#go stream scaled and icy

[naffeclipse]

Cold Scales

Naga!Moon x Reader. Sickness.

The first sign of your fever hits you with a pulse of heat. You brushed it aside, believing the sun had been beating on you too long, and the jungle warmth was simmering your blood. Sun leads you to the cave come nightfall. The buzz of mosquitoes fills the air with a menacing hum.

Sun has always been warm to you, even when he told you that you are warmer. His melting yellow and golden jewel tone scales, his cornflower blue eyes, wide and endearing, fit alongside the heavy humidity in the afternoons. The small scarlet markings on his throat and hips are metal-red hot, too. He always kept you warm.

Moon is cool. You’re not sure if that’s due to the cold tones of his scales, gray-blue on his belly and along his arms, and deeper into midnight blue along his back and on top of his hood. He hides in the darkness after sunset. His red eyes, even darker still, only flash once it’s too late for his prey. You’ve seen how fast he strikes—before, when you were acting foolish and trying to escape their aid, and after, when you watched him and Sun hunt a meal.

You slip out of Sun’s embrace. His arms fall away, lethargic from the day you both put your energy into scavenging for berries and nuts and small mammals. A soft hiss leaves his lips. You wait a moment to ensure he doesn’t stir, though his coils unconsciously tense, searching for the little human he was holding.

Sun had mentioned you felt warmer than usual, but you convinced him you were only tired and worn out from the hot day. Still, he frowned when you laid down beside him on the cool cave floor.

The fever pulses deep within you. You feel it burn across your forehead with a ripple of sweat. Staggering out of the cave, what strength you have is quickly sapped by whatever attacks your body. You need less heat. You need to be cold and imagine gulping down icy water to soothe the dryness infecting your throat.

A small trail that’s been trampled by your feet and the width of snake tails leads you through the trees. Even in the dark, under the delirium of a fever, you find the edge of the glinting water reflecting the canopy of thick verdant leaves overhead.

You kneel, almost collapsing forward before you manage to catch yourself with both hands splashing into the pebble-bottom stream. The heavy breaths in your chest heave in and out. You sigh and tell yourself you’re being a baby—one little fever, and you’re struggling to concentrate on the water before you.

In the reflection of the stream, you catch two red eyes glowing above you, leaning out of a tree to survey your feeble attempts to quench your burning thirst. A hood of midnight and diamond yellow stars surround the visage. 

“It’s nothing, Moon,” you whisper to the water. Slowly, you cup your hand and carefully bring it to your lips. The crisp coldness douses your heated lips, filling your mouth with a jolt due to the sharp contrast of cold and fire within you. When you swallow, you shiver.

The softest rustle echoes. A few branches quiver, then, you feel his presence behind you, cool as a tree’s shadow. 

A large, blue-gray hand snakes around your forehead. Knuckles press against your temple, and you sigh in relief at his blissful, fresh touch. 

“Fever,” Moon rasps, carrying the end of the word with a soft hiss of disdain, as if saying it with a curse will make it no longer reality.

“I just need a drink.” You cup your hand in the lazy flow of water again. “I’m fine.”

“Too warm,” he says when you greedily gulp another mouthful. 

Water spills cut down the corners of your mouth. He presses closer to you. His thumb smoothly wipes away the drips falling off of your chin, then he shifts. Your mauve shirt with the sleeves cut off allows his frosty arms to offer a barrier against the next wave of heat crashing against you. He’s never felt so cold before—or have you never felt this feverish before?

“It’ll go away.” 

You try to get to your feet but Moon’s hand on your waistline stops you from rising.

“Come here,” he rasps. “Let me see you, orchid.”

You would have given him a look at the pet name, but you don’t have the strength to muster the effort. He eases you back against his chest. His palms slide and cup your shoulders, his sharp fingertips slipping slightly under the frayed edges of your shirt and resting on the end of your collarbone. Is that a shiver from the elicit touch or sickly chills beginning to take hold?

“You’re flushed,” he hisses softly. A slight slip of his tongue, forked at the end, peeks out of his mouth as he leans closer. You moan unwittingly at his cool, flat cheek pressed against your clammy face.

“It was hot today.”

“You’re sick,” he decides.

This time, you groan out of refusal rather than relief. 

“I’m not sick.” You slowly shift, managing to get to your knees to face him. The fever forces your shoulders down. You bow under the exhaustion taking hold. 

Moon hisses in an amusement yet concerned note. His long tail drapes behind him, cutting across the ground like the connections of a constellation. It’s black in this lowlight, but in the day, when he sleepily shows himself, you’ve caught the iridescent indigo and jeweled blue tones of his beautiful scales. 

“If you keep denying it, I will take drastic actions. Do you want that, orchid?” his tone lowers to a menacing threat, all dark cords and hisses, but you’ve learned to tune your senses to his hands and expression. He looks only at you, a slight frown playing along his wide mouth. His eyes are narrowed, displeased with your condition.

“No,” you shake your head, “You and Sun are so dramatic.”

“Says the stubborn flower,” he touches your cheek. You nearly collapse into his palm. The rasp of his laugh stings your pride as much as it soothes your aching chest. 

“I’m not a flower,” you mutter as you feel his arms lower slightly, coaxing your hands over his shoulders. He rises higher on his tail, lifting your feet off the ground without effort, and you slump over his shoulder, little more than a child being carried to bed. Moon hums a low, hypnotic sound (that you’re sure is part of his allure, his power).

“Of course not,” he gives with amused demean.

You work up a growl at your throat that sounds weak even to your own ears. Moon shushes you with a soft stroke of his claws against your spine. The shudder that follows through your body is both cold and hot, and you hate that he silences you so simply, and that you like how he strikes back against your harshness.

“Easy, easy,” he murmurs as if calming a tiger. You want to snarl at him again but the brief spark is quickly smothered under an internal infernal cooking your core.

No one agitates you and reassures you as much as Moon.

He glides across the ground to his tree—it’s wide and high, thick with strong boughs and leafy but not too leafy. A perfect tree for a naga. Moon tends to lounge up there when he wants to escape the shadows of the cave you usually make your bed in. You wonder how he intends to hold you through the night up in its verdant limbs, but Moon hooks a hand behind your head and lowers you softly to the cool, moist ground at the base of the trunk.

“Moon?” For a piercing moment, you’re afraid. You refuse to let go of his arm as he draws away. Where is he going?

“Hold still,” he gently hisses.

You let go. You wait for him.

Slowly, his coils gather, curving in loops close to you. He draws himself around you, his long body following. The darkness shimmers. He takes you into his arms once more and guides you to his chest where he fully embraces you. The end of his tail drapes across your waist, sealing you within a deliciously cool embrace of the naga’s scales.

“Shush,” he says when you groan, soaking in his invigorating presence. “Sleep, orchid.”

You almost tell him that you can’t, or that you won’t, but the comfortable weight of his body surrounding you, the chill of his arms against your burning skin, and the soft tuck of his chin upon your sweaty head chases away the last of your resistance. You might have pressed back—saying you don’t need his help, but it’s hard to resist the frost-gentle relief of his presence. It’s hard to be stubborn when he feels so good.

“Close your eyes,” he murmurs against your hair. “You’ll feel better soon.”

The sweet caresses of his cool touch across your forehead eases your ache. Against your will, your eyelids flutter. He hums low, a lullaby you can’t name, and it soothes you gently into a dreamless sleep, comforted by a cool cradle of scales and songs.

#i'm burning up with a fever as we speak #i wrote this at like 1 am #because of the fever #if there are any mistakes no you don't see them #cold scales #naga au #naga!moon #moon x reader #naff writing #i'll add this to ao3 later #when i have more energy

[watcher-with-burned-wings]

Captain’s Call

(A Pirates Smp au where Scott secretly siren hybrid but Sausage catches him. Inspired by Scott’s stream)

Scott thrashed and hissed as the damned net wrapped tightly around his body. He didn’t know what what happening until it was too late. A ship had snuck up on as he was hunting near the Faction Isles. A harpoon net was shot and engulfed him before he had time to react.

He felt himself being hoisted toward the surface as he clawed uselessly at the net, the rope too damn thick to cut through. Panic seized Scott’s chest as he was pulled out of the water and hulled over the edge to the deck of the ship. A Kestrel flag catches Scott’s eye through the net as the crew gathered around him. He hisses and snapped at the crew as they tried to touch his royal blue and golden scales, his ear fins pressed against his head, knowing he had to escape before his tail returned to his human legs.

Scott’s mouth when dry as the crew parted to reveal Captain Sausage, a large gleaming smile on his face. Sausage knelt down to the net and grabbed his chin through the net, jerking his head left and right.

“Well aren’t you the most beautiful siren I have ever seen!” Sausage giggled. “Just a perfect treasure to add to my collection!”

Scott’s cheeks flushed against his will, even if the words made a shiver crawl up his spine. Sausage was a handsome devil but everyone knew how possessive he was of his treasures. Don’t get Scott wrong, he would loved to be worshiped by Sausage but not like this.

