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bookoformon · 8 months

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Alma Chapter 45. "The Long Circular Cycle."

The account of the people of Nephi, and their wars and dissensions, in the days of Helaman, according to the record of Helaman, which he kept in his days.

Comprising chapters 45 through 62.

CHAPTER 45

Helaman believes the words of Alma—Alma prophesies the destruction of the Nephites—He blesses and curses the land—Alma may have been taken up by the Spirit, even as Moses—Dissension grows in the Church. About 73 B.C. "The Grapeskin."

Helaman means "To testify with strength."

A by-form of the previous: the verb חלם (halam I) means to be strong.

Verb חלם (halam II) means to dream, and its derived noun חלום (halom) means a dream.

The verb ענה ('ana I) means to answer or respond or even to testify. Obviously, a verb like this occurs all over the Bible -

These curious parallels suggests that the Hebrews saw dreaming as something cyclic; see our full dictionary article on these words for a closer look at dreams in the Bible. Also note the similarities in form with the חלל (halal) cluster.

1 Behold, now it came to pass that the people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy.

2 And it came to pass in the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Alma came unto his son Helaman and said unto him: Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those arecords which have been kept?

3 And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe.

4 And Alma said again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?

5 And he said: Yea, I believe all the words which thou hast spoken.

6 And Alma said unto him again: Will ye keep my commandments?

7 And he said: Yea, I will keep thy commandments with all my heart.

8 Then Alma said unto him: Blessed art thou; and the Lord shall aprosper thee in this land.

9 But behold, I have somewhat to aprophesy unto thee; but what I prophesy unto thee ye shall not make known; yea, what I prophesy unto thee shall not be made known, even until the prophecy is fulfilled; therefore write the words which I shall say.

10 And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in bunbelief.

11 Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become aextinct—

12 Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and alasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come.

13 And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall ano more be numbered among the people of Nephi.

14 But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be anumbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even cuntil they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled.

15 And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to Helaman, he ablessed him, and also his other sons; and he also blessed the earth for the brighteous’ sake.

16 And he said: Thus saith the Lord God—Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the cblessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the dleast degree of allowance.

17 And now, when Alma had said these words he blessed the church, yea, all those who should stand fast in the faith from that time henceforth.

18 And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla "place of enlightenment", as if to go into the land of Melek "the Kingdom". And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of.

19 Behold, this we know, that he was a righteous man; and the saying went abroad in the church that he was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, even as Moses. But behold, the scriptures saith the Lord took Moses unto himself; and we suppose that he has also received Alma in the spirit, unto himself; therefore, for this cause we know nothing concerning his death and burial.

20 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Helaman went forth among the people to declare the aword unto them.

21 For behold, because of their wars with the Lamanites and the many little dissensions and disturbances which had been among the people, it became expedient that the aword of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church.

22 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the land which was possessed by the people of Nephi. And it came to pass that they did appoint bpriests and cteachers throughout all the land, over all the churches.

23 And now it came to pass that after Helaman and his brethren had appointed priests and teachers over the churches that there arose a dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of Helaman and his brethren;

24 But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God.

In the Nineteenth Year, it is prophesied that 400 years after the coming of Christ, the world will devolve. Alma "the National Spirit" nonetheless declares peace and tells America, "the strength of testimony comes from obedience to the commandments" in hopes such devolution shall not come to pass.

One year in Gematria= 581, החא‎‎, ha, "the Seeing Eye."

19 Years=820, ח‎ב אֶפֶס, "Zero debt."

400 Years=1253, אבהג abhag, "To move forward only to go in circles."

In verse 22 and 23, the preventive measures for the end of time more or less is to establish as many churches as possible and ensure they all preach against the behaviors named in the New Commandments, which are siblings to the original, but even still after all the trouble the country has seen, the people refuse.

Thus begins a long epoch during which precious little goes well or comes easily.

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natjennie · 2 years

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Whats your deal OFMD S2 opening scene?

ok GREAT question sorry it took me a minute to answer. here are some ideas because I'm really extra:

I'll put the text below the cut in case those are hard to read

A choppy ocean, camera in and out of waves, night, dark, splashing, gasping breaths as Lucius’ head breaches the surface. He’s shaking and spluttering, frantically thrashing, looking around horizon, sees nothing, starts panicking, cursing, very dangerous feeling, quick cuts. Then, he sees a dinghy with a few occupants at the very edge of the horizon and starts screaming for help and stede’s voice screams back “Lucius? Is that you?” and lucius deadpans “you’ve GOT to be kidding me” and, as a bonus, a sopping wet red handkerchief smacks into the side of his head as he “what the FUCK” cut to some of stede’s old stuff as flotsam in the ocean, spelling the title card

Very similar mary monologue from e10, talking about the joys of being a widow for the second time, how free she is to love doug, how now the kids know and can talk about it openly, everyones happier. “The one thing they don’t tell you, though, is how often your dead spouse turns up at your door” as she opens the front door to stede standing in the pouring rain, barely holding his hand over his face to conceal himself with the swede, olu, buttons, wee john, black pete, and roach all crowding around behind him, looking around nervously as he smiles and goes “there’s been a bit of a situation” then cut to an extended sweeping pan of all the pirates spread out around the house with maps and books open, mary bent over a plan being written by stede, offering notes as doug serves tea to the crew, alma and louis running around playing with some of them, asking about pirate stuff, zoom to one of the pages spread across the table that reads “our flag means death”

Spin on that ^ but the monologue ends with something like “though I could use fewer men showing up in my living room” and it’s blackbeard, looking like absolute shit, dramatically stepping into the candlelight to reveal the scruffy beard, the makeup, “the widow bonnet, I presume?” “you’ve heard of me” “oh I’ve heard all about you” parallel. He has izzy/fang/ivan/etc watching the kids and doug, has a chat with Mary about stede’s death, series of miscommunications, finally they’re on the same page about stede not really being dead, being on his way back to some “ed” guy he loves, they work everything out, become kind of friendly and she’s like “your names not really blackbeard though, right?” and he says “heh, suppose not, no. I’m Ed” as he leans forward to shake her hand and her eyes widen, fancy classical violin music as “our flag means death” is spelling in the tea spilled from her dropping her cup in shock

Another parallel im sorry (insert the girls when theyre finding parallels meme), izzy rant of “its been almost a fortnight since blackbeard returned, and I’m beginning to believe stede bonnet may have been more of an asset than he originally appeared” with a horribly indignant growl in his voice, compilation of blackbeard being a real hot mess, throwing things, breaking shit, drunk all the time, burning ships without even getting the loot, breaking into tears in the middle of doing something intimidating, etc. izzy comes in to the old quarters and ed is wrapped in a little cocoon of stede’s finery, wailing, chucks a bottle of rum at izzy and it smashing against his head and he leaves and growls “enough! Ivan! Fang!” and they meet him off to the side and he sighs and goes “find me stede fucking bonnet” as they mutter assent, trails up to the mast, up to the stabbing heart flag, new flag under that says “our flag means death”

#Anonymous #ofmd #our flag means death #my writing #???

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themountainsays · 2 years

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It is I, soul mate anon, once again in your inbox!

To answer your thematic post somewhat, it is a common aspect of the color AU that when a person loses their soulmate—usually via death—they lose the ability to see in color, which I do think adds an extra layer of tragedy to Alma’s overall situation. Imagine just, on top of losing the love of your life and being a single mom now expected to to lead an entire community you ALSO lose your ability to see in color, which you only had for a few scant years. For HC purposes I like to think Alma met Pedro when she was Isabela’s age and married him at like 24 to match with when the triplets were born, just because it adds so much to the Isabela and Mariano parallel and Alma simultaneously projecting onto Isabela but also trying to give her the life she never got to have, so she would have only seen in color for three or four years when she loses it.

Damaged soul mate bonds aren’t as common, but I do love the idea so consider: if the lie about Isabela seeing color with Mariano starts at 16, then Antonio is in the picture and well, Antonio HAS to have a gift ceremony. At some point Alma tells Isabela after Antonio’s ceremony, she will add to the family’s happiness by marrying Mariano some days after (age pending depending on how much angst you want if Isabela started doing her flower language rebellion).

And this is the thing, now it’s REAL. Now Isabela is staring down the barrel of a gun to a definitive end, to being committed to marrying Dolores’ soul mate for the rest of her life, and she panics. Mirabel can’t have this. Mirabel can’t keep being part of her orbit if it all ends like this, Mirabel deserves better and she can still marry someone for love, but Isabela HAS to quash this connection between them. She couldn’t help Dolores, but she can help Mirabel.

And if she has to help Mirabel by being cruel? She can do that, too. Even if it breaks her heart to do it and the colors start to fade again.

"Bullying you because i love you" done right 😭😭😭😭

Omg that's devastating it's heartbreaking it's everything i look for in sister/sister AUs it is BEAUTIFUL.

She's tried to resist having her soulmate taken away her whole life, and now... She's trying to sever their bond herself. She has to stop playing around. Stop leading herself on. Kill any remnant hope or love or happiness left in her.

Not only is she trying to better stick to her duty by cutting away Mirabel - She's trying to cut away the light she brings to her life, all the joy and tenderness and color that she represents.

#madrigalcest #isamira #shipcest #isamira soulmate au #😭😭😭

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filmista · 4 years

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The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

"Chess isn't always competitive. Chess can also be beautiful. It was the board I noticed first. It's an entire world of just 64 squares. I feel safe in it. I can control it. I can dominate it. And it's predictable, so if I get hurt, I only have myself to blame."

It’s not often that something beautiful originates in the dark basement of an orphanage. Eight-year-old Beth Harmon (Isla Johnston) gets to know the stoic janitor Mr. Shaibel (Bill Camp) when she cleans board erasers over his leaking sink.

There’s a wooden board on the table, and from the moment Harmon's gaze falls on Shaibel's chess pieces, her life is dominated by a want to understand and dominate in the age-old thinking game.

At night she imagines the positions of horses and runners sliding across black and white surfaces on the ceiling of her dormitory, a hallucination fuelled by the rigorous pattern of the Methuen Home in which the orphans are administered sedatives on a daily basis.

In her later life, this imagination always helps her to be a few moves ahead of her opponents, but the question remains whether she ultimately won’t succumb to addictive substances at the same time.

The Queen's Gambit tells the coming of age story of a chess prodigy. The series is based on the 1983 book of the same name by Walter Tevis. Tevis, who himself played chess competitively in his youth, named the book after a well-known opening maneuver of the game.

To laymen, such a storyline may sound boring, but the makers of The Queen's Gambit still managed to turn it into a compelling drama about a young woman who tries to get into a male stronghold in the 1960s.

It’s admirable that the series really deals with all aspects of chess and that it does so in a visually compelling way. From scholar’s mate to the pitfalls of the Sicilian defence. Also discussed are the mental pressure, the tricks, the tics, the opening strategies, end games, seconds and the loneliness of being at the top.

At its core though, The Queen's Gambit is about addiction and obsession. Already at the orphanage, Beth at the age of 9 becomes dependent on sedatives that give her visions of imaginary chess games and winning strategies on the ceiling. As a teenager, she also becomes an alcoholic which threatens her chance at a chess title.

Anya Taylor Joy, previously seen as the sophisticated Emma (2020) in the film adaptation of Jane Austen's costume drama, stars in the role of the young adult Beth Harmon who struggles with an unbridled addiction. The series gains momentum when the 14-year-old orphan is adopted by the Wheatley couple, she trades the austere home for the floral wallpaper, stiff hairstyles and colourful dresses of the American 1960s.

The piano-playing foster mother Alma (Marielle Heller) fills the lack of perspective and the void left by her absent husband with wine and sedatives, a welcome discovery for Beth. When her foster mother finds out that there’s money to be made from chess tournaments, they travel the world together. The game between the stoic adolescent who wants to become a grandmaster at all costs and the foster mother who profits from her success and unscrupulously turns her dear daughter into a drinking buddy, is cleverly played out.

The characters aren’t just black and white. The manipulating foster mother also has a soft side, the childhood trauma that caused Beth to lose her biological mother becomes more apparent the more often she runs up against her own demons and limits. Yet it’s striking that director Scott Frank has chosen not to give the heavier themes the upper hand.

The impact of the oppressive sexism and segregation of the 1960s remains, sometimes too much so, in the background. Frank's world of lively chess fanatics speaks especially of the love for the game, the hyper-concentration with which, the struggling Beth beats her opponents continues to fascinate.

Director Scott Frank who previously made Little Man Tate, about an exceptionally gifted little boy. He based his new series on the 1983 book by Walter Tevis (who also wrote The Hustler and The Man Who Fell To Earth). The author also struggled with addictions and a permanently displaced state of mind.

In seven parts the character of Beth, a star role by Anya Taylor-Joy, is thoroughly explored. The relationship with her stepmother is important, as is the absence of a father, in a parallel with chess geniuses Bobby Fischer and Gary Kasparov.

The Queen's Gambit was a sought-after book among filmmakers for many years. One day Heath Ledger would make his directorial debut with it, but his death put an end to the project. Actually, the story lends itself quite well to a seven-part series, which extensively discusses the beautiful and more challenging sides of chess.

#never thought I’d be so into a show about chess #one of the best shows I’ve seen recently #finished it in 3 days #the queen’s gambit #the queen’s gambit 2020 #series #tv series #scott frank #anya taylor joy #review #filmista

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evak-fic-rec-turtleanon · 3 years

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Evak Fics - Mpreg

For anon who asked for mpreg recs ages ago. Here’s the kid fic list.

* Other languages at the end (Español, Norsk)

I'll be there by Wolle19 (SERIES) - Part 1: All Isak want is for his husband to be home for the holidays. Even works making documentaries, so being home for the important dates is not a easy task.

What to (not) expect when you're expecting. by AnonymousPoet (1k words) - “Listen” Isak starts, suppressing a groan when a fresh wave of cramps from hell decides to make his life even more miserable. “Satan’s fucking cha cha-ing inside my intestines.” Just then, the face of his smiling boyfriend appears from the kitchen, when he moves towards Isak holding a cup of what smells like tea –even from two solid feet away. He looks smug, the bastard.

give it all by Skamtrash (2k words) - Isak gets pregnant and doesn't want the baby but Even does

love under the waves by reasoniwantyoutostay (2k words) - Merman Isak goes out to collect food for his husband and their coming bundle of joy. Unfortunately he gets stuck in a bad storm and has to wait it out overnight. Throughout the night his thoughts return to the day they met and all the adventures they've had since then.

