#you can build something new. including a new kind of trust just as potent. but that old easy kind is gone.
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Petty Curses and Blessings (Lucifer and Mammon)
So at some point I mentioned a blurb about how the bros and others could be petty if someone they loved was offended/being bullied/etc. These are the types of curses I think they would bestow AND what blessings they’d give to those they trusted.
Keep in mind that they have magic and can totally kill people, all the standard demon stuff, but when you mess with their beloved, their PROTECTED, they want it to sting.
Also, it’s my personal headcanon that their curse work does not always need to be spoken in the full. They can influence these things to happen as well (like aura/magic/etc.)
Note: I was going to do all the bros + Dia + Lucifer but these are getting long so they’ll be broken up.
P.S: Happy New Year to those who celebrate it.
Lucifer: To bully or deride one he holds dear is the ultimate offense because you’re offending him by extension. He gives his heart to few and you have besmirched a chosen one. Curses assigned by Lucifer are direct and potent. His personal favorites include: ‘May you always fumble your words at the most critical of times’ and ‘I hope you do your very best but feel nothing from it.’ because he’s an asshole and the avatar of pride.
His blessings are like a blanket fresh from the dryer or a warm, home-cooked meal that you had no expectation for but somehow heals your soul at the end of a bad day. It’s subtle but speaks volumes. Despite being the Avatar of Pride, Lucifer’s blessings are subtle because he wasn’t to accent you and enhance you and bring out the pride in what you already possess. He highlights who you are with bursts of confidence and calm nerves. Sometimes a particularly nice, scathing monologue when you need it.
Mammon: He is usually very composed and lets a lot of stuff roll off his back with more bark than bite but this is a totally different situation. Mammon is used to being the one mocked and ridiculed and absolutely will NOT stand for someone he treasures to be treated as so. It’s in these moments that he reminds people he’s truly a demon. Greed is a wicked thing, after all, and he is the Avatar of Greed. His curses give you the acute sense that something is wrong but you can’t quite put your finger on it; they are something dreadful looming beneath a murky surface--just enough to not be seen but give you a keen awareness of its existence.
Curses from Mammon don’t always have words tied to them but if a curse hits or if he tells you he’s cursing you, you will know. You won’t be able to hold onto money, be it holes in your pocket or rips in your wallet. Proper change will not be given to you on outings and loose change will basically run from your hand. You will always get the bad end of a deal and won’t be able to negotiate in your favor. If he’s extra petty, various birds will go out of their way to aggravate you.
Blessings bestowed by Mammon revolve around material wealth or changes that promote wealth. If you are blessed by Mammon you might win the occasional raffle in a grocery store or give-away. If you play scratch off’s or lottery tickets your odds will be slightly increased but not majorly so (that required more focus and magic). His blessings are basically a pile of smaller successes or random increases in luck/good odds that end up building a better foundation for bigger things. If Mammon blesses you, you’ll squeak by on those harder tests you thought you were doomed to fail, find random money in a thrift purchase or old pair of jeans you forgot about, get a store associate who’s especially kind to you (freebies for food/makeup but small and quick because they’re not supposed to), or have an unexpectedly beneficial conversation in the most random place.
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past lives | 4
a/n: the response this fic has gotten has made me so happy thank you guys so much!! I really couldn't have expected it. anyways happing reading and just know you can always send in stuff about the story <3
“Big meeting! BIG! Conference room seven, five minutes do not be late!” your boss Erwin said.
So you finished the sentence you were revising and shut your laptop. You got out of your chair and brought along with you a notebook and a sweater. Conference room seven sucked when it came to insulation. It was like practice for Antartica. You hated it.
You pulled the knitted cardigan over you as you walked to the room. When you opened the door you saw one seat saved, the one closest to the door. You took it and set out your notebook.
Pens were passed around before you finally looked up at the person conducing the meeting. You eyes didn’t budge out of your head this time. And you think that was because you had been in the same room before. Even though this was far different.
Bruce frickin Wayne cleared his throat to start the meeting. And you were sat across from him. Maybe you would’ve felt weird - or more weird- if you hadn’t been in the same room with him a couple of nights ago. Completing a mission for the league.
-
As you’re waiting at your table for Fallon to get your last drinks of the night, the waiter with the scar passes by. It’s so quick and no normal person would pick it up. He had flung the drive into your interlaced hands. With swiftness you caught it, opened your bag and put it in while pulling out your phone.
You unlock your phone and send a quick reply.
package received
Fallon makes their way over to you with the drinks. They pass you yours, a fancy sounding cocktail thing. The menu was hard to decipher as all you ever relate cared for in a drink was a high alcohol volume.
“What’s in this?” you ask.
They look over at your drink, “I swore I saw something clear in there so I think it’ll do you good.”
You smile. Taking a sip of the drink you taste the vodka instantly. It was mixed in between other kinds of flavors but not potent enough to drown the vodka. Which was good in your opinion.
“Say if I didn’t know any better I would say a certain Wayne is coming over here.” they say.
You look up with the straw still in your mouth and it’s Jason. He’s shed the jacket and he looks really good. Or maybe you were drunk. Maybe both. Still he looked good.
He reaches your table and plasters a grin on his lips.
“So maybe I can be your gala groupie?” he asks point blank.
Fallon almost chokes on their drink. You drop the straw back into the drink.
“Hmm, kind of presumptive of you to think I’d want a groupie.” you say.
He leans his face in closer, “I could be good I promise.”
“I’m- gonna go and order our rideshare, unless you wanna...” Fallon trailed off.
“Give me five minutes.” he says.
You eye him closely. He’s like a wolf. Showing you his pretty teeth, and you’re supposed to think he’s smiling. But really he’s showing you the canines, the things that will tear into you later on.
You’re not sure if that’s sexual or not.
“Two minutes, Fallon’s shoes are uncomfortable.”
“I bet I can make you blush in less than that.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
You notice Fallon snicker to themself as they back away from what’s going on. This just give you more incentive to lean into his personal space. Something you didn’t think you’d do on the balcony. But this guy in front of you is just intriguing. Something about him seems deeper.
That’s not really the right word but you don't care.
“If you want-”
He is cut off by a bussing noise. You know it’s not your phone because you can’t feel the vibration coming form your bag. Sure enough he pulls out his own from his left pant pocket.
His eyes read over something and he sighs.
“uh-oh. I think your time is up Mr.Todd.” you tease.
He puts his phone back in his pocket and smirks ar you. You return the gesture. He sends you a wink.
“To be continued.” he says, and walks away.
You watch him shuffle though the crowd until he’s gone. It doesn’t take long for Fallon to make their way back to you. And when they do you take your straw into your mouth again.
“So sex with a Wayne is not a go?”
You finish off you drink and put it down on the table.
“Fallon, if I didn’t know any better I would think you were trying to get rid of me.”
“Good thing you don’t know any better. Come on, let’s go to coat check and get out of here.”
-
You snapped out of the flashback to the gala. Daniel had finished talking about some of the new funded projects. Courtesy of Wayne industries. You thought to yourself how exactly this deal was made but then you thought against it. This is the richest man in Gotham, he doesn't just stay in one place.
You watched as Daniel pointed over to you. That was when you decided to pay close attention.
“We’re also going to have our Deputy writer produce a spread on the Wayne family. Obviously not too much but just enough to satisfy the public that they keep coming back for more.” He said.
Your eyes flickered to the man himself. He was already looking at you. What you couldn’t understand was, why did the Wayne family need an article or op-ed about them? Was there some bad rumor floating around? Are they trying to get ahead of something?
“You have a question?” Bruce Wayne- which is kinda weird and cool to you at the same time- asked.
“Sorry, I have the worst poker face. I’m just wondering why you and your family need a piece- or want it. But now I’m thinking that can be saved for the piece itself.” You said.
You added a smile after, out of manners.
He nodded his head. Then he thanked you by your first name. It felt weird too. Like he had wanted to say your name on purpose and this was his excuse. You tried to swallow down that feeling.
You pulled the sleeves of your sweater over your hands.
“Speaking of Ron is giving you full control over the piece. So no need to clear anything by him, he trusts your instincts and vision.” Daniel added.
You nodded a bit surprised. It’s not the first time that Ron, your boss, had given you total control. But those had been pieces or columns about things or places. Not people. Especially not a spread about the most important person in Gotham and his family.
Daniel called the meeting over not long after and everyone began to leave. You grabbed your notebook but were stopped. Bruce Wayne had called you by name again and asked you hang back.
The words ‘hang back’ coming out of a billionaire’s mouth was weird, because it was addressed to you. Nonetheless you stayed after everyone, including Daniel, left.
When the door closed behind Daniel you turned to the only man in the room.
“Hi Mr. Wayne.”
He put his hand up, “Oh you can call me Bruce.”
“You’ll probably have to correct me so that I can remember. What can I do for you?” you asked.
“Seeing as this is a family piece, I wanted to let you know that the whole family will be available this coming Friday night.” he said.
“Great, did you have a place in mind?”
“Would my place do?”
You stopped all your efforts to gulp. His frickin masion- manor it’s called the manor. Oh wow, you were really smoozing with rich people. At least the Wayne’s didn't seem to be the snobby or bratty type.
You won in that respect.
So you nodded along, “That’d be good.”
“I’ll send for a car,” he said and then he took out his business card, “Just get in contact and it’ll all be arranged.”
“Right.” you said.
You took the card. Which you thought meant the conversation was over. Yet Bruce Wayne did not bulge from his spot. You thought, maybe you should appear more nervous to move things along.
Turned out you didn’t have to. He excused himself and left the room. It was almost as if he wasn’t there in the first place. The only piece of evidence that contradicted that was the business card in your hand.
-
It was way to cold to be running errands this late. And without material covering your legs. Your outfit and the trench coat Fallon let you borrow was only equipped for balcony breezes. Not harbor ones.
Still, you will make do. The sign coming up above your head read Gotham Harbor which wasn’t a port of any kind. It was a bookshop on the Harbor. The number 45 the building number.
Was that a trick too?
The lights were still on, even though the close sign is turned. You push open the door and it gives way. This is the right place. You make sure to close the door softly. From the back you can hear movement.
You walk up to the counter where the bell is. Without a second thought you take the flash drive out of your bag and place it next to it. Then you ring it. You do not wait for the person in the back to come out front.
Instead you leave the way you came. Softly you end up back on the street and begin your walk a couple of blocks up. It was best to catch a cab a distance away as to not be easily traced.
As you were walking, a black SUV pulled up next to you. You were walking with traffic, and there was practically no other cars on the block. You knew exactly who it was.
The window rolls down.
“Raʼs al Ghul, what a surprise.” you say.
“You passed.” he answers.
“Great. Any details you wanna share?”
“In time, Nyssa says hello.”
“Don’t.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
#dc x reader#Bruce Wayne x reader#Jason Todd x reader#redhood x reader#batman x reader#batfam x reader#PAST LIVES#dc fic
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whoops i sent this to betweenlands first like a derp lol, anyway: scp au; may as well round out boatem, what're mumbo, pearl and impulse?
oh you are SO on point i was actually just thinking abt pearl while i was at work all day. you'll have to forgive me bc im not as familiar w her as i am w some of the other hermits (including mumbo and impulse) but i HAVE been thinking of her ....okay okay so
- pearl is probably the least human-looking out of boatem. honestly even if she DIDN'T have any anomalous properties (which she definitely does) she'd probably get contained anyways simply because she does Not look right. she has two sets of wings, being owl wings near the top of her back and dragon wings closer to her tail--which she has too because of course <3. her body is sort of wyrm-like but distinctly humanoid, and her head has anomalous shadows falling over it which echo the moon phases! it's a human face, but there's a permanent shadow where the moon is shadowed--for example, on a new moon, all of her face is shadowed over even if she's in full direct light, and on a full moon she emits light just to be seen. this is regardless to whether or not the moon is actually out at the moment--works in full daylight, etc etc. finally, additionally, she's a prophet! she knows way more than the foundation figures she really should, and she claims to have seen things like this in potent visions. i have a lot of ideas and little quirks for her visual design so i WILL draw her soon but basically ummm I care her <3
- mumbo jumbo is less of an anomalous entity himself and more of...one who CREATES anomalies and acts like that's fine. thats normal. if you leave him in a room with a frankly pitiful amount of supplies he can make virtually anything work if he wants to. example: once they tested out if he could make a working robotic arm out of literal trash electronics, and he came out with a completely functional and high-tech arm, including additional materials that he didn't have to start with and using science that isn't obeying the laws of physics. whenever he tries to explain something, it's virtually unintelligible because he references many rules of science, mechanics, and physics which just DON'T exist. this frustrates doc, an actual mechanic, very much. these rules don't even work for other people. he's contained in a very loose sense of the word, in that he's allowed to explore the facility but ISN'T allowed to leave the building. he's also the one who made pretty much all of the cybernetics that belong to people in the building, EXCEPT for doc, because doc likes to repair his own things and doesn't trust mumbo.
- impulse is a funnyman. he's humanoid, sure, but he's not actually THERE. he's made of energy and light, and there's pretty much no actual matter attached to him. despite this, his hologram-like form follows most laws of physics, except for having weight and being affected by gravity. he can't go through walls, and he can't just Disappear, but if he's flashed out with enough energy or light that ISN'T 'him' he will sort of...fade out, like a washed out photo. he'll come back, but he's harder to see and it's like theres. less of him there. he's kind of like a ghost! he's also a complete and utter nerd. he claims to have pretty much always been like this, and he likes hanging out with mumbo because he wants to desperately understand what he's talking about but. you know, he Can't. in return he lets mumbo use him like a charging outlet <3
#THIS GOT LONG LMAO#im gonna make a tag for these posts. umm#scp hermitcraft au#that works! woooo#txt#hermitcraft#mumbo jumbo#impulseSV#pearlescentmoon#hc s8#boatem#thank you for the ask btw !!!!! i actually adore talking about these thank you for switching my brain on#im gonna go draw pearl now
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Two-Faced Jewel: Session 12
Foolish Heroes of Barley
A half-elf conwoman (and the moth tasked with keeping her out of trouble) travel the Jewel in search of, uh, whatever a fashionable accessory is pointing them at.
[Campaign log]
Last time, the party had returned to Barley to deal with a few loose ends. They've been staying in town for a while, waiting for their hired Deathseekers to deal with the dragon in the tower. This session, their stay comes to an end, and as you can see from the image here, they don't get into any trouble whatsoever.
A few other things happen before their fateful final night in town:
Kevin Softbreeze, the herbalist from the Deathseekers, visits town and sells Looseleaf some magic flowers that repel demons- though they're not very potent, and she'll need to stop by his garden in Cauterdale if she wants some seeds to try growing. Saelhen buys some potent knockout drops.
The villagers appear to still be arming themselves and preparing for battle with Wheat- since they didn't mention Arnie as the culprit at all, and tried to pin it on the dragon directly, Malath is still skeptical that they're totally safe from invasion, and defensive preparations continue.
Rumors spread that Chitch has gone missing, but no one can find the body. The party spreads rumors of their own- true ones- that Chitch went to go find his daughter after learning that the pain-wizard is dead.
On their fifth night in the village- somewhat earlier than expected- they notice something outside the window of their rooms in the inn. Lumiere's tower, previously unnoticeable, is suddenly aglow with some sort of yellow cylindrical magic barrier, made up of hexagonal panels.
Looseleaf rouses the rest of the party- the plan is to watch from a distance, and not interfere. A very loud roar is heard in the distance, which is suddenly cut off in the middle- it seems the Deathseekers have sprung their trap.
It's not too much longer after that when they begin to hear screams from around them in the village.
Saelhen's elf eyes spot... something rustling in the fields around the village. All of them. Quite a lot of somethings. Except despite the rustling, she can't make out anything but barley stalks. And the nothing- the hordes of nothing- is moving towards the tower.
The party leaps into action, heading downstairs with weapons drawn. On the ground floor, they see... something sort of familiar. Those Greed Echoes, the mud-and-grass monsters they fought on the road- one of them is forming itself out of broken bottles, dust, and wooden planks uprooted from the floor of the Harvester Inn. Cassie, the innkeeper, is watching in terror, knuckles white gripping a frying pan.
Congratulations! You're both right! The dragon is summoning an army of hateful Justice Echoes powered by the roused hatred of Wheat that's been stirred up in town!
Oyobi thinks fast, and oneshots the echo in the kitchen with an arrow, shattering a bottle that'd become its core. The screams outside continue, though, and the party exits the inn to find panicked villagers fleeing their homes. Justice Echoes made primarily from twisted stalks of barley have formed in their fields and homes, taking the weapons amassed for self-defense from their owners. They attack only those who resist, and make their way towards the tower.
