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#like i appreciate the effort but was it necessary? was it kind? was it true?

pix3lplays · 11 months

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Honkai star rail men parenting headcanons

Dan Heng: Dan Heng would be a very strict, serious father. He’s a little distant, but he loves his children, even when he has a hard time expressing that. His children will be well-behaved and a little uptight, just like their dad. He’s very nervous about having kids of his own, but he handles it pretty well, even though he’s a little too strict. His kids appreciate his efforts when they’re older, and they respect their dad. He has a tendency of sheltering them though, so they don’t have to go through the kind of stress and anxiety he goes through. A ‘because I said so’ dad. He would have 1-2 children.

Gepard Landau: would also be a strict parent, but unlike Dan Heng, he’s able to be more open and honest about his emotions with his children. He explains things to them a little better than Dan Heng. He also wants them to grow up having fun and enjoying life, and that’s where Auntie Serval comes in. Even though he thinks she’s a little too reckless with the kids sometimes, he appreciates her help teaching them how to enjoy life. He knows he’s too uptight with the kids sometimes, so he strives to be like Serval on occasion, which leads to mixed messages with the kids. But it’s okay! Overall he’s a very good dad, strict but gentle and fair, and knows when to allow fun if the moment is appropriate. He would have 3 children.

Jing Yuan: is basically already a father to Yanqing, so when it’s time for his own kids to come along, he’s very prepared and very ready to be the best father he can be. He’s not strict and his rules are fair, and he’s very gentle with his children. However when the time comes for discipline he is not going to be overly lenient. He knows discipline is necessary, and he gives it when it’s required. He teaches them to be gentle human beings, especially through interacting with animals. He wants them to grow up kind-hearted and respectful, and he does a great job at training this into them. He’s not nervous at all to be a father, at least, if he is he doesn’t show it to you. He’s a natural at this parenting thing, and even though he’s a very busy man, he strives to make time for his family when he can. He would have 1-5 children.

Welt Yang: was surprised when he became a father. He kinda figured he was too old for this sort of thing, but here he is now. He’s a fairly decent dad, a little strict and uptight, but that’s because he’s so, so very nervous to be a father, whether he shows that to you or not. He’s constantly worrying about his performance as a father, and if his kids are okay. Not necessarily a ‘helicopter parent’ but pretty close. His anxiety sometimes rubs off on his kids, and they tend to worry about things that haven’t happened yet, like their father. He feels bad about passing his anxiety to his children, but because of it they end up careful and aware of their surroundings, just like dear old dad. They love their father, but sometimes he’s a bit overwhelming. He loves to draw his children, they mean the world to him, after all. He would have 2-3 children.

Sampo Koski: any kids with Sampo are purely accidents. He doesn’t want kids, he thinks he’d be a bad father and it’s true. Maybe deep down he does love his kids, but he’s a very absent dad, always away at ‘work’. And when he does come home, he’s not good at discipline or interacting with his children, and he tends to just buy them whatever they want to keep them out of his hair. Let’s them get away with whatever as long as they leave him alone, but the problem is they tend to act out just to get their dad’s attention. It’s a real issue having to raise the kids on your own. You argue with him about it sometimes, and he always pulls the same excuses and you just don’t know what to do about it. The kids don’t really…care for their dad. He’s just…some guy who lives with them. And yeah, he cares about his kids, he wants them to grow up healthy and happy, but he’s not supposed to be a father, he simply wasn’t meant to be one. He’d have 2-4 children.

thank you so much for reading~

#Honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #Dan Heng #hsr Dan Heng x reader #Gepard Landau #Dan Heng x reader #gepard landau x reader #hsr Gepard x reader #welt yang #welt yang x reader #hsr welt yang x reader #Jing Yuan #Jing Yuan x reader #hsr Jing Yuan x reader #Sampo Koski #sampo x reader #hsr Sampo x reader #My writing

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dmagedgoods · 5 months

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Imagine the father you hate sends you a talking sex toy

It may be born from expecting some cunning and twisted games from devils (where is the fun, otherwise?), but to merely take Raphael's and Haarlep's relationship the very way it's presented without further thought appears like signing the line without reading the words to me. What they do there clearly has layers. Raphael is smart, he has to be for those contracts, the manipulations, and his little ambitious plan. Furthermore, it's essential for him to stay careful. He, more than anyone, should know not to trust Haarlep. And he most certainly is highly aware. Imagine you want to surpass your fiendish father and he gifts you a toy incubus. What would you do with them? I, at least, know what I would not do with this gift: Order it to take the form(s) of those I most desire (or, worse, cherish to a point) or even fuck it. Now, Raphael is a devil (with a strong human side, fight me, but still a devil): of course, he fucks Haarlep anyway and maybe not to appear ungrateful too (after all, you want Daddy to think you appreciate his gift or at least paint the surface-level impression of it). But he only fucks Haarlep in quite a special way, does he not? - In the one and only way that gives nothing away about him. Or at least it gives nothing away about him that his father (and anyone, really) doesn't already know (or is supposed to know): That Raphael has a very high opinion of himself. Maybe it's even an abstract little joke. I, for my part, see some dry humor in it: His daddy sends this shapeshifting, form stealing incubus spy to get some information on how to pressure his son, should it become a necessity. But all he gets from said incubus spy is the statement that his son only ever fucks himself. "Raphael only loves Raphael." That definitely is what I would want my incubus sex toy to report back to my detested father. (If I was a devil, mind you.) Now Raphael doesn't put that much effort into the act, it seems, but that's not truly necessary after all and only serves him further: I don't think he fancies Haarlep gossiping about his actual sexual preferences with Mephistopheles either. Ah, now maybe Haarlep and Raphael despise each other or maybe they developed a fondness for each other, I can picture both, but it stays true that Raphael doesn't seem like the kind of man who would willingly allow someone to gain an advantage over him by allowing personal information to spread to those he's determined to outsmart. Of course, I guess, it's also a possibility that this 1000+-years-old cambion truly only ever lazily bottoms for his father's incubus toy and only ever while it looks (more or less) like himself because that's all he wants in this regard. Maybe devils are immune to boredom. I, for my part, strongly assume it's a game with daddy dearest.

#raphael bg3 #bg3 raphael #raphael #haarlep #bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 spoilers #“don't read schemes into it”#some people wrote #“just accept what's plainly stated”#and that's quite funny #given the fact that we're talking about devils #dmagedrambles

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aibloomie · 1 year

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GESTURES THEY LIKE RECIEVING

✧ featuring — xiao, scaramouche/wanderer, ganyu, thoma x gn!reader

woo one week break from school <3 hopefully I get motivation to write more throughout it. I was listening to lana the entire time while writing this guys just thought you should know HELP wait does thoma even have a house I forgot

XIAO

━ his heart aches to be more involved in mortal activities, no matter how stoic he acts when he hears about them. he fails to maintain that nonchalant facade when he is with you though, because his one true desire is to feel worthy of you and he cannot achieve that without bettering his understanding of you. so his heart flutters whenever you ask him out on a date, or suggest he accompany you to an event held by the people of liyue. he might feel a little overwhelmed at first, but you are his lover and safe space so he eases into it. holding onto your hand and walking alongside you in the crowded and lively streets of liyue make him believe he has a chance at happiness.

━ he finds it very romantic when you cook for him, mostly because his diet is limited to almond tofu and grilled tiger fish because of the comforting taste they bring to him. the idea of you gathering/buying all the ingredients and cooking those dishes with his preferences in mind makes his mind feel fuzzy with nothing but love and appreciation for you. he will not fail to thank you and return the gesture in his own way. as he is eating it, thoughts of how much effort you make for him flood his mind. he'll look up and make eye contact with those pretty eyes of yours and see the excitement in your expression as you watch him eat something you made for HIM <3 and he'll actually feel very emotional in that moment, because he knows just how much you cherish him

WANDERER

━ his reoccurring fear of abandonment is eased whenever you mention that something reminded you of him. when you are away he cannot help but succumb to the tormenting thought that you will not come back, and will instead discard him as if he were a mere doll. guilt clouds his mind, but you are his beacon of pure and loving light in his new chance of living and redemption, so he waits and aches for your presence. you always return though, and fill his ears with joyful tales of your journey. occasionally, you drop in some comments on things you saw along the way that brought your mind back to him, such as: the indigo bouquets of flowers in a merchant's stall that made you think of your lovers hair, or the gust of wind that made you remember his ameno abilities. his eyes will soften as you continue with your stories, he realizes that he is always in your thoughts and you always intend to return back to him and continue to love him

━ the matching accessories he receives from you will never leave his body unless it is absolutely necessary. if you gift him even ten matching bracelets then he will wear every single one of them, even if the color schemes do not mix well with his outfits. he finds himself toying with them whenever he thinks of you, and his lips turn into an almost unnoticeable bashful smile at the thought of you having the other pair

GANYU

━ you are the one person who gives back to ganyu, and does not ask anything of her. most of the time her mind is flooded with a long to do list of tasks she needs to finish in order to attend to the people of liyue. you, on the other hand, chase behind her and try to make her rest. you take care of her, and it takes her a while to get used to your kindness and concern. she would have never guessed that a gentle massage from you would make her feel better than pleasing other people. she looks up at you with tired eyes when your hands make their way to relieve all the stress carried in her temples, and she truly believes she has been blessed because someone has rewarded her for all her hard work

━ because she has walked the terrain of liyue for uncountable years, time seems to slip like sand from her fingers. she looks at you sometimes and feels her heart ache because it feels like each minute with you is going to become a memory prematurely. for this reason, she likes it when you are physically affectionate with her, but in a slow and steady way. once you wrap your arms around her, she feels like time has frozen and it feels euphoric, as if she can reflect on every single memory she has in her long lifetime, and can still be in your arms when she has finished.

━ ganyu is very insecure about not only her abilities, but her appearance. she doesn't outwardly seek it, but any words of affirmation coming from you make her heart burst and cheeks redden. remind her of her everlasting beauty, make it your goal for her to be able to look into the mirror and feel worthy when she sees her reflection

THOMA

━ thoma does not feel comfortable or safe in the confines of his own home. you on the other hand, make him feel safer than what four steady walls and a sturdy roof over his head could. he likes it when you cling onto him and make your desire to be in his presence known. he could easily fall asleep outside if you were right next to him. you are his home, the comforting one that he has been seeking for his entire life. he worries for you, but also feels your loving warmth spread throughout his body when you insist on staying right by his side

━ he always tells you not to, but he appreciates it when you help him out with anything he needs to get done. running errands is very common for him as he is always helping people out. having you accompany him reminds him that he does not need to burden himself with everything, especially because he has your sweet and loving self supporting him

#genshin x reader #genshin headcanons #xiao x reader #genshin fluff #genshin impact x reader #thoma x reader #scaramouche x reader #wanderer x reader #ganyu x reader

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julianottheastrologer · 2 years

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⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ Synastry – My Moon in my partner’s house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

⤷ Reuploaders, please read this!!!