A Thousand Isaks by TheFilthWithin (Flatfootmonster) (2k words) - "I'm just so fucking gross.” There was no other word to describe it, Isak had whined. “What?” Even snorted the word, disbelieving to what he was hearing. It was either a well-rehearsed act or it was genuine, either way, Isak was grateful.

see it showing by verlore_poplap (orphan_account) (2.6k words) - Three times Isak doesn't know; and one time he does.

Shattered Glass by Hibiskisss (3.2k words) - When I was a child I used to think that love could be stronger than all the problems that life confronted me with. I had been convinced of its power, extent and consistency. But love was not infinite. And time could not heal wounds. Angst.

Don't leave your pregnant omega home alone! by cloudowl (3.3k words) - Isak is left home alone for too long. Even comes back and makes it all better again, even if it was his fault to begin with.

Chapter 1 of Parallel Universes by Eccentricstate (3.6k words) - This chapter is Omegaverse and it sort of follows the original story until about a fourth of the way (plus some extra stuff, obviously). The rest is basically heat sex, so....

(WIP) Mathias Bech Næsheim (English) by JesseLBlack (6.5k words) - After two weeks of an intense relationship, Even disappears from Isak's life. The youngest is distraught and feels that he will not recover but he does so, for his son Mathias (Valtersen). The baby is product of the relationship between them. Four years later they meet but the situation is different. Is Isak able to face his son's illness and the pain of seeing his child's father again?

(WIP) Make You Feel My Love by shk_1991 (7.6k words) - Being a 19 year old prince isn’t fun when you’re Even… His parents are desperately trying to find him a mate but it isn’t easy when your son is an omega and has to be wed before his 20 birthday. One night Even sneaks out of the castle with the help of his best friend and servant Mikael…Here he meets a certain green eyed boy who takes his breath away… Could this be love at first sight?

(WIP) love is what it takes to live by sargentblue (14k words) - "Well, shit." Well, shit, was right. It was an accident, obviously, and the little stick that Isak holds in his hand is the certificate that confirms their mistake. "I took my birth control," Isak says straight away. Even is still looking at the two little red lines in shock.

you told me we were forever by Skamtrash (18k words) - Post Mpreg. Isak finds out he's having a baby soon after Even breaks up with him so he makes the decision not to tell him. Except Even finds out on his own 3 years later.

we're growing together, throwing the seeds byorphan_account (27k words) - He tilts his head up and smiles. “I think… I want to have a baby.” Even lets a blinding smile slowly spread over his face. “Yeah?” Isak and Even take on pregnancy.

(WIP) Medically Speaking by Ms_Tassimo (46k words) - Working as a hospital porter was not how Even Bech Næsheim saw his life ending up. But here he was; mopping up sick after a stupid mistake. However, the hot doctor with the nice smell? That just about makes up for it. Too bad Dr Valtersen seems like a bit of an asshole with a hell of a chip on his shoulder.

I Wasn't Expecting That by RobronSugdenDingle (54k words) - Isak's always said that life is now. But after a drunken one night stand, Isak quickly learns that one small child can change his life. Life is no longer now, life is stressful, complicated and in desperate need of a clean up. And whatever you do..... Don't fall in love with your best friend…

I think I might be pregnant by orphan_account (79k words) - sak is nineteen, Even is twenty-one, and they had a plan. A plan that they've very, very carefully stuck to. Until, that is, Isak gets sick and can't seem to figure out what's wrong with him. Spoiler: he's not sick.

I think I'm pregnant. Again. by orphan_account (71k words) - A part 2. Isak is twenty-three. Even is twenty-six. They had a plan once, but plans are overrated anyway.

You Are Everything I Have Never Been by staylucky (78k words) - Isak Valtersen is an unpresented, soon-to-present omega who is convinced his best friend Jonas Vasquez is his alpha mate until he meets a very charming and persuasive new alpha, Tall Stranger aka Even Bech Naesheim, making him question everything.

(WIP) You, Me, and Jellybean Makes Three by wordsarelifealways (94k words) - Part 3 of The Magical Universe of Isak and Even. The much awaited sequel to A Universe of Our Own! This picks up immediately after the epilogue of AUO3; the boys find out that Isak is pregnant.

(WIP) A Different Breed by wordsarelifealways (114k words) - The Næsheim family: cold, distant, and socially elite. When Even has his worst episode yet it's the final straw. His parents want him on a new drug to finally straighten him out; the only problem? It's been known to leave patients infertile. Solution? Hire an omega to have Even's child before he's no longer capable of having one.

***** OTHER LANGUAGES *****

(Español) Hijos de Isak y Even by JesseLBlack (SERIES) - Par1: Isak tiene 17 años cuando se entera que está esperando un hijo de su reciente novio Even. Al parecer Even está feliz con la noticia, pero mientras pasa el tiempo minuto a minuto las cosas se complican entre Even e Isak, sobre todo cuando Even pierde su empleo e Isak queda embarazado de nuevo. Mpreg. Sin Omegaverse.

(Español) Padres por elección by JesseLBlack (3k words) - Even quiere ser padre y contrata a una empresa que es un centro de reproducción saludable, donde tiene un hijo con Isak Valtersen, un chico que necesita el dinero. La historia de amor vivida por Even. Es corto y no tiene mucha descripción, pero soy una perra cuando se trata de Even siendo papá.

(Español) Cuando encuentras la felicidad. by JesseLBlack (4.2k words) - Even es un romántico y cree en las almas gemelas, todos tienen una ¿no? Y él trata de buscara desde que tiene tres años. Pero nadie contesta, ha tenido decepciones de posibles almas y sigue sin responder. Hasta que un día responde y deciden encontrarse. Pero probablemente no es lo que espera Even.

(Español) No mires hacia atrás by JesseLBlack (4.7k words) - Isak es hijo de dos personas extremadamente religiosas, con mucha homofobia internalizada. Y él es gay, que ha entregado su cuerpo a alguien que no lo merece.

(Norsk) Historia om oss by duerikkjealeina (4.8k words) - ”Fyrste gong eg såg pappaen din var eg 17 år gamal. Han var 19 år og gjekk øve skulegarden som om han eigde den"

(Norsk) Er vi lykkelige no? by Frieda Echte (Plommesill) (53k words) - There is one mention of mpreg in the notes of this fic. If this doesn’t have mpreg, let me know! Jeg får tak i Evens blikk, blunker til ham. «Har du det bra?» han former ordene lydløst. Jeg har det dritbra, dette er den beste bursdagen, de feteste vennene, den deiligste typen. Jeg har en øl i hånden, livet er bra. Jeg smiler, ser sikkert ut som en tulling. Vi følger Isak og Even videre fra Isaks 18-årsdag. Dette er deres første sommer sammen, og de vet det ikke ennå, men den kommer til å gi dem både gode og dårlige dager. Heldigvis er alt love <3

#evak fic rec #skam fic rec #mpreg

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pesewla · 4 years

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aight since this is a loaded question i’ll try to organize my thoughts haha...

will they interact more?

YES, ABSOLUTELY. i have reasons too. several. buckle up

1. we still don’t know why tyki looks like nea.

ofc, this is more of a joyd/nea interaction than a tyki/allen interaction, but i also think learning the answer to this will be crucial for both tyki and allen understanding their noahs, their past, and each other better…

2. tyki and allen are highly paralleled characters.

heck, they first meet each other while both cheating at cards for basically the same reason - for their friends (allen to get krory’s clothing back, and tyki for the fun of it but also because his human friends need money to survive).

their main motive is emotion, not logic. tyki’s noah is driven by the need for pleasure, which he finds through killing and destroying, and tyki’s human side is driven by his love for eze and his human friends. and essentially all of allen’s actions are driven by his residual love and respect for mana. he restores his innocence purely to resume killing and freeing akuma, which he feels so much pity and sadness for because of his experience with mana. allen goes to the black order only because cross (who had ties to mana) ordered him to, not out of his own free will.

both of them recently experienced events that upheaved their allegiances and bonds. for allen, he was betrayed and basically left for dead by the order. for tyki, he’s just beginning to understand how little he knows about the noah’s past and goals; after meeting nea, he expressed a fervent desire to learn more about him, even if that’ll shift his whole world paradigm.

they both struggle with their light and dark sides. the only difference is that tyki finds joy in having both; allen is kind of in denial of his noah still, but he also expressed a desire to learn more about nea after the third exorcist incident.

so all of these parallels lead me to believe that, like other aspects of their character, learning the “truth” should come at the same time for them.

3. literally whenever tyki and allen interact in canon it sets off an unstoppable chain reaction of character development…

for tyki, his inability to get rid of allen led to tyki hardening his (questionable) ideals and putting more deep thought into his actions beyond just killing “for the fun of it”. tyki never thought about innocence at all before allen, which road points out in the ark. dealing with allen seriously forced tyki to consider why he was doing what he was doing, not just how it felt in the moment. even if he doesn’t change his ideals, putting more thought into his actions is kind of the first step towards autonomy & not just blindly listening to joyd.

for allen, tyki is actually pushing him towards a balance between light and dark. this was first hinted at when allen and tyki’s fight in the ark led allen to procuring the white sword from his arm. the white sword resembles nea’s sword, which he used to massacre the noah, but the difference is that allen doesn’t want to kill tyki. crown clown balances between the desires of nea (absolute massacre) and allen (who simply wants to go back to playing cards and peacetime). later on, tyki is the one who encourages allen to figure out just “what” he is, rather than trying to decide between his noah and innocence all at once. seriously, it’s so obvious that tyki is trying to help allen…

4. tyki has expressed in multiple ways that he’s looking forward to seeing how allen deals with his noah.

i doubt he’ll give up on that.

5. no other characters share the same experience as the two of them.

neither of them really understand their noahs, and they usually do so in tandem.

i mean tyki has been present in all stages of allen’s transition into a noah - first in the ark where he becomes the Musician, then in the alma arc where nea awakens, and then when he’s forced to leave the order…etc. so i think it’s likely he’ll continue to play a large part in how the chips fall there

the reason why there are several fics about allen being raised as a noah is because it is plausible. both allen and tyki are people that struggle against their nature and fate, and literally one of the only things separating them is how they were raised. so, they’ll continue to propel each other through their plot and character developments…

what will eventually happen between the two of them?

okay i’m not going to be overly optimistic here.

allen, for the most part, still sees tyki as an enemy or a threat. allen wants to spare tyki and for tyki to live, but that’s only because allen has witnessed his humanity - in other words, he thinks tyki’s noah is bad and tyki’s human side is good.

i think the main part of their development from here will hinge on allen changing the way he sees noah in general, not just tyki. it’s overwhelmingly clear that allen’s perception, and by extension the audience’s perception, of noah is skewed. we don’t have the full information on them, but i imagine they have motives outside of the “destruction and chaos” one-track mindset that was pinned on them in the beginning. most likely relating to the pillar.

it’s very likely that allen and tyki will, more or less simultaneously, learn the truth about nea and the “third side” of the war. allen will be forced to do so since he’s nea’s host, but tyki will most likely seek out the information, as he declared that he would. in this, both allen and tyki will be pushed more toward a “grey” area - coming from allen’s initial white “goodness” and tyki’s initial black “badness”. i have hope that allen and tyki will learn about these facts together. that would be pretty fitting.

as allen learns more about the third side of the war, he’ll be more accepting of tyki and see him more as an equal or, at the very least, another victim of the holy war.

tyki already basically considers allen a comrade or is willing to - even though he was ordered by the earl to protect allen, i don’t think he was faking the shouts of concern as allen took on apo lol. but as TYKI learns more about the third side of the war, he’ll likely stop pressing allen to give up innocence and decide “what” he is. i imagine he’ll sympathize even more with allen, even if joyd still hates him for being nea’s host…

what are your hopes for them?

okay now here’s my chance to be optimistic.

i really really want tyki and allen to have a conversation as equals. their interactions frustrate me so much - tyki has so much respect and admiration for allen but he’s always so coy! and allen, like i said previously, was only able to cooperate with tyki when he was emotionally panicked. otherwise, his “I’M AN EXORCIST” button flicks on and he’s forced to act tsundere.

please, please hoshino let them play another game of poker, just laughing and having fun. i want to see tyki humbled. i’ve been thinking this ever since their dialogue when fighting in the ark.

i want tyki to get mad at nea for possessing allen. i KNOW he’s thinking it. i want that “give the boy back” moment so badly.

i hope that someday they can talk about tyki destroying allen’s innocence. i don’t really think allen’s hurt about it anymore, especially since it was a key factor in his growth as an exorcist, but i wish there was like… some stage of forgiveness or repentance. not that tyki is capable of that, but hey.

other people have definitely said this - idk where the post is but i love that one - but having a meal together like tyki wanted??? that would be so symbolic and AH\

anyways i know this was pretty lengthy but i just think tyki and allen are excellent characters and their similarities and differences speak volumes in terms of the overall good&bad message of dgm. always too long winded. with loves

#dgm #d gray man #tykillen #poker pair #repost cuz the other one broke #tyki mikk #allen walker #d.gray man #they kinda kill me #my writing

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magicalforcesau · 4 years

Text

Dancing with Ghosts in Your Garden ~ Chapter 1: Year 1- Summer

Ao3 link:

Summer came and went with the fleeting heat of a fever dream for young Anakin Skywalker. Aside from his general distaste for summer as a season with its blazing sun and sandy beaches, the overall course of the months seemed to elongate simply because for the first time in his entire life, he was excited to go to school.

He’d never belonged at school with the muggles. Not only did he constantly have to stress over hiding who he was, which frustrated him to no end, but he was somehow still painted as a freak. This would lead to Anakin getting into some form of a scuffle, which would result in accidental use of magic.

