punctuated only by the continued thwaps as he bounced Gideon off the wall.

I giggled every time. I might be evil.

You have never been such a fool as to think you can win this battle, Liliana, whispered the Raven Man.

Raven Man with the sage advice. I don’t want to comment to much about the Raven Man piece here. I don’t believe Nicol Bolas is the Raven Man, but how the Raven Man views Bolas is interesting.

You alone amongst them know what true power can be again.

Can be... again? What does that mean? Might Bolas actually be looking to undo the Mending, as I’ve speculated in the past?

The dragon continued in his smooth voice. "Do you know, Liliana, how to use the Chain Veil so that it doesn't rupture your skin or drain you of life? Do you know how to make the spirits of the Onakke serve you as their master instead of seeking the destruction of your soul and body? I do, Liliana. I do."

He lies! screamed the Onakke in her head. Interloper! We will crush him!

You know he speaks truth, Liliana. He can help you. The Raven Man.

In case you were wondering, the Raven Man and the Onakke are clearly not on the same side.

That each of you has lived so long is merely a function of how useful you can be to me.

This is also what I’ve been saying for a while.

Nicol Bolas looked down at the planeswalkers and smiled. "And then there were three. I didn't want to annoy your dear departed necromancer, but between us, I admit I know a fair bit of necromancy. Do you have an opening in your Gatewatch? Is there some type of application process?" 

IS there some kind of an application process?

Why is it that a 30,000 year old Elder Dragon has to be the one to suggest? Do the Gatewatch have bylaws? Honestly, I’m as surprised as Bolas that they’ve lasted this long.

Her fire was blinding white, coruscating rivers of flame that lashed the dragon. Bolas's eyes narrowed, and he was forced backward for the first time in the fight, letting Gideon drop to the ground as the dragon retreated.

Blinding white fire, eh? And all of a sudden, Bolas needed to avoid her flames?

Remember when I said it would be cool if Chandra learns to cast the Purifying Fire, like she learned to cast Ghostflame? Both could have served her well here, and I think that might be something we see in the future.

The Purifying Fire cover art by Michael Komarck

"Chandra Nalaar. You had so many useful characteristics. Powerful. Emotionally unstable. Easy to manipulate. Refreshingly predictable unpredictability. I really wanted to make this work." Bolas's voice boomed through the empty air. I am not easy to manipulate, she thought, her anger revving up. Her flames lit up the night sky.

Is... is Bolas complaining about Millennials, here?

I mean, I totally feel his point. ADHD caricature Chandra is frequently disappointing, but still. Wag a walking stick at her, too, Bolas.

Wow, that's a lot of pain.

Look, I have some problems with Chandra’s immature characterization sometimes, but at least this girl keeps it real.

She had thought her destiny to be different on this world, had thought her time in Kefnet's temple opened up possibilities previously unimagined . . . but no. Kefnet and the other gods lay dead in the streets, their threads cut short, their uses unexplored.

GDI Ken Troop. Now that he knows we know to hunt for meaning in his articles, he’s throwing red herrings into the mix.

Nissa had never questioned the purpose of the Gatewatch before. There was always an immediate need, wrongs to be righted, evil to be overcome. And it had worked. For so long it had worked. Until now. Until a dragon of immense power and intellect had shown the errors of coming in unprepared and underpowered.

Perhaps there was a better way.

Such musings occupied her as she fought to regain control of the land. If she were to have any chance in this fight, it would be through the earth.

I’m curious to see where Nissa goes with this. I think we’ll be seeing her explore that tentative connection with Emrakul more as time goes on.

All of Gideon's invulnerability had proven little worth against an opponent with the size and strength and mass of the dragon.

OK. Nicol Bolas is big... but Gideon went toe-to-toe with this.

Ulamog, the Ceaseless Hunger by Michael Komarck

"Gideon Jura, you are very bad at analyzing reality. I have fought against thousands of generals, thousands of tacticians and strategists and battle masterminds. You might be the worst. Let me help you. Ignoring obvious reality is a fatal flaw in our line of work. By all means, I understand the importance of . . .aspirations, but being able to accurately assess the facts in front of you is an essential skill in the trade."

Thank you, Bolas. It’s funny, Bolas is giving each member of the Gatewatch exactly what they need to hear. Is this narrative convenience, the author dissembling this for us, the reader? Or is Bolas purposefully trying to turn them into more useful tools?

