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jgoddesstarot · 8 months

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Pick-A-Pile: Thoughts & Feelings of Your Future Spouse | What You're Attracting In The Next 3 Months

👑Check out my masterlist to see all of my pick-a-card readings😊

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🔮Disclaimer: This reading is for entertainment purposes only. Tarot readings are based upon my intuitive interpretation of the cards and about possibilities based on your current energy. Energy is forever changing and nothing is set in stone. Always remember, you have your own free will to make whatever decision you feel is best.

🔮How I read: I use a mix of tarot cards, oracle cards, along with my intuitive abilities of claircognizance, clairaudience, and clairsentience.

🔮How this works: Close your eyes and take deep breaths, pick the pile you are most drawn to. If you aren’t drawn to any pile then that’s okay, these messages aren’t for you.

Pile 1

Tarot Cards: 7 of Pentacles, 6 of Cups, The Magician, The Chariot, 3 of Wands -- Bottom of the Deck Energy: Queen of Pentacles

Oracle Cards: Protection, Twin Flame, Limitless

Alright, my Pile 1's! Let's dive into the world of emotions, connections, and potential futures, as we explore the thoughts and feelings of your future spouse over the next three months.

Starting strong with the 7 of Pentacles. This card is all about patience, perseverance, and hard work bearing fruit. It seems like your future spouse has been putting in some genuine effort into their personal and emotional growth. They might be in a phase of reflection, thinking about their past choices and relationships, and figuring out what they truly want for the future. They value depth and want a connection that’s truly meaningful.

Speaking of the past, the 6 of Cups pops up, suggesting a touch of nostalgia. Your future spouse could be reminiscing about past relationships, childhood memories, or experiences that shaped them. There's a pure, innocent energy here, hinting at the kind of love they wish to share: genuine, heartfelt, and perhaps reminiscent of first loves or childhood sweethearts.

Now, we see The Magician. This card is brimming with manifestation energy. Your future spouse is channeling their desires, hopes, and dreams into reality. They're equipped with all they need to attract the love they desire – and guess who's on their radar? That's right, you! This card suggests that the universe is working its magic to bring the two of you closer.

Enter, The Chariot. Your future spouse is determined, confident, and on the move! Whether it's progressing in their career, personal growth, or actively seeking out their soulmate, they are on a mission. They have a clear vision of where they want to go, and they’re driving full force towards it.

With the 3 of Wands, it feels like they're on the lookout, waiting for their ship to come in. They anticipate the arrival of a new chapter in love, and they're preparing to welcome it with open arms. It aligns beautifully with the energy of The Magician; they've manifested their desires and are now eagerly waiting for them to materialize.

Let's peek at that underlying energy with the Queen of Pentacles. Your future spouse values stability, nurturing, and building a strong foundation. They might be the kind who finds joy in simple pleasures and cherishes a warm, cozy home environment. This Queen energy suggests that they'll be a caring and devoted partner, always ensuring the well-being of their loved ones.

Onto the Oracle cards: Protection, Twin Flame, and Limitless. The theme of protection ties in well with the Queen of Pentacles – your future spouse wants to create a safe and loving environment. The Twin Flame card? Ah, the intensity of that deep, soul-level connection. This isn't just any romance; it's the kind that feels fated. And finally, the Limitless card suggests there are no bounds to what you both can achieve together. Whether it's personal growth, shared dreams, or adventures, the potential is vast.

In summary, my Pile 1's, the next three months seem to be setting the stage for a deep, soulful connection. Your future spouse has done the work, set their intentions, and is now awaiting the universe to deliver. And, the universe seems to be pointing them right toward you. Ready yourself for a journey that’s both magical and grounded in genuine affection. It’s time for a love story that feels both cosmic and cozy. 💖✨🌌

Pile 2

Tarot Cards: 2 of Pentacles, 9 of Pentacles, The Moon, 8 of Cups, 5 of Cups -- Bottom of the Deck Energy: 4 of Wands

Oracle Cards: New Pathway, Engagement, Shadow Work, Psychic Abilities

My Pile 2's, let's journey together into the thoughts and feelings of your future spouse and uncover what you're attracting in the next three months. Buckle up, because it looks like we’re navigating both emotional depth and a new beginning!

Starting with the 2 of Pentacles, your future spouse seems to be juggling multiple aspects of life. They might be busy with work, personal growth, or even other relationships, but they're managing it all with grace and adaptability. It's as if they're dancing with life's ups and downs, learning to find balance.

Next, the 9 of Pentacles enters the scene. This card screams independence, comfort, and self-sufficiency. Your future spouse is likely enjoying the fruits of their labor, feeling content with where they are in life. They’re strong on their own but might be starting to sense that they're ready to share this abundance with someone special.

But ah, The Moon - a card shrouded in mystery, illusions, and the subconscious. Your future spouse might be grappling with some hidden fears, doubts, or even past emotional baggage. It's like they're at the edge of a new chapter but have to navigate through this fog to truly embrace it.

The 8 of Cups deepens this journey, showing a willingness to leave behind what no longer serves them. They're ready to move on from past relationships or patterns, actively seeking deeper emotional fulfillment. This, paired with The Moon, suggests a profound inner journey, possibly even a spiritual awakening.

Now, the 5 of Cups adds an emotional layer. There's a sense of loss or mourning for the past. Your future spouse might be feeling the weight of letting go but is also beginning to see the opportunities ahead. This card hints at the necessary healing before embracing new love.

Let’s peek at the underlying energy with the 4 of Wands. It's celebration time! This card promises joy, stability, and perhaps even a significant commitment or milestone in a relationship. It’s as if all the emotional work leads to this beautiful place of connection and harmony.

Diving into the Oracle cards: New Pathway, Engagement, Shadow Work, and Psychic Abilities. These resonate perfectly with the tarot reading. The New Pathway aligns with the 8 of Cups, signifying a new direction in love. Engagement echoes the celebratory 4 of Wands, hinting at a profound connection or commitment. Shadow Work resonates with The Moon and the 5 of Cups, emphasizing the need for inner work and healing. And finally, Psychic Abilities could suggest that you both might feel an intuitive or spiritual connection, enhancing the depth of your bond.

So, my Pile 2's, your future spouse seems to be on a transformative journey, balancing life, enjoying independence, but also doing some profound emotional work. They're readying themselves for something extraordinary, and it feels like you are the one they've been preparing for. Get ready for a connection that’s both spiritual and grounded. In the next three months, the path is clearing, the heart is healing, and love is on the horizon. 💫💍🌕

Pile 3

Tarot Cards: 3 of Swords, 10 of Swords, 2 of Pentacles, 8 of Swords, King of Cups, King of Wands -- Bottom of the Deck Energy: Ace of Pentacles

Oracle Cards: Regret, Sacred Connection, Relationships

Alright, my Pile 3's, let's plunge into the intricate tapestry of emotions and connections, uncovering the thoughts and feelings of your future spouse and seeing what the universe has in store for you in the upcoming months.

Starting on a more intense note with the 3 of Swords. This card often signifies heartbreak or emotional pain. Your future spouse might be working through some past wounds or disappointments. These are the shadows of old stories that have left a mark, but they're also a part of the journey towards healing.

The 10 of Swords intensifies this narrative, symbolizing rock bottom or a situation that feels like a betrayal. It appears they've been through some turbulent times, faced challenges, but the silver lining here is that things can only go up from this point. The dawn is always darkest just before the sun rises, right?

Now, juxtaposing these deep emotions, the 2 of Pentacles swings in, reminding us of the balancing act of life. Your future spouse might be learning how to juggle their emotional challenges with everyday responsibilities. They're seeking equilibrium and are starting to learn the dance of life's ebb and flow.

But wait, the 8 of Swords pops up. It suggests feelings of entrapment or being stuck, perhaps in their mindset or emotions. Your future spouse might be grappling with self-imposed limitations. But, the beautiful thing about the 8 of Swords is that the bondage is often an illusion. A shift in perspective, and they can free themselves.

The King of Cups and the King of Wands are powerful energies that provide a glimpse into their character. The King of Cups showcases emotional maturity, compassion, and a depth of understanding. The King of Wands, on the other hand, is passionate, charismatic, and has a fiery drive. Your future spouse is a blend of deep emotions and fiery passion - someone who feels deeply but is also driven and confident in their pursuits.

Diving into that bottom of the deck energy, the Ace of Pentacles. This card promises a new beginning, especially in the tangible world. Be it a fresh start in a relationship, a new job, or even a physical move, something new and promising is on the horizon.

Time for our Oracle insights: Regret, Sacred Connection, and Relationships. The 'Regret' aligns with the initial swords energy, indicating past sorrows. But don't let it dim the hope because 'Sacred Connection' and 'Relationships' suggest something profound and meaningful is budding. Your future spouse recognizes the depth and sanctity of connections and is eager to find one that truly resonates.

In conclusion, my lovely Pile 3's, your future spouse has walked through the fire, faced challenges, but they’re emerging with wisdom and a burning desire for a connection that's both deep and passionate. Over the next three months, as they navigate their emotions and break free from self-imposed shackles, they're being led towards a promising new beginning. And you, dear Pile 3's, seem to be an integral part of that fresh chapter. So, open your heart and prepare for a connection that promises depth, passion, and growth. 💖🔥🌱

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solardick · 5 months

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A litle fun in my boredom, of being sick and demojoe-afied. Doesnt feel natural. To impeed natural flow.

The german text is the same pretty much. Except Z. The most useless letter in the alphabet. Is rivaled by the german ß. And the world and final judgement are switched. Which confirms the mnemonic map being printed to the letter. As with letters üöä. Or ae as its spelt on the english tongue. What common parlance words fit Z? Zoo. Thats pretty much it. Confined and overprotected. I mean there had to be the added & to remind you not to forget it.

Come see our stock, you want to touch, wanna glaze, it cost money. But its supporting a good cause, animals get survival support for endangered species, and people get survival support for their children. You need to be a functional member of society. There‘s no break in life. Its always effort. Got to keep that wheel turning. Put it back on the chariot and lets keep moving.

For example, the man gets his dragon back and, the devil is no longer wholly feminine. God gets pushed out onto the chaos, keeping the evil at bay. Forever hated for being “old”. There is nothign sexier than a dragon.

Stay clear from the stars. Theres the here now or the slow erosion of the centaurian steed. By the serpent raggler. The future is hopeless !!!!!!!

The faster something moves the less visible it becomes.

Or maybe it should be spelled; ZoO.

Card 0-15, so we can incorporate multiple layers, could be said to = or ≈ to aquarian, to the best appro-x-imate. What’s the term for that? Could be said to equal 6. Though this seems to be going counter to a finding rule of thumb, is to add the red numbers. And subtract the yellow. It seems to work alot of the time. But in this instance, it being a fool card. Allows for modifications to alter the source. All vowels are subject to additions and subtractions. Depending on which perspective. Half full or not. But in this case it equals out to 6. The lover(s) or happy happy fun time. Or to the emperor. Which is 4 and six. The object in this case being man the lover. But by subtraction is closer by rule to the empress. In which if they feed into each other. Nullifies and equals 0. What remains is a multiple. From 2. As the devil here is the figure involved in nullifying O.

666 crosses the lovers to the emperor. The number of the beast. Wealth, good fortune. Is affectively stamped by god. The centre point binding love to rulership.

You should see the efforts these evil fucktards out in for me today. Sounds of horror. And half a carcass of a rabbit. Along with the migraine and the insomnia. And the vomiting. From whatever they injected me with at the dentist with allt hose needles. Oathetic in that they rake pleasure from it. Born in hell serrounded by fucktards will die in hell serrounded by evil fucktards. Thats all its ever been. Nothing to learn. I read somewhere. Its. Result of inbreeding it aint their fault. Nazi cocsukers. My suicide is gettign closer. I cant fucken wait. Deep breatjing exersizes so this migraine doesnt oxygen strangle my brain cells and make me dimber than i am.

Truth is people see what they want to see. Not what is actually there. Because it allows them to play out their bs. I have to spend an entire life auffering so other can play out their sick twisted sadistic fatasies of asserting power. Cause it makes them feel good

But the real catch is in creating a sense impression. Which being tied to personal rhythm. Is in the projection of that sense to the negative. Segregation from that existence which is kept by side. They are the only active source. The self is lost.

I judge humanity guilty. Restart. Join the plagues. Except for this new age one.

Mmn, cough so bad got to puke.

While my conscious is altered, to a more minor degree. Affecting decision making. Yeah, 🖕🏼

I liked her. The first time i have had any positive and consistent back and forth dialogue with the opposite sex before. Now, she’s gone. Bye luv. You suck. And i dont want to be your frimed to keep me there instead of being real. I hate life. Whats that like number 360? Oh well at least the older ladies like me. And thats probably the same amount of times cherry’s gone down in a single night.

#tarot #tarotblr #qwerty #vegan

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brushstrokesapocalyptic · 3 years

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it’s time for the “overanalyzing one-off lines” show!

so the very first thing magnus says when he sees pit in chapter 2 of kid icarus: uprising is as follows:

“Well, I didn’t expect to see an angel here. Hope this doesn’t mean I’ve kicked the bucket.”

now, i’m not sure if you’re aware, but that’s a really weird thing for someone to say, and it’s even more weird that no one comments on it. pit and palutena go on talking about unrelated things, as if that’s a totally normal and expected thing for magnus to say.

now, if you’re like me, you probably also didn’t really react to this line the first few times you saw it. it’s the second chapter, kiu has a lot of slightly-odd lines which turn out to be foreshadowing. me, personally? my first thought was “oh, i guess angels are probably associated with escorting the dead to the afterlife,“ and then i moved on.

they’re not, though. that’s what reapers do. and there’s no way humans have these two races mixed up. just fucking look at them.

do they look anything alike to you??? no. they don’t. which raises the question of why, exactly, magnus said that.

now, we don’t know a lot about angels as a whole. pit (and by extension dark pit) is emphatically not the gold standard of angeldom. we can assume he looks fairly ordinary for an angel, seeing as no one has trouble identifying him as such. beyond that, though, a lot of what we know about angels comes from what pit isn’t. for starters, he can’t fly. and there’s something else, too, but i’ll get to that later.

before that, though, i’m gonna go through the various unsubstantiated comments made by people with a dubious level of authority on the subject. (incidentally, i sourced these screenshots from the wiki— much more convenient than trying to dig through youtube for every single random conversation.)

without any further ado! let’s get into it!

Angels as Messengers

Gaol: Aw, Palutena’s little messenger boy. And Magnus, it’s always a pleasure. (src)

in the specific context of overanalyzing magnus’s first line, this is an important sentence to pick out. magnus and gaol are both humans, both with presumably a fairly similar history as mercenaries up until gaol got stuffed in a suit of armor. but while magnus makes a weird comment about death, gaol calls pit a messenger.

and pit agrees with her!

Viridi: I wish I had an angel to do my bidding. It’s like having an intern.

Pit: I’m not an intern. I’m a messenger of the gods!

Viridi: Poor Pit. Don't you know that the definition of angel is "errand spirit"? (src)

this particular conversation is the most insight we get into angels as a whole, i think. viridi thinks of angels as like divine interns, there to do little tasks for gods, and palutena doesn’t exactly disagree with her. pit says they’re specifically messengers, which lines up with biblical mythology. i could see the traditional role of angels in the world of KI being exactly that, showing up to tell the humans what the gods have to say because the gods themselves are too busy being petty jerks to do it themselves.

The Angel’s Code of Conduct

Magnus: You go in fully dressed? Don't you at least want to change into a...swimming tunic or something?

Pit: Oh, no no no! The angel's code of conduct says that we must always be ready for duty.

Magnus: I guess you wouldn't be an angel if you didn't do things by the book. (src)

Pit: Hey! You know the angel's code of conduct! I need to be prepared at all times! (src)

another random little thing is the angel’s code of conduct. without a larger sample size, we can’t know if it’s a real thing or just an excuse to save on laundry, but apparently it’s against the rules to not be on call at all times. in pit’s case, the duty he has to be ready for is doing palutena’s dirty work, but it can easily mean just about anything— including, of course, being a messenger.

No Warrior

Chariot Master: But you are no warrior, angel. Tell me, why do you fight?

Pit: I fight for Lady Palutena. And I fight for the people under her protection!

Chariot Master: That's not reason enough for an angel. (src)

remember how i said there was something else weird about pit? the chariot master seems to think angels aren’t very prone to battle— or perhaps even that they’re actively opposed to it. this lines up well with the idea that they’re supposed to be messengers, peaceful go-betweens for gods and mortals. this does not line up well with pit, the adorable weapon of mass destruction.

and it also does absolutely nothing to explain the question driving the whole existence of this post.

you know what does kinda lean towards an explanation?

No Other Angels

Pit: Do all gods have their own angels, like you have me?

Palutena: No, I don't think that's necessarily the case. (src)

i said before that the Intern Pit conversation had the most illuminating information on angels. this is what i was actually referring to. on its own, it’s pretty innocuous, but it’s just as weird as the magnus line. shouldn’t pit know about other angels, seeing as he is one himself? but he doesn’t know if there are other angels.

the only angels we ever see are him and his clone. no one ever directly references the existence of other angels, they only make general statements about what angels as a whole are like— statements which clearly don’t apply to pit, meaning they’re not just extrapolating based on the one angel that definitely does exist.

the one time someone does comment on the hypothetical existence of other angels, palutena gives a vague answer to the tune of “no,” the topic is changed, and no one brings it up again.

let’s go over everything i’ve established about angels up to this point. they can fly, they’re peaceful messengers of the gods, and pit is the only one that seems to exist as of the start of KIU.

it should be pretty obvious at this point what answer i’m dancing around, if it wasn’t obvious from the start. pit is the only angel around because all the other ones are dead. the reason why magnus said what he did is that his thought process went something like this:

See an angel.

Think “Aren’t angels extinct? Is that a ghost? Am I a ghost? I sure hope not.“

Make a quip about that.

Move on with his life, because he isn’t dead and evidently neither is this guy.

i’m not gonna pretend i went into this post with the intent of any other conclusion to that mystery. anyone who’s bothered glancing over a plot summary for the original kid icarus can draw that conclusion. it’s certainly what i did, reinforced by fics by people who had the same thought!

the truth, however, is that this was all a trick to get you to read my analysis of the theoretical nature of angels as a race. now that you’re invested, i’m going to dramatically throw aside my cape and reveal my TRUE FORM: telling people that fandom consensus is wrong, and my ideas are cooler and better than everyone else’s and you should all throw roses at my feet and bow before your king.

(or just, y’know, take it as the subjective analysis that it is. whatever floats your boat.)

Hot Takes

the original kid icarus does not actually tell you about angels going extinct. here’s the wiki article with the full text of the backstory, just for convenience, so you know what i’m on about for the rest of this post.

so, the part of the story that i think gets misinterpreted is this part about palutena’s army.

Medusa led a surprise attack on Palutena's army which could barely fend off the attack. Palutena's army suffered major losses and was heavily defeated in the final battle.

specifically, i think a lot of people interpret said army as having been made up at least partly of angels. sure, in the actual game it consists entirely of centurions, but you have to take old NES games with a grain of salt. i know i don’t buy for a second that pit was part of palutena’s guard before the original game (he was just too goddamn young), there’s nothing wrong with reinterpreting things.

recall everything i established about angels already, though. this is the hot official lore, from the game everyone knows and loves. angels are messengers, and if the chariot master is to be believed, never warriors. pit is an outlier. palutena’s army consists of centurions, not angels. if medusa wiped them out, it wasn’t because they were fighting for palutena.

(and honestly, i don’t think angels are necessarily associated with palutena exclusively. sure, she’s got the wing imagery, and she’s got the one known surviving angel working for her, at least up until pittoo is born. but angels are messengers of the gods, not messengers of palutena. again, pit is an outlier.)

which all brings us to the real question of this post.

what the FUCK happened to all the other angels? why is there only pit? why does magnus act surprised to see a messenger of the gods, and make a quip about being dead, if not because angels are otherwise extinct?! WHO KILLED THEM, AND WHY?!

thus concludes the “over analyzing one-off lines“ show. see you next, uh, maybe at some point if i feel like it!

(also another thought i had but couldn’t find room to fit it in properly: the gods don’t really act like angels are all extinct, but i feel like that can be explained through the sheer scale of a god’s lifespan. if we assume they were wiped out sometime around the original kid icarus (even if not as palutena’s army) then that’s a whole twenty-five years. that’s a long time for us humans, but for a god, that might as well be last tuesday. “yeah, i know what angels are like. sure wish i could have one. too bad palutena’s got a monopoly on the one single angel that medusa didn’t manage to wreck.”)

#kid icarus #kid icarus uprising #the things i think of at five am #i am just yelling and spewing thoughts and theories and headcanons #if anyone has their own thoughts to add go right ahead i am dying to know whether or not i'm actually breaking new ground with all this #or if there's some vital lore i missed #or anything like that #i am OPEN for CONVERSATION

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mrsalwayswrite · 3 years

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A Ship’s Arrival (Ivar x reader)

Here is my (second) contribution to @ofmanderley 300 followers celebration challege! Thanks again for doing this challenge!

My prompt was a gif set you can find here. Check it out!

Fun Fact: Hnefatafl (‘King’s Table’ in English) is the board game most commonly associated with the Viking Age, I’m guessing this is what Ivar and Aslaug were playing in Season 4 when he was a child.

Warnings: fluff, Ivar being a prickly boy who is really a softie.

Words: 2600

Tag List: @youbloodymadgenius

(Note- this gif is not mine. It is apart of the gif set I chose, so all the credit goes to @ofmanderley)

Earnest blue eyes stared out over the water with all the intensity of one seeking answers from the gods themselves. Those who worked the docks bustled around him, making sure to stay out of his way and his reach. The youngest Ragnarsson ignored them, too focused on watching the water between the fjords and leading to Kattegat. His piercing gaze eagerly sought for the ship's promised arrival. He knew it made more sense for him to watch and wait on the overlooking hills; from there he could see farther and be out of the way. But he did not care. He wanted to be here when the ship docked. If he was above Kattegat, it would take too long to crawl down and be at the docks in time.

He looked up at the bright sky. Sol drove her chariot upwards; the sunrise having faded hours ago. Now the azure sky matched the glistening water below. Tonight was a full moon. The thought released a torrent of emotions through him, threatening to overwhelm his otherwise shrewd mind. The feeling he chose to focus on, that he hoped would drown out the fear and insecurity within him, was a giddy excitement.

Tonight, you were supposed to return.