His repertoire of indiscretions included, but was not limited to:

Sending a student into a never-ending hole in the ground

Floating up and away

Causing a bully to only be able to breathe underwater

Pantsing another bully in front of a pretty girl (okay, he didn’t use magic for that one)

Making a parent on the PTA turn mute

Transforming his entire class’s musical instruments into live snakes

Burping the alphabet, but with explosive fire (this was more of a result of spicy foods than confrontation)

Turning a teacher into a fat purple penguin

And this meant he often hopped around schools like it was a playground game. He’d never had that many friends, and when he did, he understood that it was never meant to last. Honestly, none of the magical situations he got himself into were on purpose. They simply transpired from a raw energy within him, or so his mother always defended when the Ministry of Magic came calling.

This didn’t make the face she made every time he returned with an expulsion notice any easier. She insisted that she wasn’t mad and that she loved him regardless, but he knew that somewhere deep down she wished she had a child that didn’t force her to uproot her life so often.

It helped that she was also a wizard, but she’d given up that life in favor of the muggle world and sought to raise Anakin in it as well. She never used magic, save for the rare moments where she had to hastily put out a fire or turn a person back into their rightful form; always on the account of one of his accidental outbursts. It wasn’t that she detested it, but that Shmi Skywalker had an appreciation for those who did things with their own hands. She was hardworking that way and while Anakin saw her employment as a waitress to the pub below their apartment as borderline slavery, she seemed at peace with it.

He’d never even heard of Hogwarts until a man named Qui-Gon Jinn appeared on their humble doorstep with a huge stack of envelopes. He carried the airs of humility, wearing robes that looked much older than Anakin. His hair draped down his shoulders in a thick curtain that was fashioned half-up and half-down.

Anakin had to crane his head back to look him in the eyes, but he had a kind face that seemed easy to trust. Qui-Gon, he quickly discovered, was a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and came to deliver Anakin’s invitation in person.

“That’s a bit peculiar, isn’t it?” Shmi said warily. “Professors don’t normally make house calls.”

Qui-Gon had a twinkle in his eye as he nodded to her respectively. “Not typically, but we have attempted to send out Anakin’s letter all summer, but to no response.”

“We moved.” Anakin said and gave his mum a curious look. “There’s school for people like us?”

Shmi never took her eyes away from Qui-Gon and the two seemed to be speaking in a silent language that Anakin could not understand. He didn’t try to, because he immediately started buzzing around the room as rapidly as possible. This wasn’t just good news. It was marvelous news. This meant he wouldn’t have to go to that awful boy’s preparatory school in the fall. He could be amongst other wizards and learn how to harness the power within him.

In the midst of his scurrying around the room, he’d gotten so excited that he started to levitate off the ground. Neither adult noticed, even when Anakin drifted well above the impressive height that was Qui-Gon Jinn.

He overheard his mother softly ask, “Will he be safer there?”

“The safest thing we can do for him is to train him.” Qui-Gon said. “I know how much he means to you, Shmi.”

“Uh, a little help here?” Anakin interrupted.

Qui-Gon looked up and smiled at him, “How’s the weather up there?”

“Unsteady, sir. I don’t know how you manage it.” Anakin said.

A deep and hearty laugh broke across the room as he whipped a wand from the pocket of his robe. With the flick of the wrist and an utterance of “Descendo”, Anakin was placed back on his two feet once again. A part of him always liked when he floated off. He enjoyed being in the air.

Qui-Gon ruffled a hand through Anakin’s hair and looked to Shmi. There was more of that secret and silent adult-speak happening, but when Shmi looked to Anakin, he tried his best to convey that he wanted nothing more than to be amongst his own kind for a change. His little outbursts have been occurring more frequently and he was not sure how much more disappointment he could take.

To his surprise, she relented.

And so it was settled. Anakin was to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the fall- which was shockingly his mother’s alma mater. In his 11 years of living, she’d never mentioned it, just that she’d gone to school with other witches and wizards growing up and how she felt it was too isolated from the real world.

***

“Do I get a wand?”

“Yes, Ani.” She smiled lightly as they walked down the cobblestone streets of London. Cars and people buzzed throughout the town, each taking a slice of the rare sunny day. Normally, Anakin had zero interest in back to school shopping as it usually just included hand-me-downs from used outlets and the cheapest notebooks and pencils. Specifically, the kinds of pencils with erasers that didn’t function properly.

“Do you think I could have one like Qui-Gon’s?”

“The wand chooses the wizard.” She said, “Wands are unique. Just like people.”

He’d spent enough time in London to know for certain that there was not a wizard store at the market- not one that wasn’t mocking their culture with top hats and white rabbits. They passed familiar shops and boutiques until they made a turn onto Charing Cross Road and stopped in front of a charcoal pub with a faded sign hanging to the side. Anakin moved to continue walking as well, but Shmi was cemented to her position.

“Mum?”

She didn’t answer, only kept her eyes trained forward with a combination of knowing fear and unmovable determination. She took in a deep breath and reached for Anakin’s hand before leading him up to the large black door and pushing their way in.

It was equally unimpressive on the inside, resembling every other dive in England. Men and women huddled around their dimly lit booths and tables, trading barbs and sharing grub. He swore as they walked by a few, he heard his mother’s name leave their lips. Normally, a protective instinct would kick in, but his own beguilement was placed on halt. He was unsure what grabbing a beer was going to do for them, but then again, that was before the fabrics of reality opened before him.

His jaw dropped when a crummy hole-in-the-wall developed an actual hole in the wall and he suddenly stood on the bridge between parallel realities. There was the one at which he came from with its conformities, drab colors, and mundane days. What lay before him was anything but drab or mundane. While he’d never been here before, he automatically felt a singing rightness to it and found he could not bring himself to turn back- not even to express his sense of awe to his mother.

As if on a gravitational pull, he moved forward, his mother’s hand squeezing his own without a second thought. They drifted down the winding cobblestone street. It resembled the older paths in England with tight streets and turns as well as crowded rows of buildings. These, however, did not consist of standard row homes or shops, but an array of bright-roofed places of commerce.

His eyes were pulled everywhere, unsure whether to fixate on the joke shop or the menagerie, which had its windows lined with an assortment of obscure pets ranging from rats to little colorful wisps of fluff that he could not name.

There was a shop explicitly for selling cauldrons as well as robes, which were written on the list Professor Qui-Gon Jinn had given them before taking leave. Anakin had memorized it backwards and forwards and still hadn’t fully grasped the act of actually buying this kind of stuff.

Adults and their children appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the road and nobody blinked a second thought. Afterwards, they tucked their wands into their boot or pocket and went about their business with a casual air that only came with experience. They were all dressed very different from him- wearing long and vibrant robes as well as mismatched hats. No two were the same and while some of the younger crowd was more modernly dressed, most appeared to be in costume for a stage play. Anakin tried his best not to gawk at the strangers, who paid his shock no mind. He was supposed to be one of them, but while the rational part of him was trying to stop staring at wizards openly performing magic in public, the bigger part of him could only revel in the joy that came with not being the odd man in the room.

Various pleasant smells filled the open sky, which increased his sense of wonder. The street was lined with many different cafes and restaurants. The one that piqued his interest had a large light-up ice cream cone pinned on the roof. Just as his mouth began to water at the possibilities of how advanced magical ice cream could be, he was briefly tugged from his reverie by his mother, who took them aside and near the window of a different shop.

She knelt before him, a small and knowing smile playing at her lips, but also a bit of sadness that he could not understand. How could she ever want to leave this world? There was so much to explore and behold. What did their grubby flat above the old pub have that this place didn’t?

“Welcome to Diagon Alley. I know it’s a lot to take in.” She said and gave his shoulders a gentle squeeze. “And there will be time for that later.”

“And magical ice cream?” He tried. Though he wasn’t sure what was going to be so different about it.

She chuckled. “One rite of passage at a time.”

And with that, she stood up and nodded towards the shop behind him. “In there, I think you’ll find what you’ve been anticipating most. I’ll meet you back here with your textbooks. Do not wander, Ani.”

He heeded her advice and swung the wooden door open to reveal a dimly lit storage room that was stacked from floor to ceiling with shelves of long, thin boxes. Singular orbs of fading light dangled from the high ceiling and cast a yellow glow onto each shelf, though nothing worth noting leapt out at Anakin. Juxtaposed to the rest of the marketplace, it resembled a cluttered library rather than anything enticing. He couldn’t see how this would be what his mother believed was the most exciting place.

Well, aside from the gentleman positioned behind the desk, which sat next to a winding staircase leading to a closed door. At least, Anakin believed they were a gentleman, but it felt wrong to assume given they were clearly not human with a long snout, gray skin, and a very dinosaur-like shape. They wrote with a long feather in hand, clearly transfixed with whatever was being transcribed, and paid Anakin no mind.

“Um, excuse me?” Anakin spoke after the silence felt like it might overwhelm him.

Golden eyes lifted from the parchment to study him and Anakin swore he saw a thousand lifetimes in the span of seconds, but was also fairly certain he wasn’t under a spell. He couldn’t decide if they were kind or not- just all knowing yet totally unassuming.

“Yes, young man?” Their voice kept things ambiguous with a slight waver that gave away their age and a tone that was coated in gravel when they spoke.

“Um,” Anakin desperately wished his mother came in with him now, because he wasn’t even sure what he was supposed to be asking for from this creature. Said creature looked at him with expectant and timeless eyes, which eventually narrowed after considering Anakin.

“You’re new.” They said and got up from behind the desk, but not without the help of a cane and patience.

“Yes, sir.” He internally cursed for slipping, because really, he did not need to offend anyone on his first day in the wizarding world. While Anakin didn’t normally mince words, he hadn’t yet learned how to truly defend himself from this ancient wizard if that was required.

But, no rebuttal or offense came. Instead, this old man smiled and nodded before gesturing for Anakin to come closer. Despite previous anxieties, Anakin did as he was instructed.

“What a pleasure it is to share this moment with you.” He said and upon closer inspection, had many smile lines crinkled around the corners of his eyes. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Anakin Skywalker.”

“And what are you?”

“Uh, a person. What are you?”

This was hilarious to Tera Sinube, who laughed so hard that Anakin feared he was going to knock himself off balance somehow. He did not appear very physically stable as it was.

“Well, I’m a Cosian, but I’m also a person.” He said. “I was referring to your blood lineage. This can help when trying to pair wands to wizards.”

Anakin’s eyes felt like they were going to bulge out of his head, which provided more comedic content for the older wizard, who quite literally slapped his own knee at the confusion on Anakin’s face.

“You’re a wandmaker?” Anakin gaped, not caring about sounding foolish.

“Must be muggle-born.” Sinube smiled knowingly.

“Muggle?”

“Human.” He corrected, “My apologies. It’s what non-magical humans are referred to by wizards.”

While the statement held no edge beyond what naturally came with the tones of his voice, Anakin could not help feeling slightly bristled by the confusion.

“My mum’s a wizard, actually.” He said pointedly, “My father was a hum-muggle, though.”

He might as well get used to the verbiage.

Tera Sinube stared at him more carefully over his long snout and bit his lip in what appeared to be concentration.

“Skywalker.” He rolled the name around in his mouth and then his eyes widened a little before settling back to normal. “11 inches, Pear, with unicorn hair.”

“Huh?”

Sinube smiled and drifted to the back to pick up various packages from shelves. “That was your mother’s wand type. Your mother is Shmi Skywalker, right?”

“You know my mum?” Anakin asked.

“I’ve never forgotten a wand nor the wizard it chose.” He said with a firm nod.

“Wait, I don’t get to pick the one I want? Because I know this guy and his wand is super-”

“-The wand chooses the wizard, Mr. Skywalker.” Sinube said firmly. “If it were backwards, I’d be terrified of the outcome. People have a tendency of prioritizing what they want rather than accepting what they need. And from that, we devolve into chaos.”

He wanted to push the point, because while arguing with a seasoned wandmaker about wands seemed foolish, Anakin really did enjoy the sleek fashion of Qui-Gon’s burgundy wand and believed that would most suit him too. However, Sinube did not give him much room to talk and instead laid out an array of thin boxes on the desk.

“I’ve been doing this for a very long time. Longer than I’d care to admit, actually, and I swear to you I’ve never come up with inconclusive results.”

Even as he said it, it felt like condemnation.

Because after a series of almost-disasters including, but not limited to: setting the entire wooden office on fire, turning Sinube into a Cosian Kebab, dissolving the floor into a gaping black hole beneath them, and literally turning the wooden wand into an angry python- it was easy to feel discouraged.

There were also wands that simply didn’t react to Anakin at all, which was even more disappointing. He had managed to let Sinube give him the opportunity to try Qui-Gon’s wand type on the off chance that his interests and needs coincided.

However, the 13” larch with dragon heartstrings acted as little more than a fancy stick in Anakin’s hand, much to his dismay and attempt at making it work.

“Ah, larch is a much sought-after wood.” Sinube said. “However, it is amongst the hardest to appease in terms of partnership. Its matches are typically hidden artifacts, so to speak, with untapped and unnoticed potential until the pair meets. Qui-Gon Jinn certainly matched that description as a young boy.”

Anakin wanted to further protest, but chose against it in favor of sulking. At this point, he cared a great deal less about matching Qui-Gon as he did finding a wand that would actually work with him at all.

“Now, now. One must not give up so easily.” Sinube placed a large hand on his shoulder. “I will have you know that some of the greatest wizards that ever lived were difficult to match. I was not alive in Headmaster Yoda’s time as a young wizard, but it evidently took days to find his wand.”

Anakin sighed, “I’m just so new to all of this, but I’ve always dreamed of it, if that makes sense.”

“It does and this moment will be a fond one if you let it happen.”

He tried to do just that and humored Sinube’s every whim of attempts and even climbed the ladder along the bookcase to grab more wands for him. It wasn’t until knocking a loose box from its hold on top of the bookcase and onto the floor- successfully rolling the wand across the room- that Anakin felt the room change.

Upon picking it up, the atmosphere transformed into one bathed in angelic light with a potent wind that swept all around them and took loose strands of parchment into the air. Anakin’s hand that gripped the wand grew impossibly warm, but never hot, and a strength seemed to manifest deep in the core of his being. Anakin’s soul felt complete where he never knew it was missing a piece.