Looseleaf: Let's just attack some hate-plague spirits and see if they decide to attack us instead.
If they don't attack us at all, then we can just ignore them and run leisurely next to them and pick them off as we go.
If they attack us, then it's a regular fight.
"We're up to do some heroism this fine night, right, team?"
Oyobi Yamatake: "Obviously!"
Orluthe Chokorov: "Uh, I don't have that one prepared, do I? Uh..."
Vayen:
Saelhen du Fishercrown: "I am up to rub Mother K's face in the super obvious consequences of her actions while incidentally preventing pointless suffering."
"Go team! Woo!"
Looseleaf starts us off by rending the spirit of the closest barley-monster, using her new Painspike ability to make the target Frightened of her.
However... these monsters have no purpose except to attack that which they fear, so rather than the normal effect of being Frightened, Looseleaf has now drawn aggro from this monster. Which is kind of what she wanted! So, that's a win! She now has a way to goad the enemy!
The party takes some swings at the monsters, knocking a couple out, but most of them seem to just be ignoring them, continuing to run through the fields towards the tower. They could become a problem for the Deathseekers if they're not dealt with- or for Wheat, for that matter.
Backup arrives in the form of Malath Kanthalga, who perceives these events as- what else?- an attack by Wheat. She's screaming, demanding to know who's responsible, and smashing echoes apart with her mace. Still, the echoes are mostly ignoring the village- they're grabbing anything they can find to use as a weapon, sort of ransacking the place, but most of them are just fleeing.
So Saelhen comes up with an extremely well-timed plan. It's a really good plan, I love it, and I'm excited to hit them with the consequences of her plan- until Looseleaf issues a timely bit of advice:
Saelhen du Fishercrown: Saelhen dashes (Cunning Action), steps forward, inhales a great gulp of breath...
"FOOLISH HEROES OF BARLEY!" she bellows.
"WHILE YOU FUTILELY WASTE YOURSELVES AGAINST WHEAT'S DEFENSES, I, THE SECRET SHADOW MAYOR OF WHEAT, WILL BE HERE BURNING YOUR HOMES!"
"AND ALSO MENACING YOUR CITIZENS WITH MY PERMISSIVE IDEOLOGY!"
She waves her hooded lantern, unlit, above her head, to drive the point home. "WHO AMONG YOU CAN STOP ME AND DELIVER JUSTICE? NO ONE, PROBABLY, I ASSUME!"
Vayen, in a surprising show of, let's call it camaraderie, is very much in support of this plan for some reason! He takes a break from his busy schedule of doing absolutely nothing every turn in combat to cast a helpful illusion, to ensure as many monsters aggro Saelhen as possible!
A few more rounds of combat ensue, with a good chunk of the monsters- including a few very large building-sized hulks- immediately turning to kill Saelhen. The party gets some good hits in, and Saelhen gets a little roughed up. She... would like maybe fewer things to be attacking her, actually.
Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Their attention is on me, Mother Kanthalga, the secret mayor of Wheat this entire time, but you might be able to calm their anger! These creatures were born from this town's... collective mind, or something, they may listen to you if you order them to stand down!"
Benedict I. (GM): Not with advantage, but a 22...
"Wh... what? What are you saying? That's..."
She hesitates, then speaks, in a booming voice she- well, you spent a few days here, you know she reserves it for sermons.
"STAND DOWN! The time to strike against our foe has not yet come!"
"We must be prudent! We must defend ourselves, not attack!"
[DEFEND OURSELVES,] the echoes agree, continuing to bear down on Saelhen.
Saelhen du Fishercrown: Worth a shot!
It doesn't seem like these things are hugely receptive to emotional appeals or logical argument- they have the one emotion, which they're made of, and they don't super do other ones.
In the following combat rounds, Saelhen... takes a few more hits, which she is not designed to do on account of being a rogue.
Saelhen du Fishercrown: WHY DID I NOT DECLARE ORLUTHE THE SECRET SHADOW MAYOR
More echoes emerge from the fields and attack, and Saelhen is starting to look really rough- and Vayen just keeps the illusion on her, not actually helping in any way. Until... one of them goes for Looseleaf, instead. When it starts looking like she might be in danger, he fires off a bolt of blue electricity, which begins to singe one of the monsters attacking her for damage every turn. He's... a higher-level spellcaster than anyone else in the party, apparently!
Looseleaf, with a little room to maneuver, unfolds her wings and takes to the air- up and out of reach of the smaller monsters, drawing their aggro and forcing them to waste turns. Meanwhile, Orluthe and Oyobi, backed up by Malath and a couple of villagers who've reclaimed their weapons, cut down a few more echoes as more surge forth from the fields to replace them.
Saelhen... keeps trying to persuade Malath to persuade the echoes to stop. She does very well at persuading Malath to try that! Malath tries that, wholeheartedly, once again to no effect! Eventually, Malath stops trying.
Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Would you consider coming to them as a trusted comrade, who trained them to protect them, rather than the one leading them off to war? Maybe?"
Malath Kanthalga: "I am going to come to them as a very angry warrior with a mace," she growls.
Saelhen du Fishercrown: "Okay! Okay, fair enough. Spiritual remedies off the table, understood."
Orluthe is getting really tired, and keeps whiffing his swings- it's touch-and-go for a while. But Saelhen and Looseleaf's frantic attempts to kite enemies out of range have been paying off, and they manage to down the remaining super-hulks juuuuust before anyone dies.
Benedict I. (GM): Y'know, it's possible
that making the two squishiest members of the party draw aggro
was not the number one best strategic move
Saelhen du Fishercrown: IT MAYBE WASN'T, NO
Looseleaf: eh, it's worked out so far!
The combat wraps up, and we transition to a bunch of Athletics rolls to chase down and terminate as many of the smaller echoes as possible. They build a firepit in the center of town, to dispose of defeated echoes in- just in case that's necessary, because who knows what kind of magic is animating these guys.
So after a wild night of chasing, taunting, fleeing, and burning justice echoes- well, it's not so much a wild night as a wild twenty minutes or so- there's a point at which the fields just suddenly fall silent. A pair of echoes chasing Saelhen fall to the ground, inert.
With a good roll...
Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...of course, you're free to dismiss this as the ramblings of a crazed outsider. But keep in mind, Mother Kanthalga, that the ones who fell upon your town, tore it apart in a frenzy of violence, and stabbed you repeatedly for your pains, endangering your people, your daughter and your livelihoods, were repeating the words you taught them."
Benedict I. (GM): Malath winces.
"That... I don't know why they..."
Saelhen du Fishercrown: "...think on it. You're reasonable people, around here. You can come to your own conclusions."
Benedict I. (GM): "I tell you, I did not make these things! If not for..."
She's kind of lost for words.
"...Apologies. I have much work to do," she says, and leaves.
After some work mending the village and cleaning up the aftermath, Looseleaf heads back into the inn to check on Vayen, who hasn't been helping at all and is instead drunk at the bar. He asks "Did she make it?"- and Looseleaf gets a nat 20 on Insight.
She's pretty sure that he was talking about Saelhen- and that he sounded almost hopeful. He was unusually jazzed about a plan that involved her being attacked by a horde of angry monsters- and he chose to shoot the echo that was attacking her, not the one bearing down on Saelhen with a bunch of its friends. When she informs him Saelhen survived, she's able to tell he's disappointed.
Saelhen du Fishercrown: so he doesn't hate us, as a group
he hates saelhen specifically
Looseleaf: But also weirdly- okay, what if: what if he actually has an ancestral quest involving that bracer
and he's mad that saelhen beat him to the punch and furthermore used it as a shitty cover story
Saelhen du Fishercrown: saelhen going THE DE LA SURPLUS ANCESTRAL QUEST IS REAL???
Looseleaf switches to talking to Vayen via her spirit-magic imitation of the Message spell.
Looseleaf: (Like, Vayen, everything you're doing is about Saelhen in some way or other. And I can't figure out why. You seem pretty much ambivalent towards all of us except for her. I don't get it. If you want Saelhen dead, why haven't you just killed her? I saw that lightning bolt- if you wanted, I bet you could take all of us, in a straight fight.)
(You're sending real mixed signals. If you want her dead, why isn't she dead? Why do you want her to be dead via a hand other than your own?)
Vayen: He locks up.
And then sighs.
Looseleaf: (And now you're sitting here sounding all tired and sad and I feel bad about that.)
(I dunno, do you want to, uh, talk about it, with someone.)
Vayen: "I don't... want her... to be dead," he says, clearly choosing his words carefully.
"I have nothing against her."
Looseleaf: (Then it's the- bracer??)
Vayen: I'm letting that one Insight roll do a lot of work here, but he definitely reacts to that.
"I- um, no," he says, lying.
Looseleaf: (There is literally nothing significant about Saelhen other than her bracer, unless you plan on telling me that your deepest desire is to defeat the dance emperor of Kanzentokai in a danceoff and reclaim your ancestral throne of dancing glory.)
(Which, granted, if that's the case, that'd be amazing.)
Vayen: "I don't know what you're- that's not..."
"It's all coincidence. Whatever you're thinking. I don't have- I don't have anything against- Saelhen? Noeru?"
Looseleaf: (Look, I- okay, here's how I see things. I don't know how the bracer works, it's weird magic stuff, but the way I see it, there's two major ways the bracer could work.)
(That is, you either want the bracer for yourself, because whatever it does or whatever you need it for, you need to be the one wearing it- OR, you just need anybody willing to use the bracer to do whatever it is the bracer's supposed to do.)
Vayen: "...Can you not?"
"I- I have a job."
"I have an important job."
"It's from the School of Restricted Arts."
Looseleaf: "Well, tell us about the dang important job then! Maybe we can help you with it."
"I don't get why you're preassuming that we'd never do anything you might want us to do."
Vayen: "It's from the School of- are you listening?"
"It's secret."
"Look, it's- you don't need to worry about it, okay?"
Looseleaf: "Hhhhhrlgkrkshxzshktkrrrzzzzktttttkzzz," Looseleaf says, reverting to her natural dialect in a brief moment of frustration.
Vayen: "Sure, it's easier if- I mean, she- that was her idea, she wanted to..."
"I just- I can just..."
"As long as I can keep an eye on..."
He groans. "I shouldn't be talking to you."
"You're not in the School."
Looseleaf: "Okay, just- hhhjkkkkkrkxxxxxtk."
Vayen:"Are... you okay?"
He's never asked a question like that before.
Looseleaf: (I'm fine, that's just how we express frustration, our throats don't naturally conform to making sounds like 'hrrrrrgh', whenever I do that it's a performative thing that I do to adhere to human expectations- look, the big reason why I'm trying to, pound my way through your portcullis of secrecy with a twenty-foot battering ram of blunt communication,)
(is because right now Saelhen is like, probably 80% convinced you're trying to poison her in your sleep.)
(Seriously, this amount of in-party distrust is, like, way too Ccorde-damned much.)
Vayen: "I wouldn't do that," he says. "If I were going to do that, I'd have done it already.
Looseleaf: (If you'd express, in a credible way, that you're actually just trying to get Saelhen to do whatever it is she'd do anyways, she'd feel a lot better about it!)
(And then she might even work with you to further your goals directly!)
Vayen: He doesn't say anything for a little while.
"...This is stupid."
"This isn't even- it's wrong, even."
"Maybe that's why."
Man, that bottle he's holding is emptier than you thought it'd be. He's only been here less than half an hour.
"Don't try to- guh, friends. He'll never- stupid. What's the point."
He sort of collapses on the bar.
Vayen, it seems, can't hold his liquor. Looseleaf... carries him back up to his room.
Next time: the party finally leaves Barley, for good this time! And also a minor medical emergency happens, and also they kidnap a twelve-year-old, but like, it's fine. It'll be fine. Don't worry about it.
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bloom on my skin, echo in my soul - 00Q
Soulmate 00Q as promised, my dears. It’s long so you can read over on AO3 if you’d like!
Read on AO3
~*~
MI6 doesn’t allow soulbonds.
It’s a security risk, he’s told, and he sits at his little metal table in a cinderblock room and smiles tightly.
“Will it be a problem?” the woman asks, her eyes sharp and he smiles, all sharp teeth and angles and shakes his head.
“Do I look like someone with a soulmate?” he asks, dripping contempt.
She smiles at him, then, and it feels more threatening than anything else she’s done so far, up to and including throwing him into this windowless cell.
“Very good. Welcome to MI6,” R says crisply.
~*~
Not everyone has a soulmate, and even fewer have a viable soulbond. Greyson knows the stats--he memorized them when he was in grade school, when ink, black and blood red, first dotted over his skin and pain sank like a hot poker into his gut.
This is what he knows.
Less than forty percent of the population has a soulmate.
Of that forty percent, the soulbond manifests as a mark for all of them, empathetic pain links for five percent and telepathic bonds for point five percent.
There was an almost even split about bonding without physical contact first.
Greyson woke up with pale clear skin when he was eight and while reading, he crumpled in agony. Ink smeared across his thigh and pain spiked in his gut and thoughts, frantic and foreign, spilled across his mind while he sat still and shaking in his desk and listened to history lessons.
~*~
Q likes Greyson, and R trusts him, and despite--or perhaps because of--his unorthodox recruitment, the Double-Oh’s find him intriguing.
He’s set to work in front of a terminal of screens and told to build their infrastructure into something that can’t be hacked.
“Anything can be hacked,” he says, because it’s true, and Q smiles at him, this smart sharp thing that makes him think he’s done something right.
Everything at MI6 is a test, he’s learning.
“Do your best,” they tell him, giving him a cup of tea and plenty of space, and he does just that.
~*~
When he’s sixteen, the voice in his mind that he’s never spoken back to, never done more than listen to when it rambles, stops.
There’s no pain to accompany it, but there’s a pressure in his lungs that worries him and he lies in bed, and listens to silence that’s terrifying, and touches the red and black on his thigh and up his belly, and he doesn’t speak, really, but he reaches, a feather light brush of reassurance and solidarity and he breathes again, against that damnable pressure and light-headedness, when he feels someone reach back.
~*~
He builds a maze and layers it with traps and safety switches, a nest of viruses and hidden caches of data and escape matches that only someone trained would find.
It takes six months, months of working too long and sleeping too little and fielding R&D questions between coding, and consuming tea that’s placed at his station by R and Q and later, the rest of the branch.
He’s reclusive and quiet and short when he’s drawn into conversation, and only ever seems alive when he’s in front of his computers and his face is lit by their glow.
But he’s coding something that will protect all of them, and they like him for it.
~*~
He learns to live with it.
With the constant bruises, with the stabbing pain echoed in his body, with the scars that never last.
With the voice that rumbles with threat but never at him.
He learns to live with it and he learns to hide it.
Because soulmates are not common enough to be trusted, and he wants a life, something beyond the violent rage on the other end of this bond that he never asked for.
Do you miss me? They whisper, sometimes, and he never answers, because he doesn’t know if it would be a lie or the truth.
~*~
The first time he walks an agent through a mission, he’s punch drunk and his eyes ache and Nadia is trembling as she stares at the screens, indecisive.
“Go down the stairs,” he says, and nudges her gently to the side, “take the fourth floor exit. Excellent. There’s a guard in the second hall to your right--that’s lovely, 002. Take their weapons--”
He listens to the sharp rapid breathing and walks the agent through the building swarming with guards and all the way to the embassy. And for the first time since he joined MI6, he doesn’t itch for a keyboard and quiet solitude.
For the first time since a voice echoed in his head, he doesn’t feel alone.
~*~
The voice is comforting. He—Q decided long ago that his soulmate is man, just from listening to him talk for years—talks at the strangest times. Long rambles when he’s lingering on the edge of sleep, a steady ticking count in the mornings, a too bright white noise when Q was a boy studying and when he was a hacker on the wrong side of legal, and when he was buried in the bowls of MI6, piecing together it’s cyber defenses.
He’s chatty, and sometimes Q wonders if his soulmate is like this with the rest of the world. There’s a reserved quality to him in those early days, that slides away as the years slip past.
Sometimes, he lays in bed and aches with sensory echo, with the pleasure starburst bright in his soulmate’s mind, and a nameless gasp on his lips, and he feels loved.
~*~
Silva happens and the world comes crashing down, or maybe just his world. M is shaken in a way he’s never seen, and R is in the hospital and the Quartermaster is dead in the ruins of MI6.
He’s pushed into a position he knew he’d fill, one day, but not yet.
007 comes back from the dead and it’s a flurry of whisper in Q Branch. He watches his physical and psych evals, watches when Tanner and the others walk away and 007 trembles, on the verge of collapse. He doesn’t, collapse, though. He rallies, a beautiful broken thing, and M stamps his evals approved.
~*~
His soulmate never tells him this:
His name.
