#menagerie pt 4

[thepringlesofblood]

so when i listened to taz ethersea, i listened to the first 17 episodes, fell off the wagon for a while, and then listened to the rest all at once over like a week.

this means, that in the finale when *SPOILERS* devo says his real name is damien cern, my immediate reaction was “fuck, i really should know who that is.”

so i went back. and I looked. and I was still confused. and i looked harder. and i took notes. and i am less confused, but now i have a true pepe sylvia conspiracy theory board. which i will share.

here is a timeline of What We Know About The Cerns, complete with all my various conspiracy theories. spoilers, obvs, for the whole series

Timeline

Hominine traveling performance troupe comes to beach

Benevolence comes to beach

Declan’s eldest son, Tolliver (98% certain that it’s him), goes missing. (prologue V: The Weight of History)

He has two other sons. If Amber’s account of Tolliver being “Declan Cern’s little boy” is taken literally, Tolliver can’t be older than 12 or so, and is likely under 10 (little).

We have no indication of another parent in the picture, and no indication of whether the kids are adopted (from the traveling troupe) or not.

The Storm - we go under the sea. (prologue V: The Weight of History)

2 years later - Devo is born!

Was supposedly raised “with” the Church and his mom, who was a member of the traveling performance troupe (TTAZZ Ethersea Wrap-up)

important, Declan Cern is never mentioned when discussing Devo’s backstory. The implication is that he is/was uninvolved in Devo’s life, and judging by his 0 voiced lines in the podcast it is possible that he doesn’t know Devo is his son OR does not recognize him as his son (legally or just by face)

Some Point before age 6 or 7 - name is changed from Damien to Devotion, this is when the ‘fulfill your destiny’ stuff starts (Episode 25, Cambria’s Call pt 4)

age 7 - mom “disappears”, the Church and more specifically the Hand of Guidance takes over his care (TTAZZ Ethersea Wrap-up)

So the scene with the lights + the hand of guidance in ep. 25 (Travis says Devo was “6 or 7″) would’ve been right around the time his fucking mom disappeared, Christ, guidance.

Some point (unknown, could’ve been before now) Brother Seldom leaves the church

Some point (slightly more known- 7-22) Devo hears Brother Seldom’s broadcast and is inspired to leave the parish

23 - he leaves!

Beginning of true podcast time

When Devo asks Felix for a line of credit (Episode 6, interlude 1), this happens:

Devo: And along with this, if I die, before I am able to pay you back, you can take this—

Travis: And Devo writes out a note.

Devo: To the Cern family. And they will pay my debt, no questions asked.

I HAVE MANY QUESTIONS TO ASK TRAVIS

The ONLY direct interaction I can find with Declan Cern is when they go before the Ballasters in the interlude when the Sallow comes (Episode 22)

He doesn’t say a fuckin word. He just sits in his Ballaster of Transit chair and watches. Travis recognizes him and asks about him - we don’t know if Devo recognizes him. Devo doesn’t act particularly out of character in the trial, at least as far as I can tell so maybe no?

We’re assuming when Hermine gets up and leads them all off, Declan goes back to whatever he was doing, as none of the other Ballasters follow them. He literally sits there and says nothing, even as Kodeira vouches for them and looks to Guidance and Aloyicius Supreme for confirmation, but not Declan

Doylist explanation - Griffin forgot he was there after describing him bc he’s #irrelevant

Watsonian explanation - this man is sinking into the floor. Or Kodeira has no reason to think that Declan knows anyone in the party, which is also VERY INTERESTING

He’s “in his 70s” so he was 47-57 when Devo was born, 45-55 on the beach. Either he aged real bad or Travis has a galaxy brain take on what “charismatic young man” (how he’s described in a quiet year V) can mean.

In the Menagerie, Devo meets a spectral, hologram-ish being that confirms themselves to be the Auctioneer and says he can call them Tolliver. They mostly discuss ethics and environmentalism and how to not be an asshole. (Ep. 24-25, The Menagerie parts 4-5)

Tolliver uses he/him pronouns from this point forward - the Auctioneer used they/them.

He is described as young man in his early 30s with three scars on his face, one of which goes over his eye which no longer works.

This age lines up with Devo’s if Tolliver is the eldest

At the end of the Menagerie mission Amber recalls that Tolliver was the name of “Declan Cern’s little boy” (Ep 25, The Menagerie Pt 5)

After Devo splits the timeline (Ep. 44 “Finale”), Tolliver shows up and basically says “hey what the fuck??? What the fuck did you do?? Even I don’t know what you did and I’m magic”

He also claims himself to be the “embodiment of the will of magic”

Devo reveals both his “real name”- Damien Cern - and his plan to kill Benevolence.

The former (Devo = Damien Cern) Tolliver scoffs at

Devo: Or I could just go by my real name, if you would prefer. And I could just be Damien Cern.

Tolliver: [scoffs]

Griffin: He smiles when you say that, and he says...

Tolliver: You’ve really got layers, don’t you?”

The latter (killing Benevolence) really freaks him out

Griffin: Tolliver, even in this moment where he has admitted that he doesn’t know as much as he’s letting on, still seems pretty uh... cocky. When you say that, he... is taken aback. And then he just kind of like looks around the room in a panic, like he’s trying to think his way through it. And he says...

Tolliver: [shaken] Wow, you’ve... You’ve really got layers, um... Hm. Okay. I can help you with that. And in exchange, maybe you can help me too. Because... I... I am pretty powerful, but I am only doing what I am called to do. I’m acting on instinct, doing what I’m supposed to do, and you were not supposed to call out to the family of Benefactor Orlene, but you did.

Devo: Mm-hmm.

Tolliver: And in doing so, you defied fate itself, and that makes you very, very interesting! 

So. That’s the timeline.

OBSERVATIONS:

We know that Devo is a Cern.

We know that his mother was in his life until he was 7, and that she raised him “with” the Church, until she disappeared and the Church took over completely. 

We know that he is the child of one of the traveling performers from Hominine, and he was “adopted by the Church” (TTAZZ)

We know that the only Cern mentioned on the show is Declan Cern, and his three sons, the eldest of which went missing.

The simplest answer is that his mother was one of the traveling performers, and his father was Declan Cern. These are the assumptions we will be operating under.

My nitpicky autistic ass absolutely has to point out several technicalities that probably do not matter

We don’t know for certain that his mother was one of the traveling performers. The two facts are mentioned separately.

Declan Cern could’ve been one of the traveling performers who retired and became a council member. He isn’t mentioned by name until Prologue V. It’s definitely not the most likely thing, but it is possible.

the performer, his mother, and Declan Cern could’ve all been separate people, with his mother being a church member related to Declan Cern in some way who adopted him from the performer/troupe

We don’t know for certain that Devo is Declan Cern’s son. We just know that he is a member of the Cern family - he could be a nephew, a cousin, etc.

We don’t know for certain that Devo’s mother and Declan Cern were romantically/sexually involved in any way. Again, she could’ve just been a church member that adopted him, or she could be a sister/relative of Declan Cern’s.

When Devo talks about his break with the church, he does not mention Declan - his focus is on Guidance, Orlean, and other current church members. So I don’t think the rift b/w him and Declan was caused by Devo’s break with the parish

Important to remember: when talking about his upbringing, Devo NEVER mentions having friends his own age. He emphasizes over and over how isolated and alone he felt. Would this have been the case if his brothers were there? Were any of the other Cerns present in Devo’s life at all?

potential answer - Devo emphasizes the isolation because that’s how he felt but there might have been other kids or his brothers around just not easily accessible to him as friends or family.

Devo was isolated by Guidance early on to be groomed into taking her place - nothing the Cerns could’ve done, assuming they’d want to do anything, would have stopped The Hand Of Guidance from getting what she wants - she’s consistently described as Incredibly Powerful. This is the mostly likely answer I think.

QUESTIONS

Why was Declan Cern not a prominent figure in Devo’s upbringing?

What happened to the other sons? Were they ever in Devo’s life?

To what degree do the Cerns know that Devo is a Cern? To what degree does the Church know?

How big is the Cern family? Is it just Declan and his sons?

Why was the Church raising Devo with his mother rather than Declan? What was The Church’s role in Devo’s upbringing before his mom died compared to after?

What happened that made the Church adopt him when his mother disappeared, instead of his next of kin? Would his mother have approved of it?

Why were his mother and father separated? Were they? To what extent? For what reason?

Did the other two sons have a parent figure other than Declan before he met Devo’s mom? What happened to them?

Why did his mother disappear? Was it intentional on her part? Did the Church or Guidance have something to do with it? Is she dead? If not, where did she go?? It’s not like it’s a big city, or like there’s anywhere else to go

Maybe she took a ship and just went for it. Idk. Maybe she went looking for the Ark Fleet - if the Hominine traveling theater troupe picked up members as it traveled she could’ve conceivably joined it from somewhere other than Hominine. Perhaps……..France? (my crack theory is that Devo got his accent from his mother)

Maybe Guidance took her out of the picture some other way. Maybe she was scared of something/someone. We’ll probably never know, but doesn’t hurt to theorize. She also could’ve fallen off a cliff or something.

THEORIES

My initial thought was that Declan could’ve cheated on his existing partner who he had the initial three sons with, by sleeping with one of the performing troupe members, so when they get pregnant it has to be kept quiet bc he’s a Public Figure, and he’s had enough of the public eye after Tolliver went missing, right?

So they’re separated and decide that she will raise Devo at the Church and he’ll send child support (notice Devo saying ‘the Cern family will pay it [the debt] no questions asked’ - this corroborates that!) but something mysteriously happens to her, leaving the way clear and unimpeded for the Hand of Guidance to groom Devo into the perfect successor.

His mother could’ve told him he was a Cern before her disappearance, and the child support kept coming in. I imagine the Hand of Guidance would’ve wanted to use the lux herself, maybe she framed it as funding his education, so of course it would go to her, she was his education.

I do feel like Guidance would try to steer Devo away from checking on his Cern family though for cult reasons.

It is physically impossible for his other sons to also be children of this traveling performance troupe member unless he adopted a whole bunch of orphans they conveniently had around.

Unless (unless)

Both the performing troupe and Declan are Hominine. What if the Cern family was living in Hominine, and Declan heard the call, but the mom didn’t? They could’ve had a big blowout fight about it, ending with her joining the performance troupe and him taking the kids to the beach.

Then, when the rest of the troupe realized hey fuck there’s nowhere to go they come to the beach, Declan and the mom reunite and go under together, then 2 years later have Devo

It also lays the groundwork for why Devo might have been raised on his own - if they had marital problems and separated again, the older kids might choose to go with their dad, while baby Devo stays with mom.

Also, Declan’s kinda old and this is a hard world. Maybe he was too caught up in work (canonically he’s a “nose to the grindstone” kind of guy) to take care of a baby so that fell to Devos mom, who also needed to parent two other kids so she enlisted the church to help.

That might also explain why Devo didn’t see much of his brothers! If the Church was doing childcare, it could’ve been separated by age group, so the older kids might be off with Brother Seldom or whatever other group they have while Devo stayed at the Church with the other little kids.

Also if they’re staying in a bathysphere…three kids two parents is a big family is all. Maybe the mom stayed at the Church with Devo some nights when it got too crowded, and that’s how it started. Then more and more often, the Hand of Guidance helps out, seemingly taking on more responsibility out of the goodness of her heart, while actually taking over more and more of his upbringing, grooming him to be her successor because she’s noticed his gifts at this point.

Alternately, polyamory is always an option. Maybe Declan Cern has (or had) multiple partners who aren’t really involved in each other’s lives.

Alternately, Declan Cern could’ve been a single dad before they even set foot on that beach.

Alternately, Declan wasn’t involved in the pregnancy - he just adopted the son of a traveling performer.

Where the mom fits in here is...tricky. Maybe she had a kid she wasn’t able to take care of, and Declan offered to adopt him, then had him grow up in the church, where Guidance got her greedy little hands on him, and the mom could be semi-involved.

Or whatever partner Declan had his other kids with died/divorced him and he fell in love Devo’s mom. Or again, polyamory, or single dad.

If Devo’s age is real, Declan either adopted Devo post-Storm, or fathered him post-Storm.

or. We know Devo is a Cern - it is not explicit that Declan is his father. Does Declan have any other family in Founder’s Wake? Lord only knows.