*****

The festivities raged around him, filling the Great Hall to the brim with useless noise of laughter, conversation and drunken singing. Ivar sat at one of the long tables near the thrones, only one filled with his beautiful mother. Alone, he watched the revelry around him in his usual aloof manner, shooting glares of disdain frequently. Sipping on his horn of ale, he wondered how soon he could leave, or how much trouble he would get in if he stabbed one of the drunken men that kept knocking into his table and bumping his crippled legs.

He considered crawling over to sit on the empty throne next to his mother, but seeing her glassy gaze as she stared into her horn, he knew he would be just as alone beside her as he currently was.

Used to being ignored, surprise filled him when someone slid across the table from him. Expecting one of his brothers, a sharp barb laid on the tip of his tongue, only for it to dissipate when he realized who it was.

You relaxed on the bench across from him, elbows on the table and leaning slightly forward. What startled him the most was the way you were obviously studying him with your head slanted to the side, eyes intent upon his face. Without a word, he matched your scrutiny, unwilling to lose this silent battle to some maiden. He had seen you before around the Great Hall, although you two had never spoken, let alone made eye contact. This was the first time either of you acknowledged the other's presence.

Your father was an accomplished tradesman, recently expanding his route to include Kattegat. The first time he came to inquire about trading here, he spoke with the Queen. With her approval, he left with promises to return soon. This time he arrived with goods from foreign lands that caused many to marvel. What most caught Ivar's attention- this time your father brought you along.

After several minutes of the silent staring, each moment further making Ivar grit his teeth and his fingers itch for an axe to bash into your head. What upset him the most, you looked so serene staring at him; like his furious gaze, that sent many before you cowering in fear, had no hold over you. He refused to break the silence, to break the stalemate you two were obviously locked in. He could read the stubbornness in the curve of your lips, the slow blinking of your eyes that remained solely focused on him. Clearly you forgot he was Ivar the Boneless, being obstinate was a specialty of his.

Finally, you broke the silence. "I heard you are one of the best players of Hnefatafl."

"It is a game of skill, cunning, and strategy. Things I excel in, unlike most." He scoffed, trying to determine what you hoped to get out of your statement. There were none that could beat him in the game, only Floki ever came close. He wondered not for the first time if his father was around, if he would actually provide adequate competition for his youngest son.

"I bet I can beat you."

His jaw threatened to drop at your blasé statement, said so easily, so casually, like it was a fact. His blood boiled. How dare you think yourself better than him? Leaning forward, he snarled at you. "No."

A smirk caused your lips to turn upward, infuriating him even more.

His fury spilled forth with vitriol coating each word as he sneered at you. "You are just some tradesman's daughter. Just like any other useless, pathetic girl. I am the son of Ragnar Lothbrok. You have no chance of ever beating me."

You leaned forward, your posture reflecting his. Though your demeanor was serene, like a still lake; while his body trembled like a wildfire, threatening to burn everything within reach.

"Prove it."

His mind froze for a brief moment, unable to believe what you just said. "Are you…. challenging me?"

"It's only a challenge if there is any hope of you actually beating me."

His rage resurfaced, clearing his mind of the surprise. A dangerous excitement coursed through his blood. This would give him an opportunity to teach you your place, to remind you of those who will always be above you; and he planned to destroy you in both the game and in tormenting afterwards. Oh, this could be the most fun he had in a while. "Tomorrow."

Your smirk widened. "Tomorrow." You confirmed with a single nod. Without another word, you rose gracefully to your feet and walked out of the Great Hall.

*****

The dagger spun easily in his hand, twisting, turning, an extension of his hand. The sun had risen to its zenith, the light making the water sparkle and shine. Still, Ivar refused to move from his spot on the dock.

His mind drifted to the new axe he was working on at the blacksmith's. It was supposed to be done by now but his impatience had gotten the better of him one day. After that, he was forced to start over completely. He wondered if you would want to come watch him work. Would that interest you?

Suddenly, his attention was diverted to a ship heading towards the docks. He straightened up, eagerly watching its arrival. As it drew closer, his excitement dissipated like smoke, replaced by annoyance. The ship was one he recognized as a larger fishing ship. Not a tradesman's ship. Not your ship.

Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair. He should return to the Great Hall, either to spar with his brothers in the training yard or help his mother. Do anything but sit here pointlessly. Waiting around for some girl sounded like something he would cruelly tease his brothers for doing. Yet here he sat, unmoving. His gaze focused once more on the horizon, as if his will alone could summon you to appear faster.

*****

Over the next fortnight, countless games of Hnefatafl were played between Ivar and you. To his immense pleasure and frustration, you were good. Not just good enough to barely entertain him but good enough that Ivar had to actually work for each win. The only other person who came close was Floki. But here you were winning, just as many times as he won. He internally debated if he loved or hated that.

Soon your competition expanded to other activities, making even mundane activities into fierce battles. He was slightly better than you when it came to archery, which brought him immense pleasure. You were better at fishing, which all the brothers found humorous. Even at meals, you two would compete who could chug your ale the fastest. Something Queen Aslaug disliked immensely but kept silent about for her joy of her youngest son finding a friend overshadowed her displeasure at some of your antics.

During this time, the two of you were hardly apart. Though on numerous occasions, Ivar still considered splitting your head with his axe. He found that each day the violent feeling lessened and his excitement to see you increased. His brothers tried to tease him but his mother quickly silenced them with a sharp look. It did not matter what those fools thought, none of them ever held his interest, his attention, his respect like you did.

When the fortnight drew to an end and your father began preparations to leave, Ivar found himself trying to create excuses to delay the impending departure, no matter how ridiculous they sounded.

That last night found you and him sitting alone on the dock, looking up at the starry sky above. All the dock workers were either at the meal in the Great Hall or in their own homes.

"Father says we'll be back on the next full moon. Trade here has been good." You said, tracing a knot in the wood below you.

"Why do I care?" He scoffed with a roll of his eyes. "You are an annoying person to have around. I plan on feasting and celebrating once your ship leaves tomorrow."

"Good, you waste your time, so when I return, I will beat you in archery since I plan on practicing every day."

"You could practice until Ragnarök and still never beat me."

You shrugged, his mockery amusing you more than anything. You had learned over the past two weeks that taunts and ridicule flowed from his mouth easier than any kind word. "We shall see."

A comfortable silence settled around you two once again. The gentle crashing of waves and the call of seagulls filled the air, lulling you both into contentment. You shifted to lay down on the dock, raising a hand to trace the constellations in the sky above you. After a couple of minutes, Ivar laid down next to you, your shoulders touching, as he watched your hand.

"Next full moon?" He confirmed quietly, his raspy voice just above a whisper.

"Try not to miss me too much." You quipped.

He chuckled, turning his head to look at you beside him. "I won't."

"Good. I won't miss you either."

Smiling, you mirrored his action. Time froze as you two stared at one another, realizing how close you actually were. As if on its own accord, Ivar's gaze drifted down to your lips, so close to his own. Suddenly, your tongue darted out to wet them causing Ivar to jerk his eyes back up to meet yours. Insecurity and doubt prevented him from moving, from kissing your lips like he had dreamt about so many times. At first, he had rejected the dream, convincing himself it was pure foolishness, that he could never be interested in someone like you. Yet over the passing days, the dream never abated. When alone with his thoughts, sometimes he would retrieve the dream from his mind and turn it over like a treasured item to admire before putting it back on its shelf.

With widening eyes, he laid there stunned as your gaze dropped to his lips and that hand that had been tracing the stars now gently caressed his bottom lip. His mouth opened in a gasp, beyond astounded by your action, but more surprised by the feelings it invoked in him.

A shout from the end of the dock shattered the intimate moment. You rapidly sat up, your attention fully on the person who yelled your name. Moving slowly, Ivar pushed himself up and looked down to the end of the dock to see your father standing there. You waved in acknowledgement, a nervous giggle slipping from your mouth.

"I have to go."

Even as disappointment tainted his world, he refused to let it show, making sure to keep his tone harsh and mocking. "Finally, I was starting to doubt I could get rid of you."

You laughed, starting to rise to your feet but froze for a moment. In the next moment, you scooted closer, grabbed his face and kissed him. It was only a gentle press of your mouths, full of innocence and familiarity, yet it felt like a promise. Before he could respond, you pulled back and practically sprinted down the dock. He watched you disappear amongst the buildings of Kattegat at your father's side. Once gone from view, he turned back to look at the stars. Though his focus remained solely on the tingling sensation on his lips and the memory of your first shared kiss. In the moment, Ivar wondered if the gods were finally smiling down on him.

*****

Footfalls approached him from behind. The steady steps slapping against the wooden boards of the dock let Ivar know who it was without him even having to look. The ruffling of his hair confirmed the person's identity. Only one person was allowed to do that to him.

"Still waiting I see." Ubbe asked, looking out over the sparkling water. "Mother is getting worried. You've been here most of the day."

"Let her worry. As you can see, I am fine."

"Mmmm…. you sure it is just friendship between you and y/n? I have never seen you wait for anyone else so relentlessly to return from a trip."

"Say another word and I'll gut you." Ivar narrowed his eyes at his brother, a growl clawing at his throat to erupt at the teasing.

Ubbe just chuckled at the threat. He reached over to ruffle Ivar's hair once again but Ivar smacked his hand away with annoyance.

"I'll come back for you for the evening meal." Ubbe started to turn when something caught his eye. "Ivar…. a ship."

Ivar tried to straighten up further in a futile attempt to see farther. It was a few more minutes before he was able to see what caught his brother's eye. There slipping through the water was a ship, one he recognized. A smile lit up his face without him even realizing, diminishing his usual severe expression into a boyish glee. Though he made no comment, Ubbe certainly took notice.

The ship slowly approached, the men at the oars bringing the ship closer to Kattegat's docks. Ivar found himself tapping his hand on the boards beneath him as if that could somehow speed up the ship's arrival.

As the ship prepared to dock, your face popped up over the side, eyes scanning the dock furiously. When your gaze landed on him, a smile split your face that rivaled the warmth of the sun. Soon as the ship was tied off, you scrambled awkwardly over the side and ran straight at him. Ivar barely had time to brace himself before you dropped to your knees beside him and cupped his face, bringing your lips to his. This time, he was ready. He grabbed your head, keeping your mouth on his. What was meant as a sweet kiss quickly turned greedy with the way you both demanded attention using teeth and tongues.

When the two of you separated, lungs screaming for air, you stared at each other, your lips swollen and eyes alight.

"Did you miss me?" You asked breathlessly.

"Not at all." He quipped, though you both knew it was a lie. Especially when he pulled you back in for another searing kiss that left no doubts of his true feelings towards you.

#ofmanderley300 #vikings #vikings fandom #vikings fanfic #vikings fanfiction #ivars heathen army #ivar the boneless #ivar lothbrok #ivar x reader #ivar ragnarsson #ubbe #ubbe ragnarsson #mzwrites

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merryfortune · 3 years

Text

Saving the Best for Last

Relationship: Asuka/Manatsu

Fandom: Tropical Rouge Pretty Cure

Word Count: 2.1k

Tags: Canon Compliant, Missing Scene Fic, Fluff, Pre-Slash, Pining, Coda

Synopsis: Manatsu wants to thank Asuka for inspiring her to try something new with her eating habits.

Manatsu could almost feel her reflexes fighting against her as she moved her chopsticks towards the simmered pumpkins that she had prepared over her usual selection of eating her favourite meat patty first. It was so incredibly tempted to switch back to her normal habits but Manatsu was strong and it was totally worth it. Both for Asuka’s sake, of trying something new, but also for the sake of her mother found it amusing but welcome to see Manatsu change things up.

Her mother delighted to enjoy the simmered pumpkins between them both first. She beamed as she enjoyed them; they were a little wonky regarding flavour and texture but as Manatsu’s mother, Aoi couldn’t have been prouder that her daughter wanted to take up more responsibility around the house and was even taking so much initiative. It made her heart swell and so, she happily ate the simmered pumpkin. Seeing how much hard work Manatsu had put into making it all made it all the tastier.

Very quietly, to herself, Manatsu was aware of the flaws in what she had prepared for herself and her mother, but she ate eagerly regardless. It mightn’t have been her mother’s cooking, but it was her own and she was proud of that. Not to mention, when she had finally eaten through all her side dishes – the cherry tomatoes and the broccoli and even the omelette – the hamburger patty really did taste fantastic at the end of it.

Manatsu couldn’t believe it. Asuka’s advice was unreal. Maybe patience really was a virtue after all. She had been a little bit worried that her meat patty might have cooled down too much but she guess that wasn’t really a problem given how she had devoured her side dishes in preparation of her main course. And it really was worth it. It was a little bit burnt on the underside but Manatsu ate it enthusiastically, nonetheless. It was super tasty with all the other merged flavours of the previous side dishes on her palette.

She just had to thank Asuka later. Her smile permeated the whole of her demeanour as she swallowed down her meat patty.

“You look happy with yourself.” her mother chipperly piped up – and interrupting her reveries.

Manatsu’s eyes went wide and she could have choked on her own spit. She could feel the warm blush in her cheeks and now her ears and it was just getting worse as she realised, she was daydreaming about her friend before her mother had spoken. Aoi, however, only laughed.

“Nothing wrong with enjoying your own food, it’s a good skill to have, believe it or not. Especially when you’re just starting out and experimenting, you don’t want to waste food after all.” Her mother made blithe conversation.

Manatsu giggled awkwardly, pinching tightly onto her chopsticks and tried desperately hard not to think about the fact that she had been thinking about Asuka. She very much wanted to believe the hot blush she felt was because she had been interrupted daydreaming and nothing else. And its not like it was a weird daydream or anything.

She was just thinking about Asuka. Asuka and her pretty, shiny, long, red hair. And her pretty purple eyes which were always so sharp and intense. It was intruging. But enough of that. What Manatsu was really thinking about – and definitely not Asuka’s nimble hands or her tall, fit physique – was that she wanted to practice saying thank you to her very friend. It was kind of important, after all as Manatsu wasn’t exactly the most patient person in the world so Asuka being that anchor of serenity meant a lot to her. She hadn’t enjoyed a meal like this in so long and being so busy, especially with her own family, which was so much bigger than Manatsu’s, she just had to say thank you.

“Thanks for dinner, dear,” her mother said to her – Manatsu blinked, when had her mother cleared the table like that?! – having finished her plates, “I’ll wash up, if you like, it’s only fair.”

“N-No way!” Manatsu rebuked her, rocketing to her feet, making the dinner table tremble and rock in her wake. “You clean up all the time after all the tropica-shining dinners that you make so its only fair that I clean up after tonight!”

Her mother blinked. She hadn’t expected being roared at but given that Manatsu was offering to do chores, she didn’t mind too much. She laughed and let Manatsu go about to the kitchen to do the clean-up.

Manatsu grabbed all the crockery and cutlery off the table to all but immediately dump it in the sink. She all but ripped the faucet out as she tried to turn it on and was incredibly aggressive as she scrubbed them down with hot, soapy water. But at least the job got done quickly and more surprisingly, thoroughly. Her mother was very impressed to see the various plates sparkle once Manatsu was done with them.

“Good job.” she praised her.

Manatsu sighed. She drooped with exhaustion. “Thanks, Mum.”

“Off to bed now, I take it?” she asked.

Manatsu nodded.

She had wanted to do more but scrub the dishes clean, she wanted to scrub her mind of all her over-thinking. It was totally unlike her, but it was really frazzling her. It was bizarre just how thinking about and daydreaming about thanking Asuka for something so cosmically insignificant in the grand scheme of things was doing this to her. So, just as exuberantly as she had marched to the kitchen, Manatsu marched to her room to go to bed.

Even Laura found it strange.

Manatsu tore off her evening clothes and got into her pyjamas, trying to force her head through her sleeve before realising that she had it around the wrong way – and also inside out.

Laura sighed. Humans were a different species to mermaids, and she found them rather incomprehensible and then there was Manatsu. Manatsu, Laura was fairly certain, was another species against compared to the other humans that she had since had the mixed pleasure of observing since emerging from the depths of the ocean in search of the Pretty Cure.

So, rather than flopping out of the Mermaid Aqua Pot to have some quality time with Manatsu who had finally, blessedly, figured out that her head was not supposed to be going into the sleeve of her sleep shirt, Laura settled back down into her own, clam shell-like bed with Kururun who yammered aloud with happy snoring. Laura felt the same. It had been a long day filled with good food and there was nothing better than going to sleep after a day like that.

Even Manatsu, for all her vigour and boundless enthusiasm, had to agree.

Though, she did wrestle with her sheets and her pillow a lot that night as she tried her very best not to think about how she was over thinking something as simple as wanting to say thank you to Asuka.

To no surprise at all, Manatsu woke up the following morning looking like a visible wreck. She had bags under eyes and the usual pep to her step wasn’t quite there. Fortunately, unlike most people who had had a horrid sleep the night before, Manatsu had the advantage of being Manatsu and by the time she had her breakfast, drunk some water, and brushed her teeth, she had more than perked up.

With little resistance, Manatsu was ready for school so she grabbed the Mermaid Aqua Pot from atop her desk and bolted out the door thereafter. She heard Laura shrieking in protest of being manhandled so carelessly Manatsu hardly cared. It was far too important that she arrived at school early so that she could catch Asuka before classes.

With the Mermaid Aqua Pot stuffed in her schoolbag, Manatsu came flying past the school gates and in the blur of the wind and the scenery, she caught a glimpse of red. Shiny, sparkling red. And her heart leapt to her throat. Asuka.

Manatsu smiled a wriggling smile as she cooled off her hot heels. She swerved hard at the tip of how straightforward careening through the quadrangle so she could catch up to Asuka who was still standing by the gates, looking bewildered and gobdmacked at the tornado that had just past her by.

Manatsu smiled wonkily as she ignored Laura’s complaints about her royal chariot was treating her this morning as she approached Asuka. Stiff-legged and eyes wide.

“Okay…. Someone’s acting a little strange this morning,” Asuka said in lieu of a greeting.

Manatsu laughed, straightening up her back and toying with her hair, all shoddily putt up in her usual ponytail but there was bubbles and streaks amid it. “Good morning, Asuka.” Her tone was dragged on.

“Good morning to you to, Manatsu,” Asuka replied, and she folded her arms, her brow quirked, “I have a feeling you want something from me? Something that can’t wait until club activities, it seems.”

“Yep!” Manatsu chirped. “I, er, wanted to say thank you. For yesterday.”

“Oh, yeah, no worries.” Asuka said and she flashed a simmering smile. “I had fun too, teaching everyone to cook.”

“Oh! Um, not that specifically but thank you again for doing it.” Manatsu said. “I tried it last night. Saving the best ‘til last, that is. And it was super-duper delicious. More delicious than usual. Thank you.”

Asuka’s eyelashes fluttered as she was thanked for such an unusual but small thing. She smiled shyly.

“Thanks, Manatsu, and, um, funnily enough…” Her voice trailed off, so she had to clear her throat. “I tried your style of eating last night too.” She confessed quietly.

“No… way…” Manatsu gasped.

“Yes, way.” Asuka laughed awkwardly. “And it turns out, I do prefer my style of eating my favourite things last but its really cute how you put your passions first rather than making them last. I feel like I understand you a bit better now.”

Manatsu blinked. “Really?”

“Really.” Asuka smiled.

“Thanks…” Manatsu smiled too. A big and huge smile that made her eyes truly shine – and that almost detracted from the fact that her cheeks had gone a bit red too.

“Anyways, I was going to help out with the soccer club this morning, they wanted an extra hand to re-pump up some balls and, well, I couldn’t say no for some reason so if you would excuse me but you did catch me at a good time.” Asuka said.

“Yeah, sure go ahead.” Manatsu replied.

Asuka’s arms slipped down from in front of her, she put one hand on her hip and said, “See you later at club activities. I’m looking forward to them more and more.”

“Me too.” Manatsu agreed eagerly. “See you later.”

Asuka smiled and she nodded her head. She sashayed off and Manatsu watched. She felt her heart throb in her chest and was becoming all too aware of just how red her face was getting. Almost as red as Asuka’s hair, she would reckon.

Sighing, Laura poked her head of both Manatsu’s pocket and the dimensional window of the Mermaid Aqua Pot, “You are behaving rather irregularly this morning, Manatsu, just what has…?” Laura’s voice trailed off as she took note of Manatsu’s demeanour. She nodded her head sagely. “Oh, I see now. Someone’s been pinched by the crab.”

“Huh? What crab?” Manatsu asked, all but jumping out of her skin. She didn’t feel pinched by a crab.

Laura just laughed knowingly. “You know… the crab. The one that makes people behave irregularly, even people like you, Manatsu.”

“I don’t get it.” Manatsu whined.

“In due time,” Laura said, “now don’t you have a classroom to get to? Perhaps some homework to do, I don’t recall you doing any last night and didn’t you mention, the day before, there would be a pop quiz today?”

From one extreme – tomato red – to another – white as a piece of paper – Manatsu’s face changed. She had totally forgotten about that pop quiz; she was originally planning to study last night but then things changed because of the Yarane-da and, of course, because she couldn’t stop thinking about Asuka. Manatsu groaned and felt all her energy deflate.

“Let’s go to the library and study there, yeah?” Manatsu suggested.

“It’s your test, not mine.” Laura pointed out before disappearing back into the depths of her mobile home.

Manatsu then wandered off, just hoping she wouldn’t fail if she threw everything that she could at that test but it sure was weird these past couple days. She was happy too though. She had tried Asuka’s way of eating and apparently Asuka had tried her way, even if it did fail her a bit. It still got her heart racing, perking her up even on the brink of scholastic disaster.

She still didn’t get what Laura meant by being pinched as Manatsu most definitely did not feel pinched. Even in a pinch like this one.

#femslash #tropical rouge pretty cure #precure #tropical rouge #cure summer #cure flamingo #asuka x manatsu #manatsu x asuka #manatsu natsumi #natsumi manatsu #asuka takizawa #takizawa asuka #writing tag #saving the best for last

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barnesandco · 4 years

Text

Nikah: March

Story Masterlist

Nikah: noun, Arabic, meaning the contract of marriage.

Bucky marries Peter’s former tutor because her student visa’s about to expire and the government isn’t granting her a green card. Can she find a way to permanent residence by marriage, and if so, will it be at the cost of their hearts?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: None.

A/N: Written under the Arranged/Accidental Marriage trope for @mermaidxatxheart ‘s writing challenge. Thank you all for reading and commenting! (Picture below is mine, btw)

Bucky’s birthday arrives amidst blooming flowers and a pollen-scented breeze, the day marked by preparations for a party Sam is throwing for him at one of the hotels downtown. Avengers and close friends only, yet he’s spared no expense, insisting on a proper welcome back. The captain is unrelenting in matters of social activity, especially since he has been spending minimal time with his teammates since his marriage. Marriage. He shakes his head at himself in the floor length mirror as he straightens his cuff-links and moonlight catches on the gold band on his finger. It no longer feels like a burden.