"I could kill you, Gideon, anytime I want. But I suspect you would not mind dying, the way you play so carelessly with your life. And the lives of others." Gideon thrashed his head back and forth, desperate to escape. 

Gideon was shocked to realize that a part of him yearned to stay. To no more feel the guilt of losing Drasus, Olexo, all his Irregulars. All the people he had seen die on Zendikar. He didn't want any more death on his hands. He could just . . . let go.

GIDEON WANTS TO DIE. @sarpadianempiresvol-viii​ has been calling this for a long while now, and I agree. It’s nice to see it confirmed.

He willed his body through the Blind Eternities, the hole the dragon left in his shoulder only the most visible of his wounds.

Looks like Gideon still has his arm, folks.

"No, master, I did not doubt. I was . . . delayed. You defeated them as quickly as you predicted." He glanced around the plaza, looking for bodies of planeswalkers that weren't there. "I can seek to find where—"

"No. It does not matter. This was better than blood."

Tezzeret looked at him quizzically, but knew he would offer no more explanation.

"Master, I should update you on . . ."

Okay, a few things. What delayed Tezzeret? Or is he just lying (probably). What does he need to update Bolas on?

Why is this better than blood? I’m legitimately kind of tired of vague Bolas plot set-ups. After around ten years later, the old Bolas fatigue is setting in again.

"Later. Go and tell Ral Zarek to come to me. His progress is too slow."

Okay, what the hell. Is Project Lightning Bug actually Nicol Bolas’s deal? Is it some other project? Was this actually planned? I’ve got to go back and re-read a whole lot of Ral stories to see if this secondary master was ever hinted at.

Homing Lightning by Slawomir Maniak

#vorthos #archive trap blog #mtghou

[garden-ghoul]

return of the blog, part 2

“...”

THE PASSING OF THE GREY COMPANY

Merry is hanging out with the tracking party, feeling a bit lost and very useless-baggage-y. What’s going to happen, Aragorn? Well, Aragorn is being very dramatic, bless him. “Do not look for mirth at the ending. It will be long, I fear, ere Théoden sits at ease again in Meduseld. Many hopes will wither in this bitter Spring.” Oh, Aragorn.

Four riders are trying to catch up to the Rohirrim; everyone is, of course, very suspicious, but it turns out the leader is Aragorn’s good old friend Halbarad, a ranger and Dunadan! And Elrond’s cool sons are with him! They brought thirty dudes to help in the war effort. Like I’m sure they’re very skilled and all but. Thirty dudes. You take what you can I guess. Apparently they received a summons from Galadriel after Gandalf was resurrected. Everyone is back at Helm’s Deep now (I missed them actually going there), mainly I mention this because there now exists a place called THE DEATH DOWN, where the huorns killed just massive amounts of people.

Theoden is holding one last feast before they all go to war; he tells Merry he shall ride with him!

‘May I?’ said Merry, surprised and delighted. ‘That would be splendid!’ He had never felt more grateful for any kindness in words. ‘I am afraid I am only in everybody’s way,’ he stammered; ‘but I should like to do anything I could, you know.’

He’s such a good kid. Theoden says he’s going to be king’s squire! Not sure why, the eve of a colossal war is not really the best time to be sparing people’s feelings of uselessness. Or maybe he’s trying to free up whoever is his current squire to kill some people? You don’t do that sort of thing for no reason is all I’m saying. Anyway, in a stupendously clear parallel to last chapter, Merry lays his sword at Theoden’s feet and swears fealty. I loove the contrast between Pippin swearing fealty to a lord he doesn’t really like out of obligation and gratitude; and then Merry swearing fealty to a lord he very much admires out of a desperation to somehow be useful. Pippin’s rather awe-filled reception at Minas Tirith contrasts with Merry’s anxieties about being a burden. Then there’s this:

‘As a father you shall be to me,’ said Merry.

‘For a little while,’ said Théoden.

AWKWARD. Merry why must you. Anyway Aragorn comes up and tells Theoden he’s going to take the Paths of the Dead (everyone in earshot shivers) despite having said a couple paragraphs ago that he would have to be REALLY DESPERATE to do that. Theoden’s company rides off; Aragorn is like “wow I love Merry so much, he’s such a good and important person.” And everyone else agrees: “hobbits are super important and I love them.” I think it’s supposed to stand in contrast to Merry’s own poor opinion of himself, but I’m not really sure why they have such a high opinion of him. Just because he’s brave? Shrug. Aragorn also says he looked into the palantir and had a staring contest with Sauron to wig him out. “I’m the heir of Elendil,” he said. “Here’s Narsil! Right here! Remember her, motherfucker?” And Sauron, reportedly, went “Oh fuck.”