His location.
He tells Q about the world, rambling stories about his friends and his time in the Navy, about places he’s seen and books he’s read and on lazy weekends that come so rarely it sometimes worries Q, his soulmate tells him about the show he lies in bed to watch.
He knows his soulmate lives a life of danger and bears those marks, fading ink, on his skin, and the pain echoed in his body, but he never tells him.
Q—Greyson and Quillen and Ghost and Q—
He never tells his soulmate anything.
~*~
They sit in front of a beautiful painting and it’s…familiar.
It pulses in his gut like an echo, and eyes the color of ice in spring assess him, amused and dismissive and curling warm.
Everyone—Eve and R and Tanner and even M in her caustic, brutal way, warned him about 007. About his unpredictability and violence and his casual disregard for authority and dismissiveness, his aloof reserve.
No one told him that looking at James Bond, he’d feel the first hint of spring, a slow unfurling warmth hidden in the ice.
They sit in front of a beautiful painting and insult each other and find a common ground and Q’s lips curl into a smile as he retreats.
~*~
When they wipe away his past, they wipe everything.
They take Greyson Laurence, the only child of only children, orphaned at age ten, and wipe him away, place him in a box in the ground near his parents he can’t remember.
They take Ghost, a hacker on the wrong side of legal, infamous and a few countries and burn him, pin his crimes and actions on a dead body, take his bank account and wipe it clean.
They give him a new apartment and a new name and an untraceable account with his inheritance if not his ill-gotten earnings.
They do exactly what they promise—destroy who he was and create something new, keeping only the bits that will be of use to Queen and Country.
Quillen, as he is called now, an unsubtle maker that will one day morph into Q—Quillen finds he doesn’t mind.
They wipe away everything—except the voice in his head, the ink on his skin, the fading echoes of bullets in his shoulder.
~*~
He is used to echo pains and ink blooming dark and violent on his skin, used to it fading into shiny red sympathy scars. He’s used to makeup to cover the visible marks and clothes to cover everything else and the familiar grounding pain of being connect to another soul.
He isn’t used to the pain, one morning in his flat, pain that is sharp and searing, hot across his ribs. He gasps, and doesn’t need to lift his shirt to know that black ink is spreading like rivulets of blood.
There’s a moment, a hot rush of fear and vertigo, a whispered apology and he almost screams when pain explodes across his back, and fills up his lungs.
He wakes alone, his kitten licking at the rivulet of blood on his forehead, and his head aches, sharp and insistent and his.
He doesn’t hear his soulmate’s whispers or feel his body bloom with echoed pain, for a long time.
~*~
007 lingers in London after Skyfall, a wraith haunting MI6, lurking in Q Branch, his eyes bright and assessing. Eve, Q knows, likes him, in a way that few like the assassin. She doesn’t trust him, certainly not with Q, whom she’s irrationally protective of, but she likes him.
Maybe because he never held it against her, the whole messy shooting business.
She says that 007 is grieving, a child with a lost mother.
Q watches the surveillance videos and occasionally, sees him in person, and he sees something that Mallory and Eve don’t see, that he’s not sure anyone sees.
There is grief, bright and silvery in his eyes, yes.
But that grief is the foam on a sea of fury, buffeted along by rage as deep as the ocean.
And in the aftermath of Silva’s attack and hack and the deadly affair at Skyfall, Q understands that fury.
He’s felt it too, the same helpless, incandescent rage seething in him since 007 said, cold and lonely, “Agent down.”
~*~
There are times when the bond is still, when the voice in his mind doesn’t whisper, when pain doesn’t echo through him.
Times when Q thinks his soulmate is happy, a kind of peaceful contentment that makes Q ache with longing and jealousy and joy, a strange and potent mix.
And there are times when the bond is still and the voice is silent and pain doesn’t thrum through him, and Q knows, knows deep in his gut where the piece of him that belongs to someone he will never meet rests, that his soulmate is heartbroken. That grief and guilt and misery dogs his steps, drags at him with claws sharper than any weapon Q has felt the echo of.
A kind of misery and pain that makes Q ache with longing and echoed grief and the urge to reach, and reach, to draw his soulmate close and whisper, I am here. You aren’t alone.
He doesn’t.
He can’t.
Greyson Laurence is dead and Ghost is dead and Quillen is just a shadow clinging to a position and he doesn’t have, cannot have, a soulmate.
He bears silent witness to a grief that shakes him and wishes that he could do more.
~*~
“Q,” 007 purrs and the minions stir, a flock of pigeons disturbed by a great hunting cat.
Q sighs and hides his smile, and gives the agent a disinterested stare. “You haven’t managed to bring my equipment back unscathed, have you, 007?”
“I am in perfect working order, Quartermaster. Would you like a demonstration?”
A squeak comes from one of the minions and 007’s smile goes shark sharp and the tips of Q’s ears warm.
It is a strange and heady thing, to be on the other end of 007’s bright hungry gaze. Even though it is a game it is harmless and flattering, and there is this too.
“Excellent. I’ll just inform Medical that you’re ready for your yearly physical, shall I?” Q smiles sweetly.
The look on 007’s face, startled, apprehensive and pleased, is worth all the trouble his flirting causes.
~*~
His soulmate has a habit of falling in love.
It bothered him, the first time it happened, when the other man fell in a brief and passionate affair and infatuation that ended after a month.
It bothered him the time after that.
The third time, he almost expected it, the way the voice went wistful and longing, thoughts circling a nebulous, faceless person. Q sighed at his soulmate’s ridiculous antics and went about his business at Q Branch and a few weeks later, when he felt the familiar crushing loneliness and regret, he sighs, and prepares himself for a month of morose drinking, a pain and ink speckled body.
He falls in love and in lust and Q is only a little annoyed when he realizes there is something strange and longing and familiar in the voice in his head, pining and sweet. It’s teasing and longing because no one has ever kept his soulmate at a distance, and familiar because he has felt him in love over and over and over again.
He smiles to himself when his soulmate quotes poetry, badly and drunk, and compares the newest object of his affection to stars and suns and fey otherworld creatures.
He’s a bit mad, Q thinks, fondly.
~*~
“You didn’t need to shoot them,” Q observes and there’s a huff from the other end of the line, a gentle noise that makes Q shiver.
Ink is blooming on his ribs and 007 is cocky and grinning in his ear and on the CCTV he’s hacked. “But where’s the fun in that?”
Q snorts, inelegant and to the point, and 007’s lips twitch. “You have a window, 007, do hurry. Even you won’t be able to handle all of the guards should they realize you’re still there.”
“Doubting me, Quartermaster?”
“Recognizing the limitations of my tools, agent. Go—now.”
007 darts across the screen and into a server room, safe for the moment, and a sharp burst of affection and pride fills up his head, and Q rubs at his temple.
~*~
They live in the present, both of them. Q doesn’t allow anything to slip over into his soulmate’s shared emotions, only the barest brush of awareness to allow the other to know he’s still there. His soulmate lives and bleeds and loves and grieves, and never dreams about the future.
It startles Q, when he does.
When the sweet longing and affection drifts into dreams, gentle and hesitant, about waking up in bed next to a warm, lean body. When he catches his soulmate thinking, I could bring him here, on holiday. He’d love the sun.
When he feels the pang of loneliness in a quiet hotel room and the longing for a warm flat filled with familiar comfortable things.
He realizes then, this is different—the love that his soulmate has fallen into this time.
It matters.
~*~
It happens, like this.
Q is on the tube, half asleep, a take away cup of tea doing little to rouse him.
Q is snatched, taken by a prick in the neck and a bruising hand on his arm, and a voice in his head, screaming, is the last thing he knows for a long long time.
Q is woken, strapped to a chair, in a cinderblock room not so different from the one where he was held and questioned and offered a new life. There’s a low hum of frantic fury in his mind, and the taste of blood in his mouth and he wonders how his bruises look, painted across his soulmate’s body in blooming ink.
You have to tell me where you are, his soulmate says and Q—
Q closes his eyes and begins reciting the value of pi, blanking his mind.
He understands, abruptly, why MI6 does not allow soulbonds.
~*~
He can feel this—
Relief, sharp and intoxicating, in his soulmate’s mind.
Hands, gentle and soothing as he’s lifted.
A warm voice, soothing in a way that overlaps with the familiar voice in his mind.
Strong arms cradle him, and he knows that he’s safe, with the scent of 007 around him and pain riddled through his body and his mind washed in relief and awe.
“Don’t look,” 007 murmurs.
Close your eyes, darling.
He obeys, thoughtless, and curled into Bond’s warmth. He stirs when someone approaches and 006 says, “How is he?”
Bond doesn’t answer, and Q presses into him with a low whine, and lets himself be carried to safety.
~*~
Bond won’t leave his side.
His soulmate is silent, a watchful kind of stillness in his mind, and now, away from the pain and terror and the blood, Q knows.
He can feel Bond’s eyes on him, icy blue, spring thaw, endless and steady and he wants to look.
He wants to reach out, brush feather light against the mind that has shared his own for most of his life, wants to see Bond’s face, when he does.
He wants to peel the pristine suit and button-up shirt away, wants to see his own wounds mirrored in ink across Bond’s body, like his so often has borne Bond’s wounds.
He wants the room clear, and the questions heavy in the air to fill up the silence.
He wants everything, for the first time, wants everything that a soulmate promises, and everything he can never have.
MI6 doesn’t allow soulbonds.
~*~
Bond lingers while he is discharged, and shifts away from the wall when M frowns at him. “I’ll take the Quartermaster home,” he says, and M arches an eyebrow.
“I can,” Eve offers and Q knows it’s going to be an argument, and he’s too tired for that.
“Bond will be fine,” Q says. “In case anyone has tampered with my security.”
Eve’s lips thin, and that will be a problem for another day.
“Q, you’ll need to debrief, tomorrow. And Bond—”
“Tomorrow, M,” Bond says, and there’s no room for negotiation in those two words, just steely impatience that is at odds with the hand gentle on his elbow, and the fingers on the small of his back, moving him forward and Q—
Q let himself be guided.
~*~
They don’t talk.
They should. He knows they should. But there are decades of words between them, of Bond’s words, echoing in his mind, emotions echoing through his soul, pain painted across his body.
“I missed you,” he whispers, the answer to a question asked once, a thousand times, again and again.
Bond’s smile is bright, beautiful, and when he kisses him, Q can feel it, a feedback loop of blinding pleasure, and the gentle thrill and awe that they are here, finally together.
~*~
MI6 doesn’t allow soulbonds. And yet--
The Quartermaster stands in Q Branch directing his agent to safety, and across the line, James murmurs in his ear, in his head, in his heart.
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ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: STRAY KIDS FORGE THEIR OWN PATH ON MIROH
IN THE GREATER K-POP LANDSCAPE, WHEREIN MELODIC SOUND IS MAINSTREAM, ‘MIROH’ IS FEARLESSLY DEFIANT
The opening line of "Boxer" is a perfect introduction to Stray Kids: Translated, it goes, "Hello, I’m a young man who can fly anywhere." It's a confident declaration, at once cheeky and polite, and it speaks to the Korean boy group's signature tenacity. It's charismatically delivered by main dancer Lee Know, the intensity building with every word. "Everyone, attention!" he spits before the song erupts into a flurry of chaotic synths and brazen emotions. It's loud and relentless, representative of the bold sound Stray Kids have been carefully honing since their pre-debut days in 2017 — and of the group itself: eight young individuals navigating the labyrinth of adulthood. (A ninth member, Woojin, left the group in late October 2019 for personal reasons.)
That tempestuous coming-of-age journey is seeped into their ambitious March EP, Clé 1: MIROH. Inspired by the word miro, or "maze" in Korean, MIROH kicked off a confident new chapter for Stray Kids, beginning to answer the introspective questions posed by their 2018 I Am... series of EPs, which focused heavily on the theme of identity. Who am I? Who am I trying to be? And importantly, who do I want to be? With MIROH — the first in the Clé trilogy, which also includes June's Yellow Wood and December's Levanter — these important questions persist, but Stray Kids strengthen their resolve as they charge away from the systems that seek to control them and into the thorny, often scary unknown.
That maturity isn't just reflected in the lyrics and production, so thoughtfully crafted by the members themselves, but on Clé 1: MIROH as a whole. Released a year after their debut, the group's fourth EP is their strongest and most cohesive body of work. Etched into these seven songs is not just a story, or a concept, but a collective journey from self-doubt to resilience. The album's intro track, "Entrance," invites you into the chaotic world of MIROH — rich in texture, pulsating beats, and ad-libs from other songs on the album — with assurance.
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At first listen, "Miroh" sounds like an odd choice for a lead single. It's a cacophony of sounds, rhythms, chants, and animal noises that doesn't seem to follow any familiar song structure. There's no real melody, just powerful rap verses over a repetitive bass line. But the hook is massive; it's meant to be screamed at the top of your lungs, like the K-pop imagining of a My Chemical Romance headbanger — that is, if Gerard Way had been less a fan of The Misfits and more into EDM. It isn't a song so much as a heightened experience.
In the greater K-pop landscape, wherein melodic sound is mainstream, "Miroh" is fearlessly defiant. It's unabashedly noisy, and its message is resilient. As Stray Kids rush into the maze before them, they do so with impenetrable confidence. "But there’s no time to rest," Hyunjin smoothly raps on the second verse. "I’m alright, I’m holding on and I keep on going / I just need to look ahead and run."
Running is kind of their thing. Stray Kids have been releasing music at a tireless pace since "Hellevator" premiered in October 2017. The angsty pre-debut song established the JYP Entertainment-repped boy group's grungy style and affinity for explosive EDM drops. They made their official debut in March 2018 with "District 9," a genre-agnostic track about disaffected youth with in-your-face energy and staggering rhythmic intensity. Since then, they've released six EPs, particularly impressive for a group who write and produce all of their music.
Members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han — otherwise known as the production trio 3RACHA — are responsible for a heavy majority of the group's discography. They're credited lyricists and composers on every Stray Kids track to date and have been making music together since their teenage trainee days, uploading self-produced mixtapes to SoundCloud and YouTube. The other members also participate in the songwriting process; they all contribute lyrics to the mixtape songs that are part of each physical release — like MIROH's "Mixtape #4," a rearranged version of 3RACHA's "Broken Compass" about the importance of trusting yourself and following your own path, no matter how scary the road ahead looks.
Stray Kids challenge these fears throughout MIROH. "Victory Song" is an anthemic rallying cry to move forward with confidence and bulletproof ego. "Who else is like me, there’s no one," Han raps. But that bravado starts to crack on "Maze of Memories," a dizzying track that stimulates the feeling of wandering in hopeless pursuit of an end that's nowhere in sight. "Now I run for an answer that I cannot see," Han laments. There's an uneasy cadence to the track as it switches between two tempos; it's disorienting and visceral, like the experience of growing up. "Chronosaurus" is similarly introspective. The song, inspired by leader Bang Chan's own fascination with time, personifies the phenomenon as a monster they must outrun. "Day and night, every day," Seungmin sings. "I am afraid / I think I'll get caught."
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Time is a continuous theme for Stray Kids. On the EP's standout track "19," written and produced by Han, they yearn to stop time. It's a confusing paradox, the desire to grow up but fearing the real meaning of being an adult. But the ways in which Stray Kids empathize with this conflict is precisely what makes them the voices of their generation. "Twenty years old that I wanted to become so badly," Han raps. "Did everybody go through this same experience or am I the only one that’s anxious?"
And while main rappers Changbin and Han get plenty of room to flex on the album — Changbin's aggressive bite is a perfect match for Han's more melodic flow — MIROH smartly showcases rappers Hyunjin and Felix as a testament to their growth. Hyunjin's versatility is his strength. On "Maze of Memories," he switches up his flow effortlessly, a potent mix that leaves you breathless. Elsewhere, Felix delivers one of the album's smoothest verses on "Victory Song" with a newfound sense of confidence. Vocalists Seungmin and I.N also shine in unexpected ways; Seungmin's English rap on "Maze of Memories" is a genuine highlight, while youngest member I.N. soars on "Chronosaurus."
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Throughout the Clé series, the members of Stray Kids are running toward something that is never clearly defined. That's the point: the realization that the destination doesn't matter nearly as much as the journey. But the journey isn't an easy one. Sometimes the voices inside their heads get too loud, too consuming, and feel insurmountable. But that's what makes MIROH a seminal work from the young group — just because you can't see your way out of the maze doesn't mean you should stop trying.
Find all of MTV News's 2019 Albums of the Year right here.