Rather, it’s a seed that’s been planted on him, and it’s taken root inside him, growing, growing, growing into a steady feeling of friendship with the person he wears it for. An understanding, a companionship. He refuses to confess to anything more, even within the confines of his own mind. His heart, on the other hand, has no compunctions about making its opinion known, setting off like a hare being hunted whenever she approaches. Most dangerous assassin in the world, defeated by her smile.

She offers him one now when she enters, picture perfect elegance very nearly succeeding in concealing her nerves. Bucky’s nerves, meanwhile, are on fire at the sight of her, sensory overload short-circuiting his brain. He finally turns to look at her directly and the fox-hunt pace of his heart stumbles, stutters to a stop.

“You- you’re- jeepers,” Is all he can manage, the rosewater blush deepening on his cheeks. It has the opposite of the desired effect, and she steps back, mascaraed eyes widening, horrified.

“It’s too much, isn’t it. Oh God, I knew I should’ve-” She begins to reach for a tissue box on the dresser and Bucky stops her. Lowers her hand slowly and keeps a hold of it, as if she will float away otherwise.

“Jesus, doll, stop. You’re perfect,” He tells her, and she slips her hand away but smiles a little as she sits on the foot of the bed - their bed - to put on her shoes.

“Thank you. You look nice, too,” She says, lifting the hem of her black gown as she pulls on pearl white heels. The matching clutch - pearl encrusted - is on the bedside table, and he hands it to her as they leave the room and then the apartment.

“Hang on, your tie is loose,” She says the moment they enter the elevator. He can’t even press the button for the ground floor while she holds him in place. The split-second it takes for her to wrap her hands around the green silk and pull it tighter stretches into hours, the graze of her knuckles gentle in his cotton-covered chest. He has enough time to carve the shape of her cupid’s bow into his mind, the descent of her jaw to her chin into his lungs. After half an eternity, she puts distance between them again and presses the button while he tries to smooth his hair back only to feel the short strands tickle between his fingers, and he remembers cutting it last week.

The lobby is bustling, people coming and going like bees in a hive, and they nod their hellos and offer the doorman a Good evening before getting in the car Sam sent. The seats are cold and comfortable, and the chauffeur tips his hat once in the rear-view mirror before putting the Rolls Royce into gear.

“ ‘Possess ye, therefore, ye who borne about In chariots and sedans, know no fatigue’ ” She murmurs, letting her fingers trace the stitching in the butter-soft leather.

“Marlowe?” Bucky asks, turning away from the New York evening, that special, streetlights-reflecting-on-wet-asphalt evening, to look at his wife.

“William Cowper. The Task.”

“I think I’ve read that one,” He lies, fully prepared to come clean, and she looks at him curiously.

“Wow, really? Even I haven’t read all six books,” She says, dubiously verging on impressed, and Bucky drops the facade.

“I’m pullin’ your leg. I’ve read some of Cowper’s work. Don’t remember much, but bits and pieces of school are still there,” He explains, all cheeky smile. “What’s it about? And why in God’s good name is it six books long?” This - the conversation, letting her talk about her work, her passion for literature - this he can do. Playful questions intermingling with genuine intellectual interest is manageable. Her beauty, her grace, the cloud of perfume that bleeds into his veins and makes his lungs strive for air, is not. So he concentrates on what he knows. Or doesn’t know, apparently.

“Honestly, what isn’t The Task about?” She laughs, eyeshadow glimmering like stardust in the smile wrinkles in the corners of her intelligent eyes. “Cowper had a bit of a breakdown during his barrister training in London, and retired to the countryside. In 1781, he met his friend Lady Austen, who later gave him a task to write about, to cheer him up. He started, and then just followed that train of thought wherever it took him.”

“Which book is that line from?” Bucky asks as the car stops in the inevitable Friday night traffic jam. At least they accounted for it, leaving early on purpose to avoid tardiness.

“I don’t actually remember. I think it’s from an extract in which Cowper criticizes the superficial pleasures and unnecessary luxuries of city life,” She answers, opening her clutch. Her phone and a tube of lipstick peek out but she reaches deeper for a pair of earrings.

Closing her eyes, she fastens the first one on the side Bucky can’t see, the other crescent-moon shaped accessory in her silk draped lap. The flower made from pearls matches her bracelet, the two pieces of jewellery clinking together as she puts on the other one.

“City life, huh?” Bucky muses, trying desperately to calm his heart. The earrings dangle, contrasting wonderfully against her simple black gown, and he swallows. She looks like royalty.

“Yeah, many poets of the time wrote a lot about the beauty of nature. They had a lot more of it at their disposal, I guess,” She shrugs.

“Do you have any favorites?” “Nature poems? I don’t know. There are so many good ones. Wordsworth’s To the Cuckoo, Herrick’s Daffodils, Yeats’ Wild Swans at Coole, Tennyso-” She cuts herself off with a huff of a laugh at herself.

“What is it?”

“Nothing, no- I just-” She laughs again, trying to wave her hand like she’s shooing a fly. “I just have conflicting feelings about these poems by classical authors who write about nature. Poems that express a keen appreciation of beauty yet are fillled with sadness because so many beautiful things are short-lived and because human life itself is so short,” She says, twirling the ring around her finger, deep in thought. Bucky doesn’t know how he found her. This simple, wise soul, in the midst of all the chaos of the world. The chaos of resettlement.

The chaos of the kitchen, an hour before dinner as the Avengers prepare dinner together, is unholy. Sam’s panicking about dessert while Wanda stirs the marinara sauce for spaghetti in her signature demure fashion, while Peter’s pile of handmade spaghetti grows taller and the pasta dough shrinks. His phone lights up on the table, and Bucky - kneading more dough nearby - is the only one who notices. He calls for Peter and pushes it over to him, not knowing what the point of having a phone is if it’s always going to be on silent, but Peter holds it out to him after just a moment of conversation.

Bucky reads the caller ID on the top and sees who it is, closing the kitchen door behind him, flour on his black t-shirt, as she speaks.

“Hi, Bucky. I hope I’m not disturbing.”

“No, not at all. Have you decided?” He asks, pacing the hallway, staying out of sight of the others. Not that it matters, they’re still fairly busy. She had seemed unsure when they met, and he had given her time to decide it she wanted to do this.

“Yeah, but I just- this is a huge favor,” She says.

“Not to me, doll. I’m just helping a friend of a friend,” He says, and it isn’t entirely true. That isn’t why he’s doing this. Something in him wanted to help, wanted to repay the debt of kindness that he owes the world. This is how he wants to do it, although he doesn’t think it’s fair that he gets to choose his penance.

“I thought you said Peter talks your ears off.” Bucky cringes, grateful she can’t see his face, even though he can hear the joking lilt of her tone.

“He’s a good kid. And I want to do this. Do you?”

“Yeah.” A lengthy pause, heavy and tangible, even across the phone line.

“When do you want to get married?” She asks finallly, voice shaking. His hand is, too.

“We have a week-long mission right after Christmas. Boxing day arms deal in Sao Paulo,” He replies, cursing the Brazilian gangs who could find no other time do get up to no good. Evil doesn’t go on vacation, and neither do the Avengers.

“So… New Year’s Eve?” She asks, doing the math. He realizes that’s true. A week from Boxing Day.

“Yes. Shit, you don’t have a ring-” He begins to say, freaking out about the logistics. He didn’t even propose properly.

“It’s okay, we’ll figure it out.” “Alright, I’ll see you then.”

“Bye Bucky.”

“G’night.” He bids her farewell, then looks at the phone, asking himself what the hell he’s just gotten himself into. A knot builds and twists in his body, and he tries to loosen it. Breathes, and makes his way back.

“I’m engaged,” And the kitchen freezes in time as they all drop everything - not literally, Sam’s holding a knife - to look at him. The smile on Peter’s face is brighter than the Christmas tree in the adjacent common room, and the somersaults in Bucky’s stomach only settle at the sight of his relief.

It seems that his teammates gave him a later time on purpose, because they’re all ready, dressed to the nines and wine-tipsy, waiting for him when they enter. It’s a small ballroom, downtown Manhattan, quaint and graceful. A chorus of Happy Birthday erupts in the room, and he smiles and thanks them. The hugs pile on, and he begins to introduce his wife to his friends. Home away from home for the man who has never had one since the 1940s - until he met her, that is. She’s home now, though he wouldn’t tell her that.

Instead, he relishes in the grin she offers him between introductions, till Sam drags him off to stand him on a chair and sing a birthday song. The party commences in much a similar fashion, too much noise in the room for a couple of dozen people. He stays away from Thor’s alcohol, knowing she doesn’t drink, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

He’s just thinking about how she might be dealing with the hectic atmosphere when her hand slips into his while he’s talking to Harley Keener about letting him look at his arm. He’s shocked, looks at her to see her smiling and concentrating only on the conversation, but he can tell she’s tired. It’s been hours, and he knows he can’t leave early - it’s his party - but he just wants to slip those heels off her feet and sit and talk, still in partywear, for hours on end. Let her quote Byron and Cowper and Austen to him, poems and essays and books, until he falls asleep on their sofa. Instead, her voice says something he isn’t expecting at all.

“Is it possible to put some sort of temp regulation in it?” She asks curiously, head tilted to the side like a sparrow. Harley thinks it over for only a second.

“Of course, why?”

“It hurts in the cold. He rubs and rolls his shoulder a lot in the winter,” She answers, and the thoughtful observation astounds him. It’s accurate, but it hadn’t even occurred to him, the movements that she’s citing entirely subconscious. They talk to Harley for a while longer, and then dance to several of Bucky’s favorite songs. Billie Holliday is crooning in the background as the second-to-last guest exits, leaving only his wife and his captain and his deputy director. When the door shuts behind them, they break apart, and Sam and Maria approach, ready to call it a night.

The car ride home passes in complete silence, a comfortable weight resting like a blanket between them, so much so that she falls fully asleep on the way, her head resting against the cold window when they arrive. He doesn’t have the heart to wake her, so he goes around to her door, opening it slowly and lifting her into his arms, not caring what it might look like to onlookers. It’s late, and there are few of them, at least in the lobby, and as the elevator doors shut, her head curls against his shoulder, hair tickling his Adam’s apple.

Bucky looks down at her, her resting, easy expression, the chandni earrings still on, and thinks: what a way to turn 103.

Taglist: @suz-123 @mermaidxatxheart @buckyreaderrecs @shield-agent78 @corneliabarnes @readerandcinephileingeneral @stevieboyharrington @notsomellowmushroom @veganfangirl5 @mood-pancakes @lbuck121 @starnight-charmer

#ayesha writes #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky x reader fluff #bucky barnes x reader fluff #bucky barnes fluff #slow burn #bucky barnes x desi!reader #desi!reader

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disneymiraculousefandomsblog · 4 years

Text

Hey Everyone! so this is my second time writing a Varian story i’m not an excellent writer but i have been really wanting to make a fic about Varian and his friends meeting Mexicans and kinda introducing Mexican heritage to Corona. I have done a lot of brainstorming and with the help of my friend @dangara2610 helping me with ideas and plots for the story. we worked really hard on this and we would greatly appreciate your feedback and if you liked it? This whole story happens after they defeated Zahn Tiri. remember this is my second time writing a fic and i am not the best lol:) but i really do hope you like it guys. Anyways Enjoy.

A Royal Visit

Varian woke up exited because Rapunzel had invited him and Rudigger to the castle to meet these new people who come from a very far city to visit Corona for the first time. This was the first gathering with people from a different city since Zahn Tiri tried to take over Corona so it was a big deal to Rapunzel to make sure their new friends were welcomed and that they would have a great time. Once Varian was done drinking his morning Hot Coco that Rudigger made him he was off to the castle to meet Rapunzel. Varian Finally made it to the castle “Hey Rapunzel” Varian said to the Princess, “Hey Varian!” Rapunzel said while pulling him into a tight hug “I’m so glad you could make it” Rapunzel said “how could i miss this opportunity to meet new people after all this is the first big gathering since well.... Varain paused “since Zahn Tiri tried to take over corona” he said sheepishly putting his hand behind his head. “I know but shes gone for good” Rapunzel assured Varian with a smile. Varian just smiled back at her.

The time had arrived for the guests to arrive at the palace to meet Rapunzel and her friends, the chariot arrived with 3 Royal people. “Hello welcome to Corona my name is princess Rapunzel and these are my parents Queen Arianna and King Fredric” Rapunzel introduced. and this is my royal advisor Nigel” Rapunzel said to the queen of Agamex. “pleasure to meet you” Nigel said “this is my royal engineer Varian and his pet Rudigger” Rapunzel announced “Pleased to meet you all” Varian greeted them. “This is my Fiance/ Captin of the guard’s Eugene” Rapunzel announced “Welcome to Corona your Highness's” Eugene greeted. “Its a pleasure to meet you all my name is Queen Luisa and this is my Husband Antonio and my Daughter Selena we are from the kingdom of Agamex” Luisa Said to Rapunzel. “please come in and Join us for dinner” Rapunzel said to the guests “Thank you princess Rapunzel” Luisa said. They all sat the table and waited for their dinner, “So what brings you all to Corona?” Rapunzel asked “well we heard what you did and how you defended and saved Corona from Zahn Tiri we just had to meet you in person and my daughter Selena is a very big fan of you” Luisa said Rapunzel blushed as she said “Thank you that is very sweet of you to say”. Their dinner was served and they all started eating “This is delicious” Selena Said to Rapunzel “Thank you Selena” Rapunzel answered.

Meanwhile outside of corona a plan was brewing thieves more like Lady Cain and her crew they were back and wanted to finish what they started and steal all the valuables and Jewels and anything that was precious to The royal Family. “Guys its time to get our revenge on corona and steal everything that the royal family has” Lady Cain said.

Back in the palace ‘Thank you Princess Rapunzel everything was Delicious” Luisa said Varian was happy to meet these new people but they were so different than everybody else he met but then again he never explored anywhere other than Old Corona. “ May i ask what kingdom you are from” Varian asked “We are from the kingdom of Agamex we live in a town with lots of people we don’t have much fancy stuff like you guys do here in corona” Selena answered Varian. “But we do have really good food in my opinion” Selena said ‘What kind of food do you eat” Varian asked Selena. “Well we eat Tamales i like them spicy we also have Rice, Beans,Epazote which is just a herb we use to make tea and for our dessert we usually have Pan de Dulce or we have cocadas which is just coconut candy or and we usually drink them with Hot Chocolate I LOVE!! Hot chocolate” Selena said. “wow I love hot chocolate too my pal Rudigger here makes the best hot coco well to me anyways” Varian said “ I’ll have to try it sometime then” Selena smiled at Varian and Rudigger. “We brought some sweet bread for you guys to try if you like?” Selena asked “We love to try some” Rapunzel said. They pulled out a basket that had a variety of sweet bread like Conchitas,Gorditas, and Garibialdi, they passed it around so that everyone could have one, Varian grabbed a concha which is a bread that was round and really soft and had some crunch yet sweet candy on top when he took a bite it was like nothing he ever tasted it was soft sweet and the candy just melted in his mouth.”This is Delicious” Varian said “Thank you we are so happy you like it” Selena said. “ Would you like a tour of the castle” Rapunzel asked “We would love that Thank you Princess” Luisa Said.

outside of corona Lady Cain and her gang were on their way to the palace, once they got inside corona they saw that the princess had royal guests and that gave Lady Cain an idea so they sneaked themselves inside the castle by entering trough a window when the guards were not looking. They waited for the perfect time to steel the Valuables. “ I think you have seen most of the castle except the royal vault” Rapunzel said “ Would you like to see it?” Rapunzel asked Selena “If its not to much to ask” Selena answered back “ Its no problem at all” Rapunzel said “Your Highness are you sure you want to show them the royal vault we don’t know if we can trust them” Nigel whispered to the Princess “Nigel you worry to much look at them they look like honest people they wouldn’t steal anything plus we have the captin of the guards with us” Rapunzel assured Nigel.

“Here is the royal vault” Rapunzel said they opened the vault and there were so many Jewels and Jems it was beautiful. Selena could not believe her eyes “ I wish we had this many pretty Jewels in out town” Selena said “You mean you don’t have gold where you come from?” Varian asked “No not really we don’t have much money where we come from but we are still thankful that we have each other Family matters and is worth more than gold and Jewels” Selena told Varian. Varian was in shock he never though that someone would choose Family over money and gold it Reminded him of his Father and him they didn’t really have a big bond like Selena did with her family but he would give anything to just be able to spend time and be with his dad and make up the lost time from when his father was encased in the amber. “Shall we head back to the Hall” Rapunzel asked ‘Yes thank you Princess” Luisa said. Selena took one last look at the vault and followed her mother and Varian back to the hall.

Once they had left Lady Cain saw her chance and disguised herself as one of the royal family from Agamex she went towards one of the guards “Miss you can’t be here without the Princess Present” Stan said to the women .”I’m Sorry i got lost can you point me to the right direction” The women Said “ Just head straight and make a left turn” Pete said. Once the guards turned around she grabbed her sword and hit them on the head really hard and knocked them out cold. The vault wasn’t completely closed so she went in. “Come to mama” Lady Cain said as she grabbed the bags and stuffed them with jewels and Jems. Once she got what she wanted she grabbed a rope and she tossed it outside the window she came in and climes down.

Back at the hall Your Highness the Royal Vault has been robbed” Stan the guard said “WHAT??” Nigel said “Most of the Jewels are gone” Pete the guard said “we saw one of the royal family from Agamex come to the vault after you left saying she was lost and when we turned our backs we were out cold” Stan said * Everyone Gasps* “There must be a mistake?” Eugene said “we saw it with our eyes once we turned around they ambushed us” Stan said. “What NO we didn’t steal anything” Selena stated. “I’m sure there’s a logical explanation” Rapunzel said. Varian looked over to Selena and saw that she was uneasy and a bit frustrated he knew how she felt because he had gone through those same feelings when he had turned good again no one trusted or believed him other than Rapunzel and he was grateful that she forgave him and gave him a new start. “Stan and Pete your sure it was the family of Agamex?” Eugene stated “ Yes well... we’re not sure captain” Stan and Pete said in unison “No their Innocent we just have to prove it wasn’t them” Varian said “What makes you so sure their innocent?” Nigel asked Varian “ Because they care and value each other as a family more than Jewels and Gold why would they come all this way to steal?” Varian replied. Selena just looked at Varian in surprise “I’ll prove that she and her family are innocent” Varian claimed. Nigel and everyone else stayed quiet.“ We will get to the bottom of this I promise” Rapunzel assured Varian and the Royal Family of Agamex.

And that concludes Chapter 1 It was longer than I wanted it but I was trying to get all my ideas in lol 😂 please leave your feedback I’d love to hear if you all enjoyed? but let me know what you guys think and if you want to read the second chapter 💕

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hecohansen31 · 4 years

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Hey lovely! I wanted to ask you if you could write something about Roman and ivar (surprise I know) being best buddies and wanting to see who is the better lover so they make a bet who can get the reader first to bed to ultimately decide this question! She being definitely more clever having knowledge of this and plays with the guys (who not know of her knowing about this bet) so they do dumb stuff for her to get her in bed! And falling in love during the process...

(A/N): Hello there, lovelies!

I know I said I would be taking a break and I am actually going to disappear a bit after I publish it (I just felt guilty to have answered every ask, except this one, mostly because it is from one of the people who have always supported me!).

I also wanted to let you know that the break will last at least a week (the one of Christmas, since I don’t want to pass it, thinking about notes), I personally I am not sure that I will be writing again or publishing, because I don’t feel very much comfortable and sure, but I’ll wait and see.

Thank you for everyone who reached out, I am answering anything later, if not tomorrow because I am a bit sleepy/tired, but thank you I thoroughly accept it!

Also I am well aware that this might be a bit differen from what you wanted, but I just loved the ideas and I felt like it completely matched with your idea, but if it isn’t enough, I’ll write it again as soon as I am off the break!

Have a nice day!

WARNINGS: Mention of Sex/Nudity, Blasphemous Talk/Incubus.

The slick shadow-y man hovered over the sleeping figure, the blanket having rolled a bit down with her agitated sleep, the soft shoulder strap of her lily-white nightgown having slipped off her shoulder due to the its movements, revealing a rather large portion of heated skin.

He gently sat onto the side of the bed she was facing, having a chance to look at her beautiful face: the lips pursued in a sleepy pout, meanwhile the hair cornered lightly her reddish face.

The heat of that Spring night definitely uncommon.

But Roman was rather happy for it, since you had left the window open for him to be welcomed in.

He gently moved closer to her, his movement slow and methodic, in order not to wake her up: that would have definitely spoiled his entertainment of the night.

He reached to gently push a few strands of hair away from his face, to highlight the beautiful feature of the perfect face she owned, a naïve innocence being pictured on it in the most delicate way the moon could shine on her face.

He then leaned down, his lips almost touching her puffy ones, almost swollen due to the sleep, in that kiss he had been desiring desperately since the first time he had wandered into her, the sweet daughter of the pastor who had recently transferred to the town.

He still remembered when he had seen the entire family move in and then the eldest daughter had exited the chariot: the modest cotton dress a little short, for the constant washes, alongside lightly sheer, revealing some rather scorching pieces of her body.

She had clutched close to you your little luggage, as if she was the most jealous about that poor baggage, pushing it behind her, meanwhile she collected herr siblings gently, trying to usher them inside without too much noise, not to startle her mother’s frail nerves.

He had also visited that woman: she looked as hellish as her daughter looked heavenly, with her clumsy body and her aging face, a true devil, but it had been fun to taunt her and more importantly to discover through her memory what a little rascal her daughter was.

She wasn’t the average pastor’s daughter with fake smiles and blessed innocence: she had her dreams and her ideas and that made her stand out, in the little community.

And made the devilish incubus even more interested in her.

But he wasn’t the only one.

Another shadow-y figure appeared on the feet of bed, looking at your lounging body with icy-cold eyes, before they finally reached Roman, sending him a murderous look.

Indeed, if looks could kill.

“… what are you doing here, Roman?” asked his fellow succubus, walking in the shine of the moonlight, bathing himself in it, meanwhile Roman shot him back a threatening gaze, marking his territory with a growl “… you are a bit off your shitty territory of older women looking for a shoulder to cry on”.

“… well at least the entire town knows that I can get it up” it was a common rumor between succubus that Ivar liked his victims sleeping so that they wouldn’t speak up about his ‘flaw’.