Then Aragorn explains why he’s going thru the Paths of the Dead. You probably know already, so I won’t relate it here. There is a seer involved though, which is pretty cool. Some oathbreaking. Very Numenorean honestly, these dead Men of the Mountains remind me of the Faithless, in that the reason for their oathbreaking is a new unexpected allegiance to Sauron. And with that exposition, the “greay company” is off! For some reason they make it to Edoras long before Theoden does, and Aragorn comes to say hi to Eowyn. 

When she heard of the battle in Helm’s Deep and the great slaughter of their foes, and of the charge of Théoden and his knights, then her eyes shone.

I see what gogol means. Eowyn is gay for Deeds. She also conceptualizes being the ruler of Edoras and sorta Rohan as “exile,” because WHY would you want to rule anything when you could be killing people??? The next time we hear a description of Eowyn it’s that “her eyes were on fire.” Why did baby ghoul relate so much to Eowyn? Up until now I thought it was because she was the only TV lady who had freckles like me, but actually maybe it was her nebulous gender dysphoria and frustration. She is SO frustrated. First she offers to ride with Aragorn on his death errand. He refuses her; she’s the ruler of the Mark. BITTER. BITTER BITTER BITTER. WHY DOES EOWYN ALWAYS GET LEFT BEHIND? IS SHE NOT A SHIELD-MAIDEN? This is a good exchange:

‘A time may come soon,’ said he, ‘when none will return. Then there will be need of valour without renown, for none shall remember the deeds that are done in the last defence of your homes. Yet the deeds will not be less valiant because they are unpraised.’

And she answered: ‘All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more.’

Get him, Eowyn. I mean, it IS essential to make sure non-combatants in Rohan stay safe and such, but Eowyn is right that she shouldn’t be forced into the unpraised deeds just because she’s a woman. Before you say such things, Aragorn, maybe start a culture of praising valiant deeds that don’t involve killing anyone?? Then we’ll talk.

Once again as Aragorn’s company rides away we get the same exact image of Eowyn standing and watching them go... this time filled with tension and anger, her fists clenched and tears in her eyes. Aragorn is sad about it. Whatever, dude. We timeskip to the entrance of the Path of the Dead, where the Dunedain are gentlly coaxing their horses in through the awful doorway. Legolas has to enchant his horse to get it to go in. Gimli is left alone outside, possibly the only one who feels so viscerally how wrong this underground passage is compared to what it should be. I think his fear is greater for the fact that he has never felt uneasy underground before; it’s like home, perverted into something dreadful. As they go forward Aragorn calls the dead. No-one answers, but Legolas can see them riding behind. As they ride through Morthond Vale I am getting the impression that there are living humans there? And they are afraid because, like, the king of the dead. Aragorn and co ride hell for leather for the Stone of Erech.

The Stone of Erech is an enormous black sphere, half buried in the ground, that for some reason was brought out of Numenor. Like... you didn’t have anything better to bring on your ships than an enormous black sphere of stone? Anyway this is the site of the oath that was broken, and now the dead are ready to fulfill it and have peace after like 3000 years. “When all this land is clean of the servants of Sauron, I will hold the oath fulfilled,” he says. Which is pretty harsh. Like, what if a hundred years from now there’s just one servant of Sauron remaining? That would just suck for everyone. Also he unfurls a banner Arwen made for him, which is apparently black on black. Love it. Very stylish. So that’s the muster of the dead. What about

THE MUSTER OF ROHAN?

This bit is confusing because I thought it was going to be Pippin POV but then as soon as they mentioned the Rohirrim had made it to Gondor it turned into Merry POV. I never have a good intuition for what things Tolkien will think it’s reasonable to skip... Wait no they didn’t make it to Gondor. They just about made it to Edoras. This is very confusing and I have poor reading comprehension. The point is Merry is sad and lonely because everyone’s speaking Rohir or whatever and he misses all his friends and absolutely everyone he knows. The party reaches Harrowdale and climbs up a super steep path for some reason; it’s lined with Pukel Men, monoliths carved into a human shape. Ahhhh I love standing stones, Heck I love standing stones. They’re from the “dark years” (when Numenor was still going on and thus Real People weren’t in Middle Earth ::P) and some unknown people made this place, Dunharrow. OH. Here’s Eowyn! The reason they’re here is because Edoras has been evacuated, and Theoden wanted to check on his people.