Taking a deep breath, Scott opened his mouth to sing his song but was rudely cut off by Sausage picking him from the net and shoving a rope in between his jaws. He clicks and hisses around the rope in displeasure, struggling in his hold.

“Ah ah ah! No singing allowed! As much as I would like to hear your lovely voice, I would rather not drown today, thank you very much!” Sausage explained as he bridal carried Scott to his captain quarters, a tight grip on him preventing him from escaping.

Scott freaked out as he was placed on the bed, moving quickly, he tried to lunge at Sausage but was quickly subdued again. This time a metal collar around his neck, preventing him from moving from the bed. Sausage once finished, took a step back. His eyes scanned over Scott’s form, a smirk playing on his lips.

“You know, you remind me of a certain Heron captian.”

Scott’s blood turned to icy as he looked at Sausage with wide terrified eyes. No, Scott thought. He couldn’t possibly know. He was so careful! How the heck could he know! Scott’s breathing picked up a little fast once he felt a tingle go down his spine.

Oh no.

He was changing back. Sausage’s eyes seemed to gleam with excitement as his tail glowed, slowly parting into humans legs. His webbed claws turning to normal. His teeth shrinking down to barely noticeable fangs instead of his needle-like teeth. His ear fins shrink but still are fins, just less noticeable now. Thankfully his legs were clothed with pants.

Once his transformation was complete, Sausage strolled over and cupped Scott’s cheek, making him look him in the eyes.

“Well looks like I catch myself a real treasure.” Sausage purred as thumbed Scott’s cheek bone. “I wasn’t expecting to add a Heron to my collection but I can always make an exception for someone as special as you, Scott.”

Gay panic filled Scott as he blushed, frozen under the touch. Sausage continued.

“I mean, look at you. You’re just begging to be claimed as my treasure.” A possessive edge leaked into his voice. “So I’m gonna claim you here and now. Then you will be all mine and no one else can have you. Let’s hear you sing my name.” Sausage climbed next to Scott.