Ivar just looked at him, coking an eyebrow, before his hand went down to cupping the pressing bulge in his pants, straining against the leather of them, as he hobbled onto his legs, moving slowly and carefully, his steps echoing on the pavement and they almost stirred her in her sleep.

She scrunched her nose and both the incubuses held their breath, wondering whether she would have woken up and they would have to vanish or whether she was just adjusting in her sleep.

Thankfully for both it was the latter, and she peacefully turned in her sleep towards Ivar, who smirked victoriously at the other incubus, gently moving onto her bed, stalking her as a prey, meanwhile Roman just settled himself between her and him, growling possessively.

“I saw her first!” he pointed out each word with a bite to its tone.

“What assures me that it wasn’t me that saw her first?” he smirked at him “… I fucking saw her entering the city, looking out bored from the window of her chariot at this shithole of a city where we are stuck… she fucking looked like the only interesting thing”.

“Well too bad, I arrived first” Roman retorted, and immediately pushed himself against her onto the bed, feeling her body against his, already absorbing the pleasure he could create with a simple touch, making a shiver go through her body and a smile that reassured her sleep “I am fucking better than you at this…”.

“Women never seem to love your forked tongue” replied the other man, pushing himself close to her mid-waist, before he gently pushed a kiss onto her pretty hips, round and fair “… mine instead makes them come back”

“Go to hell, Lothbrock” Roman spoke, letting, indeed his forked tongue sneak between his lips in a warning, but Ivar simply smirked, moving his lips onto her back.

“Already been there” replied Ivar.

And then Roman was ready to fight and so was Ivar, with the way his fists ached to punch him.

“Are you done there, or will you keep on fighting?” her voice startled them and as they turned, almost petrified on the spot by the realization that she was awake, they found her malicious eyes looking at them “… I have never desired anything more and the objects of my desire are just standing there like two idiots”.

Both the incubuses blushed having been caught in such a way.

And her gaze didn’t leave any space for answers, mostly when she raised her sheets and revealed her half naked body, the nightgown having raised up to show that it wasn’t hiding anything beneath it, anymore.

Just your cunt, exposed for them.

“What are you waiting for?”.

The two incubuses share an intense gaze, before Ivar muttered.

“We are sharing her, aren’t we?”.

All it took for Roman was another look at her disheveled body and then he replied.

“Of-fucking-course, we are”.

#ivar #ivar reader #ivar x reader #ivar imagine #ivar fic #ivar smut #ivar ask #ivar drabble #ivar blurb #ivar the boneless #roman godfrey #roman godfrey reader #roman godfrey x reader #roman godfrey imagine #roman godfrey fic #roman godfrey smut #vikings #hemlock grove

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fuyonggu · 4 years

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Biography of Yang Jun (Book of Jin 40)

楊駿，字文長，弘農華陰人也。少以王官為高陸令，驍騎、鎮軍二府司馬。後以后父超居重位，自鎮軍將軍遷車騎將軍，封臨晉侯。識者議之曰：「夫封建諸侯，所以籓屏王室也。后妃，所以供粢盛，弘內教也。后父始封而以臨晉為侯，兆於亂矣。」尚書褚䂮、郭奕並表駿小器，不可以任社稷之重。武帝不從。帝自太康以後，天下無事，不復留心萬機，惟耽酒色，始寵后黨，請謁公行。而駿及珧、濟勢傾天下，時人有「三楊」之號。

Yang Jun, styled Wenchang, was a native of Huayin county in Hongnong commandary. As a young man, he served in the local princely fief first as Prefect of Gaolu, then as Marshal on the staff of the General of Agile Cavalry and the General Who Guards The Army. Later, after his daughter was chosen to be the new Empress, he suddenly occupied a much higher position, and was transferred from General Who Guards The Army to General of Chariots and Cavalry. He was also appointed as Marquis of Linjin.

Those who understood the implications of such things told one another, "The purpose of establishing feudal lords is to have them serve on the borders as shields for the royal household, while the Empress should remain within the capital in order to provide for the sacrifices and expand inner learning. Yet the Empress's father has just been appointed as a Marquis with Linjin as his fief. This is an omen of turmoil."

Two of the Masters of Writing, Chu Lüe and Guo Yi, both petitioned that Yang Jun was a man of meager talents, and could not be entrusted with important matters of state. Emperor Wu ignored them.

Beginning with the Taikang reign era (280), since (after the conquest of Wu) there were no longer any pressing issues in the realm, Emperor Wu no longer concerned himself with the duties of rulership. He only indulged himself in wine and sensual pleasures. At this time, he began to favor the partisans of the Empress, who openly came to visit him and make requests. Yang Jun, Yang Yao, and Yang Ji wielded great influence over the realm, and the people of that time called them the Three Yangs.

及帝疾篤，未有顧命，佐命功臣，皆已沒矣，朝臣惶惑，計無所從。而駿盡斥群公，親侍左右。因輒改易公卿，樹其心腹。會帝小間，見所用者非，乃正色謂駿曰：「何得便爾！」乃詔中書，以汝南王亮與駿夾輔王室。駿恐失權寵，從中書借詔觀之，得便藏匿。中書監華廙恐懼，自往索之，終不肯與。信宿之間，上疾遂篤，后乃奏帝以駿輔政，帝頷之。便召中書監華暠、令何劭，口宣帝旨使作遺詔，曰：「昔伊望作佐，勳垂不朽；周霍拜命，名冠往代。侍中、車騎將軍、行太子太保，領前將軍楊駿，經德履吉，鑒識明遠，毗翼二宮，忠肅茂著，宜正位上臺，擬跡阿衡。其以駿為太尉、太子太傅��假節、都督中外諸軍事，侍中、錄尚書、領前將軍如故。置參軍六人、步兵三千人、騎千人，移止前衛將軍珧故府。若止宿殿中宜有翼衛，其差左右衛三部司馬各二十人、殿中都尉司馬十人給駿，令得持兵仗出入。」詔成，后對暠、劭以呈帝，帝親視而無言。自是二日而崩，駿遂當寄託之重，居太極殿。梓宮將殯，六宮出辭，而駿不下殿，以武賁百人自衛。不恭之跡，自此而��。

Emperor Wu became critically ill, but he had not yet drawn up a last will. Most of his veteran and accomplished ministers had already passed away, and the court ministers were fearful and uncertain, for they had no plan to follow. Yang Jun ousted all of the chief ministers from the bedside and replaced them with his own underlings. Indeed, he replaced and changed all of the nobles and chief ministers with his own associates. At that time, Emperor Wu's illness somewhat abated so that he regained lucidity, and when he saw that his original appointees had been pushed out, he sternly said to Yang Jun, "How has this come about?"

Emperor Wu then ordered the Palace Secretariat to compose an edict appointing the Prince of Runan, Sima Liang, as a co-regent to serve alongside Yang Jun in support of the royal household. But Yang Jun was afraid that this would mean he would lose his current favor and influence. So he went to the Palace Secretariat and borrowed the draft edict in order to look at it, then hid it away somewhere. The Chief of the Palace Secretariat, Hua Yi, was concerned, and he continually demanded Yang Jun return the edict, but to no avail. Then word arrived that Emperor Wu had fallen back into senility, and when Empress Yang Zhi presented a petition asking that Yang Jun be made the sole regent, Emperor Wu nodded in approval.

Yang Zhi then summoned Hua Yi and the Prefect of the Palace Secretariat, He Shao, and verbally told them that Emperor Wu had ordered them to compose a will, stating:

"In ancient times, Yi Yin and Lü Wang (Jiang Ziya) served to support the state, and their diligence has provided an immortal example; the Duke of Zhou and Huo Guang heeded the command to preside over the court, and their reputation has shone through the ages. Now the Palace Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, acting Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince, and acting General of the Front, Yang Jun, has cultivated virtue and walked the path of good fortune. He is discerning, intelligent, wise, and far-seeing, and he has done much to assist the two palaces (of the Emperor and the Crown Prince). He is highly loyal, most respectful. He ought to occupy the chief position and preside over the government, following the same precedent as A-Heng (Yi Yin).

“Thus I hereby appoint Yang Jun as Grand Commandant, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, Credential Holder, and Commander of all military affairs; he will keep his existing positions as Palace Attendant, chief of affairs of the Masters of Writing, and acting General of the Front. I also appoint six Army Advisors, three thousand infantry, and a thousand cavalry to be assigned to him, drawn from the staff of the former Guard General, Yang Yao. If any assistance is needed from the palace guards, then twenty people from each of the Guard Commanders shall be assigned to Yang Jun, along with ten people from the Marshals of the Palace Commandant. Yang Jun is empowered to go in and out with weapons at hand."

When the edict had been completed, Yang Zhi had Hua Yi and He Shao present it to Emperor Wu, who looked at it without saying a word.

Two days afterwards, Emperor Wu passed away.

Yang Jun now claimed his new role as regent, and he moved his residence to the Taiji Hall. Emperor Wu's coffin was then placed in the mourning hall, and the people of the six palaces all came to pay their respects. However, Yang Jun did not leave the Taiji Hall, and he had a hundred of the Guards Rapid As Tigers assigned to protect him. This was the beginning of his lack of respect.

惠帝即位，進駿為太傅、大都督、假黃鉞，錄朝政，百官總己。慮左右間己，乃以其甥段廣、張劭為近侍之職。凡有詔命，帝省訖，入呈太后，然後乃出。駿知賈后情性難制，甚畏憚之。又多樹親黨，皆領禁兵。於是公室怨望，天下憤然矣。駿弟珧、濟並有俊才，數相諫止，駿不能用，因廢於家。駿暗于古義，動違舊典。武帝崩未逾年而改元，議者咸以為違《春秋》逾年書即位之義。朝廷惜於前失，令史官沒之，故明年正月復改年焉。

Emperor Hui having risen to the throne, Yang Jun was promoted to Grand Tutor, Grand Commander, and Bearer of the Yellow Battle-axe. He was placed in charge of the court and the government, and all the ministers had to heed his commands.

Concerned that the people around him might not support him, Yang Jun had his nephews Duan Guang and Zhang Shao appointed to close positions. And whenever an edict was to be sent out, once Emperor Hui had completed the draft, it would first have to be presented to the Empress Dowager, Yang Zhi, for her approval, and only then would it be carried out.

Yang Jun knew that the new Empress, Jia Nanfeng, would be difficult to control, and he greatly feared and dreaded her. So he placed many of his associates and partisans in control of the palace guards.

The noble families were stirred to anger against Yang Jun, and all the realm was indignant at him. His younger brothers Yang Yao and Yang Ji were both men of talent, and they often remonstrated with him together. But Yang Jun could not use their advice, and thus he brought his family to ruin in the end.

Yang Jun was blind to ancient traditions, and he frequently violated the established canons. He did not observe the usual practice of waiting until the beginning of the following year to begin a new reign era, but immediately ended the current one and began a new one in the middle of the year. People objected that this violated one of the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, according to which the final year of the reign era of a newly-deceased sovereign should be allowed to run its full course before the new reign era was declared at the beginning of the following year. The court ministers regretted the prospect of abandoning this precedent, nor would the Astrologists Bureau accept it. Thus, in the first month of the following year, the reign era title was changed once again.

駿自知素無美望，懼不能輯和遠近，乃依魏明帝即位故事，遂大開封賞，欲以悅眾，為政嚴碎，愎諫自用，不允眾心。馮翊太守孫楚素與駿厚，說之曰：「公以外戚，居伊霍之重，握大權，輔弱主。當仰思古人至公至誠謙順之道。于周則周召為宰，在漢則朱虛、東牟，未有庶姓專朝，而克終慶祚者也。今宗室親重，籓王方壯，而公不與共參萬機，內懷猜忌，外樹私昵，禍至無日矣。」駿不能從。

Since Yang Jun himself knew that he had little support or favor and was afraid that he would not be able to ensure the obedience of those near and far, he followed the example of Emperor Ming of Cao-Wei (Cao Rui) when he had come to the throne by greatly distributed titles and rewards, hoping to thus please others. But Yang Jun ruled sternly and followed only his own counsel while ignoring criticism, so he did not satisfy the hearts of the people.

The Administrator of Pingyi, Sun Chu, had long enjoyed Yang Jun's favor. He now advised Yang Jun, "You are someone who is only related to the imperial family by marriage, yet you now occupy the same regency role as Yi Yin or Huo Guang; you wield great influence, and you oversee a tender ruler. In your conduct of affairs, you ought to consider the actions of the ancients, and you ought to make every effort to act justly, honestly, and with humble submission. Remember that during the Zhou dynasty, the Dukes of Zhou and Shao acted to support their king, while during the Han dynasty, the Marquises of Zhuxu and Dongmou (Liu Zhang and Liu Xingju) helped to purge the clan of Empress Dowager Lü. There has never yet been an instance where someone of a different surname from the royal family wielded control over the court and still met a good end. In our own time, the imperial clan is great and powerful and the princes each have their strong garrisons on the borders, yet you do not solicit their help in attending to the affairs of state. Those within harbor doubts and suspicion about you, and those without are all considering their own personal interests. Disaster is not far off."

But Yang Jun could not follow his advice.

殿中中郎孟觀、李肇，素不為駿所禮，陰構駿將圖社稷。賈后欲預政事，而憚駿未得逞其所欲，又不肯以婦道事皇太后。黃門董猛，始自帝之為太子即為寺人監，在東宮給事于賈后。後密通消息於猛，謀廢太后。猛乃與肇、觀潛相結托。賈后又令肇報大司馬、汝南王亮，使連兵討駿。亮曰：「駿之凶暴，死亡無日，不足憂也。」肇報楚王瑋，瑋然之。於是求入朝，駿素憚瑋，先欲召入，防其為變，因遂聽之。

Two of the Palace Gentlemen of the Central Hall, Meng Guan and Li Zhao, had both long been disrespected by Yang Jun, and they secretly criticized him, saying that he was going to usurp the state. Jia Nanfeng for her part wished to exercise control over the government as well, but she feared that Yang Jun would never allow her to do as she wished, and she could not bear being inferior in womanly affairs to the Empress Dowager, Yang Zhi. And one of the Yellow Gate Attendants, Dong Meng, had originally served Emperor Hui during his time as Crown Prince as Chief of the Ministry Men and had kept Jia Nanfeng informed of what was happening in the Eastern Palace. So Jia Nanfeng now secretly sent word to Dong Meng, plotting to depose the Empress Dowager. Dong Meng, Meng Guan, and Li Zhao secretly planned to support one another.

Jia Nanfeng also ordered Li Zhao to pay a visit to the Grand Marshal and Prince of Runan, Sima Liang, and have him bring his troops to move against Yang Jun. But Sima Liang told him, "Yang Jun is a wicked and violent man, and his downfall and death are only a matter of time. He is not worth worrying about."

Then Li Zhao went to see the Prince of Chu, Sima Wei, and Sima Wei agreed to help with the plot. Sima Wei then sent a request to the capital asking to serve on the court (which would cause him to give up his military authority at his fief). Yang Jun had long feared Sima Wei, and he had originally even wanted to summon Sima Wei to the capital as well, to prevent Sima Wei from causing any mischief from his border post. So when Sima Wei himself submitted his request to come to court, Yang Jun allowed him to do so.

及瑋至，觀、肇乃啟帝，夜作詔，中外戒嚴，遣使奉詔廢駿，以侯就第。東安公繇率殿中四百人隨其後以討駿。段廣跪而言於帝曰：「楊駿受恩先帝，竭心輔政。且孤公無子，豈有反理？願陛下審之。」帝不答。

After Sima Wei arrived in the capital, Meng Guan and Li Zhao informed Emperor Hui of the plot. That night, they composed an edict. Everywhere was placed under martial law, while agents were sent to present an edict with orders to depose Yang Jun and force him to his Marquisate estate. The Duke of Dong'an, Sima Yao, was ordered to lead four hundred men from the imperial guards to accompany the agents and attack Yang Jun.

Duan Guang knelt before Emperor Hui and said, "Yang Jun received the grace of His Late Majesty (Emperor Wu), and he is fully devoted to supporting the government. Besides, he is a widower without any sons; how could he have any reason to rebel? Your Majesty, please reconsider."

But Emperor Hui did not respond to him.

時駿居曹爽故府，在武庫南，聞內有變，召眾官議之。太傅主簿朱振說駿曰：「今內有變，其趣可知，必是閹豎為賈后設謀，不利於公。宜燒雲龍門以示威，索造事都首，開萬春門，引東宮及外營兵，公自擁翼皇太子，入宮取奸人。殿內震懼，必斬送之，可以免難。」駿素怯懦，不決，乃曰：「魏明帝造此大功，奈何燒之！」侍中傅祗夜白駿，請與武茂俱入雲龍門觀察事勢。祗因謂群僚「宮中不宜空」，便起揖，於是皆走。

At this time, Yang Jun was living in Cao Shuang's former residence, south of the Arsenal. When he heard that there was some disturbance in the city, he summoned his officials to discuss what to do.

His Registrar as Grand Tutor, Zhu Zhen, urged him, "We may know who the source is of this current disturbance; it is certainly those loathsome eunuchs carrying out Empress Jia's plot, and it cannot mean anything good for you. You should set fire to the Yunlong Gate as a show of strength. Then once your affairs are in order, you may force open the Wanchun Gate, send in the soldiers of the Eastern Palace and the outer camps while you secure the Crown Prince, and march into the palace and arrest the culprits. Anyone inside the palace halls who is trembling with fear should be killed and thus sent off. If you do these things, you can escape from danger."

But Yang Jun had long been timid and apprehensive, and he could not make up his mind. He even said, "The Yunlong Gate was a great achievement of Emperor Ming of Wei (Cao Rui); how could we burn it down?"

One of the Palace Attendants, Fu Zhi, reported to Yang Jun during the night, and asked that he and Wu Mao go through the Yunlong Gate to observe the situation and see how things were progressing. He then said to the other officials, "The palace should not be left empty." Fu Zhi then got up and saluted, and the officials all fled.

尋而殿中兵出，燒駿府，又令弩士於閣上臨駿府而射之，駿兵皆不得出。駿逃於馬廄，以戟殺之。觀等受賈后密旨，誅駿親黨，皆夷三族，死者數千人。又令李肇焚駿家私書，賈后不欲令武帝顧命手詔聞于四海也。駿既誅，莫敢收者，惟太傅舍人巴西閻纂殯斂之。

Soon, the palace guards marched out and set fire to Yang Jun's residence. Crossbowmen were also posted atop a pavilion near the residence, where they began shooting at it, so that Yang Jun's soldiers could not get out. Yang Jun fled to a stable, but was then killed by a halberd.

Then, heeding Jia Nanfeng's secret orders, Meng Guan and the others executed all of Yang Jun's associates and partisans as well. All of them had their clans exterminated to the third degree, and the dead numbered several thousand. They also ordered Li Zhao to burn Yang Jun's private correspondence as well, for Jia Nanfeng did not want the will that Emperor Wu had written (which Yang Jun had then taken) to be generally known among the realm either.

After Yang Jun was executed, no one dared to come and claim his body. Only one of his retainers as Grand Tutor, Yan Zuan of Baxi commandary, prepared a coffin and held a service for him.

初，駿徵高士孫登，遺以布被。登截被於門，大呼曰：「斫斫刺刺！」旬日託疾詐死，及是，其言果驗。永熙中，溫縣有人如狂，造書曰：「光光文長，大戟為牆。毒藥雖行，戟還自傷。」��駿居內府，以戟為衛焉。

Earlier, Yang Jun had tried to recruit the hermit Sun Deng, and he sent him a gift of clothing and a quilt. But Sun Deng ripped apart the quilt at his doorway, greatly sighing, "Hacked and torn, hacked and torn!" And for several days he claimed to be ill and pretended to have passed away. At this time, his prediction proved correct.

During the Yongxi reign era (290), there was a supposed madman in Wen county who wrote a message stating, "Glory Wenchang shall know well, great halberds on his walls shall dwell. But medicine can poison too; this halberd's blade shall turn on you." And indeed, Yang Jun had kept halberds in his residence for defense (and in the end was killed by a halberd).

永甯初，詔曰：「舅氏失道，宗族隕墜，渭陽之思，孔懷感傷。其以{艸務}亭侯楊超為奉朝請、騎都尉，以慰《蓼莪》之思焉。」

During the Yongning reign era (301), Emperor Hui issued an edict stating, "My uncle (Yang Jun) was without principle and so brought about the fall of his family and his clan. Yet when I think of the Weiyang poem (which laments the loss of a relative), I cannot help but be moved by grief. I hereby appoint the Marquis of [艸+務] district, Yang Chao, as Honoree of the Court and as a Cavalry Commandant, in order to ease the grief of the loss of family, as expressed by the Liao E poem."

珧字文琚，歷位尚書令、衛將軍。素有名稱，得幸于武帝，時望在駿前。以兄貴盛，知權寵不可居，自乞遜位，前後懇至，終不獲許。初，聘後，珧表曰：「歷觀古今，一族二后，未嘗以全，而受覆宗之禍。乞以表事藏之宗廟，若如臣之言，得以免禍。」從之。右軍督趙休上書陳：「王莽五公，兄弟相代。今楊氏三公，並在大位，而天變屢見，臣竊為陛下憂之。」由此珧益懼。固求遜位，聽之，賜錢百萬、絹五千匹。

Yang Yao, styled Wenju, was the younger brother of Yang Jun. He served as Prefect of the Masters of Writing and then as Guard General. He had long enjoyed a good reputation, and he thus won the favor of Emperor Wu. During Emperor Wu's reign, Yang Yao had more influence than Yang Jun.

Once Yang Jun became more exalted and powerful, Yang Yao knew that this greater favor and influence would not last. He wished to resign his own positions, and several times made a request to do so, but Emperor Wu never did agree to let him resign. But earlier, when the betrothal of Yang Jun's daughter Yang Zhi to Sima Zhong (Emperor Hui) had first been arranged, Yang Yao had submitted a petition stating, "From ancient times until now, whenever the same household has provided two empresses, it has never been able to preserve itself; all met with disaster in the end. I beg that you preserve this petition in the ancestral temple, and if my words should prove true, then I may use this petition to avoid disaster." Emperor Wu did agree to this request.

The Commander of the Right, Zhao Xiu, sent up a letter remonstrating against the amount of power the Yang brothers had been allowed to wield, stating, "Remember that (the usurper) Wang Mang and his four brothers all held powerful roles. Now in our own time, the three Yao brothers each have great offices. Furthermore, there have been several sightings of disturbances in the heavens. I humbly implore Your Majesty to consider this."

Yang Yao was now even more afraid, and he insisted on being allowed to resign. Emperor Wu at last heeded him, and he gave him gifts of a million gold and five thousand bolts of fine silk.