Source: MTV News
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Blending left field jazz elements with club tropes to forge something truly new, Emma-Jean Thackray's work is never less than riveting. New album Yellow is out on July 2, with the composer commenting: “It’s a record about togetherness, the oneness of all things in the universe, showing love and kindness, human connection. I approached the record by trying to simulate a life-changing psychedelic experience, an hour where we see behind the curtain to a hidden dimension, where the physical realm melts away and we finally see that we are all one.” Set to be released via her own Movementt imprint, the album is led by gorgeous new single 'Say Something' - opening with glimmers of Rhodes piano, it leans on that hi-hat shuffle before Emma-Jean Thackray uses her voice to elevate the song. A plea towards communication, it's a powerful introduction. [via Clash]
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Philadelphia punk rockers Mannequin Pussy have released the title track to Perfect, their upcoming EP due out May 21. The new song comes with a flashy music video that’s inspired by the kitschy glamor of Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, too. Musically, 'Perfect' is a distorted blaze of rock guitars that sees vocalist-guitarist Missy eviscerating the idea that people must manicure their own social media presence. “Last year, I found myself spending more time on my phone than I ever had in my life… I realized that through years of social media training, many of us have grown this deep desire to manicure our lives to look as perfect, as aspirational as possible,” explained Missy in a statement. “We want to put ourselves out there, share our lives, our stories, our day to day — and these images and videos all shout the same thing: ‘Please look at me, please tell me I’m so perfect.’ It’s simultaneously a declaration of our confidence but edged with the desperation that seeks validation from others.” In the accompanying music video, directed by Missy, viewers get to watch as a 10-year reunion at Sugarbush High slowly unravels. It opens on three former classmates, all three of whom are pregnant, dishing some hushed gossip and talking about how they want to get plastic surgery that’s so good they mistake one another for strangers. Cue two students-turned-drag queens making a grand entrance and strutting their stuff on the dance floor (mirroring the 1997 comedy classic) while old classmates gasp, shield their eyes, and panic. Meanwhile, Mannequin Pussy can be seen tearing up the band stage while they perform live. [via Consequence]
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Following the release of her debut EP I Can’t Cry For You in December, Manchester’s Phoebe Green is back with new bop ‘IDK’. “[It] explores a complete detachment from reality, observing things from a place of total apathy and feeling as though I’m witnessing my life as a bystander with little to no connection to it,” Phoebe explains. “It’s a horrible state to be in, I think it happens when I get overwhelmed.” [via DIY]
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Fast-rising French-Korean artist spill tab is unveiling her latest mesmerising single ‘Anybody Else’. Accompanied by a new vid directed by friend and collaborator Jade Sadler, spill tab says, “This song is cheesy as fuck but I love it, it’s pretty straight forward, a little shameless - the lyrics are sort of a way of expressing my love without openly saying I love you. Jade Sadler (the video director) and I just wanted to have a shit ton of fun on this one. We thought about something with narrative or plot and it was just getting to be too corny. I wanted something lighthearted and playful, so we decided we would have all of our homies in this video paired with different colors and angles and set designs. I’m so excited with the way it turned out.” [via DIY]
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Willow Kayne has shared her debut single 'Two Seater'. The Gen Z talent links together huge opposing forces, creating her own potent brand of rebel-pop. New single 'Two Seater' finds Willow blazing a trail, upending convention through melding together differing sounds. The lush, 90s inspired soundscape leans on nostalgic impulses, but her punk-like disregard for convention is sheer pop futurism. Produced by DANIO, it finds Willow Kayne coming into her own completely off the bat. [via Clash]
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BENEE has shared a video for her single ‘Happen To Me’. It’s the latest cut from her debut album, Hey u x, which arrived last November featuring guest spots from the likes of Grimes, Lily Allen and Flo Milli. “This song is super important to me,” she says. “It’s the opening track [on the album]. It’s the first song where I’ve written about anxiety. The lyrics are pretty dark. Life is pretty crazy right now, and I think it’s important to talk about this kind of stuff.” Of the video, she adds: “Stoked to be sharing this music video with everyone! I filmed it with a bunch of mates, and it was the coolest set! Hope you love it as much as I do.” [via Dork]
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Los Angeles-based art-pop artist Kit Major has shared the music video for 'When the Drugs Don't Work,' a more introspective stab at her signature dark, electropop sound. Blending driving dance beats and thumping hyperpop-influenced synths, Kit Major creates an intoxicating elixir of soundbites and grit. Taking inspiration from Charli XCX, Billie Eilish, and Charlotte Lawrence, 'When the Drugs Don't Work' dives into the overwhelming vulnerability and panic of failing to curb a depressive episode with medication. With this release, Kit Major furthers her efforts to be open and make light of her mental health struggles. On the video, Kit Major shares, "'When The Drugs Don't Work' was filmed in one weekend, directed by my best friend in my departed grandparents' now empty house. We filmed this in quarantine without a crew and worked to create a dark & twisted fairytale together. When I first started thinking about the video, I knew I wanted a more lighthearted take to balance the darker theme of my mental health in the song. I wrote the lyric, “little princess hurt locked away inside her palace,” because sometimes when I'm isolated in my room I visualize myself as a Disney princess running inside her castle, instead of being in my bed, surrounded by empty water bottles. This song was written from a mix of different perspectives including my own, my persona, and outside voices. I think we accomplished the storytelling behind WTDDW by portraying the importance of imagination and trusting yourself." Alongside, director Noël Dombroski adds, "WDDW is a raw, introspective song from Kit that shines a light on parts of herself that at times may be hard to face. We were lucky enough to be able to shoot at Kit's late grandparents' house, an emotionally significant location that acts in the video as the inside of Kit's head. We wanted to challenge viewers to look at every facet of themselves and realize that each part is valuable, even if you may not like it. A conversation we had a lot was about the color scene, where the image of Kit is being pulled apart by color channels. You may hate one of those colors, but you still need it to create that full image. The same can sometimes be said about depression - it may be a layer of yourself that you don't care for, but without that experience, I don't know that WDDW could exist." The music video dives into the psychological turmoil at the heart of the track with a hyperstylized touch. Spotlights wander through a funhouse version of Kit's childhood home, hunting down our protagonist, who we find trapped behind bars, downing teardrops from teacups and champagne from the bottle. Simultaneously unnerving and stimulating in a Paranormal Activity-meets Alice in Wonderland aestheticism, the music video for 'When the Drugs Don't Work' dives into the floating images of a mental breakdown with a fever dream lucidity.
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Number One Popstar continues to prove herself as a powerhouse, shaking up the music world with her fresh, unapologetic beats. This week, she shares another one, her new single 'Forever 21.' And no, it’s not about clothes. 'Forever 21' begins with a kicking beat, but subdued with reflective, twinkly keys. It’s a perfect mix of existential dread and dance. Carrying this vibe throughout, it breaks in between with a beaming guitar-driven bridge. Lyrically, the track makes us question why brands and media make it seem like our twenties are our prime, when we still have our whole lives ahead of us? Despite the effervescent pop sound, Hollowell got vulnerable about her past and its effect on the song, saying, "I initially started writing 'Forever 21' when I found myself looking back on my early 20’s, wanting to recapture the hopeful and dumb feelings of my youth. But the longer I spent on the song, the more it became a reflection of the loss I faced when my parents passed away in my early 20s. I started looking at my own fear of death, of dying like them. I really didn’t know where my life was headed back then. […] I eventually turned that painful experience into a motivation to go after everything I wanted in life. To be seriously less serious, recognizing everything is fleeting.” Like her other music videos, Hollowell likes to flip popular culture and societal expetations on their head. While also bringing the fear of aging to life, she also reminds audiences to stay present instead of holding on to youth. [via Earmilk]
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Following in the footsteps of Prince and Lizzo, Dizzy Fae is set to become the Twin Cities’ next pop sensation. She just dropped her brand new track, 'BODY MOVE', and much like the name suggests, it will make you want to move. Self-described as alternative R&B, Fae takes a few notes from contemporary hyperpop artists like Charli XCX and Doja Cat with an industrial iciness that plays off the technicolor pop melodies. It’s an influence you can hear on 'BODY MOVE', produced by New York’s Stelios (Young Thug, SZA). The track builds itself off a snappy, rubber band bass line indebted to pop’s recent disco revival. “It’d be so cruel if I didn’t let my body move,” Fea’s voice loops through a robotic filter. A buzzing drum machines barrels in at the chorus, transforming the lightly retro groove to a futuristic club track more akin to the production styles of 100 gecs. But for all the modern influences, the Ying Yang Twins reference shows she’s a student of all types of music. [via Consequence]
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Technically, 'Your Power' is not the lead single from Billie Eilish’s newly announced album Happier Than Ever. The album includes two songs she released last year: the jazzy, well received ballad 'my future' and the contemptuous multi-format radio hit 'Therefore I Am.' However, 'Your Power' is the first song Eilish has released since announcing the new album, debuting her new look, and officially commencing her LP2 era, so there’s definitely a deep sense of anticipations around the song. Eilish teased 'Your Power' this week with a brief sound snippet featuring acoustic guitar and the words “Try not to use your power” sung to a Feist-y melody. Now the full song and its Eilish-directed music video have arrived. The completed record remains as soft, pretty, and devastatingly sad as the preview audio. In the clip, a slow pan across a mountainside in the Simi Valley reveals Eilish in the clutches of a gigantic snake. (A press release specifies that it’s an 80-pound anaconda.) [via Stereogum]
#videos of the week#emma-jean thackray#mannequin pussy#phoebe green#spill tab#willow kayne#benee#kit major#number one popstar#dizzy fae#billie eilish
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Okay, been doing some Changelings ‘verse stuff, and I’m stuck on something. So, you know the numbers thing with changelings, how they have a certain unconscious tendency towards the numbers 3, 7 and 9? So I firmed this up in terms of how it correlates to the number of Faetowns. There are seven Bordertowns, existing fully in this plane of existence, and one on each continent (yes, including Antarctica, though technically its on an island just off the coast of it), with the one in San Francisco being the North American Bordertown. So technically people can and often do just walk right into a Bordertown, the same as they would any other location, but each Bordertown has a Changeling resident whose specific magic and role within their society is to make it possible for any changeling to reach the nearest Bordertown by requesting passage that calls to their magic. Like the San Francisco Bordertown has the Ferryman, or the Sao Paulo Bordertown has a changeling called the Chorus, etc.
Then there are nine different Otherland dimensions, with the twenty seven other Faetowns each straddling the gap between this dimension and one of those nine Otherlands, existing half in this world and half in another one, with each of these Faetowns only springing into existence when enough changelings come together in one location that their cumulative magic hits critical mass and unconsciously builds the new Faetown in a new demi-plane that literally doesn’t exist until those changelings create a space and need for it. And each of the nine Otherlands have three corresponding Faetowns whose half or access point exists in this dimension, with one of those being on land, one in the sea, and one in the sky.
So of the nine Otherlands, there are:
1) The Brightlands - the three Faetowns that bridge to the Brightlands have entrances in this plane of existence that can only be seen/touched in certain kinds of light. So the sea Bright-town is underwater in the Caribbean, not far below the surface and nestled into a coral reef.....but it can only be entered from the outside during the day, because the ‘doors’ to it are shafts of sunlight filtering through the surface to below, and acting as planar gateways that you can swim into and then on the other side there’s the Bright-town. Even though you haven’t physically moved in space, you’re only aligned with it properly once you’ve passed through one of those sunlight gates. The sky Bright-town similarly can only be accessed during storms, as lightning acts as the gateways to that Bright-town, with anywhere lightning strikes cracking the sky open and thus making a gateway that only lingers briefly, ‘scabbing over’ within minutes of opening. And then the land Bright-town can only be entered via firelight, with you having to literally walk through the fire trusting in the town’s magic not to get burned by it, in order to align properly with the Bright-town.
2) The Shadowlands - the three Shadow-towns can only be accessed in complete darkness. Their entrances can only be felt, not seen. Like the one in the sea exists way down deep in a trench and the entrance to it just flat out doesn’t exist if you try and illuminate the darkness looking for it. You basically just have to swim into the darkness and keep going deeper until things start to slowly brighten around you thanks to the lights in the actual Shadowtown itself. The land Shadowtown similarly only exists in complete darkness within a cavern in Romania, emerging from the cavern on the other side of the darkness portal into a city where its always night, no matter what time it is, and the sky Shadowtown’s entrance is basically an invisible staircase into the sky that can only be climbed on nights when there’s no moon. And just like the land Shadow-town, its always surrounded by a night sky as when the sun rises, it just drifts deeper into the Shadowland where its always night, drifting back out more into this dimension once night falls again. These towns of course being ideal for the changelings whose physical changes make them largely nocturnal, or whose magic is darkness-based or at its most potent during the night, etc.
3) The Clocklands - the Clocktowns are only visible/accessible in this dimension for one hour of each twenty-four hour cycle, before their ‘orbit’ takes them out of phase with this dimension and passes them through the various other planes the Clocklands reach into. With the Blessed Isle appearing off the coast of Ireland at dawn before disappearing again an hour later, the land Clocktown existing as a mirage in the Sahara for most of the day with it only being physically accessible and solid starting at noon for one hour, and the sky Clocktown, La Ciudad de Arriba, only appearing in the sky over Argentina and Chile at twilight, with moonlight revealing a staircase up to it.
4) The Mirrorlands - the Mirrortowns can only be accessed via their reflected image. Kitezh in Russia exists as the image of a town appearing on the east side of a lake....but if you try and enter the town as it appears above the surface, you’ll just walk through empty air as if its nothing but an illusion....as the true Kitezh only exists under the surface of the lake itself, and thus to enter it you have to walk into the lake and head for the gates reflected in the water. The land Mirrortown is an inverted city built into a deep cavern in Greece, that similarly can only be entered by walking into its reflection.....basically similar to Perseus using the mirror in his shield to approach the Gorgon. And the sky Mirrortown is basically the reverse of Kitezh....its in the sky over a lake in Uruguay, and again can only be entered via reflection, but whereas to enter Kitezh you have to walk into the lake and go deeper and deeper under the surface of the water, with the town’s magic enabling you to breathe, with this Mirrortown, you have to walk onto the surface of the lake, with the town’s magic making the path to it solid under your feet as you walk towards its reflected entrance.
5) The Ghostlands - the Ghost-towns straddle this plane and the spirit plane, and thus only exist in haunted spaces where ghosts have worn through the space between planes. They usually co-exist with the changelings living in the Ghost-towns, with the changeling magic enabling ghosts to have a physical existence again as long as they’re within the town. So changelings and ghosts have a somewhat symbiotic relationship, with the magic of the Changelings’ Ghost-town letting ghosts have somewhere they can manifest physically for as long as they remain tethered to the material plane, before they cross fully over....and in exchange, ghosts exist as kinda the gateways to the Ghost-towns themselves. They don’t have gateways or entrances in any specific spot, but rather, the way to them only opens if you have a ghost guiding your way. So basically, the only way to enter a changeling Ghost-town is to find a ghost or spirit in the area of the Ghost-town who is willing to take you there.
The sea Ghost-town is underwater near an ancient shipwreck, with passage to it being through the shipwreck itself....but not any specific route so much as just whatever route a ghost guides you through. The land Ghost-town is in the swampland in the vicinity of the southern end of the Appalachians, and similar to the Mirror-towns, the path to it is only by walking on the surface of the waterways throughout the swamp, and then only when following a ghost.....with many of them being capricious and as likely to lead travelers astray via will’o’wisps and echoes, getting them lost in the maze of the swamp, or only taking them so far over the surface of the swamp before flitting off at which point the path ceases to be solid and they end up dumped into the water. The town itself is grown into the trees sprouting out of the swamp in its deepest places....think kinda like Pirates of Dark Water style, but with a swamp aesthetic that emphasizes the haunting beauty of such spaces. And the sky Ghost-town is hidden in the mists of the upper elevations of a mountain in Asia, with the path only opening when you follow a ghost higher and higher up the mountain through mists that make it impossible to track your progress....and again, if the ghost decides at some point along the way they don’t actually want to grant you entrance, they’ll vanish at some point and you’ll find yourself emerging from the mists back at the bottom of the mountain again.
6) The Wanderlands - the Otherlands which have the same strange relationship with space that the Clocklands have with time, the three Wandertowns move randomly and at whim. The land Wandertown, Wonderwall, is a traveling carnival the size of a small town that randomly appears somewhere new each night, and vanishes with the dawn to reappear elsewhere in the world where night is only just falling. The sea Wandertown, Frostmyre, is an inverted city carved out of the underside of an iceberg that can be in the Baltic Sea one day and then appear in the Indian Ocean the next, always just looking like a normal iceberg from above the surface, and only revealed for the impossible city that it is once you submerge and look at it from beneath the surface. And the sky Wandertown, Stormside, is on top of a stormcloud criss-crossing the globe and existing as a solid mass for the town and Changelings that live on top of it, always exposed to sunlight and clear skies as they exist above the storms rather than below.