While Theoden and his peeps are having dinner a messenger from Gondor comes in and Merry is like BOROMIR??? WTF. But no, he just can’t tell Gondorians apart haha. Also what was the point of the beacons if Denethor was just going to send a messenger straight to Theoden. Theoden promises 6000 guys (not bad! that’s twice the entire Gondor) in one week, though the messenger says a week will probably be too late. Still, he says sarcastically, maybe you can disturb the orcs feasting on our corpses.

Merry wakes up the next day in the darkness; the sun will not rise today. Or if it does nobody will see it, because Sauron has sent a great wave of black clouds across the sky to embolden his troops. Dreamy. Theoden is releasing Merry from his service (yes, after three days, what a copout) to serve Eowyn here while she rules the noncombatant Rohirrim. Merry is. Sad. He wants to help! Even if he has to be tied to a horse! But no dice. Eowyn takes him off to arm himself anyway. Thanks Eowyn you are a true bro. As Theoden’s company leaves, they sing a song that is clearly based on Anglo Saxon epic poetry, and also I believe was not meant to be sung. So. Minus points, Johnald. It doesn’t sound like a song, it doesn’t scan like a song. It’s a nice poem, though. A nice lad called Dernhelm offers to bear Merry on his horse and hide him since Theoden won’t take him. Thanks for showing us Eowyn’s exact transition goals, it’s good.

#blog of the rings

[saidalpha]

GOOD END FOR PUK. VERY GOOD END. LET MY GRANDSON BE HAPPY

send ‘ bad end ’ for a bad / tragic ending to my character’s story, ‘ good end ’ for a good ending, & ‘ neutral end ’ for a neutral one !

       HE’S sitting on the grass, ashla playing with the pups of a skrelkii, grass waving around them like a green sea. braig watches on fondly by the ship. puk looks at ashla, swallowing a hard lump in his throat as he watches how happily she plays with the pups, but when he reaches out with the force, he can feel the underlying sadness — the nostalgia. he feels it in braig too.

       however, it has to be this way, & despite the sadness, puk is also content, happy, safe.

       ❛ i don’t want you to leave … > ❜ puk mumbles, breath hoarse as he looks at the girl. she’s grown so fast, & she’s twelve now.

       ashla turns to him with those wide eyes, scooping the pup in her hands. for a skrelkii mother to not attack was rare, but the force was their ally, & ashla had convinced her that she was no threat to her babies.

       ❛ i don’t want to go, puk. but — i’m also excited. i — i can’t … i can’t believe braig’s my father. my real father. > ❜ she seemed a little conflicted, but overall happy, & a smile tugged at puk’s maw.

       ❛ i should’ve seen it, to be honest … > ❜ he began in response to her, throwing a glance over his shoulder where braig stood. he understood their language more & more but even after all these years, on ra’arthak ashla & puk still spoke in tongues. ❛ you have his eyes, his spirit … > ❜ puk sighs, chewing on his tongue a moment, & ashla smiles softly.

       ❛ i wonder who my mother is … > ❜ she muses, & puk hums. braig obviously understands because from where he stands, he suddenly looks up, blissful smile twitching into one of warmth.

       ❛ someone amazing, i imagine. > ❜ lizard hums, taking her in his arms as he sits beside her.

       the two are content to sit there for a while, watching as the sun sets, & the double moons are seen over the other side of the horizon. puk rests his head against hers, & he can feel a dampness on ashla’s cheeks.

       ❛ please don’t cry ashla …  you know i can’t cry because i’m upset. but you’re sure as lek’ro is strong going to find a way to make that biologically possible > ❜ he laughs weakly. ashla seems to find amusement in this, & clings to the pup tighter, before setting him upon the ground & letting him scamper back to his mother happily.

       ❛ why can’t you come with us puk ? > ❜ she asks quietly.

       ❛ i want to, but my family’s here. i know — i know that we raised you, but — your parents were always going to find you, just as mine found me. you’re going to be okay. > ❜ he tells her, but she’s unconvinced. ❛ ashla, the empire is still at large, but — but braig says that — that there is a new hope. you’ll be safe with him, & he’ll introduce you to your mother … don’t you want to meet her ? > ❜

       the question is left hanging in the air a moment, & ashla fights back a choked sob.