珧初以退讓稱，晚乃合朋黨，構出齊王攸。中護軍羊琇與北軍中侯成粲謀欲因見珧而手刃之。珧知而辭疾不出。諷有司奏琇，轉為太僕。自是舉朝莫敢枝梧，而素論盡矣。

At first, Yang Yao received praise for yielding his offices and retiring. But later, he got together with his friends and partisans and agitated to have the Prince of Qi, Sima You, sent away. The General Who Guards The Army of the Center, Yang Xiu, and the Palace Marquis of the Northern Army, Cheng Can, plotted to go see Yang Yao, holding blades in their hands to kill him. Yang Yao knew about it, and he claimed illness and would not come out. He arranged for the officials to censure Yang Xiu, and Yang Xiu was transferred to be Minister Coachman. But from then on, during court meetings, Yang Yao never dared to prevaricate, but always spoke his full mind.

珧臨刑稱冤，云：「事在石函，可問張華。」當時皆謂宜為申理，合依鐘毓事例。而賈氏族党待諸楊如仇，促行刑者遂斬之。時人莫不嗟歎焉。

As Yang Yao was about to be executed, he pleaded that he was innocent, and said, "I have a petition encased in stone pardoning me. Ask Zhang Hua about it." And everyone at that time said that Yang Yao had indeed warned about the danger posed by his brother Yang Jun, and had thus been following the same example as Zhong Hui's brother Zhong Yu once had. But the members and partisans of the Jia clan held a grudge against the whole Yang clan, and they compelled the executioner to behead him anyway. There was no one at that time who did not sigh in sympathy for Yang Yao's fate.

濟字文通，歷位鎮南、征北將軍，遷太子太傅。濟有才藝，嘗從武帝校獵北芒下，與侍中王濟俱著布袴褶，騎馬執角弓在輦前。猛獸突出，帝命王濟射之，應弦而倒。須臾復一出，濟受詔又射殺之，六軍大叫稱快。帝重兵官，多授貴戚清望，濟以武藝號為稱職。與兄珧深慮盛滿，乃與諸甥李斌等共切諫。駿斥出王佑為河東太守，建立皇儲，皆濟謀也。

Yang Ji, styled Wentong, was the younger brother of Yang Jun and Yang Yao. He served successively as General Who Guards The South and General Who Conquers The North, and he was then transferred to be Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

Yang Ji had talent and skill. He once accompanied Emperor Wu on a hunt beneath the Beimang Hills (north of Luoyang), where he and one of the Palace Attendants, Wang Ji, both wore special attire as they rode horses and wielded bows, riding in front of Emperor Wu's carriage. A fierce beast suddenly appeared, and Emperor Wu ordered Wang Ji to shoot it; the beast fell with the twang of Wang Ji's bowstring. Soon, another beast emerged. Emperor Wu now ordered Yang Ji to shoot, and he too felled the beast. The soldiers of the six armies hailed them both with a great shout.

In many cases, Emperor Wu appointed those of honorable family and great influence to the most important military positions. Yang Ji received acclaim and appointment due to his martial skills.

Yang Ji and his brother Yang Yao were both quite worried about their positions, so they joined with their uncles, Li Bin and others, to harshly remonstrate together. It was thanks to Yang Ji's proposals that Yang Jun had Wang You denounced and sent away to serve as Administrator of Hedong, and that the imperial heir was established.

初，駿忌大司馬汝南王亮，催使之籓。濟與斌數諫止之，駿遂疏濟。濟謂傅咸曰：「若家兄徵大司馬入，退身避之，門戶可得免耳。不爾，行當赤族。」咸曰：「但徵還，共崇至公，便立太平，無為避也。夫人臣不可有專，豈獨外戚！今宗室疏，因外戚之親以得安，外戚危，倚宗室之重以為援，所謂脣齒相依，計之善者。」濟益懼而問石崇曰：「人心云何？」崇曰：「賢兄執政，疏外宗室，宜與四海共之。」濟曰：「見兄，可及此。」崇見駿，及焉，駿不納。後與諸兄俱見害。難發之夕，東宮召濟。濟謂裴楷曰：「吾將何之？」楷曰：「子為保傅，當至東宮。」濟好施，久典兵馬，所從四百餘人皆秦中壯士，射則命中，皆欲救濟。濟已入宮，莫不歎恨。

Earlier, Yang Jun had been suspicious of the Grand Marshal and Prince of Runan, Sima Liang, and had compelled him to return to his fief (at Xuchang). Yang Ji and Li Bin remonstrated against this several times, trying to get Yang Jun to drop the idea, but this only alienated him from them.

Yang Ji said to Fu Xian, "If only my elder brother could merely recall the Grand Marshal to the capital while personally steering clear of him, then the status of our family could be secured. Otherwise, it will be a red end for us."

Fu Xian told him, "So long as you summoned the Grand Marshal to come back, and could act in joint regency together with him, then that would lead to a general peace, and there would not even be any need for your elder brother to withdraw. The issue is merely that no one minister should amass all power for themselves, much less a marital relative of the royal family! Now the members of the imperial clan are distant because the associates of your own clan are secure in their positions. But should your family be threatened, you ought to be able to count upon the support of the imperial clan, like the lips protect the teeth. That would be a good plan."

Yang Ji was now even more afraid, and he asked Shi Chong, "What are people really saying about us?"

Shi Chong replied, "Your worthy elder brother is grasping the reins of power, while keeping the imperial clan at a distance. He ought to share his power with all within the Four Seas."

Yang Ji said, "Go and see my brother, and try to persuade him of this."

So Shi Chong went to see Yang Jun and conveyed his advice, but Yang Jun did not listen.

Yang Ji was later killed with his elder brothers.

On the morning of his final day, Yang Ji was summoned to the Eastern Palace. Yang Ji asked Pei Kai, "What should I do?"

Pei Kai replied, "As you are the Grand Guardian and Grand Tutor for the Crown Prince, you ought to report to the Eastern Palace."

Yang Ji had enjoyed hunting, and he had commanded infantry and cavalry for a long time, so he had more than four hundred strong fellows from the Qin region among his retainers, all crack shots. They all wished to save Yang Ji's life. But by then, Yang Ji had already entered the palace. They all sighed in regret for his fate.

#Western Jin #Jin Dynasty #Book of Jin #Jinshu #Chinese History #China

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creepy-witchy-af · 5 years

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Guide to tarot cards & meanings (I)

I’ve been practicing Tarot for 3 years now and I thought I should share my personal notes from my Book of Shadows. These are my feelings about these cards and what I’ve noticed about them in spreads and how they relate to one another. This is part 1 on the Major Arcana and I’ll be posting a part 2 on the Minor Arcana (which are just as important!). Enjoy!

Note on reversals: If you draw a card and it is upside down, that doesn’t usually mean the opposite of the upright meaning. It more so indicates an excess of the qualities of the upright meaning. You’ll see what I mean by that below.

The Major Arcana

The Fool: Doesn’t necessarily represent foolishness, but more of an innocence to the ways of the world. Represents the earliest days in spiritual development/almost always a sign of new adventure to begin. Big time of changes. Reversed indicated “look before you leap”.

The Magician: A powerful card which tells of a warning of opportunity. Reminder to bring love, finances, morality and emotion together to prepare for a time of change. Reversed indicates a person who may be a perfectionist and may use power negatively.

The High Priestess: In a man’s reading, she indicates the woman of his dreams. In a woman’s reading, she is searching for herself in the high priestess. Reversed means logic/fact based decision making, or occasionally sensual pleasures & selfishness.

The Empress: Look for material wealth and abundance. Fertility for hopeful parents and creative folks, and a sign of a blissful marriage in more mature folks. Reversed indicates disharmony on the domestic front.

The Emperor: Domination of the material world. Authority. Law. Stable. Paternal power. Father figure. May be a highly controlled sexual drive. Reversed means immaturity, unable to leave the nest, loss of control, and passiveness.

The Hierophant: Appears as the “Pope” of orthodox teaching, which opposes the Priestess, who teaches secretly and to the initiated to her mysteries. Look for some indicator of a preference to ritual and ceremony, or he can mean a need of approval of others/society. Reversed tells you that it’s time for some unconventional thinking.

The Lovers: When the Lovers appear, it traditionally indicates someone who must make a decision to overcome temptation. We have choices, and we often struggle with sacred and profane love. Reversed it means a possibility of poor choices, quarrels, and infidelity. Get in check with rational self.

The Chariot: Indicates success and triumph over the forces of nature (ex. illness, natural disaster). Power over those who would cause us harm. When reversed it tells of victory with moral sacrifice, such as lying or cheating.

Strength: Triumph/need to triumph over carnal desires and focus on spiritual powers. Goals are in sight. Persevere and the power of your character will shine through. Nature of love has power over evil. Reversed indicates a person who is ruled by material gain and need to seek reassurances from others because of the lack of moral fortitude.

The Hermit: One of my personal favorite cards! Know you have a chance to receive wisdom from the divine/spirit world. Also indicates a meeting with a teacher or mentor - someone who can guide you through future endeavors (physical or spiritual). Reversed it indicates a tendency to ignore advice.

Wheel of Fortune: Reminds us we are NOT governed by chance or fate, and you have the power to change your future. Expect success due to intelligent decisions; a change for the better. Reversed indicates stagnation, setbacks, roadblocks.

Justice: Justice will be done, and balance will rule the day. A balanced person knows how to get rid of baggage and toxic relationships. May also mean a want for higher education. Reversed indicates legal battles/complications. Reminder to use mercy when judging others.

The Hanged Man: An evolution from the Fool. He is making a sacrifice, and his sacrifice will produce transformation. Shows us a suspension in time in our life and undiscovered wisdom. When reversed he shows us someone who is resistant to spiritual influences because they are wrapped up in the material.

Death: Represents transformation and rebirth, not physical death. Actually indicates new opportunity, even though there may be a period of upheaval or even destruction. But rebirth will follow. Note association with the number 13 here (13th card in the Major Arcana). Reversed this card shows stagnation and refusal to accept change.

Temperance: Depicting archangel Michael, this card shows us we must translate our imagination to activity. Also shows someone who uses wit/skill to adapt to new circumstances, or can show someone who needs to participate in team work for success. Look for Fire signs. Reversed it shows imbalance. Either a person who has poor relationships or may be corrupt, or it can show a bi-polar person or someone who has chemical imbalance.

The Devil: Opposes Michael in the Temperance card. Look for discontent/depression/emotional stagnation. Also indicates a materialistic person who resists spirituality. The card of addiction and bad decision making. When reversed, it shows overcoming material addiction and toxic choices in trade for spiritual understanding.

The Tower: Major life break down/crisis. Often associated with Satan’s downfall. Indicates big changes, conflict, and catastrophe. Look for a person who’s life is about to change. The change can be good as well as bad. Reversed it shows that freedom from detainment of either mind and spirit or physical detainment (ex. leaving an abusive relationship or bad job situation) can be achieved, but at great cost.

The Star: Stop. Listen. This is the card of mediation. Take a moment to reflect, and the truth will reveal itself. Shows someone who is attaining spiritual enlightenment, hope, and inspiration. Also indicates that great love will be given and received. When reversed, the Star shows doubt and pessimism, someone who has deep sadness from lack of faith in any aspect of their life, not just spiritual. Also indicates potential mental or physical illness.

The Moon: In a spread, look for someone who has or is developing psychic abilities. The Moon calls you to trust your instinct because of deception and hidden messages. Also represents general mental health. Reversed, it is a reminder that practical solutions may be better in your situation. Risks should be avoided, so just ride out the storm.

The Sun: The child shows perfect balance between subconscious and conscious mind. He is nearing the end of the Fool’s journey. Almost always a sign of good things to come - mental and physical health, reunions, good marriages. Also indicates completion of studying and learning. When reversed it indicates a cloudy future, a possible job or marriage that is on the line, or someone who is just meandering with no goals.

Judgement: The angel Gabriel blows his trumpet, liberating us from earthly limitations. Indicates life lived to its fullest with all the steps taken to advancement or a happy life. Indicates a new ability to blend with greater surroundings. When reversed, it shows a sign of weakness, failure to find happiness, maybe in part to a lack of readiness/motivation. Also indicates loss.

The World: Indicates the final stage to the Fool’s journey. Symbolizes completion and triumph in all undertakings. When reversed this card shows an unwillingness to move on/attachment, such as an artist who never feels like their work is finished.

Happy reading loves!

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tarotdeckshuffle · 5 years

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Ok so... What if Ardyn (or some other evil force, ya know?) kidnaps the bro's s/o in order to get like leverage on the group/use as a bargaining chip to get to Noct (like offering a trade, like they could get s/o back in return for the Prince), like how do the bros react to finding their s/o missing and all that and how does he get them back? And if/when they are back and safe with their chocobro, how does he treat them and act around them?(If you maybe want to do Nyx and Crowe maybe?Oh! Or Cor)

Thank you for the request! I wholly apologize! I’ve been working on this for days, but it’s taken forever. I’ve never written Crowe before, as much as I love her, so I hope she comes off well.

As way of apologizing for the delay, how do you feel about a “few” bonuses? :3

Taglist: @idiotflowerex, @laststory1013, @sayaoqueen

If you like what you read, please consider supporting me on Patreon or buying me a Ko-fi!

Noctis

Ardyn wants to get to him, personally.

You hadn’t returned from collecting firewood.

Noct got worried.

All four Bros split up, looking for you.

Noctis starts to panic.

He calls your name and warps to lookouts to try to see you.

But there’s nothing.

His voice becomes more and more desperate.

The sun begins to set.

“Let us return to camp before the daemons come out to join us.” Ignis suggests.

Noctis reluctantly follows.

But their camp has an unexpected visitor: Ardyn.

“Ah, hello!” He greets the men.

All are ready to strike.

“Is this how you greet a guest? Your manners need work.” He replies.

“What do you want?” Noctis growls.

The Chancellor smiles, upon Noct in an instant.

“A trade…”

Noct’s eyes narrow at him.

“By now you’ve realized you’re missing…something. Your dearly beloved waits for you, safe and sound. They’re even close! Just over…there.” He points to the Niflheim fortress on the horizon.

“I offer you a simple exchange. Your life…for theirs. “

He pokes the Prince in the chest. “The choice is yours.”

Noct summons his weapon, ready to strike the jester down.

“Ah, ah ahhh. You see, their safety depends on me. If I don’t return, neither do they.”

Noctis will growl but release Ardyn to waltz back to his airship.

“And, one more thing, do make your decision before midnight, I don’t know how long dear [Y/N] will last.”

Noct is furious as he leaves.

For Noctis, his heart is made up: he’d trade his life for yours every time.

But there is so much more to consider.

He hates that there even needs to be a discussion on this.

To him, he’s not more important than you.

But fate had other ideas.

Noct is utterly distraught.

He is furious that he allowed you to be taken.

And panicking about your safety.

This all manifests into him being stoic and raging like a storm.

Eventually, the Bros come up with a plan.

But for now, Noct gets to go out and beat up some MTs to soothe his rage.

Night falls and the four make their way to the base.

You’re blindfolded with your hands tied, standing next to Ardyn on the ramp to an airship.

MTs fill the base.

The Bros stand in the middle of the concrete structure.

Noctis walks towards the airship.

“I see you found my trade favorable, Prince Noctis.” Ardyn calls, placing on hand on your shoulder.

“Let them go!” Is all Noctis calls back, striding forward.

“May the lovers have one last embrace,” Ardyn pushes your back, making you stumble into Noctis’s arms.

Every MT points its guns at the five of you.

“Now, dear Prince, your chariot awaits.”

But Noct is smiling.

He wraps his arms around you before calling, “NOW!”

Every light of the base turns on in a blinding frenzy,

Revealing the walls to be lined with hunters, firing down with deadly accuracy.

Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis move to surround you and Noctis,

Allowing you a relatively safe escape after the blindfold is removed.

Noctis is desperately clingy in the following days.

He has to make sure you’re alright.

Demanding that you be escorted everywhere.

But all five of you are on edge.

Ardyn did not get what he wanted, so he may try again.

This time, kidnapping any of them.

But Noct refuses to let you out of his sights.

You hear him scream your name as he sleeps, waking terrified.

You try to soothe him.

When you are alone, he finally bursts.

“I was so afraid…I thought I had lost you.” He begins to cry into your arms.

“I’m right here, Noct. I’ll always be here for you.” Is what he needs to hear, over and over again.

He’ll worship the ground you tread when he finally calms down,

But he vows not to allow that to happen again.

Prompto

Ardyn is playing a cruel game when he offers to trade Prompto’s S/O for Noctis.

Prompto noticed you were gone after you didn’t return for about 20 minutes.

That 20 minutes turned into 40. He was panicking.

He set out in the direction you had left to find you.

Running the whole way back when he found a trinket of yours.

“GUYS! SOMETHING’S HAPPENED TO [Y/N]!”

All the Bros were on their feet and looking for you in an instant.

Prompto has been calling your name the whole afternoon, trying to find you.

His throat is raw from it now.

He’s worried enough that he feels sick to his stomach.

The four of them trudge into camp together, Noctis with his hand on Prompto’s back.

And there he stands, dark against the bright colors of the camp: Ardyn.

He smiles, looking directly at Prompto, “Missing something?”

Gladio has to restrain Prompto.

“YOU BASTARD! WHERE’S [Y/N]!”

Ardyn paces amongst the camp, kicking over what had been your coffee cup.

“Your dearly beloved waits for you, safe and sound. They’re even close! Just over…there.” Pointing to the Niflheim fortress on the horizon.

All eyes are on the Chancellor.

“I offer you a simple exchange: The Prince for their life.”

Noctis’s jaw clamps shut, Prompto gasps, Gladio growls, and Ignis glares.

“The choice is yours, Prince Noctis: your life…or theirs.”

He turns and leaves the safety of the campsite, disappearing into the trees.

Prompto summons his gun to take aim, but Ignis pulls the barrel down.

“That is ill advised! The only one who knows where [Y/N] is is him. We need him alive.”

“But…but guys!!” Is all Prompto can manage.

His emotions overflow.

He’s furious, at Ardyn, at himself, and a small part of him is mad at Noct.

Why did Ardyn take you?

Why didn’t he go with you to get firewood?

Why did Noct bring you into this…

He feels lost. Where are you? What’s Ardyn done to you?

He runs over, grabbing the rolling coffee cup.

It was the last thing he saw you hold, it was close to you.

Somehow, now it has meaning.

He runs his fingers over it, remembering your face as you sipped.

Tears fall into the empty cup.

“We’ll get them back, Prompto…I promise.” Noct puts his hand on Prompto’s back.

Prompto wants to believe his best friend, but…can he?

He’s not much use for the rest of the afternoon.

The other three try to come up with a plan.

But Prompto comes up with one before them, while staring at your cup in his hands.

The Bros are at the base as the sun sets.

You stand next to Ardyn, his hand on your shoulder, on the ramp of an airship.

MTs fill the base.

The Bros walk towards Ardyn in defiance of his plans.

“I think you’ve come far enough…” He calls, stopping the men in their tracks.

Before anyone else can speak, Prompto rushes forward.

“SHOW US [Y/N]!”

Ardyn chuckles. “Careful…you wouldn’t want your haist ruining this meeting, would you?”

He shoves you forward, into Prompto’s view.

You try to look at Prompto in such a way as to tell him to run, that you’re ok.

But his eyes are set with determination.

“Now the Prince.” Ardyn grumbles.

Noctis nods to Prompto and starts to walk towards the airship.

And in that moment, Prompto raises his arm level with you.

It has some sort of…armor on it?

NO! That’s a…

A claw grabs your shirt, retracting to pull you forward in an instant.

Without even enough time to blink, you’re drug to Prompto’s feet.

He hoists you up as bullets and swords fly.

The two of you run to safety.

For the next few days, he’s ever at your side.

He has to bury his face in your arms, crying because he was so worried but now he’s so thankful and just…

“Are you ok? Are you sure you’re ok? Did that creep do anything to you?”

Never leaving your side…seriously never.

But his every look at you is adoring.

He’s so worried you’ll slip away, again.

You’re always touching.

It may get annoying, how close he insists upon being now.

It is to the other Bros,

But he’s just so worried, still.

But he promises to you that it won’t happen again.

Ignis

You head out to get firewood as Ignis cooks.

He’s concerned when you’re a minute past your normal window of return.

The most logical conclusion is that you ran up against creatures.

He’ll give you five more minutes.

Never mind, he can’t stand it.

Practically slams the knife he’s using down.

Gladio looks up, “Worried?”

“Yes…they’ve been gone longer than expected.”

Gladio gets up from his chair.

“Well, let’s go join in the trouble…”

He knows Ignis won’t stop worrying about you, but tries to lighten the mood.

It’s better to go and find you than to let him wait.

Prompto sets about stirring the pot of dinner upon Ignis’s instructions.

He is determined to get this right, doing so with unnecessary vigor.

Gladio and Ignis set out in the direction you left, calling your name.

“This silence is unsettling.” Ignis comments.

The yelling continues.

Prompto and Noctis come out to join in the hunt.

But Iggy has grown frantic.

They’ve scoured the land for a mile in every direction around the camp,

But there is no sign of you.

No footprints,

No markings,

No monsters,

Nothing.

Panic edges in his voice as Ignis makes for higher ground to seek you.

Where are you?

He’s desperate for any sign of you.

And that’s when he sees him.

An intruder stands amongst your camp

And waves up at Ignis.

Anger flashes in his features as he sprints back towards camp.

The other bros see Ignis running and assume he’s heading in the right direction.

They all run into camp, stopping just before Ardyn.

“Ah, pleasure to have you join me.” He announces, sitting down in what had been your chair.

Ignis is fit to murder.

“And to what do we owe this…pleasure.” He plays through gritted teeth.

“Oh, you don’t owe me anything…but you may owe [Y/N] an apology.”

Gladio moves to strike, but Ignis holds an arm out to stop him.

“Where are they?” He asks with a stoic anger.

“Well, currently, I have no idea. But, I know where they’ll be.”

Ignis looks like he could pounce at any moment.

“Just as in any good fairy tale, your beloved will appear at midnight. But this tale has a twist! For your true love, you must give up the Prince…” Ardyn gets up as he speaks to pace towards Noctis.

He places a finger on Noct’s chin, raising his face, but Noctis slaps him away.

Ardyn laughs, knowing he has truly gotten to the tactician, as he walks from camp.

“Those are the terms, don’t be late.” He disappears into the forest around the camp.

The moment Ardyn fades into darkness, Ignis slams his fist down on the table, scaring everyone in camp and spilling the now cold pot of stew.

His eyes water.