Everything I post here is part of my work that I take seriously, I study astrology, fortune-telling and marketing daily and everything is done with great care and effort. I already have Instagram and TikTok, but I don't see a problem with you doing the reploud.

BUT PLEASE GIVE CREDITS IN THE WAY I WILL SAY IT NOW.

TIKTOK - tag @juliafranciscco

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By doing this, you collaborate a lot with my work and help me to continue doing it with more willingness, as it is difficult for me to have spent my time and money and not receive even credits.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 1st house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You instantly feel safe with your partner. You relax your guard around your partner, feel comfortable opening up your life and sharing your personal side with him/her, and have an instinctual sensation that you "connect" with him/her and that he/she will be there for you. You have a tendency to believe that your partner feels the same way. Your partner is moved by you and the emotional openness you bring to the relationship, affecting a kind and sensitive side of your partner. You bring out a sensitive side in your companion that you may not have known existed, as well as his or her most caring and gentle side.

As long as you are emotionally sensitive, this is a gentle and caring partnership. If you wish to be in a long-term relationship, this aspect indicates a favorable sensitivity to events, particularly marriage. You will most likely form a sensitive bond. That is, a relationship in which both of you enjoy being in each other's presence.

You immediately sense the need to visibly appear in your partner's presence, and you will experience a familiar form of behavioral cooperation with your partner, instinctively identifying those aspects of your everyday approach to life that mirror your own temperamental tendencies. Your companion may be able to plant a seed of an idea in your head at times.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 2nd house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

Rather than romance, you cherish your relationship as a source of emotional fulfillment. Besides, you two may appear to be identical, but you are not. Emotional fulfillment is not about meeting only your own wants, whereas romance is understanding what the other person needs without needing to offer something back is necessary. Naturally, if your partner feels this way about you, they may be insecure about you. As a result, she/he may exhibit possessive behavior. If your partner is not inherently earthy and/or possessive, this will not be an issue; however, if he/she is already possessive, the touch he/she has with you may aggravate this trait, preventing the love from blossoming.

You both have a physical value to each other. You recognize common values, often related to what you learned in childhood and upbringing. Just as you share the same opinions on how to raise a child. You value yourself, but true love is not defined by material love. True love is conscious of both its own strengths and shortcomings. Your personal characteristics will determine whether or not you are comfortable in this partnership. If you or your partner appreciates a "butterflies in the stomach" style of romance, this connection can be really boring to you. This partnership, on the other hand, is a good fit if you want a pragmatic, earth-minded person.

You may recognize your partner as a naturally stabilizing influence who is eager to assist you in making the most of your resources. You may have an instinct to give him/her sound advice on where to spend his/her savings and how to maximize his/her profits while conserving resources.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 3rd house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You enjoy how your partner enters your life and how he or she goes about things, and you find it appealing that you are a helpful person who encourages their priorities. He/she know this and likes that attitude and finds themselves thinking about you frequently. This relationship is smooth, peaceful, and productive; together, you can accomplish a lot at work and have flexibility in everyday life. You don't irritate your partner; on the contrary, you communicate well with him/her.

You can be captivated by your partner's brain works and how he or she approaches your mental challenges. His/her principles can provoke your mental reactions, either positively or negatively. If there is any emotional discord in your relationship, it will inhibit an accurate comprehension of the principles each of you wants to communicate. A mental association of the same proportion can be developed when promoting helpful emotions.

You can play a role in sowing the seeds of a new idea in your partner's mind, and you can assist in contacting sources of useful information that augment and complement your own ideas. However, you may have a tendency to put these things on a false trail of thought, or you may completely lack sympathy for their ideas.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 4th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You might have mixed feelings about your partner. On the one hand, you have a strong bond with him/her. The bond you feel is not of the fairy tale variety, but rather an ancestral bond, such as that shared by siblings and close family members. If you believe in reincarnation, this relationship indicates that you were very close to your partner in a previous life.

On the other hand, you, like siblings, feel competitive with your partner. You can also feel like a "parent" to him or her. You feel the need to assert your authority in the relationship. You both have a strong sense that your roots run deep. In a love relationship, this is not an easy position to be in. When you interact with your partner, you may arouse something so deep within him/her that he/she may require some time away to relax.

This relationship has a depth and intensity that is uncomfortable for both of you. The high level of tension and energy between you makes it difficult to be with your partner for an extended period of time. If you create a relationship that accepts your most primal needs with acceptance, understanding, and respect, the relationship becomes like brothers who like each other, if accepting it other shadow is hard… so the relationship will absolutely be too.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 5th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

Your partner instills in you a strong sense of pleasure. You have the impression that she/ he is an indescribably adorable work of art or a musical melody in motion. "This one is perfect! why aren't the rest like this?" you think of your partner. It's not that your partner is perfect, but when you're with them, your senses are filled with pleasure.

You completely let down your emotional guard and seek out ways to be with your partner simply because their presence cheers you up and surrounds you with a sense of beauty and sweetness, creating an emotional connection and especially looking to your partner for fun and pleasurable activities. He/she becomes a person who is flattered by your appreciation and gains a sense of pride from your attention. They respond with warmth and love, and they enjoy both the emotional and lighter aspects of the relationship.

You two have a good time together. Your dates are outings are enjoyable. Love has a lot of room to grow and thrive here. You will be drawn to how your partner uses their talents, how they project themself through attitudes toward the entire range of creative and pleasurable activities.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 6th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You have conflicting feelings about your partner. On the one hand, you feel obligated to him/her. Your partner, on the other hand, believes you place a burden or responsibility on him/her. And they may sense your sense of obligation, and you may unconsciously assume that your partner is yours to do favors and services for you. This can also go the other way, where you become a servant. One of you is constantly trying to assist and support the other. You may be wondering why you are carrying such a heavy load.

If you are not overly self-absorbed and have integrity and character, this relationship can be productive and beneficial, and you are working together. You believe in each other's abilities and don't need to double-check or redo work because of "incompetence."

If either of you is unethical or overly demanding, this relationship could turn you into a martyr. Your partner is aware of all of your sacrifices but is powerless to intervene. You will be drawn to the sacrifice illogically and then resent your partner.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 7th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You feel safe in the presence of your partner. You have the impression that your partner will not make judgement on you and will accept you as a father would his children. It's only natural for them to be together. You might want to spend all of your time with him/her. There is some tension (as in any relationship), but it is mostly smooth, comfortable, and complementary. You two are willing to accept each other. Your partner likes you as a person and finds you pleasant and harmonious. Your partner frequently wants to be there for you emotionally.

It's not thrilling or exciting. Instead, staying in that relationship provides a sense of security, making it extremely difficult to break (for better or worse). It is one of the most powerful influences on marriage. You may have an intuitive understanding of how to complement and balance the most important aspects of your partner's personality. You can help to broaden your partner's circle of friends by putting them in touch with a variety of helpful people and generally spreading your partner's reputation.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 8th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

Your partner messes with your psyche and stirs up the demons most of us keep hidden in our subconscious. You may consciously desire things that are normally unacceptable in society in this relationship, but you are unable to control the dark urges that your partner awakens in you. A compulsive desire for sex, extreme possessiveness, lust for power, and greed are all possible.

If the individual traits have a fair amount of restraint, you may be able to contain your demons and enjoy a deep, emotional connection in which you have affection as well as an understanding of the taboos that surround it and make for a healthy relationship. A relationship in which the desire for the other person never dies.

If one of the partners has an aversion to having a deep connection, after the demons are revealed, both appear less attractive to each other. You could end a relationship only to have it resurrected years later.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 9th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You idealize your partner and have all kinds of noble perceptions about him/her, and being able to see him/her as a heroic, brilliant, inspired person, etc. You put it on a pedestal, and in some cases, you might feel like your partner is so big that they end up out of your life. You really admire your partner, and he/she is inspired by that to be an even better person. In fact, you bring out the best in him/her, who feels it, and can become emotionally attached to you. They may feel like they can't do anything great without you, or they may become dependent on their admiration for you as a source of inspiration.

There's more to this than just love. You have some things in common. The admiration is strong because you share similar views on politics, religion, and socially acceptable behavior in relation to the same causes. People are drawn to others who think and act similarly to them. While this isn't very romantic, it does have a positive impact on any relationship.

As previously stated, you may believe your partner is too far away from you. This can manifest physically as well, as it can be a long-distance relationship. In any case, there is a lot of love, admiration, and respect in this relationship.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 10th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You are uneasy with your partner, despite the fact that you are together for practical reasons. He or she may be a "big deal," but the lack of emotional closeness in this relationship makes you feel emotionally ill. You may believe that your partner is extremely selfish. This is a good situation for a business relationship, but it's not ideal for romance. Individual characteristics, however, must be considered. If the two of you are primarily concerned with worldly success or achievement, you may benefit from collaborating with them.

You two might want each other as a "trophy." This is a relationship of the "love trophy" variety. This relationship simply adds a practical reason for the two of them to be together. You will instinctively understand what your partner wants out of life, you will share your goals, and you will both want to succeed. Because of your obvious confidence in your abilities, your partner may be inspired to go the extra mile, which could mean the difference between success and failure. You will understand how to nurture your ambitions and will be able to make suggestions to help bring out some of your latent talents.

Your suggestions may also open up career opportunities for your partner, and you may feel obligated to adopt a somewhat parental attitude toward them, gently pushing them toward a specific goal and being especially concerned about protecting your reputation from attack.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 11th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You consider your partner to be a "dream partner." And you believe he/she is the answer to all of your hopes and dreams. You instinctively feel at ease in the presence of your partner. They sense it, and as a result, they are at ease in your presence. You both feel comfortable being yourself in this relationship. And you're not concerned with keeping up appearances. Neither of you appears to be concerned with what the other will think. Even if you disagree on some issues, you feel accepted by each other.

This relationship demonstrates that neither can be truly annoyed or upset with the other. You and your partner seem to have known each other your entire lives. In extreme cases, this relationship can be described as a "sand castle." Consider yourselves fortunate to have broken through the castle gates. For many, this relationship is an unrealistic fantasy that makes you smile when you think of your partner.

You may feel a natural attraction to your partner. And they will be able to appreciate the ideals that they hold dear, as well as show a friendly concern for their overall well-being. You might first meet by being connected with a group formed to pursue some common ideal. This is frequently indicative of a genuine friendship bond.

⊹ ⋆ﾟ꒰ఎ My Moon in my partner’s 12th house ໒꒱ ⋆ﾟ⊹ 𓂅

You have the impression that you are unable to learn anything about your partner's personal life. And you have the impression that you are concealing something, even if you are not. Your partner will sense this, and no one likes to be accused of concealing something. He or she may then respond, suspecting you as the suspicious person in the first place. As you can see, this is a tense relationship rather than a peaceful one.