7) The Dreamlands - Dreamtowns are only accessible in your dreams, and only at certain locations. You have to fall asleep within the vicinity of where the Dreamtown is supposed to be or rumored to be, and as befits the more whimsical nature of the Dreamtowns themselves and the changelings who pick one of them to reside in, it tends to be a crapshoot if you’ll awaken within the dream itself to see the Dreamtown before you, at which point you can then enter it in the dream and awaken for real to find yourself physically in it. The Dreamtowns are also unique in that there’s only three of them, same as the towns of any other Otherland, but each of the three Dreamtowns can be entered via dreams at several different locations, all across different continents.
Like, the sea Dreamtown only appears to those who fall asleep on the beaches of certain coastlines, the sky Dreamtown only appears to travelers who fall asleep at the foot of certain mountains, and the land Dreamtown appears when dreaming somewhere along the roadsides of certain lonely stretches of highway in different countries. Like if you pull over and fall asleep at a rest-stop along certain stretches of highway through the Midwest, you might awaken in the dream to see a town within sight, where no town had existed when you stopped. Or even if you stop at a roadside motel for the night, you might awaken within a dream, not even realizing it, and go outside to use the vending machine at 2 am only to see a large, sprawling town beginning just on the other side of the road from your motel, even if there’d been nothing but empty desert or even a thick forest there when you checked into the motel.
8) The Hell-lands - Helltowns are built fairly ‘deep’ into the Otherland they straddle, making them exist way more in it than they do this dimension, and as such, they aren’t tethered to physical locations but rather specific needs. The residents of the three Helltowns, most of whom tend to refer to themselves as demons rather than using the changeling slang and terminology preferred by a lot of the others, tend to present themselves as capricious, mischievous beings who interact a lot more frequently and more freely with the rest of mainstream societies by way of summonings and rituals that they provide freely as they aren’t really things they can be bound by. Rather, they act as kinda like doorbells that get a certain demon/changeling’s attention by tugging at their magic and creating a doorway to the summoner that they can instantly step through IF they care to, after taking a quick mystical peek at the summoner and what it looks like they want....and deciding whether or not it seems potentially entertaining enough to take a jaunt ‘topside’ (or ‘downside’ in the case of the sky Helltown).
But if not trying to summon someone from a Helltown but rather go to one directly, there are various summoning spells or rituals that can be used by anyone, as they really just draw on the magic of the Helltown itself to create a gateway that the person can use to then enter the Helltown from anywhere......but the trick of it is, while entering a Helltown doesn’t require a certain physical location, it requires a certain need. Their entrances are need-based, and its not enough to just WANT to go to a Helltown for whatever reason, you have to NEED to in a way that reaches deeply enough into the Otherland the Helltowns primarily exist in that it can actually forge and open a connection between it and you. All of the Faetowns have different approaches to society-building, and one of the more abiding principles Helltown societies are built around is no risk, no reward. And the greater the risk, the greater the reward, etc.
Their societies tend to constantly be in flux, as the resident changelings/demons spend a lot of their time engaging in various power plays aimed at advancing their standing in their town or city’s power structure (as many of the Faetowns are more accurately cities rather than towns at this point). Helltowns are basically Machiavellian paradises, with intricate rankings of Dukes and Lords and other titles that predominantly exist just to have something to aim for and seize, toppling someone from their throne and then defending their usurped position for as long as they can before someone else supplants them, in a never-ending cycle that’s more about the game for them than any actual attempt at a definitive win. Their actual name for it is simply The Great Game.
9) ??? - And this is where I’m stuck, as I need a ninth Otherland for the underlying framework of the magic, premise, and where all of this is going, to like...work. I just can’t decide on what it should be. I was thinking something luck-based, but that leans pretty heavily into what the Dreamtowns already deal in, and my next thought was something riddle or cipher based? Like Faetowns that can only be accessed by unlocking some secret, solving some mystery or getting some riddle right, like encountering a Sphinx-like changeling along the road somewhere and then the Faetown unfolding before you if you answer their challenge correctly, that sort of thing. I’m not sure though, and I’m trying to think of any thematically mystical or folkloric medium like mirrors or shadows that I might have overlooked or just not thought of. Any thoughts?
(Oh and the exception to these entrances to the various Faetowns, is any Faetown can be easily entered at any time by any Changeling from within one of the Bordertowns.....by using any of the Painted Portals that exist for each of the other Faetowns thanks to Paul’s magic, thus circumventing the usual access points by connecting each town to every other town....as each town has their own hallway of Painted Portals that acts as a hub or kind of transit station to the other towns).
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THE AARONS 2019 - Best Film
Once again setting a personal record and winning a friendly competition, I watched 105 films from the year 2019. That’s more films than there are seconds of screen-time for Rose Tico in The Rise of Skywalker! That one won’t be found here, but after ranking all 105 movies, here are the ones that did rise to the top of my list. Here are the Aarons for Best Film:
#10. Marriage Story
Marriage Story twists a knife we never even saw go in; its tragedy is a fully formed snowball of once seemingly-insignificant bad decisions that the viewer is powerless to reverse, only observe. Director Noah Baumbach, however, makes only great decisions in his tale of the difficulties and distractions of divorce (in the context of the film, that is. The infusion of Baumbach’s informed personal experiences is unmissable here). The film splits its focus between the perspectives of the two former spouses, but not evenly. Through both, we understand the effects of unintentional harm of other being; in the unbalance, we empathize with people reaching that realization at different times. Marriage is a story about learning that, no matter the effort to relate to another, there will always be unknowns, but in trust, there is peace.
#9. Little Women
The best adaptations play to the strengths of the screen. The kinetic timeline shifting of director Greta Gerwig’s new version of Little Women is a feat only manageable in cinematic form. The shake-up to the traditional script enlivens the familiar story; the bits of happiness and heartbreak all feel a little bit bigger. Backed by an exceptional cast, Gerwig illustrates that the importance of retelling stories is the same as the importance in telling them to begin with. The movie is undoubtedly the superior cinematic version of the story; if it’s not too blasphemous to say, it’s the best version on the big-screen or off.
#8. The Farewell
Secret secrets are no fun, but can shared secrets spare someone? It’s the question at the heart of director Lulu Wang’s The Farewell, in which a family decides not to tell their grandmother she only has a short while to live, and stage a wedding as an excuse to gather the family together before she dies. Such a heavy burden seems unbearable alone; the cycle of shame and fear when trying to find the best way to love someone is inexorable. Sharing has never been a strong suit of the Western world; the culture clash of the understated film ends up a surprising source of comfort. Yet there will always come a point where one must face such uncertainty alone, and choose whether to say goodbye to the guilt or not. The Farewell is a comfort there as well.
#7. Parasite
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know; survival depends on sticking together. Like The Farewell, Parasite’s premise unearths questions of solidarity; unlike The Farewell, its execution is not understated. Director Bong Joon-ho’s lampooning of late-stage capitalism is as unmissable as a big dumb rock, and he lampshades it as such. Parasite is the most unexpected of heist films, but one that cuts to the heart of the genre: the world as-is is a mad scrabble for a good job, and morality need not apply. The insidious ploy of the film is an insightful exploration of class conflict. The two families at its center may not have a single person between them who’s not hungry for more, but only one is deciding how many seats are at the table. It’s not our world, we’re just living in it.
#6. Knives Out
After the dregs of the internet came for him with knives out, director Rian Johnson decided to kill them with kindness… and gift everyone with another masterful work of cinema. There’s no foul play made in Johnson’s new murder mystery; the cast is stacked with talent and the screenplay stacked with twists. The story subverts genre expectations in revolutionary ways, keeping viewers guessing and engrossed. The additional emotional undercurrent is similarly revelatory; even when killers are caught and loose ends are tied up, questions of justice remain. Pointed, poignant, and uproarious, Johnson has carved up an excellent mystery. Considering his debut feature Brick, it’s no surprise the director’s dunnit again.
#5. Shazam!
After shifting its focus from an overambitious shared universe to its lesser known characters, DC Comics has captured lightning in a bottle once again. The selling-point of Shazam! is, in a word, magical: a young boy given the power to transform into a full-grown superhero (play with infectious charm by Zachary Levi) boils down the appeal of the genre to its base wish-fulfillment elements. With superpowers dominating the cinemas right now, Shazam!’s recentering of their collective narrative is more powerful than Zeus. Zack Snyder sought to bring maturity to the Superman story by questioning the burden of possessing power. Made for kids but holding the wisdom of Solomon, Shazam! combats Snyder’s misguided notions: with great power comes great responsibility, but responsibility is sharing power.
#4. One Cut of the Dead
While there are many films shot in one-take, including one vying for Best Picture at the Oscars this year, One Cut of the Dead’s pure commitment to its craft makes it a cut above the rest. In the film, things go haywire for a small filmmaking crew on the set of a zombie movie when real zombies attack; what happens next is best left unspoken (to preserve its wonderful surprises). The tightly-crafted horror-comedy is a bloody beast; its multi-limbed nature reaches every mark its aiming for, tearing at one’s heart, brain, and stomach in equal measure. It deconstructs its own movie magic only to build up an even more fantastic monument to cinema and the cooperation demanded by its creation. Within One Cut of the Dead’s endless inventiveness, the art-form’s rarely felt so alive.
#3. Midsommar
Midsommar is an honoring of tradition, but it quickly evolves into something all its own. Its most obvious influence is The Wicker Man, yet while that film’s pagan horror turned a twist of fate and a twist of faith into its punchline, Midsommar lets viewers in on the joke. Director Ari Aster lets events unfold at a meticulous pace in the closed-off community, but dread never sets in. The film is perhaps entirely miscategorized as horror; any screams crescendo into a potent catharsis. Midsommar is a banquet of visual treats that leaves viewers to chew on a shocking ending. With both, Midsommar is nothing but fulfilling.
#2. Us
Many directors can’t escape the shadow of such a successful debut, but luckily for us and for Us, Jordan Peele was no less effective at holding up a mirror to society’s sins in his sophomore feature. Like Get Out, Us rips the ineffectual bandage off this country’s festering wounds, demanding they be properly addressed lest they be allowed to kill us. The effect is once again deeply uncomfortable, gnawing at the viewer long after it’s over, as all proper horror films should. Peele, however, is entirely comfortable, further solidifying himself as an unmissable auteur through an assured handling of tone. The movie is both a crowd-pleaser and entirely uncompromising; we have met both friend and enemy, and it is Us.
AND THE BEST FILM OF 2019 IS...
#1. It: Chapter Two
It is inexplicable. The first half of the new adaption of Stephen King’s monstrous book was #8 on this same list back in 2017, yet while Chapter Two is much more uneven and unwieldly, it floated all the way to the top as my favorite film of 2019. It’s victory certainly owes a debt to its origins; the second part is a reflection on the first, as the adult version of the Loser’s Club must remember their past to battle the child-eating clown one last time. With this intent in mind, the film’s ungainly composition shifts into a new form. Chapter Two is an eerie and eerily-accurate encapsulation of the sensation of unpacking past trauma. It’s confusing, frustrating, disheartening, scary, and often unexpectedly funny trying to control such a narrative. Sometimes, all one can do is scream at the cyclical cruelty. In those moments, the greatest thing is to have someone screaming with you. Perhaps the It sequel suggests that there is no such thing as good movies or bad movies - maybe there are just movies that you need. Chapter Two is a cinematic barbaric yalp, indulgent in its runtime and its special effects because that is how it can and chooses to be heard. I needed it.
NEXT UP: THE 2019 AARONS FOR WORST FILM!
#film#TheAarons#TheAarons2019#TheAaronsFilm#best film#best picture#best of#best of 2019#top 10#it chapter two#it#us#midsommar#one cut of the dead#shazam#knives out#parasite#the farewell#little women#marriage story
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so uh, i was telling @ishibooty about my daydreams and the fact that somehow in two of these scenarios, marcus ends up joining libra, and all of a sudden it was 5am and i had 3k words of summary of marcus’ arc for one of them
there are two parts to it. this was supposed to be a side-plot. why am i like this
anyway enjoy my ramblings i guess
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Mushroom arc
Marcus and Leo meet at the hospital (Daniel came to visit/interrogate/make fun of Steven and kicked Leo out of the room) and leave a good impression on each other. (“So uh, are you also a cop ?” “Why does everyone assume that ? Is it my name ??”)
Later, Libra investigates on a drug ring. Because the drug seems to incorporate magic in its fabrication, making it as potent on humans as well as all sorts of beyondians, Leo is sent alongside Zapp to get a sample and get a closer look and maybe identify the spellcaster or something. Marcus is in the club and makes himself known, and it turns out he is part of the gang. Zapp and Leo get invited to a private room and meet some of the higher-ups (Marcus included), buy their sample, and are then asked to breathe into a container, of which they are assured it is perfectly safe, just a security measure. Since murdering clients seems like a pretty bad business plan for a drug ring, the duo does what they’re asked. They pass out and wake up in the club, with no memory of the past 30 minutes.
Later, Leo is greeted by Marcus at Diane’s Diner and they have a chat, during which Leo feels like he met Marcus recently but can’t seem to place it ? Marcus makes fun of him, asks if Leo has been hanging with Mushroom beyondians and at Leo’s confusion, mentions the amnesic effects of their spores.
Leo comes back to Libra all “MOM HOLY FUCK”, and the team decide to investigate that memory-erasing spore thing. Also one of Steven’s “contacts” discouraged him from looking deeper into the drug ring geez I wonder why that might be.
In parallel to that whole investigating, Leo goes to eat out with Nej, accidentally bumps into Marcus, and they somehow become a trio of burger pals ? (“wait what do you mean you sold Nej burgers for profit” “it’s money my dude”) Hanging out together during lunch break regularly, all that jam. At some point, following Leo and Marcus complaining about their respective workplaces and co-workers (preluded by Marcus being all like “work ? like, part-time ? aren’t you in high school ?” “… I’m 21…” (quietly) “what the fuck”), Nej mentions having an actual job but can’t seem to remember it. Cue laugh track I guess.
Plot twist it’s not funny it’s actually tragic because the place Nej works at is the spore extraction factory that serves as the center of that Mushroom traffic. Chain, Zapp, and Leo storm the place, Leo gets beaten up, Nej is traumatized, the Mushroom beyondians are evacuated, the building is burned down and so are the spores. Meanwhile, Marcus is allowed for the first time into the laboratory, meets the spellcaster, looks around the place and asks non-suspicious questions, he’s just curious and enthusiastic and kind of dumb in his cleverness but that’s just how Marcus is haha look at him, such a good and loyal guy (we hope).
Someone caught Leo and Zapp on tape while they destroyed the factory and since Marcus is friends with Leo, it’s a bit uhhhhhhh suspicious ? Marcus is all “do I look like I have control over whatever every single one of my friends does ?”, the Chief goes “okay well, would you fucking mind getting that kid over here so we can know where he learned about the spore factory ?”, and so Marcus goes to do just that.
Except he doesn’t. What he does is go see Leo at the hospital, offers to go on a walk in the hospital park, covertly gives Leo a vial of his own blood, and tells him to act like they’re fighting and then run away and bring the vial to Daniel. He then makes as if to grab Leo to take him with him.
Leo knees him in the dick and books it. The gang guy dispatched to make sure Marcus actually did his job watches and comes to the conclusion that Marcus is on their side because, like, yeah.
When he gets the news and the blood, Daniel calls the narc brigade to start the tracking, grabs Leo, gets in the car, and starts driving. The “tracking” is actually blood magic, the vial of blood Marcus gave Leo reacting to sigils he left at the lab and even on the spellcaster and forming spikes in the direction of it all. Turns out Marcus was an undercover narc looking to get his hands on the spellcaster (drug labs are rather easy to make, having a magic user able to apply their knowledge to that kind of craft is a lot less common).
Of course when magic is activated, it risks being picked up on by other magic users, so any intervention needs to be swift, and also Marcus seems to have been under some suspicion (why else would he ask Leo to serve as a middle-man) so things need to move real fast. (“wait so you’re going on a drug busting operation with a civilian in your car ? I know I said I wanted to know what the hell is going on but that’s kind of, like, uhhh” “you’re holding the vial and giving me the directions, I can’t do that while driving”)
Anyway, most of the gang is arrested, Marcus ends up in the hospital because he saw some kids crossing the road without watching and jumped in to save them, ironically saving him from being exposed as a cop to the underworld, and Leo later apologizes for kneeing him in the dick. End of arc
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Boss arc
Marcus takes advantage of his old gang being disbanded, and of him still looking like a regular crime guy, to join another, bigger group. The Boss welcomes him with open arms because 1) Marcus sells himself really well (“yo my brother’s a lieutenant of police, I got some intel”) and 2) they actually knew each other before the Collapse, and while Marcus never worked for him, the Boss has a lot of respect for him.