       ❛ i — i do. i want to meet her. i want to be with my family … but you’re my family to. > ❜

       puk, though technically younger than her, stands over her with massive height, picking girl up in his long arms, & holding her close to him. she feels about seven again, & usually she’d argue that she could walk herself, but she didn’t want to let go of him.

       ❛ you can always come visit, & — now i have a ship. that’s my own. i can visit you too … > ❜ he whispers, & she kisses his cheek tenderly.

       braig looks at them as they approach the ship, & he’s tearing up too. puk can almost laugh, if it weren’t for the fact that his heart is aching, & he never wants to let ashla go.

       ❛ you’ve — thank you for looking after her so long … ❜ braig mumbles, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. they’ve gone through the whole ‘ why didn’t you tell us earlier ’ thing, & all the other ‘ things ’ that came with it. all puk can do now is bow his head as he sets her down.

       ❛ she didn’t need looking after. but — but it was my pleasure. i love her. ❜ he murmurs back, squeezing her hand a little.

       ❛ you’ve — wow. goodbyes are terrible, aren’t they ? ❜ braig laughs, & puk & ashla do as well. ❛ you’ve been a great student, & an even better friend. i’m so glad that we’ve met. ❜ the conversation is awkward, better phrased in a well-thought out note, rather than the hitched words that leave their throats, but the meaning & articulation is hidden underneath, & they can all hear it.

       ❛ hey, i’m not going anywhere anytime soon, & i’ll always be around to torment you someway or another. i’m — i’m thinking of joining the rebellion. ❜ puk announces, kicking his clawed feet at the ground, & braig smiles.

       ❛ that’d be fantastic, puk, really. ❜

       there’s a silence before they exchange their goodbyes, & then, comes the actual thing. they wrap each other in a big, tight hug, & none of them want to let go.

       ❛ safe travels, my family. ❜ puk whispers before letting go, & slowly but surely, braig & ashla release their grip as well.

       ❛ see you soon, puk. ❜ braig laughs, wiping his eye as the ramp slowly moves upwards.

       ❛ come see us, please, you big, dumb, scale-brain ! ❜ ashla calls out between her sobs, & they’re both waving to him.

       ❛ see you later two piece. goodbye braig ! ❜ he yells back, & soon, they’ve disappeared from sight.

       it takes a little while before the ship alights, & puk watches as they slowly ascend, & speed off into the sky. the ship loops around, & he can see them waving at him through the windscreen, & he can’t help but let the laughs escape his throat.

       he falls to sit on the grass, watching as they speed off, & slowly but surely, his mother, sisters, brother, & his biological parents, amble up onto the hilltop, & elope puk taaren into a big, warm hug.

       it will never feel the same as ashla & braig’s hugs, though.

       IT’S the perfect day for training, & general ashla is commanding her squadron. she’s cheery & fun, but knows how to get stuff done. rebel general ahsoka tano watches on with her husband, general braig, as their daughter commands the troops. they watch their salutes in her direction, & the way she flips her saber, igniting it to reveal a short, golden blade ( she’s always favoured daggers, & her crystal knew this ). her other saber is a curved hilt, like ahsoka’s own, with a brilliant blue blade.

       in the distance, a figure approaches. a figure that is man one second, lizard the next. ewok, wookie, twi’lek. people yell & laugh as they watch, & braig rolls his eyes — don’t they know they’re hurting him ? wait, on closer inspection, the person’s laughing, a toothy grin on his face as he reverts back to his true form, & braig smirks.

       ahsoka laughs next to him.

       ❛ isn’t he a bit too young for our ash ? ❜ she laughs, & braig almost snorts.

       ❛ didn’t we all have crushes on clones at some point ? what about that ? ❜ he muses, & ahsoka’s left blank faced, crossing her arms in thought.

       ❛ … true … ❜ she murmurs, & they both start laughing.

       ❛ firebirds, dismissed ! ❜ ashla yells, & with a final salute, the soldiers file off. she bounds over, grinning from ear to ear.

       ❛ puk ! ❜ she exclaims, leaping up onto his back, & he laughs, feeding her legs through the space between his arms & his torso, & the girl looks to her parents.

       ❛ how’d i go ? i mean, i’ve been training them for ages, but am i professional ? ❜

       braig looks her up & down, laughing.