Eventually, the lights dimmed and the heavens ceased singing and while he believed he’d been the only one doused in glory, it was clear from Sinube’s face that he’d bore witness to the whole spectacle. Perhaps, this was why he did what he did for so long.

“And there you have it.” The older wizard grinned. “An 11 ½” holly with dragon heartstrings. Known for handling well with the impetuous and the quick to anger as well as accompanying one with a large spiritual journey ahead of them.”

Anakin reverently ran his thumb across the surface of the hilt. How he could ever want anything else seemed ridiculous now. He finally tore his eyes away from his wand to acknowledge Sinube.

“Thank you, Mr. Sinube.” He said as he handed him the money his mother gave him- apparently it was the exact amount, “For being patient.”

“It was my pleasure, Mr. Skywalker. I just ask that you always extend yourself and others the same courtesy.”

“I will!” Though his rush to race out the door did not support the statement.

After Anakin left, Sinube’s eyes drifted to the wand that had been previously turned into a snake.

“Curious…” He said as he picked it up. Just as suspected, it was an elm wand, which was heavily believed to only react to wizards of pure-blood. Sinube, who was not human in any sense beyond spirit, hardly listened in on the political rubbish surrounding blood lineage. Still, it was odd that the elm wand reacted so.

***

Anakin dashed out of Sinube’s in such excited haste that he ran square into a family of wizards which knocked his wand from his hand and had it rolling onto the street. An array of passing feet accidentally kicked it along in transit and Anakin found himself scrambling on the ground in an ill-willed attempt to recover the wand he’d just struggled to meet.

“Excuse me! Sorry! Coming through!” He pushed his way through the crowd, never once taking his eyes off the ground and failing to really keep track where he was going.

Finally, his wand was spared from the stampede as it was all but launched into a darker passageway and down a series of steps. Anakin breathed out a sigh of relief and frustration as he descended to retrieve his wand. It wasn’t until he picked it up and determined that it was still usable did he realize he had absolutely no idea where he’d drifted.

Behind him, there was the pocket of light he’d come from while ahead only lay an oblique of shadows that extended deeper and deeper into a silent unknown. He could still feel the sunlight that shined bright on Diagon Alley at his back. However, he was inexplicably drawn forward as though he were being called. In fact, his feet seemed to move at their own accord, because despite his mind telling him otherwise, he followed the path of noir and gray stone until reaching a crossing.

Strange and unhappy creatures seemed to shuffle around one another without exchanging pleasantries or even acknowledging one another. Somehow, this part of town seemed even tighter than the rest of Diagon Alley. The shop owners were grim and threatened their patrons, though the patrons did not seem kind either. A few cast curious stares at Anakin as he walked by, but he did not want to be caught idle for too long and went the opposite direction, away from the quiet community of threatening onlookers.

As he drifted further along a narrow opening and towards a glowing green light, he felt a resounding cold settle in his bones without warning. His thoughts were screaming in meaningless questions as to why he was even here, but he resisted the urge to turn away. If he did, sleeping that night would be more impossible than enduring the chill that traveled up his spine at every distant echo.

He found himself clutching his wand instinctually, though he had no indication on how to use it. He slowly treaded closer to the ambient green hue that reflected off the stone wall. The anxiety that coiled in the pit of his stomach resembled that of being the follower and the followed. He was not sure which he was more fearful of in the present. When he rounded the corner, he realized it appeared to be from a wizarding shop, no less. While this should have caused relief, Anakin remained on high alert, noting that this shop did not resemble the others.

It was well-buried in the shadows, for one thing, and did not seem to be sought after despite its claim to sell antiquities. There were three front windows with a green light emanating off of them and highlighting the clear prevalence of skeletons throughout the store. He tried not to think too hard about their origin.

He squinted his eyes as he made out the sign on the front.

“Borgin and Burkes.” He murmured to himself.

He kept his steps silent and his breaths minimal, particularly when he realized he was not alone. Quickly, he rushed into the store in an attempt to avoid being seen by a large figure all dressed in black. The storeowner was clearly gone for lunch or other dealings, because he was not questioned when he slipped behind the counter after realizing the large presence was (hopefully unknowingly) following him inside.

There was a moment of silence beyond what Anakin could barely make out as the ignition of a flame.

He closed his eyes and wondered what his mother thought of his absence for the first time. What if she didn’t let him go to Hogwarts for wandering off? Surely, the rule of avoiding dark alleys applied to the wizarding world just as much as it did the real world. He felt remorse and regret, but didn’t even know where to begin on how to leave.

“Are you sure, Master?” A deep, but hushed voice asked.

“Yes. It is time to act. He arrives at Hogwarts this year.” The second voice sounded like more of a hiss than actual speech and crackled alongside the fire.

“There is much to prepare, then.”

Anakin peered his head from around the desk in a feeble attempt to catch a glimpse. Anyone that entered an empty shop to have a secretive conversation could not have been up to any good. What he was supposed to do about it, he was unsure.

The figure that had followed him into the shop was huge in stature- even larger and more dominant in appearance than Qui-Gon. He was dressed from head-to-toe all in black robes that were pulled over his head and shrouded him like a phantom.

The other man was not present in the physical sense, but judging from what Anakin could tell, was either in the fireplace or he was the fireplace. Green embers flicked in every direction, wild in abandon and enchantment as the phantom spoke down. Anakin wished he could get a better look, but thought better of it lest he reveal his presence.

“Just see to it that you are ready, Lord Tyranus. The Sith will rise once again if all goes according to plan.”

The phantom man knelt before the fireplace, as if to swear an oath. “I will not fail you, my Master.”

There was a long enough pause where Anakin briefly thought the conversation had ended, but a maniacal laugh rippled through the shop and he had to suppress the urge to whimper.

“Good.” He enunciated. “Until the darkest day at the darkest point.”

“Until then.”

“And by the way, my apprentice. You are not alone.”

Anakin’s eyes shot open and he burst into a blind sprint towards and through the door, narrowly avoiding a green shock of lightning that ricocheted where he’d previously been sat. Flames blew up behind him, lighting the dark path before him. He mindlessly chose his fate and sprinted down the cobblestone path to where he’d originally entered through. Well, it was where he believed he’d entered, at least.

His knees were almost hitting his chest. He was running so hard and determined to carry his strides as far as his little legs could take him. It finally felt as though his mind had lined up with his body and that every sense in him was on fire because of it. He could still smell the singed wood from the desk and hear the hushed tones of that dark voice.

There was so much he hadn’t gotten to do. He hadn’t seen Hogwarts or used his wand or made new friends. And for what? What did he have to say for drifting down strange roads that he had no place seeing?

He didn’t dare look behind him at risk of seeing what was approaching him, ready to swallow him up whole and never allow him to see or feel light ever again.

His mother would never get to see him graduate, which he knew was something she’d always hoped for him. She likely hoped it would be at a regular school, but would grow to be proud of him anyways. At the very least, he had intended on proving himself worthy of her devotion, even if she claimed he did not need to do such things. He would start by avoiding the dark side of Diagon Alley.

If he could only make it out alive.

He ran into a few angry and disgruntled characters, but none had the wits about them to stop him beyond shouting vulgar and threatening chants at him. He was numb to their words. He tried to listen for another presence running through them as well, but could only hear the steady pounding of his own heart and blood in his ears as well as the sound of his feet hitting the pavement.

A kaleidoscope of white light exploded before him as he’d finally wandered his way back to the open world. In a bout of momentary blindness he continued to plow straight ahead, colliding nearly instantly into an unyielding force. He found himself sprawled on his back staring at the very blue sky before he had a moment to catch himself.

Surely, he was caught and about to die in broad daylight. His wand fell from his hand and tears streaked his face. He didn’t even know where to begin in begging for his life. He wasn’t sure why he even went down that stupid pathway- just that it had called him. He felt he knew more now, though,and that it scared him.

His breathing grew heavy and frantic, but two firm hands settled on his shoulders- not his neck. He mustered up the courage to look up at his probable attacker and make peace with the fact that he’d lived an okay life thus far.

“Are you alright?” A voice- very different from the one before- asked him and the face matched the voice in its concern.

Instead of a hulking figure cloaked in black, there was a teenager- lean, medium-height, and light-skinned. Anakin would have thought he was an adult wizard by how he was dressed like a professor, in a pressed sweater-vest with a white button-up beneath, as well as ironed trousers and neatly combed auburn hair. However, his face was young and soft with caring blue-gray eyes. He held a certain air of authority and responsibility on him as though he’d been born shouldering the weight of the world.

Anakin sniffled and tried to come to terms with the fact that he was not about to die today and shrugged his shoulders in response.

The older boy’s eyes looked from where Anakin had come from in horror. “Why in the blazes were you coming from Knockturn Alley?”

He ran an arm along his face to get rid of any tears or snot that might have gone rogue in his hysteria.

“I-I got lost from my mum.” He said and hated how small he sounded, but he truly did not feel like explaining to a stranger why he’d decided to take a stroll into the ugly side of town.

“In Knockturn Alley?” He furrowed his brow, unwilling to be shaken. Clearly, this place had a bad reputation and Anakin could understand why.

“Why is that place even there at all?” Anakin complained. “I… I thought it might be a shortcut and… it wasn’t.”

The older boy’s conflicted expression was traded for one of sympathy and he simply gathered Anakin’s wand for him as well as his own dropped belongings before helping Anakin to his feet.

“Well, no harm done, right?”

He wasn’t so sure, but he nodded all the same.

“Let’s get you back to your mum, okay? It can be dangerous around here for a first-timer and I’m sure she’s worried sick.”

He appreciated not being confused for a muggle this time, though this kid struck him as a seasoned member of the wizarding community. Even still, after what he’d just seen, he was happy to have the company. He didn’t miss the disgusted look he shot back to Knockturn Alley over Anakin’s shoulder.

“Do you go to Hogwarts?” Anakin asked.

“Why, most of everyone here either has been, will be, or is a student at Hogwarts.” He said and scanned the crowd. “I’m entering my fifth year.”

Anakin sighed, “It’ll be my first.”

“I would have never guessed.” Though there was an obvious edge of sarcasm to his tone, which was a welcome surprise as he seemed regularly quite stiff. “I see you got your wand already.”

“From Tera Sinube’s. Just like everyone else, I’m guessing.” Anakin said, but did not miss the way his new companion flinched ever so slightly when he’d said that. There was a wand peeking out of his pocket, so it wasn’t that he simply didn’t possess one. He tried to think nothing of it and move on, taking notice instead of the button that sat atop the books that the older boy carried.

“Do all fifth years get badges that say they’re ‘perfect’ on them?”

He chuckled. “It says ‘prefect’, actually. It’s a big honor at Hogwarts. I essentially was elected by the Headmaster and Head of House to uphold the code of ethics at the school.”

“So…” Anakin paused. “You’re a hall monitor.”

He thought about that for a moment. “Is that what muggles call it?”

“Yeah, mate. It’s a pretty geeky position actually. The hall monitor at my school got so many wedgies that they had to get his briefs surgically removed.”

He grimaced. “Yes, well, bullies are no strangers to Hogwarts either, but I’d like to think at least some of them heed to our words and authority. So, if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

Anakin smiled. “Thanks. Trouble usually finds me pretty quick so I’ll need the connections.”

The Prefect smiled. “I can see that.”

***

By the time the Prefect had finally reunited Anakin with his mother, the sky above them began collecting orange and pink hues to resemble a mosaic painting. Anakin’s mood had brightened substantially since exiting the horrid Knockturn Alley and was all the more relieved to see that his mother didn’t appear too angry with him for disappearing.

Because he was still the kind of guy that liked hugging his mum, he ran to her all the same and enveloped her in a tight hug that she knelt to meet him for.

“I got lost.” He said, voice muffled by her shoulder.

“I know it’s all bright and new to you, but this place isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, Ani.” She sighed and stroked his hair. “You have to be mindful of your surroundings.”

Anakin understood what she meant more than he could say right now. For some reason, he felt he shouldn’t relay what had happened to his mother. Not only because it would upset her, but because thinking back on it sent a cold chill down his spine. He simply nodded in agreement and his mother finally acknowledged the young chaperone, who awkwardly stood off to the side.

“Thank you very much for seeing my son safely back to me. I hope he didn’t cause you any trouble.” She smiled warmly.

The older boy waved a hand of nonchalance, though his stiff posture didn’t quite sell the casual vibe he was going for. “Oh, no trouble at all. I was glad to be able to see Diagon Alley through the eyes of a newcomer.”

Anakin beamed. “He showed me all around! Mum, can I get an owl?”

Shmi chuckled. “Later. We must be getting home before it grows dark. I’ve got a late shift tonight at the pub.”

He slumped his shoulders a little bit. “You always have work.”

She sighed and gently pushed some hair out of his face. “I do what I must so we can have a nice life.”

Anakin wanted to say something along the lines of their lives not being so nice thus far, but he knew it would hurt his mother’s feelings and despite his disappointment, did not want to do that.

The Prefect smiled. “I better be off, myself. I’ll see you at school!”

He waved. “Yeah! I’ll see you then! Thank you!”

Shmi smiled down at him. “At least you’re already making friends. What was his name?”

Anakin blanked. “Oh… I don’t know! He’s a prefect though.”

“He saved you and you didn’t get his name?” She asked.

“He didn’t save me. I had it under control.” He puffed out his chest, even if deep inside he knew that was not correct. “But I was distracted. Hey, look at my wand!”

#the clone wars #tcw #Obi-Wan Kenobi #Anakin Skywalker #Qui-Gon Jinn #Shmi Skywalker #star wars #prequel trilogy #harry potter au #au #magical forces au

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azurefishnets · 4 years

Text

Yuletide Letter (2020)

Dear Author,

I’m excited to have you join me for this Yule! I hope you find something that resonates with you here. All my prompts are listed in no particular order and I would love any of them, or, indeed, anything using these tags that doesn’t match my prompts. I just hope you find something that speaks to you! None of these have to include all the listed characters. Feel free to mix and match as necessary.

Yule’s an interesting time with a lot of conflicting ideologies--the cruelty of the cold versus the warmth of kindness, the joy of life versus the grimness of death...etc. After such a year as 2020, it’s really easy to want to snuggle into the warmth and forget the other stuff, and I am entirely down with that, but don’t feel like you have to make it that simple if you’re feeling something on the colder end of the spectrum...just...not entirely whumpy, okay?