If this wasn’t a long enough post for you, I put all the transcripts i cited below (thank u tazscripts they do have official transcripts at maximum fun but some episodes don’t and they always wind up being the ones I need)

TTAZZ Ethersea Wrap Up

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-the-adventure-zone-zone-ethersea-wrap-up/

the main thing from this one is:

“Travis:...I don’t know if it was ever clear, Devo’s mom was with him for like seven years at the Church, and then one day disappeared, and the rest of the time raised by the Church alone.” (TTAZZ Ethersea Wrap-up)

ily travis but this is in fact not particularly clear

Episode 44 - finale

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-ethersea-episode-44/

Episode 34, The Menagerie pt 4

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-ethersea-episode-34/

Episode 35, The Menagerie pt 5

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-ethersea-episode-35/

Episode 36, The Menagerie pt 6

there isn’t. a transcript. for this. on maxfun or tazscripts. i had to go in and write it down myself. this is the podcast link, what it said and the approx. timestamp

https://maximumfun.org/episodes/adventure-zone/the-adventure-zone-ethersea-episode-36/

(1:18:58- 1:19:40)

Devo: “…It was pretty shitty, there was a dude there named Tolliver, I don’t know if that’s his real name, who was the Auctioneer that we dealt with before, he fucking sucked Griffin: Hey Amber? Roll uh, Roll a history check. Justin: Alright…22 Griffin: That name rings a bell for you, because you have only known one Tolliver in your, in your long life, it’s a name you’ve not heard in a long time, but…it hits you, all of a sudden, that the only Tolliver you’ve ever known, the only person that ever had that name, was Declan Cern’s little boy.”

Episode 25 Cambria’s Call pt 4 (thank u tazscripts)

https://href.li/?https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vSqE8hk7nt9dpISprv8L6WkxWnZ-H2By3XaOeXqRxDSLzExGhtwa6k0QhFgiYFQUzmoG9DNlHBEE3aC/pub

Episode 22 (interlude 3 (b/w Abyssal Auction and Cambria’s Call))

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-ethersea-episode-22/

Ep. 6 (interlude 1 (b/w The Gallery Job and The Infinite Clam))

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-ethersea-episode-6/

prologue V: The Weight of History

https://maximumfun.org/transcripts/adventure-zone/transcript-the-adventure-zone-ethersea-prologue-v-the-weight-of-history/

#taz #taz spoilers #taz ethersea spoilers #taz e spoilers #taz ethersea #taz e #original post #i need to sleep

[smokestarrules]

Heya! What would you say your favorite rwby songs are from the rwby soundtrack? Hope you're having a good day!

ooooooooooh... I'm going to spend entirely too much time on this ask, but I don't care because it's going to be fun. I'll give myself two favorites from each Volume, I think? So I don't ramble on for-fucking-ever. Onwards!

(Also consider every intro song as one of my favorites as well, because it's true.)

Volume 1:

I May Fall. The amount of foreshadowing in this song is insane and the fact that it's in the v1 soundtrack is laughable. Notably, it of course does have a hopeful message, but man... they had no idea what was comin', huh?

Red Like Rose, Pt. 2. Of course. The first little hint we see of especially Ruby's flawed coping mechanisms, and to have a song about Summer, like, ten years before she actually appears in the show is insane. It's a banger, and the lyrics "I made a sacrifice but forced a bigger sacrifice on you" is just!!!!!!! You know?

(Runner-up: Wings. You cannot convince me it's not the very first Bumbleby song.)

Volume 2:

Die. I guess I just really like dark songs from the earlier volumes; this one's just fun, and it does well to set up the Bad Times (tm) that are coming with v3. If you thought everything was fine and happy during the first two volumes, just check out the soundtrack. It didn't just come out of nowhere.

Sacrifice. Continuing on with the theme, I guess. I'm also a known Cinder Fan, so this as part of her theme is just... really, really cool. Again, some serious foreshadowing. The chorus for this one is really good; just again a super fun song to listen to.

(Runner-up: Boop. Banger.)

Volume 3:

It's My Turn. Fav Weiss song, maybe? Certainly one of the best ones. Sets the stage for Weiss' feelings considering her family that comes up in this volume and the next ones, and it helps that this song plays during the first arena fight with Team RWBY, which is a bomb-ass scene.

Divide. PEAK villain song, and I mean peak victorious villain song. The goal to split up the protagonists isn't exactly a rare thing, but the fact that it works... this entire song is just a kick to the face; they've already lost, and now they're having to hear about it. Divide them, and that's already happened. It's a fucking fantastic song. One of my favorites overall, I think, not just from v3.

(Runner-up: Mirror, Mirror, Pt. 2. Weiss gets a lot of great ones.)

Volume 4:

Like Morning Follows Night. Bit of an expected choice, probably, but this song is just too damn good. I really love the argument in the beginning between Blake and Sun, and it's just... god, it's good. Blake songs are always incredible.

Armed and Ready. I mean, of course. Yang's Getting Back Up moment, Bees crumbs, the incredible way the tone of this one changes from fear to determination?? Fantastic. Also, the title being a pun is just... yeah. It's so good.

(Runner-up: Bmblb, because of course. Also, holy fuck this volume was hard. V4's soundtrack is stacked.)

Volume 5:

Smile. Ilia! Love Ilia. Love this song. It has one of my favorite rhythms in RWBY, and man, the amount of character backstory that we get from it is crazy. It's not a backstory you really need to know if you don't listen, but it's nice to hear nonetheless. Ilia beloved <3

This Time. Like I said: Blake songs are always incredible. Blake and her papa!!! Making a better world for the Faunus!!! Just really love the implications of this song, of Ghira and Blake side-by-side as they rally the rest of Menagerie. Really cool.

(Runner up: All That Matters. The yearning, my god. Yang is down bad and she's going to make it everyone else's problem.)

Volume 6:

Miracle. A lingering darkness from v5; they're not at all in a great place by the beginning of v6, but they're still fighting! Another one of my actual favorites overall, it's just a banger.

Nevermore. A Blake and Yang duet that explicitly details how they're feeling when they stab Adam??? That's one of the best concepts I've ever heard, and it's insane. This one is also a bit nostalgic; I watched RWBY after v6 stopped airing but before the soundtrack had dropped, and I specifically remember jamming out to Nevermore the day it was released. Peak romance, actually.

(Runner-up: Indomitable. Still makes me want to cry. Singlehandedly one of the most powerful songs, I think.)

Volume 7:

Touch the Sky. Blake song!! Blake song where she's happy! Blake song where she talks about finally feeling like herself again!!! What the fuck!!!! This one gets me so emotional every time. She's healed.

War. Complete opposite vibes of the last, but still cool as hell. The fact that they got four different voices in this one to play as RWBY is incredible, and my god is it a banger. Betrayal vibes, obviously, but like, looking down your nose at the person who turned their back on you. Super cool.

(Runner-up: Brand New Day. Another happy one!! God... we had no idea how good v7 was being to us.)

Volume 8:

Treasure. Oh, you thought v5's All That Matters was peak yearning? You were wrong! Blake's pining knocks Yang's out of the park, especially considering they're apart in this volume for like, three days maximum. Blake is in love and she's going to make it everyone else's (Weiss') problem.

Friend. I mean... what can I say about this song? RWBY's not exactly short on "mourning this person" music, but the fact that this one is explicitly cheery... it's just. Wow. It's Penny in a nutshell, and while it's still devastating, it's also, like. Celebrating her life. Celebrating what she did get to have, rather than grieving that she won't get to have more. It's really, really good, and the song itself is fantastic.

(Runner-up: Be Strong and Hit Stuff. Nora themes! Emerald themes! And what a catchy chorus!)

Overall, thanks for this ask, I had way too much fun with it. Sorry for how long it got lmfao, I have Opinions about this show. I don't think there's a single song I actively dislike, though of course I've got my less favorites. Hope you enjoyed my madness :)

#rwby #rwby soundtrack #smokey answers #jazzymusicorn28

[a-mellowtea]

In the spirit of Nitpick November, I charge you to nitpick your favorite thing about the show: the music!

Nonny, how could you? I have been betrayed! Bamboozled!

... Okay, but I do actually have a couple I can offer. Much as I love the music in RWBY, it is also on occasion hit-and-miss, but music being subjective by nature means that these are all purely nitpicky quibbles.

In no particular order:

· If Weiss gets one more mirror-related song that reiterates the exact same thing, I might lose what little is left of my sanity. There is very little variation in her lyrical tracks and it's frustrating as hell.

· Please, for the love of god, give your titular character (Ruby) a proper solo song. It's been nine years since "Red Like Roses Pt. II". · I really don't like Lamar Hall's rapping. It was fine and good in "I Burn" and a track like "Celebrate", but more and more it just feels like a jarring, unnecessary thing used to spice up songs that don't need it. · The worst piece of score in Volume 5, and dare I say all of RWBY, is the music under the talk about Semblances in Chapter 4. It's a stock drum beat with a painfully generic pop piano melody overtop, and it reeks of a low-effort last-minute "we need to fill dead air" inclusion. We all know Jeff can do better with his non-lyrical music. · I wish the leitmotifs for the specific Kingdoms had been written at the outset, and not for Volume 4's World of Remnants. This is a "hindsight is 20/20" nitpick, but Mistral's gets some good love in Volumes 5 and 6, we hear Atlas' now and again, but I'm not sure whether we'll hear that thematic material at all for Vacuo/Vale. It's a shame, 'cause they're really lovely melodies unique to each major location (besides Menagerie...). · Volume 8's album is a mess. "The Truth" should not have been its own track, "Awake" being rereleased under the RWBY label is a bizarre choice that was likely only done to add a seventh song, and there was a major missed opportunity in not having "When It Falls" be the album's acoustic track. In fact, there is no acoustic track. · Jumping off that last nitpick, the mix quality of the Volume 8 album is painfully subpar when it comes to the score, nevermind that it was barely edited and I am fairly certain the automation tracks weren't removed. There are some tracks that are more egregious than others, but the example that immediately jumps to mind is 3min 55sec into "The Final Word Pt. II". You can hear the fuzzy compression distortion on the drums. It ain't good. · I wish Erin Reilly had been invited to do the "I May Fall (Acoustic)". She did the original arrangement and vocals years ago. In a Volume with so many guest vocalists, she should have been allowed to sing what was, by all rights, her version of the song. She's not even credited in the digital release. · On that note, I really wish they did more collabs. Volume 7 was a breath of fresh air with the likes of Caleb Hyles, Adrienne Cowan, Dawn M. Bennett, Erin Reilly, Santi C etc. It doesn't have to be to that extent--from what I've heard, getting all that done was a hassle--but one or two per Volume to switch things up would be lovely. · I'm going to wait to hear what it's like, but I'm not really digging the sparse, synth-heavy nature of the back half of Volume 8 and what we've gotten of Volume 9. I do like that type of music, but it's so off the rails of RWBY's until-now orchestral-focused score, it's jarring. The last cue of Volume 8 comes to mind as feeling too synthetic, cold and disconnected. Which was maybe the point? If it was, I certainly don't think it worked.

#rwde #nitpick november #rwby music #ask answer #thanks for making me suffer nonny <3

[crouton-knight]

WIP Grab Bag Meme

Rules: Below are the names of all the files in my WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!

Doing this again, WIP titles below the cut!

For clarity I've added fandoms beside each title.

space cowboy disaster zone (Homestuck)

I’ll Set You Up Against The Stars (Homestuck)

Arrhythmia (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

we daren’t go a-hunting (Homestuck)

Skaia City: Underground (Homestuck)

Lotus Hotel (Homestuck)

An Unfortunate Honor: Bearing, Duty, And Other Troubles (Homestuck)

Stranger Stars and Suns (Homestuck)

Alternia Shuffle (still no idea why this isn’t listed as mine on ao3) (Homestuck)

Blood Worship (Homestuck)

On Monsters Fair And Fearsome (Homestuck)

Danse Macabre (Homestuck)

The Menagerie (Homestuck)

raze the sky in engine fire (Homestuck)

Let Me Tell You About Humanity (Homestuck)

as the rain comes home to the sea (DragonFable)

crucible (Homestuck)

Jade Harley and the Midnight Crew (Homestuck)

Zodiac Defender, Red Knight (Homestuck)

Magical Yakuza Girl (original)

Marzipan pt. 2 Milk Slime Baths (original)

Marzipan pt. 3 Trouble in Paradise (original)

Marzipan pt. 4 Lays of Legend (original)

Matches And Tar (Homestuck)

Star Shanty (Homestuck)

Equinox (Homestuck)

Robocock (Homestuck)

Price of an Empire, or, A Mutant Mechpilot Gets Fucked Up (Homestuck)

Decompression Sickness (Homestuck)

The Oddities of Jake English (Homestuck)

Daddy AF (Homestuck)

Let’s Get Physical (Homestuck)

go fuck yourself (Homestuck)

Practical Interviews (Homestuck)

House Rules (DragonFable)

Devilfish (DragonFable)

Fragments from the Book of the Disciple, Farewells 1-7 (Homestuck)

Sutures (DragonFable)

I'll see you in my dreams (whether I like it or not) (DragonFable)

Constellations (Homestuck)

ArchMaid (DragonFable)

Brother Lover ep. 2: I Can't Believe I'm Trying To Seduce My Elder Bro By Crossdressing (Homestuck)

General Seto and the Kitchen War (original)

Second Skin (DragonFable)

Kiss, Marry, then Kill (Homestuck)

Pretend To Be Tonight (DragonFable)

In Vain (DragonFable)

#dragonfable #puella magi madoka magica #homestuck #puella magi #madoka magica #original writing #wips #fanfic #fanfiction #ao3 #grab bag meme

[starfleetisapromise]

Probably time to blog this again. Put together by the incomparable @taraljc- she of the Mark Harmon as Phil Boyce fancast.