There is no logical reason for a lack of trust, but your inner feelings keep you and your partner suspicious of each other. Instead of love, this relationship has the potential to breed paranoia. Even if you have an initial attraction for each other, this relationship can make you feel insecure in their presence. Accusations and a lack of trust can harm both of you. The hurt feelings are very deep, and this relationship may not be able to survive them.

This type of relationship could be maintained by very selfless people, those with the emotional toughness of a monk. The vast majority of normal people are concerned with their own feelings and cannot tolerate this type of relationship. You may be able to recognize your partner's problems and detect weaknesses instinctively. You are likely to be especially charitable to them, and you will be eager to protect your partner if you believe they are in a situation where one of their vulnerable points is likely to be attacked.

🎺 Thank your for your company, if you like it don't forget to like and reblog and of course, if you feel confortable leave you feedback.

Kisses,

Ju Francisco 💋

#madam saturn #astrology #astrology community #astroblr #astro notes #madam astrology #synastry #moon synastry

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thepaintedlady00 · 1 year

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Burden

Part 6

Part 5 | Part 7

TW: fluff, a bit of pining, Dream fucks everything up like he does, arguments, depictions of violence, the glass cage is here y'all so buckle up, ANGST, betrayal, character death? This cliffhanger is one of my worst, like honestly I apologize in advance! 😅

“Try this one,” Lucienne suggested, setting the large book down in front of you.

With a soft sigh, you looked up at her and smiled. “We’ve tried this one before, my friend. It held no words then, I do not expect it to now.”

She quietly cursed herself, taking the book back and studying the cover until the memory returned to her. “One moment! I’ll find another!”

“Lucienne,” you replied quietly, reaching out to take her hand. “I greatly appreciate your efforts, but this is hardly necessary.”

“Reading is a beautiful thing,” she insisted. “And I am determined to find a book among these endless shelves that you, my lady, can enjoy.”

“I do enjoy them,” you insisted. “Lord Morpheus has been kind enough to read many of them to me.”

Lucienne gave you a quick, fleeting glance with that knowing smile of hers. “Very true, but it is different to be read to and to read with one's own eyes.”

You shook your head, laughing at her persistence. “You’re not going to give this up, are you?”

“Of course not!” She cried out, returning to her shelves. “I am the librarian after all. It’s my duty to ensure all in this place find what they’re seeking.”

“Very well,” you relented with a smile.

It had been nearly a year since the passing of Puck, and you’d spent more time within The Dreaming than anywhere else. It was nice to have others around to fill the hole left by the loss of yet another companion. The pain would never truly fade, it never did, but at least you did not have to mourn alone. Lucienne offered you friendship and knowledge without reservation. The handyman, Mervyn, was quick to fill your free moments with laughter and projects. Jessamy showed you the best spots to sit in for a moment of peace. Cain and Abel and Gregory provided enough company to make you feel like you were part of a family, even one as dysfunctional as theirs. The Corinthian had been distant, but he always accompanied you for a walk along the beach when you’d asked… though he was far quieter now, far less open with you than he had been in the past he remained your best friend. And Dream… he did everything within his power to make you feel welcomed and at peace.

He often reminded you of the last shaping stone that you wore around your neck in a beautiful necklace that he’d crafted for you. He assured you it would be different than the others, that its life would never fade as theirs had, but you were still afraid. What if your presence corrupted even that? What if you lost this final companion just as you did the others? No. Your heart couldn’t bear such a thing, not so shortly after Puck.

You and Dream hadn’t spoken of that day. Not of the way you’d held his hand or cried in his arms, and certainly not of the way you sought his hand out every moment after. If it bothered him, he hid it well, but part of you wanted desperately to believe he craved the simple act of affection as much as you did.

Jessamy flew beside you as you made your way to Cain and Abel's garden for afternoon tea. It had become a lovely ritual between you, one that had begun with an argument over whose house was best suited for tea and which brother had better cakes. Eventually, after Cain stabbed Abel once or twice, you all came to the agreement that tea in the garden would be just fine. You crossed the bridge and sadly smiled at the brother covered in dirt, beating his clothing off beside his door. “How deep did he bury you this time?”

Abel perked up at the sound of your voice. “Oh, not that deep! It was a small argument, so he just shoved me into the hole rather than buried me.”

“I am glad you did not have to dig your way out this time,” you said, quietly helping him.

“It wouldn’t be that horrible,” the man insisted, his smile never faltering. “Gregory would have helped.”

You heard the large creature leap down behind you, seeking to startle you as he always did. You let him, of course, the look of pride Gregory had was well worth the prolonged wait. He finally made a loud roaring noise and you jumped, twisting around with your hand over your heart. “Goodness! Gregory, darling creature I didn’t hear you!”

He huffed, rubbing his snout against you and sniffing at Abel with a light sneeze. Cain slammed his door shut and set the table without a word. Abel gestured to the plant you’d helped them with. “It grew another leaf!”

Bending over slightly, you examined the still small and frail plant with a silver stem and pale leaves. “That’s wonderful progress.”

“It’ll bloom in no time, I just know it!”

“Teas ready!” Cain hollered, dragging all of you over to the table. “It won’t be awful this time because it’s my tea we used.”

You thanked him as he filled your cup. The brothers used the same tea, though you weren’t going to be the one to tell them this. That certainly was a job for their king. “It’s lovely, Cain.”

Jessamy perched on the table, carefully dipping her beak into a cup of her own. “Tastes the same to me as the last one.”

Cain gave her a cold look. “It’s hardly the same! Your bird taste buds are just weak.”

“If you say so,” she mumbled taking a small piece of cake and eating it.

After drinking tea and having a slice of cake you always remained to play with Gregory. He tossed the ball high up into the air before bouncing it off his beak toward you. You weren't as good at the game as he was, but you both seemed to enjoy the company and simple rules.

When the sun began to set over the garden you bid your friends farewell and made your way toward the palace where Dream waited for you on the bridge. You couldn’t help the way your heartbeat stuttered at the sight of him, nor the way your cheeks burned and a smile formed. His head turned and one of the corners of his mouth twitched. “How was tea?”

“Lovely, as always,” you told him as the two of you fell into step with one another.

He hummed. “And the library? Did Lucienne have any luck finding you a book?”

You shook your head. “She did not, but it was still nice getting to spend time with her.”

“Shall we?” He gestured toward the path to the pier.

It had become a regular thing of Dream to accompany you through your work, one you appreciated greatly as he seemed to genuinely enjoy himself. “If you wish.”

“I do.”

You lifted your hand to him. “Then hold on.”

Things felt lighter with Morpheus beside you. The waters and those that dwelt within it felt warmer and safer. The dreams felt clear and your purpose felt almost good. There were nights when the darkness of the dreamer's fears was heavy, but on those nights you witnessed the mighty Dream of the Endless assert his power over his dominion to ease the shadow and dark.

The two of you walked hand in hand away from the pier, the soft quiet lapping of the water against the strong wood made you feel at ease beside him. The mist grew thicker and the familiar groans of the large trees echoed around you as your realm called you home.

“You can remain here,” Morpheus said, his hand softly squeezing yours.

“I know,” you said equally as softly. “But The Forest needs me, just as your realm needs you.”

He bowed his head. “I understand. Farewell, Daunt.”

You bowed in return. “Farewell, Morpheus. Will you visit tomorrow?”

“If that is your wish.”

“It is.”

He smiled. “Then I shall.”

The mist swirled around you, but your eyes never left his, not until he disappeared from your side completely. Back in the safety and quiet of your realm, you could let yourself feel the burning yearning that grew in your heart with each passing day. Here among the moss and the small flowers and trees, you could let yourself admit that you were becoming more attached to the being you once hated. Of course, you never let yourself think about it for long. You made your way back to your small hut and quietly shut the door, encasing the space in the heat from the fire.

Among your trinkets and the clothes Dream had made for you was an empty bed. You touched the stone around your neck as memories played in your head. Memories of Fern and Gaia and Puck and all the others that had warmed the bed while you were away and greeted you fondly when you returned. You missed each one of them so very much, and normally that would be enough to lead you to wake the stone, but now you had others to rely on. The Dreaming and those that lived within it were all you needed for now.

The Forest greeted you as it always did, with low groans and waves of mist. However, something felt different this time as you walked along the jagged path, something that became clear as you stopped at the bridge. The black-clad Endless stood looking out at the river, their blonde hair and gaudy shoulder pieces shifting in the light breeze. “Desire.”

“Finally! I’ve been waiting for ages.” They smirked. “Did you get enough beauty sleep?”

“What do you want?” You demanded, skipping over the fake polite conversation to get straight to the point and hopefully one step closer to their departure.

"You know how this will end, don't you Mistake?" Desire cooed as they looked back at you, their eyes cosmic blue and their hair messy and dark. "You will only ever be his consort, his whore, never his equal. Others far more beautiful and important have tried and failed before you. My big brother will never change."

"You're wrong." You said, ignoring the way your stomach lurched at the way their words. "He has changed."

Desire laughed and shook their head at you. "When my brother casts you aside, and he will cast you aside little Mistake, I hope you'll remember how I tried to warn you."

Just like before Desire left without another word, but the feeling of heaviness remained in your chest and lungs. The Forest still stank with their honeyed perfume and their bitter words. It only began to fade when another came, replacing the bitterness with sweetened ethereal stardust and citrus. Your heart felt lighter as you watched the thick trees bend their roots to forge a path for him.

Dream smiled, admiring the thick dark wood and emerald leaves. “It would seem your realm has at last taken a liking to me.”

“And to think all it took was a few hundred years and some good behavior.”

He tucked a strand of your hair back into place, his eyes sparkling as he gazed down at you. “Hello, Daunt.”

You couldn’t help but smile at the sound of your name rolling off his tongue so sweetly. “Hello, Morpheus.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Is everything well?”

“It is,” you said, choosing not to tell him of his siblings' sudden appearance and manipulating words.

Like most times Morpheus visited your realm the two of you walked among the trees and you showed him things that had changed or appeared since his last visit. The two of you retired to your home where you offered him tea and he inquired about some of the trinkets you’d collected over the years. As you told your stories, his eyes remained fixed on you, shining and bright and full of something you did not want to name. His soft laughter was intoxicating and you found it harder and harder to deny the truth to yourself.

The two of you sat in your wilted garden as you looked over a pile of books Lucienne had sent with the Dream Lord to see if any held words you could see. “With the stories you hold, I doubt you’ll find a book more interesting.”

You smiled at him. “My stories are hardly more interesting than the words you inspire in your dreamers.”

“On the contrary,” he insisted, the closeness of him making it hard to ignore his strong jaw and his perfectly shaped lips. “I would rather listen to your stories than hear that of the greatest dreamers.”

“Is it my stories that interest you, or my voice?” You teased.

“Can it not be both?”

A blush rose to your cheeks as you glanced away. “I suppose it could be.”