It’s probably worth noting that I am far, far more interested, in general, in gen fills and missing moments than I am in ship dynamics. Exceptions will be noted in the prompts themselves, but otherwise, I prefer erring on the side of friendly.

LIKES: fluff of any sort, strangers or acquaintances-to-family, friends-to-lovers, non-mundane AUs, fandom crossovers or fusions, bonding, taking a level in badass, slice of life, angst to happy end, hurt/comfort or plain comfort, missing moments, bonding and emotional support/intimacy, lingering touches, loyalty, banter, worldbuilding, sensory details, unusual interactions, puns and wordplay, cool symbolism, unexpected parallels, creepy, mysterious, and/or atmospheric stuff

OKAY WITH: any tense, any amount of plot or none, out-of-the-ordinary story structures, heavy dialogue, no dialogue, character explorations, slice of life art, characters appearing that aren’t requested as long as it doesn’t go against my DNWs

DNWS: any kind of consent issues whatsoever, non-requested romantic relationships, angst without a happy ending or at least some kind of resolution, infidelity, excessive blood and gratuitous depictions of bodily damage, things squirming under skin, anything to do with saliva or pus, underage relationships, non-canon children, virus stuff

PROMPTS

GHOST TRICK: PHANTOM DETECTIVE

I’m into my third year since I played this game the first time (and quite a few times since) and I haven’t grown tired of my dear love for these characters and this world. I love almost every part of it without reservation. This year...idk, I’m really really feeling my OT3 love, maybe because as I write this letter I’m doing Whumptober and they’re getting pain every which way. Lots of warm fluffy with them would be great please and thank you. You can split them, you can write just two of them or one of them, that’s OK (although please no infidelity) but...yeah. I just want them all to be happy and healthy together in the end.

That said, explorations of the times when some or all of them were dead are just fine? Or when they’re thinking of each other when there’s no other hope. That kind of thing. There’s a lot of h/c potential there and never let it be said that I would deny potential...Also get-together stories are great too!

Or, idk, man, focus on one person...those five years when each of them are alone are of big interest to me in a bunch of ways. I just really really like the various plays on being haunted in this and anything that explores more of that will have my interest...but you know. With a side of extra fluff because it’s a holiday.

Alma

Cabanela

Jowd

Preferred pairings, if necessary: All sides and configurations as long as none of it includes infidelity as a central premise

There’s a time in late-game where it’s very conceivable that all three of them are dead at the same and there’s no Sissel around to be a distraction. If they met as spirits (as opposed to ghosts) in those few moments...what would that be like? As a holiday miracle, could they influence the situation at all?

There is one (1) huge enormous incredibly giant sucker right here for spirit Alma still being around and doing...something besides floating in angelic and boring splendor in those five years, and that sucker is I. I don’t want her to be just another dead damsel in distress! Let her help her loved ones in some way even if it is not...a very useful way! Help her...

LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS IN THE SKY, ZERO/AO NO KISEKI

Found family is absolutely my favorite thing from these games and anything where the characters can show each other that is going to have my heart. So treat-wise, that’s where I have been and continue to be at. But the other thing I like about these games is the absolute whiplash from adorable fluffiness to profound existential wtf-ness and I would be more than OK with something that explored that, maybe in conjunction with the multiple suggestions we’ve had of cyclical times, forced charisma, a civilization predating the Great Collapse… I don’t know, anything exploring the Mistwald dreams, Phantasma (carnivorous omnivorous bookcases!), the Tetracyclic Towers, or the time on the Ark would be super cool. Interweavings and references to the other two continuities are also extremely cool.

In Zero/Ao, explorations of KeA’s powers juxtaposed with her innocence are always cool… as far as locations go, I’m fascinated with the Temple of Moon, the Tower of Stargaze, and the Ancient Battlefield. How are they linked with themselves, and with the rest of Zemuria? What’s the connection to Erebonia?

Lloyd dadding anyone and everyone who will let him gives me life, but I don’t ship him with anyone. I love his weird connection to Alex Dudley, SUPER NERD, and I love tired chief Sergei uncling everyone Lloyd doesn’t dad at. Individually, I have a lot of feelings about Randy, full stop, and Tio, also full stop. Shizuku…spends pretty much all of Ao crying and that just ain’t right. Give her something to smile at since her dad is a giant dumbass. Elie doesn’t get nearly the fleshing out as a character in the games that I would like. She’s kind of treated as a love interest and not much more and that’s annoying!

Tita Russell

Ries Argent

Renne Hayworth

Mueller Vander

Kloe Rinz | Klaudia von Auslese

Kevin Graham

Estelle Bright

Olivier Lenheim | Olivert Reise Arnor

Alex Dudley

Tio Plato

Sergei Lou

Lloyd Bannings

Elie MacDowell

KeA

Randy Orlando

Rixia Mao

Preferred pairings, if necessary: TRAILS IN THE SKY: Mueller/Olivier, Kevin/Ries, Estelle/Joshua is OK

ZERO/AO NO KISEKI: None, please (at least none between tagged characters. Big fondness for Ilya Platiere/Rixia Mao though)

Fandom DNWS: Harem antics, blecch. Tita/Agate. Spoilers for CS IV or Hajimari.

SPIRITFARER

How soft and warm and loving was this game, I tell you what. I just need some love for these characters, this world...speaking of the world. I get the in-game explanation of the world’s existing but “it was all a dying dream” does NOT work for me. I’d much rather this limbo be treated as a persistent and ongoing world that exists independently of Stella and Daoffodil. So explorations of weird pockets and interesting parts of it will always be fun to me...maybe a look at what’s beyond the black? The map was so large for how much of it we saw...

Slice-of-death is basically this game in a nutshell so more Stella and Daffodil hanging out with the dead is an excellent start. Or even the dead hanging out with each other! They don’t need Stella to be their intermediary to hang out, right? Particular favorites for me were Buck (and what’s his entire deal, huh? Where will he go once Stella et al are gone? And how, without an Everlight?), Summer (her doomed love-story and the tragedy of trusting a literal snake-oil cure kills me stone dead, but also...snake hugs), Alice (she just wanted to hang out with her sheep and watch the evening D: What did she think about on those evenings when you couldn’t get her inside--OK, maybe it was just my game but it glitched and I couldn’t get her to come inside for like...3 days...), Gustav (he gets remembered all right. Susan will remember him for a good long time. Does Susan get his relicts after he’s gone?), and, tragically untagged, Elena (Elena certainly does not have to be in there but something about her really got to me; she’s so awkward, so angry and unloved, but she loves Gustav’s music. She loves it when people go beyond their capacities. She’s so imperfect and she so knows it...and she’s left alone in the end. It seems cruel that even in death she had no friends on the boat at all).

Fandom DNWS: Any pairings.

#yuletide 2020 letter

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icharchivist · 5 years

Text

The Journey So Far - A Mix of DGM songs on spotify // Others Playlists

or “i am too lazy to sort them out by invididual playlists just take it” the dgm playlist by yours truly.

Each song’s names are under the cut by alphabetical order with a vague reason why they’re on the list. Might also edit it as time goes by.

current song number: 158 songs, 11h02m of listening

Abel and Cain - D’espairsRay (Mana&Nea) / Alive - Superchick (Lenalee) / All Fall Down - OneRepublic (Allen) / All of Everything, Erased - Kevin Devine (Allen) / All We Are - OneRepublic (Allen/Exorcists) - Alone Together - Fall Out Boy (Allen/Exorcists) / And We Run - Within Temptation (Lavi) / Anonymous - Three Days Grace (Lavi or Allen) / As We Fly South - Walking On Cars (Lavi)

Back From the Dead - Skillet (Allen) / Battle Cry - Skillet (Exorcists) / A Beautiful lie - 30 Seconds to Mars (Lavi) / Bleed It Out - Linkin Park (Kanda) / Broken Crown - Mumford and Sons (Mana&Nea) / Buried Alive - Lovers & Liars (Kanda) / Burn - Three Days Grace (Lavi) / Burning Down - Skillet (Lavi)

Carnivore - Startset (Nea) / Castle - Halsey (Nea) / The Cave - Mumford and Sons (Lavi) / Closed Eyes Still Look Forward - Chiodos (Allen) / Color - The Maine (Allen) / Come With Me Now - KONGOS (Allen) / Control - Halsey (Mana&Nea) / Copy of a Copy - Dead Poetic (Allen) / Crawl (Carry Me Through) - Superchick (Lenalee) / Creatures - Shinedown (Noah&Allen) / The Crooked Kind - Radical Face (Lavi)/ Crossfire - Stephen (Allen&Exorcists) / Cry For Help - Shinedown (Cross) / Cynics & Critics - Icon for Hire (Exorcists)

Dangerous - Within Temptation (Kanda) / A Dangerous Mind - Within Temptation (Allen&Nea) / Dark Matter - Les Friction (Earl&Noah) / The Dark of You - Breaking Benjamin (Allen&Nea)/ Darkside - Shinedown (Earl&Noah) / A Day’s Pay For a Day’s Work - Darkstar (Kanda) / A Demon’s Fate - Within Temptation (Allen&Nea) / Devil in Me - Halsey (Allen&Nea) / Devour - Shinedown (Earl&Noah) / Dirty Night Clowns - Chris Garneau (Allen&Mana) / The Disappearance of the Girl - PHIDEL (Lenalee) / Dog Days - Within Temptation (Kanda) / Dust Bowl Dance - Mumford and Sons (Allen) / The Dying Kind - Joy Williams (Gen)

Earth - Sleeping At Last (Allen) / East Jesus Nowhere - Green Day (the Order) / Edge of the World - Within Temptation (Allen) / Emperor’s New Clothes - Panic! At the Disco (Earl&Noah) / Endless War - Within Temptation (Allen) / Erl King - Ghost Bees (Allen&Earl) / Every you, Every me - Placebo (Kanda&Alma) / Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Lorde (Order&Noah) / Evolve - Shinedown (Nea&Allen&Noah)

Figure It Out - Royal Blood (Allen&Nea) / Final Destination - Within Temptation (Allen&Nea) / Flawed Design - Stabilo (Lavi) / Float - The Neighbourhood (Allen) / Floods - Sir Sly (Allen&Mana&Earl) / Fool Like You - KOVACS (Alma) / Forgiven - Within Temptation (Kanda/Alma) / Frozen - Within Temptation (Alma)

Get Out Alive - Three Days Grace (Kanda) / Ghost Town - Radical Face (Allen) / Ghost Town - Shiny Toy Guns (Exorcists) / Gift For You - Celldweller (Alma) / Going Under - Evanescence (Kanda/Alma)

Hand of Sorrow - Within Temptation (Allen&Mana) / Happy Ending - Mika (Kanda/Alma) / HeavyDirtySoul - Twenty One Pilots (Allen) / Help I’m Alive - Metric (Allen) / Hero - Skillet (Lavi) / Holding Onto You - Twenty One Pilots (Allen) / Human - Daughter (Allen) / Humility - Gorillaz (Nea&Mana) / Hurricane - 30 Seconds to Mars (Kanda/Alma)

Illusion - VNV Nation (Kanda/Alma) / In Vain - Within Temptation (War&Allen) / Iron - Within Temptation (Nea) / It Has Begun - Starset (War) / It’s the Fear - Within Temptation (Allen&Nea)

The Judge - Twenty One Pilots (Allen) / Junior - Stateless (Lavi) / Jupiter - Sleeping at Last (Allen)

Let Us Burn - Within Temptation (Lavi) / Let’s Kill Tonight - Panic! At the Disco (Nea&Noah) / A Light That Never Comes - Linkin Park (Kanda) / Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons (Lavi) / Louder Than Words - Les Friction (War)

Mad World - Within Temptation (Allen&War) / The March - Hypnogaja (Allen&Exorcists) / Marchin On - OneRepublic (Allen&Exorcists) / Melting In My Icebox - Bronze Radio Return (Lavi) / Memories - Within Temptation (Allen&Mana) / Mercury - Sleeping At Last (Allen) / Mercy Mirror - Within Temptation (Nea&Mana) / Message Man - Twenty One Pilots (Allen) / Metamorphosis - Blue Stahli (Alma) / Mirror Mirror - Jeff Williams (Allen&Nea) / Miss Missing You - Fall Out Boy (Kanda/Alma) / Mirror - D’espairsRay (Mana) / Monster - Imagine Dragons (Alma) / Murder - Within Temptation (Nea) / My Blood - Ellie Goulding (Kanda) / My Demons - Starset (Allen) / My Song Knows What You Did In the Dark - Fall Out Boy (Allen&Earl)

N.O.

Nashville - Noah Gundersen (Allen) / Nearly Morning - Luke Sital-Singh (Allen) / Neptune - Sleeping At Last (Lavi)/ Our Solemn Hour - Within Temptation (Innocence) / Out Of It - Fallulah (Allen)

P.R.

Pale - Within Temptation (Kanda) / Paradise (What About Us) - Within Temptation (Exorcists) / Pluto - Sleeping At Last (Allen) / Polarize - Twenty One Pilots (Lavi) / Raise Your Banner - Within Temptation (War) / The Recknoning - Within Temptation (War) / Rediscover (No Parallels) - Hands Like Houses (Allen&Exorcists) / The Resistance - Skillet (Exorcists) / Running With The Wild Things - Against the Current (Exorcists)

Savior - 30 Seconds To Mars (Allen) / Savages - MARINA (Lavi&Humanity) / Scared - Three Days Grace (Allen&Nea) / She’s A Handsome Woman - Panic! At The Disco (I.. don’t even know just...) / Shed Some Light - Shinedown (Lavi) / Silver Moonlight - Within Temptation (Allen) / Slow Fade - Casting Crowns (Allen) / Somewhere - Within Temptation (Kanda) / Still Breathing - Green Day (Allen) / A Strange Education - The Cinematics (Allen) / String Theory - Les Friction (Mana&Nea)

T.U.