How could he let this happen?

What has happened to you?

His mind flashes to all the horrible things that could be going on.

And he fully blames himself.

Why did he let his guard down? Even for a moment…that was all it took.

Can he protect both you and the prince? Right now the answer seems obvious.

He’d do anything to get you back, but how could he ask that of Noctis?

Logic tells him how unfair this trade is.

He can’t risk the future of Eos by giving up Noct, he can’t risk his brother.

But you are his everything.

He has no idea what to do.

“Hey…Specs…We’ll get them back.” It’s Noctis, a hand on Ignis’s back.

Everything seems lost…

But it can’t be.

He has to try.

“What do we know?” Ignis straightens, ready to form a plan.

The most important thing you have taught your love is the importance of the element of surprise.

Midnight falls.

Noctis stands in the middle of the base, alone.

Three airships land, spilling MTs from them.

A fourth makes its way down.

The ramp opens to reveal Ardyn.

In the shadows, you stand at his side.

“See, your beloved couldn’t even face you.” Ardyn whispers to you.

The airship hovers above the ground.

“I’m here, Ardyn! Let them go!” Noctis calls.

“I’m a man of my word, Prince. But first, how about you come up here.”

Noctis smiles, now is the time.

He warps towards the airship.

As blue sparks fly, a shot rings out.

A bullet drills into Ardyn’s chest.

Black ooze spills from his shocked eyes.

Before he knows what happened, Noctis is on the ramp.

He wraps his arm around you before warping away, in no particular direction.

The Chancellor lashes out but all that remain are blue sparks.

Ignis smiles from a nearby tower, stolen sniper rifle in hand.

The MTs are kept busy by Gladio and Prompto.

Everyone flees from the base in different directions, meeting up at the Regalia that’s parked a mile away.

You and Noctis are the first to arrive, followed by Gladio and Prompto.

Ignis stays to provide cover for his escaping friends.

Legs fueled by excitement and terror carry him to the rendezvous.

He arrives, only seeing his friends, eyes dreading not finding you.

Noctis looks up at him, smiling, and moves aside to reveal you.

It worked.

Ignis can barely believe it.

He falls to his knees and into your arms.

Desperately holding onto you.

No words are said, nothing could be enough.

He won’t let you out of his sight, ever again.

You lose permissions to get firewood.

Instead, becoming Ignis’s sous chef.

He cuddles more than you’ve ever known him to.

And stays up, just watching you sleep.

In moments alone, he’s always touching you.

“You know I love you…” “Yes, Iggy.”

He needs to be reminded that you’re here, that you’re safe.

It’ll take constant reminding that he saved you, because he feels like he failed you.

He’s tried to apologize for what happened, but you won’t have it.

But your bond is stronger now and Ignis knows that he doesn’t have to do it all alone.

Gladio

The two of you set out in different direction to get supplies for the campsite.

He doesn’t meet up with you on the path back, but assumes you’re ahead of him.

When he gets back to camp, he scans for you.

Dumping the firewood haphazardly, he asks, “Where’s [Y/N]?”

“I assumed they were with you…” Ignis responds, looking up from his cooking.

Gladio growls.

He turns on his heel, setting back out to find you.

“What’s up?” Prompto asks Ignis, joining the scene late.

“Nothing good, I fear.” he responds.

Gladio searches the area he saw you head to, looking for anything.

Everything is too quiet. Something’s deathly wrong.

Finally, he finds it.

But it’s not the sign he hoped for.

Branches are broken, the ground is trampled, it looks like the woods saw a fight.

But his heart stops.

There’s blood.

A small branch holds small drops of blood on it.

Gladio runs the scarlet liquid between his thumb and forefinger.

It’s human…and it could be yours.

He knows he can’t do this alone, so he sets off for camp.

Before he arrives, he hears the engines of an airship.

Chancellor Izunia stands before his brothers.

Gladio storms into the conversation.

Noctis and Ardyn are talking.

“And why would I show up?”

Pushing past Noctis, Gladio faces off against the Ardyn.

“WHERE’S [Y/N].” His voice booms.

“Ah, perfect timing.” The Chancellor coos. “That’s why!”

Gladio is furious, the other men are in shock.

He summons his greatsword, prepared to get answers.

“Now, now, my dear brute. If you want to see them again, you’ll follow my instructions: The prince for your beloved.”

Gladio is even more furious now, ready to strike but willing himself not to.

“You can only protect one, you best choose soon…” Ardyn sings as he turns and walks into the darkness of the woods.

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!” Gladio booms, his sword vanishing as he turns on his friends.

“The Chancellor has proposed a trade…Noctis for [Y/N].” Ignis states, looking at the ground.

“He showed up right after you left…” Prompto adds.

Noctis is quiet, unable to look his shield in the eyes.

Gladio’s blood boils.

He wants to break something, preferably Ardyn’s back.

He wants to scream, to lash out.

But his training has taught him to contain his emotions.

An image of your smiling face flashes before him.

Gods, what’s happened?

He couldn’t protect you.

What if he never sees you again…

But it is his duty to protect Noctis, he can’t give that up.

All Gladio can do is stand, rooted to the ground.

He breathes in great heaves.

His mind racing too fast to allow him to feel.

Numbness is broken by Noctis, placing a hand on Gladio’s arm.

“We’ll get them back.”

Rage turns to chaos in Gladio’s mind, but chaos can be used.

They arrive at the base just before midnight.

Airships start to rain down on the four men.

Three drop MTs, surrounding them.

The fourth hovers above the ground.

From it, Ardyn steps out, you by his side.

A long scratch runs the length of your face.

Gladio looks up, eyes drinking in the sight of you.

“The Prince…” Ardyn calls down.

All is silent and still.

“No.” Gladio responds, pulling a small control from his pocket.

He presses the button.

Bombs explode across the base.

The ramparts are aflame,

MTs are thrown about.

The Shield looks demonic, his wicked smile lit by the flames about him.

This is your chance!

Gladio knew you would know to use the chaos.

You break away from Ardyn.

“JUMP!” Gladio calls to you.

And you do, falling the distance into his arms.

You’re safe against his chest.

He doesn’t put you down as he sprints out of the base, not stopping until you are some distance away.

“Gladio, GLADIO!” You have to wake him from his own mind.

He finally slows and looks at you.

“Love, you can put me down.” You say, lovingly.

He does so,reluctantly.

You look up at him, smiling.

Before being swept into a great embrace.

“I thought I’d lost you…” he whispers into your neck.

You feel hot tears on your skin as you pet his hair, assuring him that you’re safe.

When he finally does look up, he runs a finger along the scratch on your face.

He frowns at it.

“Oh, don’t be like that! Now we match!” You joke.

For the next few weeks, Gladio is constantly with you.

He is always getting you up to train.

And holding you close at night.

He’s scared to lose you, again.

But he knows that Ardyn is hunting, now.

And the chancellor only has to get lucky once.

So he works to make sure you can be better prepared, next time.

Together, the two of you won’t be caught off guard, again.

Cor

You don’t return from a hunt, one day.

It shouldn’t have been anything you couldn’t handle.

But Cor knows something went wrong.

Icy fear grips his heart.

But he doesn’t want to worry the other hunters.

He heads out right away, when you don’t return by sunset.

He disregards his own safety, worrying about you being out, alone and hurt in the dark.

He gets to the area you were supposed to be.

But everything is eerily quiet.

There aren’t even any daemons about.

Footsteps crunch behind him.

Cor spins around, katana ready.

The blade stops at Ardyn’s cheek.

“It appears you’re missing something.” The chancellor wears a wicked smile.

He won’t let it show, but Cor’s heart just plummeted from his chest.

He knew someone may one day use you to get to him,

But he never thought it’d be today.

“Where are they?” Cor demands.

“I truly have no idea.” Ardyn shrugs before pushing Cor’s sword aside.

“But I can tell you where they will be…that base…” he points over Cor’s shoulder, but the warrior refuses to take his eyes off of the threat.

“What’s the catch?” Cor has been in this life too long to think this was going to be easy.

Ardyn smiles, “Oh, you’re as keen as I would expect. Bring the Prince with you by tomorrow night, or you’ll never see them again.”

Ardyn backs away from Cor, his footsteps vanish into the dark.

Cor sheaths his sword, before sighing and looking up at the clear night sky.

Where are you?

Why did he get you involved in this?

You’d have been better off without him.

All he can think about are the moments before you left.

He should have kissed you longer.

He should have told you he loves you.

He should have gone with you.

But he didn’t.

How was he going to make this right?

Could he get the Prince involved?

He didn’t want to, but he wasn’t sure he had a choice.

He also knew how mad Noctis would be if he found out about this from anyone else.

Weighing his options, Cor pulls out his phone.

A sleepy Prince answers.

“Where are you at? Something’s come up.”

Cor sits on the ground of the Bros’ campsite, explaining the situation.

He’s not sure what he expected from the men, but they’re more than willing to help.

They’re all determined to get you back.

Noctis is just thankful that he can help the guardian, for once.

Cor’s lost without you.

His emotions hinder him from thinking straight.

He keeps second guessing every plan he makes before it has time to develop.

Your life is too important to him to go in with anything but the perfect plan.

Luckily, now he has help.

If the boys know how to do one thing, it’s bust a base!

That’s it…that’s the plan.

When Ardyn shows up that night, there won’t be a base left standing.

Cor admits the plan is…strange.

But wrecking the great structure is cathartic.

That night, when Ardyn arrives,

Four airships hover over the wreckage of the fort.

The ramp opens, revealing Ardyn.

You stand at his side, hands bound.

Both of you are shocked as you see the wreckage.

You start to laugh.

“Well, did you at least have fun making this mess?” The Chancellor asks, annoyed at the destruction.

“Yeah! We did!” Prompto yells.

The five men bring their hands from behind their backs, revealing magic bombs in each.

“Want to join in?” Noctis returns.

Ardyn is annoyed that the men wouldn’t play his game, so he’s going to take his toys and leave.

He backs away from the ramp, dragging you along.

Cor won’t have this though.

He pitches his bomb, hitting the ship to the left of Ardyn’s.

The bomb is supercharged and covers the back of the ship in ice.

Off balance, it goes down.

“Must you…” Is all Ardyn replies as he watches the falling ship.

“We’ll give you the prince if you still want him, but give us back [Y/N]!” Cor shouts up.

Noctis is now holding more magic bombs than you thought possible.

Ardyn is completely done with this crap.

“Fine.”

He pushes you from the airship.

You’re falling, falling.

And then a force catches you in momentum.

Noct had warped up to you, catching you, before warping to the ground.

You land, a bound and crumpled mess with the Crown Prince next to you.

In the next instant, you’re swept into Cor’s embrace, held tight against his chest.

He strokes the back of your held and simply takes in your scent.

You begin to cry in his arms.

You were so scared you wouldn’t see him, again.

But here he is.

He pulls away for a mere moment, to check if you’re hurt.

Before pulling you in for a deep kiss.

Gladio jokingly cover’s Prompto’s eyes.

Ignis clears his throat, but Cor ignores him.

You both get up and Cor cuts your binds.

“Thank you, Noctis.” He bows to the Prince.

“It was nothing…just…don’t make a habit of it.” Is all Noctis replies.

The two of you return to hunting, this time, never splitting up.

You laugh at how much more romantic Cor is, now.

He kisses you more, compliments you more, and whispers “I love you” in abundance.

You always knew he loved you, but he wants to prove it.

You’re a team, you need him as much as he needs you.

You’re one of the last good things left in this dark world,

And Cor is going to make sure you know that.

Nyx

It’s a quiet day, rain is falling outside.

Nyx sits at your kitchen table, his coffee growing cold.

His drums his tented fingers.

You’re late getting home.

Far too late for comfort.

He rushes from your home, not able to be patient any longer.

Finding lookouts along the way, he checks throughout the city.

Your normal path home from work,

Your friends’ homes.

Your favorite shops.

No one has seen you.

He calls your phone, over and over again, only to hear your voicemail.

He’s trying to think through where you could be,

But fear pulls at Nyx’s heart.

Trying for the fourth time, he decides to check your home.

There’s a note on the door, this time.

“Bring the Prince to the alley in the 4th district if you ever want to see your beloved again.”

A ransom, huh?

Nyx was on to guard the young prince the next day.

Whoever has you knows a lot.

They know his schedule and they know about you.

Who can he trust?

Obviously, he didn’t trust the right person…

You’re gone.

His heart is cold but his blood boils as Nyx punches the door, denting it.

The one good thing in his life and he screwed it up.

He’s failed you…

You have to be ok…you just have to be.

Nyx calls the only people he can trust: Libertus and Crowe.

The three of them have played poker together since moving to Insomnia.

Now, they can hustle any game.

The next day, Nyx shows up to the alley.

He’s gently carrying a small, blanketed bundle in his arms.

A hooded figure with a familiar voice greets him.

“Good to see you made it.”

“Where’s [Y/N]?” Nyx demands.

Another figure comes out of the shadows, dragging you with it.

You’re bound and blindfolded, but otherwise unharmed.

Nyx breathes a sigh of relief.

“Now the boy.” The first figure demands.

Nyx looks down at the bundle against his chest.

“Then come over here. I drugged him to get him to sleep.”

Gritted teeth appear under the hood.

“Halfway.”

“Fine.” Nyx responds.

He takes five steps forward.

The first figure nods to the second, they meet Nyx.

You’re handed off towards haphazardly as Nyx carefully hands the figure the boy.

He takes your hand and turns to walk away.

“See, that was easy.” The hooded figure remarks.

“Yeah, it was.” Nyx responds.

The figure removes the blanket from around the bundled, revealing a lumpy sack.

“RUN!” Nyx cries to you.

You’re still blindfolded, but you follow where he leads.

Crowe stands on a rooftop above, waving her hands as bombs planted in the bundle explode.

Libertus and the Crownsguard are upon them as the smoke clears.

You’re a few blocks away when you finally stop running.

Nyx removes your blindfold, running his hands down your face.

“Are you ok?” He asks, looking into your eyes.

“Yes, thanks to my hero!” You say half jokingly, throwing your arms around Nyx’s neck.

He kisses you like it’s his first time in years.

You’re here, you’re safe, and he loves you.

“Libertus took my shift for the day…” Nyx remarks, lifting you off the ground to kiss you, again.

“Hmm, so you’re all mine?” You wrap your legs around him.

“I am. And I think I should start making this up to you…”

The next weeks, Nyx doesn’t leave you unguarded.

The group responsible for your kidnapping is caught, but he’s still unsure.

You move apartments, loosing your security deposit due to a new dent in the door.

You are always with Nyx, Crowe, or Libertus.

And if you aren’t guarded, Nyx is in constant contact.

He teaches you more self defense skills.

Finding you’re quite capable with magic.

But he’s also more loving.

More time is spent in each moment, each kiss, each “I love you.”

He wants to be better for you.

He now realizes that every goodbye could be the last.

But Nyx is going to work his hardest to love and defend you.

He’s not going to screw this up if he can help it.

Crowe

Snow falls on the war torn ruins Crowe walks through.

This was the rendezvous point.

It had been three days since you went missing.

You had gone out on a training mission when your whole unit was ambushed.

The others had returned, badly injured, but you weren’t with them.

Crowe feared the worst,

She just knew your time had come.

But one of the new Glaives had a message.

You had been kidnapped.

You would be returned if Crowe delivered Lady Lunafreya to this specific location in three days’ time.

She hadn’t even hesitated.

Nyx and Libertus went with her, but she had ditched them.

Giving them the wrong coordinates.

It had been three days and three sleepless nights.

Crowe missed you.

She was worried sick, but determination was her strongest magic.

This world didn’t have enough light left in it,

So she wasn’t about to lose hers.

A Niflheim commander stepped out from the ruins in front of Crowe.

He held your arm.

You were bruised, cut, and bound, but alive.

Some of your injuries looked fairly serious.

But you were so close, Crowe could almost hold you again.

“Ah, ah, ah! Where’s the Oracle?!” The nameless commander demanded.

Did he think he could take advantage of Crowe?

Why the hell did he have that idea? Was it because she was a woman?

Was it because he thought her lovesick?

He had threatened the best thing in her life, the only thing that really mattered.

He had put you both through hell,

And now he was still making demands?

She’d enjoy this.

“Oh, shit…knew I was forgetting something.”

Crowe snapped her fingers, as though remembering.

The wind around her swirled.

The Nif thought it was just the weather.

“YOU WHAT!? And you think I’m going to let them live?!”

He held a blade to your neck.

You were weak, too weak to fight him off.

“Yes…and you’re going to run if you know what’s good for you.” Crowe was pissed, no one threatened you…no one.

The commander started to laugh, trying to boast as to his abilities,

But the wind howled and swirled around him.

The ruins shook, the worst pieces coming down.

“STOP THAT! I’ll kill them! I will!”

That was it.

Crowe raised her hands and flames bloomed on the wind.

The commander screamed as they licked at his clothes.

In a single moment, Crowe was beside you.

She embraced you, quickly undoing your bindings.

“Let’s go…” she said, leading you away from the burning rubble.

You found Libertus and Nyx, having already made camp.

Crowe saw to your wounds as they berated her for going without them.

She didn’t care.

She’d burn the whole world if it meant keeping you safe.

She was gentle with you, caressing your face and using soft hands on your bruises.

You’d be on rest for the next few weeks, and she would be at your side the whole time.

You simply stared into those beautiful eyes.

“Are you done?” She asked Libertus when she finished dressing your wounds.

“What?!” He shouted, obviously not done.

“Because I have other things to do…”

Nyx began to laugh as Crowe led you to her tent.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Libertus shouted after you.

“They’re going to have sex, Libertus…” Nyx said.

“I…I KNEW THAT!!!” The best way to shut the man up was to fluster him.

Ravus

He tried to keep you a secret, but some secrets get out.

You had returned to Tenebrae before him on leave.

He arrived days later, expecting to be greeted by you,

But you were absent.

He assumed you had been kept busy with other matters.

In the Manor, he sought you out.

You were not in your quarters and the servants had not even seen you.

All of this was troubling.

When questioned, Luna said that you had never even arrived.

As if on cue, the phone rang.

A servant hands Ravus the line,

“What?” He demands.

“Oh? Bad time? I can understand if you’re cranky, missing your sweetie and all…”

It’s a younger Niflheim commander.

A brash young man who didn’t think Ravus should lead due to his birth.

He was going to do everything in his power to make him step down.

“Where are they?” Ravus’s voice alone sounded like it could murder the man.

“Oh, they’re safe. But they really really miss their little Ray Ray…”

“Enough of this.” Ravus is ready to hang up.

“FINE!” The caller is exasperated. “Resign your position and I’ll release them.”

Ravus sighs.

“Your request has been…noted.” He responds.

“Wait…what?!” The caller is confused but doesn’t have time to question.

Ravus slams the phone down.

Luna stares at her brother.

“Do you actually plan to?” she asks.

“Absolutly not.” He’s already storming off.

“What do you plan, then?” She calls after him.

“To end this pathetic game.”

He leaves Tenebrae immediatly, heading back to Niflheim.

The young man wasn’t expecting the High Commander to confront him directly.

He storms the base, walking like a storm unleashed straight to the young man.

“This…this wasn’t our deal!” He stammers.

“Where are they?” Ravus’s sword is inches from the man’s face.

“Dearest, you are so overdramatic…” you say, from a nearby doorway.

“How’d you get out?!” Now the two of you are tag teaming the young man.

He is utterly confused.

Ravus removes his sword.

“You certainly took your time.” He replies.

“Oh, yes, well his troops needed more training and I actually found some usful information.”

The young man is confused and utterly terrified, now.

You join Ravus, taking his magitech arm.

“Let’s go home, love. This idiot has taken enough of our leave time.”

He’d slowly sheath his sword before turning to walk out with you.

Stopping at the doorway, he’d call back,

“I recommend you resign your position straight away, lest this incident come to light.”

The two of you make your way to Tenebrae.

Ravus is cross with you the whole way.

“Oh, admit it! You were at least a little worried.”

He’s pouting now.

Finally, he admits it.

“Yes, I was. You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Oh, fine…I’ll make it up to you.”

Ardyn

Glaives snuck in, late at night, and kidnapped you from the base you’ve been staying in.

Ardyn is furious.

He will bring the whole world to its knees if anything happens to you.

The unit holding you agrees to trade your life for his.

He readily agrees.

You wait, surrounded by Glaives, at the reandeavous.

Your eyes are pleading with Ardyn, begging him not to do this trade.

But he practically waltzes to take your place.

Stopping midway to kiss your cheek.

“Did they harm you, my love?”

You’d answer no. The Glaives are not ones for torture.

He’d nod.

“Then worry not. I shall return to you soon.”

You’d watch them escort him out of view.

He smiles back at you.

As soon as you can no longer see them, you hear their fate.

Screams, so many screams.

Ardyn returns soon after.

“There, now. What say we go home?”

You know the fate of the Glaives, as much as Ardyn hates it.

But today, you are just thankful to have him by your side.

Bonus:

Aranea

She’d be worried, but let all hell rain down upon whoever took you.

Likely beating the crap out of your kidnapper with her bare fists.

Then berate you for being taken.

But you can bet she wouldn’t let you out of her sight for quite a while to follow.

Luna

Would have the Archeon remove the roof of the building you’re held in.

Letting your captors deal with the wrath of a god,

While she quietly runs away with you.

She’d be worried sick about you.

And not let you leave her side from then on out.

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lukeskywaker4ever · 4 years

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King Pedro V 2nd Voyage (May 20th to August 14th, 1855): France

The 1854 trip was not, in fact, the last that King D. Pedro V made through the old European continent. In the following year he made a new tour and, in the excitement of what would follow, Pedro described, in his new diary, the wonders of traveling for those who want to educate themselves: “On a trip you receive an instruction that is very different from that of books, an introduction that books do not give, that instruction that you receive just because you throw your head out of the window. A trip, and a trip mainly in civilized Europe, that of the revolutions that have changed the face of our society, that shows us the remains of great nations, the effects of political errors, is a great relief to the thirst for instruction, a momentary relief and for that reason it is painful for those who see it before them only a bad time.” This time, and to fill the gap from the previous trip, France was the starting point for a new tour. It would be, again, the ship Mindelo

carrying King D. Pedro, who was accompanied, as in the previous year, by his brother Luís.