#pike/one #magnificent fanfiction

[paxohana]

Menagerie, Pt 4.

Sorry this is a couple days late!  Life happened.  But without further ado, we hope you enjoy. 

“Yuuri!” Viktor exclaimed, holding up a hand to greet him.

Yuuri waved back and smiled broadly, never feeling as light as he did now.  The pure joy on Viktor’s face from seeing him made Yuuri feel welcome.  The friendly cadence in Viktor’s voice was sincere, and Yuuri had an inkling that Viktor was looking forward to their outing as much as he was.

“Hi Viktor,” he said when he reached him, “How are you this fine morning?”

“Better now that you’re here,” Viktor professed, “I thought we could chat before everyone else arrives.”

There was so much Yuuri wanted to say but didn’t want to appear too eager.  He wanted to know everything there was to know about the man called Viktor Nikiforov.  He wanted to know what made him smile, what made him think and what made him tick.  He wanted to know about what he held dear in life and more about his aspirations than he did now but now was not the time.

“Copper for your thoughts,” Viktor said suddenly.

“Oh nothing,” Yuuri said, fibbing slightly, “What would you like to talk about?”

Viktor pressed a finger to his lips and considered the question, Yuuri thinking the gesture endearing.  There wasn’t much about the man that he didn’t find charming and didn’t think there could be anything that changed his mind.  When Viktor started, he broke Yuuri out of his reverie once more.

“Tell me about your family,” Viktor requested, “I know your father is a financier, but nothing about the Katsuki family in general.”

“Well, my father is Toshiya.  As I said, he’s a financier.  My mother is Hiroko and she’s involved in many societal gatherings and charity organizations.  Remember the flooding in the southern part of town last year?” he asked, watching Viktor nod, “She spearheaded the relief effort for that calamity.”

“That’s quite admirable,” Viktor said.

“I’m proud of her,” Yuuri confessed, “Then there’s my sister, Mari.  She’s my older sibling and helps my father out with his business quite a bit.  She has a knack for numbers and trends.  Much more than I ever will.”

“Can she take over your father’s business when the time comes?” Viktor inquired, “That would leave you the chance to achieve your dream.”

“It isn’t acceptable for a woman to be in such a position,” Yuuri said sadly.

“Who knows,” Viktor said, “Maybe things will change between now and then.”

“Mayhap,” he agreed, “What about you?”

“I’m the only child of Ivan and Oksana Nikiforov.  My father inherited the business from his father and so on.  It’s just recently gotten into steel since it’s the material of the future,” Viktor explained.

“It does seem like it’s everywhere,” Yuuri added.

“Business is booming, that’s for sure,” Viktor said, “My mother holds tea parties most days and frets about my father and I, particularly me.  She is convinced I shall never settle down and produce grandchildren for her.”

“You’re still young,” Yuuri said.

“Tell that to my mother,” he muttered, “Twenty-seven is awfully old in her eyes.”

Yuuri smiled at him, Viktor’s heart fluttering when the corners of his eyes crinkled.  It was refreshing talking to Yuuri like this and he felt relieved conversation came so easily between them.  Listening to Yuuri speak and watching his body language, Viktor felt his attraction for the man grow.

The rest of the players arrived as they were speaking and Viktor introduced Yuuri to them.  They were playing at a nearby country club that morning, dividing into two teams of three.  The game was to last an hour, with six chukkers.  While they had three minutes between each chukker, Viktor hoped the hour would fly by so he could spend more time with Yuuri.

The stroll to the club was pleasant with Viktor’s friends asking Yuuri questions.  They were an amiable bunch and did their best to make Yuuri feel welcome.  Judging by the smile on Yuuri’s face, Viktor assumed he was enjoying himself.  

As they neared the club, Viktor went through the rules of the game and how gameplay would progress.  He explained they’d be foregoing the usual fifteen minute half-time, but they’d have fun even though the match was shortened.  Asking Yuuri whether he was right- or left-handed, Viktor was pleased when he replied right.  He explained that the mallet had to be held in his right hand and he’d steer the horse with his left.  Going over the right-of-way and how to steal the ball from other players, Viktor announced that Yuuri would be on the team with himself and Thom.  He told Yuuri there was normally four players per team, but they had been unable to fill the last two spots.

Yuuri was nervous about doing well since he wasn’t known as a sportsman.  Dabbling on the ice when wintertime rolled around was as far as his athletic ventures went, and while he enjoyed it he knew twirling on the ice was nothing compared to polo.  Determined to do his best, he continued to listen to Viktor give him pointers.

“Don’t try to bump anyone with your horse,” Viktor advised, “That’s for those that have been playing for a while.  Likewise, if someone bumps you, don’t fret.  Stay calm and in control of your horse.  That’s the best thing you can do.  If you need a break, let us know.  We’re not in a tournament so the rules will be lax today.”

“I’m sure I’ll do fine, Viktor,” Yuuri fibbed, hoping he wasn’t visibly anxious.

Viktor smiled and patted his shoulder before heading for the stables.  His family had several horses housed at the club and Viktor wanted to visit his favorite mare.  She wasn’t used often for sport but leisurely rides.  He found himself wondering if Yuuri would enjoy a ride on the grounds one day, mentally choosing the perfect horse for him.  

“Hey Viktor,” Thom said, smirking at him, “Are you borrowing someone else’s horse?”

“No, why?”

“You passed your father’s stalls,” Les said in amusement.

Viktor rolled his eyes and shrugged off his preoccupation.  He was busy contemplating the fun he and Yuuri could have that afternoon:  heading off to lunch after the match, eating in the town square while talking about everything under the sun, strolling through downtown and admiring the different selections to buy in the storefront windows.  He dreamed of walking hand-in-hand with Yuuri, but knew it was entirely out of the question.

Viktor signed two horses out of the stable, rubbing his mare’s head lovingly.  The horse had been in the family since Viktor was a teen and he’d grown to love her.  Viktor couldn’t imagine using another horse beside her.

“She’s beautiful,” Yuuri said, coming over to pet her.

“Thanks,” he said, beaming at Yuuri, “We’ve had her since I turned seventeen.”

“I don’t know horses, but she doesn’t look like she’s ten,” Yuuri said, peering thoughtfully at the horse.

“She’s a young soul,” Viktor replied, grinning when Yuuri chuckled, “Time to get your horse.”

“I have to warn you, I’m not very good on them,” Yuuri stated.

“Betsy will be easy on you.  I promise,” he assured him.

Going over the last minute rules and pointers for the game, Yuuri declared himself ready to play.  Viktor told his friends to take it easy on Yuuri, explaining once again that it was his first game.  Viktor assisted Yuuri onto his horse before heading to his own, thinking how much fun he was going to have.

“Ready?” Viktor asked once Yuuri was settled.

“As I’ll ever be,” Yuuri answered.

“Let the fun begin,” Viktor said.

As always, @princessmimoza​ provided the lovely artwork for this part.  Want to read from the beginning?  Check it out on Ao3!

#menagerie pt 4 #victuuri fic #viktuuri fic #katsuki yuuri #viktor nikiforov #pax writers #princessmimoza draws

[banditaxstich]

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[official-weasley]

The Irreplaceable Charlie Weasley: Pt. 1, Ch. 1

PART 1: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Chapter 1 - And so it begins

I decided to post my Charlie Weasley fanfic here ❤️

I will post a chapter per day since I have already finished writing it!

A mixture between Harry Potter Books lore and Hogwarts: Mystery Game

I just finished reading the books for the 10th time and between reading and playing the game on my mobile phone I have never been so intrigued or had so many questions about Charlie Weasley.

My imagination started to go wild halfway through The Goblet of Fire and I decided to create my own little story about how it would be like to know Charlie Weasley from his first year at Hogwarts and all the way to the Battle of Hogwarts (yes, it’s a LONG story)!

I will stop being a babbling, bumbling baboon now, bye!

Nova

I still can't believe I had to wait so long. My opinion is that if you are born after the 31st of August you are the unluckiest child ever! Imagine getting a letter of acceptance, that your parents have been waiting for since you have been born and since they are so excited about it, you get excited about it and then you turn 11 on 14th December only to find out that you have to wait until NEXT SEPTEMBER to go to school! Who came up with this rule!

Nonetheless, the wait is over as in one week I will be sitting on Hogwarts Express to go to the school my parents have been at so many years ago and have fun adventures as they so like to reminisce on how fun it was to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

“Nova, dear, we are going to be late!” My mother called for me from downstairs. I couldn't help but let out an exciting shriek that sounded like a baby Pixie, as I grabbed my favorite notebook which I took everywhere; and I mean everywhere if you were thinking about the bathroom. I loved to draw magical creatures, ever since my parents bought me Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I inspire to be the second Newt Scamander, except that I would work in a creature reserve, rather than have one at home.

I ran downstairs into the living room, as my dad was opening a bag of Floo Powder, ready to travel to Diagon Alley! My father was a Curse Breaker for Gringotts and ever since he was assigned to Egyptian tombs, mum and I barely saw him. It meant the world to me that he could take a week off work to accompany me to my first ever trip to Diagon Alley to gather all the things that I would need for my First Year at Hogwarts! I still remember the whole list, which included several sets of plain black robes and a pointy hat among other things, with the books like the Standard Book of Spells Grade 1, for which I was so excited to start waving my wand in Charms Class, along with History of Magic and the one I already had Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

That reminds me! If you are asking yourself, why have we decided to leave the shopping until the last week before I had to leave on the Hogwarts Express if I got my letter in December? Well, this is a little embarrassing but I tend to be a little bit of an overachiever and if mum and dad would get me the books in December, I would probably read them all 3 times by now!

That's also the reason my mum and dad made a bet about the House I will get sorted in. My mum thinks I will be in Gryffindor, while my dad strongly disagrees and thinks I would make a perfect Ravenclaw.

As I watched my mum disappear into the green flames and my dad pushing me to go next, the excitement grew in me as I knew I was about to embark upon the best journey of my life.

“Alright, pumpkin! Are you ready? Here, there you go!” My dad gave me the bag for me to take the Floo Powder out of. “Now, speak clearly and carefully, as we practiced: Diagon Alley.”

I took the powder, stepped into our fireplace, and as I threw the powder I said loud and clear: “DIAGON ALLEY!”

The next thing I know, I was standing on a busy street next to my mum, looking up at her to see a proud face as she was trying to hold in the tears of happiness, seeing me travel by Floo Powder for my second time; the first being to visit my aunt and uncle in Scotland.

A second later, my dad appeared next to us and I finally took a look around me. It was just as they have described but busier. Perhaps waiting to get the books until the last week before school wasn't such a good idea, as it seemed that everyone did the same.

Without even asking, my parents first took me to Ollivander's as they knew I wanted my wand more than anything. My mum accompanied me into the wand shop, as my dad whispered something in her ear and hurried down the street.

“Where is dad going, mum?” She smiled at me gently. “You will see soon enough, sweetie.”

She nudged me into Ollivander's and I couldn't help but get nervous as I saw the number of boxes from black to wooden and purple to burgundy. I gasped as a man appeared right behind the counter.

“Ah, Miss Goldhorn, it is so lovely to see you again. Ebony wood, 11 inches, Dragon heartstring, very flexible. Yes, yes, I still remember.” The old man said to my mum, with sparks in his eyes.

“It's Blackwood now but the wand is still the same.” My mum smiled as she pulled out her wand and showed it to the man.

“Ah, eldest or youngest?” The man asked with a grin.

“Youngest.”

“Ah, that would be, 10 2/4 inches, Unicorn hair and very unbendable.” He said proudly as he guessed my dad's wand without even hearing his name.

“Wow, you remember that?” I was now looking at him with total amazement. I imagined myself looking at him the way I did when I saw a drawing of a Chinese Fireball for the first time.