His cold fingers stroked down your cheek and curled around your chin, carefully turning your face back towards his. Your breath caught in your throat as he watched you. Those beautiful eyes you’d come to love so much focused on every part of your face before he spoke, “You are beautiful, Daunt. More beautiful than any book or dream I could ever inspire or create.”

“You give yourself too little credit.”

“You are the one that is not given enough credit,” he replied as your faces drifted closer.

It was a featherlight touch of your lips against his, so light you couldn’t consider it a kiss. After the spark of the sudden contact faded, you found yourself being pulled in closer until Dream's lips pressed fully to yours. All the air left your lungs as you moved with him, your hands fisting in his dark cloak and sliding up to feel the softness of his skin under your fingertips. Dream released your chin, only to cup the back of your neck and angle your head up giving him the access he needed to deepen the kiss.

All around you warmth spread and the sound of petals opening echoed in your ears until you had to pull away. Breathlessly you looked around, eyes wide and nearly full of tears at the sight of your garden full of blooming flowers of every size and color. Dream chuckled, pressing his lips to your jaw for a short moment. “That was unexpected.”

You looked back at him and smiled, cupping his face in your hands. “They’re beautiful, thank you.”

“I did nothing,” he replied. “This realm is yours. It is your power they bent to, not mine.”

Deep in your chest, your heart soared. Desires words were long forgotten as you curled into the chilled arms of the Dream King and admired your garden.

Weeks passed since you shared your first kiss with Dream of the Endless. It was odd, to say the least, but changed little between the two of you. Neither of you would admit that you craved to kiss again… that you craved to do more than just kiss, and so you spent your time together awkwardly talking about anything and everything else. The two of you had begun to spend more time among company to avoid things growing awkward, but this meant that you both had to suffer the looks from Lucienne. The ones that dripped with sarcasm and a silent but still somehow audible Are the two of you serious? Every accidental touch felt like fire on your skin and left you a blushing mess.

The only moments of reprieve from this were with The Corinthian, who’d heard of your kiss and immediately dry heaved. The two of you alone were fine, but when Dream joined the picture the tension between the two put both of them in a foul mood. For a split second, you’d entertained the thought that Dream was… jealous of your closeness with his nightmare, but that had dissipated quickly. Dream of the Endless jealous? Absolutely not.

In recent days Dream was on edge. He was constantly busy with work and often had no more than a few moments to spend with you before he had to leave. Those short moments were tense in every sense and made you feel guilty for being here and bothering him. No matter how many times he assured you that it was not your doing, you still felt this weight settle in your gut. You’d known the Endless being for a very long time, and for most of that the two of you were not exactly on good terms, so you were used to his short temper and the sometimes harshness in his words, but unlike before he always apologized to you. While he was busy you spent more time with The Corinthian, hoping if you kept the nightmare busy enough he’d not be able to contribute to Dream's stress.

“Stop that,” you scolded, picking the little flower out of The Corinthian’s hands as he tore the petals off.

He sighed. “It’s a flower, Daunty, not some little pixie.”

You settled back into his side. “Flowers are living things of their own. Especially the ones that grow here. I doubt Fiddler’s Green appreciates your manhandling of the flora.”

“Well it’s a good thing Fiddler's Green is nothing more than grass and dirt then, isn’t it?”

The grass bent away from him at his words and the ground beneath him puffed out, creating uncomfortable lumps where he sat. The Corinthian groaned and stood up, stomping the ground. You laughed running your fingers through the silky blades of grass. “I don’t think Fiddler’s Green appreciates your sarcasm.”

Once the lumps evened out The Corinthian sat back down. “Fucking ridiculous.”

“Lighten up,” you said, bumping him with your shoulder. “If you’d be a little nicer then maybe you’d have more friends than just me.”

“Nice isn’t in my nature,” he insisted tilting his shades down.

You touched his cheek. “You’re nice to me.”

“You’re the exception, not the rule fair lady.” He turned his gaze away from you again and that wave of discontent washed over you.

Laying your head on his shoulder you sighed. “I adore you, Corinthian.”

He chuckled and laid his head on top of yours. “Yeah, me too Daunty.”

The two of you rested beneath the trees of Fiddler’s Green for a long while until The Corinthian had to return to his duties, or simply wished to cause trouble before night fell. This time, however, it was Dream that interrupted the two of you. His hands were clasped behind his back as he stood in front of his nightmare, eyes dark and body tense. “Corinthian, you have duties to attend to.”

“Do I?” Your friend questioned with a wide grin. “My apologies, your majesty. I shall attend them at once.”

He turned and smiled down at you, tipping his hat. “Lady Daunt.”

You pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. “Dear Corinthian. Do try to behave.”

Standing, almost toe to toe with Dream the nightmare laughed. “But of course.”

Dream did not relax, not even when the nightmare left the meadow. “You should mind him more carefully.”

“What?”

“The Corinthian is my most fearsome nightmare, not a pet for you to play with.” He hissed. “His duties and his function are more important than you know.”

You blinked, slightly shocked by his ornery behavior. “I do not need a lecture on the importance of one's functions. I’ve done nothing to disrupt his duties.”

“You’ve done more than you think,” he replied, looking away in the direction his nightmare left. With a sigh, he returned his gaze to you. “I have a meeting with an old friend. I trust you’ll be alright here while I am gone.”

Still slightly upset by his ever-darkening mood and flippant temper you merely nodded. “Of course, I will be.”

“I shall return soon.” He bowed his head and turned on his heel, leaving you behind and alone in the meadow.

As you remained the tension slowly drained from you and once again you were content to relax against the tree. It was difficult for you, seeing Dream in such a foul mood. Though you knew it was not aimed at you, per se, and was the cause of stresses he dealt with during his own duties seeing him in such a way always made you fearful. You heard the sharp sound of twigs snapping and there, across the way a tall buck stood watching you.

It was a beautiful beast, tall with ornate antlers and a deep rich coat of brown and tan. It sniffed the air of Fiddler’s Green for a moment before it bent its head down to nip at the grass below. A deep sense of wonder filled you, pulling you up from your spot and easing you forward, toward the creature. As you got closer it lifted its head up and huffed a hot breath in your face.

“Easy,” you whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”

For a minute the both of you paused, watching one another closely until you lifted your hand toward it. A beat passed before the buck lifted its snout to your open hand and a rush of joy filled your lungs. You laughed softly, stroking its snout gently as the fur began to turn white beneath your palm. As it spread, filling the coat of the creature you smiled. The buck settled onto the ground and laid its head in your lap, groaning in pleasure when you’d scratch a certain spot.

The sun had finally set and the stars filled the sky as you watched the gentle creature. “White looks lovely on you.”

Hours passed and the creature remained at your side. You were excited to show Dream that such a magnificent beast did not fear you and had relaxed at your side, but when The Dreaming quaked and the night sky clouded over with darkness and rain your excitement quickly shifted to worry. A few moments later you could see the blazing flames at his feet and the glowing eyes of Dream of the Endless fix upon you.

“What happened?” You asked, concerned that his meeting had gone poorly.

“What did you do?” Was his reply as his eyes fixed on the creature now looking up at him startled.

You stroked a comforting hand down its snout. “He came from the woods to graze and trusted me to come close.”

Shadow and flame seethed over his stiff form as his wide, watery eyes looked at his creation, now snowy white, and venom filled his voice as he stalked forward. "What have you done?"

"I did nothing," you whispered.

"Was it not your touch that did this?" He spat, gesturing to the buck, an action that caused it to rise from your lap and skirt backward.

You too recoiled slightly, before standing and reaching out toward him. “Morpheus I… I’m sorry I didn’t think-”

His hand gripped yours tightly, squeezing until you could feel the bones groan and grind together beneath the skin. “That is the problem! You didn’t think! It is your lack of thought that causes The Corinthian to act out, to challenge and defy me.”

The Corinthian? You shook your head as tears welled in your eyes. “I haven’t said anything to him about defiance. Morpheus, please let me -”

“No.” He said, voice low and rumbling like thunder. "Everything you touch spoils… Everything you speak to is corrupted by your words. All of this is your doing. Another burden upon my shoulders for me to remedy."

Your heart dropped into your stomach as you looked at him, regarding you with the same expression he had for so long before. Dream looked at you now as though you were nothing... Nothing more than a burden. You were prepared for this, weren't you? How many years had you spent by his side fearing this exact thing?

It wasn't real… And perhaps it never had been.

You bowed your head, steeling your emotions. "Fear not, Dream Lord, I'll not make such mistakes again."

His eyes softened slightly, but Dream did not relent, he could not. He kept his head held high as you turned away and when he felt you vanish from his realm he kept it there. Dream did not listen to Lucienne's quiet concerns, nor did he permit Jessamy to speak on the matter. Whether he believed it was your fault or not mattered little now. What was done was done and now there was only the way forward.

All while you walked alone to your hut you heard Desire's voice echo all around you, the forest darker than it had ever been, the restlessness within it unending as the tiny specks of sunlight vanished. "Never his equal."

The flowers that had begun to grow along the path and beyond it wilted as you passed by. "My big brother will never change."

The mist curled around you, heavy and cold. "I hope you'll remember how I tried to warn you."

Nothing felt like yours anymore, not The Forest, the paths he'd treaded beside you just days ago. Not your hut, the soft cushioned surfaces he'd sat by your side and stroked your cheek free of tears. Not your clothes, the multitude of soft clothes he'd made and gifted to you. Not your collection of trinkets, the ones you'd placed in his hands and shared your stories with him.

All of it everywhere was filled with echoes of him, his scent, his power, his lies. With a strangled noise, you tore it all apart, throwing every last trinket and piece of furniture until only the broken pieces lay around you. Your hand curled around the shaping stone, the last surviving thing that hummed with dreams.

You lifted your arm, anger and hate filling your lungs as you prepared to throw it, shatter it and free yourself from the torturous presence it held. The pulse of life in your hand stopped you. It was a piece of something young and innocent and new. A life yet unlived. And there beside that, it held a piece of him, of star-filled skies, of moonlight paths and music and dancing. The part of Dream that had made you feel seen… That made you feel beautiful and worthy. It held Morpheus the being you had foolishly fallen in love with.

With a harsh sob, you lowered your arm, cradling the stone to your chest as you fell to the ground and wept. Warmth filled your hand as the stone spurred to life. "You know how this will end, don't you Mistake?"

Dream looked at the stained glass depiction of his nightmare looming over his throne, holding his helm tightly in his hands. He’d spent months listening to The Corinthians ever increasing words of defiance and outbursts, but he never truly thought the nightmare would go so far. It was easy to pinpoint the event that resulted in such unruly behavior, the two were always close. Daunt had not returned to The Dreaming since that night in Fiddler’s Green. He’d not locked the doors or banished her from his realm, yet there was still no sight of her, not even on the beaches or the pier.

