#the magical golden dirk

[p-redux]

From Anon that made me spit out my coffee this morning. 🤣

I didn't reply since I've answered this MANY times. Google Search is your friend, my friends. I am not Google, please, for the love of God, SEARCH my blog and/or Google before you come an ask me things I've answered over and over. Anyhooo, as she promised, the Anon didn't give up and sent another Ask this morning. 👇

Before I answer...🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 OMG, "Sam's penis seizure" will go down in fandom annals as one of the funniest autocorrect fails ever. "Sam's penis seizure," I'm still laughing. Needless to say, I think the Anon meant "size," not "seizure." But, hey, she's not far off, many penis do look like they're having seizures when aroused hahaha.

So, to answer your question, Anon. The shrimp comment Sam and Cait made years ago was this. They were having fun with Brazilian fans, tweeting in Portuguese. 👇

And Caitriona one upped Sam with 👇

They were OBVIOUSLY kidding and bantering together, as has always been their style. IOW, they were joking around. Anyone who actually thinks Cait was saying Sam has a small peen literally should go to Walmart and return their brain and get a refund.

Here's an old post where we all laughed about how funny Sam and Cait were being. 👇

As for the size of Sam's dirk, I've already discussed this MANY times. Here's an old post, where I mention it briefly, and what Sam himself said about it. 👇

And here is a longer post showing evidence that Sam Roland Heughan ain't shrimpy. JS. 👇

And finally here, conclusive scientific proof that TMGD aka The Magical Golden Dirk is so magical it makes grown women lose their dang minds. That doesn't happen with small dick. It just doesn't. 👇

I've seen lots 'o penis in my day, and small peen does NOT show from the side like this. 👇 It just doesn't.

Some men are "showers" a la Jon Hamm 👇 Meaning, their peen "shows" even when not erect.

But most men are "growers," like Sam. Meaning their dirk is well hidden and sleeping until it's gets woken up, and then it GROWS.

I hope that answers your question, Anon. But, please don't come back demanding I answer you and if I don't, you will keep bugging me until I do. I don't take kindly to people telling me what to do. Do it again, and I'll block you. I do thank you for my much needed laugh for the day, though. ❤️

#samheughan #sam heughan #caitriona balfe #tmgd #the magical golden dirk #sam hugeone #peen #shower #grower #shrimp #dirk

[urlocallesbiab]

sometimes i feel my story nagging at the back of my mind, gnawing, clawing, breathing down my neck, demanding "i need to exist", "i want to exist"; its desire and will powerful and overwhelming.

when it will be written, it won't be the most beautiful or smart or sophisticated story ever, i know that even now, it may even come to be overall unremarkable; and yet towards it i feel sheer, unfiltered awe, simply for the fact that it is a story and posseses a will to exist, a great and awesome will, and i am the sole witness of it, the sole prophet and worshipper to this decisive power. a story, it feels to me, is a separate mode of being, something vaguely and imcomprehensibly conciousness-like, but abstract and untethered, while human conciousness is unseparable from the intimacy and realness of us being animals. a story needs us, our animal bodies and lives and minds, our hands and mouths and neurons, to help it become real, to take it and bring it onto earth: something halfway between a symbiotic relationship and a religious experience. i find myself subservient to it, to art as universal divinity and to my story as my personal deity that embodies the former.

this loyalty to sublime makes me feel more at peace and in tune with the mundane than anything ever before it. i realize, in a sudden grace of acceptance, that in order to serve my story, to write my god i need to be alive, a blessed animal, and to be alive i need to take care of myself, which means i have to do the dishes and find a job and various et cetera; everything shifts and makes perfect sense. i no longer feel confused or burdened as to "why should i bother", and my body moves lighter and easier.

but the thing about unwritten stories is that they don't yet exist in any physical sense, not as electronic signals or pigment on paper or air vibrations or projected light or anything else; my story in its full form resides only in my head, and thus my awe and loyalty and service towards it are directed, ultimatey, unto myself, in the most sefless and selfish fashion simultaneously — self-love through division and synthesis. to serve art is to love yourself, and to love yourself is to make sure you're alive; to want your story to exist is to want yourself to exist. it's a complex system, but beautiful. with that thought, i'll go finish the dishes, and maybe cook something.

#vikarambles #writing #ive read the washington post article on The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millenium General Assembly #and it did something to my brain #when i say that out of all arts my relationship to literature is the most special sacred intimate and fucknut bonkers this is what i mean #literature owns me like an animal (like christian god's lambs) and like a prophet and i own it like the universe and like my guts #also the fact that ive watched cj the x's video essay ''the kronk effect'' (aka you are to live in the service of art) is really showing #watch that essay it's really good it has the power to change you as a person if the circumstances are right #btw the story that haunts me like a golden bird of prey is. dghda android dirk au #but this post isnt about the merits of projecting my health issues onto dirk gently and making lydia transgender and #giving everyone heebie jeebies and really Really fucking up the s1 plot structure #its about the general power and wonder and magic of literature and self-love #but yeah it is also about that au. for some reason over the past few months ive developed an Attachment towards it #i hope ill be able to write it... it Really wants to exist im not kidding

[lady-ashfade]

A diamond of blood and obsession.

Preview. 

Yandere house of the dragon x reader. Series

Plot: You have been abandoned for what you are at a young age only to end up in a noble house and raised as a slave and to be used for your abilities. They tried to keep you hidden but when another family shows up and sees what you are…They couldn’t let you go, they just had to have you. 

Warnings for this series. Yandere tendencies, child abuse, slaves, killing, blood, obsessive and possessiveness, unhealthy relationships.

The sound of water being slashed around as you ringed out a rag and dunked it again then you washed off the dirk on your face. It was dried up mud after you chased the son of your lords, he was a few years younger then you. House Qarnaris was who you worked for, they had found you in the forest all alone with no one to help you. Your eyes were golden so they knew what you were immediately, a Vesent, someone born with unnatural abilities.

Vesents were once a strong race, they were peaceful people that only protected themselves when needed. They lived in the woods in carved houses, shielded away from the world that is until one human got to close. The human was killed for trying to take and hurt one of their people, this starting a war. Though they were powerful the longer time went on the more the magic started to fade. When peace crossed the nation only a few lived, most of them breeding out and some never seen again.

As far anyone could tell your birth parents weren’t Vasents, they wrote a letter that was left beside you saying they couldn’t take having you as their own. Saying you could get them slaughtered or one day become to powerful for your own good. The Qarnaris pitied you and took you into their home. Food and shelter but at a cost for work. You grew beside their children and given all the knowledge recorded in book to help you understand your magic and people.

You become a healer for the family or a extra helper when needed. You had your own room in the cellar and a wooden bed to sleep on, you had a low quality dresses to wear. They weren’t the worst but they weren’t caring either and yet you were thankful for them. Being a slave you had punishment, like begging slap when you do something wrong, no food for the night and what you hated was when you had to sleep outside.

“Y/n, could you sew my dress back up before mother sees?” Lady Martha ask as she pokes her head into your tiny room, she was three year older then you. She was ten-and-one, you at the age of eight, her little brother being at the age of six and then two older siblings. “Hmm, sure can do.” You agreed and continued to wash your face.

She looked at you, “Why are you so dirty?” She asked. “Because I had to chase your brother outside.” She rolled her eye, “Make sure father doesn’t see that you ruined another dress because then it takes money out of my dress savings.” You couldn’t say anything but just nod and agree.

She closed the door and walked away while you sighed and dropped the cloth and reminded yourself to be thankful for everything you have. Not everyone was a lucky as you are. Quickly changing your set of clothes you put dirty ones in water to soak in bubbles and begin to scrubbing.

After a while your hand began to cramp and you groaned and pulled back to scrunch your fingers to stop the pain. Then a knock at your door made your heart sink and the thought of it being Lord Deryk. He would kill you for ruining the new dress. You went to the door quickly and opened it and stood in a spot where the tub couldn’t be seen. And to your luck it wasn’t Lord Deryk but another servant.

“I am here to inform you that Royal visitors are coming unexpected, you are to get the children ready and help set up then come back down here and not be seen.” You were confused at his words but thanked him for letting you know. Royal visitors? Was the king and queen coming to visit? It usually takes them days to arrive and never on announced. 

“Gods be good.” You rushed up the stairs to get them ready like you were told to do, maybe tonight you could get some peace and quiet and get ahead of your chores. And if you are lucky you could have some left over pie from the kitchens if there would be any left.

#yandere house of the dragon #yandere house of the dragon x reader #yandere hotd #yandere daemon targaryen x reader #yandere rhaenrya targaryen #yandere aemond targaryen x reader #yandere Aemond targaryen #yandere jacaerys velaryon x reader #yandere velaryon x reader #yandere targaryen x reader #yandere alicent hightower #yandere x reader #yandere family #house of the dragon x reader

[sgiandubh]

Out of the OL bubble

Sidenote: this post owes everything to the incredible sleuthing skills of an already longtime trusted friend, who wishes to remain discreet. All credit goes entirely to her - this is such an idiotic topic, yet the Ur Troll insists.

I answered one of you in the comment threads yesterday, that once you get the hell out of the OL bubble, things begin to make sense. Why? Well, because of distance and context, I suppose. And also because this always was the dirty little secret of our Dedicated Manipulative Trolls: to make you believe in a terribly poor narrative, fit for a linear world. A world without compromise, drama, secrets and lies. Collective lack of time, perspective and/or Internet research skills did the rest and gave birth to this monster: the OL Fandom.