The burger trio still hangs out together, and sometimes Marcus also hangs out with Leo alone. It’s a nice break from work for Marcus honestly, Leo is a chill guy, and it’s great to not have to pretend to be someone else, with someone who isn’t Daniel, for once. And for Leo it’s also a nice break from the usual Libra madness. They share wacky stories, some gossip, one time Marcus arrives like “LEO HOLY FUCK” because he spotted Steven at Daniel’s flat and they both lose their shit. They also get a little more real sometimes I mean, both of them have some heavy baggage, and Marcus doesn’t have a lot of emotional support outside of his brother (who is married to his work and not great at emotions himself). In short, they’re friends.
Anyway, Leo may or may not be developing a crush – whatever the truth is, Zapp has decided to go on Big Brother mode and drag Zed along to stalk Marcus and make sure he’s an okay guy. (“are you sure this is necessary ?” “this is HL, and this is Leo, he’s like, a trouble magnet ! and if things turn out badly, guess who will have to deal with the fallout ?” “… you actually care, don’t you” “shut up !”) Of course, Marcus publicly performs as a Crime Guy, so that’s a little… well…
Zapp and Zed follow Marcus to a shady pub where Marcus has a meeting with the Boss (“wait isn’t this guy like, a crime lord” “god fucking dammit”), get spotted, but since Marcus isn’t about to out them as Libra if he can avoid it, he just ironically buys them a drink. And that’s how a hot mess and a merman end up sharing a table with a Crime Guy and a Crime Lord. Zapp, always the diplomat, asks Marcus to break up with Leo. Marcus is obviously very confused because, like, they’re not ??? A thing ??? So Zapp instead tells him to not start a thing, while Zed sits there nervously and very obviously tries to not look at the Boss.
Marcus laughs it off, but he ends up a little shaken by the encounter honestly, not because Zapp said anything particularly clever, but because it echoes doubts he’s been holding about himself for a while now. He’s been doing his job for quite a long time, has done quite a lot of shitty things to keep his cover up, and he – he isn’t quite sure he’s really helping. Sure, he’s lead to the dismantling of some drug rings, but was it worth it ? If he looks at what he did for the past years, how exactly is he different from the people he targets ?
Also there’s like, Collapse trauma, which in his case is also closely related to that whole issue. For three days, Marcus walked around with a suitcase of “merchandise” from whatever his gang was at the time, doing his best to survive and get that thing where he was supposed to get it and not lose it and not act like a servant of the people who would actually help, or try to help at least. Marcus made it out of the Collapse with his cover intact, his gang mostly dead, and a suitcase full of shit he didn’t know what to do with because the people he was supposed to bring it to died and he did it all for nothing. He let people die for nothing.
And he does feel a kinship with some of his “co-workers”. He’s friend with some of them. He slept with one of them, at a time when he had just lost whatever purpose he’d had for the three days the Collapse lasted, at a time when he couldn’t get in touch with his family and make sure they were alive and he was just so desperate for someone he knew, for some human warmth, for whatever comfort he could get. And the Boss (at the time not his boss, but someone he knew and who made business with whoever he used to work for) was kind and praised his determination and good work and just held him with no judgement.
Marcus enjoys the Boss’s company. What happened after the Collapse was a one-off thing, but they’ve been in touch ever since, drinking out sometimes, sharing some quiet comfort together. The Boss introduced Marcus to a new group in exchange for his merchandise. The Boss keeps on vouching for him, trusts him, and Marcus almost feels a little guilty.
He feels guilty a lot, he finds, whether that be when he enjoys drinking with his co-workers or when he works at home on a spell that would identify the caster in charge of their drug.
One time, Steven comes to the Boss with a deal, information for whatever price the Boss gives and Marcus sits there, at the Boss’ right, watches Steven and the apparent friendship between him and the Boss and thinks “ah”. Same fucked up hat, same dilemma, same constant walking a line you can barely see.
At Daniel’s place (Steven has been there a lot more often lately, and Marcus a lot less, but they still end up meeting at times), neither of them mention that moment of recognition. But Marcus mentions being a little tired, and Steven half-jokingly offers him a place in Libra, should he ever want a change of pace.
And Marcus thinks maybe, just maybe, this would be better. Maybe he could help, really help, the way he wants to. He just needs to finish this job. Just this one job.
It’s not that he means to isolate himself, he just really needs to figure this spell out, and anyway Zapp was exposed as Libra and that brought suspicion on Marcus because of the whole “don’t date my friend/colleague” incident and while the Boss trusts him, there’s this one guy who has some amazing instincts (and maybe holds a grudge for that time Marcus beat him up for trying to sell stuff to kids), and that means hanging out with Leo is probably a terrible idea. And he has work. And he is so, so tired. He has nightmares, too, a little more than usual. Maybe more than that.
It’s a good thing that there are spells offering protection against nightmares, really, a good thing there are spells that provide energy too. Marcus has a rule against ever consuming something he sells, but he’s been so tired lately that he gets close. But there are spells for sleep that work better than alcohol, and spells for energy that work better than cocaine, with none of the less appreciable side-effects, and it’s a shame the only magic he knows is blood magic because drawing blood to activate them is a pain, literally. But it’s a small trade-off for the ability to keep it together and finish his work.
Leo actually seeks him out once, and while the encounter is short because Marcus can’t afford to hang out with “most definitely Libra” and tells Leo that (and also mentions Zapp and Zed’s visit because he is petty), it’s also nice to have Leo be all “if it’s because you’re afraid of getting me into trouble, friendly reminder that this is HL and that I am Libra” at first and just. Miss him, apparently ? Marcus will have to treat him to lunch once he is done.
After that, after his eyes pick up on the weird magic going on over Marcus’ shoulder, Leo looks up spells by shape, and if he was worried about Marcus avoiding him before, he is now worried for an entire different set of reasons. Square-shaped spells are reinforced exponentially, and there’s no way anything stronger than a level-1 energy spell (the equivalent of an espresso) can be healthy. Also he is going to kill Zapp.
And finally, finally, Marcus gets his breakthrough. He finalizes his identification spell, drops a little blood on the powder in the middle of the circle, and gets a signature. He can track this caster. He grabs paper, a pencil, writes down the signature sigil, calls Daniel to tell him that he got it, and – and there was a defensive spell inside the drug because of course there was and Daniel needs to come here right now.
At the time, Daniel is wrapping up a case with Klaus and Gilbert nearby, and there is no question what the fastest vehicle here is. The others can manage without him. Daniel reaches Marcus’ flat in record time, Klaus on his heels, and they find Marcus unconscious on the floor, left arm injured, in a state that seems much worse than it should be.
Daniel grabs the paper Marcus is holding, Klaus compresses the injury and carries Marcus to the car, and Gilbert drives as fast as possible in these conditions. Calls are made – to the narc brigade, sending them the signature so they can do whatever it is they need to do with it and so they can prepare to start the tracking of what Marcus left for them to find, and to Steven, who is currently free and can absolutely help in the capture of the higher-ups of the gang (Leo definitely helps spot anyone who escapes).
Luciana welcomes them with the same determination she has at all times, and the slight annoyance she always expresses at seeing Daniel, and hurries Marcus inside. “What did he take ?” she asks, and Daniel could strangle her. Marcus doesn’t take anything, he is a professional, how dare she – but he is overdosing, Klaus was the only thing keeping his heart beating during the drive there, and the powder on the floor of his flat seemed weirdly crystallized, like it had solidified and broken. And there was no weapon that could explain Marcus’ injuries. And the conclusion Daniel and Luciana reach is. Bad.
He answers Luciana’s questions, asks for a small sample of Marcus’ blood, shouts at whoever he has on the phone at the time, and goes for the car. Luciana is baffled, Gilbert readies to drive, and Klaus says he will stay at the hospital and call if anything happens. It’s not a pretty arrangement, but the look on Daniel’s face was one that promised death to anything that tried to stop him, so.
I could go into length about the capture, about the way Daniel almost killed the Boss for his words, about the return to the hospital and the gruelling wait for news, about the way the Luciana on coffee break duty told Daniel off for criticizing her devotion to her work when he isn’t much better himself, about the relief Daniel felt at it being personal, a revenge of sorts, instead of something he’s heard much too often about his being heartless. He isn’t, if Marcus died it would break him, but he simply doesn’t know any other way to deal with these emotions than drowning them in work.
Later that night, after Steven has dragged him home to make him catch at least some sleep, he will tell Steven about the death of his grandfather, back when he was a kid, about Marcus crying for an hour, about himself not shedding a single tear, instead finishing the model boat the three of them had started because he needed to do something. It will be the first time they have that kind of discussion, the first time it feels like whatever they have going on is a serious relationship. But that is a story for another time.
When Marcus wakes up, a few days later, he asks Daniel to transmit his resignation letter. His recovery will take time, months even, to get back to a functioning state both physically and mentally, but that is the first step towards that. Another step will be to buy Leo and Nej lunch when he gets discharged, reconnecting with them. And another will be to ask Steven if the job offer was serious, and to accept it.
Marcus joins Libra as a blood mage with some background information on drug dealings, and he thinks, for the first time in forever, he can help.
(Also he hasn’t told Daniel anything about that last part and he is not looking forward to that conversation, at all.)
#kekkai sensen#blood blockade battlefront#marcus law#leonardo watch#yumi writes#note : blood magic and blood fighting techniques are not the same and actually dont have much in common#yes i actually made some magic theory for this. its. somewhere in my unscanned sketches#my naming conventions for most characters are. terrible. if i dont know your name ill just call you by your job#idk if read mores are still as buggy as they used to be on mobile but it they are im very sorry#body heat AU
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New Post has been published on https://lovehaswonangelnumbers.org/karmic-tools-weekly-forecast-november-24-30-2019/
Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast: November 24 – 30, 2019
Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast: November 24 – 30, 2019
By Kelly M. Beard
The video version of this forecast, as read by Kelly, is available here.
The Karmic Tools Weekly Forecast covers the current planetary transits which affect people in different ways and to various degrees of intensity. Take notice when it is a Personal planet (Sun / Moon / Mercury / Venus / Mars) interacting with a Social (Jupiter/Saturn) or Collective planet (Uranus / Neptune/Pluto). And pay extremely close attention when it is a Social planet interacting with a Collective planet because that means something *big* is brewing that will move large groups of people along their evolutionary paths. Tuning in to the energy and rhythm of the planets can serve as a useful *guide* as you move along your Individual Path. It also helps to understand your place within the context of the larger Social & Collective Story. Below, you will find out how these energies tend to manifest, as well as guidance and direction.
*NOTE* There are some days when there are NO CONTACTS (besides the Moon), please note that there are no missing entries, we just list the actual Activations of each week + the day they happen.
Weekly Forecast: November 24 – 30, 2019
11/24 ~ Venus (values & priorities) ~conjunct~ Jupiter (truth & story):
This is an extremely powerful energy that brings the two *benefactors* together to initiate a new cycle that makes you very mentally “present” to the fact that both your values and your truth are shifting. This energy encourages you to improve your life in some way. You can also connect to material abundance & wealth of all kinds when these two get together like this. This is usually a pleasant shift because it is about expanding your sense of authentic beauty, as in nature & the interrelatedness of all living things. There’s an energy of enthusiasm around new or growing relationships which attracts more positive energy. This is the best time to be creative and expect miracles!
11/24 ~ Mars (energy) ~oppose~ Uranus (radical shift):
This is a mixed blessing. On one hand, this energy can bring on impulsive, reactionary behavior. You can have sudden outbursts of anger or frustration with a strong need to be ‘free’ from whatever you are perceiving as a limitation or holding you back (person or circumstance). The best use of this energy is to consciously direct your energy to free yourself from any restrictions – self-imposed or otherwise. This is a time when you will be extremely motivated to do whatever it takes to live freely (by your own definition). Do not suppress this energy as that will only make it blow up in your face, at a most inconvenient time. Use this activation to check your Self and determine what you deeply desire, what your definition of freedom is and what you are willing to do to live a more authentic life.
11/25 ~ Venus Enters Capricorn:
Venus rules everything we care about, love & value. Capricorn energy is all about that which supports & protects what we love & value. It also rules how you make decisions and structure the foundation of your life, what holds it all together and it often represents your individual ‘container’ for your personal life. It’s the lesson of being responsible for your thoughts, feelings, words & deeds and understanding how they are all connected to the physical reality of your life. Your outer reality reflects your inner reality. It’s about building inner strength & fortitude that automatically creates outer order & stability. Capricorn is Ruled by Saturn, which is the last visible planet and speaks to our definition of reality, as well as our physical limits. Saturn is about dedication to the step-by-step process that accomplishes the long term/big goal that will ultimately support more than just you and yours. Right now, for the only time in 28-years, Saturn is in its home sign of Capricorn lending even more weight to this stellar activation. If you are consciously participating in life, then this is a potent time for you to see the fruits of your labors and receive some earned rewards or benefits. However, if you are overwhelmed by decisions you’ve already postponed overlong or the instability of fundamental aspects of your life (home, work, food, shelter), then it’s time to meet your Inner Architect who can help you survey, clear, dedicate, design and ultimately, build the NEW clean foundation to support yourself.
This Venus work is going to be very personal for those with Capricorn/Cancer and Aries/Libra activated in their charts. Things that were important to you just last Feb 2019 (last time Venus was in Capricorn) may not be so vital now, and things that were not even on your list of priorities back then, may have moved to the top now. In this case, Capricorn means the structure of your life and the reality you’re currently living has evolved and adjustments to your responsibilities, commitments and decision-making skills should reflect the *upgrade*. Taking a time-out to review your own reality, how it works, what it grounds or anchors in physical form and how it serves you (or not). Capricorn energy always reveals where you are rigid, dry or unstable. It’s about carrying your own weight, not the weight of the world and Capricorn is very present to the here & now fundamentals (home, work, food, shelter). It’s time to dedicate your efforts toward productive ends that both support you and serve others.
11/26 ~ 4* SAG New Moon:
This Sagittarian energy comes on the cusp between the Old Path and the New Path. Opportunities will be presented and you will find out how you’re evolving by the choices and commitments you make going forward. No longer can we agree to terms which hold no meaning or value for the individual or the community. The Global Family has expanded, our consciousness has evolved and the vibratory frequency of the planet has raised considerably. If Saturn’s taught us nothing in the last 2+ years, adjustments must be made if you’re going to live your own Truth & Story (and not someone else’s imposed upon you). Building constructs to support a more balanced existence THIS lifetime will require time, energy and resources to birth in our 3D/reality. On the other hand, the *invisible* (thought) ALWAYS precedes the *visible* results (form). And Sagittarius is all about what you BELIEVE before you even have a clue what you want to or are capable of building in Capricorn.
This Sag New Moon brings a potent *seed* point. Scorpio always brings permanent transformation, which leads to a totally new Sag Truth, which leads to a newly reborn Capricorn Reality. I encourage you to always see Truth as *fluid* and Reality as *co-creative & malleable* and thus, they both change & shift according to what other energies & entities are involved. Stepping into 2020, ask your Self … Where are you/we headed? If you happen to have Sagittarius/Gemini and-or Pisces/Virgo activated in your chart, then this is a huge New Beginning for you personally (or in those Houses/Areas of Life for the rest of us).
11/27 ~ Neptune Direct 15* Pisces:
If the Moon represents the individual womb, then Neptune is the collective womb. When it retrogrades annually, we are given an opportunity to consciously develop something, usually related to healing & wholeness. The retrogrades always encourage us to go within and heal, make-whole or integrate something critical to our well-being. What healing have you been working on personally, since June 2019? Neptune is most commonly known as the planet of dreams and visions. So on a normal day, Neptune creates the desire to daydream, create, visualize the ideal outcome (to life, relationship, project, etc.), it tends to see everything through rose colored glasses, putting its hopeful spin on it all. When Neptune Retrogrades, it may be less shocking than Uranus or Pluto, but no less effective. It’s primary goal during a Retrograde is to gently dissolve personal boundaries. You start to realize your connection to the whole. Not a bad idea, but to some, it can be unsettling if they are rigidly holding onto boundaries for a false sense of security. Hopefully, you’ve been able to reconnect to your Spirit in a way that helps you navigate the world better going forward, now that it is Direct.
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Diagnosis: Chapter 2
Stark Tower and Nailing an Interview: chapter two.