“I remember every wand I have ever sold, Miss Blackwood. Now, shall we find one for you?” He said slowly, even though I had a feeling that he was just as excited to find me a wand as I was.

“Alright, let's see...” He said as he turned around and disappeared behind one of the shelves.

“Alder wood, Dragon heartstring, 9 inches, fairly flexible.” He opened a green box, gently taking out the wand and handing it to me. I swung it once and absolutely nothing happened. I got nervous, as I swung the wand again and again nothing whatsoever happened.

“Oh, dear.” He said as he took the wand away from me. “That one didn't like you. No worries, let us try...let's say this one!” He exclaimed as he brought the next box. This one was wooden and out he brought a smooth-looking wand that looked a bit crooked.

“Redwood, Dragon heartstring again, 11 ¾ inches, not particularly flexible. Come on dear, try it out.” He encouraged me as he put the wand in my hand. I swung this one as I did with the other one with the fear that my mum and dad will make me go to a Muggle school if nothing happens with this one. Suddenly, the nearest lamp to me broke and Mr. Ollivander was quick to take the wand away from me.

“Or perhaps not, this one doesn't seem to listen to you either.”

Again he hurried and hid behind the shelf, murmuring something to himself as I could see he was thinking hard as he was enjoying a challenge.

“Ah, I think we could get somewhere with this one!” He was so excited now that he almost jogged back to the front, a burgundy box in his hand.

“Ebony wood, Unicorn hair, 10 3/4 inches, and surprisingly swishy flexibility.”

I took the wand carefully, wishing this could be the one as I was getting quite embarrassed. I swung the wand and it gave out sparks and I got a sensation in my body as if something just connected with me.

“There we go! I had a hunch Unicorn hair would be for you!” He gently clapped his hands together as my mum, pride on her face, got closer to the counter to pay the man.

After that we spent quite some time in Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions as the lady inside took measurements of me I didn't even know could be made and afterward spent almost the same amount of time in Flourish and Blotts as my mum had a hard time getting me out as I wanted to grab more than just the 8 books I needed for school.

We finally found dad as we were looking through display windows of several shops while having the tastiest ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

As he saw us through the window, he came out of Magical Menagerie, hiding something big behind his back.

He smiled at me and showed us a big owl cage with a beautiful barn owl inside. I wanted to scream with excitement but decided not to as I didn't want to scare the owl.

“Your mother and I were thinking that you should have an owl of your own as you would have to write to me and mum while at Hogwarts.” He smiled at me and stroke my thick bluish hair.

“It's so beautiful! Can I name him?”

“Of course you can, darling!” My mum chuckled.

“Pip!” I exclaimed as I admired my new best friend. It had such deep black eyes, a white face in a shape of a heart, and the most beautiful patterns I have ever seen on its wings. I couldn't wait to draw him!

A WEEK LATER

I exhaled and inhaled deeply as I was standing in front of a wall between platforms 9 and 10, my parents one on each side of me.

“You can do it, sweetheart. Just don't run too fast.” My mum said to me softly, while dad gently squeezed my shoulder.

I took another deep breath and ran towards the wall, closing my eyes. As I opened them, I was on the Platform 9 ¾, steam running from the black and red Hogwarts Express.

We had exactly 7 minutes until the train would leave. While I was standing with my mum, admiring the train, my dad took my luggage to the luggage compartment.

“Oh, sweetheart, I wish you the best First Year at Hogwarts! I hope you will have as much fun as your dad and I had!” She kneeled to me, hugging me tightly, holding back the tears. Once she stood up, my dad came back. He hugged me softly while whispering in my ear how proud he is of me.

I hurried on the train as we heard a whistle, waving to my parents who started shouting after me: “Send us Pip to tell us in which House you were sorted!” My mum yelled. “And listen and take notes in classes!” My dad added.

I waved at them through the window until the train took a turn and I couldn't see them anymore. It was time to find an empty compartment.

I was in awe of how many students were on the train as I was almost at the end of it and couldn't find a single empty compartment. I passed a compartment with two kids arguing who is going to be a better Slytherin. A compartment with someone talking about Quidditch so enthusiastically that I couldn't believe just how fast he was talking. A compartment with 2 redheads that looked like brothers, one munching on a chocolate frog with hair so long he could put it in a short ponytail, the other one sighing while saying “Aw, another Helga Hufflepuff, I already have her.” He had so many freckles on his face that it was tough to define his skin tone.

I finally stopped in front of a compartment as a girl with pink hair caught my eye. She was sitting and conversing with 2 other girls and it looked like they were having a nice time. I slowly opened the compartment, cleared my throat, and asked if I could join them. To my surprise, they were more than thrilled to have me join and I was a little relieved that I finally found somewhere to sit as I sat down next to a girl with blond hair.

“Wotcher, my name is Tonks, nice to meetcha!” The pink girl said, grinning at me.

“I'm, Penny. Very nice to meet you.” Said the blond girl next to me, with a polite voice as she smiled at me.

“And I'm Tulip, Tulip Karasu.” Said the redhead as she extended her hand to me.

“Blimey, if I knew we were going into such details I would've said more!” Tonks said while Tulip and Penny chuckled. “Nymphadora Tonks, a Metamorphmagus at your service! And you better call me Tonks as I swear my parents are paying every single day for naming me that way!” The girl with the pink hair said. The other 2 chuckled again.

“They are paying for it?” I asked, puzzled.

“Ah yes, I prank them all the time and I am as mischievous as I possibly can be!” Said Tonks, proudly.

“Just because of your name?” I asked. She nodded in confirmation. I already liked her, even though I had no reason for not behaving around my parents, but I liked her energy.

“And if we are introducing each other with the full name, I am Penny Haywood, half-blood and proud of my dad being a muggle.” She said with the biggest smile I have ever seen anyone admit that they are not a Pure Blood.

“Blimey, I don't know how to introduce myself.” Said Tonks a bit disappointed that Penny added a new thing to learn about each other.

“Oh, I have an idea. How about we go in a circle and each of us says a sentence about ourselves. That way we can get to know each other and can give each other ideas about what the others haven't said yet!” Tulip said, quite proud of her idea.

“Yes, let's do that and let her start since we don't even know her name.” Tonks said while nodding her head at me.

“Alright, well. My name is Nova Blackwood, I am a Pure Blood. My mum is an Auror and my dad is a Curse Breaker in Egypt.”

“Wicked!” Tulip and Tonks said at the same time.

“That sounds like a dangerous but very fun position.” Said Penny thoughtfully.

“It's obvious that Penny's hair is naturally blond and I think that's Tulip's natural hair but may I ask why is your hair blue?” Tonks asked bluntly.

“Yeah, I was wondering that as well!” Said Tulip excited as if Tonks was reading her mind and then adding “And my hair is naturally red, yes.”

“Well, it's quite a funny story.” I started, chuckling. “When my mum was pregnant, my aunt from Scotland tried to dye my mum's hair dark blue. She is a very clumsy woman and as my mum was talking right before my aunt cast the spell, my aunt tripped looking at her instead of where she pointed her wand at, and as she cast the spell she pointed it at my mum's belly. They thought nothing of it since they thought the spell didn't work. However, when I was born and my dad had a puzzled look on his face as I came out with this hair color,” I pointed at my dark bluish grey hair, “my mum knew exactly where I got it from.

They asked the nurses and they did tests on me however they couldn't figure out how to reverse the spell so that my hair would be brown like my parents' so they eventually gave up as the hair color grew on them, naming me Nova after the supernova explosion since the color of the explosion tends to be blue sometimes.” I said, finishing my story.

“Wicked!” Said Tulip and Tonks together again.

“That has to be the most beautiful story I have ever heard.” Breathed Penny, looking as if she was ready to cry.

“Thank you?” I said as I didn't know what to say as I tell the same story to anyone who asks me.

“My turn!” Shouted Tonks. “Well, you know my name already. My father is a Muggle-born as well, mum's a witch from the Black family line. Don't like to talk about it too much. My hair's pink because as I said I am a Methamorphmagus and I can turn it whichever color I want. And I can also do this!” She said excitedly as her nose turned to that of an elephant.

We all stared at her in awe, clapping as if we have just seen an amazing performance.

“Well, I am a Pure Blood too. Mum works in Diagon Alley and my dad works for the Ministry: The Department of Mysteries so you can guess, I have no idea what his work is. And since we are talking about hair, I have it after my mum, she has hair just like mine.” She said grinning.

“Tonks said that she doesn't want to talk about her parents but Penny you were really happy to announce that your dad is a Muggle. Can you tell us something more, I have no knowledge of Muggles.” I said with an interest in my voice.

“Well, my mum is a Potioneer, selling her potions to pharmacies and other buyers, my dad however is a writer.

Since my mum and I are witches, he is quite successful as he writes children's novels mum giving him false information about Magic folk for him to write about, since she, you know, can't tell the truth because of the Statute of Secrecy but my dad loves it anyways and envies us that he can't clean the dishes with his wand.

I also have a younger sister named Beatrice who can be quite annoying but I love her all the same. Having a Muggle dad is interesting as there is always something mum has to explain to him but as he is always fascinated by it, it works out quite alright. And all my family including both sides of my grandparents have this kind of blond hair so I guess it runs in the family.” She chuckled after finishing the last sentence.

“Sorry to bother you ladies,” our compartment opened and a girl who looked like a Head Girl put her head in, “we will be arriving shortly, so I suggest you put your robes on. Also, I assume you are all First Years, meaning that you will want to find a rather large man when you exit the train as First Years make their way up to the Castle in a bit of a different way.” She said, giving us a friendly smile.

“So, which House do you think you'll be sorted in?” Asked Penny while we were all changing into our robes. “I don't care as long as I can have all the Potion Classes that I can get.” She added enthusiastically.

“Hmm, didn't put that much thought into it.” Said Tonks, frowning as she started to think about it.

“My parents were in the same year, but my mum was in Gryffindor and my dad was in Ravenclaw, so we'll see. They did make a bet in which House I'll be as they are both rooting for their own House.” I said as I buttoned my final button on my shirt.

“You know what?” Finally said, Tulip. “I like you lot, I would be very happy to be in the same House as all of you.” We all smiled at her as we realized that we would all like that very much.

#harry potter hogwarts mystery #hp #harry potter fanfiction #hphm mc #harry potter hogwarts game #hp hogwarts mystery #hphm charlie #charlie weasley #charlie weasley fanfiction #hphm #hogwarts mystery mc #the weasleys #hphm tonks #hphm fandom #hphm au #hphm characters #hphm fanfiction #hphm tulip #hphm penny #bill weasley #weasley family #weasley fanfiction #ron weasley

[argentvive]

The Furnace Man, the Mermaid, Lyra, and the Alchemist - pt 3

Part 2 is here:

https://argentvive.tumblr.com/post/640601164102107136/the-furnace-man-and-the-mermaid-pt-2

V. Chemical Wedding

Lyndy Abraham’s definition of a Chemical Wedding:

The philosopher’s stone cannot be created until the lovers have died and their bodies putrefied in the mercurial waters. (p. 37)

Rosarium philosophorum, “Coniunctio”

Pullman gives us all three components of a Chemical Wedding--Van Dongen, Dinessa, and a wave of water, i.e., the Mercurial water.  And the lovers die.  

When Van Dongen comes down the stairs and sees Dinessa, everything in the alchemist’s laboratory changes.   This is surely Pullman’s most extraordinary run-on sentence in the entire series:

At once a tumult broke out. The stuffed crocodile hanging from the ceiling twisted in its chains, and writhed and lashed its tail and roared; a row of dusty glass bottles, gallon-sized or larger, containing strange specimens, fetuses, homunculi, cephalopods, glowed with light as the dead creatures inside beat their fists on the glass or sobbed with fury or hurled themselves from side to side; a metal bird in a dusty cage sang raucously; the water in Dinessa’s tank shrank away from Van Dongen and rose up in a great wave to stand suspended and trembling in the air, with the water dæmon inside, like an insect trapped in amber, though she saw her man and reached both arms out of the water and into the air, calling, “Cornelis! Cornelis!”

 All of this release of energy happens before Van Dongen and Dinessa unite, which they do immediately. thereafter.

It was all happening too quickly for anyone to stop. Van Dongen, crying “Dinessa!” hurled himself at the standing wave, and Dinessa burst out of it and into his arms.

      They came together in an explosion of steam and flame. For a second Lyra could see their faces, lurid, enraptured, pressing themselves together in a final embrace. Then they were gone, and something was happening among the machinery above the tank. Jets of superheated steam were forcing their way into the cylinders and slamming the pistons to and fro, making the connecting rods swing backwards and forwards as they turned a gigantic wheel, everything moving with the smooth ticking of lubricated machinery. (pp. 386-7)

The Chemical Wedding starts the alchemist’s steam engine, but Cornelis and Dinessa are “gone,”  Did the alchemist kill them?