Scott gulped, having a feeling he was in for a long night.

~~~~~~~~~

Scott grumbled as he limped through the town of the Faction Isles, shirt missing, showing a mass of marks on his chest and neck. Sausage following behind him with a cheeky expression on his face, clearly proud of his work. If anyone questioned the two, Scott would glare at Sausage and the other would just giggle, saying nothing.

#dangthatsalongname #scott smajor #smajor1995 #smajor #mythicalsausage #pirate scott #scosage #pirates smp #merman au #alternate universe #siren Scott #scurvyblr

[duckapus]

What I imagine the in a nutshell chat shenanigans during the Pokémon Movies are in the Streamer Ash AU.

First movie: Actual chaos because wtf is going on. Also chat gets traumatized when Ash legit dies for a moment.

Second movie: Also pretty much chaos, but also members of the chat realize that the prophecy is referring to Ash the actual person so now Ash is known as the kid and actual prophecy is about.

Third movie: Everyone is terrified of Unown now. (Also referencing the entire Larvitar arc, imagine if due to Unown being bullshit chat is able to see Larvitar's mindscape. And like, in their memories whilst Ash's phone is colorized, his screen is grey scale because people.)

Fourth movie: Someone realizes Sam is Professor Oak from the past at the end of the events of the movie and promptly tells everyone. Also everyone has a new appreciation for Celebi and Suicune. And Celebi's temporary death sure was traumatic!

Fifth Movie: Everyone is traumatized by Latios's death and it fucking shows.

Sixth movie: So the fake Groudon was certainly a thing. A thing everyone is glad was dealt with VERY QUICKLY.

Seventh movie: Due to Deoxys destroying the power supply chat did not know anything that was happening until the very end when the robots went berserk and now they have questions.

Eighth movie: Good news. Aura guardians now know Ash has a powerful aura and thus can help train him. Bad news, the entire thing at the Tree of Life is traumatizing as fuck.

Ninth movie: Chat is screaming at Ash to have a sense of self preservation, and also Manaphy is now the favorite Mythical Pokémon of many people.

Tenth movie: During the distortion bubble everything was cut out, but afterwards chat was filled in and now people have a new appreciation for the Darkrai species.

Eleventh movie: Shaymin's sass promptly becomes a meme, Giratina becomes wildly respected upon everyone learning this Legendary is ensuring their world doesn't break apart, and that's about it.

Twelfth movie: Chaos and confusion and chat becomes concerned upon realizing Ash, Brock, Dawn, and Sheena accidentally rewrote the timeline.

Thirteenth movie: Plus side. Grings' control over the news via editing is very hampered by real time streaming. Bad news, dude knows this and is actively trying to suppress this and kill Ash.

Fourteenth movie: Everyone was so, SO HAPPY when Victini was revealed to be alive.

Fifteenth movie: The general reaction is "So, that certainly happened didn't it?" And also there's a new wave of respect and fear of Kyurem.

Sixteenth movie: The reveal of a second Mewtwo gave long time watchers flashbacks, and also the one friendly Genesect quickly gets declared a bean.

Seventeenth movie: Pikachu's temporary death gave everyone trauma again. Also there's a new appreciation for Diancie.

Eighteenth movie: Everyone has decided Hoopa needs therapy after everything that happened.

Nineteenth movie: Everyone is happy that when everything was said and done things were relatively calm.

Twentieth and twenty-first movies: All chat knows is that things happened and that they'll be given the basics later.

Yeah these seem pretty accurate. Apart from 19 because that's the Volcanion and Magearna movie and giant death ray powered by Robot Soul is not at all calm. Though in the case of the final three movies (I Choose You, Everyone's Story and Koko), they're blatantly noncanon to the main timeline and thus also blatantly noncanon to the Streamer Timeline (unless I can find somewhere to sneak ES and Koko in, but given how heavily ICY relies on being an alternate interpretation of Indigo League it's definitely out)

Also there may be butterfly effects from the Streams being a Thing that affect what exactly happen in the movies, especially the later ones.

#streamer ash au #pokemon movies #not quite sure about the larvitar thing but maybe

[politemagic]

Okay I absolutely adored that fruit salad question, so I'm bringing it to you! Musical fruit salad from your favourite artist, 5 fruit minimum, go go go 💙

oh boy i love this question so much okay okay okay i really couldn't decide if i would rather do sleep token or twenty one pilots... so you will ALSO get two fruit salads!!

my fruits:

strawberry 🍓 <- one of their more popular songs that i would show someone who had never heard of them before blueberry 🫐 <- it may seem like just a little tune, but to me the album would NOT be the same without it melon 🍈 <- she may not be for everybody, but real ones will appreciate these underrated tracks (underratedness was determined by spotify streams not science) kiwi 🥝 <- we're adding a lil something special to this fruit salad. these are songs that are near and dear to me cherry 🍒 <- my personal favorite fruit, so my personal favorite song

sleep token salad:

🍓 The Summoning - it's the song that seems to have really set them on their current trajectory, and it is indeed a fucking BANGER so if i'm trying to get someone into sleep token, this would be my go-to

🫐 DYWTYLM - honestly didn't really like it on my first listen to the album, but on my second go round i could not BELIEVE i ever felt that way. it is so incredibly necessary to the overall album + vessel's journey and i will defend her until my dying breath.

🍈 Drag Me Under & Descending - i really couldn't pick between these two UNDERrated queens get it? get it? i'm so sorry . but there was one morning that i was listening to my sleep token playlist watching the sunrise on my back porch and these songs played back to back and tbh it was a spiritual experience

🥝 Take Me Back to Eden - i actually can't stress enough the personal significance that this song has to me. the line "i don't know what's got its teeth in me / but i'm about to bite back in anger" is in total honesty the thing that motivated me to get the help that i needed during the darkest time in my life. i can't talk about it or i WILL cry

🍒 Aqua Regia & Telomeres - it's my fruit salad so i get to have extra cherries since they're my favorite😌 aqua regia is the baddest bitch in town to me and the guitar solo in telomeres is possibly my favorite part in any st song ever.

twenty one pilots salad:

🍓 Fairly Local - i would have chosen car radio because that was my personal introduction to them, but i think fairly local is more representative of where they are now musically. (but if i was to pick a first album i would def be showing them vessel)

🫐 Neon Gravestones - not sure how universal this is, but most tøp fans i know skip this song on trench but i personally have always loved it. the lyrics are phenomenal, and it's a very powerful song.

🍈 Redecorate & March to the Sea - i couldn't choose just one because i think both of these albums as a whole are underrated (listen. i know that scaled and icy wasn't their best but. those are some fucking bops okay?). whenever i need to have a good cry i listen to self-titled and march to the sea has always been my favorite from that album.

🥝 Trees - seeing them perform trees in concert was a canon event for me. my best friend, who i have known since i was 5 (and was not familiar w them at all), said she had never seen me experience emotions like i did when they performed this song. it makes me so happy that they still end shows with this song, i think its a rite of passage.

🍒 Doubt - honestly, i can't even remember why at this point but this has been my favorite twenty one pilots song since blurryface came out, it's my most played song by them FOR SURE.

#THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ASKING OHHHH I HAD SO MUCH FUN🥰🥰🖤🖤 #i'm so sorry i feel like this is so long but i just. i love them both with my whole heart and i couldn't choose #i have been sucked RIGHT back in by the twenty one pilots renaissance and IM SEEING THEM IN SEPTEMBER??? #listen i may have gotten fucked over by the teeth of god presale (and i'm most definitely not still upset at all about that) #but i GOT those clancy world tour tickets. i was not gonna let ticketmaster get my ass twice in a row. nuh uh no SIR #my partner is also a huge twenty one pilots fan and we've both seen them before but we are SO excited to get to see them together #em's tasty tunes #<- never before has my music tag been so appropriate #em answers! #moonchild-in-blue

[supurflufybuny]

The First Interaction...

Tango stretched a little bit in his hidden bunker. It wasn’t drab at all really. There was a lava bath that had a constant stream, multiple different inventions that were made from redstone and things that he stole lines across the walk, even a proper bed that he built! A few other things but xe was chillin. Flame was a very popular theif who stole for fun, for self benefit, and very much for money! Whether people paid him to steal, or he just got money from stealing. It was awesome and the thrill was always unmatched!

Xe had most recently got a letter write on xeir bunker ‘doorstep’ which was honestly a bit weird since xe his this place really well. Flame even had a system set up so that other people could send letters to flame without going to the bunker. How did on someone even get this ‘address’. Whatever. He had looked at it and said he needed to steal from the castle, and he would get paid exponentially for each thing that he stole. Awesome! There was even a place to return the stuff to after stealing so that’s convenient. Most people don’t do that for some reason and try to encode it in riddles. It’s more of a pain than anything 🙄

So that’s why xe was currently stretching. Had to be loose to steal from a place with such high security. Tango put on their stuff for stealing, and went out of the bunker. Putting a mask on cover flame’s entire face. He ran over to the back of the palace quietly and snuck up behind the guards and beat both of their asses as quick and quietly as possible. Using some sharp claw made from metal to scale the walls and get as high up as possible before seeing a window. Yes! Xe didn’t know if it was booby trapped or not so xe just used as much strength as possible to pull it open instead of breaking it. Wow guess it wasn’t locked. Easier than flame thought. He then jumped in and started stealing things putting them in a bag made from shulker magic.

Scott was tired and annoyed, having been dealing with hos council all day. As much as Scott loved his culture, elves were stressful to rule over. Especially when your council doesn't believe the kingdom respects you as ruler because your half fae. It was a pain.

Now with the sunseting just below the horizon however, Scott could finally relax. He had nothing more to worry about in terms of meetings. Elves didn't go out after dark, it's just how the society worked. Sunrise to sunset were working hours, except in the deep winters the frozon kingdom experienced.

Scott pushed open the door to his study, ready to settle down with a book before his dinner. But what surprised him was the cool draft in the room from the open window. *Did I leave the window open...? Surely not.* Scott was confused. Had a servant opened it for some reason. These thoughts took only a couple seconds before Scott noticed the figure in the shadows of his room.