I said my goodbyes to Koda and summoned an Uber, they smelled better than Taxis and I wanted to impress my interviewer. My long brown hair was pulled back into a neat pony tail, I wore a black blouse and a black pencil skirt, a green silk shawl, a modest silver necklace. I opened my phone and checked my messages, a few friends from the clinic I used to work at had all spammed me with questions, apparently I should have elaborated on where I was going to interview, and who I was going to work for. And who I was going to be my patient, or patients. I was excited
Trust me, I’ve never felt this excited before. I mean, practicing medicine for the Avengers, that’s insane.
I also had a few concerned texts from my mom after I had told her what happened the night before. Coming from a small town in Utah meant that we never had to worry about cat calling, potential rapists. I reassured her I was fine, and that Koda does a fantastic job of keeping me safe. As we neared the tower the driver broke the silence, “Stark Industries? What kind of secretary are you going to be?” I snorted, “Actually I a medical doctor. I am applying to be the Avengers on staff physician.” After a moment of really awkward silence, “Oh, my apologies doctor..” We pulled into the entrance and I stepped out, waving goodbye and rating him at a salty 5 stars. I stepped inside and walked to the front desk and cleared my throat, a women with a tight platinum blonde bun looked up at me. She plastered a fake smile and asked how she could help me. I explained that I was here for an interview for The Avengers physician. I let her scan my ID and take my picture which she printed off and put inside a little clip labeled “visitor”
I made my way to an elevator and followed the directions on which floor to head to, as the elevator made it’s way up the tower I began to feel slightly nervous, this kind of job sounded amazing, what if a more competent physician applied? I knew I was brilliant and was known as a prodigy, (not to toot my own horn) But for an opportunity like this, there had to be all kinds of amazing doctors applying. The elevator opened and I stepped out, woah. I was greeted to something I would expect in a high end Penthouse. A large open room with tall windows that boasted an excellent New York view, near the windows were several luxurious couches and loves seats, to my left was a bar that had more high-end liquor than the entire state of Utah could ever allow in a single building. “Ah, look at that our young doctor appears!” I was fairly surprised to see that it was Tony Stark who greeted me, I stepped forward and shook his hand with a warm smile, “My name is Doctor Julie Stirling, it is my absolute pleasure to meet you, thank you for this incredible opportunity.” Stark grinned at me and lead me to the bar and pulled out a stool for me then sat down and gestured for me to follow suit, which I did while trying my best to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. “Can I offer you a drink? Water, tea, coffee, I wouldn’t recommend alcohol this early, but you do you.” I chuckled and declined his offer as I pulled out of resume, cover letter, and a list of my references and their recommendations and admirations. Tony skimmed through the information I handed him and let out a low whistle. “29 years old and already such an incredible physician, young, brilliant, capable, a genius among men! You remind me of myself” Stark added with a chuckle, “I did hear that you abruptly left your previous job while cursing your employer out. Care to elaborate on that?” I bit my lip and felt embarrassment rise through me, “I.. It’s not like me sir, he is a very disrespectful man and I had enough. I knew my skills and knowledge were going to waste and I couldn’t stand being belittled anymore. Trust me when I say I am very professional and my bedside manner is excellent I-“ Tony cut me off with a wave of his hand, “Trust me I know about Doctor Wallis, that creepy old man has brought nothing but complaints from the people I’ve asked. Plus hey, I need something with the backbone to stand up for themselves. You’ll be working with some thick headed assholes, myself included. I need to know you wont be pushed around when it’s unnecessary.”
Tony looked through my resume once more and added “You are young, and you don’t have as much experience under your belt as the other applicants but.. That might actually prove useful. I need a fresh mind, something who is willing to take a step into medicine that may be more complicated than what other doctors have studied and worked with. And reading about your incredible track record of absolutely blowing away the universities you studied under I am certain that you learn quickly, and you’re fast on your feet too.” We talked for a little longer, Tony explaining how things generally worked around the tower, “Most of your responsibilities are focused on the Avengers, however if needed I will have you tend to Stark employees as well. However they all have their own doctor they see when necessary. I guess you’re just a backup when needed. But I don’t think it would come to that, plus you will have enough on your plate anyway. With keeping up with the team and building your understanding of erm.. Otherworldly beings, Dr. Banner is also adapt in medicine and is incredible and will work along side you when it comes to finding things that can keep up with different physiologies and metabolisms.” Tony stood and motioned for me to follow, “I like you kid, come with me, I’m thinking I want to hire you. But I need you to meet someone first. He has been so gracious as to agree and let us heal him. He allows us the possibility to understand Asgardians and well.. He has no choice to be here and isn’t quite healthy enough to do much about it anyway.” I followed Stark through a set of doors and was led down a hallway and through another set of doors, I raised an eyebrow when I noticed what looked like two SHEILD agents guarding the entrance. Stark breezed past them and opened the doors and walked in, I followed closely but halted when I noticed a hospital bed, connected to a few IV’S and a heart monitor was the one and only Loki. He was propped up on the bed reading a book. He was pale, way paler than he was when he was last seen on TV. His hair was an absolute mess and while he seemed tired he also gave off the vibe that he was still not to be messed with. Stark cleared his throat and introduced me, “hey Prince of Jokes, we have someone who might possibly be tending to you. Say hello!” Loki looked at me and I felt myself tense, How in the actual hell am I suppose to take care of him?
“Hello, worry not mortal, I am under very direct orders not to cause chaos, else I am thrown back into my cells on Asgard which would not be pleasant due to my current condition. It appears that aiding Thor in stopping the Dark Elves from destroying everything and consequently being stabbed by a kursed blade only earns me a break from my imprisonment on Asgard, to one here. To be a test subject for idiot Midgardians to use their barbaric technology to learn how to heal their precious Avengers.”
Tony rolled his eyes and said “Don’t worry, Thor was able to get some direction to help heal him, under these special circumstances it would be difficult to keep him from dying without a little Asgardian aid, they have provided strong drugs to give his body the energy and… Cider?” “Seidr” Loki cut in, “Seidr, anyway, that is some of what we have running through his veins right now. His body heals at an incredible rate but what went through him on that strange elf planet puts up a lot of fight. Combining drugs that keep his energy from draining we can allow him to do most of the healing on his own. What you will be doing is keeping a stable eye on his vitals and pain. We do have very potent pain killers for when he needs them. Trust me you’ll know. You think he’s a prick now? Wait until his ouchie is hurting, he’ll bitch at you until you either decide to give him the precious drug or kill him.” Loki rolled his eyes, “I would hardly call it bitching, if you even could fathom the amount of pain I am forced to endure while under the mockery of mortals you would be irritable as well.”
I looked Loki over then looked back to Tony, “I think I can handle him, at least as long as he continues to be relatively harmless.” Loki sneered but said nothing, Tony clapped his hands together. “Yes! Okay, I am going to offer you this job. For the foreseeable future Loki is your main concern. Keeping his pain under control, his healing on track and making sure his bandages are changed and infection is avoided. He may be ‘godly’ but he still is vulnerable at the moment.” That earned an insulted scoff from Loki that Tony promptly ignored, “Thor was told that Loki’s estimated healing time should be a month if everything goes smoothly. After Loki is healed we will go from there. Oh, because you are our on sight physician I have provided a modest apartment here at the tower. Your home will be located on the same floor as the handful of Avengers who live here. Thor is off and on when it comes to being here on earth, but you’ll get to know Natasha Rominoff, Clint, Bruce, Steve, and of course myself.”
Over the next couple hours I was given a thick stack of nondisclosure forms, another thick stack of pretty much everything that Tony and I had discussed before, a bunch of notes on dealing with Asgardians, more specifically wounded Loki, an in-depth description of my salary, paid time off, and work related perks. I was given a set of keys and taken down to what was called “Avenger’s floor” I walked to the end of the hall with one of Stark’s employees, she was a bubbly redhead who seemed super pumped to be here at all times. “Here is your home!” She opened the door and waited for me to enter before following me. “You have two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a full bathroom with the master bedroom, and a half bathroom in the hallway.” Alex, as she had liked to be called stood in the center of the large room. To my right the apartment dipped down slightly into what would easily be a modest living room, tall windows that made me feel a little light-headed reminded me of how high up I was. Although you really did get a killer view from up here, and there were massive grey curtains that I could pull over if I needed to. To my left was a large dining and kitchen area, it was also very open, it already had a dining table that could gracefully seat six people. Behind the table was a rather cozy kitchen, I didn’t need anything fancy, in fact this really was more than I was expecting. Alex let me take it all in before leading me down the hall, the first door on the right she opened and gestured for me to follow. “This is the guest bedroom but could easily be a study, or anything you want really.” The room wasn’t small, but not overly huge either. I didn’t expect to have many guests so a study would be really nice. Alex made her way out of the room and guided me to the next door, “and here we will have the master bedroom.” I stepped in behind her and looked around. This room had to be about half the size of my old apartment. It had a nice window that let in sunlight and fresh air without making me feel like I was going to fall to my death. I walked to the end of the room and opened a door to find a master closet, “Huh, don’t think I have enough clothes to come even close to fitting in here.” I laughed to myself but Alex tilted her head, “aren’t doctors supposed to be rich?” I really laughed this time, “yeah, but not starting out. I’m in debt up to my eyeballs. My last apartment was pretty much a cement box.” My preppy tour guide shrugged and opened the door to reveal my bathroom. A freaking Jacuzzi tub sat at the far end of the room under a beautifully arched window, gorgeous white curtains were tucked back. I took in the sight, a large walk in shower, a complicated looking toilet.. A Bedit? And a marble sink blew me away.
Alex left me to explore the rest of the apartment on my own, there was really only the guest bathroom left anyway, and while it was a nice bathroom, it’s just a bathroom. Tony had given me a week to get myself moved and settled in, then it would be time to work. I was actually pretty proud of myself for convincing Tony to allow me to keep Koda, (it was less “convincing” and more me telling him that I am a package deal and Koda comes with me.) I had to show him every ribbon she’s earned, ever certificate and proof of vaccines. But he agreed and I was excited to bring Koda on this new adventure with me.
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Why is it a good idea to be a multishipper in the Voltron Fandom part 2 - Keith edition
Last time I wrote about various Lance ships and why it is great to ship him with others, to see potental in all ships and exlpore how the characters can interact with each other. Now it’s time for Keith. Again, the order is random, but I start with my favorites: Pidge and Keith.
Kidge/Peith
Two conspiracy theorist together. One moment they’re swapping ideas about Galra lore and in the next they’re discussing Mothman. Keith is very protective of Pidge and he would go to great lengths to help her, no matter the circumstances. Pidge is definitely the brain of the group and can balance Keith’s brash decisions. It’s a great match of two sarcastic outcasts, who are very protective about their families – whether it’s their blood relatives of their friends that they love deeply. Those two could be the best partners and I wish we could see more interactions between them, because from what we have from canon, they really work great together and care for each other deeply. Pidge could also bring out Keith’s softer side, which is always a good thing. And Keith can teach Pidge that being different is okay too – they can learn that together and be each others support.
Sheith/Kiro
Think of Shiro climbing all the walls Keith build around himself. Not destroying them, knowing how important they are to Keith, but getting close to him on Keith’s own terms, Keith letting him. No wonder they care for each other like no other. Their bond and their trust seem endless in a way, where they can always rely on each other. Keith will always look for Shiro if he goes missing and Shiro will do his best to let Keith grow to be a better person. Despite knowing each other like no other, they still have much more to learn, so they can get closer yet. Shiro can learn that Keith has his own secrets and insecurities, while Keith can see that Shiro’s PTSD needs to be addressed, that he needs help. They are the pillars of strength for one another, they see potential of growth in each other and will do anything in their might to offer support. The best friends who just love each other to no end.
Kunk/Heith
Imagine long, draining training sessions, with Keith slightly depressed and exhausted. Enter Hunk: with his wide grins, with his food, with the best hugs and awkward lifting words. Think of Hunk warming his way into Keith’s heart, making the other laugh, taking care of him, showing that he cares about him. And it’s so easy to imagine Keith returning the warm feelings with time: they work good together, they have an easy friendship in making, where Hunk is trusting him and Keith is learning to trust him as well. And they have so much to learn from each other, either about their strong points like engineering (Hunk) or fighting techniques (Keith) to how to open up and be more honest. And when something suspicious happens, both of them can be judgmental and full of sassy sarcasm and not trusting the new aliens they meet. Somehow those two could become the best of friends and who knows? That may evolve into something romantic.
Kallura
A power-couple. A Princess who learns not to judge others and learns to admire and trust and love a half-Galra. Who learns how to listen to others and take their opinions into consideration and not to take them for granted. And a half-Galra who learns that his heritage doesn’t mean he is a bad person. Who is loved and cared about and learns that he can find love and friendship by being himself, without fear of being outcasted, yet again. Allura can show Keith both how to be soft and strong and he can do the same for her, letting her know that her opinions matter and that he treasures her, that she had found a family in him. Keith can be her strength, can be the one who understands her the best – her insecurities and worries. Allura can be his heart, can be the one who listens to his troubles and who will keep his secrets safe. They might seem as two people who try to be stern, cold and hard, while in reality they’re soft and emotional. Together they could become the cutest, affectionate couple.
Klance/Leith
I already covered it in the first part of this series of posts, but I had to include few more thoughts about it (I will do it each time).
When you think about this pairing, you can easily see them forming a great friendship over time. Every rivalry (even one-sided) that gets more friendly is an opportunity to show how clashing characters can grow and learn from each other and how they can benefit from their friendship. And we already can see it in the show, with how Lance is more mature and how he values Keith’s opinions as a leader and Keith does the same, taking into account Lance’s advice. Those two have so much potential to be a power-duo, even if sometimes they would argue or tease each other, but that’s what makes this ship so interesting to explore. Plus they can both bond over their love for the Red Lion.
And again, bonus crack!pairings:
Katt/Meith
Matt had been aware of Keith trying to sacrifice himself. Imagine the confrontation afterward. Think about Matt’s instincts to protect, to shield, to help, concerned about Keith’s tendencies of not valuing his life enough. Think of Keith opening up, because finally someone showed that they care. That someone can listen to his concerns and that he doesn’t have to be a Paladin or a Blade to be important, that being Keith is enough. Think of them both slowly learning about each other, slowly getting to trust each other. If the current Shiro that’s with them is a clone, they will be a force to fear, that will do everything in their might to get him back. They both will do everything to bring this war to end and will not hesitate when their own lives are at stake. But maybe, maybe they can also both learn from each other how precious they are, how they matter to themselves and to others. And because Matt is so similar to Pidge, he could be a great friend to Keith, they could be conspiracy-theory buddies and they could balance each other. I can’t wait to see them interacting in canon.
Keitor/Lotoreith
Two half Galra. Neither seems to know what parental love is, neither seems to trust others and when he does, he might get betrayed. Both are vary of others and suspicious of those who offer their help. Keith is a bit obsessed with Lotor and he wants to stop him at all costs, while in the end, it’s Lotor who stops Keith from doing something horrible: dying. Will Keith be ever grateful for that? Will Lotor gloat about it? Will they ever trust each other? Lotor seems to have a thing for half Galras, so will he take an interest in Keith? It has so much potential: it could get angsty real fast, or actually really sweet: those two have so much in common, they would understand each other pretty quickly and they do have similar goals and ways of operating. Those two might be truly perfect for each other and they could find exactly what they’ve been missing in each other: home, family, a secure spot.
Isn’t it fun to see how great characters can bring the best out of each other? No matter if their relationship is platonic or romantic, there is no limit to ones imagination. Headcanon away, make your own AUs or take advantage from the canon. Just be kind to others who ship differently than you or join them in the fun <3
#VLD#Voltron: Legendary Defender#Voltron fandom#Voltron#Klance#Keitor#Kidge#Kallura#Sheith#Katt#Meith#Leith#Lotoreith#Kiro#Kunk#Heith#shipping#positivity#Peith#long post#I wonder if I will start a small war with this post#hopefully not#Pidge's next <3
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FAE
Alien and beautiful, creatures from another realm who have made a home in ours, even if it means drawing blood. The Fae, like the world they come from, are strange and mysterious. They are governed by a set of rules and morality that is altogether different from the other species. They are ruled by two separate courts, who vie over control of humans. Their rivalry isn’t mean, at least not to them, but it can become vicious; in the same way, the fae mirror this concept. Humans are often caught in the crossfire of their age-old game.
The most famous of tricksters. Don’t give them your name. Don’t follow them into the forest. Don’t listen to their lies. Even the kindest among them are dangerous.
HISTORY.
They fae have no creation myth — no one knows where the fae came from, least of all them. Their realm is referred to as the Altu Ghar, or the Fen by humans, and is extremely beautiful. The skies often shift color between twilight and dusk and day at a whim, and the seasons change just as fast. Old wives’ tales say that is the first sign that something is wrong, and is a marker that you have unintentionally crossed the barrier. These sorts of barriers are all over the world, and create liminal spaces where time and space feels strange and dilated.