On May 25th, at noon, the ship reached the river Gironde, which bathes the city of Bordeaux. However, at that hour, the river was no longer navigable, so Mindelo had to land in Pauillac, a few kilometers from Bordeaux. Predicting that this could happen, Emperor Napoleon III

had already made available a steam, the size of which allowed him to sail to the French city. In Bordeaux, the floor of Place de Quinconces, next to the river, “was exquisitely carpeted, and had a rich pavilion decorated with the arms of Casa de Bragança and those of the Emperor, superimposed in the colors and flags of Portugal and France. The garrison troops formed in the Quinconces square

made wings in the passage of the royal procession.” When the French steam, which brought D. Pedro and D. Luís, docked: “A royal salvo announced the landing of the Augustos Viajantes; the drums played the generala; the songs played the Portuguese anthem, and the cheers of the Emperor and the King live from all sides. The population of Bordeaux was crowded on the quay, the prospect was magnificent and pompous, and the weather that had become excellent contributed to the brilliance of the ceremony.”

A sumptuous carriage had been placed at the disposal of the King of Portugal, taking him to the Hotel de Ville,

where he was accommodated. In that same space, a “banquet of 35 place settings” was waiting for him, that is, for 35 diners. In the short stay of just one day, Pedro had the possibility, right after the banquet, of watching a play in the theater where “the rich of Bordeaux are seen strutting, eager for pleasure and possessing the means to satisfy them.” However, he did not stay to meet them. The destination was Paris and he headed there. The next day he left Bordeaux to take the train in Orléans that would take him to the main Gallic city. On the way, after being delighted with the architecture of the station, he had time to admire the bridge over the Garonne,

“one of Napoleon's great public works.” As he crossed France, he meditated on the advantages and disadvantages of large and small farms: “While I did not read the story impartially, I believed in the goodness of the property division, today I am more reserved and more illustrated in my opinion .” In Paris, he had the opportunity to talk about the matter, once again concluding that the big property was the best: “Everyone lamented, like me, the extreme division of property and some [individuals] I have heard triumphantly refute the argument of the advantage of interested the small people in the territorial property and consequently in the order. I said it above that the extreme division of property is a socialism and a communism that has the only advantage, and this is very considerable because of its results, but intrinsically insignificant, of not being nailed to the side of a platform that is less than the saddle of a cavalryman. It is a communism with all its evils, except that of Mr. Proudhon's communism, who unfortunately is not incarcerated in Charenton with Fourier and all this school of men of doctrines who, during 20 years of practice, have shown their complete nullity and uselessness.” D. Pedro wished to see in Portugal large farms managed by responsible owners.

As for the railway, which he used between Orléans and Paris, he criticized the way the engineers had planned it: “It is what I have against men of doctrine, it is that imaginary life that prevents them from looking at reality . So, this railroad that crosses a very rich country out of respect for the geometric principle that the straight line is the briefest space from one point to another, passes away from important cities, it seems that to follow its route to the letter. railway title from Paris to Bordeaux.” Then he commented: “The bureaucratic administration of countries that enjoy the so-called benefits of centralization, centralizes the country's geography; geography is centralized, he thinks it has centralized the country's interests.”

Arrived in Paris, only the Portuguese were allowed to enter the station, in order to kiss the hand of their sovereign. Escorted by a cavalry honor guard, the chariot carrying D. Pedro and D. Luís, went to the Tuileries palace.

There they were expected by Napoleon III and his court and, after due cordiality and introductions, Napoleon personally led his guests to the rooms prepared for them in the Marsan pavilion,

in that same palace. The room for D. Pedro was carefully prepared, ending, in fact, a surprise that touched young Portuguese. Napoleon III “ordered the portrait of His Augusta Mother Mrs. Dona Maria II

from his nostalgic memory to be placed in El-Rei's room, and the August Guests were manifestly touched by such exquisite delicacy, shaking hands with the Emperor in a sense and silent recognition .” After dinner, where Pedro and Luís were able to exhibit the Legion of Honor

that had been conceived for them the previous year, the fatigue of the trip made them retire to their rooms by ten o'clock at night.

In the Tuileries, on the following day, May 27th, he attended a Mass, in the company of the French Emperor, who celebrated that Pentecost Sunday, having appreciated the fact that he attended Mass in uniform, which, in his opinion, contrasted with the procedure by Luís Filipe de Orléans,

who “did not hear mass, so as not to have natural science teachers, doctors and economists against him.” Then Pedro was finally able to see Paris and, as such, monuments and parks received his presence. He looked discreetly at Chantilly's horse racing

and, in horror, at a vaudeville theater. He then visited the Grenelle well,

the slaughterhouse and an establishment for the education of the blind. In general, comments about the visit are more banal than those made during your first trip. At one point, he compared London and Paris, saying that the former was a serious city, while the latter would be frivolous. He commented, in the following way, on the way the two peoples looked at their respective governments: “While the revolution of 1640 lives in the memory of all English and while the spirit of self government animates each member of that monarchical republic, where the sovereign is everything and nothing, the French people leave the care to think of the events to a few, that of governing those who carry out their interests.” The fact that Dom Pedro admired England did not prevent him from feeling any resentment against the country. The Universal Exhibition of Paris,

which he visited, made a good impression on the spirit of the monarch, who found the European continent's industry well represented. Even if promoted by the government, the Exhibition was, in his opinion, a worthy response to the British challenge: “It is the Continent to show that the germs it presented in London have developed and that it has learned to take advantage of the great lesson.” After the official visit, he returned there, repeatedly, with his brother, but incognito, certainly with the desire to escape the hustle and bustle that his presence created, serenely seeking to admire the exhibition without interruption or agitation. The Museum of Natural History

had a dubious effect, it did not criticize it directly, on the contrary, but it reflected the modesty of the collections: “In general, the collections suffer from a certain modesty, very fatal, which is also prevalent in our land , which is their lack of resources and their bad administration because, as everyone knows, the wise are not made to settle accounts. ” The big problem, according to him, was the centralizing tendency that drowned out all the forces that existed in societies: “and politician that we voted for after the people blindly left the centralizing power to think for them…”

The avalanche of visits took him to bed, this time with an attack of headaches, which the doctor treated with mustard synapisms in the bellies of his legs. The disease had a compensation, received the visit of Napoleon III and the Count of Morny,

then President of Parliament. Two days later he was recovered. During the visit to the Cluny Museum,

he reflected on the nature of constitutional government, exhibiting the mixture of idealism and pessimism that would characterize it: “If there was not so much suspicion against the real power, if the ministers did not love the portfolios so much, there were more who wanted to tell the truth to kings and their ministers, and the people understood their interests better, in short, if man were as he should be and not as he is, the best form of government was found; but that form will not see it for our generation or the next, if it is possible that man can never see it. ” D. Pedro would never understand the reasons that led men to walk “bad ways”. For him, mistakes were anachronisms. Pedro and Luís also visited the Louvre Museum,

the Palace of Versailles,

the Navy and the Artillery.

Of everything he saw in Paris, and it was not little, he especially liked the parades, which shows the fascination that everything that was military has always exercised over D. Pedro. The night of the 4th of June was spent in Campo de Marte,

in a “highly poetic” environment, with 30,000 bayonets glowing, alongside 48 cannons, in a march that had as its backdrop “the cheerful and bellicose chirping of 6000 horses ”. He was excited: "Only those who have no soul, do not feel anything, do not feel a pleasant shiver, seeing what is most admirable in the world, how man managed to subject hundreds of thousands of men to one will." The next day, he had to go for a walk in the streets, something he looked at in a pedagogical way, that is, as something planned with the objective of “studying the physiognomy of the daily life of this great city, so full of grandeur and defects and which focuses on itself in human science and serves as a starting point for spreading over the earth.” In addition to shopping, he visited the Sèvres porcelain establishment, which motivated him to reflect: “I confess that sometimes, when I feel the lack of means that the king of Portugal has to satisfy the most innocent passions, it is precisely when I feel possessed by the desire to own what I see, but I must console myself with the idea that what is beautiful in art belongs to everyone, is, for many, the source of indefinable enjoyments that the owner often does not feel.”

Then he took off from the Vincennes polygon,

the Casa da Moeda,

the cavalry school in Saumur,

the National Archives,

the School of Bridges and Sidewalks, an Exhibition of Agricultural Machines and the Imperial Library,

where he discovered some Portuguese works , such as, for example, the Chronicle of Guinea. On the 13th of June, after a dinner with the general staff of the armed forces, he spoke, for once, of D. Luís. He did it in a negative way: “I slept all the way and was already in bed when the brother returned from the Grand Opera House,

where he had gone to see the first performance of Verdi's Sicilian Vespers. I did not envy him the pleasure of listening to such good music; I had seen Saumur's school while he was having fun.”

On the 21st of June, preparing to leave Paris, the guests were again surprised. At seven o'clock in the morning they received the presence of the Emperor and the Empress,

who made a point of saying goodbye to the travelers once again. The gesture touched the Portuguese and the farewell was made of hugs and commotion. Napoleon did everything to ensure that nothing failed and made available, again, a French steam that waited for D. Pedro and the rest of the party in Marseille. Until then, they passed through Lyon, where they watched a search of the troops and a simulacrum of war, visited establishments and bought a souvenir, but from England. It was a silk portrait of Queen Victoria and her husband. On the 23rd of June the imperial train left for Marseille, but with a previous stop by Avignon, where the former palace of the popes

was visited and admired. At the next exit, the retinue boarded the steam provided by Napoleon. They were going to Italy.

#king pedro v of portugal #xix century #grand tour #portugal #france #king luis i of portugal #emperor napoleon iii

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hermeticimp · 5 years

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Underwater Ariel’s Your Eeveelution Tarot Spread - My Results

Hey! I’ve been meaning to do with this one for awhile and now I finally have the energy to sit down and do this. Eevee has always been one of my favorite Pokemon, so when I saw this spread by @underworldariel, I was ecstatic to try it!

I used both of my decks again in this reading: The Linestrider Tarot and The Arcana official tarot deck. Below is a picture of the cards.

Eevee - Current me

I drew The Tower (L) and Six of Cups (A). Right now, I’m in the midst of massive changes and revelations. I’ve been delving more into my spirituality, which has forced me to come to terms with a lot of issues. It’s been intense and I’m still finding my path, but I know it’s for the best. I’ve already started to see some of the benefits. My revelations have lead me to explore my past, both in regards to past lives and past memories. Some unbidden feelings have been drawn up, but most of the past reminders have brought me joy. I know that exploring my past is a key to growth. I have to deal with past problems, confront them, and let them go. My personal history is important, but making sure I change from that past is equally so.

Jolteon - What sparks my energy and revitalizes me?

I drew Two of Wands (L) and Four of Wands Reversed (A). My spark lies in growing more independent, starting new endeavors, and cleansing my life of things that may be holding me back. Lately, I’ve been spending more and more time considering what I want versus any expectations of what I should do. I’m pursuing a path that best suits my needs and interests. I’ve always been rather indecisive and worried about how others might feel about what I do. All that’s done is made me doubt and ignore myself. I’ve been feeling a lot more energetic and excited since I’ve turned away from that. That’s led me to start deciding what it’s time for me to leave behind. It make shake up my stability and old habits, but hey, out with the old, and in with the new.

Flareon - What inspires your drive and passions?

I drew Four of Pentacles Reversed (L) and Eight of Cups Reversed (A). My drive and passions are inspired by material desire and trusting my instincts. Let’s face it: I enjoy beautiful and new things. I like to surround myself with things that either remind me of myself or of the beauty of the world. It’s my way of dealing with my fears of the world and my own insecurity. It’s a trait I have to work on though because it can lead to danger if I end up overspending. Beyond earthly pleasures, developing my intuition is a huge driving factor with me. I want to push this ability to its full extent, but at the same time, I know I shouldn’t let my passion get ahead of me. I’m working at the right pace for me and I’ve seen plenty of results. I’m just excited to see where I’m going to end up.

Umbreon - What’s the shadow side of you that nobody sees?

For this, I drew Strength Reversed (L) and The Devil (A). How apt, is the first thought that comes to mind for a question like this. The side of me that nobody sees my inner strength and my perceptions. I am a strong person. I know this for a fact. Even when I get hit with my depressive episodes or anxiety, I know I can handle it. People tend to underestimate what I can and can’t deal with. It’s rather irritating to be seen as capable in one scenario, but needing to be treated like a child in another. I’ve dealt with a lot of crazy shit on my own, shit that set me down to the depth of my spirit in despair. But guess? I’m still hear, kicking and crawling my way back up every time. The flip to this is that everybody doesn’t see just how much I can doubt myself and how dark my mind get. I can hurt myself like nobody else can. Overcoming that has been part of my journey to hell and back. I have so many self-imposed boundaries that have hindered me. No one has seen just how desperate and dark they’ve made me and they never will. Slowly but surely I’m ripping each of those boundaries apart. Only time will tell what will happen then.

Leafeon - How am I blossoming and growing?

I drew Queen of Pentacles Reversed (L) and Nine of Pentacles Reversed (A). Right now, I’m blossoming into someone who is more compassionate, loving, understanding, nurturing, and productive. This period in my life has given me plenty of opportunities to expand on my skills and outlook. The more I experience and come to understand, the more my nurturing side evolves. I’m aligning with the Universe and opening my heart. I’m coming to understand what I’m capable of and how to achieve that. This is a time for me to work hard and push forward, to embrace my prosperity. I must also be careful not to be so preoccupied with my moving forward and avoid the relationships that important to me. Those are just as vital to my life as anything else.

Sylveon - What is my magical talent on Earth?

I drew King of Swords Reversed (L) and The Chariot (A). My magical talent lies in my intellect and drive to succeed. Even if I may not necessarily consider very ambitious, I know what I want and I go after it. I utilize my logic, strength, courage, and wisdom to explore my desires, see what’s feasible, and implement a method to achieve it. I’m in control of myself and my destiny. Sometimes, that also means knowing when to let go. As good as I might be at being rational, I also know that cultivating my intuition is equally important. I’m aware of when and where to use one or the other and when to use both. I’m here to succeed at my mission and use what I learn to advise others. That’s where my truest abilities lie.

Glaceon - What’s something that I need to ice out of?

I drew Death (L) and Page of Swords (A). Something i need to ice out of is holding onto the past and letting others dictate my path for me. This theme has already come up. I’ve let so many things from the past remain unresolved and as a result, they’ve dragged me down. Finally learning to make peace with them will let me move on. I also feel Death is telling me that, even though I’m experiencing changes, I need to realize i’m not really becoming someone else so much as I’m becoming who I already am. I need to let go of the idea that I’m changing into a radically different person. All the messages I’ve got lately is that everything I need are the things I already have. I’m not being told to do anything but trust in myself and what I can do. I’m not being told I need to become a new me. This message resonates deeply. I already understand so much... I’m just letting insecurities cover that up. The Page is reminding of that along with not letting others hinder me. Spiritually, I’ve been wanting to post more here about my own ideas. However, I see how judgmental people can be, which makes me hesitant to. The Page is telling me to ignore that. I know how I feel and why. I understand my beliefs better than anyone else and they come from a place of deep reflection, research, and intuition. I don’t need to worry about those who might criticize me, but to focus on saying what I need to and knowing who needs to hear it will.

Espeon - What’s an innate fact of me that my soul knows?

I drew Wheel of Fortune (L) and Ace of Pentacles Reversed (A). An innate fact that I know on a soul level is my ability to take things as they come. Or in other words to go with the flow. Now, this isn’t to say that I just passively accept things as they come. It means that I know how to adapt to the circumstances that have come at me. If there’s one thing I’ve never doubted much about myself, it’s my resiliency. When dealing with things, people have told me how admirable it is that I’m still a loving and strong person despite what I’ve gone through. I kind of shrugged it off, usually because I felt it was nothing special. Others have dealt with far, far worse. It’s just how I am. Nonetheless, it’s something I appreciate. Even in the lowest moments, there is a part of me that knows that it’ll blow over. I’ll get through it, just like everything else. My episode will pass, these horrific memories will pass, the exhaustion and self hate will pass. I know how to adapt and survive no matter what the circumstances are.

Vaporeon - What is something that is powerfully fluid about me?

I drew Nine of Swords Reversed (L) and Page of Wands (A). And now we come to the very last set. My mind and energy are incredibly fluid. I’m a naturally anxious person. I have GAD. My mind runs at a mile a minute and it can be a Herculean task to get it to calm. However, it’s something I can work with. Even at my worst, I know how to adapt and still get what I need to get done completed. Whether it be school assignments, basic chores, adventuring, emotional turmoil or whatever, I know how to work with it. The human mind is capable of some incredible and unbelievable things. When I despair, I channel it into my writing, my art, or my musical skills. It’s something I can transform into something positive instead of just letting it eat me alive. My energy is similarly adaptive. I have intense highs and lows, which I work with. Understanding how these aspects of me work allows me to accomplish my dreams. I dash forward in my bursts and fall back in my lows. It’s what keeps me working my way up.

So those are my eevelutions in full. I had a lot of fun with this! Spreads like this make me want to delve more into pop culture magic, tarot, and self reflection, so thanks to April for creating and sharing this! I’ll have to try my hand at this kind of thing sometime in the future, maybe pretty soon~.

#underwaterariel #tarot spreads #eveelutions #eveelution tarot #tarot #tarot readings #personal readings #personal growth #eevelution tarot spread #readings

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beyond-far-horizons · 5 years

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The Theme of Love, William Blake, DMC 5 and the fate of the Sons of Sparda

I’ve always loved symbolism and literary references in my favourite stories so I’m ecstatic to see the incredible William Blake join Dante Alighieri as a major influence on the Devil May Cry series.

Is before the game’s release too early to do some meta? Of course not!

So let’s dig deeper and see what possible plot points or themes we can glean from Blake’s work and other symbolism for what the dev team have said will be the conclusion for the ‘Sons of Sparda’

Spoilers abound - read at your own risk!

William Blake was a 18th Century English poet, artist and mystic who created his own complex religious mythology for his works. Sadly not widely known or respected at the time, he nevertheless had an increasingly powerful influence on the arts.

The main themes Blake grappled with were the hypocrisy of the Christian Church against what he saw as the natural forces of the imagination and sexuality. He was also very concerned with the effects of the Industrial Revolution on society, especially on the poor.

So he’s a good guy, but how does this relate to the Sons of Sparda?

Vergil and Urizen

The big bad of Blake’s mythology as most of you know by now is a god-like figure called Urizen. Blake hints that Urizen is the Christian/Abrahamic God but he is most similar to the gnostic Demiurge figure and represents according to Wikipedia ‘ Urizen is the embodiment of conventional reason and law.’

Now who do we know who puts cold logic above emotions?

‘He is said to represent the Heavenly host, but he experiences a Satanic fall in that he desired to rule. He is motivated by his pride and becomes a hypocrite. When Albion asks for him, Urizen refuses and hides, which causes him to experience his fall. After his fall, Urizen set about creating the material world and his jealousy of mankind brought forth both Wrath and Justice.[4] Wikipedia

Urizen being cast out from Eternity. Book of Urizen

Guys, it even says ‘motivated by pride’, what more do you want? More than this, Vergil does literally fall, unable to accept his loss to Dante and the path of emotion and honour Dante represents - the true inheritor of their parents’ will.

Despite Vergil’s coldness, he is filled underneath with anger -

‘What defines Vergil as a character to me is that while he seems like the perfect samurai in his very calm and calculated demeanor, you can always sense the simmering intensity and even rage.’ Dan Southworth

Yet he also exhibits a strange sense of justice such as refusing to stab Dante in the back as Nelo Angelo and pride in being a Son of Sparda TM.

In DMC 5 Urizen is described as a newly ascendent, powerful demon who seeks to use the Demon Tree to become king over the Demon World and (presumably via his actions in Red Grave City) merge it with the Human World. It’s been pretty much confirmed that Vergil is big bad Urizen in some form - from Dan Southworth’s re-pitched voice, Urizen’s looks - the blue colouring and spiky hair - and V’s assertion that Urizen is the Cloaked Man who stole Yamato - Vergil’s sword and who also has Dan’s voice and Corrupted Vergil’s looks. Also his scheme the same power grab Vergil tried in DMC 3 and the manga.

This being said, what does it tell us about Vergil’s motivation (sorry) in DMC 5? For this we need to look at the rest of the clues...

The Poison Tree

DMC 5 starts with the roots of the Demon Tree ‘Qliphoth’ invading Red Grave City and bringing with it a hoard of demons. It also seems to use the population’s blood as an energy source creating a demonic ‘fruit’ at its source that will grant the power to rule the Demon World according to demon Goliath.

This relates to Blake's poem "A Poison Tree" where, through suppression of anger, the protagonist’s rage grows like a tree and bears a fruit that kills his foe.

‘The allegory within the poem emphasizes that when a person hides or denies their emotions, they will become poisoned with bitterness and more vengefulness.’

https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-theme-poem-poison-tree-thank-you-144241

Again who do we know hides or denies their emotions? Given how closely the dev team are using Blake’s work this implies that Vergil as Urizen in some form has become consumed with bitterness and vengence, something we already saw from him in DMC 3. Added to this is his loss of pride at being the slave and puppet of his mother’s killer (Mundus) and being defeated by Dante a second time in DMC 1. We see this callousness in the way he treats Nero - his only child who he’s never met and Dante again in front of the tree.

(Interestingly this quote could also refer to Dante as a plot twist. I’d argue that although Dante is a lot freer with his emotions he perhaps hasn’t dealt fully with the rage and pain that life has dealt him - what do you think?)

Another interesting note is the word ‘Qliphoth’ which comes from Jewish mystic branch Kabbalah and means -

‘literally "Peels", "Shells" or "Husks" (from singular: קְלִפָּה‬ qlippah "Husk"),[2] are the representation of evil or impure spiritual forces in Jewish mysticism, the polar opposites of the holy Sefirot.[3]’

The Sefirot are emmanations of the Divine that manifest into this world and the pattern they are depicted in is also like a tree so the evil version makes the ‘Qliphoth’ a metaphysical demonic tree.

If we look at Urizen he looks like tree-like husk encasing another figure, connecting them to this tree. Trailers and promo material have also shown people encased in husks feeding the tree and the theme is repeated with Cavaliere Angelo being powered by Trish.

Does this hint that Vergil’s true nature is being obscured by Urizen or that, like in DMC 3 his pride and lust for power still obscure his caring side like the husks in Kabbalah?

In a Korean interview the dev team said DMC 5 will return to DMC 1′s theme of love (something I’m absolutely crazy about.) Sparda’s choice to protect humanity and love a human woman, Eva’s sacrifice for her sons and Dante and Vergil literally embodying the two human ways of dealing with the pain of that trauma have always been the most captivating aspect for me. Hopefully this means we will finally get the conclusion we lacked from DMC 1 and DMC 3 to that essential dilemma - is the best way of life via compassion and altruism or domination and control via dispassionate reason?

Or maybe a combo of both?