This is a Call - Les Friction (Mana&Nea) - Trapdoor - Twenty One Pilots (Allen) / Trouble - TV on the Radio (Allen) / The Truth Beneath the Rose - Within Temptation (Allen) / Unbreakable - Three Days Grace (Allen) / Undefeated - Skillet (Allen) / Uneven Odds - Sleeping at Last (Mana or Cross & Allen) / Us Against The World - Coldplay (Exorcists)

V.W.

Viva La Gloria (Little Girl) - Green Day (Lenalee) / Viva La Vida - Coldplay (Earl) / Wake me Up When September Ends - Green Day (Allen&Mana) / Walk Unafraid - First Aid Kit (Allen) / Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance (Allen) / What Have You Done - Within Temptation (Kanda/Alma) / What I’ve Done - Linkin Park (Kanda) / Where is the Edge - Within Temptation (Nea&Allen) / Who Will Save You Now - The Friction (Nea) / Whole World is Watching - Within Temptation (Allen) / Wicked Ones - DOROTHY (Noah)

X.Y.Z.

X-Amount Of Words - Blue October (Kanda) / Yami ni Furu Kiseki - D’espairsRay (Kanda/Alma) / You’re Gonna Go Far Kid - The Offspring (Lavi) / Young and a Menace - Fall Out Boy (Allen) / Youth - Daughter (Lenalee&Exorcists) / Zombie - The Pretty Reckless (Alma)

#I'VE. DONE. IT.#So it has also a slight yulma bias #but i didn't put my l/aven ones #SO HERE YOU GO #ichablogging playlist #ichatalks about dgm #d gray man #dgrayman #dgm #some of them are hella vague if you need reasons of Why My Brain Works Like That pray tell #anyway here you go if you want to waste 10 hours of your time #the other playlist tag is empty #but it's in case i make individual playlist of those mess #or when i'll post my l/aven one and c/ack one #or any of my F/F7 ones #anyway:!!#Allen Walker #mostly #not tagging everyone bc it is... so mainly an allen playlist dkjhfd

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onwesterlywinds · 5 years

Text

Words Upon the Scales

The Prima Vista hung in Kugane's sky with as much presence as Bismarck. Priscilla had left her on Tasogare Bridge only for a moment while she ran off to find dango, and Ashe could not begrudge her the indulgence: she, too, wished for something to take her mind off of the massive red barge that seemed to obscure so much of the horizon.

And then there was nothing left to do but to greet their informant.

They strode to the airship hangar together, the Ala Mhigan and the Garlean, speaking not at all; Ashe found herself grateful for the skewered sweets that Priscilla thrust into her hand and the silence that eating afforded them both, at least until the sugar threatened to invoke mutiny in her already nerve-racked stomach.

At the airship hangar, a woman in decidedly Garlean clothing stood watch in a corner by the ticketing booths. Ashe signaled for Priscilla not to approach at once and instead surveyed her to determine whether or not she seemed to be relaying word of their arrival via any sort of hidden communication network. But the woman remained staid, hands clasped before her; Ashe could determine no means by which she might have alerted anyone to their arrival in advance. Sure enough, as Ashe pushed her way through the crowd with Priscilla at her side, she thought she saw the woman's eyes widen.

She nodded to the ship still in the distance. "I daresay that ship behind us is as red as a Galbana."

The woman took in a deep, shaking breath. "Indeed so." Her voice was light, accented; Ashe turned to Priscilla, but nothing in the woman's face registered recognition. This, then, was not their informant. Still, the woman ushered them past a gate and onto a small shuttle - one that would bring them aboard the Prima Vista.

As the shuttle left the hangar and crossed over the placid sea, Priscilla slipped one of her hands into Ashe's own for only a moment before she recoiled. "Do you always sweat when you're nervous?" she quipped.

Ashe scoffed but wiped her palms upon her jacket.

For all her qualms about boarding a Garlean vessel, the Prima Vista thrummed with a far different energy from her expectations. Even before she had exited the shuttle in full, she could discern none of the magitek that so obviously powered the ship; Priscilla, too, surveyed the marvel of engineering with a fond sort of smile. The harsh blue glow of ceruleum was all but absent, and the broader mechanisms were silent in their operations. The only audible sounds were those of life and laughter.

Priscilla had been right: this was a strange place for any informant to hide - or perhaps it was among the best. She strode through a set of double doors leading to a central workshop area and found artistry in every sense of the word. There was a breathtaking sort of magic to the place, what with the massive dioramas along the ceiling and walls, and outlandish costumes strewn about, and scores of people moving and speaking with such volume and grace. Ashe felt as though she had stepped into a different world entirely - one ruled by chaos, in which Garlemald brought joy to the world rather than misery.

And then her eyes fell upon a small woman in a far corner, only barely visible from behind a rack of silk fabrics but nonetheless conspicuous for her Ala Mhigan face-

"ALMA!" she screamed.

Her cry made hardly a dent in the commotion throughout the workshop, but the woman's head turned from her tasks. Ashe barreled past a wide-eyed girl, nearly upended a man scribbling furiously into a book, to reach this person from whom the Black Shroud had separated her over twenty years ago.

The woman did not lift both arms to embrace her, laden as they were with yalms upon yalms of fabric. When Ashe had at last sprinted the length of the workshop, her own empty hands found the woman's shoulders; she merely held her there and could do no more, because now she was sobbing - sobbing as she had cried so rarely throughout the years since Ala Mhigo's invasion.

"My dear girl," the woman whispered in their native tongue. She placed her right hand on the side of Ashe's face and Ashe leaned into the touch, starved for it and for the memories that that simple gesture brought back to the fore of her mind. "I wept much the same when I learned the name of she who had killed Gaius van Baelsar."

Most of the attending thespians had since returned to their business, or else had pointedly turned away from the emotional scene transpiring in their midst. Yet someone approached from behind and Ashe gave a start, relieved to find only her companion.

"Priscilla," she said, trying and failing to stem her tide of tears with the back of her hand, "this is my aunt."

Priscilla nodded. "What a coincidence. This is my informant." With that, the Garlean began to bawl.

Malla, her aunt had insisted on being called in public. Not because Alma was dead, but because there was already an Alma aboard the Prima Vista. She brought Ashe and Priscilla to her quarters: a converted tailoring space on the ship's port side, cramped even for one person. There, in whatever semblance of privacy they shared, she apologized to Priscilla for her earlier secrecies and introduced herself as Alma dus Velius. She spoke the title with such assertion that Ashe squirmed.

"I first came aboard as a means of offering what intelligence I could to the captain," Alma explained. She sat upon her bed with several yalms of heavy silk still draped across her left arm. "But most days, I help with the costuming. The Majestic's best costumer elected to remain in Garlemald."

Priscilla nodded knowingly to this statement, but the intricacies of the Majestic's relationship to their home nation remained lost on Ashe. "And the captain is... with the Dalmascan Resistance?"

Alma shook her head. "Not in the least. Jenomis' goals... run parallel to the Resistance's, and he's as anti-imperial as any highborn Garlean can be. Not unlike your friend." She gave a gracious sort of nod to Priscilla, who mimed a curtsy in her trousers. "Yet while Jenomis would doubtless welcome the Riskbreakers, he does not yet know that I have reached out to you."

"You're acting alone, then."

She hesitated, her somber face drawn further into a frown, but Ashe could detect no semblance of a lie upon her features. "My summons is at the behest of a single leader of the Dalmascan Resistance: one who realizes that their movement may only succeed with the help of those with proven victories against the Empire. Even so, I am not an official member of the Resistance. Rather, I've spent the better part of twenty years feeding them information on Garlean movements... while I worked alongside a dear friend."

"Twenty years," Priscilla repeated. "And Dalmasca has been occupied for more than thirty!" She pivoted to face Ashe, hands on her hips, and let out a single nervous laugh. "I don't mean to question your methods, Ashelia - but how does one even begin to remedy such a thing?!"

And Ashe could find no fault in the question. She herself stood in silence for several moments, until she lowered her eyes to the deep purple quilt upon which Alma sat, bound in an achingly familiar whipstitch. "You take down the man responsible."

Alma nodded. "And do you know of the man responsible?"

"Legatus..." She had heard it often enough over the years, though only ever as a passing reference: over imperial broadcasts, amid extensive reports, within a magitek holding tank. "...van Gabranth."

"I have served under Legatus Noah van Gabranth for five years," Alma replied. "And in that time, not a single detail has escaped his notice. The man is strategic, ruthless - but above all else, he is devoted to order and its maintenance. He has ruled over Dalmasca as viceroy since the bell of its subjugation, and his intelligence department - the 9th Bureau - consistently outperforms the Frumentarium in every respect. Yet I happen to know that van Gabranth will soon depart Rabanastre, the seat of his order, to attend to a highly confidential mission in Valnain. What this mission is, I do not know - yet it presents the Riskbreakers with an opportunity to reach Dalmasca's capital. And after all, you do have a habit of breaking into even the most fortified locations and emerging unscathed."

The memory of her Garlean capture came to her once more with a shiver. "Not always unscathed," she murmured.

Alma stared up at her with violet eyes identical to her own. "One final supplication, then: I was never one to believe in fate, even before Ala Mhigo fell. But it has struck me so strongly that our reunion should intertwine with Dalmasca's freedom; there are coincidences that line up too well to be anything but destiny." She nodded toward the door that led out to the hall, and to the workshop beyond. "The red-haired girl whom you encountered is Alma. Her late mother, Tia. And the one who has requested that the Riskbreakers come to Dalmasca bears the moniker 'Princess Ashe' - Ashelia, after Dalmasca's heir, murdered thirty years ago."

Priscilla let out a whistle. "Whoever wrote this one really loves their parallels," she quipped. "Or maybe this is all some big faerie tale: another set of actors to finish their namesake's work. Poetic."

For the first time, a smile - sad, as though the very action pained her - crossed Alma's face. "You loved your father's faerie tales as a girl, Ashelia - though you would be forgiven for thinking less of them now." With that, Alma stood, throwing the silks across her shoulder to reveal a dark metal prosthetic arm with a hand like a claw. "Think on it. Above all else, you are Grand Steward, and you have done far more against the Empire than I ever could. If even Ala Mhigo's liberators feel themselves incapable of this task thirty years in the making, I will surely not protest otherwise."

"I'll consider any ways we might be able to contribute," Ashe promised. Her heart soared at the mere prospect of continuing the fight, of beating back the Empire ever further, of empowering others to succeed as Ala Mhigo had - but she would first need to return home, to tell her family of all that her first glimpse at Dalmasca had had to offer.

"Your mother," Alma said then, as if she had sensed her thoughts. The two words pulled her from her reverie, back to her aunt's apprehensive, tear-filled eyes. "What became of her?"

And though the answer was as painful as ever, for the first time, the answer alone did not bring Ashe to weeping.

"She has never stopped missing her sister." She glanced over her shoulder to assess her companion's reaction to the words that she knew would need to be spoken, committing her once and for all to the secrets worthy of her family. "And neither has my father."

#Ashelia Riot #Priscilla Scaevola #Phantom Pains RISK

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blackkatmagic · 6 years

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Crossover and Fusion Prompts, pt. 2

· Hidan as Sailor Jashin, maybe in a Sailor Senshi of the Apocalypse kinda deal? If you want a pairing, Hidan/Asuma, Or Hidan/Kakuzu.

· Sakura/Unohana in the Bleach verse. If I remember the healers kinda always got the short end of the stick, and I just want to see Sakura kick ass in Soul Society.

· Hashirama & Neville geeking out about flowers (possibly with a 3rd party who starts freaking out when these two maniacs start fawning over a danerous/ilegal/whatever plant?)? Shippy or Gen, whichever you prefer.

· Sabo falls into the Naruto world maybe while Kakashi is experimenting with Kamui and is appalled at this world which is somehow even more fucked up than his own. He infects Kakashi with some of his anti-authoritarianism and they both proceed to fuck over Konoha and Danzo.

· Sailor moon/khr if that’s a thing?? You’re inter aged in?? Some good old magical girl Vongola tenth

· Dgm+ Naruto crossover? Orochimaru discovering akuma, maybe a fusion fic with Danzo and ROOT standing in as the Black Order? There's a lot of parallels between Sai and Shin, and Kanda and Alma, and oh my god, Sasuke as Allen. Horrifying yet hilarious

· Some Tsuna in the f*ked up afterlife of bleach mayhaps helping Ichigo rescue rukia please?

· Bleach/Naruto crossover, with Tobirama somehow (edo tensei maybe) ending up in soul society after his death and deciding to become a shinigami? Maybe starring Byakuya if you want? :D

· I’ve never seen a KHR&Saiyuki crossover before, so: Xanxus/Sanzo - Sanzo is once again reborn and is Xanxus’ soulmate (soulmate au were everyone has heterochromia, one eye is your natural colour the other is your soulmate’s natural colour. Once you meet all eyes return to natural colour) Completely up to you if the rest of the Saiyuki Gang is reborn and remember as well!

· Tobirama going to Hogwarts at the same time as Tom Riddle. He is wary of Tom and starts piecing the clues together, trying to stop what is happening. Maybe onesided Tom/Tobirama?

· This is a wild thought, but KHR/Avengers starring Arcobaleno (all or 1 or 2) AFTER the Invasion. The chaos these strange babies would bring to their lives gives me joy (and probably Reborn too)

· khr/bleach crossover, namimori is actually quite close to karakura. Each town has heard weird things about the other. Bleach cast goes on vacation in namimori and finds out some of those rumours are actually... true. Also, did that guy just set himself on fire and punch a Hollow to death?????? (Bonus points for mukuro and/or hibari being his usual trash self and showing up to ruin everything. I'm biased for my ship ok)

· A OPM and X-Men crossover please? Zombieman landing in the Marvel universe, literally falling into Wolverines lap who is enjoying a quite evening. They fall into bed together and upon discovering their similarities decide to stick together until Zombieman finds a way home. Over time, they fall in love with each other

· Crossover between khr/Naruto, due to an uh experimental failure, Mukuro ends up in Orochimaru's labs (preferably when Sasuke's still around??) murder and adoption ensues. Also, Mukuro's really liking these throwing knife things. The entire Tailed Beast situation+ being trapped in an entirely different dimension? A little less.