'Who's there? Show yourself.' Scott held up his palm, summoning ice to float in his hands, the air around him noticeably getting colder. The sight would be rather imposing. A six foot elf, with antlers and snowy wings, pale as snow with a fierce expression, sword on his hip. Scott's icy blue eyes boar holes into the shadows of the figure.

Tango was stealing and was noticing how fancy this room was. Castles were pretty fancy and shit but this seemed more than usual. He then noticed a portrait in the room. Yo is this the Prince’s room?! Fucking score of a window! Especially for them not being there. Xe grinned a bit more xeir hair flicking a bit with fire. Going quickly into a closet in the corner stealing a few of the gems it was gilded with. When flame heard someone come in though, flame hid a bit to try and not get caught.

Seeing it was the Prince he figured it would *probably* be better to just reveal himself. I mean how is the prince *not* gunna see? Or at least since guards or some shit. Tango peaked out and…damn the prince looked hot like that. Yah he *was* surrounded by snow and ice basically but it was attractive! Tango packed away the shulker bag where the Prince wouldn’t be able to see it and activated a bit of xeir powers as well.

Slowly stepping out of the shadow, yes Tango was shorter, but not less terrifying. His hair was ignited fully and it was crackling very intensely with fire. Xeir tail as well was propped up and had a lot of fire crackling off of it. The area around Tango had instantly turned very hot and really contrasted the cold coming from the prince. Tango didn’t want all of flame’s powers to be revealed though. Gotta keep some stuff of a secret! A mystery even! So he hid dark black horns and some magic that can come from his back, that isn’t quite wings, but looks like it.

“Hello Princey. I assume you’ve heard of me?” Tango said in a bit of a mischievous voice.

Lol this isn't at all beta read and if it's disjointed it's cause it's an rp.

[Taglist: @crowsongcaws ]

[Let me know if you don't want to be tagged]

#trafficblr #emberfrost #snowbugs au #snowbugs #tangotek #scott smajor #traffic shipping #life series shipping

[shesacarver]

Intro to Baking

Intro to Baking was never introduced, explained, or touched upon further than Tyler saying he didn't want to do it, Josh saying he hoped that they could do it, and Mark saying they didn't have time to do it.

I fully believe that Intro to Baking is more significant than a scrapped segment.

Intro to Baking could very well be an anagram, similar to Scaled and Icy v. Clancy is Dead.

It could be the abbreviation for the next album's title, ITB. Scaled and Icy was teased this way, " SAI IS PROPAGANDA " appearing on the original cover of Christmas Saves the Year.

I don't think that we have enough to put together a solid title yet, through either method. There's nothing significant that can be made out currently.

EDIT - JAN. 11 23

as @faceofobsession mentioned in their reblog - NO kitchen camera setup was present or mentioned.

If it were an old clip, it would've been featured in the first Video Vault segment. They allude to the fact that it would've been a physical activity, so this is highly unlikely anyway.

Intro to Baking was literally just never meant to happen. So why was it there?

END EDIT

I'm Not Home.wav

An audio file that was prominently listed underneath the Vessel+Doubt Demos during Demo Dive.

I believe this could be the song that was "teased" at the end of the stream, or one that'll be featured in an upcoming MV.

It could also literally just be a demo for The Run and Go ( only song that really fits )? If that's the case, it's weird that it's the only .wav file, and that it hasn't been renamed. It wouldn't open into split folders, and would've literally just been the audio.

I have almost nothing to base this point off of - Nobody seems to be mentioning this, and there's not enough information to know regardless.

EDIT - JAN. 11 23

During GP Week Brazil, Tyler shaved his head and appeared with several newer scars on his face. This has yet to be addressed.

SAI is officially over, so could I'm Not Home be the next MV we get? Could it be the first explicitly Vøldsoy-related song ( aside from Migraine )?

Could the title reference Tyler/Clancy's change of perspective of Dema, or a reference to how unfamiliar Vøldsoy is comparatively?

END EDIT

I just know that both mean something. ~shesacarver

#🎤 #🖊 #WHAT IS INTRO TO BAKING #ITS KILLING ME #I NEED TO KNOW #twenty one pilots #twenty øne piløts #tøp #vessel #vessel 10th anniversary #vessel variety stream #intro to baking #im not home

[cainluvr69]

Surely, We Can Make Miracles Chapter 18

Previous Chapter

Akira: …!

The sound of water roared in my ears as I sank down, down, down to the bottom of the deep, dark sea. Countless bubbles filtered up past me, brushing against my skin as they continued their path up to the surface. My wizards were framed by halos of thin and fleeting light, looking like messengers from the moon as they descended through the water. The initial big splash faded into quiet burbling, and then that too faded into a quiet stillness. The nighttime sea was different from the sea during the day; for one thing, it was pitch black. The icy chill of fear and anxiety seeped into my limbs. If not for the feeling of Oz's hand in mine, I'm sure I would've started panicking on the spot. Several of the younger wizards looked scared, too. But with their comrades there to act as examples, they, too, began to calm down. I, on the other hand, had completely stopped breathing in my fear and had to force myself to take a breath.

Akira: (Ah… I can breathe just fine.) (I wonder how it works. Well, as long as it does work…)

Thanks to magic, I was still able to breathe, even this far underwater. As I took deep breaths in and out in wonder, I gradually started feeling calmer. I recalled what Murr had told us just a little earlier. I needed to have fun. I needed to let my world open up more. With those words in mind, I looked around at the night-dark ocean.

Akira: (Woah…)

It was like opening my eyes to a still, quiet paradise. The light of the moon streamed through the surface of the water, as if it were drawing a path for us to follow--and follow we did, tracing its glowing steps deeper into the ocean. There were…I'm not sure exactly what they actually were, but there were what looked like little sparkling grains of sand floating through the water, glittering like stars. There was coral that glowed with a gentle radiance, and vividly colored fish that caught that radiance on their scales.

Chloe: It's so pretty…

Rustica: We've stepped foot into a veritable wonderland.

Rutile: We really have! Any other time, I'd want to go back up and bring Mitile down to see this, too.

Cain: We should come back once everything's all settled! Ah… I can talk normally…

Arthur: What a beautiful world… It's just as Murr said.

Murr: Riiiight?

Everyone's eyes sparkled as they excitedly looked around at the underwater garden that surrounded us. Illuminated by the moonlight above, everyone's hair was floating weightlessly in the water, swaying with the currents. It was as if we'd stepped foot into the canvas of a painting.

Heathcliff: Ah, Vespa?!

Vespa was pulling on one of Heathcliff's arms, spinning him around. Until now, this darling mermaid had been carried in Heathcliff's arms, but now that she was back in the ocean, she was even more animated and quick in her motions.

Shino: Hey! Don't pull on Heath.

Heathcliff: Wah, she's so fast… Wait, hold on a second…!

Vespa: …! …!

Cain: Woah…!

Faust: That's more speed than I was expecting…

Vespa flipped her tail and vigorously swam deeper into the sea.

Heathcliff: …Where are you going? Is that where all your friends are?

Vespa: …! …!

Heathcliff: I think she's going to take us to the cage where the other mermaids have been imprisoned!

At some point, Vespa and Heathcliff, who had been at each other's side since they first met… Had learned to communicate with another no longer through drawings, but simply through the expressions on one another's face. Shino smiled as he watched them, looking like he was recalling some nice memory or another.

Heathcliff: What?

Shino: Nah, I'll tell you later.

Faust: Does everyone think they can keep up?

Chloe: I think so… Rustica, how are you doing?

Rustica: I'm just fine. What do you think, Cain?

Cain: …Yep, things are working out somehow! Alright, this way!

Faust: It's the same as flying through the sky on your broom. Ride the current and reduce drag… Wah…!

Rutile: I've figured out the trick to it! I think I'll be able to catch up to Vespa!

Murr: Let's goooo!

Rutile: Okay!

Faust: Be sure you don't get too far away from the rest of the group! Murr, keep an eye on him!

My wizards swam through the neverending world of blue like a school of fish. Arthur was so deeply moved by the undersea garden that he was smiling like a schoolboy as he looked up at Oz.

Arthur: It's so beautiful down here… There's so many adventures I want to set out on.

A smile finally broke through the stoic expression on Oz's face.

Oz: I can only imagine how much of this world you want to see and investigate for yourself.

Arthur: Oh, all of it. I'm so happy to find out there's a whole new world I don't know a thing about yet.

A school of long, thin fish drifted between Oz and Arthur. I met Arthur's gaze, and smiled. Snow, White, Shylock, Lennox, Hwylryn… Worry was still playing on my nerves, but the fact that I was here, seeing such a wonderful world in the flesh… It was something I never wanted to forget.

✦✧☾✧✦

Faust: Oz. Were the imprisoned mermaids around this area?

Oz: Yes.

Vespa: …! …!

Heathcliff: Vespa is telling us to hide!

Cain: Wh-- How?!

Shino: Won't you have a perfectly good place if you move just a little more forward?

Chloe: Wait! I think I have a spell that'd be perfect for this! <Suispicibo Voitengok>!

Chloe recited his spell, and it was like it rippled out, weaving through the seawater. If I paid close attention, I could see a bolt of fabric the same gentle blue as the water around us spreading through the water, shrouding us from view.

Rutile: Amazing…! No one will be able to see us from far away like this!

Chloe: I'm soooo happy it worked! This is the kind of magic I've been working on lately! I came up with this by using magic cloth I bought at the flea market in the Town of Foam! It was honestly pretty hard to get, but… Ah, sorry! I can talk about that later!

Chloe had gotten caught up in talking, but when he saw Vespa fidgeting nervously, he snapped his mouth shut in a hurry. Heathcliff shook his head, looking even more apologetic than Chloe did.

Heathcliff: I'm sorry. I want to hear more about the magic cloth later when we can take our time with it…

Shino: By the way, since she told us to hide, what's out there for us to hide from?

Heathcliff: Umm…

Heathcliff poked his head out of the magic cloth a little bit, just to peek out at what else was out there.

Heathcliff: I can see something that looks like a cage, but there are mermaids armed with spears swimming just in front of it.

Faust: They sound dangerous. Should we be thinking of them as enemies?

Vespa: …! …!

Vespa shook her head vigorously, a sad look on her face. I didn't think that was all she had to tell us, though. She was trying to make some kind of appeal to us with her big motions and gestures as she darted back and forth in the water.

Akira: We shouldn't attack them…?

Faust: That seems to be the message here.

Oz: I can feel Balthazar's magic. I imagine those mermaids are being puppeteered.

Akira: By Balthazar…

I thought about the mermaids that had deferred to Hwylryn.

Akira: I saw mermaids obeying Hwylryn, too. Is he a tyrant lording over the mermaids, too…?

It was entirely possible that Hwylryn was the reason Vespa and her friends were suffering. I looked at Oz, complicated feelings swirling in my chest. But he just gently shook his head, a delicately small gesture.