We are now told and are supposed to believe that because Scottish Xena apparently chose on purpose (with this and only this, I could agree, but for opposite reasons) to show us she trains in a Cumbernauld gym, that means... well, you know the rest and it involves The Magic Golden Dirk. That troll was never exactly subtle, was she, bless her heart?

That mother and entrepreneur has a life of her own and an entourage of her own and business collaborations of her own and her own agenda. Some of it is shown on her Instagram account, most of it can be speculated. Connecting dots just for the sake of it is neither productive, nor remotely interesting.

Let's see, for example, how she reacts to a very insistent fellow German athlete, whom she is going to meet at the Hyrox Cologne event (13-14th of April, during the Landcon week-end):

😬😱

What is Flamingos Club? Nope, not an ikebana society, no:

Tee-hee.

They were there before, in good company, last year, when they actually first met (rings a bell?):

(April 2023, ok? I am still waiting for my own DeLorean)

Who is this guy?

Fellow athlete, HYROX Ambassador (something I bet the farm she wants to achieve) and a contestant in this year's German reality show First Dates Hotel, on VOX (https://www.vox.de/cms/sendungen/first-dates-hotel.html):

The concept is simple: a renowned German chef, Roland Trettl (no idea!) now takes his blind date cooking show to the next level, with singles from all over the country parked into a Spanish dream holiday resort (Mallorca), shake, stir and see whatever happens. The classical Endemol recipe, now produced by Twenty Twenty. It also has an UK version, running on Channel 4 (coincidence? I doubt that very much, thank you!).

On set, Max's 'love interest' is a certain Linda. He recently wrote her ' a sweet love letter', taking the good advice of his namesake cast friend Max-the-Bartender:

(I swear to God, I feel like I am prostituting my 🧠, right now).

There is obviously nothing to see, here (or is it, such as two wannabes desperately wanting limelight?). She leads the typical no strings attached life of a single mom and he is still looking for a real job:

Since VOX does not give his full name, neither will I. It took five minutes to find him, with a bit of luck.

Why on Earth would one connect that woman to S, rather than to this nice, ambitious Bavarian?

I know why. It's almost too damn easy.

Two words: Channel 4. Truman Show. Ginger and Fred (oops, these are Our Couple).

Is it anything we haven't seen before?

Nope. We've seen way worse. But gone are the Days of Flukenzie Floozy.

[Edited] - there is no need to further expose our people.

#fandom #shitshow

[found-family-tournament]

Best Found Family Tournament

Submissions are closed.

Give me as much propaganda and images as possible. It gives your fams a higher chance of winning.

Every piece of propaganda and every picture or gif I get. In the submissions and in my asks will be added to the poll post every round.

Please inform me if any of the images or information are wrong. Or if you have a better image that I could use.

If there are any questions or requests of any sort. Askbox.

I try to reblog all the propaganda I get in my reblogs, but if you want to make sure I don't accidentally overlook yours, please tag me.

Inspired by other cool blogs like @bluehairandpronouns-tournament @gender-swag-bracket @bestsiblingstournament @musicalcharactertournament @dead-character-showdown @t4tswagbracket @thegreatbigdetectivepolll @trafficlighttriobracket @thebestcartoontournament @noncanongayestbitchestournament @animatedfightthrowdown @bestcharacterwithfirepowers

Links under the cut

Round 1:

Part 1:

The Runaways (Marvel's Runaways) vs The Knights of Camelot (BBC Merlin)

The Wayward Children (The Wayward Children / Every Heart a Doorway) vs Gekkagumi (A3!)

The Faraway Friends (OMORI) vs The Spring Troupe (A3!)

Bee Happy (Matilda) vs The Night at the Museum Gang (Night at the Museum)

Winter Troupe (A3!) vs Gwendolyn, The Will, Lying Cat and Sophie (Saga (Comic))

Part 2:

The SHIELD Team (Agents of SHIELD) vs Hershel Layton, Luke Triton & Flora Reinhold (Professor Layton Games)

The Band of Boobs (Not Another D&D Podcast) vs Saiki and his friends (The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.)

The Third Mates/The Choo Choo Crew (Not Another D&D Podcast) vs The Crystal Gems (Steven Universe)

Team Dark (Sonic the Hedgehog) vs Kipo & Wolf (Kipo)

Dethklok (Metalocalypse) vs The Robinsons (Meet the Robinsons)

Part 3:

Interview with the Vampire Vampires (Interview with the Vampire) vs The Forgers (Spy x Family)

The Mechanisms (The Mechanisms) vs The Scooby Gang (Scooby Doo)

Izumi & Sig Curtis & Edward & Alphonse Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) vs The Clump (Don't Hug Me I'm Scared)

The Hamato Clan/Mad Dogz (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (rottmnt)) vs Team Victor (Vicious)

The Black Bulls (Black Clover) vs The Leverage Crew (Leverage)

Part 4:

MASH team (M*A*S*H) vs The Behavioural Analysis Unit (Criminal Minds)

Spider Crew (So I'm A Spider So What?) vs The Joestar Group (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure)

RTDL Quarted (Kirby) vs The Avengers (MCU Fanfiction)

Brave Vesperia (Tales of Vesperia) vs The Animorphs (Animorphs)

The Dolls (The Sandman) vs Team Rocket (Pokémon)

Part 5:

The Love Trio (Welcome to Demon School Iruma-Kun) vs Maka, Soul, Tsubaki, Black Star, Death the Kid, Crona, Patty, Liz (Soul Eater)

The Gaang (Avatar the Last Airbender) vs Die Wilden Kerle (Die Wilden Kerle)

Alex & Jonas (Oxenfree) vs The Gluttony Crew (The Evillious Chronicles)

Watari & L Lawliet (Death Note) vs The Cat's Whiskers (Paradox Live)

The Rowdy 3 (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency) vs Mae, Greg, Angus & Bea (Night in the Woods)

Part 6:

The Crew of the Serenity (Firefly & Serenity) vs The Crew of the Iris (The Strange Case of Starship Iris)

Lucifam (Lucifer) vs Team Bleck/Bleck Squad (Super Paper Mario)

The Ericson Kids (The Walking Dead Game) vs Accelerator, Last Order, Aiho Yomikawa, Kikyou Yoshikawa & Misaka Worst (A Certain Magical Index)

Squad 312 (the Aurora Cycle series) vs The Fatui Harbingers (Genshin Impact)

13 and the Gang (Doctor Who) vs Franchouchou (Zombie Land Saga)

Part 7:

Dadvid & Momgwen (Camp Camp) vs Bucci Gang/Team Bucciarati (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

Akanyatsura (Paradox Live) vs 11s Fam (Doctor Who)

Team Red (Carmen Sandiego) vs The Ghosts (BBC Ghosts)

Firefam (9-1-1) vs Murder Family (Hannibal)

The Golden Deer (Fire Emblem) vs Mikazuki Villa (Magia Record)

Part 8:

NYPD Major Crimes (Prodigal Son) vs Diasomnia Fam (Twisted Wonderland)

Warden Ingo, Akari, Rei & Professor Laventon (Pokemon Legends Arceus) vs New Who Crew (Doctor Who)

Nahida & Scaramouche/Wanderer (Genshin Impact) vs The Circle Kids (Tamora Pierce's Emelan Universe (The Circle of Magic Quartet))

The Shazamily (Shazam!) vs The Clawthorne-Nocedas (The Owl House)

The Losers Club (It) vs The Mondstadt Crew (Genshin Impact)

Part 9:

The Entire Your Turn to Die Cast (Your Turn to Die) vs Funn Funerals & Eric (Wooden Overcoats)

Because You Made Me Smile (or Extended Tenma Household) (Project SEKAI) vs The Aurinko Crime Family (The Penumbra Podcast (Juno Steel))

Silco & Jinx (Arcane) vs The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (& Associates) (GLOW)

Dark Dragon and the Happy Hungry Bunch (Akatsuki no Yona/Yona of the Dawn) vs MSR (The X-Files)

Ash & Pikachu (Pokémon) vs The Thief Gang/House of Orphans (The Thief Lord)

Part 10:

Powder, Vi, Vander, Mylo & Claggor (Arcane) vs Space Runaways (Saga (Comic))

The Victors of District 12 (The Hunger Games) vs The Killjoys (Killjoys)

The St Cassians Chamber Choir (Ride The Cyclone) vs Six of Crows/The Crows (Six of Crows)

The Gangsey (The Raven Cycle) vs Paper Girls (Paper Girls)

The Bad Kids (Dimension 20 - Fantasy High) vs The Drawtectives (Drawtectives (Drawfee))

Part 11:

Team Natsu (Fairy Tail) vs Yutaka, Minoru & Tane (Our Dining Table)

The Scions of the Seventh Dawn (Final Fantasy XIV) vs Neal Caffrey, Peter & Elizabeth Burke & Mozzie (White Collar)

Scoobies (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) vs Sypha Belnades, Trevor Belmont & Alucard (Castlevania)

I.M.P. (Helluva Boss) vs The New Mutants (X-Men Comics)

The Bad Batch (The Bad Batch) vs Leorio, Kurapika, Gon & Killua (Hunter X Hunter)

Part 12:

Date-Sagan Family (AI: The Somnium Files) vs God Kids (Trials of Apollo)