· Full Metal Alchemist/Katekyo Hitman Reborn crossover with Greed reincarnated into KHR

· A group of konoha shinobi (rookie nine + teachers + Genma maybe? IDK your choice all the way! Ships all up to you too!) gets hit with a jutsu, or trip over an old malfunctioning seal and suddenly have full recall of their last lives. Cue CONFUSION! Memories are overlaying each other and they still know who they are , but who they /were/ is overwhelming too. Do they know any of the others from before? Were they friends? Lovers? Enemies? I'm really interested in who you would choose for each character, and what they'd think of their 'new' lives, and what 'old' skills will be applicable to being ninja, not to mention what they think of being ninja now too? (Fandoms I know well and well-ish lols; KHR, Voltron, Bleach, Saiyuki, HP, Avengers, Mentalist, BtVS, Leverage, Avatar, Dragon Prince, Bones, Criminal Minds, Burn Notice, Star Wars, Red Hood and the Outlaws, FMA, Tamora Pierce, PJO, Assassin's Creed, Merlin)

· Sandry, Briar, Daja, and Tris end up in the Elemental Nations. They seem like civvies at first and then the tiny blond ties attackers up with their own clothes? The boy has MOKUTON? The redhead throws lightning? The dark lady yanked everyone's weapons out of their hands and melted them? Pairings completely up to you and your funky rarepair brain!

· Konan/Riza Hawkeye. Police officer/vigilante AU. "You're my enemy and I'm supposed to kill you but I'm a little bit in love with you."

· Naruto/Alanna : Sakura doesn't want to become just a healer, and ignores her magic to go to Corus and become the first female knight since Princess Tsunade herself.

· What about Katara/Rin Nohara? with background Toph/Anko? maybe a Kamui fuck up landed Rin, Kakashi, Obito and Anko in AtlA? I have no specific prompt expect that is has a big cup of silliness, cuteness, and a heap of general fluffyness [+ snark courtesy of the compined forced of Kakashi, Toph, Obito and Anko]

· I would love to see a Saiyuki/Naruto crossover where Sanzo and Shikamaru are just /done/. Literally done with everyone and their crazy crap.

· I would love a FMA and Naruto crossover with the Briggs main squad getting displaced into Konoha (there's more than one reason that they don't employ alchemists anymore). Briggs knows how to take care of shit. Tsunade/Olivier Armstrong? Buccaneer vs Danzou? Major Miles taking one look at their administration and promptly overhauling everything? Please?

· How about Katara/Rin where Rin is reborn in ATLA. Post war Rin is working as a healer and hears about one of the best healers in the world visiting, she decides to go compare notes but gets a bit distracted by a beautiful woman, not realizing that they're one and the same.

· Naruto/Avengers: Naruto as Cap (the KYUUBI treatment?), Sasuke as Bucky (living in enemy lands for so long it changes him??), Kakashi as Coulson (deadpan humor, one-eyed friendo who used to be more compassionate???), Obito as Fury, Madara as Pierce. Sakura as Sam (medic, underestimated, wings as a metaphor for freedom), Kiba as Hawkeye (a lil dumb but good-hearted, loves dogs). If you watch AoS you could sneak in Tobirama as Melinda May.

· The Midnighter/Agni? Midnighter stumbling into Agni after kicking some ass. Seeing how bloodied (and hungry) he is, Agni invites him into his home (because he has zero self-protection instincts) to treat his wounds and feed his grumbling stomach. The food and company are so good that there are multiple repeats. On the third one sparks fly.

· KHR/FMA Brotherhood crossover, Flame bonding and social dynamics in the FMA world. Ed, Al, and Winry do a LOT of flouting of social convention anyway, why not flout all the conventions for Flame Actives??? Lots of good good family of choice fluff/angst

· How about ATLAxBleach? Because Zuko could use an older brother, imo, and who's one of the best big brothers to have?

· YYHxSaiyuki. Kanzeon trolling the shit out of Koenma over the glorious, glorious chaos Sanzo and entourage have left behind.

· Reverse Kurama ending up in Bleach and adopting the shit out of an Ichigo who has just lost his powers?

· Naruto/Portgas D Ace Soulmark crossover, where Kaguya's final revenge as she was sealed was trapping them in another dimension. I'm thinking one where Ace has a timer and Naruto has Ace's name. Naruto sees Ace's name on his execution announcement and proceeds to book it, sneak in and save him because the Marines were not prepared for Ninja, particularly not one as creative as Naruto.

· Khr/one piece crossover where Tsuna wakes up in the one piece world and ends up meeting the whitebeard crew because hes utterly incapable of staying away from crazy people?

· Would you do a crossover between D. Gray Man and Reborn? Where Natsu is the form Tsuna's innocence takes, and maybe he meets Allen and trains with him?

· A Self-Indulgent KisuRen, landing in Konoha and fucking Madara’s plan without really meaning to? Like, Urahara being unsufferable because he’s just curious, and Renji just going with it because Kisuke’s plans tend to work.. and they somehow end up adopting Naruto *shrugs* meanwhile, resident Hokage gets a heart attack. Could be smutty, or crack or whatever you want!

· HP-Naruto: Hashirama/Harry, Hashirama reborn as a wizard, but slowly remembers his past shinobi life. Attending Hogwarts and being known as that one kid who relentlessly stands up to Snape, practically lives in Forbidden Forest, super magical with plants-charms-transfiguration and can get along with practically anyone. Who also becomes Hogwarts's Champion in GoF

· Naruto/HP crossover, with the ship Salazar Slytherin/Kakashi :3c Maybe some Kamui mess up has Kakashi showing up around about the founding of Hogwarts? Or Salazar leaves Hogwarts and ends up in Konoha somehow?

· Kel/Daja in a Sentinel AU?

· How about a xmen/naruto crossover with Gambit/madara or gambit/anybody that strikes your fancy. Gambit lands face first in the naruto world and his charging ability plus his uh looks have him being aggressively proposed at due to his very powerful "kekkai genkai" hilarity and or drama ensues

· KHR/Naruto crossover but like set in SPACE because there's never enough space. Anyway Dino, captain of a spaceship, meets Obito, an absolute mess, who may or may not be a smuggler but mainly wants them to take him to the other side of the galaxy. Without being caught. No of course he's not wanted on 32 planets ha ha what are you talking about

· Dorian Pavus and Tony Stark meeting for the first time after an ugly goodbye (your choice whether it was a break-up or they were just friends), trying to be nice to each, but only being comfortable after breaking out the snark.

· Harry Potter (epilogue, what epilogue) and anko brotp because sometimes the forbidden forest and area 44 are the same thing

· Where Maglor kick the ass of Kawahira because no one touches his husband and especially not a pseudo maia! (Maglor/Skull)

· How about Byakuya/Iruka for the crossover prompt? In the sense that Byakuya has a pattern of surrounding himself with kind yet loud people, and then there’s that level of mischief that Yoruichi and Iruka fulfill. So there’s reports of a prankster in Soul Society, and Byakuya winds up both smitten and infuriated when he thinks he catches Iruka, only for Iruka to do something to catch him off guard and get away each time. The other shinigami find it hilarious.

· Fëanor knows that the valars are petties, specially Mandos. So, he shouldn’t be surprised to wake up in the body of a baby after having cheat during the game of poker the night before with Mandos, yet, he is… or the one where Fëanor found himself reincarnated as Harry Potter.

· A Balrog slayer and his husband return to Arda for some vacation. Let's just say they won't come back any soon… or Glorfindel and Ecthelion go spend some time alone in the Naruto-verse and witness a lot of weird things.

· Truth takes some vacation and let Eru in charge of the gate. First customer? A pair of brothers who want their mom back.

· the disastrous first meeting bw dc's red outlaws (kori, roy, jay) and marvel's red team (spidey, deadpool, daredevil) with lots of jokes abt death, dismemberment, and disabilities! or just them generally being lovely dumbasses! not necessasrily as many alliterations tho.

· Batman x Naruto crossover, because the thought of anaruto as a Robin is killing me.

· How about a Saiyuki/Naruto crossover? Like maybe Sanzo and the rest get reincarnated or something. Maybe Goku is still himself somehow or whatever, somehow related to the Monkey Summons or something along those lines. I really just want to see the guys totally ruining Danzo/Zetsu plans left and right.

· Harry Potter is Kurama reborn, the hidden power Voldemort knows not is a little voice in the back of his head going “believe it’”

· How about a Leverage/Full Metal Alchemist crossover, where the Leverage crew has always been in Amestris. They meet Roy and help him steal the military?

· A naruto/bleach crossover where when team taka tries to reanimate the hokage they also take one of the other masks in the Uzumaki temple, and it summons some random shinigami. Everyone involved is like “wow who’s this asshole” and they try to demand assistance in the fourth Shinobi war

· Kurama/Stark werewolf!Stark accidentally marries forest god!Kurama after stumbling upon him one night (new moon or a waxing moon) and unknowingly completes some obscure ritual that binds them together. Hijinks ensue, with Stark's pack and Kurama's court trying to blend together into one cohesive group (it doesn't, explosions erupt all the time)

· A Bleach and Naruto crossover-Ichigo is thrown into Konoha and is just-shocked. APPALLED. That all these little kids are fighting to the death. And starts adopting them whole-sale

#prompt list #my writing #to write #crossover

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kingrajahofficialblog · 5 years

Quote

TABLE OF CONTENTS Here is the list of all programing languages. A# .NET A-0 System A+ A++ ABAP ABC ABC ALGOL ABSET ABSYS ACC Accent Ace DASL (Distributed Application Specification Language) ACL2 ACT-III Action! ActionScript Actor Ada Adenine Agda Agilent VEE Agora AIMMS Aldor Alef ALF ALGOL 58 ALGOL 60 ALGOL 68 ALGOL W Alice Alma-0 AmbientTalk Amiga E AMOS AMPL AngelScript Apex APL App Inventor for Android's visual block language AppleScript APT Arc ARexx Argus AspectJ Assembly language ATS Ateji PX AutoHotkey Autocoder AutoIt AutoLISP / Visual LISP Averest AWK Axum Active Server Pages B B Babbage Ballerina Bash BASIC bc BCPL BeanShell Batch file (Windows/MSDOS) Bertrand BETA BLISS Blockly BlooP Boo Boomerang Bourne shell (including bash and ksh) BPEL Business Basic C C C-- C++ – ISO/IEC 14882 C* C# – ISO/IEC 23270 C/AL Caché ObjectScript C Shell (csh) Caml Cayenne CDuce Cecil Cesil Céu Ceylon CFEngine Cg Ch Chapel Charity Charm CHILL CHIP-8 chomski ChucK Cilk Citrine CL (IBM) Claire Clarion Clean Clipper CLIPS CLIST Clojure CLU CMS-2 COBOL – ISO/IEC 1989 CobolScript – COBOL Scripting language Cobra CoffeeScript ColdFusion COMAL Combined Programming Language (CPL) COMIT Common Intermediate Language(CIL) Common Lisp (also known as CL) COMPASS Component Pascal Constraint Handling Rules (CHR) COMTRAN Cool Coq Coral 66 CorVision COWSEL CPL Cryptol Crystal Csound CSP Cuneiform Curl Curry Cybil Cyclone Cython D D DASL (Datapoint's Advanced Systems Language) Dart Darwin DataFlex Datalog DATATRIEVE dBase dc DCL Delphi DinkC DIBOL Dog Draco DRAKON Dylan DYNAMO DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) E E Ease Easy PL/I EASYTRIEVE PLUS eC ECMAScript Edinburgh IMP EGL Eiffel ELAN Elixir Elm Emacs Lisp Emerald Epigram EPL (Easy Programming Language) EPL (Eltron Programming Language) Erlang es Escher ESPOL Esterel Etoys Euclid Euler Euphoria EusLisp Robot Programming Language CMS EXEC (EXEC) EXEC 2 Executable UML Ezhil F F F# F* Factor Fantom FAUST FFP Fjölnir FL Flavors Flex FlooP FLOW-MATIC FOCAL FOCUS FOIL FORMAC @Formula Forth Fortran – ISO/IEC 1539 Fortress FoxBase FoxPro FP Franz Lisp F-Script G G Game Maker Language GameMonkey Script GAMS GAP G-code GDScript Genie GDL GJ GEORGE GLSL GNU E GM Go Go! GOAL Gödel Golo GOM (Good Old Mad) Google Apps Script Gosu GOTRAN GPSS GraphTalk GRASS Grasshopper Groovy H Hack HAGGIS HAL/S Halide (programming language) Hamilton C shell Harbour Hartmann pipelines Haskell Haxe Hermes High Level Assembly HLSL HolyC Hop Hopscotch Hope Hugo Hume HyperTalk Hexa I Io Icon IBM Basic assembly language IBM BASICA IBM HAScript IBM Informix-4GL IBM RPG Irineu IDL Idris Inform J J J# J++ JADE JAL Janus (concurrent constraint programming language) Janus (time-reversible computing programming language) JASS Java JavaFX Script JavaScript JCL JEAN Join Java JOSS Joule JOVIAL Joy JScript JScript .NET JSON Julia Jython K K Kaleidoscope Karel Karel++ KEE Kixtart Klerer-May System KIF Kojo Kotlin KRC KRL KRL (KUKA Robot Language) KRYPTON Korn shell (ksh) Kodu Kv L LabVIEW Ladder LANSA Lasso LaTeX Lava LC-3 Legoscript LIL LilyPond Limbo Limnor LINC Lingo LINQ LIS LISA Lisp – ISO/IEC 13816 Lite-C Lithe Little b LLL Logo Logtalk LotusScript LPC LSE LSL LiveCode LiveScript Lua Lucid Lustre LYaPAS Lynx M M (alternative name for the MUMPS programming language) M2001 M4 M# Machine code MAD (Michigan Algorithm Decoder) MAD/I Magik Magma Make Maude system Maple MAPPER (now part of BIS) MARK-IV (now VISION:BUILDER) Mary MASM Microsoft Assembly x86 MATH-MATIC Mathematica MATLAB Maxima (see also Macsyma) Max (Max Msp – Graphical Programming Environment) MaxScript internal language 3D Studio Max Maya (MEL) MDL Mercury Mesa Metafont MetaQuotes Language (MQL4/MQL5) MHEG-5 (Interactive TV programming language) Microcode MicroScript MIIS Milk (programming language) MIMIC Mirah Miranda MIVA Script ML Model 204 Modelica Modula Modula-2 Modula-3 Mohol MOO Mortran Mouse MPD Mathcad MSIL – deprecated name for CIL MSL MUMPS MuPAD Mutan Mystic Programming Language(MPL) N NASM Napier88 Neko Nemerle NESL Net.Data NetLogo NetRexx NewLISP NEWP Newspeak NewtonScript Nial Nice Nickle (NITIN) Nim NPL Not eXactly C (NXC) Not Quite C (NQC) NSIS Nu NWScript NXT-G O o:XML Oak Oberon OBJ2 Object Lisp ObjectLOGO Object REXX Object Pascal Objective-C Objective-J Obliq OCaml occam occam-π Octave OmniMark Onyx Opa Opal OpenCL OpenEdge ABL OPL OpenVera OPS5 OptimJ Orc ORCA/Modula-2 Oriel Orwell Oxygene Oz P P P4 P′′ ParaSail (programming language) PARI/GP Pascal – ISO 7185 PCASTL PCF PEARL PeopleCode Perl PDL Perl 6 Pharo PHP Pico Picolisp Pict Pig (programming tool) Pike PIKT PILOT Pipelines Pizza PL-11 PL/0 PL/B PL/C PL/I – ISO 6160 PL/M PL/P PL/SQL PL360 PLANC Plankalkül Planner PLEX PLEXIL Plus POP-11 POP-2 PostScript PortablE POV-Ray SDL Powerhouse PowerBuilder – 4GL GUI application generator from Sybase PowerShell PPL Processing Processing.js Prograph PROIV Prolog PROMAL Promela PROSE modeling language PROTEL ProvideX Pro*C Pure PureBasic Pure Data Python Q Q (equational programming language) Q (programming language from Kx Systems) Q# (Microsoft programming language) Qalb QtScript QuakeC QPL R R R++ Racket RAPID Rapira Ratfiv Ratfor rc REBOL Red Redcode REFAL Reia REXX Ring Rlab ROOP RPG RPL RSL RTL/2 Ruby RuneScript Rust S S S2 S3 S-Lang S-PLUS SA-C SabreTalk SAIL SALSA SAM76 SAS SASL Sather Sawzall Scala Scheme Scilab Scratch Script.NET Sed Seed7 Self SenseTalk SequenceL Serpent SETL SIMPOL SIGNAL SiMPLE SIMSCRIPT Simula Simulink Singularity SISAL SLIP SMALL Smalltalk SML Strongtalk Snap! SNOBOL (SPITBOL) Snowball SOL Solidity SOPHAEROS SPARK Speedcode SPIN SP/k SPS SQL SQR Squeak Squirrel SR S/SL Starlogo Strand Stata Stateflow Subtext SBL SuperCollider SuperTalk Swift (Apple programming language) Swift (parallel scripting language) SYMPL SystemVerilog T T TACL TACPOL TADS TAL Tcl Tea TECO TELCOMP TeX TEX TIE TMG, compiler-compiler Tom TOM Toi Topspeed TPU Trac TTM T-SQL Transcript TTCN Turing TUTOR TXL TypeScript Tynker U Ubercode UCSD Pascal Umple Unicon Uniface UNITY Unix shell UnrealScript V Vala Verilog VHDL Vim script Viper Visual Basic Visual Basic .NET Visual DataFlex Visual DialogScript Visual Fortran Visual FoxPro Visual J++ Visual J# Visual LISP Visual Objects Visual Prolog VSXu V++ W WATFIV, WATFOR WebAssembly WebDNA Whiley Winbatch Wolfram Language Wyvern X X++ X10 xBase xBase++ XBL XC (targets XMOS architecture) xHarbour XL Xojo XOTcl XOD (programming language) XPath XPL XPL0 XQuery XSB XSharp XSLT Xtend Y Yorick YQL Yoix Z Z notation Zebra, ZPL, ZPL2 Zeno ZetaLisp ZOPL Zsh ZPL Z++