Oz: Dragons hold dominion over the natural world. Both spirits and magical creatures are naturally drawn to them. If there is a sea dragon in these waters, then it is only natural that the mermaids that live here would obey it.

Arthur: In the same way that spirits are naturally drawn to and obey you, Lord Oz?

Oz: Yes.

Vespa: …! …!

Heathcliff: …Ah! Vespa!

I turned my head towards Heathcliff's voice, and saw the tip of a spear pierced through the magic cloth. We'd been noticed. The spear-wielding mermaids tore through Chloe's magic cloth, revealing themselves. Their faces were pale, and their eyes were dark, cavernous voids.

Chloe: Vespa, watch out…!

Vespa: …!

One of the spears was aimed directly at her, intent on running her through. Cain caught the edge of the blade before it could touch her.

Cain: Vespa, run…!

Vespa: …!

Cain: Is there any way we can break through the brainwashing or put them to sleep?!

Rustica: Allow me. <Amores Viesse>

Rustica recited his spell, but it sounded more like a gentle song, echoing through the sea like through a music hall. When the song reached the spear-wielding mermaids' ears, it was like they were jolted back to their senses. Slowly but surely, their blank eyes began to refocus on what was in front of them, the melody of the song catching their attention.

Faust: Are they starting to wake up…? Is Balthazar's control being undone?

Rustica shook his head a bit, not once pausing in his song.

Faust: I see…

Faust had obviously been hoping this would be enough to free Lennox. He pressed his lips together in a tight line, frustrated. Rustica, on the other hand, was enjoying himself--his hands were moving as a conductor's would, holding an invisible baton. The mermaids followed his motions as though they were his orchestra. Their long hair floated in the water, bubbles dancing around their seashell barettes. It didn't take long for them to drop their spears. As their weapons sank down to the bottom of the sea, the mermaids closed their eyes, falling into a gentle, peaceful sleep. Chloe gathered up his magic cloth. We had managed to stealthily make our way to a large reef that had been fashioned into something similar to a jail.

✦✧☾✧✦

The reef "jail" was similar in construction to a three-story building. Beyond the many ash-grey pillars--I couldn't tell if they were made of coral or of stone--were the imprisoned mermaids.

Akira: (Woah… There's so many mermaids…)

There was something oddly captivating about them, and I felt my hardened heart dance in my chest. Now that I thought of it, though, I hadn't let myself feel anything for Vespa, and I hadn't even properly introduced myself to her, either. I took a deep breath. It's important to not get so mired in your sadness that you can't pull yourself free from it. We startled the mermaids as we drew closer to the bars of the cage, and they swam in deeper, hiding themselves. Vespa swam right up to the bars, calling out to the fleeing mermaids. Oz took me and advanced behind her, before taking a moment to address her.

Oz: Stand back.

Vespa: …?! …?!

Oz: I am going to destroy their cage.

Vespa: …?! …?!

Shino: Vespa, come here!

Shino beckoned Vespa over to him. Vespa darted towards him, away from the bars of the cage. I squeezed Oz's hand tightly, my heart pounding in my chest. Was his spell going to succeed?

Akira: (It will… I'm sure it will.) (I need to believe in myself… In myself, and in Oz!)

Oz: <Vox Nox>

A weak light trailed out of Oz's staff and made contact with the bars of the cliffside prison--and then those same bars crumbled away as if they were made of sand.

Arthur: Yay! It worked! Master Sage! Lord Oz!

Akira: It did!

Faust: Now we can ask Vespa's siblings about where to find Balthazar and the cintamani stone of medicine.

We exchanged grins as we waited for the mermaids to leave their broken jail. But there was absolutely no sign that they had any intention of leaving.

Shino: … Hey. Isn't it taking the fish a while to come out?

Heathcliff: Don't call them that.

Murr: Hey, Oz, you didn't kill 'em all out of habit, did you?

Oz: …Hmm…

Arthur: I'll go check things out!

Rutile: It might just be that they're scared! Like how little fishies hide themselves even when you're just looking at them…

Heathcliff: That's certainly possible. Why don't we just wait a little farther away and see what happens?

Akira: Good idea! Let's all back off a little… Let's wait for them to come out on their own!

We put a bit of distance between us and their cage, and once we were comfortably far away, we waited for the mermaids to come out of their own accord.

Rutile: Are they out yet? How about now?

Chloe: Everything's okay! You can come out now!

Rustica: Ah, there they come now.

Heathcliff: You're right! Ah…

But the mermaids vacated the area at an impressive speed, scattering to the vast sea as fast as their tails could take them.

Heathcliff: Ah, ah, ahhh…!

Akira: Wa--wait…!

Murr: Speedy…!

Shino: They're so ungrateful…!

Faust: <Salliuq…> Dammit! I bit my tongue…!

Rustica: It makes sense that they'd want to leave in such a rush. I understand completely.

Cain: That's fish for you! I let my guard down because I was thinking of them like women.

Arthur: Lord Oz, what should we do…? If we follow them intending to capture one, we'll only frighten them more, won't we?

Shino: Stop talking like a feral child when you've got the face of a pure-hearted prince.

Vespa was in a tizzy, swimming back and forth in a figure eight--and then Oz recited his spell again.

Oz: <Vox Nox>

Orbs of light scattered in all directions. A few moments later, a number of the mermaids were dragged back to us through the water, wrapped in a soft light. As they drew towards us, they started struggling, clearly scared. Vespa swam in a circle around them, desperately explaining what was going on, but the mermaids were staring straight at the seafloor, and none of them raised their heads to look at her. That was when Rutile spoke up.

Rutile: Oh… They look like they're hurt.

Akira: Huh?

Just as Rutile had said, there were a number of shallow cuts on the mermaids' arms and tails.

Faust: I imagine they hurt themselves in their haste to escape their prison, rather than being injured by a magical attack.

Rutile: Oh, how terrible…

Rutile approached the mermaids unhesitatingly, looking at them with concern. He retrieved his magical focus, his feather pen, and smiled at the fearful mermaids.

Rutile: Just stay still, okay… This won't hurt a bit. <Ortonik Setomaouge>

Rutile chanted his spell, and then the mermaids' injuries were wrapped in a gentle light. At first, they were scared, but as the swelling around their cuts went down, they looked up at Rutile in curiosity. Their painful-looking cuts closed up, one after the other, leaving nothing but the faint outline of where they used to be. They weren't perfectly healed, but it was still enough to free them from their pain and wariness of us. Perhaps in a display of both gratitude and fascination, the mermaids began to swim around Rutile in a circle, spinning around.

Rutile: My… How pretty…!

Vespa smoothly added herself to their circle. She grabbed Heathcliff's arm and dragged him into the circle, too. She swam between Heathcliff and the rest of us, and over the top of us, too--probably explaining to her friends what was going on. While she did that, the mermaids split into two groups. Vespa returned to Heathcliff's side and explained…something to him, using nothing but gestures.

Heathcliff: Erm… The ship is this way…and Balthazar is that way…?

Vespa: …! …!

Chloe: It's amazing that you got all that, Heath…

Shino: It's because he's attentive when it comes to other people. I understand that much. Or at least I think I'm starting to.

Chloe: Shino…

Shino: …He was the same way with me. I used to never have someone who'd check on me when I wasn't feeling well. The most I got was people peeking at me in fear when I attacked them. No one wanted to let a kid as filthy as me dirty up their line of sight. But…

Shino's red eyes were fixed on Heathcliff's back. Heathcliff, however, was looking at Vespa, doing his absolute best to understand what she was thinking. Shino smiled softly, seeing him like that.

Shino: Heath tried to learn things about me. What was I thinking about… What I wanted, what made me upset. That kind of thing. No one had ever cared about those things before. Instead, they just wanted to know what I wanted from them, when I was going to get out of their hair, and how they could get rid of me. Pretty sure that was all they thought, at least. Thinking back on how I used to be, I'm pretty certain of it. But Heathcliff cared about me when everyone else in the world treated me like trash not worth the effort of so much as glancing at. He was serious about it, and polite about it… Even though he was scared, he still cared about me. So, I… I wanted to treasure him just as much… That was how I felt.

Shino's heartrending sighs turned into bubbles, floating up to the water's surface. Across from him, Vespa was gesturing with her arms spread wide. Her blonde hair floated gently in the water, rippling like sunlight. Heathcliff was watching her very seriously, nodding at what she had to tell him. Sometimes he'd look puzzled and frown a little. But when he understood something, he smiled happily. Even though Heathcliff was lit by nothing but moonlight right now, Shino narrowed his eyes when he looked at him, as if he were dazzlingly radiant.

Shino: I remember now. Before I met him, I hated his guts for being the Blanchett heir, always adored and blessed from the day he was born. If Heath… If Heath wasn't the person he is inside, I never could've become friends with him. For the first time, I wasn't being rejected for who I was, and someone really cared about me… That's why I love him.

Shino's voice cracked and faded into the sound of the water around us, so I couldn't quite make out what he'd said there at the end. Faust gently put a hand on his shoulder.

Faust: Well done… You found the words you needed to convey how you feel.

Shino: Can I even say them to him? It's so embarrassing…

Normally Shino couldn't get enough of singing Heathcliff's praises, but right now, I could see a dusting of a blush over his cheeks. But Faust didn't laugh at him. He just spoke softly.

Faust: You should tell people the things you want to when you can. Before you regret not doing so.

Shino: Faust…

Heathcliff: Master Sage, Mr. Faust! I got it!

That was when Heathcliff and Vespa swam back over to us.

Heathcliff: The sunken ship with the cintamani stone and Balthazar's undersea city are in two different directions! Vespa's sisters can lead us to either of them…

Cain: Two different places…

Arthur: So we'll need to split into two groups.

Next Chapter

#.mhyktl #.eventtl #.main story tl #4th anni

[sundayafternoonsedentary]

And one day may I lay in an endless landscape of wildflowers

Let my stomach be full and my hair unruly

The sun beating down in true mid morning light

The birds sing a song not of this world

I want to bathe every ounce of a life that was never mine away in the stream a mile north

Icy cold water

Babbling over rocks

Washing away someone’s mother’s screaming

Erasing his sweaty handprints from her body

Let my face be stained with blood red fruit

Sitting underneath the cherry tree

Gorging myself with the very definition of contentment

My cheeks touched by the sun

There is a pleasant sort of exhaustion I will feel

When my basket carries freshly picked fruit

My arms sore from the trees I had scaled

To pick better fruit and gaze at what lies in the field of beauty

It’s 7

The sun is going down

Fireflies take over the land

crickets are chirping a symphony

It’s the kind of spring that you believe might last forever

My window is open