Crew of the Per Aspera (Rolling with Difficulty) vs Reyna Ramirez & Nico Di Angelo (Riordanverse)

The Crew of the Revenge (Our Flag Means Death) vs The Crisis Management Team (Tomorrow)

Joel Miller & Ellie Williams (The Last of Us) vs Hotel OJ (Inanimate Insanity)

Wangxian + Junior Quartet (Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation/The Untamed) vs Phoenix (MacGyver)

Part 13:

Nightchord25 (Project SEKAI) vs The Wayfarer's Crew (The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet)

Jessica, Aaron & Erica Slaughter (Something Is Killing the Children) vs Color Gang (Animation vs Minecraft/Animator vs Animation)

Sk8 Fam (Sk8 the Infinity) vs The Pilot Program (Misfits and Magic (Dimension 20))

Killing School Trip Survivors (Danganronpa 2) vs Sea Salt Family (Kingdom Hearts)

The Ten Companions of the Dragonmark (How To Train Your Dragon (Books)) vs Cohen-Atwood Family (The OC)

Part 14:

Arya Stark, Gendry Waters, Hot Pie (& Lommy Greenhands & Jaqen H'Gar) (A Song of Ice & Fire/Game of Thrones) vs Old World Group (Everworld)

Lightning Thief Trio (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) vs California Bureau of Investigation (The Mentalist)

Adora, Glimmer & Bow (She-Ra) vs Disaster Trio/The Clone Wars Trio (Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008))

Kim Dokja's Company (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint) vs 13 Flame Chasers (Honkai Impact 3rd)

Ren Amamiya, Futaba Sakura & Sojiro Sakura (Persona 5) vs Batfam (Batman Media (Wayne Family Adventures))

Part 15:

The Soul Squad (The Good Place) vs The Paladins of Voltron (Voltron: Legendary Defenders)

Inheritance Gang (Eragon/the Inheritance Cycle) vs Strawhat Pirates (One Piece)

10's Crew (Doctor Who) vs Clementine & Lee Everett (The Walking Dead Game)

Wendy, Soos, Stanford, Stanley, Dipper, Mabel & Waddles (Gravity Falls) vs The Local Group (Rain World)

Five Eccentrics/Five Oddballs (Ensemble Stars) vs The Luminary, Erik, Serena, Veronica, Sylvando, Jade, Rab & Hendrik (Dragon Quest XI)

Part 16:

The Meta Knights (Kirby) vs The Queens from the Musical Six (Six)

Shroud Bros (Twisted Wonderland) vs Natsume's Protection Squad (Natsume's Book of Friends)

The Long Island Vampires & Guillermo (What We Do In The Shadows) vs The Octotrio (Twisted Wonderland)

The Lupin Gang (Lupin III) vs The Fellowship of the Ring (Lord of the Rings)

The Gang (It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia) vs Regina Mills, Emma Swan & Henry Mills (Once Upon a Time)

Part 17:

Torchwood Team (Torchwood) vs MANKAI Company (A3!)

Julie and the Phantoms (Julie and the Phantoms) vs Yeo Joon, Kim So-Bin & Nam Soo-Hyun (At a Distance Spring is Green)

Second Nonary Game Group (Zero Escape: 9 Hours 9 Persons 9 Doors) vs Chosen Siblings (Pokespe/Pokemon Adventures)

The Seven Birds/IPRE/Starblaster Crew (The Adventure Zone: Balance) vs Boys from the Dwarf (Red Dwarf)

The Tiny Giant Duo (The BFG) vs The Greendale 7/The Study Group (Community)

#tumblr polls #poll #polls #tournament poll #found family #found family tournament 2023 #tumblr tournament #tournament

[cringefaillosersummit]

Pathetic Woman Showdown!!

The bracket is out! Here are the 32 lovely cringefail and pathetic women!

The poll will begin July 31st at 12:00 P.M. EST. They will run for a week.

The match-ups are below the cut!

Side A

Group 1 Minamoto Sakura (Zombieland Saga) Misaki Shiki (The World Ends With You) Group 2 Operator 6O (NieR:Automata) Marie (Persona 4 Golden) Group 3 Abe Nana (THE iDOLM@STER) Yua Serufu (Do It Yourself!!) Group 4 Clementine Kesh (Friends at the Table: PARTIZAN) Hanasato Minori (Project SEKAI) Group 5 Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place) Natalie Scatorccio (Yellowjackets) Group 6 Yaegashi Yasuko (Akiba Maid War) Honda Hanako (Asobi Asobase) Group 7 Alphys (Undertale) Jessie (Pokemon) Group 8 Gwen Stacey (Spiderverse) Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb)

Side B

Group 1 Egokoro Nao (Your Turn to Die) Kiryū Nanami (Revolutionary Girl Utena) Group 2 Kikimora (The Owl House) Surge the Tenrec (Sonic the Hedgehog) Group 3 Deandra "Dee" Reynolds (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) Gotō Hitori (Bocchi the Rock!) Group 4 GLaDOS (Portal) Vriska Serket (Homestuck) Group 5 Eva Heinenmann (Naoki Urasawa's Monster) Perona (One Piece) Group 6 Liliana Vess (Magic: The Gathering) Higuchi Ichiyō (Bungo Stray Dogs) Group 7 Bart (Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency) Sha Hualing (Scum Villain's Self-Saving System) Group 8 Lilith (Public U. Art Club) Goromi (Yakuza)

#pathetic woman showdown #tumblr tournament #pathetic women bracket #pws round 1

[diversegaminglists]

Games Finished in 2023

Didn't get as much gaming as I usually do, due to a combination of health issues, my cat having cancer (she's fine now) and my computer breaking in a couple of infuriatingly nebulous ways.

Games I recommend are bolded.

Archvale

Franken RPG

Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga

Signalis

Bound by Flame

Monster Train

The Last Door Season One

Unforgiving: A Northern Hymn

Dirk Smallwood HD

The Excavation of Hob's Barrow

Flynn: Son of Crimson

Dishonored: Knife of Dunwall

Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches

Sands of Salazaar

Adios

Talk to Me

Dishonored 2

Power Wash Simulator

Power Wash Simulator: Tomb Raider

Power Wash Simulator: Midgar

Pilgrims

Stone

Teacup

Cloud Gardens

Memory Traces: Japan

Khimera: Puzzle Island

Katamari Damacy Reroll

I was a Teenage Exocolonist

100 Hidden Frogs

lure

Lights Off...

Viltnemda

Suspicious Downpour

The Lost Dachshund

Resonance of the Ocean

Swallow the Sea

Shadow Burglar

Kore

Fears to Fathoms: Home Alone

Greedfall

Rapture: The Beginning

Adventure Escape Christmas Killer

Apeture Desk Job

Corridor Z

Hero of the Kingdom: The Lost Tales 2

The Shore

Alder's Blood: Prologue

Mirlo Above the Sun

Stillwater

The Call of Karen

Karisvale

Momotype

Epic Battle Fantasy 5

Aztlan Uncovered: Prologue

Good Dog

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Cluedo

You are a Whale Also Part 1

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Midnight Carnival

I want to be a Triangle

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

The Case of the Golden Idol

The Darkside Detective

Project Exhibited

The Case of the Golden Idol: The Spider of Lanka

The Test

Fayburrrow

Faefever

You Will (Not) Remain

Bad Dream: Stories

Star Apprentice: Magical Murder Mystery

Arcanbreak

Glass Masquerade 3: Honey Lines

Dot's Home

Westwood Shadows: Prologue

The Suicide of Rachel Foster

The Looker

Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull

Without a Voice

Escape Academy

One Night Stand

Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice

Janosik

Don't Escape Trilogy

Spirit Cleaning

Fatum Betula

Viridi

Sarawak

Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear

Riddles of the Past

Desolatium: Prologue

Apocalipsis

The Vagrant

Apocalipsis: One Night in the Woods

Hayami Chan

Ginkgo

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure

Memory Traces: Egypt

Wilful

Distraint

Baldur's Gate 3

Zombie Admin

The Lost Night

Inside

Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix (PS4)

The Painscreek Killings

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

One-Eyed Lee: Prologue

Nasty Little Man

Halo CE: Anniversary

Technoccult: Covenant

To be a Herpwitch

Seethe and Scab

Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition: Main Campaign

Moons of Madness

Dragon's Crown Pro (PS4)

Paradise Killer

Amnesia: Rebirth

Dave the Diver

Zemblanity

Fighting Fantasy Classics: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain

#games played in 2023 #game recommendations

[thethreebroomsticksficfest]

In the Bleak Midwinter

By: FloreatCastellum

Prompt: In the Bleak Midwinter

Summary: ‘Twas the week before Christmas and in grand TTB tradition @floreatcastellumposts was serving up some heartbreaking, festive angst. Don’t forget your cloak as we journey into the forest with Dean. 

Read it below or on AO3 here. 

The snow is not settling on the ground. Each snowflake has a brief life of falling from the grey sky onto the scrubby grass and then vanishing at once. Dean supposes that in other weather it might be beautiful here; perhaps the sun would reflect gloriously off the small trout lake, perhaps the rushes of the river just over the bank would sway pleasantly in a warm summer breeze, perhaps the short, muddy grass would bloom with wildflowers.

But at the moment, all is washed grey with sleet, and he has that heavy coldness that comes from clothes that are always just a little bit wet. Shivering has become an unremarkable constant.