Of course, he hadn’t been looking for her. Part of him still felt so angry at Hob Gadlings' accusations of needing companionship and at Daunt’s unexpected changing of one of his creatures, however unintentional it was. But it was not his anger that barred him from seeking Daunt out, it was his shame. How long had he nurtured the trust between them? How long had he wanted for her to feel comfortable enough to reach out and touch his creations, interact with his world in full only to punish her the moment she actually did it? Shame disguised as pride was a dangerous and horrible thing.

“My Lord?” Lucienne’s tentative voice broke him away from his thoughts and brought him back to the matter at hand. The Corinthian loose in the Waking World. His grip on his helm tightened. “Could you not… perhaps call upon Lady Daunt to follow after The Corinthian? The two were friends-”

“No.” He ground his teeth together. “This does not concern her.”

“You are coming back, aren’t you?”

Jessamy cawed at his feet. “Why would I not return, Lucienne?”

“I don’t know, a presentiment. As powerful as you are here, in your realm, dreams rarely survive in the Waking World.” He donned his helm and poured the sand from his pouch into the palm of his hand, feeling it swirl at his feet as his librarian continued. “Nightmares, on the other hand, seem to thrive there.”

“Here in the Darkness.” The disembodied voices echoed through the darkness that settled over your realm as bodies of shadow, creatures of hollow dreams, and rouge nightmares roamed your woods freely. At first, you thought this to be some punishment of Dreams, but The Forest cried out louder. “Here in the darkness.”

A shadow lunged for you, caught by the vines of the trees and dragged away before it could touch you. Another followed, scratching at your feet for a short moment before a flash of white leaped down and the sharp teeth closed around its throat with a sickening crunch. The white wolf looked up at you, deep blue eyes wide with worry. “Are you harmed, my lady?”

“No,” you assured the creature with a gentle touch. “I am fine, Sirius.”

Blue eyes flared to the remained shadows that the mist held at bay. “What are these creatures?”

You shook your head, examining them from your safe place. “Old shadows, spirits that were lost to The Forest long ago… though some are Nightmares.”

“Nightmares?”

“Yes, beings belonging to The Dreaming and to the Dream Lord.”

“He dares invade our realm?”

A chill ran up your spine and the ground quaked beneath you. “Here in the darkness.”

“No,” you whispered. “I fear this is something far more sinister.”

You hadn’t planned on returning to The Dreaming, not this soon at least, but your realm cried out and writhed in pain. The only one that could be responsible was Dream and so there you were, standing before the Gates of Horn and Ivory. Something was wrong. The sky was dull and the sand felt like it was a breath away from falling into nothingness. You reached up, but before you could even touch the gates they shook and groaned, opening of their own accord to reveal the lush forests and beautiful trees dead. All green was gone, replaced by black decay and crumbling stone.

There were very few Dreams and Nightmares in the town, all of them growing void of color and joy. The bridge to the palace quaked beneath your feet as you strode through the front doors of the palace and looked upon the empty throne. “Dream Lord?”

Sirius fell into place beside you, looking at the dull blue room warily. “This is the great palace of Dreams?”

“Dream?” You called again, louder this time.

“Daunt?” Lucienne’s voice replied as she hurried around the corner and smiled sadly. “Oh, my lady!”

You caught her in a tight hug. “What’s happened?”

She shook her head, tears forming behind her glasses. “Lord Morpheus… He’s missing.”

“Missing?” Memories of Destructions unexpected departure resurfaced. “When? Where?”

“A month ago…” She bowed her head. “Everyone else has given up hope… they say he has abandoned us as Destruction did his realm.”

You shook your head, a soft gasp escaping from your lips. “No. He wouldn’t do that.”

Lucienne’s eyes widened as she clutched the book she held to her chest. “Do you suppose this has something to do with The Corinthian?”

“The Corinthian?” Pain filled every breath you took. “It is your lack of thought that causes The Corinthian to act out, to challenge and defy me.”

“Yes, Lord Morpheus went to the Waking World to retrieve him.” Lucienne grimaced. “He fled to the Waking World and began… overstepping.”

"Everything you touch spoils… Everything you speak to is corrupted by your words. All of this is your doing. Another burden upon my shoulders for me to remedy." He had been right. You had done this… Had twisted his greatest creation with your touch and words… had caused him to flee his role. Is this what happened to Destruction as well? Was this part of your curse upon the universe?

Sirius nudged you, a soothing gesture he often did when you froze. “My lady, we should return to The Forest.”

You shook your head again, fighting back tears. “No. If Dream’s disappearance has caused such a disturbance there it will not be remedied until he returns.”

“What shall we do then?”

“Where was The Corinthian last? If I can find him perhaps he will lead me to Dream.”

Lucienne nodded, quickly consulting the book in her hands. “London. Here is the address. Please, my lady Daunt…” She let loose a shaking breath. “Bring him home. I know the two of you have been… distant… but-”

You set your hand on her shoulder and smiled. “I will bring him back, I swear it.”

You’d spent weeks in the Waking World, searching the streets of London for The Corinthian or Dream, yet found nothing. Sirius had been traveling back and forth between London and The Dreaming and The Forest, as you tried desperately to keep things from falling apart. Without Dream, you could always hear the desperate voices of the dreamers crying out, pained and broken as they pleaded with any god or being that would listen. It made sleep elude you, made every waking moment a never-ending nightmare. You had to find him.

Sirius vanished into the mist, back to The Forest where more creatures tore down barrier after barrier and threatened to take over your realm entirely. Everything was twisted and mangled and reeked of Despair. Whether the Endless twins had anything to do with this you still didn’t know, but you would find out one way or another after you found Dream.

You’d traveled further out of the town than normal, and made your way to a bridge that by the look of it led to some kind of house, a manor perhaps. For a moment you stood still, resting your hand on the edge of the bridge as the water echoed through your ears. You should have felt him, his power or presence, something. But there was nothing, only the river, the bridge, and the breeze. Just as you were about to turn around you heard it, a distant caw and the desperate beating of wings.

A voice. Jessamy. “Daunt!” Another caw echoed as you lifted your eyes to the sky, hope unfurling in your chest. “Daunt!”

“Jessamy!” You cried out, taking a half-step forward.

“NO!” The bird called out, trying to fly faster.

You were about to ask her what was wrong, what had happened, and where Dream was, but a calm hand resting on your shoulder stopped you. “I was hoping you’d give up, Daunty.”

“Corinthian?” You breathed turning to face your friend, but it was not your friend you laid eyes on… only the nightmare. The sting of steel tearing through your chest was unexpected and far more painful than you thought it would be. Gasping you looked down at the blade, at the blood that now stained your white dress, and at the shaking hand that held the hilt of the knife.

"I'm sorry Daunt…" The Corinthians' lips quivered, and his blade dug deeper into your chest. "But I can't let you free him."

You cupped his cheek, tears streaming down your face as one last cold breath slid past your lips, "My dear Corinthian..."

Jessamy’s screams and desperate caws echoed in your ears as you stumbled back from the nightmare. You fell over the edge of the stone bridge and down into the cold depths below. As you sank further and further down the water turned red before your eyes and a strong current pulled at your limp body, dragging you back toward the surface. The familiar misty canopy of the great tree greeted you, but The Forest groaned and the ground shook beneath you. Your body burned as the frost-ridden mist settled lower and the water that now flooded the roots of the great tree began to rise.

A dark figure appeared in the mist, walking languidly toward you while clapping slowly. “My, my, what a sorry sight you make.”

Desire. Their golden eyes appeared first, then the wide red Cheshire smile you loathed so much. The Forest grew louder as the leaves on the trees began to shake and shift from their mystic dark emerald to poisoned, rotted scarlet. The Endless bent over and took your chin in their hand. “I did tell you this would happen, didn’t I?”

You drew a deep, stuttered breath, “Leave.”

“Oh, little Mistake,” they purred. “It’s not very polite to bite the hand that’s here to save you.”

Save you? Pain flared in your chest and the roots of the trees began to move, drawing you in. Desire made a face, shifting to accommodate the wood before returning their burning eyes to you. “I can heal you, take you far from this dying little realm of yours and give you all your pathetic little heart desires. All I ask in return is that when the time comes you’ll help me bring my big brother to his knees.”

Even weak, dying, you scoffed. “I… Would rather die than betray Dream.”

“He has already betrayed you, Mistake.” Their grip on your chin grew tighter. “You are nothing to him. A burden he must shoulder. I could give you a grand palace, subjects to rule and worship you, a crown of gold and rubies. Everything you desire can be yours.”

“No,” You whispered in response. No matter how grand a kingdom Desire gave you, no matter how many subjects they offered or gold or rubies it would never be what you wanted, what you craved and desired with all of your being.

Love. It was all you wanted since the beginning of your life. For so long all you’d desired was someone to love you as you loved them… though back then you didn’t know the true depth of it. Back then you couldn’t have known that it was Dream you’d wanted to love you. Desire scowled at you and gripped the knife, still lodged into your chest, twisting as they spoke. “Stupid, idiotic, pathetic thing! Who are you to refuse my generosity? You are nothing but a mistake! You are a burden!”

They pulled the dagger out of your chest and lifted it, poised and ready to deal the final blow when Sirius leaped from the mist with an angry growl, latching onto Desire's wrist and forcing them to the ground. You could hear the struggle between the wolf and the Endless being, but you were too weak to aid your companion. A loud whimper and a booming frustrated cry echoed in the air before you felt Desire’s foreboding presence vanish from your world. Sirius returned to your side, one of his bright blue eyes now marred with a deep cut.

“My lady,” he whispered, lifting himself up to press a paw to your still bleeding wound. “How can I help you… What must I do?”

Redwater sloshed beneath you as the roots of the trees continued to groan and twist around you. “Stay. Stay beside me until the end.”

Sirius curled into your side, burying his snout into the crook of your neck. “Always, my lady.”

Frost settled onto the trees and moss as snow began to fall from the darkened sky. The mist grew thicker as darkness descended on The Forest. Above the cracking of the tree roots and the rushing water and the sinister whispers the saddened, fearful whines of a loyal companion could be heard through every dream and nightmare. All would hear your quiet labored breaths and feel the cold overtake your skin. All but the man with stars in his eyes trapped behind the glass. All but Dream of the Endless.

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dawndelion-winery · 2 years

Text

You Said What?

They overhear you saying you'd suck their [redacted]

Ft. Scaramouche, Childe, Diluc

Warning: 16+, suggestive, explicit use of the word "dick"

Scaramouche:

If anything, he knows Signora loves talking to you

He also knows that she slanders him along with the rest of the Harbingers (God knows why she happens to be fond of you, Scara kisser)

So he'd been rather amused to hear you vehemently defending him from her harsh critique

"His hair isn't ugly, ok, it suits him."

"You're blindsided by your feelings for him, I can assure you that hairstyle is an atrocity."