The trees sing their hollow lullaby

I’m asleep in minutes

I wake up to find myself drenched in sweat, the window is closed.

there are no birds.

I must be dreaming.

#original poem #poem #new poets society #poetry #poetryspeaks #sad poem #excerpt from a story i'll never write #writingthestorm #poetryportal #spilled poetry

[milliestars4]

A court of the unforseen

Chapter thirteen

“Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning.”

Azriel materialised in Illyria, presented with horrified screams and houses ablaze. He stood there for a moment, his mind blank as he watched males soar above the remnants of what was a training ground, now a mess of ashes and a sea of flames.

By the Cauldron, what had happened?

Azriel broke from his stupor and went to contact Rhys, but an eruption of falling debris and a cry of pure terror sent his body into autopilot, it was the scream of a child.

Scanning the grounds, his eyes found the youngling scrambling to their feet, scarcely missing a nearby cascade of flames, the brevity in which the whole thing occurred caused a stutter of Azriel’s heart, and he dove toward the young Illyrian.

His shadows scattered like a stream of black smoke across the grounds, scouting for an explanation as to why this happened, and the wisps too afraid of the fire stuck close to him, seeking solace in the dark creases of Azriel’s armour. Loyally whispering illegible murmurs to the shadowsinger as he flared his wings, scooped up the Illyrian boy, and flew to a nearby building, mercifully unaffected by the ignitions and devastations currently wreaking havoc upon the training grounds.

The boy, no older than five squirmed and squealed in Azriel’s arms, the sound so terrified made the shadowsinger let go of the boy almost immediately.

“Hey,” Azriel started, reaching out a scarred hand to the boy, helping him if he needed it.

The young soldier took one look at the shadows swarming the spymaster - and now him - then the scarred hands reaching toward him, and then the tired face of an ancient warrior who hadn’t had more than a meagre three hours of sleep in the last twenty-four hours before scrambling away, stumbling on rocks and wheezing at the smoke.

“No, please,” They whispered.

”It’s okay.” Azriel reached out a hand again, slower.

The boy didn’t react well; covering his sooted face with leather-clad arms, and that’s when Azriel looked down toward his own hand and noticed the siphons situated atop of them. They were alight, brighter than usual. So bright that cobalt sparks of unbridled energy bounced off them and dissipated into the smokey air. They were all doing it. All seven.

His siphons looked like a mess of blue flame, the boy likely thought Azriel was there to hurt him like the training ground was.

He took a step away, wanting to say something, and offer some comfort to the scared boy, still cowering and hiding away from the monster he was, but words failed him.

“Az!” A familiar voice sounded, Cassian.

Cassian was here, and most likely his whole family, having heard with burning ears the situation the Steppes were in. But Az couldn’t turn around, he couldn’t move.

There was a thud behind him, he whirled to see Cassian slowly edging closer to where Azriel stood, and where the boy cried.

“By the mother,” Cassian started, but Azriel flared his wings and took off, leaving Cassian with the boy.

He flew toward the mess that was still burning, into the eye of the storm, narrowly escaping spears of flame and rock. Narrowly escaped it all until he didn’t, and the fire broke through the scales of his leathers on his arm, burning his skin and his soul. His heart raced, and he felt himself go numb with flooding memories.

His shadows engulfed him. They took him away from it all.

——

The continent was a place of gentle quietude, a place where Eris felt safe. He was temporarily released by the clutch his power had over him, he could bask in the warmth and alleviation this place provided.

The solace enhanced tonight, the sun had just begun to set, a forbearing feeling washed over his veins, and he felt he had a chance to relax; to simply exist with fire warming his icy heart, as opposed to burning each pore with a sting of cursed magic.

But Eris wasn’t alone, and he knew this. He also didn’t seem to mind the other presence that had yet to make themselves known - at least consciously. Eris had actually known Azriel was at the Continent the whole time and decided to winnow there, anyway. The knowledge filled him with something, and Eris smiled to himself. Azriel sat against a brick wall - if one could be that graceful with words, he was more slumped - head lain back with those hazel eyes closed. There were a handful of onyx tendrils swarming his arm, shielding it from the rays of sunlight. His scarred hands were absent of their usual gloves, every marred inch of skin displayed for the world to see.

Or just Eris. “I wouldn’t have thought a place like this was intended for a brute presence,” Eris said as a way of greeting. Azriel didn’t open his eyes, didn’t give Eris any sign of acknowledgement at all, for that matter.

But he said, after a moment of tense silence, “I would’ve thought a High Lord would be tending to his court. Especially that of Autumn heritage.” Azriel sighed, throat bobbing as he swallowed, but he still did not open those hazel eyes.

“And what does that imply, my shadow?” A nickname Eris knew annoyed the shadowsinger. The Heir noted the way his shadows froze, newly forming to appear more menacing - like vipers ready to strike.

Azriel huffed… a laugh? Perhaps. “You know what that implies, Eris.” Eris rolled his eyes, taking vigil adjacent to the brooding Illyrian and clasping his hands together.

“Well, I did not know you were so invested in my court’s developments.” The High Lord tilted his head, to rest on his shoulder, surveying the spymaster more, assessing the panes of his face to discover the defeated look that plastered Azriel.

When the latter did not answer, Eris took his eyes off him, and into his surroundings. The night had a chill to it, the emollient breeze swaying the trees. The swoosh of leaves filling the forest was like nature's lullaby to the surroundings. He looked to Azriel again, but this time surveying the shadows, the ones shielding his arm, to be specific.

“What happened to you?” Eris asked, appearing more curious than anything else, but there was something else, a larger sense swallowed by every unconscious thought in Eris’ mind.

That was when Azriel finally opened his eyes, there was no look on his face. He just stared at the male opposite to him.

The shadows cleared off into the surroundings, leaving behind a nasty-looking burn - one that had burned through the intricate scales of the Illyrian leathers. It blistered and shone. “There was an attack in Illyria. It’s just a nuisance more than anything.”

But the deepness of those hazel orbs proves it wasn’t a nuisance, it was more than that. But Eris wasn’t about to probe. He told himself he didn’t care enough.

“It looks sore.”

Azriel just shrugged, closing his eyes again.

“Can I see it?” Eris asked, tentatively.

Pure confusion smacked Azriel’s face, Eris almost laughed, but he swallowed it.

”I am the High Lord of Autumn, my shadow. Fire lives in my veins,” Eris continued, “maybe I could help.” He aimed the achieve a facade of unbothered ambiance, but Eris felt he failed. He doesn’t know how.

Azriel studied the High Lord’s face, for a moment, before sighing. “Go ahead.”

Perhaps the shadowsinger, with his dishevelled look felt he had nothing to lose, or, Azriel truly trusted him. But Eris went with the former, Azriel did currently look rough.

Slowly, Eris crept toward where the spymaster sat, and placed a warm, pale hand atop the wound. Azriel sucked in a sharp breath, the only sign of discomfort, but he was stoic throughout the rest. Even when Eris’ power surged slightly, then behind left an unharmed section of skin, where the burn once was.

#a court of thorns and roses #acotar #azriel #ao3 #azriel x eris #eris vanserra

[rocklandjbrin]

It had been a rough night. Rockland’s nose was still stuffy, but his face had since dried, no longer paved with icy streams as the wind blew upon it. Right cheek aching, he found a spot on the left side of the subway, and leaned his head up against the window until the rattling got to him. He hadn’t bothered checking the time when he’d left the house, hadn’t exactly been a priority, but it was clearly the middle of the night. So much for getting a good night’s sleep. 

He sprawled out on one of the train benches as soon as it cleared up, using his hood as a makeshift pillow. His arm was slipped through one of his backpack straps to try and make sure no one ran off with it. 

It was bordering on morning by the time he stepped back onto firm ground, the birds were singing, the sky ever so slightly lighter. Took him a few moments to get his bearings, but once he had he decided on a destination pretty quick. Early morning trail walk on Old Putman, and who needed school, or exams, when he could go to the library? Riverdale wasn’t too far off.

Laughably, when he first saw blue out of the corner of his eye, he’d thought it was a flawk of birds, or some flowers or something. Course, in his defence, the scales were off in the distance, and partially hidden by trees.

Rockland squinted, ducking to try and get a better look. Looked almost like a lizard tail or something?Had to be a statue, right? Weren’t any lizards that big in New York. But who puts a statue off trail? Could it be a Banksy or something? Maybe it wasn’t a lizard at all, it was far enough away he could be seeing it wrong.

He stood there for a while, torn between the call of the library and the call of adventure. Man, he was pooped, Riverdale had comfy seats, but... His curiosity got the better of him. Shouldn’t take too long to check it out, wasn’t that far, even if it felt it with his limbs like lead. His knee was getting tired, too. Couldn’t take too long.

Careful with his footing along the uneven terrain, the teen slowly made his way over. He only glanced up every so often as he watched for sticks to slip on or bug nests or whatever else could be in his path, so he didn’t realize just how close he’d gotten to the mysterious statue, until his eyes darted up and he realized just how wrong he’d been. Red eyes met his blue, and the boy froze, gripping his cane tight, every muscle stiff. 

“Shi-” The teen squeaked, voice probably two octaves higher than normal.

No way. No way, no way, no way- dragons didn’t exist... did they?

His forcefield bubble flickered up around him all the same. Was it fireproof? Not a clue, but he sure hoped so- A DRAGON. There was a massive dragon- this wasn’t some kind of movie or even a news report or somethin’, this dude was right here. In front of him. And he had to admit, it wasn’t that much of a reach. Aliens existed. He could make forcefields, and other mutants could do some pretty wild things- wait. “A-are you a mutant?” 

Man that’d be such a cool power. He didn’t know what would freak him out more, and he didn’t know what would be more exciting. Well, a real dragon would probably be more exciting, but only if they weren’t about to turn him into a s’more.

His head was like the length of his entire body. Badass.

#XD #Rockland is fascinated excited and terrified all at once LOL #uncxntrxllable

[inferniso]

a kiss where they’re both covered in blood

//au; idunn is on the brink of degeneration. features heavy themes, notably body horror

"I'm... Sorry..."

Sorry for the horrors she made him endure. Sorry for the sacrifices she imposed upon his body--for the blood staining his hands, his arms. Blood that she drew, in her fit of draconic rage. She never meant to send her claws flying for his chest. She merely wanted to protect him from that oncoming threat of bandits... Why she lost control--why now--she'll never be able to understand.