‘Accio trout,’ says Dirk, and three fish have a bewildering end to their lives as they are magically hoisted out of the cold water to struggle and twist for breath in the damp air. The ripples from them spread and then settle once more into grey, stone-like stillness.

They are setting up camp on a little island in the lake, accessible by a thin, creaking footbridge. Small wooden platforms punctuate the shore, for anglers who pay for the privilege of fishing here, Dean guesses, and a thicket of forest provides some shelter from the bitter wind which moans around them.

‘Bleak, innit,’ grumbles Ted, clearing the ground. ‘Grab that guyline, would you, son?’

Dean does so; the rope stings and leaves red marks on his numb hands but he’s used to this routine now. He twists it around a peg as it magically hammers itself into the ground, and knots it the way Dirk showed him. Ted is cursing under his breath; the frost has left the ground as hard as iron, and even with magic it’s proving difficult to get the pegs in.

The goblins speak in their harsh, guttural way, and then Gornuk says, ‘you need to descale and clean it.’

‘Yes, I know,’ says Dirk irritably. ‘You tell me every time.’

There’s more gobbledegook, and then snickering laughter; Dirk throws a dark look to Ted, who replies with an exasperated little chuckle and a shake of the head.

Dean and Ted continue putting the tent up; the sleet-snow is falling thicker now, though still not settling on the ground, so it’s with great relief that they finally get it up and are able to sit in the entrance and light a fire.

It’s a burst of colour, and Dean is briefly hypnotised by the dancing orange and flickering yellow and the rough sound of Dirk and the goblins descaling the fish nearby.

He is sick of bloody fish. Sick to death of it. It’s not as though he was someone who didn’t like fish before. His mother would stew fish, or pan fry it and serve with a mango salsa, or add to a curry, or serve up ackee and saltfish. All spice and heat and colour. It makes Dean think of the way the sun bounces off the cracked pavements of East London and the throb of music and bright but skimpy clothes. It used to make him think of a childhood holiday to Jamaica, fried fish on Hellshire Beach, golden sands and azure waters.

But out here, in a different middle of nowhere each day, they choose fish because it is the only reliable source of food available. They stick to rivers and lakes and stretches of lonely coastline because Dirk has perfected magical fishing, and they can no longer find much from raiding peoples’ allotments, so they’re guaranteed a meal. But after just a few seconds away from the fire it feels cold again, and in dim winter light it always looks grey, and there is not a hint of spice to warm his tongue. He is sick of spitting out flimsy little bones, even when he pushes his knife away from the spine like Ted showed him, even when the fish are filetted by the goblins (which is rare, because they enjoy the crunch).

He doesn’t think it’s enough, either - there’s no fat on fish, and he finds it hard to ever feel full on it, even when they manage to scavenge a few potatoes or rice to have with it. He craves red meat, daydreams about it, his mouth salivates as he imagines biting into a thick, juicy burger, or the smell of bacon frying, or the richness of Mum’s mutton curry.

He watches for a little while, as Dirk pulls a knife roughly across the fish, from the tail towards the head, sending scales flying into the air like metallic snowflakes. He turns his attention back to the fire; just looking at it warms him a little.

The low winter sun has darkened swiftly; the water of the lake seems to go black quicker than the night sky. Dean has never been much of a landscape artist. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate the beauty of nature and all that (though he has found that he appreciates it far less now he is forced to live in it), but he’s found his drawings have always felt a little empty without a person in them.

So instead of the dramatic view ahead of him, of the snow falling in a flurry over black water and windswept rushes, he pulls out his sketchbook and warms up his fingers by drawing a rough, unidentifiable shadow descaling a fish.

‘That Dirk?’ Ted says after a while. He’s rubbing his hands together and blowing on them between their chatter. Dean’s own fingers are numb with cold; it’s all he can do to loosely hold the pencil.

‘I s’pose - not specifically. Just - the action. The pose.’

Dirk was squatting on the ground to clean the fish; one shoulder against a tree trunk to keep him steady. Dean had been practising the lines and perspective of it.

‘I was going to say, you’ve drawn him far too attractive.’

Dean grinned, and Ted continued.

‘I hope when you draw me you do the same; take a few pounds off, iron out some wrinkles. Make my hair a bit thicker.’

‘Sure, mate, I can do that for you.’

Ted tutted. ‘I thought you’d argue - where’s your artistic integrity? Aren’t you meant to tell me those things make me more interesting?’

Dean laughs out loud. ‘I s’pose a proper artist would.’

‘And what stops you being a proper artist?’ asks Ted. His voice is a little like a friendly teacher, or beloved uncle. He’s taken Dean under his wing a bit, which Dean appreciates.

‘Being paid,’ says Dean flatly.

‘What’re your rates?’

‘You couldn’t afford ‘em, Ted.’

Ted hisses, his shoulders shaking with restrained laughter. ‘That’s cold, son. You know I can’t wander into Gringotts.’

Dirk and the goblins return and the fish are charmed to rotate slowly over the fire. The smell of them roasting fills the cold air, and Dean watches their eyes shrivel and blacken. He thinks about Hogwarts, and how the food magically appeared, hot and fresh and deliciously prepared. He thinks about how he and Seamus used to complain about it being boring.

He would love some boring food right now. A boring shepherds pie, a dull pasta bake, a dreary fish and chips. Something warming and comforting and plain.

‘Is Potterwatch on tonight?’ asks Ted.

‘Er… I’ll grab my diary, I wrote it down…’ says Dirk, and he squeezes awkwardly past Dean and Ted to vanish into the tent.

The snow has started to settle now, Dean notices. It’s collecting at the edges of things first. The roots of sleeping, bare trees, the grooves of the little wooden fishing platform.

‘Gringotts will be suffering without that man’s organisation’ says Ted, taking a long stick and prodding at the base of the fire. ‘Legendary. Bet he was like that at school too. Bet he was Head Boy.’

‘Eh?’ comes Dirk’s voice from the depths of the tent.

‘You were Head Boy, weren’t you? After I left.’

Dirk staggers clumsily out of the tent, sniffing in the biting cold, and settles back down by the fire. ‘Yeah, that’s right,’ he says absent-mindedly, opening his red planner and rifling through the pages. ‘School swot, I was.’

‘I wasn’t,’ Ted told Dean. ‘Too cool for that.’

Dean grinned. ‘Same. I mean - I didn’t get Prefect, so-’

‘Blimey,’ says Dirk suddenly, looking at his diary. He looks up. ‘Merry Christmas, everyone.’

A heavy silence falls on the three wizards; just the slight spit of the fire and crackle of the fish roasting. The goblins exchange glances that seem to Dean to be exasperated smirks, and start muttering quietly in gobbledegook.

‘Oh,’ says Dean.

‘Happy Christmas,’ says Ted hollowly.

The snow falls thicker, collecting easily now, resting on that which has already fallen.

It hits Dean very hard then. He tries to reason with himself; it is just a day, that is all. If he had not known the date, the sun would have risen and set and the night passed overhead with the same dreary monotony as any other at the moment, and he would have felt no stronger.

But he does know, and he feels suspended in it. He is left bereft, devastated, almost abandoned as he thinks about what this day should be, what it has always been to him – full of warmth and excitement and joy and love, and it is like being torn apart from his family all over again. He does not dare speak, because he knows his voice will crack.

‘Not how I’d like to be spending it, no offence to you lot,’ Ted says.

Dean swallows, and nods.

‘I’ve not got any of you anything,’ says Dirk.

‘You got us some fish,’ says Ted. ‘Cheers, mate.’ It’s a weak attempt at bravado, but Dean appreciates it. He tries to salvage something of it himself, and returns to the rough sketch that was supposed to be him practising form. With fingers stinging from cold, he does what he can to improve it, to make it more recognisable, to make it look like he put some thought and care into it.

‘You’re welcome,’ Dirk says to Ted, a wobble in his voice.

It remains a rough looking sketch, but he signs it, tears it out from the pad, and leans over, holding it out to Dirk. He had nothing else to give him, in these circumstances. ‘Merry Christmas,’ he says, to Dirk’s surprised face.

‘Well - thanks, I - oh! Hah!’ He gives a spluttered, watery laugh as he looks fondly down at the drawing. ‘Thank you, Dean, really.’

Ted whistles, long and low and approving. ‘Signed and everything, Dirk, that’ll be worth a few bob in the years to come, trust me.’

‘I’ll get started on yours now, Ted,’ Dean assures him. ‘How do you want to be posed?’

‘Heroically.’

‘Lying in your camp bed snoring, got it.’

They try, they really do. They dance around it, they feign lightheartedness, they take the dark, terrible, lonely thoughts that are screaming in their brains and try to pretend that they do not in fact feel them, that they can shrug it off.

The snow falls thicker and thicker as they eat their fish (instantly cold), and retreat into the tent for scant warmth. They force laughter. Even the goblins seem to take pity and offer up a flask of something goblin made that Dean cannot pronounce but tastes, to him, like vodka.

‘You lot don’t celebrate Christmas then?’ Ted asks them.

‘No,’ says Gornuk flatly, ‘but we understand the traditions for you.’

Dean finishes the drawing of Ted, and offers it as a Christmas gift with a great flourish. He offers to repay the gift of alcohol with drawings of the goblins. They do not seem impressed. With that, they retire to their camp beds, leaving the three wizards to carry on drinking.