       ❛ maybe not so much now … ❜ he snickers, & ahsoka sticks her tongue out playfully. 

       ❛ you’re fantastic, as always. you remind me of me when i was your age — that’s not narcissistic, right ? ❜

       ❛ no, it’s not mom. ❜ ashla giggles, sliding off of puk’s back, & she holds his hand happily. despite the fact that puk is always going to technically be younger than her, he still was twenty-something-years-of-age. ashla blossomed into puberty, & with that, she’d realised her adoration for the lizard was more a crush, one of which he reciprocated, but for now, they were all friendships & smiles. they still acted the same way they did around each other, when ashla was little. playing games, & piggy backs, guessing how many berries puk could fit in his reptile mouth before he choked, that sort of stuff. he was, however, awkwardly seeking braig’s blessing to potentially court her when she came of age ( better than jaak-sha, anyway, & ahsoka thinks they’re adorable together. ).

       all the while, puk’s training to be a soldier, kii’rava a spy ( she dreamt of more than just staying on ra’arthak ), & benzaii-tenn provides the new clan leader puk taaren-seli’k information about what’s going on back home.

       he has to return soon, but as the four of them walk off to the mess hall to hear another senatorial speech, he can’t be happier, even with what is going on, & the work they still have to do to fight the empire … even with all of that, he can safely say, that this … ?

       this is his happy ending.

#tag later. #i'M DeaD #DECEASEd #i tried #idk #this makes me sad #i actually hate this #because now i'm thinking about what actually happens #:(((((((((((((((((((((((((((( #saggitariisms #long post//

[netmaddy-blog]

The Old Man at the Baseball Game

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The Old Man at the Baseball Game

The old man at the baseball game sat in his usual seat in the bleachers. The chair he sat in was propped up for his comfort. He’d been coming to the game as long as the oldest person remembers, and even they were children when they first encountered him. So, in essence, no one really knew his age. Many people say even he doesn’t know his correct age, but that’s hard to believe with all the wisdom glowing all around him.

People would greet the old man at the baseball game first. The fans made this an honorary tradition, many had become accustomed to this greeting. Before the national anthem people would salute him as a token of their respect and regard for his presence at the game. Even when people came late, and missed the traditional greeting, they would approach him at the end of the game to give him their respect. Yet it was mystifying because no one realized that his presence never left the stadium or so it would appear after everyone left the fans just thought he left also, but somehow he just vanished, so it would appear. He was here and then he wasn’t here, this went on for years. Where he went no one knows, but long as he was at the game the old man at the baseball game was a fantastic welcomed treat.

Where the Old Man at the Baseball Game sat was comfortably among the children with their parents close by they’d be laughing and playing. They all listened to the wondrous tales about his childhood, the parents included. He spoke of the different ball games he played as a child, and how different they were from this game being played, but the baseball game is an event that has captivated his imagination. He enjoyed the gatherings, and the closeness it would bring among families and friends in times of happiness. Tho, his faith is strong the children saw in the Old Man At the Baseball Game’s eyes that he is spiritually good and blessed. Their care for him was strong, as you could hear the children upon entering the stadium, “mommy, mommy, let’s go see the Old Man!” they’d say.

You could hear in the background as the announcers announced the game “you have two runners on, with two outs in the bottom of the second, a swing and a miss, that’s the end of the second inning.’

The Old Man At The Baseball game was good for rallying the troops behind whatever team the fans were rooting for, it didn’t matter to him long as the amusement was a pleasure to the people enjoying the game. The amusement was the spirit of the fans that he enjoyed to the utmost when their enjoyment was to the fullest he was just so immense with the thrill of the people to see them so happy. Many shunned the beer, and alcoholic beverages in his presence, they didn’t even smoke around him, as if they saw the unwritten law that they shouldn’t desecrate their bodies because they felt it would violate everything he stands for.

The Old Man At The Baseball Game seemed to help the men in their daily lives whether he was giving advice on marital situations, career advice, or just soothing conversation to a weary or frustrated man with no way out. He had the mystical voice of wisdom that seems to make everything well in that moment, and the women appreciated him also, he made them feel comfortable with the words of divine intervention as a direct method of showing them how important their roles are as women. Simply, many sought his counsel and afterward were always glad they came to him for an answer to unanswered questions.