You'd been so passionate in defending the love of your life that you'd blurted out how you'd gladly suck his dick

At which he broke down cackling, alerting you to his presence

"Well? Go on, I'd like to see how you make good on your promise," he sneers, taking long strides til he's right in front of you, not once pulling his gaze away from yours

There was a magnetic quality about him that commanded your attention as much as you wanted to hide away in your shame

Signora herself had chuckled as she excused herself, leaving you in the iron claws of your beloved Balladeer

You could feel your face burning, and you're sure he felt it too when he held your chin to peck your forehead

"If you ever plan on holding true to your word, you know where I am when I plan to relax."

He's still snickering even as he leaves and you know he's never letting you live that down

Childe:

He's already disgustingly touchy I don't know why you slipped up like that

Once again, you are defending your beloved's honour as the other Harbingers slander him ruthlessly

Unlike Scara, Tartaglia is free real estate for everyone when it comes to bullying among the Harbingers

Which means you've got insults coming in left, right and centre

You didn't mean to let it slip, but at the same time your tone was light-hearted enough to pass it off as a joke

The Harbingers made no effort to hide their mock disgust, fake gagging at your words with Scara being exceptionally dramatic and falling to his knees pretending to vomit

You would've laughed along if arms hadn't snaked around you from behind to pull you flush against the eleventh harbinger's chest

"So why didn't, you tell me you were offering, sweetheart?"

You didn't have to look behind to know he was grinning like a little shit

As always, the other Harbingers made no move to help you escape, most of them snickering at your demise as Tartaglia stole you away

"You're so into me, I know. Even you can't resist me, mama was right when she said I'd have people pining after me."

"Didn't she tell you that when you were six?"

"Clearly came true if you can say stuff like that in public."

Diluc:

You sort of knew he could hear you

How could he not? The tavern was empty except for you, him, and Albedo (plus Rubedo, if you count him as a person)

Albedo and Rubedo were good friends, but like any friends, they just had to bully you sometimes

And since you were the only one who could get drunk, they just had to tease your crush on Diluc

"What was that you said you wanted to do?" Albedo mused. "Right, wasn't it something high up on their bucket list?" Rubedo added.

You really should have known better than to keep drinking when your drink never seemed to empty

They'd drunk just as much, why weren't- right, they were chalk

"Ah, I really wanna suck his dick so bad..."

You jumped a little when you heard a cabinet shut with a lot more force than necessary

A little more clattering as Diluc tidied up and he was at your table, asking the three of you to finish up as the tavern was about to close

The kind smiles both the 'Bedos donned were oh so contrary to their intentions, gently helping you up and leaning you against Diluc, thanking him for taking care of you whilst they tended to experiments

Drunk you fondly traced shapes on his chest, and he quickly caught hold of your hands

"While I...appreciate your attention, I'd much prefer you let me take you out first, I- eyes up here, love-"

You'd made him quite the mess as he fumbled to deal with you

He sure hoped you remembered none of it the next morning, he'd hate to be rendered a babbling fool if you were to bring it up again

Taglist[send an ask to be added/removed]: @myluvkeiji @pluvioseprince @aqui-soba @euphoric-author @paradise-creator @favonius-captain @tiredsleep @raincxtter @serenenation @loverofthe-stars @gensimping-for-all @irethepotato @almond-adeptus @mx-kamisato @yuzuricebun @chaosinanutshell @howlantic @codename-hiraeth @andreiling01 @callmemeelah @stunningstratagem @sadlonelybagel @plinkuro

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myrmica · 1 month

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8, 17, 25 for the artist ask game >:J

8. What do you like most about your own work?

this is a fun question. well for one i like that i like my own work now, for the most part... not that i never get frustrated but more often i draw something and then i feel pleased with it, and this was not always the case. a lot of that has to do with having fixed issues in my process over time. but it's also because i am capable of transmitting qualities i find interesting about the world, about color, about the body and how it moves in space, that are specific to my way of seeing them, and that's satisfying. if i had to pick one thing it would be how i draw bodies, it's hard to describe but at some point something happened and the entire way i see people changed, including how i see myself. as much as this is true for "art style" in every case, i feel like i am always depicting myself because i recognize things about the shape of my hands, or my arms, or my legs, or whatever, that i reproduce both consciously through using references of myself for convenience and habitually or subconsciously. i don't know what my point is. some sort of basic satisfaction in who i am

17. What inspires you?

EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but i put a lot of time and effort towards collecting things to use as reference or to take elements from and i think drawing from references that you find visually pleasing and developing a sense of taste in relation to this is important in a way i don't really hear people talk about. i have an aesthetic aversion to like, the type of pose reference you get from just googling a pose, the weird stock photo stiffness, the lighting and framing of classic deviantart stock photos... all of which can be a necessary utility but i save photos i LIKE for pose ref constantly so i have more options.

some of my favorite things are...

1) joshi wrestling photography (NUMERO UNO!!!!!!!!!!) you get a huge variety of angles and poses and i have a lot of appreciation for the costumes and visuals of it all. because they're still images of people in motion it captures weight and movement you don't get so much other places. "but that just gets me people fighting" you might think, and you would be wrong. women holding each other constantly.

2) historical photography. i'm especially fond of the prokudin-gorskii collection because there are all of these representations of clothing styles and silhouettes i find captivating, in color, and it's weird color because they're early color photos using a technique where you take three versions of the image, through a blue, red, and green filter respectively, and then to display them you project them through the filters again, and the effect is striking because of the saturation... like this one with the loggers, you can easy call to mind a million versions of the same photo seen in black and white, and it's not that black and white photography isn't also interesting but it drives me crazy how much pink and purple people were wearing across the russian empire between 1909 and 1915!

i was going to try not to talk too much about visual art in the answer to this question, but i'm also really into paintings by the peredvizhniki group, which stretched up to about the same time period in the same place, and you can look through these photos and identify shared subject matter, which is pretty cool.

3) historical artwork. especially stuff depicting clothing, or fencing manuals and the like. knights were doing all kinds of gay shit to each other if the fencing manuals are to be believed.

4) minecraft roleplay. this is self evident

25. Based on your recent reference searches, what would the FBI assume about you?

nothing... don't worry about it...

#m #asks #THANK YOU FORD :J

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optreee · 7 months

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Masaki Nakao Appreciation Post

*Is She The Wolf spoilers*

I just finished watching the Netflix US release of Is She the Wolf!! I loved it and found it so much fun to watch. If it was acting doubly as a tourism promotion, it 100% worked because it made me want to see all those amazing sites and just go on a date in Japan???

But for me, the biggest delight was Masaki’s arc! He was kind of a dark horse, starting off the show as a blonde-haired foil/light-hearted rival to Who-ya. But can we just appreciate that he’s got such fun, amazing best friend energy?! He accompanies Honoka to Taiju’s sparring practice, intentionally makes space for them to talk, and seems to cheer her on afterwards; he listens to Julie’s love troubles about feeling one-sided with Robin; he gets tickets to see Taiju’s match and brings Gabby and Sakurako along to hype him up; he straight up pulls Robin aside and asks him with that younger brother energy, “hey bro, what’s going on” when they go on that triple date with Mikako; he happily agrees to go with Julie to the photo location knowing her heart is probably still set on Robin; he hugs Tomoki and tries to cheer him up at the very end when Tomoki becomes really overwhelmed… just so many instances where Masaki has big, goofy, lovable BFF energy with everyone on the cast?? (Umm, just being a total Sagittarius??) I love it so much 😂

Watching the show, I was totally drawn to him. Even while out on two v. one or even three v. one dates with other guys competing for Mikako’s feelings, he asserts himself in his own cool way that is polite and fun and totally charismatic. I was like, I would die to go on a date with this man—he seems so fun and silly and safe and sweet (and of course, so hot). Him and Robin hyping each other up and building on each other’s jokes and energy cracked me up each time.

This was just a total Masaki Nakao appreciation post—Masaki is a “everyone’s bestie” type of guy, and it’s true, if I liked him romantically, I could see that being potentially maddening (some girls could take it as flirting with other girls) but tbh, he just seems like a really good guy (as Julie realized too). I would also love if my man were someone who takes care of other people and feels safe to everyone, his guy and girl friends alike. Masaki totally comes off as an amazing friend who seems really fun and doesn’t try to take the spotlight from anyone.

I also appreciate him saying in one of the episodes that he hadn’t put as much effort into selling himself to people as maybe he should, and it’s because he noticed that he started distancing himself from people and just doing what’s necessary to maintain the relationship. He’s got great insight about himself, is so honest about it, is willing to talk about that, and still fully has fun and makes things fun for others (again, confirming more Sagittarius qualities). It makes him more endearing, this light-hearted, fun-loving cool dude sharing deep insights about himself.

I’ve seen his drama/movies, and I feel like other than “Kabe-koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to Be Recognized,” they really miss out on that golden retriever energy part of his vibe! Maybe it comes out more in his stage work and as Naruto (which I haven’t had a chance to see), but it’s a huge charm that I didn’t get to know until this show. Loved him in this, and I hope it makes his popularity shoot up even more!

(📷: @masaki_nakao_)

#Masaki Nakao #中尾暢樹 #Is She The Wolf #Netflix #Nakao Masaki #everyone’s bestie #BFF energy #best hype man ever #golden retriever energy #sagittarius

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olderthannetfic · 2 years

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so like, i prefer it when the character i most identify with from a given fandom tops. my reason is easy to parse: i’m a top. that’s pretty uncomplicated, right? and it’s no big deal to me if other fans don’t share my preferences. it’s nice when they do, but i don’t get bent out of shape if they don’t. if someone writes fic i don’t vibe with, or posts hcs i don’t agree with, i backbutton, scroll past without any unpleasant emotional reactions. easy peasy

this holds true except for one specific fandom, and for a very specific reason. in this fandom, the character i most identify with is canonically a gay strict top, which is… well, it’s pleasant. it’s pleasant to have a character i intensely vibe with on emotional, psychological and intellectual levels also be canonically representative to me in this way; it doesn’t happen often. so when fan writers bypass canon and make this character vers or a bottom, and usually rewrite their personality to go along with their changed sexual preferences, it feels like erasure. it feels like listening to everyone i’ve ever heard say ‘no such thing as a strict top, everyone’s vers,’ on repeat, fic after post after twit. queue the unpleasant, inadvertent emotional reactions. i don’t think i’ve ever blocked so many accounts in one fandom before

point is, people have top/bottom preferences, and whether anyone likes it or not they will continue to have top/bottom preferences for a variety of reasons that are no one’s business but their own, and that is valid. the kind thing to do is to tag your posts and fic so readers can find or avoid as necessary. i’m aware that the “western” bits of fandom tend to sneer at the very notion of doing so, but comprehensive top/bottom tagging is considered basic politeness in various asian-based fandoms i’ve been part of, and it works well. please just. be kind. tag your top, bottom, vers. there are many fellow fans who will appreciate your efforts whether they will admit it to your face or not

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cryingadultchild · 1 year

Text

Heroes without a cloak [2022.08.21]