The alcohol liberates the unspoken words. It is Ted who raises the subject of their longing loneliness first. ‘Who’re you missing this year, Dean?’ he asks. ‘Who’s the family waiting for you to come home?’

‘My mum,’ admits Dean. ‘Sisters.’

‘Older or younger?’

‘Younger - we’re all so close, they were furious when I went away to school. I’ve never had a Christmas without them though. I wonder how it’s going for them.’

‘I wonder how my daughter’s Christmas is going,’ Ted says vaguely. ‘She’ll be… a few months along now, I suppose.’

‘You going to be a grandad, Ted?’ Dean asks.

He hums and nods slowly. ‘Apparently so.’

‘Next Christmas will be fantastic,’ Dirk tells him. ‘With a little one running round. Or, well, crawling.’

‘You’re going to be a great Grandad,’ Dean says. ‘The favourite one, I bet.’

‘Do you know, I don’t even know if there is another grandad, I don’t know much about my son-in-law, considering,’ says Ted. ‘Everything moved pretty quickly, then I had to leg it.’ He looks at Dirk. ‘Who are you missing this Christmas?’

Dirk thinks for a long time, staring at the flickering paraffin lamp on the table. When he speaks, Dean can hear the heavy regret in every long pause between words. ‘You know, I… I spent so many years thinking there was time for… all that… later. I was so…’ He took a great shuddering breath and turned to Dean. ‘You don’t know how lucky you are, you know.’

Dean doesn’t feel lucky, but he also knows these men well enough by now to wait, and listen.

‘This is awful, obviously, but you had some good school years. When we were at school, muggleborns had to prove themselves a hundred times over to be in with a shot of getting a decent job. Didn’t we, Ted?’

Ted sniffed, and nodded, his eyes fixed on the lamp too. ‘Yeah - bloody hard if you were average like me, but I tried to keep a good sense of humour and that helped more than you’d expect, just about. Wasn’t easy though. Got into my fair share of scraps.’

Dean could not imagine Ted as a fighter, but Dirk swiftly clarified the confusion. ‘They used to target us, didn’t they, Ted? Horrific, what some of them used to get away with - then they all became Death Eaters later, didn’t they? You just tried to keep your head down.’

‘Well,’ said Ted fairly, ‘or you started scandalous relationships with Slytherin pureblood girls, but you know, we all had different tactics for survival.’

Dirk laughed. ‘You were a braver man than me - I just studied hard, tried to prove I deserved my place. Got there in the end. I don’t suppose you remember Lily Evans, Ted? Later became Lily Potter?’

‘No, she was too many years below me, never really crossed paths, from what I recall.’

‘She was the year above me; her tactic was to bloody try and kill ‘em with kindness, she was friends with some of them, for a bit anyway. Obviously didn’t work for her. But she was similar to me, talented enough to get into the Slug Club, but bloody hell did she have to work for it.’ He sighed heavily. ‘And I was the same, and anyway - I got myself a decent job, and worked hard and just kept working hard… Never really accepted that I was safe from any of that, never focused on anything but work.’

‘You regret it?’ Ted asks quietly.

‘I never did before,’ says Dirk. ‘I was proud. I still am, really. And I suppose I should count myself lucky there’s no wife or kiddies at home missing me. But… it would be nice to be missed.’ He turns to Dean, and fixes him with the sort of stern stare Professor McGonagall so often gave, in what feels like a lifetime ago. ‘Don’t become a cynic like me,’ he implores. ‘Don’t let them rob you of joy too. When all this is over, make sure you actually live - really live.’

He seems to realise what he says, and for some reason this embarrasses him. He flushes, and seizes the flask of vodka-like drink, and takes a swift gulp.

Dean nods, but then lets the silence awkwardly rest over them. He knows the cause - knows what all of them are thinking. When will this be over, really? Will it ever be over? Will they see the end of it? Or will they freeze out here in this bleak and barren landscape?

He tries to think of something else to say. ‘I didn’t realise Harry’s mother was muggleborn,’ he says at last.

‘He never mentioned it? I thought you said you were in the same dorm,’ says Ted.

‘We were. He doesn’t talk about his parents. Not to me, at least. Never really mentions them.’

‘That’s a shame,’ says Dirk. ‘They were decent people. Well, Lily definitely. James Potter could be a bit of a prat to be honest.’

A moment for the words to sink in, and then they splutter with shocked laughter.

Dirk’s words swirl around Dean’s head as he tries to sleep that night. They leave a lamp on low for the scant warmth, so he stares at the warm, flickering yellow glow as he thinks about them. After the war is over, he must live. Truly live.

He should, he knows, be thinking about his family. And it’s not to say that he hasn’t been thinking about them, because of course he has. He misses them so much it is sheer agony. He wants to risk it all and apparate right back to them, just to feel them in his arms even for a brief few seconds. He yearns to hear his mother’s voice. Perhaps he will find a payphone soon, and call. Maybe that would be safe.

But in truth, it is not them that he is fixating on as he gazes into the dim lamplight.

He thinks instead of the most lively person he knows. The person that has him roaring with laughter. The person who always finds the fun in something. The person that seems to be synonymous to happiness.

Silently, without waking the others, he gets out of bed. His pencil once again glides over the page, the guidelines soft, the tone layered up, careful detail. It’s as though his hand moves of its own accord, he doesn’t really register what he’s doing except for the fact that a hundred, a thousand, a million different fragments of memory were pummelling through his brain, each one as though painted by watercolour, soft and clouded and drowning in colour and light.

How long it takes him to draw in that dim light he isn’t sure, but he eventually puts down his pencil and looks upon perhaps the best piece he has ever created. If only he had watercolours, to add to it, to bring it away from that black and white and into something truly reflective of the person he was trying to capture. He was beautiful, Dean realises. He has never considered it before.

Still as though in a daze, he pulls on his boots, swings his coat over his shoulders, and slips out of the tent. The snow is thick now, it crunches underfoot, but otherwise muffles the world so that he stepped into a strange, close silence. The branches of the trees are covered in frost and ice, a strange tinsel, glittering in his wand light.

He goes down to the wooden platform that perches just over the water edge. It has not frozen over but it is uncommonly still, and in the snow and the dark it is black looking, as though the depths of it continue forever. His fingers are numb and prickling in the chill already, but he takes out the drawing and holds it before him. It is cast in faint blue from the light of his wand.

Seamus stares back at him, with the slight upturn of his mouth and hooded eyes that Dean fiercely knows to be the pale blue of a morning sky but are here cast, by circumstance alone, in the grey lead of his pencil.

Dean wonders if it is normal to feel suspended like this when thinking about someone. He wonders if it’s normal to think this strongly about a friend. He wonders if it is normal to miss a living person so strongly it feels like grief, like the gently increasing pain of being out here in bleak weather is nothing compared to his warm absence.

He wonders why he does not want to risk anyone seeing this drawing, this outpouring of… He cannot admit the word to himself.

Instead, he crouches, and gently places the drawing on the surface of the still water. For a moment, it seems as though it hasn’t even made a ripple, but then he sees it, reaching out into the night. The drawing of Seamus floats for a while, and he watches it, hoping desperately, praying, even, that all of this will end. That spring will eventually soften this iron hard earth, that they will see one another again at last.

Gradually, the drawing sinks into the safety of the black water, unseen by anyone but Dean. He watches it vanish, and feels oddly freed.

He will see him again, he decides. And this time, as Dirk suggests, they will live. Really live.

#submission #ttb yule bash 22 #dean thomas #seamus finnigan #hp fanfic

[nynaeve-mashiara]

“I have longed all these years, for Rhaenys, the sister I lost in the Sack of Kings Landing. Can you imagine my delight when I learnt I had yet another sister, who had been hidden in plain sight for twenty years?” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Rule by my side, be my Hand, help me mend the Seven Kingdoms and usher in a golden age of Targaryen rule.”

“I wish I could believe you true. I wish my brother had survived the Sack of King’s Landing. I wish it was only Rhaenys’s blood, dripping off of Tywin Lannister’s hands. That my children had more than one uncle by blood.” She said, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Yet I have Dreamt, and had Seeings, and been warned by ancestors as varied as Bloodraven, Visenya the Conqueror, Daenys the Dreamer, Queen Helaena, Aegon the Conqueror, and Uncle Aemon at the Wall, of a black dragon painted red, covered in a cloth of gold. The Golden Company, howevermuch it is a sellsword company, working for coin, would never aid a Targaryen in reclaiming the Iron Throne. All their commander generals and most of their other officers have been Blackfyre loyalists, or their descendants.”

The wolf bared its teeth. The red and the yellow dragons swooped lower.

“I am here simply to request that you leave, and to reclaim my family’s ancestral sword. I will let you leave unharmed, if you so do.”

“What would it take to convince you, sister?” Aegon choked out.

“You cannot. I am sorry you have been raised in a lie, but my brother is dead. Blackfyre, if you please.” She said, holding out her hand.

“You dare dismiss your king?” Jon demanded.

“I am the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms, Prince Rhaegar’s only surviving child. Did you think anyone with a shred of knowledge of history would believe you? Both of my grandfathers fought in the war of the Ninepenny Kings. Ser Barristan Selmy killed the last male-line Blackfyre pretender, the captain general of the Golden Company. It was that deed that got him elevated to the Kingsguard. If you wanted him to have as much as a shred of credibility, you should have picked any other sellsword company. Better yet, you should have handed him off to grandmama eighteen years ago.” she said, resting her left hand on the dirk at her hip and beckoning with the right she still had extended towards Aegon. “Telling Queen Rhaella is the only way anyone would have believed you, believed him true. Yet she never would have. Face it, Jon, you spent five years in the Golden Company under captain general Ser Myles Toyne. The original agreement must have been with him. There is no way a Toyne would work towards a Targaryen restoration; it is as likely as having Stannis Baratheon crown me tomorrow.”