Many bursts of laughter could be heard throughout the stadium. No one cared about the loud noises because many had been part of the same outburst before. The extra noise is what made it so pleasant coming to the games in the first place because it was most always associated with the old man at the baseball game. It was a good thing that the owners of the stadium, installed a microphone on his chair. many observed the solemn presence of the Old Man At The Baseball Game, truly to all it was a blessing to hear him say the prayer, even those, who didn’t believe received chills of unexplained joy in their hearts at the end of his prayers. Many enjoyed when he would say “Our Father who art in heaven, Hollow be thine name, the Thine Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, give this day our daily bread and forgives us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Glory forever and ever, amen.”

He’s amazing, and always shed light on the matter, after his prayers the thunderous roar would just echo for moments in time. It was just exhilarating being in the echo itself because even the echo was consumed with the spirit of happiness, The Old Man At The Baseball Game always had this riveting influence on the fans, no matter where it was, he just rejuvenated the spirit of the people and even the game became more exciting. He made the nights easy, and the weekends relaxed, and in the background you heard the Announcer say, “ladies and gentlemen, it’s the top of the fifth and the score is 2 to 2 and the home teams is out in the field, while the players are taking their positions don’t forget to enjoy the Old Man At the Baseball Game, he’s a delight for the whole family.”

Maybe it should be mentioned here, the Old Man at the Baseball game’s chair is adorned in a most beautiful color of purple you’ve ever seen. It’s like he received the mighty color from heaven itself. The gold is spectacular in the way it outlined the purple, and the remnants draped in white is simply dazzling to your sight. I mean the color white seems as pure as the clouds above, and that’s what’s so amazing about the colors they seemed hand picked by something beyond this hemisphere. Again, the chair The Old Man At The Baseball Game sat in was like a throne, the plush carpeting around it is as soft as soft can be, you know how sometimes you just can’t describe something in your mind’s ability to comprehend. Well, this is one of those times. He’s worth everyday you come to the game whether it be for the whole season or once in a while he made the trip worth while coming to the baseball game.

If you took off from work or school it didn’t matter because a lesson was being taught well beyond the schools ability to teach the children, and working on human communication was better than struggling at work to fit in on days you simply wanted to be alone, the Old Man at the Baseball Game is patient, he explains how patience is one of the most important virtues a person can have in their daily life. He described how the virtue is one even Jesus strive to pursue on earth as He educated the flock of people who gathered around him in supplication and prayer. He exclaimed! “men who walked away from the virtues of a divine man like Jesus to pursue things unrecognizable to the spirit are lost, and should redirect their life in a positive manner.”

The Old Man at the Baseball Game said, “for the Messiah has been misunderstood by many, but rest assure he did not misunderstand his purpose for being here among us as his deed represent the good in man and woman and for a woman and man’s clear understanding, and this everyone can be assured of even unto this day.”

The Old Man At the Baseball Game would not accept money for his words, works, or presence. He’d tell the people up front not to give him money, for it would do him no good as he is set by his own fortification. Even then his mannerism was polite and kind as not to be arrogant of disrespectful to the adoring fans. His words would resonant the echoes of Jesus as he would say, “Trust in God and understand the testimony of Jesus, as the Messiah, he is good to all, as he is the benefactor of truth, the same as your kindness is being bestowed upon me. Thank Heavens for all the people at the game for their support for me is a contribution to be made to the needy.” With that said, many would take money out of their pockets to donate and contribute to a needy cause just because they needed to feel they were doing something good.

He was profounded in many ways, and he remained a mystery for many years to many people. Especially after the time, the Great Bald Eagle flew over the stadium. The Eagle circled the stadium about four times. On the fifth time around the Eagle dove gracefully towards the Old Man At The Baseball Game, the Eagle was regal and majestic in its flight, and as it came closer the Eagle began to glide smoothly towards the arm of the chair where the Old Man At The Baseball Game sat. The Eagle landed, and what seemed to be a completely astonishing mystery is when the Eagle gave the Old Man At The Baseball Game eye contact, and then nodded his head up and down as if he were communicating telepathically with the Old Man At The Baseball Game. People Stopped what they were doing, a silence fell over the stadium, people across the field used binoculars to look towards this direction to me what was happening, you could see the players coming out of the dugout to see this magnificent feat occurring before everyone. The umpires called the timeout for what seemed an eternity of curiosity. The announcers had nothing to say, everyone’s attention was focused on one area of the stadium. They were actually speaking to each other, the Eagle let out a loud series of what seemed to be laughs, I know it sounds crazy, but you had to be there to witness the event. We couldn’t believe what was happening either, but it was, it was remarkable, everyone was stumped, even though we should have expected something like this the whole thing wow, power just amazing, and before our vary eyes the two were communicating like old friends. The Eagle stayed until the Game was officially over, then as suddenly as he appeared, he disappeared.