Love, Lust and Nero’s Mother

The DMC team have been remarkably coy about Nero’s mother which has always irritated me. It fridges another mother/lover character as well as denying us juicy( and I’d argue) essential story details aka why Captain ‘I Hate Humanity and Repress My Emotions’ would ever deign to sleep with a human.

But since the Korean interview hints at the theme of love perhaps we will get an insight at last, especially if we get the long awaited confrontation between father and son.

Blake’s writing gives us an interesting hint to this. In his mythos Urizen’s female counterpart is Ahania who stands for pleasure and the desire for intelligence. They have many children including a rebellious son called Fuzon who fights against his father’s repressive ways (Nero anyone?). But the crucial part is Urizen separating himself from Ahania because he believes pleasure is sinful or limiting - just as Vergil separated himself from human desires and emotions because he thought of them as weak. But also like Vergil, Urizen becomes weaker as a result, losing his intuition, for the path to Divine Wisdom accord to Blake was passion and reason - something Dante grew into, becoming more balanced and mature as the series has progressed.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we get some callous remark from Vergil about Nero’s mother at first - was he with her out of lust which disgusted him afterwards (wasn’t Nero’s mother hinted at being a prostitute?), or was it an experiment as someone else has suggested to see if he could recreate Sparda’s power via his connection with Eva or ven some creepy deal with the Order of the Sword to continue Sparda’s bloodline despite his intention to raise Temen-ni-gru and show them ‘this devil’s power’?

Whatever he says it will cause more of a rift, but I believe at the end Vergil will be forced to confront her importance even just as the mother of his child, along with other significant figures like Nero, Dante and Eva.

Nero and Urizen’s son Fuzon

"1: Fuzon, on a chariot iron-wing'd On spiked flames rose; his hot visage Flam'd furious! sparkles his hair & beard Shot down his wide bosom and shoulders. On clouds of smoke rages his chariot And his right hand burns red in its cloud Moulding into a vast globe, his wrath As the thunder-stone is moulded. Son of Urizens silent burnings

Blake

‘As the element of fire, the element symbolizing the energy Urizen wishes to subdue, Fuzon rebels against Urizen...battling him for control of the world’ Fuzon Wikipedia

This sounds much like Nero’s reckless and impassioned battle with DMC’s Urizen for control of the Human World.

Unfortunately for Fuzon he is eventually defeated by his father and crucified on the Tree of Mystery - yet another powerful tree symbol.

This is not looking good for Nero...but since Blake’s works develop, the element of passionate rebellion and the quest for the reunion of reason and imaginative emotion continue and I can’t see Nero dying at the end of DMC 5 so perhaps there will be a resurrection of sorts?

Dante and Luvah/Orc

But where does Dante figure in all of this? Can Blake’s mythology give us some potential answers? He does in the double figure of Luvah/Orc (no, not that sort of orc...)

Orc. William Blake

As Luvah - ‘he represents love, passion, and rebellious energy..’ he is also known ‘as the Prince of Love, and his name may be connected to the word "lover". Love is the supreme emotion, and it is connected to all others, including hate...his fallen form is Orc. Throughout Blake's mythological system, he is opposed to Urizen, the representation of reason.’

Orc is also ‘the embodiment of rebellion, and stands opposed to Urizen, the embodiment of tradition...’ He is a ‘"Lover of Wild Rebellion, and transgressor of God's Law"... Orcus is also the Latin word for Hell, and Orc is presented as a rebellious, Luciferian character.’

We can see Dante’s human and demonic aspects in these quotes.

Urizen and Luvah/Orc engage in a complex battle across the cycle of ages as a metaphor for the conflict between reason and the emotions - just like Dante and Vergil. He also gets crucified to a tree (not looking good for Dante either then...) but resurrects in various forms including (Blake being a Christian) Jesus. In this resurrected form Urizen is afraid of the new Luvah - perhaps in DMC terms this is when we see Dante’s Majin form? Either way I think both Nero and Dante are going to be called on to make some sort of sacrifice fighting Vergil as Urizen, hopefully to bring him back to the light and free him from the evil husk of hatred.

Healing the Division

‘Later in Vala, Orc describes the divided aspects of the soul, which, in Blake's mythological system, God has a twofold essence that is capable of good and evil. This idea parallels Blake's personal belief that there was a division within himself..’.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orc_(Blake)

The symbolism of divided aspects of God and the soul within Blake’s system hark back again to the division between Dante and Vergil and Vergil and Nero. In the manga Vergil reflects on Dante and him being one being split in two. The aspects of their all-powerful father were also split between them as Sparda was also known as being calm like Vergil and rebellious like Dante as reflected in his two swords given to each respective son. And of course there’s that ‘pesky’ human nature from Eva.

Nero too has grown into his own, arguably as some have said being more like Sparda than either of his sons, willing to sacrifice his power because of his love for a human and protect other humans for her sake. Hopefully as hinted in both the Korean interview, the works of Blake and the core of Devil May Cry, it will be the theme of Love that will finally bring the family of Sparda together and heal at long last that division.

V and the Poetry of Blake

Despite being the mouthpiece for a lot of Blake’s poetry I’m not going to talk much about V except to refer you to this great post from la-vita which lists alot of his quotes.

https://la-vita.tumblr.com/post/182731950816/two-of-the-poems-v-reads-during-battle

It says that V’s book may refer to the ‘V’ of DMC V, Blake’s Plate 5 he is reading, however...

‘Urizen is described as having multiple books: Gold, Silver, Iron, and Brass. They represent science, love, war, and sociology, which are four aspects of life.’

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urizen

Hmm...

Thanks for reading if you got this far!

#dmc 5 #devil may cry 5 #dmc #devil may cry #Vergil #dante #nero #v #meta #my meta #william blake #long post is long

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drrove · 6 years

Text

I DM’d an odd D&D session over the weekend, and wrote up the details for one of the players that had to miss it. I figured I’d share the “dramatization” portion that I did. I write these up occasionally for particularly interesting events I want to expand upon.

In this session, the party was searching for a mysterious shapeshifter/alchemist named Dr. Rodgers due to his apparent interest in helping them defeat the very enemies he was currently helping. The PC, Dirk, had a strange infatuation with Rodgers, but never told anyone why. They’ve just found Rodgers in his underwater facility, which is actively falling apart due to their earlier battles with dangerous monsters and doppelgangers.

The PCs are Dirk, Newton, Thomas, Tr’Car, and Freyjadour (disguised as someone named Sebastian at the beginning.) Something very unexpected happened at the end that actually brought the entire session to a halt. If you’d like to give it a read, continue on after the break!

"It's not going to hold," Tr'Car insists, leaning his whole weight against the door as water streams in around the frame.

"Why did you have to rip it off its hinges, Thomas?" Newton scolds.

Thomas covers his ring of telekinesis self-consciously. "You said 'Get it open as fast as you can.' That was the fastest way."

"Sebastian," Dirk turns to the changeling, "don't you have an immovable rod?"

"Yeah, I guess," Sebastian sighs. They slide it against the door and active its immovability. "But now I'm not getting it back."

"We'll see," Dirk shrugs. They look at the buckling door for a moment as Tr'Car gingerly steps away. "Yeah, you're not getting it back.”

"What the hell happened here?" Jenny asks. The party looks around the "zoo" to see caged creatures of all sorts left dead or dying. Sebastian tries to read minds of the creatures, but none yield anything.

<It's him,> Thomas says telepathically, retreating into the shadows. <Rodgers. At the end of the room. Magical.>

Newton brightens his staff and squints into the darkness. "Dr. Rodgers? Is that you?"

"Oh, Newton," a disheveled, mustachioed man holding a large syringe steps into the light, "it's good to finally meet in person."

Dirk strides forward quickly, hand outstretched. "Pleasure to meet you."

Rodgers shies away from his offered greeting and even dodges when the mercenary tries a more direct touch. "You are familiar. Yes, I certainly know you. But that was something new. More powerful than I remember. Good."

<What are you doing?> Newton queries angrily, trying to position himself between the two men.

Dirk backs up, but doesn't take his eyes off Rodgers. <We need to dispel his magic. He could be dangerous.>

<Of course he's dangerous. And provoking him will only make matters worse.> Newton knows Dirk is up to something, but can't quite figure it out, and decides to treat the dragon-breather with caution. He looks at the mad doctor, then to the syringe in his hand. "What's this?"

"A potent poison," the zern replies matter-of-factually. "I am bidding my children farewell."

Tr'Car looks closely at one of the dying creatures, a crocodile-like humanoid with a scything tail, as it lays languidly on a pile of shredded blankets. It watches him a moment through bleary, black eyes, then puts its head down and expires. Tr'Car frowns.

<We can't stay long,> Jenny insists, <this place will be underwater any minute.>

"You called us here and claimed to have something of great value to us if we help you escape," Newton says to the doctor, "what exactly do you have?"

"And why do you need our help?" Dirk adds. "You seem like a resourceful enough... 'person' to make your own way."

"The political winds have shifted against me, it seems," Rodgers confesses, "and it will take more than clever disguises to evade my enemies in the city on the surface and elsewhere. I will need to find an associate of mine quickly after my escape is made good."

"And the 'something of great value?'" Newton presses.

"Ah, of course." Dr. Rodgers drops the syringe into a case of its brethren and makes his way to the back of the long room. "Could I enlist some help from the half-giant?"

<He's asking for your help, Tr'Car.> Newton looks at his companion, then back at the doctor. "What do you need him for?"

"I must move this chest. It possesses the material necessary for your reimbursement."

"What are you talking about?"

Dr. Rodgers pokes his head out of his little nook as Tr'Car approaches and looks confusedly at Newton for a moment, then smiles. "Oh, you are not aware? I created the illithid mind slugs, and I can reverse engineer a solution. This would be of great value to you, correct?"

<Holy shit,> Thomas projects.

<Yeah,> Jenny agrees. <We need to get him out of here.>

Newton insists.

<Ask him when we're safe,> Jenny counters, <this place is coming down.>

As if to confirm her warning, a loud bang issues from the leaking hatch. Then another. Thomas sighs. <Great, and that damned shark-dragon's back. We need to go.>

<Dirk,> Newton looks to the man, <can you teleport us?> Dirk stares distractedly at Rodgers. "Dirk!"

The mercenary seems to awaken. <Teleport? Yes. But not everybody. Only myself and one other.>

<There's still room in my portable hole,> Sebastian offers. They open the hole and nod invitingly to Rodgers. "Your chariot awaits, doctor." The doctor smiles awkwardly and motions for Tr'Car to lead the way with the chest.

<It's a little crowded in there already, don't you think?> Thomas insists, reminding them of the eight humans and giant apparatus of the crab already stored inside. He speaks privately to Newton. <I'm not getting in there and leaving my fate in the hands of Dirk and Freyjadour - or Sebastian or whatever it's called.>

<Me neither,> Newton agrees, <what other->

"Tr'Car! Stop!" Thomas lunges at the half-giant just before he enters the portable hole. He grips onto the handy haversack around the big man's waist. "This is basically a bag of holding. You don't put a bag of holding into a portable hole. Things go bad." He looks the giant over seriously and communicates privately. <Get back out when you're done. We're not letting Dirk call the shots.>

The giant nods and detaches the object before entering the hole with the chest.

"What other exit options do we have?" Newton asks.

"I can dimension door to the surface," Jenny offers, "but that won't get us far from whatever trouble Rodgers has here. We'll need to move fast."

"Air walk can do just that," Newton notes.

"I can teleport us," Dirk insists. "I can take us right to the elven lands, if you want. Easy as pie."

"This will work just fine," Newton replies, no longer able to mask his distrust of the mercenary.

"Fine," Dirk shrugs with a vaguely hostile smile, "I'll keep the scroll and you do all the work. Sounds good to me."

The banging on the door continues, and water begins to pour in more quickly than ever. <We need to go,> Thomas reminds them.

Tr'Car exists the portable hole, retrieves his handy haversack, and the party gathers around Jenny for a dimension door. She envisions the vector of travel and begins casting.

<Resist the spell.> Thomas hears the voice in his head and looks to see Dirk staring intently at him. Before he can respond, Jenny completes the spell and he feels the telltale tug of dimensional travel. He makes a split-second judgement call, and deciding Dirk is not to be trusted for anything, accepts the spell. In the blink of an eye, Thomas finds himself stainding within a copse of trees on the outskirts of town.

“Damn it!" Thomas looks at the empty spot where Dirk and Freyjadour had been. "Get back down there! Dirk's trying to screw us!"

Jenny doesn't question nor hesitate, and immediately returns the group to the underwater laboratory. But it's too late. Dirk and the changeling are gone, along with the portable hole and Dr. Rodgers.

<Dirk!> Newton shouts telepathically to the mercenary. <Where are you??>

<Everything is fine,> Dirk replies calmly.

<I'm getting us back out of here,> Jenny informs them. She pauses to grab a few of the poison vials Rodgers left behind, then expends a third dimension door on herself and her allies, just as the creature outside the metal door finally breaks it in.

<You son of a bitch!> Thomas growls through his mind. <You have no idea what you're doing!>

<We need him.> Newton says. <He's the key to stopping the illithid!>

<Sebastian... Freyjadour and I just need to have a chat with the doctor first,> Dirk claims.

<Tell us where you are,> Thomas threatens, <or I guarantee I'll find you and cut that smile->

Dirk reminds him. <You declined.>

<I'm coming for you, Dirk.>

<Freyjadour,> Jenny tries, <where are you?>

<Somewhere safe,> the changeling replies, dispassionately.

"They're going to kill him," Thomas says. He looks at Newton. "Dirk's going to kill him, and Freyjadour's going to let him. She's part of all this."

"Let's not jump to conclusions. What are our options?"

"We contact Aldritch and Aulaura. They'll track him down, and then we knock some doors down until we find that bastard." Thomas turns red in the face with rage.

"Fair enough. I'll use a sending," Newton agrees. "But we should put some distance between us and the town, first. Let's air-walk for a bit."

"We can't waste time," Thomas warns. "Who knows what they're doing right now?"

-------

Dirk slips down the alley with Freyjadour close behind. He stops in front of an unmarked door and taps out a stilted pattern of knocks. A shutter slides open and two probing eyes inspect them. The shutter closes, and the door opens.

Dirk thrusts a hand-full of gold at the burly doorman. "I need a private sanctum. Now. And call for your jailer. I need anti-magic cuffs and four guards outside the room ready to dispel if necessary."

The man grunts the affirmative, sends a scrawny man after the jailer, then leads the two adventurers to their private sanctum. Dirk shoves more gold into his hands, then slams the door in his face without another word.

"This should work," he paces the edge of the room, searching for any secret listening nooks. "This should work fine."

"What exactly is your plan?" Freyjadour asks, sitting calmly on a sturdy, metal chair. She looks around the sparsely furnished room and determines it can serve only one purpose: interrogation. She turns her mind reading on the mercenary, but his mind is inscrutable.

“I would have preferred an antimagic chamber, but this is the best I can hope for at my price point."

"And I can't open the portable hole in antimagic," Freyjadour noted. "Speaking of which, they'll be needing some fresh air soon."

"Give it a minute." Dirk continues to pace like an animal, his nerves clearly fraying. "When we get the antimagic cuffs, you go in and get Rodgers-"

"Why me?" Freyjadour doesn't like that she can't read the man's mind. She's done it before, and she knows what Rodgers means to him.

"He clearly doesn't trust me," Dirk argues. "You'll have better luck."

"No," Freyjadour remains cool, trying not to show her discomfort with the fire-breather. "Don't take this personally, but I don't trust you to make the right decisions. You'll go in and get him. If you don't bring him out alive, you're not coming out. I'll gladly let you suffocate."

"What about the people you promised to rescue?" Dirk challenges "Those innocent maintenance workers are still in there."

"Collateral damage," Freyjadour bluffs. She feels a genuine desire to help them, but can't crack in front of this desperate man.

"Fine," Dirk shrugs, "I'm going in. I'll create a solid fog before you open the bag in case he decides to run. You open up, I go in, I bring him out in one piece and still breathing. We have a conversation."

"That suits me just fine."

"Do you hear that?" Dirk squeezes his eyes shut and rubs his head. Freyjadour raises an eyebrow. Dirk chuckles, but with a hint of mania. "Thomas is singing. I guess it's just me. What a scamp. Haha." The laugh is disconcerting. Freyjadour still can't read his mind.

A knock comes on the door. Dirk barrels to the handle and opens up to reveal the jailer and a squad of dangerous-looking mercenaries. She holds up the pair of antimagic cuffs, but withdraws them when Dirk reaches out. "Down payment."

Dirk carelessly tosses a bag of coins at the woman, then snatches the cuffs. "Two hours." He slams the door in her face and stalks into the middle of the room. "Right here."

Freyjadour stands cautiously and produces the portable hole. She prepares to lay it down on the floor and nods seriously at Dirk. He produces the solid fog, and she opens the portal to the pocket dimension. Just before Dirk steps in, she puts out a hand. "Your efficient quiver. Just like a bag of holding."

Dirk laughs and removes his backpack, along with the quiver. "That could have been a disaster." Then he laughs again, and casually drops the entire bag into the portable hole. "Oops."

Freyjadour reaches out for it, but grasps at empty air. The portable hold vanishes in a snap and a flash. The only indication it had even been there are the faint spots temporarily burned in the changeling's retinas. In the blink of an eye, Rodgers and those men ceased to exist. "Why?" She stumbles back. "Why would you do that??"

Dirk dispels the fog and drops the antimagic cuffs on the floor. "Can't you read my mind?" He looks at her with a satisfied smile. <He made the monster you see. You think I wanted to be this monster? I'd do anything to kill him.>

"Those people..."

Dirk shrugs. "Collateral damage, didn't you say?"

"My organization... our companions... the brain slugs!"

"Not my problem. Good luck with all that." Dirk walks casually over to the door and exits. "Looks like I didn't need the two hours. Keep the change." He struts down the hall, whistling an up-tempo tune.

The jailer weighs the second bag of coins the mercenary just gave her, then looks inside the room to see Freyjadour sitting stunned on the concrete floor. "You still need time?"

--------------

"This is the song that never ends..." Thomas sings quietly to himself as the the four remaining members rest in a remove ravine. Newton sits, legs crossed, busy with the long task of casting sending to Aldritch. Jenny stalks invisibly around the edge of the ravine on the lookout for anybody that may have followed them. An unlikely eventuality at the speeds they were traveling.

Thomas glances at Tr'Car, who seems fascinated with a beetle. "You're awful quiet."

"Hm." Tr'Car replies with a nod. He picks up the beetle and sticks it in his sack.

Thomas hums some more under his breath and watches Newton in his trance. "Has it been ten minutes yet?" Nobody replies. He stops humming and sighs. "I'm going to kill Dirk. I'm going to get an army and dig him out of whatever hole he's hiding in and I'm going to kill him. If he kills Rodgers..."

"I spoke with Aldritch," Newton says. "He'll meet tomorrow in a town in the Arcane Empire where he'll provide teleportation the rest of the way to his school."

"Good." Thomas hums some more, then stands up angrily. "What the hell are we doing??"

"If you have a better way to find Dirk, I'm all ears," Newton replies. "Seriously. If you know anything we can do, please tell me. I agree that Dirk clearly has some terrible plans with Rodgers, and I'm kicking myself for letting him do this to us. I feel like an idiot. The man is clearly insane."

“Jenny," Thomas says. "She can detect cysts."

"I removed his cyst," Newton points out, "and I'm not comfortable with her using that kind of necromancy."

"I thought you wanted to find him."

"Let's not go down that hole," Newton warns. "Besides, as I said, the cyst has been removed. It's a moot point."

"I suppose." Thomas looks up on the ridge where Jenny continues to keep vigil. <Jenny, I know you put a cyst in one of those workers that went in the portable hole. If they released them->

she says. <They're not on this plane.>

A familiar voice speaks in all their minds. <Dr. Rodgers is dead. Dirk killed him.>

Thomas curses loudly and throws a psionic dagger into a tree. He points an accusing finger at Newton. "He killed him!"

“What are you pointing at me for?" Newton groans. <How? What happened?>

<You let this happen, Freyjadour!> Thomas interjects. <You've killed our chances of rooting out the illithid and for what?? What have you gotten out of all this, you...> he searches for a word that doesn't also apply to himself, <you assassin!>

the changeling admits, <but I thought he would give me time to get information. He just... he destroyed the portable hole. Everything inside. Everyone. I swear I was going to try to learn what he knew about the mind slugs. And I was going to let those people go... For what that's worth.>

<It's worth nothing!> Thomas says.

Freyjadour agrees. <I'm sorry we had to end our relationship like this. I want you to know that he fooled me just as much as he did the rest of you.>

<Jenny, can you dispel this?> Thomas covers his face in frustration. <I'm tired of this.>

<Wait, don't-> Newton protests, but the magic vanishes. "Thomas! We need to think about this."

"What's to think about? Dirk and Freyjadour screwed us. Rodgers is dead, and so is our hope to figure out these brain slugs. What are we supposed to do about that?"

Newton glares at the petulant elf-kin, then shakes his head in defeat. "I don't know."

"So what is going on here?" Tr'Car asks.

"Were you even paying attention?" Thomas grumbles. Then something clicks in his mind and he stares at the half-giant. "Were you just speaking common?"

Newton stares in disbelief. The voice is clearly not that of Tr'Car. "Oh, Pelor."

"Hmmm..." the impostor shrugs, "it seems I have been discovered. I am Dr. Rodgers. It sounds as if things have gone poorly."

"You went in the portable hole," Newton says, still in shock. He thinks. Where's Tr'Car?"

"I think that should be fairly obvious," the shapechanger replies. "I do hope I misheard the news of his fate."

Thomas stalks around, breathing quickly and shaping psionic daggers. He suddenly stops and turns to Newton. "He killed Tr'Car." Furious tears well in his eyes. "Dirk killed Tr'Car. I'm going to kill him. I'm going to kill him. I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" He looks at the false Tr'Car. "You sent him to his death."

"I had anticipated that the deception would have been quickly discovered," Rodger says apologetically. "We would all have a good laugh and move on."

"Is anybody laughing?" Thomas asks.

"No, it seems not." Rodgers shrugs. "To be fair, I was asking for help, and it seems my suspicions that my life was in danger were true. At least I can still help. That's good, right?"

"We need him," Newton acknowledges. "Thomas, Dirk did this. Rodgers, start talking. How do you intend to deal with the slugs?"

"Ah, I'll just need to get the chest we brought along."

"The one you put in the portable hole?" Newton looks at Thomas and his heart sinks. "The portable hole that was just destroyed?"

Thomas turns on his heel and starts to walk away. "I need to find something to stab."

#writing #d&d

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