“You dare, you, the cause of the entire War of the Usurper.” Jon bit out.

“I think you will find, Jon Connington, that the trigger of what would be known as Robert’s Rebellion, the War of the Usurper, was murder.” She said, cocking a brow. “Mother and father eloped, true. Mother out of love, or a wish for independence, or to be rid of a betrothed she did not want. Father out of the belief that Lyanna Stark’s steel, her wolf blood, her ice, the magic in the Stark bloodline, unbroken since Brandon the Builder raised the Wall eight thousand years ago, would produce a warrior princess worthy of the name Visenya. Worthy of being the third head of the dragon. Worthy of carrying a prophecy he did not fully understand. Yet war could have been avoided, had not Aerys Targaryen burned Brandon Stark alive in his own armour with wildfire, and demanded Rickard, Eddard, and Benjen Stark, and Robert Baratheon travel to King’s Landing to suffer the same fate. For the crime of wanting Lyanna Stark returned, whom they believed to be abducted.”

“Aerys was the king!”

“Aerys was mad!” she bit out. “Hand over Blackfyre, and I will allow you to leave.”

“And if we refuse?” Jon scoffed.

The white dragon raised its head high, looking behind them towards the assembled ranks of the Golden Company.

“Then, Jon, I will simply recreate the Field of Fire. The only parts of Westeros not loyal to me is Joffrey Hill and his sycophants in King’s Landing, the Westerlands, and the Iron Islands. Cousin Renly has decided to lay aside his claim, to keep his position as Master of Laws on the Small Council, and wedding Aunt Daenerys.” She said, taking a step closer to grip the hilt of Blackfyre.

He gripped her wrist to wrench her hand away, but froze as an arrow flew just an inch past his head.

“Those arrows are poisoned, Blackfyre. I might be a Targaryen, the Blood of Old Valyria, but I am also a Stark, the blood of Winterfell, a daughter of the North. I was raised by Rickard Stark as his heir, the future Stark, Lady Paramount, Warden of the North. I am loved, honoured, respected there. The Crannogmen of the Neck do not allow me to walk anywhere unguarded.”

With that, she drew Blackfyre out of the scabbard at his waist, and turned to return to her dragon. Her wolf followed her, and Ser Arthur Dayne, her sworn shield, her protector, walked backwards so he still had them in his sight.

#fic #asoiaf #my writing #jon snow #f!aegon

[irregularincidents]

In terms of magical battles, the 1900 “Battle of Blythe Road“ in London definitely gets some points for entertainment value, if only for how Irish poet William Butler Yeats defeated infamous black magician Aleister Crowley.

First, some background. At the time both Crowley and Yeats were members of a secret society known as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an organisation dedicated to the study of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Seemingly very much a middle class affair, other members included Dracula author Bram Stoker and fellow horror author Algernon Blackwood.

However, conflict erupted over the direction that the organisation should take their focus, with relative newcomer Crowley attempting to depose Yeats as head of the Order to gain access to their “magical secrets”. Or possibly Magickal secrets, knowing Crowley. His own experiments worried his contemporaries in the organisation, leading to them kicking him out of the group out of a fear that he would going to use their teachings for evil.

Leastways, on the 19th April 1900, Crowley attempted to invade the headquarters of the Order (located above a shop), dressed for magical battle in full Highland dress, a mask of Osiris, and a gilt dagger. Yeats, an accomplished boxer, was himself presumably dressed less extravagantly when he kicked Crowley down a flight of stairs while trying the premises, or, as Yeat’s biographer put it:

Crowley refused to accept their decision. He went to Paris, and there persuaded the chief of the Golden Dan, a Celtophile magician named MacGregor Mathers, to deputize him to wrest control of the London temple of the order away from Yeats and his friends. Mathers furnished Crowley with appropriate charms and exorcisms to use against recalcitrant members, and instructed him to wear Celtic dress. Equipped accordingly in Highlander's tartan, with a black Crusader's cross on his breast, with a dirk at his side and a skindoo at his knee. Making the sign of the pentacle inverted and shouting menaces at the adepts, Crowley climbed the stairs. But Yeats and two other magicians came resolutely forward to meet him, ready to protect the holy place at any cost. When Crowley came within range the forces of good struck out with their feet and kicked him downstairs.

Upon his retreat, Crowley attempted to later tried to seduce the Anglo-Irish artist Althea Gyles into aiding his revenge against the Order, only for her to reportedly steal a lock of his hair in order for Yeats and the others to cast spells on Aleister to “limit his powers”.

After this defeat in wizardly combat, Crowley would travel the world gathering followers establishing his own magical organisation, the A∴A∴ (pronounced ay-AY), which would continue his own pursuits and study of magic. Crowley himself gathered his own followers, such as American rocket scientist Jack Parsons.

Bonus Fact!

Amusingly, there are rumours that Crowley is George W Bush and Jeb Bush’s maternal grandfather, as their grandmother Pauline Pierce happened to hang around the magician when they were both living in Paris in the 1920s, with Barbara Bush being born some eight months later. This isn’t considered likely though, as the linked article above states, only least because it comes from a single possibly unreliable source and also because Crowley’s practice of sex magic had him write down the names of everyone he had sex with, so her name not being among his... detailed notes, suggests that they never actually slept together.

#irregular incidents #occultism #british history #london #history

[lime-bloods]

I say the Hussie avatar’s conspicuously orange fingers are orange because they’re really Dirk’s fingers: in the vein of troll horns being disguised mind control antennae, malo suggests that if Dirk is the puppeteer, it’s probably significant that the horns are orange, too.

this would imply that Caliborn plugging the candy corn tooth into his skull isn’t making himself the vampiric master over the story, but rather becoming another vector of control for Dirk: in any case, if the orangeness of the candy corn vampire’s fangs has any significance, I felt it should have some significance, too, that Lord English eventually replaces both this fake tooth AND his robotic leg - the other “lovingly imbued mechanization” he receives directly from Strider - with gold-coloured versions. in essence, gold should also be seen as the symbol for Lord English’s poisonous bite.

if there is any merit to the idea of 'psychic antennae' at all, the evidence is in the Condesce’s golden tiara, a tool she hooks up to her own brain and with which she channels various psychic powers, but which, when placed on Jane, becomes a tool for puppeteering: viewed retrospectively, ‘the twist’ is that the device the Condesce has been using as a weapon actually works both ways. the implication becomes that, like English, the Condesce has disguised her mechanizations under a veneer of gold.

(this image is also discreetly racialised; just as English’s gold tooth and walking cane serve his “pimp” image, the Condesce’s associated “bling” contributes heavily to her caricatured image. when Porrim says “the empress [...] was really just the Lo+rd's slave all alo+ng”, this is a statement projected through her feminist lens; the story in Act 6 is that the Condesce is Lord English’s wife, so Porrim thinks being a wife is a form of slavery; but in the Condesce, the feminist and the racial readings cross over with each other. Act 6 is also punctuated by repeated attempts by one character to propose to another with a gold ring; implicitly, the wearing of gold jewellery is associated with bondage.)

prominently, despite the precious metals worn by the regents of the Human and Carapacian Kingdoms, the princes and princesses of Earth C’s Troll Kingdom renege on the royal Alternian tradition of gold tiaras in favour of grey crowns much more in line with the organic troll esthetic. previously I’ve made the simplistic observation that in a world without Alternia’s royal hegemony gold would have no real cultural value: but of course it is also true that the concept of ‘value’ is the work of Lord English’s corruption of the natural world to begin with. indeed, mind-control-through-gold is as effective a metaphor as influence through candy and drugs; the magic gold ring of Tolkien didn’t strictly need a special enchantment to influence its wearers, but could corrupt through the power it provided and the awe it inspired alone.

#homestuck #antennae #caliborn #meenah

[theragnarokd]

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#5

i am going to be v strong and NOT title the next chapter of my fic, an interlude from the POV of a character named Tyr, in-Tyr-mission

39 notes - Posted October 18, 2022

#4

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Homestuck Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Jake English/Dirk Strider Characters: Jake English, Dirk Strider Additional Tags: teensy bit of dave strider, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Alternate Universe - No Sburb Session, Demon Sex, Rope Bondage, Impact Play, Dubious Consent, Masochism, Painplay, Temperature Play, Spooky Jake Autumn, Light-Hearted, Crack Summary:

Dirk buys a suspicious golden rope from a mysterious shop. Who knows what that might hold in store for him?

(Answer: a sexy demon. But joke's on him, Dirk's into that shit.)

inspired by @thedoublepp gorgeous jake art

43 notes - Posted October 28, 2022

#3

Me: I wanna write

Myself: whatcha wanna write

Me: something good

Myself: *snort* good fucking luck

Me: yo self we don't talk to people like this in this house, wanna reframe that?

Myself: ok fine I'm experiencing low self esteem and doubt in my abilities

Me: *takes self face in my palms* ok I will remind you of the importance of the two cakes, the parable of the clay pots, and the fact that if you've done something once and didn't suffer a subsequent disability, no reason you can't do it again.