But she doesn't need to. Knowing won't matter. It won't scrape any of the gore off his or her body. It won't return the blood to his gaping wounds. It won't undo the tragic loss of Fogado's limbs--how they were punctured in the attack.

It isn't some kind of magic remedy, spooling back the thread her hands unraveled.

Tears stain Idunn's face, and a look of terror fills her unlike eyes. Holding his hand in hers, she notices something she had neglected to pay attention to: scales mar her human form. She reverted back to her manakete shape so hastily--after being snapped to her senses--that some of the Demon Dragon wasn't sealed properly away. It clings to her like a cocklebur, only its thorns sink deep into her skin. It's on the back of her hand, and it crawls up her arm, and it pulls away at the flesh on her cheek. She wants to wail and scream, and shake and tear and rip the chitin from her body, knowing what it has done to poor Fogado. "I'm sorry..." She is muttering again, in haunting refrain, and more tears follow. They don't stop--Idunn does not allow them to. As long as blood flows from his gashes, so too shall this stream of sorrow pour from her eyes.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...!"

With each repetition, she sinks deeper into despair. Ordinarily, saying something more than once helps cement it into Idunn's mind. Those words, 'I'm sorry', and the weight they carry--she must never forget. Using her powers in reckless abandon has a toll, and the unlucky soul she met at its gate today, was the prince.

But he moves still, twitching in her trembling grasp. She freezes, and he is allowed to glide across her body freely. With all the grace of a figure skater his lips find her face. They press--gently--and they slather a splotch of blood on a spot of clear skin. Her icy visage is dyed a deep shade of red. Does he forgive her, or is he saying goodbye?

Maybe a bit of both?

"Please..." her voice stammers again, already broken into a sobbing mess, "Don't go... I don't want to be alone!!" Not again. Not like before.

Wrapping her arms around his neck and back the dragon pulls her human close. She hugs him against her chest, feeling the beat of his heart slowly recede. It's getting dimmer, and dimmer, and dimmer. A candle without any more wax to burn, a bucket pulled from a well that's been dried up. There is only passion to keep it pulsing, and borrowed time. Idunn leaves him one kiss to return his favor--knowing what they are and what they mean to humanity--then another to express sorrow, another for gratitude, another for sympathy, another for hope, another to plead...

And each time she does, she utters that somber phrase,

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

#IC #AU #ASKBOX #AFFOGADOS #//you have only yourself to blame................

[revcleo]

De-wiggling

Ok hear me out:

global warming messaging has not been very effective, in part because a lot of it is warning of future perils, like people don't care about a future number being a scary number, it's like how you stay awake too late at night and then when you have to get up in the morning you're like "well I should have gone to bed" but you didnt! In the morning you then have a coffee or other caffeine drink hoping that'll help, when you really should have had a good night's sleep instead. That's what a lot of western nations/global north think they are going to do when it comes to climate change, they'll just buy something which sorts out the problem, either fixing it quickly by throwing a lot of money at it (such as the speed at which the covid vaccine and space race was developed) or that it won't affect them much, it'll just mess up the global south and they'll just do a little bit of charity to feel better (see: pakistani floods). What I think is a more concrete and immediate goal for western nations is to de-wiggle the jet stream.

The reason why the USA has been having intense cold, and Europe has been having intense heat, are the same problem. They are both because of a wiggly jet stream.

The jet stream can have a bit of wiggle, for fun, but we need to refreeze the arctic by lowering overall global temperatures, to de-wiggle the jet stream. A strong polar vortex makes the jet stream stronger, like how a powerful fan makes you go wimdy in the face but a gentle fan is more shampoo advert.

De-wiggling the jet stream, or straightening it out if you'd rather say that, is: A. a visible goal. We can see the jet stream on diagrams, pictures of clouds, and we know it's changed from straight to wiggly, and we know it's this which has stopped cooling winds going over Europe, and brought icy arctic winds down over the USA. It is now, and it is happening. It's not something we'll find when we wake up in the morning, it's something happening before we go to bed.

B. something which has been primarily effecting the richest countries. Europe and China have both experienced record breaking heatwaves over the summer, and the USA is experiencing record breaking cold snaps over this winter. These countries are responsible for the vast amounts of emmissions, and have the most power to change. These countries can often be selfish as well, and knowing that things are effecting them at the moment can be initiative to change now, rather than wait until it's a bigger problem. C. something we (as a species) know how to fix, we can cool down the arctic by cooling global temperatures. This is the hardest part ofc but the important thing is we can't let people handwave this by saying "well it's too late, it's too hard, we can't do it"

it's hard work, and is basically the same call of "reduce emissions" which people have been calling for, but there have been more and more people willing to give up a lot of treats and nicknacks to create a fairer and healthier world It's not an individual issue in this way, it's all the connected things like: People don't get paid enough -> they can't afford high quality things -> the cheap things they buy break quickly -> they have to keep buying cheap things -> the factories want to make lots of cheap disposable things because people keep buying them but they have to be made even cheaper -> the people who make the cheap things get paid poorly and the factories save money on dangerous plastics which poison the environment and cheap coal power which pollutes it People don't have much time and are stressed and need cheap and fast energy -> multinationals make cheap meat/soy -> monocultures and industrial animal ag are needed for cheap food -> cheap land can be found by destroying the rainforest because cartels can kill the indigenous people

Individual and small scale responses to the risks of a wiggled jet stream are mitigation of damage. Learning how to fix your clothes, planting a local garden, and petitioning your city for more bike lanes are all good and should be encouaged, but they are mitigation.

To fix the problem requires governments to do things such as mass retrofitting of properties, large scale conversion to low carbon energy sources, polluter-pays initiatives on agriculture, mass public transport initiatives, agricultural subsidy change, subsidised/nationalised high quality clothes and appliances etc. And nothing can be done without doing it for everyone, so marginalised people need to be at the forefront. This is the part which will make a lot of people angry, so they will try to distract people with "we can't afford it", "what about the jobs", "It will take too long" etc. the answers to those are "we can't afford to keep the jet stream like this" , "this will involve many jobs", "we should have started 10 years ago, the next best time is now"

[comicbookcurious]

Sunday Movie Report!

As promised last Sunday, it is time for me to ramble about the TØP Cinema Experience!!!

For the sake of those who have not seen it and do not want spoilers, I'm adding the lovely read more button <3

ALRIGHTY EVERYONE!

If you did not catch the memo or have not seen my last Sunday Movie Report post, I am a huge Twenty One Pilots fan. When I found out that they were taking the Livestream Experience to the big screen, I absolutely freaked out. I saw the livestream, and the entire fandom has been pleading to see it again. (Or to own a legal copy, for those who had screen recordings of the stream).

On Thursday, I went to go see it in theatres (sadly not the local one, too small, had to drive 30 minutes to the nearest one). I was super excited and nervous, as this was: 1. My first in-person TØP event. 2. My first time going to a movie alone. However, it went well, no chaos or bad happenings.

Now, onto the movie itself!

The original announcement said they were taking the livestream to the big screen, remastering it, and adding 20 minutes of extra footage. People seemed to be pretty curious about what this "extra footage" was.

It turned out to be behind-the-scenes footage! Now, not all of the BTS footage they showed was entirely new, but I'm fairly sure there was more that 20 minutes of that footage scattered throughout the movie. Those BTS sections usually happened before the "ad breaks" from the Good Day DEMA hosts. I'm pretty sure there was an exception, that being before the all-too-remembered creepy scene of them in the dark. The "Why do I kneel to these concepts?" speech. (please let me know if I'm misremembering that!)

The BTS scenes had an order, there being 4 sections of it. 1. On set, 10 days before the livestream. 2. On set, 3 days before the livestream. There was Tyler learning proper choreography for the first time, and joking that his family's vacation music videos prepared him for it. 3. Their first shows in 2011, with tyler talking about how they said they'd "never do a livestream show". 4. On set, Dress Rehearsal. Josh's dog was there!!!

ROSIE WAS ALSO IN ONE OF THEM WEARING A MINI BISHOPS CLOAK AND IT WAS SO CUTE I ALMOST CRIED.

The only other major change from the livestream was some before-show trivia, some being easy and others being not-so-easy. No, I didn't remember the number of tracks on Scaled and Icy. Sue me.

My only (very minor) complaint is a whoopsie during Shy Away, when he goes: " When you get home, You better not be there! "

Tyler one or the other you can't have both. /lh I noticed it during the stream and I was hoping they'd be able to fix it, but oh well.

Overall, very great experience. The sound was loud but in a way that didn't hurt my brain. The footage was much better on a large screen rather than my lil laptop. The hosts continued to be concerningly happy until their inevitable breakdown.

Honestly? 10/10.

#tv and movies #twenty one pilots cinema experience #twenty one pilots #cinema experience #cbcn #comic book curious #tøp

[dantebucklin10]

Shooting Games Unblocked - You May Play Anywhere

Emphasize Listening and Following Instructions: Teach your children to pay close attention throughout lockdown drills and to follow their teacher’s directions. Emphasize that staying quiet and still can assist keep everybody safe. Address Concerns: Encourage your children to ask questions or share any concerns they could have about lockdown drills. Provide trustworthy and straightforward answers whereas maintaining a reassuring tone. Review Emergency Contacts: Be certain that your kids know who to contact in the event that they ever find themselves in an emergency scenario. Make sure they have access to necessary contact numbers and perceive when and how to make use of them. Participate in Drills at Home: You possibly can follow lockdown drills at residence to help your youngsters change into more aware of the method. This might help scale back anxiety and make them feel extra ready. Safe Kids Worldwide offers sources for dwelling security drills. By discussing lockdown drills and emergency preparedness along with your children, you will help alleviate any fears they may have and empower them with data on how to remain protected in school.