  Lyra and Kubiček could only stand back in shock. Then she turned to the sorcerer, who was shutting his book with the air of having completed a long and arduous task.

What was that task?  What have we just seen?

VI. Homunculus or Golem?

Lyra asks Agrippa what’s he done, and he gives a shocking answer.  

“They are both fulfilling the destiny they were created for.”

  “They weren’t created for this!”

  “You know nothing about it. I arranged for their birth, I brought the dæmon here for this work, but her boy escaped. No matter. I arranged for you to find him and bring him here. Now your part is over, and you can leave.”

  “Their father betrayed them, and you did this to them!”

  “I am their father.”

In other words, Cornelis and Dinessa are homunculi, artificial human beings that some alchemists claimed to be able to create.  Paracelsus even provided an instructional manual in De natura rerum. Here’s an example of a homunculus from a 19th century illustration from Goethe’s Faust (Faust was an alchemist):

The story Cornelis tells Lyra of his birth and life in the Dutch Republic is not real--artificial memories for an artificial being..  We know that Agrippa can create homunculi because he has some in his Prague laboratory and they become active--”beat their fists”--when Cornelis appears (see quote above).  

Agrippa has now achieved (his version of) the Philosopher’s Stone--starting his engine but also transforming his menagerie of animals and birds:

  Lyra was dazed. The machinery was working faster now. She could feel the whole cellar trembling with the force of it. The crocodile had fallen still, apart from the slow swing of its tail; the homunculi in their bottle had stopped screaming and banging on the glass and were floating contentedly in the fluid that contained them, which was now glowing a faint and steady red; the metal bird in its cage, its golden feathers now gleaming with rich enamels and precious stones, was singing as sweetly as a nightingale. (p. 387)

Red and gold are the colors of the Philosopher’s Stone.  

A homunculus is not the only artificial human.  What about the Golem--should we consider that as an alternative inspiration for Cornelis?  According to the Jewish folktale, a medieval rabbi of Prague, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, created a humanlike creature from clay, the Golem.  There are three hints in the Furnace Man chapter that point to a Golem.  First, the chapter takes place in Prague.  Second, Agrippa is reciting “what might have been a spell in what might have been Hebrew.” Third, Agrippa is referred to not just as an alchemist, but as a sorcerer and a magician--though never a rabbi.  

For my part, I don’t think those small clues outweigh all the references to Agrippa as an alchemist, to the typical alchemical apparatus in his laboratory, and the specific mention of homunculi.  But I’m sure Pullman is aware of the Golem legend and wanted to acknowledge it in some way.  

So, finally, what role does this experience play in Lyra’s story?

Part 4.....

#alchemy #the secret commonwealth #philip pullman #lyra belacqua #lyra silvertongue #furnace man #cornelis van dongen #dinessa #chemical wedding #agrippa #homunculus #golem #rosarium philosophorum

[warsmith-38]

How I would do RWBY Pt. 0

Disclaimer: It is easier to improve what already exist than it is to create something new. Boy howdy do I know that. That being said, I believe that RWBY has more than its fair share of flaws and this is how I would do it differently if I was behind the reigns. This is just a collection of my opinions and ideas which in the end will probably amount to nothing. I felt the need to do this because my brain just decided ‘nah motherfucker, you ain’t thinking of anything else from now on’ and this is the end result for nothing else would satisfy my rage.

I wouldn’t quite call this a complete re-haul, but more rather a rework with some of my own brand of polish. It’s not a compete rebuild from the ground up in a different world with different concepts and themes, but how I would go about a second go around with the series from the base that is already there. If a detail is missing from my musings then assume it is either unchanged or removed, depending on context.

If some of my complaints were addressed after I stopped watching, I honestly don’t much care. If it takes longer than 4 seasons to fix what I view as fundamental problems, then it’s far too little too late for me. I paid scant attention to the series post my stopping point and liked little to none of what I saw.

Please do not take this as a specific attack on anything other than the writing of the show itself. This is not directed or targeted against anyone, regardless of position or feelings on the topic at hand. If you ignore what I just said and decide to take this as an insult, then I say that you need to be more self-secure in your tastes and interests.

Things I would remove + reason why

Silver eyed warriors as a concept- it’s more or less the same concept as dojutsu from Naruto. It’s the fucking sharingan (rubygan). It’s not quite chosen one level, but crap like this is the blight of good protagonists. It’s fucking eugenics that makes you awesome not your own skills or training but on your bloodline. No need for personal development or life-changing hardship when you have a built in power that can be cultivated like a fucking bumper crop.

Maidens- Wasn’t intended originally and only made the overall story more cluttered with power creep and plot device. It’s a similar problem as above. No need for training or anything if people can just kill the person who has the power currently and take if from them. Which, at that point, why do you want that power if you’re already strong enough to kill and take it from the person who has it to begin with? It’s something someone just shouted out and they rolled with it because it sounded cool in the moment.

The Relics- McGuffin dragonballs that serve as plot device and little else. A story can be told without needing to monotonously race for Excalibur or the holy grail. Considering the Maidens, I doubt that the relics were intended in the first place and as such if you can’t tell a story without throwing something in after a few seasons because you realized that you didn’t have a plot, then you’re not that good at telling stories.

Oscar- The show didn’t need more main protagonists when what was already there wasn’t being given enough characterization to begin with. For that matter-

Quite a few characters- The cast is cluttered and convoluted enough as is with seemingly important characters getting the shaft in favor of yet another new character that would barely do anything. Time and effort seems to be put into one-off schmucks that would be better served making the story not need poochie the dog, let alone several. Character integration is not ‘create a character to do one thing and then pretend they don’t exist’. There’s already plenty of characters than can be used wherever.

The overt shipping bait, especially if it’s just going to be taken up or abandoned on a whim- I don’t mean relationship building, I mean the obvious baiting of a relationship that, in the end, might not even happen. All it does is dumb down characters and character arcs, draw out pointless scenes, and make the fans have conniptions one way or another. People are pissed off whenever things don’t go their way with shipping so the only winning move with these people is not to play their game. Looking at you Klance and Zutara. Either don’t do anything or have a fucking plan and stick to it and not make complete swerves when fans get uppity. If it genuinely matters to you, then pretend whatever ship happens at whatever point, I don’t care.

Changes to the world that I think would go over better-

Everyone has a level of aura with a naturally high level generally meaning that they might be able to unlock a semblance. A semblance is unlocked through some sort of specific event, typically a stressful one IE: Yang and Ruby are caught in the woods by grimm and Yang gets frustrated and scared at not being able to defend her sister before getting angry and her rage mode semblance unlocking. Not everyone who unlocks a semblance goes into combat schools but it is a requirement for acceptance into most of them. Having the potential to unlock a semblance seems entirely random but has a higher chance with genetics.

There are two types of semblances: 1 is hereditary like the Schnee glyphs, changing only slightly, if at all, through the generations. 2 is a random personal power like Yang having her rage mode as compared to Raven’s portals. Whichever you get tends to be random with the occasional exception depending on genetics and the specific semblance.

Every 1 in assumedly 10 people who have semblances have the potential to have two semblances, often times, but not necessarily, being one hereditary and one random. The process of unlocking the second semblance involves immense emotional distress and in some cases might not even happen for the individual who has the potential, period, thus skewing data. This gives an enhanced type power but isn’t protagonist exclusive. It shows a higher than average power capacity, but isn’t a gamebreaker to the same level as a fucking kekkei genkai or getting the powers of a fucking demigod. A good amount of characters would only have one semblance and be considerable badasses despite it and even be able to beat a couple of the few that have two.

Establish Menagerie as the official Fifth Kingdom, the newest of the great kingdoms. Maybe not the singularly strongest or most influential, but make it so Menagerie and its people, the faunus, have a considerable role in the world’s affairs, if even from an isolationist standpoint. Don’t have them as even a semi thriving entity that isn’t a kingdom because that only begs the question as to why the kingdoms are so important to begin with then.

Make the White Fang a faunus supremacist group that has very little support, if any, from the faunus people as a whole. Faunus right issues are history for the vast majority of the world and the White Fang as a whole is only using the problems in Atlas with the SDC as a means of trying to gain power. There are actual faunus rights groups trying to make things better for their race in Atlas and other marginalized areas but the White Fang dislikes them on the grounds that they go against their goal and it makes them look even worse.

Fucking pronounce names correctly, I mean, Christ. Weiss, the word, is pronounced like ‘Vice’. It’s an actual fucking word. It’s the German word for white. It’s like saying tor-till-uh not tor-tee-ah. Blake is Bella-doe-nah not Bella-dawn-uh. Shit like that. No you don’t need to put on a heavy accent to say these words but pronouncing things so inaccurately just makes you look like an ignorant rube (no, that was not a pun). I don’t fucking care what your reasons are. Why use these words in the first place if you’re not even going to try to say them right?

Ozpin is order to Salem’s chaos. Ancient demigods of both archetypes vying for power across the ages and the innocent peoples of the world be damned in the crossfire. Neither are entirely good nor evil but both are not exactly helpful to the free peoples on the world and the continued livelihood thereof. Their progenitor god created them to try and guide humanity in a balanced way. That seemed to work at first, but then failed like a bad marriage and they waged war ever since like a bad divorce. The grimm are a creation of Salem’s to test humanity and make then stronger through conflict. Ozpin ranges from the lawman to the fascist fairly duplicitously. The two can only be permanently killed by each other but neither wants to get too close to the other because of that exact same reason. If killed by other means, they will resurrect after a fashion no worse for wear.

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Ruby Rose- It is a crime that the titular character has so little actual character beyond just being ‘Hyperactive Anime Protagonist #235’. Most of her (few) character traits are tell not show, and of course she’s got the fucking rubygan bloodline ability crap. She has next to nothing that isn’t allotted by default to most anime protags on the grounds of the stereotype. For the main character to have less character than any of the members of the fucking B-team is a travesty.

1. Give her a clear rebellious streak, a distinct problem with authority, and a headstrong attitude. Daddy doesn’t want her to be in danger, so she decides to become a huntress. She’s told to stay put, so she hunts down Roman. She’s told that she needs to stay home and recover, so she sets out on her own not thinking about the exact consequences. Make her the impetus for the team’s involvement with the problems of the world in the early seasons. Make her a driving part of the plot, not just being along for the ride or because someone else said so.

2. Give her blood knight tendencies. Make her VERY willing to get into a fight with the bad guys, not just fights in general, but fights against bad guys. Nothing over the top, but enough that she has a scene or three where she says “Shut up bad guy, skip to the part where we get to kick the crap out of you,” or something of that nature. Hyper combative characters are fun and ethical.

3. Give her more traits as a mechanic and weapon nerd. Include scenes of her fixing everyone’s weapons for fun or being able to analyze an opponent’s fighting style based on the type, design, and/or wear & tear of their weapon, make her a polyglot of weapons that can be at least proficient in using just about any weapon. Come to think of it…

4. Anything that could give her actual character traits. They don’t even have to be all that major traits, just give her enough so that we actually have a character with more definition than printer paper. She’s the main character, the titular character at that. This isn’t a video game with a blank-slate protagonist. If the main character isn’t even really a character, like, at all, then what’s the fucking point?

5. Convert silver eyes power into a second semblance for white fire vision that kills grimm like nothing else. Gotten as a hereditary semblance from Summer. Which is also why Summer was specifically targeted by Salem on the grounds that it makes her just a little too dangerous for her long-term plans. This makes it so she isn’t just the fucking chosen one, but still has a clear definitive reason to be involved against the big bad because, y’know, dead mom. Yes, this kinda goes into the whole ‘bloodline is what determines importance’ thing I wanted to be rid of, but it’s only a chance two generations instead of a massive lineage of nonsense and keeps more of the onus of involvement on Ruby herself.

6. Give her a very clear motivation that’s deeper than surface level. ‘Oh, I want to do the right thing’ is a flimsy as balls motivation especially compared to the rest of her team that has that AND an actual reason for thinking that way. Why does she want to be the good guy? What happened in her life that makes her this motivated to doing the right thing? Yang has her desire to find her mother (which, come to think of it, doesn’t necessitate being a good guy), Blake has wanting to make up for being a terrorist, Weiss has her desire to step out from under the shadow of her family’s reputation, even fucking Jaune, the b-team protagonist, who wants to live up to his family reputation, has a proper motivation to be involved in the story. WHY is Ruby involved beyond ‘I’m the main character’ level reasoning? As much as admitting it makes me wish to commit Sudoku, even SAO has better main character motivations. Good god, I need hooch after typing that.