Another day when it's worth praising yourself "You are my heroes, yes, do it" Will say that "what a joke, what nonsense?", However, hey, sometimes really barely open my eyes And feel as if doing every breath and movement is already like "I'm tired and for this too" (uuw, unbearable * put a "т~т" here *) Think it's not completely clear to everyone How huge this difference can be: (I like simple examples) "Please help me open the door" - "But it's just a door" - "I know, but even if It's not "tight" - it's so heavy for me, you know?" Everyone is my "hero without a cloak" No, by no means: I hate "braggarts" and everything like that, And we should always strive for the best, however (of course, there are obvious differences, but speaking of "varied meanings") I just wish that everyone would not devalue themselves for anything (no, "not necessary be a giant to be great") "If we stop appreciating "simple things" at all, Then what will become of our world?" (no, please don't make it more worse) True, can think what you want, But at least I'm being honest: (as mentioned) Many things I have to do "by force" (including and "about living in general"), so "Not just words - don't understand how people live" (where does so much "natural" physical and mental charge come from?) It's like, "to me, you all really look like heroes. (be grateful for all this that you have) Are you fully aware of this? It can be very different from different sides: (I like simple examples) "I've been looking for this for hours. If knew that you could do it so quickly, I would have turned to you right away" Everyone is my "hero without a cloak" By no means: I hate "braggarts" and everything like that, And we should always strive for the best, however (of course, there are obvious differences, but speaking of "varied meanings") I just wish that everyone would not devalue themselves for anything (no, "not necessary be a giant to be great") "If we stop appreciating "simple things" at all, Then what will become of our world?" (no, please don't make it more worse) How many more times should I say "seriously" To make it clear how seriously I'm talking about this? Every effort that you have made for yourself, every effort (a kind act, a kind word) that you have made for others - All this is so much significant (after all, this is what our vast world is built from) "If you think that "Someone else can do it" - that's what almost everyone thinks" Yes, never for you nobody be built your life, except for you (even living for yourself is already no longer easy at all) You never know who will "Pass by or not" in this cruel life (it's always like "lucky or unlucky", besides, even in the fact that "will there be anyone around at all?") All your labour - From the biggest to the smallest - it shines (don't you know yourself how hard and difficult it can be?) For someone, "nonsense", and for someone, the whole "salvation": (I like simple examples) "Even one simple word and a smile Can make someone come down with a cliff" Everyone is my "hero without a cloak" Absolutely not: I hate "braggarts" and everything like that, And we should always strive for the best, however (of course, there are obvious differences, but speaking of "varied meanings") I just wish that everyone would not devalue themselves for anything (no, "not necessary be a giant to be great") "If we stop appreciating "simple things" at all, Then what will become of our world?" (no, please don't make it more worse) Seriously until the very end: If really want to compare "with something big" so much, Know, some people may not even do the "little things" that you do, So - just exhale and be proud of yourself

#littleStaR7

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idontlikeem · 2 years

Note

re: your thoughts on pride merch. I totally agree that nhl teams signalling acceptance of lgbtq+ folks is better than active bigotry! i too am pretty endeared by teams and players who take the initiative. so i think i understand where you're coming from in the sense that the observation that mainstream brands has co-opted lgbtq symbols & made it marketable, and therefore more normalized, is an incredibly obvious one that barely bears saying. no one is arguing they want the nhl to go back to ignoring lgbtq concerns. you're fighting straw men. what people are rightly criticizing is the disorienting disjuncture between branding and the fact that theres not a single out queer player. that branding is the logical end result of market capitalism. it seems that folks like you constantly want others and specifically a younger generation to acknowledge, and even celebrate, again and again, endlessly, the "progress" made--to the point that we can't even criticize NHL BRANDING of all superficial things without being told of its supposed virtues that we're supposedly ignorant of.

to be more specific, i think you're confusing healthy resistance to & skepticism of this marketing with "purity testing"--a term that is wielded to shut down efforts at rigorous distinction-making and demands for more accountability. i think you'd probably agree that this type of marketing can't be the end of "progress," but to me, posts like yours sound like--"coming from someone who's gone through supposedly 'worse' times, be happy with what you've got." in other words, i think its fair to track the progression of how queerness has been normalized in branding, but to say that this progression should discourage people from criticizing nhl's efforts and that this normalization is necessary for "acceptance" seems really wrong to me. ultimately, marketing and corporations do not engage in any kind of intelligent way with queerness. to suggest that it is only through market capitalism that "normalization" can be achieved is ..a lot. and sort of exactly how capitalism wants you to think. i mean did we move further towards gender equality when "the notorious RBG" was splashed on book covers from hipster stores to urban outfitters? when "we should all be feminists" was printed on shirts in brandy melville? when "black lives matter" became more a global brand than a grassroots movement? i think these comparable--but ofc not exact--trends give a sense of the limits of branding.

man, what did i say?

if what I said is so obvious and pointless to say then why do I keep seeing stuff talking about how empty and pointless all this stuff is? why is every single take all over the Internet about how gross and empty it is? or are you accusing me of making that up whole-cloth? it’s not a strawman if it’s really out there.

don’t come to me and put words in my mouth that I didn’t say. at no point did I say or imply it shouldn’t be criticized or pushed to be better. my post was *very specifically* about people who react in the ways I outlined.

and I’m sorry, are you saying it’s “disjointing” that there’s not an out queer player in the NHL? does that mean someone should feel obligated to come out to make the discordance you see in the messaging more palatable to you? because that is absolutely not it.

more than one thing can be true. you SHOULD realize that things have changed for the better incredibly fast and be appreciative of the work done before you, without deprecating the signs of progress that are all around you in the world that you might take for granted because you haven’t known anything else. progress cannot continue without previous progress. you know that, right? with hindsight everything is imperfect, and there are many things I would change if I could, but even baby steps are steps and they should be recognized, celebrated, and encouraged, because baby steps lead to bigger steps. you can and should also work to keep pushing forward. which is literally what I said.

when capitalism is dead and gone get back to me on how to ethically engage with this stuff in the ideal way you want. in the meantime, I live in a world where capitalism is the rule of law, and we have to work within the systems in which we all exist.

“supposedly ‘worse’ times”. that’s an interesting use of scare quotes. I sure hope you’re not trying to say that in the (very recent) past it wasn’t significantly worse and more unsafe to be any flavor of queer than it is now? because if that’s what your snippy little phrasing there was meant to say, you have a lot of self-educating you need to do.

also, don’t tell me what words and phrases I should and shouldn’t use :)

#if you believe so strongly in this make your own post and put your name on it #also thanks so much for not bothering to respect a boundary I clearly outlined

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findingthespark · 1 year

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Pride’s Folly (Part 4)

Cassandra had begged him to go lend his aid to their soldiers up at the Forward Camp and along the path between Haven and what was left of the Temple. For the first two days, he protested, saying he needed to continue to study the mark and the woman it was attached to.

“You’ve said you haven’t learned a damn thing so far!” she spluttered. “What good will more studying do?”

“I haven’t learned much yet, that is true,” he conceded. “But I have also been attempting to stabilize the mark to keep it from killing her. I cannot entirely know if it is my own effort that has helped her along this far or her own will, but I am not yet willing to gamble on her own strength.”

Cassandra growled.

“So be it.”

He observed the healer at his work, doing everything he could to keep the woman’s body alive. When he had done all he could, Solas insisted that he would watch over her.

“I do not possess much skill in healing, but I know enough to tend her while you help those who need you more urgently.”

The man, called Adan, nodded gratefully.

“If I could afford to sit and watch...”

“I know,” Solas assured him. “This is a trying time for everyone. Go without guilt.”

Alone, he conducted as many experiments on the mark as he could. He recognized the traces of power that bound it to the woman, how could he not? But he had no idea that such a thing was possible. Clearly, it provided a connection to the Fade, but how did the two interact?

He stepped through the Veil to see for himself, but he could not find it where he thought it should be. It should be like stepping through a mirror, he mused, and yet here he was on the opposite side of where their bodies sat, and nothing seemed to be there. Was it his lingering weakness holding back his finer senses? Was there just too much interference left over from the explosion?

None of the spirits he would usually consult on arcane matters such as this could be found anywhere nearby, and he did not dare to stray too much farther abroad to seek them out. These damned Magisters always had to take things too far. He should have known that they wouldn’t be content to make an attempt to activate the thing among their own people, that they would want to sow chaos amongst the enemies of Tevinter. But what kind of magic had they attempted exactly?

As he puzzled, his attention was necessarily diverted by the mark on the unconscious woman’s hand flaring reactively. It took the second or third time for him to realize that it corresponded to fluctuations in the Breach outside. The worse the fluctuation, the more the woman whimpered and groaned in pain. At these moments, he could feel some of her life energy flicker as the mark seemed to siphon bits of it away, perhaps to feed the Breach?

She wasn’t going to survive if it kept creeping across her skin and feeding off of her. He might not know much about this mess, he huffed mightily, but he knew that he would need this woman to survive. That mark might be the only thing standing between the world and utter chaos.

He could not spare much, not if he was to remain at all useful to anyone here, but he tried to pour a little of his mana into the mark, infusing it with the will to calm and steady its activity, completely unsure of where it would go to. To his relief, she regained a little color to her face and the pain she experienced abated.

The next time Adan came around to tend to her, Solas made a request.

“Would you be able to bring me the means for...making tea?” his voice so reluctant, Adan wondered why he bothered to ask. “A sustaining tea for boosting mana is what I want in particular. Not for her, for me.”

“Not usually one for tea?” Adan couldn’t help but inquire.

“I can barely stand the stuff, but unfortunately it has its uses.”

“I’ll send someone along with the necessary herbs and such. Maybe some berries can be scrounged up to make it more flavorful or for you to use as a chaser,” he offered.

“Don’t go to too much trouble. Though I would certainly appreciate it.”

In a quiet moment, he drowsed, and one of the spirits who knew him best came to him while he slept.

There is something you need to see, it called to him.

What?

You must follow me. I cannot explain quickly enough.

He let them lead him to a spot in the Fade, farther away than he would have liked to have gone, but trusting in the spirit’s guidance. When he saw what the spirit led him to, he stopped short in surprise.

There she was. The Fade around her had twisted into something dark and terrifying, and she was suffering from what it had been showing her. She had collapsed in on herself, unable to deal with the warped world. She had no idea that she could shape what she encountered.

He stepped in, and in a moment’s time, he had bent the Fade to reflect the forest she had been seeing before. When he looked down at her, she had ceased crying and was looking up at him in a combination of awe and wariness. He could not leave her here without giving her a lesson in the Fade, or she would be right back where she was.

When he suggested that she try to manipulate it herself, she looked like he had asked her to solve world peace. He stifled a laugh, and just kept staring her down until she made the attempt. He could feel the panic build inside of her.

“Breathe.”

She managed to do exactly what he knew she was capable of. She had been resisting the mark that had been consuming her, had she not? This was child’s play compared to that.