Now are we ready to write some trash that is slightly better than yesterday's trash? Say yes.

Self, sniffling: yes.

63 notes - Posted November 12, 2022

#2

Fuck I used to know how to make friends in fandom spaces

Uh

Hi whomstve folks

What's your favorite weird-ass thing Jake has said in fic or canon

90 notes - Posted October 13, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Might fuck around and post some spooky Jake autumn stuff

Such as:

Dirk makes a living building shit. What shit depends on who's paying this week. He who has the dollars calls the shots.

However.

"What you drew here is physically impossible," Dirk tells the latest asshole client, some white guy in a suit.

"I was told you do the impossible on a weekly basis," says Smug McAssface. "Are you saying your reputation is wrong?"

"What you're asking for," Dirk says flatly, "is the equivalent of a four-angled triangle. That's not how triangles work. That's not how any of this works."

"Then you're saying you won't do it?"

"I'm saying --" Dirk grits his teeth and names an impossible sum. "And it's going to take me a month."

The guy, without breaking eye contact, writes him a check.

So now Dirk has a month to defy God and physics. Fine.

*

On the first three days, the plans make no god-damned sense. On the fourth, they still don't, but living on energy drink and two hours of sleep a night is lending them a certain odd charm.

Dirk's an insomniac anyway, and staying up late to work is an occupational hazard. This is not aided by the fact that on the fifth day, during a snatched catnap, he starts dreaming.

If he remembers his dreams, they're usually semi-lucid and fairly boring. He spends a lot of dream time in airports, for some reason, waiting for a flight that never takes off.

This time, there's someone sitting next to him in the waiting area.

Huh. That's new. "Who the fuck are you?"

The newcomer isn't bad looking. Dark skin, darker hair, eyes the color of cartoon acid, *very* nice forearms.

Dirk is about to reconsider what kind of dream this might be - he wouldn't object, he hadn't gotten out much lately - when the guy lightly says, "This is dull, isn't it? Let's change things up."

He snaps his fingers, and Dirk wakes up screaming.

He also wakes up with a lightning-strike realization of how two of the bugshit parts fit together, so at least he has that going for him.

165 notes - Posted October 7, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[recreancyrpg]

BASICS.

NAME. Dirk Cresswell  AGE. 22 ALUMNI HOUSE. Ravenclaw BLOOD STATUS. Muggleborn FACECLAIM. Tom Holland

HISTORY.

Dirk loved magic. Who wouldn’t want to live in a world where wizards are real? Dirk spent the bulk of his childhood buried in books, and his primary school teachers often lamented that he knew more about the fictional histories of places like Arda and Prydain than he did of Great Britain. No one noticed the odd flashes of magic that characterized most muggleborn’s childhoods, because any oddities happening around Dirk were too easily dismissed as just Dirk being Dirk. When a witch appeared on his parents’ doorstep to explain that their son was a wizard, they at first thought it was some stunt Dirk had arranged to get out of doing chores or homework. It wasn’t until several spells were demonstrated that his parents realized that it was all real. Dirk was elated, and he embraced everything Hogwarts had to offer with enthusiasm so extreme it sometimes left his peers overwhelmed. But they had grown up with magic. They didn’t understand. For Dirk, Hogwarts was literally evidence that all his dreams were true.

Unfortunately, just as in his favorite novels, dreams always have a nightmare side to them as well. In the case of the Wizarding World, that was Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Dirk wasn’t cowed by the blood-prejudice he encountered. All his favorite fictional heroes had villains to overcome too, after all. This was no different. He just had to beat the bad guys and prove himself, then he’d live happily ever after just like they did. Well, the ones who lived to the end of their stories, anyway. But Dirk wasn’t worried about that. He was young and brave and invincible! Just like the heroes he soon met in real life, people like Sirius Black and the Prewett brothers and most of all, people like James Potter. There was no one Dirk looked up to more than James. And then James disappeared, taken by the enemy, and life was even more like a story than it was before.

Sirius asked for help finding his friend, and Dirk volunteered himself for that quest so fast he almost sprained something. This was his chance! Go with the hero’s best friend to save him from the bad guys? It was just like something out of his stories! All he needed was a floating golden bauble or a humming light sword! He made due with his wand, but given what happened to Benjy, maybe the bauble would have been better. Or maybe a magic ring that let you disappear... or, best of all, a cordial of healing potion. But there was no saving Benjy, and it turned out that death was a lot worse when it wasn’t inside a story. Dirk washed and washed until his skin turned raw, and still sometimes thinks he can feel Benjy’s blood - his blood, and other worse things - dripping down his neck. He’s barely been able to look at Sirius since, knowing that the older wizard must think Dirk a coward for going to pieces like that after Benjy... well, after Benjy went to pieces like that.

And then James came back anyway. It was a miracle, a fantastic thing - but it happened without Dirk’s help. Does that mean he was never meant to be the hero? Or just that he hasn’t found the quest that belongs to him yet? Dirk is trying to keep a happy face on things - and it’s not like he’s miserable, he never really learned how to be miserable, not for longer than it took to finish the sad chapters anyway - but for the first time in his life, he isn’t quite sure where he fits. Coming to Hogwarts meant learning a lot of new things, yes, but it never left him unsettled the way it seemly did with so many other muggleborns. That was just another adventure. Joining the Order of the Phoenix was the same - or was it? Dirk was eleven when he learned that the world was actually just like his favorite stories. Now it’s eleven years later, and he’s starting to wonder if maybe sometimes it isn’t...

CONNECTIONS.

DORCAS MEADOWES. One of the only other muggleborns in the Order, Dirk is closer to Dorcas than Lily Evans. Maybe it’s because Lily seems more closed off than Dorcas - or maybe it’s just because he can’t stand thinking about anything to do with the self-proclaimed Marauders anymore - but he appreciates Dorcas’ drive. She’s really here to do some good and he thinks that, if he’s looking for someone to be a hero, he could look at her. THEODOSIA SELWYN. She’s turned a new leaf, that’s what people say. But Dirk isn’t so sure. He’s seen the way she’s left a room because he’s entered it. Remembers the time she’d made excuses not to do the dishes - even with magic - because his was on top. She seems like her mindset about muggleborns hasn’t really changed that much. Or maybe that’s just all in his head? DAISY HOOKUM. Daisy is writing a book on muggles and muggleborns, which is nice, but also... Dirk isn’t sure what to make of it. He’s agreed to sit for interviews because Daisy has always been kind to him and it might be good for people in the world to know more about the way people like him live. But sometimes he wishes it didn’t always have to be about his blood status. Sometimes, he just wants to be Dirk.

DIRK IS TAKEN.

#hp roleplay #harry potter rp #hp rp #marauders rpg #hp rpg #dirk cresswell #dirk cresswell bio #character bio #muggleborn #ravenclaw #taken

[totocncjskswjs]

I want to play as long as Curry LeBron 35 under Kobe's influence

I want to play as long as Curry LeBron 35 under Kobe's influence

Stephen Curry (35, Golden State Warriors) said he wants to play for a long time like LeBron James.

Curry recently appeared on a podcast by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, expressing his desire to play in the NBA for a long time.

When Arenas asked, "How long do you want to play?" Curry replied, "I want to play for a long time like LeBron."

Curry added, "I didn't imagine that there would be a player who could play up to the age of 40, but I think I can do it myself if I try."

He also said, "Who knows what my body will be like if I reach that point," adding, "I still have three years left of the contract and I will have to do well from this first," adding, "I will focus on the present rather than the future."

LeBron was considered an all-time player in the NBA, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the Western Conference Finals in their 20th season. Therefore, he is still an incredibly strong player. Curry also led the Golden State Warriors with an amazing performance last season. The two met in the semifinals of the Western Conference and produced a great match.

Earlier, Curry is expected to remain in the Golden State if he maintains his current skills three years later, the time when LeBron reaches his age. He has declared several times that he wants to remain a Golden State franchise star.

Curry, who also mentioned this, said, "Even if I play for the next few years, I want to achieve the feat of playing in one franchise and being a part of a legendary group that won at the top level," stressing that it is a blessing to be a one-clubman.

At the same time, "I don't take it for granted. "There are Kobe (Brien), Magic (Johnson), Dirk (Nobitsky), and Tim Dungan, who have influenced the establishment of (franchise star) culture and have achieved a lot in other areas than their careers," he said, "I want to follow in the footsteps of my seniors."