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Yang Xiao-Long- Her arc was mostly fine, barring some of the pacing. Raven being a maiden undercut the message of ‘screw that deadbeat bitch, go to your real family’ by making her important to the overall world state and confirming a measure of later relevance but that’s more a flaw with Raven than Yang.

1. Keep her motivation about getting strong enough to find her mother but add in the clear desire to kick her ass for leaving her and Tai. Of course it’s more about just getting the answers to her questions, but the ass-kicking should also be a major component.

2. Amp up the rivalry between her and Mercury. Mercury was designed as an opposite to Yang, I mean for fuck’s sake, look at him. Consider their respective backstories too; both raised in a single father home yet one was supported and loved (if a little neglected) while the other was horrifyingly maimed and abused. Punch vs kick. It works.

3. Make her more protective of her little sister, explicitly going along with her personal crusade to keep her safe (safer, rather). If she’s supposed to be the good older sister, maybe just maybe, something more than lip-service to that idea should be done. Hell, maybe she can be overprotective like their father, or even the exact opposite, not really giving a shit and then learning to give one. That might lead to a little tension and growth between the two of them.

4. Make her semblance consistent. Is she supposed to have super saiyan rage mode or is it energy buildup and dispersal? Is it supposed to be both? Just make it rage mode, for the sake of fuck, and don’t flip-flop. Speaking of…

5. Give her anger issues. Flesh out her being the kind of gal that would start a fight in a nightclub when she doesn’t get what she needed with little justification. This would stem from abandonment issues from Raven, Summer (inadvertently), and Tai and her general thrill seeking personality. This could lead to tensions and dramas until she overcomes it and learns to use her aggressive feelings and not let them use her.

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Blake Belladonna- Shitty-kitty is shitty, here’s why.

1. Do something with the hypocrisy of being, more or less, princess of Menagerie, a world power albeit a minor one, and joining a band of terrorists that do more harm than good for the people they claim to represent. It’s like a trust-fund baby joining some charity organization in Africa for a few weeks, doing jack-shit to help, joining some jihadists, and then acting like she’s Mahatma Gandhi.

2. Make her arc less about running away and fighting Adam, more about realizing that running is for assholes and try to find her team to at least apologize for cutting and running like she did. Doing that and stopping Adam are not mutually exclusive. The friend thing should be the priority. As it stands she is almost rewarded for abandoning her team just to focus on her own problems.

3. Make her arc involve going from ‘There’s no such thing as pure evil’ to ‘Okay maybe some people are just too evil to work with’. Some people are too far gone and, despite still having good traits, will only ever continue to do evil things and don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. Not everyone has some sort of good motive beneath the surface and, even then, does that matter when the only action they do is objectively evil? Still, y’know, save who you can, like Ilia.

4. Have Belladonna not actually be her last name. If she’s the daughter of a the chief of Menagerie, the closest thing the faunus have to a unified racial leader, then how the unholy shit does nobody recognize her name? She is, again, princess of Menagerie, yet nobody recognizes the name in a grander context. Have ‘Belladonna’ be a cover name so she can hide her identity better so that she’s using what should be a very recognizable real name in a tournament that is broadcasted worldwide. Her real family name could be “Nightshade” or some shit like that.

5. If she’s supposed to be ‘The quiet one’ maybe actually have her be quiet and not make big speeches every season or have loud arguments with her team. Just a fucking thought. If she’s still supposed to do that, then make her ‘the opinionated one’ or ‘the kind of mean one’ or even ‘the one who doesn’t shut up’. Blake, as seen, or rather heard, is not the quiet one.

6. Have her actually fucking interact with Ruby. Maybe they have a two-person book club. Maybe Blake teaches Ruby to meditate or something. Anything, anything at all would be fine, anything more than nothing at all. Blake’s whole interaction with the team shouldn’t just be through Yang and cursory scenes with Weiss.

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Weiss Schnee- You can’t solve racism with like two scenes.

1. Make the racism thing a much more gradual decay rather than more or less disappearing after a single conversation. Hell, make jokes about it, ‘oh, no, one of my best friends is a faunus,’ stuff. It’s hard to unlearn an upbringing of hate, but she’s trying type stuff.

2. Involve her at least a little with the White Fang plot. It only makes sense that the heiress of the company that still more or less has slave labor is at least semi-involved with the plotline involving terrorists that want that company destroyed. Make her subject to assassination attempts at a young age, or even have her been kidnaped at a young age and held hostage, getting her scar in the process.

3. As evident by some of the intros, her rival was supposed to be Emerald. This could be serviceable, at the very least. The street rat pickpocket that had to learn life lessons the hard way and was taken in by the baddies VS. the rich heiress born with a silver spoon but raised by a dickhead. There’s potential there and it is a crime that it is not explored in the slightest. Even Yang and Mercury had a minor fight.

4. Like Yang, make her semblance consistent. Is it supposed to be summoning or physics altering magic symbols? These are two completely different powers, it’s not like super speed also giving super reflexes or whatever. Just make it one or the other, don’t bullshit us on these things. Or, hell, make it a second semblance she gets during the course of story.

5. Emphasize her loneliness. Make the main onus of her personal arc be about how she goes from this prickly, spoiled, opinionated, brat to a warm and caring friend who only wants the best for everyone. Yes, this might be the main intention in canon, but I feel it could have used a little more refining.

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Cinder Fall- If she’s supposed to be Ruby’s chief rival and foil then she needs a lot of work to even be close. She shouldn’t be nothing but the rival, but at that same time she should have that be a considerable part of her characterization and role in the series. I feel the best way to do it is to have their similarities highlight their differences in both character and design. Basically, make her the Vergil to Ruby’s Dante.

1. Make her Ruby’s age. Being the same age as Ruby while initially outclassing her, and even veteran hunters, provides risk and contrast between the two. Throw in an evil sadistic streak compared to Ruby’s happy-go-lucky personality to further the contrast and you’ve got a good little yin-yang thing for them. It also shows just how bad someone can turn out if raised to be a killing machine.

2. Keep her using the bow/twin swords as a comparably simple weapon in contrast to Ruby’s, even in universe, overcomplicated Scythe/Sniper rifle. Both weapons are long range marksmen’s weapons as well as vicious close combat weapons but are still very different in essence. Also make sure she keeps the red with black and gold color scheme is contrast with Ruby’s Black with red and silver. Even minor visual cues can work to the rival schema.

3. Make her one of the people who have two semblances. Pyromancy (pyrokinesis? Fire bending, she has fire bending) and dilated perception (bullet time) so that Ruby’s super speed and the dilated perception cancel each other out, adding a little extra tension to the fights now that both parties’ signature abilities are moot points against each other.

4. Make her competent. She kills Ozpin and Pyrrha and then she either fails or draws every fucking fight she has afterwards baring nameless jobbers here and there. Even before that, she needed help to take down Amber and even manages to fuck that up. The more failures she has and the less intimidating she is. Too much of that and she’s just a jobber that makes you wonder why she was ever seen as intimidating in the first place. When that happens then Ruby beating her is just the status quo and not a triumph of any sort.

5. Make her Ruby’s long lost fraternal twin sister. Incredibly cliché, I admit, but siblings make the best rivals, especially twins. Once again, it’s all about adding the similarities and the contrasts. In this case it creates the ‘there but for the grace of god go I’ idea with the two of them. Ruby seeing it as how evil she could have turned out and Cinder seeing it as how weak she could have been (Eventually becoming how good she could have had it because I’m a sucker for redemption arcs) Who said that?

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Team JNPR- JNPR was fine-ish but the over focus on Jaune and the underutilization of Ren + Nora early on are both issues. B-team should not get jack shit before the A-team gets the lions share.

1. Downplay Jaune’s screen time. I doubt this is a particularly controversial statement. Jaune is not the titular character. This is (technically) a shoujo not a shounen. It’s supposed to be about the girls more than the guys. It kind of undercuts that idea when the guy (the side guy at that) gets the lion’s share of characterization, attention, and growth before the girl (the main girl) does.

2. Make Ren and Nora actual characters earlier on. Comic relief is all well and good, but either extend that to the whole team or make these two characters more than just comic relief in the early parts of the story. Make them, y’know, actual characters. They ain’t gotta be all that important, but they do have to be actual characters.

3. Make Pyrrha’s deathflags less blindingly obvious. We all knew Pyrrha was going to get clipped. The self-sacrificing type, all the musical and visual cues throughout, being based on Achilles, and ‘oh she just confessed to the boy she likes’. Homegirl was waving deathflags like an insecure redneck with the confederate flag. When you foreshadow obvious things that much it’s not a surprise to the audience when it happens and the reaction of the in universe characters seems overdone. If it’s not supposed to be a surprise then, whatever, but that’s clearly not the case if you’re going for just shock value. It’s fine for a character to die, but for the love of Jaysus you got to do something with it more than ‘this character’s sole purpose is to die for the angst and to up the stakes’. Pyrrha was just a plot jobber.

4. Make them a little more independent in the overall plot. Give them their own full sub-plots, have them go on their own little adventures, have them do things completely separate from RWBY that has plot relevance but not overtaking the main story in grandeur or importance. B-team gets B-plots and are cool in it of themselves.

Overt changes to (and complaints about) Qrow Branwen- Take or leave this, I just felt the need to include this because reasons.

1. Just make him Dante from Devil May Cry. Just make his personality the same as Dante from Devil May Cry. Make him stylish and cool but low-key a massive dork. He’s too cool to drink or smoke or anything harsher than PG-13. This series could use a guy like that, says I.

2. Make his semblance something that makes sense and isn’t just an angst generator. How do you even quantify ‘bad luck aura’ as a power? Make it short range teleportation as a connection to Raven’s portals. Make it so that he can direct the bad luck at will. Do SOMETHING with it that isn’t just an excuse for mostly pointless character angst.

3. This technically also counts as a Raven change but whatever. Make the Branwen family old nobility and not a loser bandit tribe from nowhere. Or at least make it so they used to rich or something. They come from a family that had a good amount of cash and even a chateau in Mistral. After the money dried up and the chateau ransacked by grimm, the Branwen twins had differing opinions on how to proceed. Qrow fully integrated into the hunter thing while Raven ran away and became a bandit, using it as further excuse to skedaddle on Tai and a recently born Yang.

#RWBY #RWDE #I guess #Ruby Rose #Weiss Schnee #Blake Belladonna #Yang Xiao Long #Ozpin #Cinder Fall #Tagging this as much as I please #Team JNPR #Jaune Arc #Rewrite #Hate if you wish #How I would do... #Pyrrha Nikos

[disposabletapedispenser]

she-ra hcs pt. 1

1. when double trouble meets prince peekablue in person, they look him over and then say, unimpressed: “i did it better, honey”

2. the ex-horde soldiers are the closest, surpassing all the newer bonds they have. they’re full of inside jokes and even the ones who didn’t get along feel a camaraderie in having been through the same thing: being on the wrong side.

3. adora tries to constantly make up for having left catra with the horde, until catra just tells her that finally being able to be together, without the pressure of being in an army, is more than enough

4. netossa and spinnerella adopt a menagerie of war orphans and they and bow’s dads and their 12 kids (including bow) just storm towns in a ridiculously huge family gathering  

#spop headcanons

[airis-paris14]

Human Nature Pt.1

Summary:T’Challa Udaku has a secret. He’s tired of loving her in secret.

Warnings: None

A/N: This is a short story I wrote about a month ago and posted to Wattpad. It’s all completed and I’ll be posting weekly. Just let me know if you want to be on the taglist for all my stories. Hope you enjoy! ✨

1| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Looking out, across the nighttime

The city winks a sleepless eye

Hear her voice, shake my window

Sweet seducing sighs

Get me out, into the nighttime

Four walls won't hold me tonight

-Michael Jackson “Human Nature”

T’Challa Udaku was lying. He had been for some time now. He felt like a Gemini twin. One side here with a life in Wakanda and another with a life in the States. Now he was a king, and he had no time for lying. He had a country that looked up to him and there’d be no time after this moment for anything to blow up in his face. He twisted the chain around his neck and sighed. He glanced at the clock. It was midnight, on what should have been the happiest day of his young life. Except it wasn’t. His phone pinged and he grabbed it off of the nightstand.

Queen: I know it’s late, I hope your business trip is going well. Call me when you wake up. I love you. Sweet dreams my love.