Think you understand all there is to know in regards to the 1975 film "Jaws?" Take this quiz to seek out out just how much you remember. When you read the guide "Jaws" by Peter Benchley, you would in all probability have agreed that it could make an amazing film. But, nobody could have anticipated that a mechanical shark might have inspired a lot worry in beachgoers that they averted the nation's beaches for months. Who knew that a movie with a budget of a mere $9 million would find yourself grossing over $470 million (the very best ever until the discharge of "Star Wars" in 1977)? Actually, the movie nearly made back its manufacturing costs in the primary weekend. However, the technique Spielberg used in the film wasn't intentional, however quite the results of those crazy mechanical sharks. Unfortunately for Spielberg, the sharks did not at all times cooperate, usually refusing to work at all, so he was compelled to make use of sound, particularly music, to let viewers know that the shark was close to. If you're ready to swim with the large fish, take this quiz. What's the title of the island where "Jaws" takes place? Much of the filming was performed on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The plate is from Louisiana, suggesting the shark got here up from the Gulf.

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Good for: Kids who need to be in a position to essentially soak their opponents with multiple streams of water. On An Important Side Note… Asher and that i (pictured) really feel it’s needed to spotlight the value of life insurance for fogeys with young kids. After intensive research, we discovered that mother and father can get insured for as little as $10 monthly. We use Ladder Life who provides coverage up to $3M per dad or mum (without a medical examination, just some health questions) and you'll apply 100% on-line. Why it’s nice: These water guns are completely adorable and come in the shape of dinosaurs. You’ll get a pack of two, one tyrannosaurus and one T-Rex shaped orbi gun. They come in fun, brilliant colours, and the water sprays out of the reptiles’ mouths. They’re easy to make use of - all of your little one must do is pull the top out and push it back in to spray.

Role-Playing: Role-enjoying situations can assist kids apply what to say and do when they've a security concern. You may create mock conditions and information them on how one can strategy an adult with their worries. Anonymous Reporting: Some schools have nameless reporting programs in place, akin to tip strains or suggestion boxes. Explain how these methods work and reassure your kids that they can use them if they really feel more snug doing so. Respecting Privacy: Teach your kids to respect the privateness and emotions of others when reporting security considerations. Encourage them to be truthful but additionally delicate when sharing information. Reassure Safety: After reporting a priority, remind your children that school workers will take applicable actions to deal with the issue whereas retaining their safety in mind. Resources for folks: As a guardian, you will discover resources and suggestions for discussing faculty safety issues with your children on web sites like Common Sense Media and Safe Schools. Empowering your kids to report safety issues fosters a tradition of safety and accountability within the school community.

[7r0773r]

Living Pictures by Polina Barskova

The Traveler differs from the non-traveler only in that she chooses—to see. Sometimes, when you've just returned from far-off places, you look around, amazed, and delay switching off your traveler's vision; you notice that things are the same but not quite the same in your familiar world. A cup in the garbage drips an oily stream of coffee, and something about this dripping grabs at your heart no less than the sight of a statue, a beautiful woman, a viaduct. The fish market on the corner emits an icy, end-of-day stench, and it's as though you're briskly walking past death and might, if you felt like it, say hello: I'm back.

Of course, it's not the urge to change places but the urge to change times that overpowers us, drives us to get over our fear and embarrassment about joining the herd: the airport searches and disrobings, the water torture of the bus, the centaur-like fusing with the limo. But once you're there, once you get off the drug of your usual life and crawl out of your snakeskin, a completely different experience of time awaits.

What new slowness takes over when traveling, and who knows what unexpected thing might happen? If you're lucky, a new trace, a new scar, will appear on your skin: You'll see something unforgettable, something that won't ever disappear. (Eaststrangement, pp. 3-4)

***

The archivist ferries souls from one folder to another, from the type of folder where the voice never will be heard to the type where it might be heard by someone, at least for a while.

The reader herself becomes an archive so she can produce more readers. This is the physiology of it: You can't stop reading.

Sometimes it seemed the only way to get things read was to copy them out like Gogol's clerk, letter by letter, concentrating so hard that your tongue sticks out: like a cat's, or a boot's. To trace the fading scrawls and restore them, thus carrying into the present the very act of over-under-writing. (The Forgiver, p. 16)

***

Forgiving is just that, forgiving, and it doesn’t matter what episode you are unable to forgive, whether it is ordinary, private, and dingy, or on the scale of Bluebeard.

The mechanism is the same, and it is broken. (The Forgiver, p. 26)

***

The older brother, Yakov, loved when a hangnail came off, or an eyelash-midge fell into his eye, or a filling came out—these were reliable signs that he existed, otherwise he wasn’t entirely sure he did. All the humiliating requirements of existence—losing keys, knocking a lens out of your glasses, forgetting your briefcase and going back to get it (and doing this four times in a row)—seemed to him a legitimate penalty, a reassuring punishment for something, though it wasn’t clear what. (Brothers and the Brothers Druskin, p. 61)

***

[Vitaly Valentinovich] Bianki himself, by the way, writes magical (that is, good and strong and useful) words about turning to ice. He spits on the end of his stubby pencil and writes not poetry but the diary of a naturalist. The onset of autumn chill he depicts either as torture or as the act of love, there's no distinguishing: "The winds—reapers of leaves—tear the last rags from the forest. Having accomplished its first task—undressing the forest—autumn sets about its second task: making the water colder and colder. Fish crowd into deep crannies to winter where the water won't turn to ice. Cold blood freezes even on dry land. Insects, mice, spiders, centipedes hide themselves away. Snakes crawl into dry holes, wind around each other, and go still. Frogs push into the mud, lizards hide under the last bark left on the tree stumps and enter a trance. Outside there are seven kinds of weather: It tosses, blows, shatters, blinds, howls, pours, and sweeps up from the ground."

To become a motionless snake curling up against other motionless snakes, to hibernate—that is my task today. The leaf-reaping season is one you can survive, can overcome, only by metamorphosis: by changing your nature so you become part of the background, be it snow, dirt, or night. (Reaper of Leaves, pp. 112-13)

***

But what’s most striking is [Bianki’s] tone: Not a trace of sentimentality, no sympathy for the preyed-upon or the fallen. Each death, each act of cruelty, belongs to the natural order. (Reaper of Leaves, p. 115)

***

“Our forest correspondents cleared the ice from the bottom of a local pond and dug up the silt. In the silt there were a number of frogs who had gathered there in heaps for the winter. When they pulled them out, they were like pure glass. Their bodies had grown extremely brittle. Their tiny legs would snap from the slightest, faintest touch, and did so with a light, clear pop. Our forest correspondents took several of the frogs home with them. They carefully warmed up the frozen juvenile frogs in their heated rooms. The frogs came to life bit by bit and began hopping across the floor.”

And off they go! (Reaper of Leaves, p. 125)

#polina barskova #book quotes

[yourselfnahas]

Twenty one pilots blurryface album download zip

It was an out-of-the-box move, and the duo was grateful for the many fans who submitted artwork. It earned the band a spot in the Guinness World Records for the longest music video.Ī review of Twenty One Pilots’ last release, ‘Trench’ The clip refreshed every three minutes and 42 seconds with new content, creating more than 400 new versions of the video daily. The new album isn’t the only thing they’ve been up to during the pandemic: last year, Twenty One Pilots released a dance-pop single, Level of Concern, an anthem that addressed the fear and anxiety of Covid-19, while also offering hope.įor the song’s music video, they decided to stream artwork submitted by fans for 177 days straight. “This dragon represents that imagination to me, it was flying around the room while I was making these songs.” Trash the dragon on the cover for “Scaled and Icy”. “We usually write songs while travelling, which obviously wasn’t the case this time, but I wanted to make sure even though we were confined to one space, we didn’t feel confined musically.” I wanted to tie our songs to something as powerful as that,” Joseph explained. “Trash the dragon is equal parts inspiration, fear, and magic. The album’s name also inspired the cover’s artwork: a scaled, teal dragon, who was also important to the duo’s socially-isolated creative process. That time Tyler and Josh accepted a Grammy in their underwear “We took these two words that are very negative and put a spin on it.” “It really represents how we found ourselves this last year,” Joseph added, as he explained that the album’s title Scaled and Icy is short for “scaled back and isolated”. “I’ll always wonder what the album would sound like if we didn’t have to collaborate that way, but I think it turned out well.” #Throwback to the last time we spoke to Twenty One Pilots “We figured out a way to collaborate with video conferencing – sometimes it was very tough,” Joseph confessed. While Dun was in Los Angeles, Joseph was in Columbus, Ohio – the US city is the band’s home town. In true Covid fashion, Joseph and bandmate Josh Dun worked on the project remotely more than 3,600km away from each other. It helped me get through the past year, and I hope it can help others as well.” The opener “Heavydirtysoul” sounds like The Prodigy is going to tear through your speakers, as drummer Josh Dun goes completely ballistic.The snappy “Tear in My Heart” has a David Bowie meets Death Cab For Cutie vibe to it, while the consummation of “Path Boy” brings out the best electropop parts of “Vessel.“It felt more inspiring to write something that was the opposite. Furthermore, based on Twenty One Pilot’s incoherent new collection, “Blurryface,” the answer isn’t anything but difficult to come by.The highs on “Blurryface” produce wonderment. Much like the best groups that left Fueled By Ramen’s brilliant time of the mid-to-late 2000s, Twenty One Pilots offers something extraordinary and refreshing.The Columbus twosome’s 2013 achievement collection, “Vessel,” was each bit a star-is-conceived minute as Paramore’s “Uproar!,” Gym Class Heroes’ “As Cruel as School Children” or Cobra Starship’s “Viva La Cobra.”But the genuine inquiry is the thing that comes next.

#Twenty one pilots blurryface album download zip