http://kingrajahofficial.blogspot.com/2019/02/table-of-content_28.html

#SEO #Local SEO training

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connorrenwick · 5 years

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Friday Five with Hlynur Atlason

Photo by Blaine Davis

Based in Manhattan, Icelandic industrial designer Hlynur V. Atlason heads up his eponymous studio, ATLASON, practicing design methods led by research, brand, and craft. After graduating from Parsons School of Design, he designed a successful clock for IKEA that put his name on the map, leading to an expansive portfolio of thoughtfully designed products and furniture. Since 2003, Atlason has worked with the likes of Ercol, MoMA, Umbra, TIMEX, L’Oreal, IBM, Microsoft, Design Within Reach, and more. Along with heading up his studio, he teaches at his alma mater, Parsons The New School for Design, sharing his passion for design. Now, it’s time to check out his Friday Five picks below.

1. The Pen (Mont Blanc Meisterstuck) Since art school I’ve always walked around with a pen in my right pocket. For sketching, marking something up or writing in my sketchbook.

Some years ago, my wife gave me this very fancy pen as a Christmas gift. In addition to being nicely crafted and making a satisfying clicking sound (when you put the lid on), it also has a sentimental value. It gives me joy every time I use it.

My preference is to use these very excellent felt tip “fineliner” refills that make it most effective for design related pen stuff.

If I leave the house in the morning without this pen, it puts a decent size dent in my day.

2. The Briefcase (YSL) For the last 20 years I’ve carried a briefcase. Not a backpack, not a man purse, not a messenger bag; a briefcase. I always carry my briefcase with me. I hold onto it like my life depends on it – it actually does. Camera, iPad Pro & pencil (to sketch on), cords and adapters, old-school sketch book, briefs, keys to all sorts of doors and vehicles, business cards, it’s an extension of me. If it wasn’t for the briefcase, I’d have super bulgy pockets. Hence, I can’t live without it.

3. The Coffee (Breville Expresso Machine) I’m not a coffee snob but don’t mind a good cup. Actually I’ll pretty much drink any coffee, hot, cold or a day old. However, when we make coffee at the studio, we prefer to make it the old way. I like this espresso machine because it grinds fresh beans and has a pretty robust steamer. It’s nice to take a moment to craft a coffee and the studio gets filled with a beautiful aroma.

Photo by James Tyler Reed

4. The Motorcycles (Moto Guzzi 1000s) Like with coffee, I like motorcycles; all motorcycles. Of course I like beautiful, fast motorcycles but also dirt bikes, race bikes, scooters, vintage… I don’t discriminate: The best motorcycle is the one you are riding at the time. A bike I keep in the city, which allows for an escape on short notice is a Moto Guzzi 1000s. It is a classic Italian design that offers beauty and noise in just the correct proportions. I keep other bikes outside of the city, for track or dirt focused activities. I couldn’t live without motorcycles in my life.

5. The Hospital (Hospital for Special Surgery) When things go wrong, it is important to know where to go, to make things right. When breaking bones in multiple places, due to “too much fun”, the experts at HSS will do their best to put you back together. They have put me together with mechanical enhancements, allowing me to get back to the things I love. Their dedication and craftsmanship is second to none; an unexpected parallel with my profession. I couldn’t live without them.

Photos courtesy of Atlason Studio, except where noted.

via http://design-milk.com/

from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/friday-five-with-hlynur-atlason/

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thefamilyineverknew · 6 years

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Turning 47: pt. VI

“Carry On, My Wayward Son”

16-17 May 2018

Following the directions given by the Waze app, I twist through street lit asphalt noodles on the outskirts of Kansas City toward Bruce’s house. I have no real idea where I am, having surrendered my Rand McNally skills to Lord GPS, the Omniscient. It’ll do, though this willingness to give in to technology does have me concerned about the plight of human capability, knowledge, and will.

The idea of Kansas City used to set my imagination alight. Having grown up 3 1/2 hrs north in Des Moines, Iowa, Kansas City meant one thing: Worlds of Fun amusement park. And I was certain it was...worlds of fun. If only we could have stopped there once when traveling to see our relatives in southwestern Kansas. We never did. The closest we got was a drive-by; seeing the tracks of the Zambezi Zinger and Orient Express roller coasters rising up above the tree line behind the gates. Here it comes, here it comes, here it COMES...there it goes. So close!

I make it to Bruce’s place. He’s putting his kids to bed, but offers me a beer from a local KC brewery and tells me to sit down & relax. I’ve known Bruce since 2nd grade, but we were never all that close growing up, just in the same class. However, in the last 10 yrs we have been able to reconnect via FB, and I’m grateful for it. This stop will be the third time I get to see the man during my stint in the U.S.; twice in Chicago, and then this time.

Bruce Copeland casts a wide net for people, open to hearing an opposing idea, and generous and accepting that there is room to differ without getting bent out of shape. A welcomed relief in this day & age. He has a big heart, and grateful to those who stepped into his life to help get him on the right track. This Bruce is nothing like the one I knew in elementary school; undisciplined, rambunctious, and hilariously disruptive. No, this Bruce is a good sounding board, measured and wise.

He comes down from putting his kids to bed, and we shoot the bull. Talk about professoring and what that was like, the drive, where I’m headed next. And then I lay down the story of the Ancestry results and subsequent message I received from my birth mother. I had yet to contact Arla again, save for letting her know that I would be in contact after processing this huge information, which is what I had been doing, slowly, in waves. Bruce takes it in stride, and we just chill.

The next morning, I’m up early (for me) staring down the barrel of a 9 hr drive. Bruce makes some coffee and we chat about old times, a bit of “where are they now” and “remember when”. So good and all so improbable. I’m completely open to all of this improbability. It seems to be the soup in which I am swimming.

I hit the road west again, this time across the Sunflower State: Kansas.

Now, this drive is notoriously monotonous, droning on forever in a dull, never-ending string of utter nothingness; at least for most. This is not the case for me. I grew up taking this trip at least once a year, fighting for room with my 4 brothers in the back of our brown 1984 Dodge Caravan, sometimes with a dead animal strapped to the rooftop for my dad to taxidermy later (the inspiration for one of my band’s songs,”Skunk in a Box”). For me, the drive is actually dynamic; cruising past vast wheat fields, big white grain elevators, sprawling irrigation crawlers, paralleling the occasional, impossibly long freight train, and rolling through the sand hills where I used to imagine playing Cowboys & Indians (growing up being told that I was 25% Native American, I always fought for team Indian). So the drive, for me, is sheer nostalgic joy.

In making my way to Garden City, I decide to go through the town where I spent my formative years from 2-7; Hutchinson, Kansas. In my mind, and experience, Hutchinson is a place trapped in memories ending in 1978, when we moved to Des Moines. In those memories, it’s always sunny, warm, and golden, like a postcard or advertisement of the time. It’s always Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. It’s always Sesame Street. Always the Krofft Supershow. Always CHiPs. Always The Six Million Dollar Man.

What was our old address? I had it memorized in 1st grade, but now? Hmmm. I kinda recognize these streets, but...hmmm. Eventually I make my way to W. 25th Street and see our old house, remembering jumping up & down on that porch with excitement as a boy, seeing Grandma & Grandpa Rupp pulling up in their impossible road yacht, a 1971 Chrysler New Yorker. And there was my best friend Marci McCoy’s house, where we used to eat Zingers and watch cartoons. And there was the church, across the parking lot from our house, where my dad went through his ordination process to become a pastor. All there, but altered, slightly, by time.

This whole experience has felt like traveling through time; from teaching at my alma mater, seeing old friends, and revisiting people and places once locked in memory, and then, suddenly unlocked. Here it is, right in front of me; where I first learned to ride a bike, where I got my head stuck between some metal bars, where I dropped a bunch of bricks down a tube to hear them splash (inadvertently ruining a septic tank).

So I tooled through Hutch, and so much of it had not changed from my memory. I stopped at Dairy Queen and had a Blizzard, then into Dillons grocery store (exactly the same), and then into the public library. I just wanted to go in and see if it smelled the same as I had remembered. A woman at the check-out desk asked me if I was looking for something. I said, “Yeah...1978”. I mentioned that I moved away as a kid and just wanted to come in and see if it smelled the same. “Does it?”, she asked. “Exactly the same.”

After that, I went to the riverside park, and got back on my way to Garden. Again, I had taken liberties with my time and was running behind, but it was only another 3.5 hours to go...or so I thought.

After an hour and a half, I take a rest stop in Kinsley, KS, heralded as the historic halfway point on the railroad between New York and San Francisco. There’s a little park there with a giant locomotive. I was snapping off a few pics when suddenly I feel the air temp drop precipitously. I look back and see the sky is dark, gun metal gray. Uh oh. I get in the car and sit there, turn on the radio and hear the scratchy emergency weather report coming in; severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes in Ford, Finney, and Gray counties. This is my direct route! Better get going.

The wind was raging, trying push my car off the road. I didn’t get but a few miles from Kinsley before I chose to pull over and wait it out. Driving on these rural two lane highways with semi-trucks passing at blistering speed is gamble enough in fair weather, but in these conditions? Nope, not worth it.

So, I parked my car on a side road, perpendicular to the storm and waited. It was awesome, like being in a terror spa. In Sweden, we don’t get this kind of dramatic weather and I had missed it thoroughly.

Eventually it let up enough for me to get back on the route. The rain, wind, and lightning were still relentless the entire way, but then there was also Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309” coming through on the radio, so there was a balance.

One last 10 minute leg to go, I rounded past Garden City proper, heading down South Star Highway toward my uncle John and aunt Cindy’s farm, where my parents were there to meet me. I knew what I would have to reveal when I saw them. How would they react? I really had no idea. This might go belly-up. Whenever the subject of “would you be interested in finding your family” would come up, and it very rarely ever would, I got a sense of eggshell walking. So, what would happen when they hear the words I am about to say?

Finally, I arrive, and my folks and uncle are there waiting in the doorway. Greetings and hugs (I hadn’t seen John since 2001). The farm is in the exact same place it’s been since before I could remember, and here it is, right in front of me.

We bring in my bags, and then I begin to divulge my tale...

#kansas city #missouri #kansas #worlds of fun

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