“Business trip,” the king sighed. “Another lie for the ages,” he thought. Deciding he wouldn’t get any sleep in his room he threw on some clothes and decided to go for a drive. He ignored the offers of accompaniment from multiple guards and Dora Milaje before pulling out onto the streets. A small smile graced the king’s face as he drove through his hometown. Several of the clubs and restaurants were in full swing. People laughed and danced inside and outside of the establishments. He drove around the city center for a while, before deciding he needed to be alone. He drove to the edge of the city and headed off-road. Twenty minutes into his bumpy trek, the king pulled up outside of the Temple of Bast. The building scanned his vibranium birthmark before allowing him access to her silent depths. The king’s footsteps echoed on the stone floor as he made his way to the garden of the heart-shaped herb. He took a seat on the edge of the stone walkway and let his feet sink into the water at the side.

“My king, you are here late,” The high priestess’s voice startled the new king. “Anai, I did not know anyone would be here tonight. I apologize if I am disrupting you.”

Anai smiled. “It is no problem, the flower is it’s most active and vulnerable at night. It is the best time to tend to the plants. It is also nice to be here when no one has much need of me. Zuri taught me that. There was something about this building that gave him peace, he hoped it would one day do the same for me.”

“Has it?” T’Challa asked. “It has kumkani wam,” the older woman smiled before making her way to stand closer to the king. “I assume that tonight it has found you looking for solace as well.”

“I used to come here and ask the advice of Zuri as a young boy, I thought being here might give me some clarity of mind,” the king confessed.

“Well, I am no Zuri, but I might offer my own advice if you wish.” Anai offered. “I do not want to draw you away from your work Anai.”

“Advising my king is part of my work. Besides, I am sure the herb will be glad to be rid of my incessant pruning for the night.” Anai smiled and gestured toward her office. The king stood and followed the priestess into a small office. She took a seat in a small alcove carved into the wall. T’Challa opted for a chair that twirled slightly as it hung from the ceiling. “What is troubling you kumkani wam?”

“I have a dilemma that will hurt multiple people that I love. I know it is not right, but I have been lying to all of the people involved and I am afraid that me being king will make the situation for one of them worse. I am at a crossroads with how to go about rectifying the situation. I want to be honest, but do not know where to begin.”

“I am afraid that undoing the damage done by a lie is not easy my king. Ultimately someone will be hurt, lest you start another lie to soften the blow of the other. Though, I do not encourage that.” Anai clarified.

“I know, but at this point, my deception is so complex and layered that I am not sure where to begin unraveling the web.”

“Every knot or web has one string that when pulled, will undo the whole set up yes?” The king nodded his understanding. “I would not pull that string first. I would decide who in the scenario should be the first to know. Whoever will be hurt the most by this news, is who you should address first. After that person is made aware, then you will have someone else to help you decide who you should tell next.”

“I think that is something I have known, but not wanted to admit.” The king sighed. “Then your heart is leading you in the right direction. Your earnestness in correcting this error means that you care. Believe it or not, you are still a good person. Just keep patience in your pocket, especially when people are hurt. Be aware they may say something they do not mean.” Anai advised.

The king stood. “Thank you, Anai.”

“Anytime Kumkani wam. I hope you enjoyed your festivities. One more week and all of the fun stuff is over,” Anai smiled, “At least for a little while.”

The king smiled his thanks before finding his way out of the temple. He checked his kimoyo beads for the time. 2:15 A.M.

He knew that he should head back before Okoye had the Dora Milaje deployed to search for him, but he had one more place to go. He turned away from his car and started the hike up the hill behind the temple. The heavens shined above as he wove his way through the grass and around the rocks along the hillside. When he reached the top the quiet roar of warrior falls calmed his thoughts. He took a seat on the edge and thought back to her. His love. His heart longed to bring her here, and hopefully one day soon he could, but for now, he needed to talk to someone else. “Baba, Zuri-” the king called into the heavens, “I know you are both up there and I could use some advice. I know that you all are watching me. This means that you probably already know of my deception, but I am tired of living that life. I want to make it right, do the honorable thing. Like an honest man, and king.”

T’Challa looked down at the grass beneath him, “Please, give me strength. A sign to if you will. A sign to show me that I am going about this the right way. I am going to leave in the morning to start making it right. I have to get this right. She means too much to me.” T’Challa sighed. His beads hummed on his wrist and he instantly knew sneaking back in was no longer an option.

He turned his wrist over and Okoye’s face appeared in the hologram. “T’Challa! Where are you? It is 3:30 in the morning for Bast’s sake. A panther is missing from the menagerie and we need your assistance in locating it. I look into your room and what do I find? An empty bed. None of your guardsmen knew where you had gone!”

“I appreciate your worry Okoye, but I am a grown man. I can take care of myself,” the King teased. A rustle floated through the air and T’Challa turned towards the sound, his suit silently covering his body. A panther emerged from the darkness and sat in front of the king before beginning to purr. A vibranium chip glowed in the vein of its left ear. “I have located the panther Okoye. I will meet you and the specialists at the temple of Bast.”

“Very well-” T’Challa hung up before Okoye could continue. “Looks like you and I will be in trouble tonight,” the king rubbed the large cat between its ears. “Thank you, Baba. You too Zuri,” The king called into the darkness once more. A shooting star flew past as the king smiled. He began the walk back to the temple, the panther in tow. As they got closer to the temple the king gathered his courage. When they made it back to where his car was located the panther’s caretakers escorted the large animal away before T’Challa was met with Okoye.

“What kept you up tonight?” The general started, leaning on the car next to her king. “I have to leave in the morning,” T’Challa revealed, turning to glance at his general and best friend.

“Where could you possibly have to go?”

“That is for only me to know at this moment general. I will be going alone. It is a personal matter, not diplomatic or dangerous.”

“Any time you fly an airplane it is a dangerous journey,” the woman teased. “Oh shut up,” the king laughed.

“Will you be back in time for the start of the coronation festival?” Okoye asked once the laughter died down. The king nodded, “I will have to be. When I return I will explain everything that kept me up tonight.”

“Good. I hope you find the peace you are looking for kumkani wam.”

“It is not my peace I am worried about,” The king sighed. Okoye frowned but crossed her arms in salute. The king watched as she got back in her own vehicle and pulled off, leaving the king to make his own way home.

Taglist: @almostpurelysmut @blackbypurpose @nyneebee @hutchj @tchoking @sisterwifeudaku @wikiwakanda @royallyprincesslilly @90sinspiredgirl @strictly Ashley @afraiddreamingandloving @thedelightfulone @autumn242 @purple-apricots @kumkaniudaku @queertrex @kaciidubs @halfrican-heat @skysynclair19 @dramaqueenamby @gorjiss @leahnicole1219 @kreolemami @mzbritt @yoyolovesbucky @derangedcupcake @builtalongthewayside @ilcb7 @chaneajoyyy @lalapalooza718 @ororowrites @leahnicole1219 @dopegalkk @sarcastic-sunshines @sarahboseman @shesakillerkween @waitingonafriend @faatassbitch

#tchalla #tchalla fanfiction #tchalla imagine #tchalla x reader #blackpantherimagines #t ‘challa x reader #humannaturefic #apbpfics

[lore-of-the-silvereyes-rwby]

I’ve survived Now I’m Invincible

To further elaborate on why Ironwood believes his own hype is to look back and see what he has accomplished. To start we are going to look at what he most likely achieved before his debut in Volume 2. Now what accomplishments did he achieve?

Won at least 1 (maybe 2?) Vytal Tournaments

Achieved the rank of General

Formed a corporate contract with the SDC

Able to obtain 2 positions of the Atlasien Council(Headmaster and Atlas equivalent of the Chief of Staff)

Survived whatever event that had cost him half his body

Furthered the Advancement and prosperity of Atlas

Greenlit experimental Aura programs that worked(Penny)

Some of these are speculative but these are potential reasons why Ironwood would believe in his own ability and assumed rightful place as a chosen one. Because he has made achievements of his own that are worthy of respect and praise from others. But this can only get him so far and doesn't really clarify his combat/ wartime experience( if he had some). Which brings me to probably the most overlooked part of rwby lore in recent times; The Faunus Rights Revolution, A.K.A. The Faunus War.

Now why would I bring up an old conflict that was used as a throw away line in Jaunedice pt 2 and to just further elaborate the history of the white fang?

Well this was more or less the most recent world crisis before the events of Volume 3. And as established in the last section Mantle was more or less a near faccist dystopia led by potential warmongering sore losers. Hellbent on reclaiming what they saw was rightfully theirs. The reason why I say it was recent was because as Blake said the white fang was founded some time after the revolution and with V4 confirming Ghira Belladonna as the first leader if not potential founder of the organization. Meaning the conflict happened during Ghira’s Generation.

And Ghira appears to be as old if not slightly younger than Ironwood meaning that the conflict most likely happened sometime after Ironwood graduated from Atlas in 29 or 26 B.F.B and resolved itself sometime prior to the majority of the main heroes being born in 17 B.F.B. That's a timespan of 9-12 years. Meaning Ironwood would have been a young officer of either Company or Field grade during this conflict being exposed to and gaining some legitimate status as a Military veterian with actual wartime experience.

Now why would Ironwood be a part of this war?

As the World of Remnant has told us (especially the Atlas Faunus and great war segments) Menagerie was among the lands under Mistrals control that were redistributed to the rest of the world specifically the Faunus but saw this as a slap to the face from Mistral who had given them this land. As well as the Atlasian trained Huntsman are pressured to join the Military and are most likely drafted for service in times of crisis. Now the beginnings of this conflict are relatively unknown other than a human faction going to war with the Faunus as a whole. Not the whole of the 4 kingdoms but a fraction of at least 2 of them.

The guaranteed culprit for the war was Mistral as Mistral at one point held the world's most diverse resourced territory and probably was not happy to relinquish it to its former faunus slaves(possibly). And as such worsened the tensions in hopes to play the victim of the conflict and would try to rebuild its territorial empire starting with Menagerie.

Now this is where Ironwood and Mantle/Atlas come in as honoring the old alliances that they most likely still had, came to the aid of mistral as they did in the beginning of the Great War. Only problem was that Mantle was demilitarized and all of its senior and veteran soldiers are either dead or not fit for service anymore at this point. Hence why the human factions of this conflict lost and the faunus more or less won. Because they were no longer the world's strongest military power at this point.

Now obviously Ironwood if he had participated in this conflict survived  and more or less gained 3 years of war experience (and then some). However this was possibly the most disastrous and humiliating event of his early career as he was on the losing side. But he survived nonetheless and continued to survive and prosper all the way till his debut in Volume 2.

Where am I going with this? Below are several events and potential battles that Ironwood could have survived from if he was a part of them.

Several Grimm encounters

The Faunus War

White Fang Terrorists(possibly)

The Paladin Incidents(possibly)

Salem's Assassins(possibly)

Losing half his Body

Taking these into account with some speculation Ironwood has survived his fair share of engagements if not more. As such with the added ideology of his assumed chosenness has developed a false sense of Invulnerability. And further grew his ambitions which also developed the mindset of what is known as the glory hound officer.

What type of officer is that you may ask?

Well the glory hound officer is the type of individual you can spot from a mile away. There are many types however generally they love to engage in flashy and visible frontal attacks, something of which Ironwood has shown in the show is all for it. These individuals become extremely narrow focused on obtaining glory and usually forget about the entire battlefield around them.

Similar to how Ironwood praised the Amity project as it was the spearhead for his glory of uniting remnant while at the cost of ignoring the needs and security of mantle where his enemies had exploited it to their ends because ironwood was focused on obtaining the grandeur victory that was the promise of Amity instead of focussing on the other small conflicts that were happening around him that needed his attention the most.

This makes them extremely deadly to be around not only are these officers usually pretty incompetent they’re also bordorline suicidal or just don’t understand the consequence of what death is so long as they get their moment to shine.

When high ranking individuals like Ironwood would volunteer for the frontlines it's usually the result of an officer who as we stated earlier has survived far too many battles and has a really weird sense of invincibility. This type of thinking can more or less infuriate the minds of the individuals under their command. Individuals like RWBY, Jaune, Nora and even the council who are shown to be done with Ironwoods actions and try to bail from it the first chance they get simply because the actions they are partaking in come from an individual who is not right in the head.

Moral of the story keep an eye on individuals like Ironwood because you may never know when and if they do or give an order that would just lead to a waste of resources and unnecessary deaths that can be avoided had the CO contained his ego and realized that those under their command have a need of self preservation and aren’t willing to die without knowing it would mean something.