But he could not linger to help her any more than this. She would have to find her way out when she was ready. And he had to manage his energy. He bid her farewell and began his journey back.

That is all the help you are going to give her? the spirit popped up beside him again.

The Fade wavered around him for a moment, tendrils reaching out to nibble at his twinge of guilt.

I cannot linger here with all the activity at the Breach. And I do not know how much she will remember on waking. She has been heavily traumatized by her physical time in the Fade before she escaped and by the explosion at the Temple.

Well, I will keep an eye on her.

I will be indebted to you.

When are you not? the spirit asked wryly.

Her rest seemed to be less fraught after his visit. In fact, he could feel the essence of her drawing closer to her physical form after a while. The next time Cassandra requested his presence in the fighting, he agreed to it. He trusted that she would soon be returning to them and would no longer need his assistance.

Now to really see what those Magisters had wrought up close and personal.

#solavellan #solas x inquisitor #solas #lavellan #fiacha #I guess I'm slow burning it guys #sorry if that's frustrating #or boring #but we know that our guy is a little bit on the stiff side #oh boy will he be on the stiff side eventually #if you know what I mean...#dragon age #dragon age inquisition #inquisition #dai #Pride's Folly #Part 4

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notdefeatedyet · 2 years

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I wanted to send you some positive vibes as I know you're not in easy situation right now - and well, you also a kind hearted, warm and lovely person ypurself you know, and you deserve support around you. No matter the outcome in this situation, it does not define you - your anxiety doesn't define you, your decision nor the situation doesn't define you and what those around you tell you doesn't define you. You're allowed to make your own decision based on what you feel is necessary right now without feeling shame in it - we have our boundaries for a reason. I completely believe you got this no matter what - and I know you do, because things always work out in the end - there will always be opportunities. We got our whole life to chase goals and achieve dreams - but we have to take care of our mental health in the process. You're a kind soul, so be kind to yourself - and never stop being you!

The situation has been on my mind a lot so reading this really helps. Like, I knew it's true, but sometimes it just doesn't feel convincing enough if I'm the one telling myself. That's why I appreciate you taking the effort and time to write this. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on so many things even though we've only been following each other for a few days. It hasn't been long but you've cheered me up so many times already, even though you didn't have to. You're a very kind soul as well, I hope you're also this kind towards yourself.

#this time you made me tear up :'))#sweet mutuals #ask #reminders #<3

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talenlee · 5 months

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Decemberween '23 — Skip Intro

I think I’ve done a great job of making this month’s festival of free media for your engagement particularly educational, and I’m not planning on stopping. Part of Da Ween is revelling in honestly appreciating the things I really like, and so, I should, surely, share these things that make me laugh, make me smile, and make me think.

Anyway, I watch Skip Intro to learn about American policing systems as represented in media and provide a comprehensive breakdown of the different facets of copaganda, an insidious practice that’s used to reinforce racism and classism and just all the isms that capitalism likes.

Wheeee.

I don’t mean to joke about it so freely, but it is kinda telling just how much of this educational material I enjoy and participate in just feels like an immense bummer. Nobody signs up to watch a movie about how chains are constructed in a factory and expect to come out at the other end going ‘well, I now think that the royal family needs to be abolished by ballot or bricks.’ It’s just, the tenor of what interests me seems to be a lot of stuff that’s an immense set of downers.

Maybe there’s something to that, but I’m not planning on reflecting on it right about now.

Anyway, if you’re interested in what Skip Intro is offering, what are they offering, and how much offering is necessary to see if you like it?

The simplest approach is to just grab the Copaganda playlist and watch it all. IT does verge into the space of things I don’t find very interesting, like, oh look, it’s the Marvel movies, that’s totally worth talking about, okay, I get it, you’re going to focus on what you like, but I also just don’t care. And it’s not like I care about these other shows the channel talks about, but somehow I find it so much more tedious when it’s someone trying to draw a direct parallel between the superhero and the fascist in a linear fashion.

Instead, I’drecommend grabbing what of Skip Intro’s work interests you based on these core areas of expertise.

Blue Bloods is the Worst Cop Show | Copaganda: Episode 2

Watch this video on YouTube

First there’s Blue Bloods, which is important to know about because odds are good you had no idea this series existed. You don’t, probably, watch TV any more. You probably consume ‘internet content,’ which is a weird space of puppet plays, streamed communal gaming material, and the documentaries that terminally online people find interesting. Like this one. But Blue Bloods is the influential, omnipresent media force that your parents are probably watching if you’re like me or, sigh, your grandparents, if you’re like most people in the reading demographics.

I think that when you watch this video about Blue Bloods, don’t think of it in terms of ‘this is media that has been made this way deliberately to represent a false reality.’ It’s dumber than that. These shows are being made by people who do not really understand reality despite their job being about creating realistic seeming media. It’s a lesson in how important verisimilitude is to work, the idea that the impression of what’s true is so much more important than any effort to represent actual truths.

Blue Bloods is a gaping headwound, a spot where older people just don’t realise they’re learning nonsense from a lollipop factory, because it’s presented to them with the bitter edginess of cold, hard, truths.

What's the Difference between Gangs and The Police? | Copaganda Episode 5.1: THE SHIELD

Watch this video on YouTube

There’s a long form pair of videos about The Shield, a series that it seems much more likely these readers have watched, probably as a set of .mkv files off a server somewhere owned by someone you only know as SASSY-VLAD. It’s, I’m told, a really good show, very enjoyable, and full of all those awful edgy cop show stuff we like, because it openly centers on bastards. It’s a Breaking Bad alike, something that exists on the same DVD shelf as that kind of media, and it seems compelling and interesting.

Can TV Critique the Police? Difficult Men & THE SHIELD | Copaganda Episode 5.2

Watch this video on YouTube

What Skip Intro delves into is the question of how all the complaints about this system are still part of the system. When it ends, the characters are punished not because he did stuff the system couldn’t tolerate, but because it was doing stuff the system couldn’t exploit for greater gain. Interesting kinda way to position a TV show, but also, still, fundamentally thinks of the system as tolerable.

But without veering into a conversation about The Wire (Skip Intro includes a multi-episode examination of The Wire, it’s really good, you should watch it), I instead want to point to the way Skip Intro uses particular TV shows with their own particular framing devices to introduce, then dissect, the claims of ‘good police’ material. Particularly, there’s the promise of high technology shown in The Rookie:

The Rookie & Why Tech won't save Policing

Watch this video on YouTube

And then the supposed importance and social value of police dogs, as explained in an episode on Paw Patrol.

PAW Patrol's Dark Secret, Explained

Watch this video on YouTube

Which is really good.

It’s not good, it’s not good that Paw Patrol is a billionaire machine that also feeds into complete nonsense lies about the way Police and their dogs interact with the world, and it should really upset you how many dogs the police kill, including their own, through being negligent and stupid, because nothing in their training requires them to not be negligent and stupid, but anyway, the episode of Skip Intro is really good and I recommend it. It’s an engaging watch, even if it is about a show that seems to be extraordinarily boring.

What Cop Shows get WRONG about FENTANYL

Watch this video on YouTube

Oh, and since it’s just a good documentary deep dive into it, if you don’t know anything about Fentanyl, because you neither watch Fox News nor have to engage with an opioid crisis, you might be mistaken to think that Fentanyl is a brand new terrible thing invented so TV shows have something like a dragon to have their police encountering on the regular. This is not the case, and Skip Intro does a wide-reaching survey of cop shows to show how they talk about this drug.

It’s not a good look for the people who are, again, making media that’s meant to seem realistic.

I like this! It’s media analysis, it’s engaging with textual criticism, it doesn’t do a lot of grabbing heady academic sources and instead tends to rely on just checking with the writers and what they have to say about their own work, or facts and cases that prove things false based on the history of policing.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Decemberween 2023 #Media #Politics

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the-firebird69 · 6 months

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There's a huge deal going on here in punta Gorda that these idiots won't listen to anything anyone says you're saying not to fly these Jets around us and it's people in town saying it about the air show today and they mean it too and they're finally papers with the state and it is because the Jets are not to code they are not certified for private air shows ever they are jets that are not kept up on maintenance schedules and they have things on them they're not supposed to the number one was they're driving and flying or whatever erratically too low too fast too loud too often in overpopulated areas when they don't have to you my son said at first he's always got the best one right up front and they are filing papers tons of people know what the rules are what the deck is where they can fly and what it should be it shouldn't be all day and it should not be when the show is not on and there are thousands and they're higher ups and they're mad at these assholes and they said they're destroying the property the injector burning and proving that they're hazard and that they don't know what they're doing and they sent it up there this morning to Tallahassee a lot of them sent to DC and a lot of my marks as a current military official some of them are recognized by I didn't and summer recognized by Camila some recognized by the max so sending teams down to see what the hell they're doing it for and it raised the curious question this guy went all the way up there and all the way back and did his little titty and he thinks he's invincible and he gets beat up okay he's a moron and he doesn't remember yesterday from today and what's going on with that too people find out they're very stupid and they're eating them away on purpose to get them out of here and then make sure they won't return and we're going after people here they're saying stuff to him they shouldn't and we're going to pull them out in pieces.

-there's more aggravation here than is necessary still these people need a lesson every few seconds and people are not enforcing it there's too many of them globally in some kind of complete suicidal spin and we can't afford them to pull up at all cuz they're worse and they're killing themselves but we have to make sure it gets done and we need more people on these teams right now and I ask everyday and I mean it everyday and our people need to pay attention we need more personnel on this

Thor Freya

Olympus

It's not fun anymore here and I'm getting more troops in it's terrifyingly bad I'm sending notices out too they're terrorists and they're activating and we can't fool around with them anymore and here we are being reactionary again I don't like it

Nuada Arrianna I'm now going and recruiting because I can't stand it anymore

We also see what he's saying this is what we need to do these are the people we need all this number and we need everybody right now and we need to train them and we don't have time but we have to do it so it's not going to go very well like we wanted because we need to recruit and I'm putting an effort in right now I'm going to catch up with somebody who are neck and neck with. Pakistan and India good I have to beat them

Uriel and Goddess Wife

Hold on a minute we're getting our stuff together we're increasing our recruiting

India gods and goddesses

We are too we see them doing it

Gods and goddesses of Pakistan

I sort of get this we're annoying the s*** out of people by not signing them up and it's not a hard job and it's imperative and it's the most important so we're getting into it and earnest I don't appreciate the sentiment but he says so much get the job done and stop doing stupid s*** to me cuz you can't or won't get that it's a lot of people do it and I am not someone's whipping boy and I'm trying to make it here so I can help people this place turns into a nasty disaster so we're going to stop talking about it it's actually true we're actually like little wimps and cards and he sees it everywhere so it's going to move out

Gods and goddesses of India and we're getting a move on yes we say move out

You approved this message Olympus we're getting it out there her

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