Curry, who has been selected as the NBA champion four times, the regular league MVP two times, the top scorer four times, the All-NBA selection nine times, and the NBA's 75th anniversary team, will embark on his journey to his 15th season in October

[sportyconnect]

Basketball has come a long way since its inception in the late 19th century. The 5x5 version of the sport remains its most popular and competitive form, attracting millions of fans worldwide. This article takes an in-depth look into the evolution of 5x5 basketball through the lens of various sports organizations, notable events, and emerging talents. The Golden Era: Spurs' 2014 NBA Championship Run There's no better way to start this journey than by reminiscing about the Spurs' outstanding performance in the 2014 NBA season. Their exceptional teamwork and fluid playing style stunned fans and critics alike, paving the way for a revolution in modern basketball. The Spurs' legendary coach, Gregg Popovich, successfully led a roster of seasoned and young talents to an unforgettable championship victory that year. The Spurs' dominance in 2014 was truly remarkable. Their seamless teamwork and selflessness earned them praise and helped usher in a new era of basketball, highlighting the importance of unity in the sport. Competitive Fire: Semifinals and Beyond in Recent NBA Seasons As the years have gone by, the intensity of modern basketball has only increased, exemplified by the thrilling encounter between Miami and Milwaukee during the NBA semifinals in 2021. The emergence of the exceptionally skilled European superstar, Luka Dončić, has further proved that the NBA is a stage for global talent. The Eurobasket Phenomenon While the NBA remains the epicenter of basketball, Europe has also cultivated some of the most talented players. Eurobasket tournaments have given these athletes a platform to showcase their skills and compete against the best. One example is the Olympiakos versus Real Madrid matchup, which brought two powerhouse teams head-to-head in an exciting display of talent. Legendary Encounters: Celtics vs. Magic The NBA is no stranger to nail-biting encounters, and the Celtics versus Magic rivalry perfectly encapsulates the high-stakes nature of professional basketball. With numerous playoff meetings and unforgettable moments under their belt, this matchup has long been etched into the memories of basketball fans worldwide. Captivating Young Prospects The future of basketball is just as bright as its past. The 2022 NBA Draft introduced an exciting range of young prospects from all corners of the globe. From polished NCAA players to promising European talents, the next wave of superstars is already in the making. New Beginnings: The 2022 NBA Season Kickoff Every year, the highly anticipated start of the NBA season ignites the passion and excitement of millions of fans. From fresh faces emerging in new roles, to familiar duels that capture our imagination, the NBA continues to surprise and entertain us all. The Video Game Connection: NBA 2K Series It's undeniable that video games have played a substantial role in promoting basketball to new audiences. Titles like NBA 2K22 have allowed fans to immerse themselves into their own basketball journeys and understand the intricacies of the game. The Globalization of Basketball As basketball has risen in popularity across the globe, international talents have increasingly found their way into the sport's highest ranks. Players like Pau and Marc Gasol, Tony Parker, and Dirk Nowitzki have shown the world that excellent basketball skills can be found anywhere. Moreover, the participation of these players in their respective national teams has driven greater interest in international basketball competitions, creating an influx of talent from diverse regions. Fierce International Rivalries Much like the intense domestic rivalries in the NBA, international basketball competitions have spawned rivalries fueled by nationalism. One prime example is the Spain-Argentina basketball rivalry, which has persisted for years, delivering captivating battles on the court. These conflicts only serve to further the growth of basketball, as the sport becomes an arena for international pride and competition.

Rise of the WNBA As basketball's popularity grows, so too does the attention on women's basketball in the form of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The league, which began in 1997, has since grown and produced stars such as Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore. These players have not only transcended the female side of the sport but have inspired millions of young girls to pursue their dreams of becoming professional athletes. Basketball in Pop Culture The influence of basketball has expanded far beyond the court and into the realm of pop culture. Films like Space Jam and He Got Game have contributed to the sport's widespread appeal and integrated basketball into entertainment. Meanwhile, players such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry have risen to fame not only for their on-court prowess but also for their off-court persona, engaging with fans and participating in various entertainment projects. The Future of 5x5 Basketball Many aspects of basketball will continue evolving, but the 5x5 format remains a cornerstone of the sport's identity. As the game continues to centralize around a strong blend of teamwork, talent, and adaptability, fans can look forward to exciting and unpredictable seasons filled with intense competition. In the future, we may witness an even greater influx of international talent, the increasing rise of the WNBA, and the continued resonation of basketball in popular culture. One thing is certain: the evolution of 5x5 basketball is far from over, and we can eagerly anticipate the new heights it will reach in the years to come. Advancements in Basketball Technology As technology continues to progress, basketball also advances, benefiting from innovations and improvements that enhance player performance and the overall fan experience. Cutting-edge advancements like wearable technology help players track their physical condition and well-being in real-time. Meanwhile, virtual reality (VR) training systems are revolutionizing the way athletes practice and refine their skills on the court. Growing Influence of Analytics Basketball has also seen a surge in the use of analytics, turning to data and statistics to optimize team performance and strategic planning. Coaches and front office staff now use advanced analytics tools to make data-driven decisions that give them an edge over the competition. These tools not only enhance on-court performance but also help teams make more informed decisions on player acquisitions and roster management. Interactive Fan Experience The rise of technology in basketball has also had a significant impact on the fan experience. With the advent of streaming platforms, fans can now watch games from the comfort of their homes or on their mobile devices. Alongside high-definition broadcasts, augmented reality (AR) and immersive technologies are delivering new ways for fans to interact with the sport. Expanding Basketball's Accessibility As basketball continues to grow in popularity, technological advances work to make the sport more accessible to individuals with disabilities. Innovations like wheelchair basketball are breaking down barriers that once excluded such players from participating. These developments highlight the sport's commitment to inclusivity and its potential for reaching unprecedented levels of accessibility. The Future of Basketball Basketball's global impact, coupled with its strong connection to technology and innovation, leads to limitless possibilities for the sport's future. Investment in the development of new products, methodologies, and technologies will ensure the game stays at the forefront of progress, while continuing to capture the hearts of fans around the world. As we look to the future, we can anticipate expanded global outreach, growth of women's basketball, increased accessibility, and the continued influence of technology on basketball. The sport will remain a powerful force in the realm of athletics and pop culture alike.

Through dedication, innovation, and a commitment to inclusivity, basketball will continue to thrive, inspiring athletes and fans for generations to come. #SportyConnect

[dan6085]

Here are 20 of the greatest upsets in NBA game history, along with some details on why they were so surprising:

1. 2016 NBA Finals Game 7: The Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Warriors had set a regular-season record with 73 wins and were heavily favored to win the championship.

2. 2004 NBA Finals Game 5: The Detroit Pistons, led by Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace, defeated the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers in five games to win the NBA championship. The Lakers had Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and four future Hall of Famers on their roster.

3. 1994 NBA Finals Game 5: The Houston Rockets, led by Hakeem Olajuwon, defeated the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win their second consecutive championship. The Rockets were heavy underdogs, having barely made the playoffs with a 47-35 record.

4. 2011 NBA Finals Game 6: The Dallas Mavericks, led by Dirk Nowitzki, defeated the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship. The Heat had formed a "Big Three" with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh and were heavily favored to win the title.

5. 1999 NBA Finals Game 5: The San Antonio Spurs, led by Tim Duncan and David Robinson, defeated the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship. The Spurs had never won a championship before and were not expected to do so that year.

6. 1978 NBA Finals Game 7: The Washington Bullets, led by Wes Unseld and Elvin Hayes, defeated the Seattle SuperSonics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship. The Sonics had won the championship the previous year and were heavily favored to repeat.

7. 2013 NBA Finals Game 6: The Miami Heat, led by LeBron James, defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to force a Game 7. The Spurs had been one basket away from winning the championship in Game 6 but were unable to close out the series.

8. 1987 NBA Finals Game 4: The Los Angeles Lakers, led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Finals to win their second consecutive championship. The Lakers were heavy underdogs, having lost to the Celtics in the Finals the previous year.

9. 1958 NBA Finals Game 6: The St. Louis Hawks, led by Bob Pettit, defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship. The Celtics had won the championship the previous year and were heavily favored to repeat.

10. 2012 NBA Playoffs First Round Game 4: The Philadelphia 76ers, an eighth seed, defeated the top-seeded Chicago Bulls in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. The Bulls were without their star player, Derrick Rose, due to injury, but were still expected to win the series.

11. 2007 NBA Playoffs First Round Game 1: The Golden State Warriors, an eighth seed, defeated the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Mavericks had won 67 games during the regular season and were heavily favored to win the championship.

12. 1970 NBA Finals Game 7: The New York Knicks, led by Willis Reed and Walt Frazier, defeated the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship. Reed had been injured and was not expected to play, but he made a dramatic entrance before the game and inspired his team to victory.

13. 2019 NBA Playoffs First Round Game 1: The eighth-seeded Orlando Magic defeated the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Bucks had the best record in the NBA during the regular season and were expected to make a deep playoff run.

14. 1981 NBA Finals Game 4: The Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird, defeated the heavily-favored Houston Rockets in Game 4 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship since 1976. The Rockets had Moses Malone and were expected to win the series.

15. 1989 NBA Finals Game 3: The Detroit Pistons, led by Isiah Thomas, defeated the heavily-favored Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers had Magic Johnson and were expected to win their third consecutive championship.

16. 2005 NBA Playoffs First Round Game 1: The eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets defeated the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Spurs had won the championship the previous year and were expected to make another deep playoff run.

17. 1969 NBA Finals Game 7: The Boston Celtics, led by Bill Russell and John Havlicek, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to win their 11th championship in 13 years. The Lakers had Jerry West and Elgin Baylor and were heavily favored to win the series.

18. 1975 NBA Finals Game 4: The Golden State Warriors, led by Rick Barry, defeated the heavily-favored Washington Bullets in Game 4 of the NBA Finals to win their first championship since 1947. The Bullets had Wes Unseld and were expected to win the series.

19. 2010 NBA Playoffs First Round Game 2: The eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies defeated the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series. The Spurs had won 50 games during the regular season and were expected to make another deep playoff run.

20. 1993 NBA Finals Game 4: The Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, defeated the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of the NBA Finals to win their third consecutive championship. The Suns had Charles Barkley and were expected to win the series.