Now besides the conflicts why would Ironwood keep and maintain this unhealthy mindset. The answer Home for

Home is where the heart is

#rwby #world of remnant #general ironwood #rwby ironwood #james ironwood #rwby spoilers #rwby theory #rwby analysis #rwby atlas #rwby faunus #rwby salem #rwby mantle #rwby ace ops #rwby mistral #Ironwood analysis

[crouton-knight]

WIP Grab Bag Meme

Rules: I post all the titles of files in my WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. You send an ask with the title that most intrigues you and interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!

Doing this again, fic titles below the cut!

Not including anything I don’t have a word of written. Still surprised that I have less short stories in progress than I thought. Explicit fics are marked with an asterisk (*)

Chaptered Stories

space cowboy disaster zone, ch. 8

I’ll Set You Up Against The Stars, ch. 2

Cascade (rewrite), ch. 1

Arrhythmia, ch. 3

we daren’t go a-hunting, ch. 4

Skaia City: Underground, ch. 4

*Lotus Hotel, ch. 2

*An Unfortunate Honor: Bearing, Duty, And Other Troubles, ch. 15

Stranger Stars and Suns, ch. 7

Alternia Shuffle, ch. 7 (still no idea why this isn’t listed as mine on ao3)

Helter-Skelter, ch. 5

Blood Worship, ch. 3

On Monsters Fair And Fearsome, ch. 3

Jade Harley and the Midnight Crew, ch. 1

*Danse Macabre, ch. 5

*The Menagerie, ch. 9

Rabbit Hearts, ch. 1

Gardens of Coral and Pearl, ch. 10

*raze the sky in engine fire, ch. 14

The Curse of House Carnall, 2nd letter

*Let Me Tell You About Humanity, ch. 12

Tales From Kazamuki, ch. 1

*Starry Defender-Knight Red, ch. 1

*crucible, ch. 1

Short Stories (including those in series)

*Marzipan pt. 2 Milk Slime Baths

*Matches And Tar

Fragments from the Book of the Disciple, Farewells 1-7

*Practical Interviews

Star Shanty

Equinox

*Robocock

*Price of an Empire, or, A Mutant Mechpilot Gets Fucked Up

*Decompression Sickness

The Oddities of Jake English

*Daddy AF

*[untitled beach episode]

*Let’s Get Physical

*go fuck yourself

*something about church idk

*Troll Will Smith fic

*hold you and shake you

Tales from Kazamuki - Witch Hunter

#my writing #wip grab bag meme #i missed writing

[stattic-writes]

Baby Daddy Pt 4

https://statticscribbles.tumblr.com/post/639099629845233664/masterlist

Support My Writing?

#peter maximoff imagine #peter maximoff #charles xavier imagine #charles xavier #charles xavier request #charles x erik #charles xavier x erik lehnsherr #erik lensherr imagine #erik x charles #erik lensherr #xmen imagine #xmen #xmen apocalypse #x men imagine #x men request #x men #written #baby peter maximoff #cherik #cherik parents

[swanqueeneverafter]

The Once & Future Queen Pt.4

Camelot. Present. Night. (The guards light fires in grates all over the city. A Dorocha sweeps past some candles in the Physician’s Chambers and blows out some of them. Knights patrol the streets with torches. Sir Bedivere lags behind when he sees/hears something. He walks over to some barrels and finds three small children huddling behind them.) Sir Bedivere: “Hey, hey, hey. It’s all right. It’s all right, you’re safe now. (Bedivere hears the Dorocha and checks to see the knights walking in the distance. He leaves the torch and runs through the street with the children in his arms. A Dorocha streaks right for them and Xena jumps out with a torch just in time. Gabrielle takes one of the kids and they bring them to their parents inside a house. To Xena:) Thanks.” Xena: “Couldn’t let you have all the fun, could I?” (They grin at each other.)

Storybrooke. Library. (Will and Alice play chess while Robin and Belle read through several books.) Alice: (Taking Will's knight:) "Check. Do you know after all those games we played while I was in the tower, you never once beat me?" Will: (Making his move:) "Did you know I never tried?" Alice: (Indignant:) "Come on!" Will: "Well, I might’ve tried a little." Alice: "Uh huh." Will: "Just set the board up again. (Will rises out of his chair and walks over to Robin:) She's really something, all right. If Wicked Witches are your type, which I get. You're still together, then?” Robin: “That is not relevant.” Will: “Hey, no judgments here, mate. It’s not like she made a fool out of you, just that other version of you.” Robin: (Sighs:) “I just want Zelena to be happy, even if she thinks... Wait!” (Robin pulls out a book, hopeful of finding something.) Will: (Pulling out a book of his own, surprised by the pop-up pictures when he opens it:) “Whoa!” Robin: “1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL repair manual. (Puts the book back, deflated:) All due respect, I'm beginning to think your magic-library theory might be a tad off. Any book we want is hardly gonna be stacked beside... (Takes out another book:) ‘The Cat in the Hat.’ Why would a cat want a hat?” Will: “I've seen stranger.” (Robin walks over to Belle who has several books stacked high.) Robin: “What are you working on, Belle?” Belle: (Looking up from a book:) "What? Oh, I just received a message not long ago from Camelot. Apparently there were spirit sightings from one of their villages and in the lower town. According to this text, last night was Samhain’s Eve." Robin: "So?" Belle: “So, it is said that on the stroke of midnight of Samhain’s Eve, is when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. The appearance of those spirits cannot be a coincidence.” Robin: “You think the barrier between our world and the spirit world has been broken? How can that be?” Belle: “I’m not sure. But if someone has torn the veil between the worlds, then God help us all.”

Swan-Mills House. (Regina is sitting in the garden staring at family photos when Henry joins her.) Henry: “Hey. Well, you will be happy to know that things with Ella went pretty well.” (Regina smiles, putting the photos aside.) Regina: “I guess we'll just have to see where that goes, won't we? Keep me in the loop, I'm pretty good with advice.” Henry: (Joining her on the bench:) “And how are you with precocious little girls?” Regina: “Your sister went down about an hour ago.” Henry: “Good. So, uh, what are you looking at?” Regina: “Oh, just some photographs your grandmother dropped off. They’re from Emma’s birthday.” (Hands them to Henry.) Henry: “Oh, great. (Looking through them:) This reminds me that I have to convince either Snow or David to buy a smartphone.” Regina: “Don’t you dare. Pearl’s Presto Photo Shop is barely still in business as it is.” Henry: “Hm. I’m glad Emma was here with us for her birthday.” Regina: (Nods:) “She’s spent far too many of them alone.” Henry: “You know, I don’t thank you enough for my childhood. Being born in prison, if you hadn’t adopted me, I would’ve grown up in the same system as Emma. Thank you, Mom.” Regina: (Smiles:) “You’re welcome. I just hope wherever your mother is, she finds her way back to us before her next birthday.” Enchanted Forest. Past. (Sitting by the campfire, Emma is lost in her thoughts while Mulan and Tiger Lily discuss Tinker Bell and their chances of returning home.) Tiger Lily: "Tink's progress is encouraging. She's come such a long way in a short amount of time." Mulan: "Won't that be a little suspicious if she's advancing quicker than the other fairies?" Tiger Lily: "I've thought of that. I've told Tinker Bell not to be tempted to show off her skills. Blue is already down on her for rule breaking so Tink must be careful." Emma: "No." (Mulan and Tiger Lily turn to Emma.) Tiger Lily: "I'm sorry?" Emma: "Being careful never lead anyone in history to greatness." Mulan: "So what are you saying?" Emma: "I'm saying that I miss my family and I want to go home. (Turns to look at them with a glint in her eye:) But before that, I see no problem with testing Tink's skills fully and at the same time giving Regina a birthday she's not soon to forget."

Camelot. Present. Council Chambers. Morning. (Villagers crowd into Camelot with the belongings they can carry. Guinevere discusses the refugee villagers with Lancelot, Belle and Agravaine.) Lancelot: “They’re coming from across the kingdom. They’re looking to Camelot for protection.” Guinevere: “And we will give it to them.” Agravaine: “We cannot house them all.” Guinevere: “We have to try.” Agravaine: “How? We cannot live like this forever, Your Majesty. We must find a way to vanquish these creatures. We’ve suffered fifty dead, maybe more. Mainly in the Lower Town.” Guinevere: “And there’s no way of fighting them?” Lancelot: “No, our only weapons are torches. And the light doesn’t kill them, it only repels them.” Guinevere: “What are they?” Belle: “They’re Dorocha, Your Majesty. The spirits of the dead. On Samhain’s Eve in the time of the Old Religion, the High Priestesses would perform a blood sacrifice and release them.” Agravaine: “But who’d do such a thing now?” Lancelot: “Morgana.” Guinevere: “You see her hand in this?” Lancelot: (Shrugs:) “We know she was travelling to the Isle of the Blessed.” Guinevere: (To Belle:) “How do we defeat these creatures?” Belle: “I don’t know, Your Majesty. No mortal has ever survived their touch.” Lancelot: “Somewhere in all your books, Belle, there must be something. All I’m asking for is a way to fight them.” Belle: “I fear the Dorocha cannot be defeated by swords and arrows. If I’m right, and the veil between the worlds is torn, then there’s only one path open to us. To travel to the Isle of the Blessed and repair it.” Lancelot: “And how do I do that?” Belle: “I’m not sure. But for the tear to be created would’ve required a blood sacrifice. To seal will require another.” Lancelot: (Nods:) “We ride before nightfall.” (The others are surprised.) Agravaine: “And who will be the sacrifice?” Lancelot: “If laying down my life will spare the people of Camelot, then that is what I must do.”

Forest. (Agravaine rides through the woods. Arriving at a hovel, he dismounts his horse and enters without knocking.) Hovel. (Looking around he sees no one, but the place is clearly being occupied. Suddenly a dagger is held to his back.) Agravaine: “My lady?” Morgana: “My lord. (Agravaine sighs, relieved:) I trust you bring me good news. (She lowers the dagger and walks further into her home:) Tell me.” Agravaine: “The kingdom is on its knees.” Morgana: “How terrible.” Agravaine: (Chuckles:) “Indeed.” Morgana: “What of the poor people?” Agravaine: “More fall every night.” Morgana: “Such a shame.” Agravaine: “You should know that Lancelot intends to vanquish these creatures.” Morgana: (Scoffs:) “Impossible.” Agravaine: “He makes ready to go to the Isle of the Blessed as we speak. If the Dorocha don’t kill him on the way, our brave little lamb intends to sacrifice himself to repair the veil. (Morgana thinks it over and turns away:) Something’s troubling you. Morgana?” Morgana: “Something the Cailleach said. She spoke of someone called Merlin. Called him my doom.” Agravaine: “Your doom? What did she mean?” Morgana: “I don’t know.” Agravaine: “Morgana, we should be celebrating. Lancelot will be dead within the week, Guinevere will be inconsolable, leaving the throne open for Camelot’s rightful heir.” (Morgana smirks.)

Enchanted Forest. Past. Palace. (The courtiers are gathered to celebrate Queen Regina's birthday. Notably absent from his wife's big day, King Leopold's throne is occupied by his daughter, Snow White. As was the case for her previous birthday, Regina is disappointed to learn that most of the gifts on the large table are not addressed to her, but rather the King's daughter.) Snow White: (Beaming to a courtier:) "Thank you, so much. (To the room at large:) And thank you all for making this day, so special." (Snow basks in the applause while Regina remains seated, barely able to keep her forced smile upon her face. As the applause dies down however, the sound of drums can be heard from the streets below. At the blare of trumpets, Snow, Regina and several courtiers make their way over to the large balcony. Marching to the beat and clad in green and gold tunics, the drummers are followed by dozens of women dressed in beautiful violet dresses. Glancing at her step-mother, Snow White gauges the genuine surprise upon Regina’s face then returns her attention to the parade.)

(It's an explosion of colour, music and excitement as the parade continues. There's dancing, singing and exotic animals on display, all gathered to celebrate the Queen's birthday. Regina begins moving to the beat while Snow looks on aghast. The menagerie of animals draws several audible gasps as well as 'oohs' and 'ahhs' of wonderment. Mirroring the ostriches stampeding through the streets, Snow White turns and runs from the room, unnoticed by all but Regina, causing a genuine smile to cross her lips for the first time that day. After the monkeys, lions and elephants raise the crowd's enthusiasm into a frenzy, numerous explosions cause a shower of gold and glitter to flutter down onto the people below. Finally, a large scroll unfurls with huge lettering to deliver one unmistakable message...)

Happy Birthday, Regina.

(Standing amongst the applauding crowd, Emma stares up at Regina, having not taken her eyes off the Queen since she emerged onto the balcony, to watch her brilliant smile.) Emma: (As Regina wipes a tear from her eye:) "Happy Birthday, Babe."

#sq #swanqueen #swan queen