The fae are split into two ancient alliances, the Seelie and the Unseelie. Fae of all allegiances have been known to cross into the mortal realm from the Altu Ghar. On one such occasion, they created the merrow through magical experimentation. The merrow would rather not acknowledge this.
It has long been suspected that fae manipulations intensified the 14th century conflicts between witches and dragons.
IN LYONESSE.
Here from the start, without the fae this realm might have taken the lives of all Myrddin Wyllt's unorthodox company. It is their mastery of wily magics that allowed for the creation of the gate system.
The fae have their own realm to mind, and their own peoples to govern, and yet the allure of power and new avenues for treachery have led them to maintain a significant presence in Lyonesse. They hold seats on the council, typically occupied by mid- to high-tier nobility of the Courts, and own substantial property within the walled city, including much of Kaer Ys and Greenwich Grove.
FACTS.
The fae are an ancient race with lifespans stretching hundreds of years. It is unknown whether or not a fae can reach a thousand, like dragonkind — if they do, those fae must be quite coy about their age. In terms of shared characteristics, the fae are so diverse that very little besides their structure and culture unifies them — they don't even all have pointy ears and wings, though a few fit that mold.
abilities.
MAGIC.
The magic that the fae wield and that is inherent to their realm is a semi-sentient Chaos, so controlling it is extremely difficult. But when they dally in almost any other realm, this magic is a tool to be used, not something that is alive, so the fae find it easier to bend things to their will. Strange and powerful, the fae are exempt from the law of exchange. No one knows if they have always been able to circumvent this restriction or if a plucky fae pulled off a wonderful trick, but it hardly matters.
Perhaps a natural extension of glamour, fae are infamous for their ability to dabble in all manner of ephemera. Beyond their connection to magic itself, fae can cast illusions as easily as they breathe. They are able to create subtle effects such as a sense of foreboding or a sense of wonder; to conjure faerie fire, illusory flames that can entrance mortals or eat away at magic without burning any hotter than the air around it; and to make the world around them appear changed so long as they are concentrated on their desired result in their mind. Fae illusions are more potent than most due to their magical nature, and may appear tangible for a short time before fading to reveal that it was dust and cobweb all along.
GLAMOUR.
Fae are known for their penchant to glamour themselves, a peculiar kind of magic as mercurial as its natural wielders. It is both an extension and a fulfillment of their ever-changing nature. The ultimate trick, a glamour is something that is equal part illusion and fundamental alteration to their being.
The most common fae glamour, and among the most simple, is to adopt a human guises — this is used to hide in plain sight or play tricks on those without the Sight to see through them. Less commonly, fae may be able to glamour into other shapes (i.e. black dogs, cats, white deer, etc.) or take on a more whimsical and imaginative combination of features (i.e. fox tails, antlers, wings, etc.).
While glamour does change a fae's physical appearance, it simultaneously is and is not an illusion. It's a form of magical plurality — when in effect, the fae is, for all intents and purposes, the thing that they have glamoured into. For example, a fae glamoured into a bird or glamoured to have wings can fly or shed feathers, making it more than an illusory guise. At the same time, the fae's true nature does not change — this means that those with a form of the Sight1 will perceive both the glamour and the "truth" that lies beneath it, like looking at a frustrating optical illusion puzzles. It's meant to be infuriating, as most things fae-related tend to be.
Fae generally operate under some form of glamour at all times. Their true form is not as powerful as their True Name, but fae are secretive creatures who prefer to play with their cards held close to their chest at all times. It is theorized that the only way to witness a fae's true form is to kill it, at which point their glamour fades. Some fae have monstrous or inhuman true forms, while others mostly appear to be what one would expect. The Sight exposes a fae's nature, but in an ambiguous way — it doesn't reveal specific details of the true form beneath.
The Unseelie fae tend to have more animalistic True Forms — antlers, too many teeth, and unusual colorations — while the Seelie are generally more gracefully designed — flowers, shimmer, wings, and, like the Unseelie, unusual colorations.
PHYSICALITY.
Although fae possess heightened senses, speed, and strength, they are considerably weaker than werecreatures, yōkai, vampires, and dragons. They are vulnerable to injury and even death, but they heal much more quickly than humans.
GEASA.
Geas (plur. geasa) is a uniquely fae spell. Some may consider it a curse, others may consider it a gift. The geasa are similar to taboos, contracts, or vows. As long as a person abides by the geas, they are gifted enhanced strength and uncanny luck. But, the moment they break their geas, a terrible fate is not far behind. It is common faerie trickery to try and place several geasa on humans and put them in situations where upholding one geas would mean breaking another.
weaknesses.
COLD-FORGED IRON.
Cold-forged iron, under very specific conditions, has the ability to simultaneously repel and harm a fae. For example, nailing an object made of cold iron, usually aluminum, to an entrance can prevent a fae from entering the building. Its efficacy depends on the amount present, however. A small amount of cold-forged iron, i.e. the amount present in an aluminum can, might tickle a fae’s skin, but an object made specifically with the purpose of deterring a fae might burn through their skin entirely.
TRUE NAME.
A fae’s True Name is essentially their real name. Considering their rather elusive nature, then, it is unsurprising that they keep this name to themselves—but there’s more to it than that. Knowing a fae’s true name ultimately gives a person dominion over that specific fae. Their True Name, in the wrong hands, can be detrimental to a fae, but it is not completely unheard of for a fae to share their True Name with a trusted loved one.
THE SIGHT.
As mentioned, fae often rely on their glamours. Those with the Sight can see through a fae’s glamour, but the Sight is not powerful enough to fully expose a fae. Specifically, they cannot see details that should be obvious to the naked eye, i.e. a fae’s true form, but those with the Sight can identify a glamour in place.
THEIR BLOOD.
Fae blood has addictive properties and its consumption has resulted in many deaths. Humans may crave their blood as they would crave any scheduled drug, but humans alone rarely threaten fae. These addictive properties, however, make them extremely appetizing to vampires, who have been known to seek them out for this reason. Unfortunately, once their blood is consumed, it is very difficult for vampires to refrain from draining a fae dry.
THE TRUTH.
Fae cannot lie, but that doesn’t mean everything they say is trustworthy. They are old hands at duplicity, and know best the ways to spin words to make them seem trustworthy. Everything has a double meaning to the fae. They are masters at weaving their webs of glamor and illusion and falsities wrapped in truths. Speak too long with them, and you might accidentally enter eternal servitude.
subspecies.
Fae subspecies are varied and many, but all can be sorted into five main groupings: The Dagda, The Morrigan, The Dian Cecht, The Gaibhne, and The Manandán.
The Dagda.
The Dagda class of trooper faeries which make up the large majority of fae court and uphold a very strict sense of court hierarchy; they are the most powerful of the faeries with the most diverse abilities.
Included: alven, tylwyth teg, aes sídhe
The Morrigan.
The Morrigan class of faeries encompasses all fae associated with death and the Otherworld. Primarily, Fae that fall under the Morrigan classification have the ability to foresee the deaths of humans and other creatures. This oracular ability is unique to the Morrigan subspecies. The Morrigan subspecies are most commonly Solitary fae or associated with the Unseelie Court.
Included: banshee, fetch, bean-nighe, barghest, dallahan, fear gorta, black dogs
The Dian Cecht.
The Dian Cecht class of faerie are considered the “healers” of the fae. However, the term healer takes on a much more sinister meaning when associated with Faeries. While some may genuinely care to heal wounds of humans and other creatures, most associate their “healing” with hunting. By hunting humans and other creatures, they heal the land and their realm from the wounds inflicted by them. The Dian Cecht can be some of the most monstrous and vicious of fae folk and quite often the subspecies included in this classification are often associated with the Unseelie Court.
Included: baobhan sith, kelpies, tooth fairies, rusalkas
The Gaibhne.
The Gaibhne class of faeries encompasses all fae associated with home, hearth and craftsmanship. Most of the Gaibhne are mild creatures, if not proud and easily offended. But, many of them have a history of choosing to live alongside humanity finding it more beneficial than staying within their own realm. Due to their history of choosing to live among humans, away from their own realm the fae that comprises the Gaibhne tend to make up the majority of those classified as Domestic Fae.
Included: hobgoblin, leprechaun, brownies, kobolds, pixies
The Manandán.
The Manandán class of faerie encompasses all the faefolk who associate strongly with one of the four elements: earth, fire, water, air. The Manandán is perhaps the most varied, and extensive, class of fae compared to the others. Just as the subspecies are varied and many, their alliances are especially so. There is no specific designation, alliance or court that appeals to all the Manandán, with the exception that the Manandán subspecies rarely make a Domestic Fae. The only thing that all subspecies of the Manandán Class have in common are their wildness and sense of freedom.
Included: sylph, greenmen, nymph/satyr, puca
ORGANIZATION & SOCIETY.
For our purposes, there are three social types of fae: solitary, trooper, and domestic. They would not identify themselves as such but these categories naturally manifest in fae society. Solitary fae prefer to avoid cities or anywhere both humans and other creatures gather and live much like a hermit might. They are rarely seen in the company of others. Trooper fae are known for living in the Courts, and are almost always surrounded by other Fae or creatures that they deem worthy. Domestic fae are those who have chosen to live more closely aligned with humans, usually within human abodes or cities.
Fae are free to align themselves with either the Seelie or Unseelie courts, or neither of them, regardless of their subspecies. Some subspecies are more likely to be aligned with one of the two courts, but there is no hard and fast rule. This is a very personal choice, more so than political, depending on an individual’s moral priorities. Once a fae is aligned to one of the two courts, they are unable to leave and their physical appearance begins to reflect that of their court. There are also fae who choose not to identify themselves as either Seelie or Unseelie; these are usually classified as solitary or domestic fae.
the seelie courts.
The Seelie fae are considered the more benevolent of the fae, and often display their adoration for humans in strange ways, such as swapping the child of a human and a fae. This, despite what mythos says, truly is considered a gift by them. To have a fae child is much better than a stupid, boring human. Right? Right?! Seelie nobility only have memories of the past five or so centuries, and though the royals have been alive much longer than that, no one actually remembers anything beyond. It’s absolutely nothing to be worried about.
Split into two courts — summer and spring. By nature of its beauty, seelie land is far more dangerous to mortals, by virtue that it is far, far more welcoming that the unseelie wilds. Beautiful, luscious fields of flowers, warmth that infuses everything, the soft breath of music in the air, it's a place you will never want to leave. A place you likely never will.
the unseelie courts.
Only a handful of Unseelie are older than five centuries. This has nothing to do with the above, do not worry, do not fret.
The Unseelie courts are considered, by far, the worst of the two courts, as creatures that actively take part in and enjoy the suffering of mortals. Like all things with the fae, it's a little more complicated than that. The Wild Hunt resides within the unseelie lands, headed (sometimes) by the king of the fae, when he deigns to appear. Many have met their end at the hand of the Wild Hunt, who pursue their targets across all lands. Blood-thirsty baying sounds on the wind. Have you locked your doors tonight?
Bathed in eternal twilight and frost, their lands are strange, cold, and beautiful. The plants here are poisonous, the creatures more deadly and unhinged, shifting in the shadow and light, and the magic that inhabits their plane seems far more… alive. You can almost hear it in the ear, shimmering and crackling. Split into two courts who are each ruled by a family, but both courts are technically led by the King of the Unseelie. Fortunately, he doesn’t appear often, and the royals are left to do as they please, even knowing they are mere figureheads.
INTERSPECIES RELATIONS.
Fae tend to adopt very specific positions with certain species: vampires, merrow, humans, and witches.
Otherwise, their relations with other species are person-to-person dependent. Fae generally are frustrating to interact with, so most species tend to be cautious around them once they realize what they are dealing with.
MYTHS.
These things do not apply:
All fae have wings. Untrue, though some do possess wings as a part of their true form. That said, it is not uncommon for fae to glamour themselves a set of fresh wings.
All fae are tiny. Rather, fae come in many different shapes and sizes. One shoe does not fit all.
All fae are beautiful and ethereal. Some actually look quite monstrous, though they typically choose a more palatable appearance.
Fae are immortal. This is only semi-true, as they are long-lived but can be killed.
1 such as psychics, dragons, and certain humans, or witches upon casting a spell to gain the Sight
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The most Slytherin thing I’ve done yet...
Okay, so, I’m REALLY competitive. I will do anything within the rules of any game or sport to win, sometimes even using the lack of certain rules to my advantage. I’m really open to alliances, especially in games where there can be more than one winner. Even in games where only one person wins, I’ll be cooperative if it doesn’t hurt me and I’ll typically team up with someone to take out a threat. My friends who’ve known me for longer know this and are particularly wary of me in games, but recently I’ve joined a new elective course and made some new friends in that class and though they know I’m competitive, they also know I’m cooperative, and they don’t truly know how far I’m willing to go. I’m vicious even in meaningless games, but I’d never really gotten a chance to show them that. Until now.
So we’re in class and all of my friends and I are done with all our work. I had a deck of cards on me that day, and we decided we were gonna play cards. It was a block schedule that day so the class period was about two hours. After a few short games of cards we decided that we had plenty of time to play a long game. After many suggestions, we settled on Old Maid.
For those of you who don’t know what Old Maid is, it’s pretty simple. (Those that do know can skip this paragraph) You divide the deck completely between however many players. Sometimes multiple decks are used. The whole deck is in besides jokers and queens, except one queen. This queen is the old maid. The goal of the game is to get rid of your hand and not have the old maid by the end of the game. The way you do that is by getting four of a kind. Once you do that, you can set those four down. You go around the table and on your turn you draw one card from someone else’s hand. That’s how the old maid gets passed around. There’s only one loser, and the rest are winners. Simple enough.
So we’re playing, and the old maid gets passed around. Fast forward to the point where we all know one of the girls have it because they’ve accidentally showed everyone the card. No one was pulling from her, but she was egging me to do so, holding up a particular card above the rest. I, getting annoyed and being pretty confident she was bluffing since that was her thing, pull the card. I look and see I pulled the old maid. She hadn’t been bluffing.
Now, as a side, one of my friends had become my sort of partner throughout the game. If she needed a seven or something and I had it, I’d hold it up above the rest and she’d take it, and if I needed a card she’d do the same. The friend who suggested the game warned us not to do that, but there was no rule against it. We knew who had the old maid so it wasn’t like we could betray each other. That gave us a unique trust that the game doesn’t typically allow. We were plowing through cards together, and we were pretty much unstoppable. We had the lowest amount of cards, so we saw nothing but benefits to this alliance and ignored the warnings.
Maybe my little ally should have listened.
So, I pulled the old maid, and didn’t react for a second. I was already formulating a plan in my mind. I smirked at her and put the card in the deck, making it seem like I’d called her bluff. Everyone still thought she had the old maid. I waited patiently, hoping that someone would just be unlucky enough to pull it, but no one was. After a few turns, my ally asked if I had a Jack. I just so happened to have one. I asked her if she had a three. She said yes. That’s how we typically established deals. When her turn came around she turned to me, waiting expectantly. I slid one card above the others and she plucked it out of my hand, and when she went to put into her deck, she froze, her jaw dropping open. She stared at me with a mix of betrayal and anger that was so potent that the whole table could feel it. Everyone knew what happened, and I’m sure the girl who warned us muttered “I told you so”.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, I gave my friend the old maid instead of the promised Jack.
I was laughing so hard I was doubled over in my chair with tears streaming down my face with everyone not at the table staring at me like I was insane. After I calmed down we continued the game with everyone avoiding her hand like the plague, including me. Since she had so few cards, it typically wasn’t a necessity to draw from it to get four.
Even by the end of the game she never managed to pass on the old maid and ended up being the only loser in the game. One of the players made a comment about me giving her a death sentence betraying her like that and all I said back was “at least it wasn’t my head on the chopping block”
One of my favorite things about being a Slytherin is my ability to build these bridges for myself so I can use them and burn them to cover my escape. Being able to weave a social network where I can cut threads if need be without ruining the fabric. I really like being able to create situations in which I benefit no matter what the outcome; it makes me feel so powerful.
Slytherins get these reputations about being badasses and not playing by the rules, but’s that’s not it. Slytherins build empires within the four by four confines of the rules, breaking those needed but following enough to where there’s no trouble caused that’ll effect you. Sometimes we don’t even need to break the rules to get what we want, whether it be world domination or victory in a simple card game.
#harry potter#slytherin#slytherin pride#slytherin things#betrayal#old maid#card games#proud to be slytherin#worse than monopoly#i saw the hurt in her eyes#and i loved it#competitive#traitor
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