Over time I became even more curious about him, not a bad curiosity, but a good one. See, I’ve worked here at the stadium for 28 going on 29 years, so every event, and every game, I’ve said something to him, even if it was just hi how are you doing today? I never took any of the others time away from them so they could enjoy The Old Man At The Baseball Game. No matter what, he was always available to me, on good days as well as bad days, and there were very, very few bad days that I can recall in the last 28 almost 29 years. I’ve experienced such joy and admiration for this one person who gave his all to The Holy Creator. In a way you can say it’s my job to be around him, but my station is at Gate G, and The Old Man At The Baseball Game is all the way on the other side in the bleachers, but I didn’t care because I could always use the excuse, I’m making my rounds checking out the safety of the stadium, most times my co workers knew what was going on because they’ve done it as much as I have. He was our High Priest, master, friend, confidant, and plain ole good time. I tell you for real too, it is the manifestation of The Holy Spirit surrounding him at all times; even though it was actually the people at the game surrounding him, and we were the children chasing him in a game of hiding n seek that he always won. You’ll soon understand what I’m talking about.

Well, it’s twilight time of the baseball game with it being in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the last game of the season. So now you can barely hear the people hollering and screaming in the excitement of the baseball game. The quietness is the usual sound as people are aware of what time it is, it’s almost time to go, many pray for extra innings, sometimes they’d get their wish when The Old Man At The Baseball Game senses there needs to be a cooling off period for those who may have drunk too much, maybe, or a little more tired than they realize, but many times for some reason all of a sudden it’s a rally and poof just like that it’s extra innings. You can feel the tension rising, even the pitcher tries to stall the game, by giving an intentional walk to the batter, walking the players for the fans satisfaction. Then the pitcher would lob the ball back and forth between first and second bases to stall even more. Nobody mind what he was doing. There would be no booing only yells of thanks, and happiness being returned for the pitchers kind generosity to the fans.

So now the game is over, and the end of the season has come once again. We didn’t secure the Conference Championship, but no one was more grateful to have been a part of the season and being with the Old Man At The Baseball Game than I was. Oh, I know there are thousands of fans feeling the same as I do, and it’s OK because the Old Man At The Baseball Game is a gift to us all. Now comes the usual practice of me, and three other Stadium Guards trying to catch him leaving.

For years, we’ve tried hiding in various spots unknown to spectators. We’ve had binoculars and telescopes keyed in on his every movement. At this time of the season, we make plans to catch him this time like the last time. I believe The Old Man At The Baseball Game knew what we were doing year after year, but it’s to his amusement because he allows us to play our little cat and mouse game, and we did year after year. Each time something happens, then he’s not there anymore, I mean The Old Man At The Baseball Game is there or here or somewhere, but people inner act with him, he’s not a myth or is he, don’t seem like he’s something out of the ordinary, but he is, is he from beyond the wisdom of our minds and straight out of heaven?

I see him very clear, I radioed to one of my partners, and he had the Old Man At The Baseball Game in his sights. There he’s making his move, The Old Man At The Baseball Game has gotten out of his seat, “man is the tall, isn’t angles said to be as tall as tall can be?”

He is going upwards towards the upper row of the bleachers, The Old Man At The Baseball Game is walking slowly upwards, I see him climbing the steps slowly one at a time, suddenly I heard a click on the radio reached over to pick it up, “did you see where he went?” The voice came over the radio said.

I tried to look back towards the same spot, but it was too late he had vanished. We couldn’t comprehend what just happened, we looked away for a split second and he was gone again. I call the other men stationed in the secret spots, they said they didn’t see him come by their way, what is this, how does he do this every year, seems as though we should be getting better at catching him, but were not, but oh well, it’s fun trying to catch him. It’s like he’s playing with us until the very end. Now it’s time for the stadium to close, time for us to punch out and go home, but you can best believe that when next season comes, we’ll be ready again for The Old Man At The Baseball Game’s presence, good tidings, and most of all when he is preparing to leave, we’ll get him next season, but I said that last season too.