#matthew satyr
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Always gonna fly away!
Just because you know you can!
Never gonna learn there's no such place
As a Neverland!
You don't understand...
You'll never grow up!
And you're never gonna be a man,
Peter Pan.
"Peter Pan," Kelsea Ballerini
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This is a concept sketch made by @belliesandburps of my Royal Sword OC, Matthew Satyr. Matthew is based on Peter Pan (if the song quote above didn't make that clear), and he's the arch-enemy of my Captain Hook OC, James Killian.
I don't have a TON of info about Matthew that I can actually share right now, but here are some of the basics: he's a half-fae youth who, much like Lilia, looks and behaves a lot younger than he really is. (He's not centuries old, but he's certainly not a little boy, either.) He has a pixie sidekick named Kes (based on Tinker Bell), and - much like Peter - he's a cocky prankster by nature, who enjoys a good fight and has a strong competitive streak.
Matthew and James have known each other since James was a child; any time the two have fought or competed over anything, Matthew has nearly always won. The pair used to be friends, but at some point they fell apart; James now considers Matthew to be his sworn enemy, and will stop at nothing to show him up. Matthew, for his part, secretly wishes he and James could be friends again, but still can't help but taunt him whenever James loses.
Matthew has a Unique Magic called "Faith and Trust." This ability fills the user up with so many positive memories and emotions, it literally "lifts your spirits," allowing you to levitate without the aid of fairy dust or any other contrivances. The power can also effect anybody Matthew touches, provided he activates it himself. He is also a very skilled fencer (he and James took swordsmanship classes together), and carries a fighting baton similar to Silver's, housed in a special scabbard or sheath.
#disney#twisted wonderland#oc art#not my art#i'm not an artist#fanart#belliesandburps#concept sketch#oc#matthew satyr#peter pan#matthew
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My fantasy au is so cringe it’s so cringe I don’t even wanna share it but also I wanna draw it so maybe..
#also I think I prefer the crawleys as high elves or soemthikg rather than centaurs etc#coz that was too confusing imo like hard to visualise them all together in my daydreams lol#but idk#but maybe Cora is half mermaid still? so the girls are mainly elf but have some mermaid qualities like can breathe long underwater and mayb#maybe have some fins/pretty scales and stuff?#sparkly mermaid elves all different colours ahh#ok Sybil would be blue#Edith would be teal?/green?#Mary would be purple#maybe clarkson can be a centaur instead of a satyr?#and Patmore can be a satyr instead of a halfling because her as a Danny Devito Phil the satyr charcater is hilarious#(from Hercules)#Daisy still a fairy? maybe she can be a halfling instead and someone else can be fairy#idk if Isobel and Matthew should be elves too?#i think maybe wood elves instea tho#i had mrs hughes as a Kitsune coz it just seems right but now I’m thinking#maybe she could be a unicorn instead of Isobel now there’s no one to be a unicorn?#plus she’s very like amazing and wise so uhhh she deserves it#and it makes more sense if she’s an animal as mr Carson is more animal as a dragon (even tho he’s technically a statue)#yeh ok I’m feelin it now
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Carnelian scarab intaglio with depiction of frolicking satyrs, Greece, circa 525 BC
from Matthew Holder
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𝖬𝖠𝖨𝖭 𝖢𝖧𝖠𝖱𝖠𝖢𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖲 ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
main book masterlist // the prologue
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Y/N M/N Jackson-Matthews
as black!female!reader (you)
16 years old
Lesbian
Demi-God (Daughter of Poseidon)
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Clarisse La Rue
as Dior Goodjohn
16 years old
Lesbian
Demi-God (Daughter of Ares)
Future Girlfriend
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Adrianna Smith
as McKenna Grace
16 years old
Pansexual
Demi-God (Daughter of Hephaestus)
Best Friend
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Percy Jackson-Matthews
as Walker Scobell
12 years old
Straight
Demi-God (Son of Poseidon)
Younger Brother
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Annabeth Chase
as Leah Sava Jeffries
12 years old
Straight
Demi-God (Daughter of Athena)
Non-Blood Sister
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Grover Underwood
as Aryan Simhadri
Physically 12 years old; Biologically 24 years old
Straight
Satyr Protector
Non-Blood Brother
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Luke Castellan
as Charlie Bushnell
19 years old
Straight
Demi-God (Son of Hermes)
Friend
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Jessica Jackson-Matthews
as Candice Patton
40 years old
Bisexual
Human
Biological Mother
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
Sally Jackson-Matthews
as Virginia Kull
40 years old
Bisexual
Human
ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ ꪆৎ ˚⋅ ➴ ᡣ𐭩 ྀིྀ
#cast of her pretty girl#dior goodjohn#clarisse la rue#clarisse la rue x reader#clarisse la rue x fem!reader#clarisse la rue x black!reader#clarisse la rue x black!fem!reader#clarisse la rue series#daughter of poseidon
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Things from the books that I need to see in the Percy Jackson show! Warning spoilers if you’ve not read the books.
Disney not canceling this after one season
Iris messages! I just think they are so clever and very immersive.
If Percy doesn’t fight Ares I’ll scream. That was just iconic to me.
More dream stuff. The fact that Demi Gods can always get a glimpse of fate is really important in the books.
Zeus telling Percy he will shoot him out of the sky next time he flies.
Mr. D never getting Percy’s names right.
Dodgeball with the Lastrygonian giants. That was one of my favorite chapters in The Sea of Monsters.
Grover in a dress!
All the sheep 🐏🐑🐏🐑
The empathy link!
PARTY PONIES
The white streaks in Percy and Annabeth hair from holding up the sky.
Thalia being scared of heights.
In the same vein more Percy being scared of drowning.
Ares being whipped by Aphrodite. Seriously her sending him to get Percy then standing outside while she talks to him is so good to me.
Bianca and Percy having a moment before she goes into the automaton. Like a real heart felt one because that is the loss of innocence point for sure.
Rachel - enough said
Dr. Chase - enough said
Nico’s freak out at the end of titans curse because that was just so epic the leave us alone thing ugh I want to see it. Also I can’t wait to see Nico and Bianca in general.
Satyrs hyped up on Coffee!
The labyrinth in general is going to be so good. Like that’s my favorite book so I want to get there more than anything.
The Triple G Ranch and honestly I’d like to see Matthew Mcconaughey play Eurytion.
Percy learning he can use his abilities away from the water.
Mrs. O’Leary my beautiful amazing perfect baby girl.
Calypso because we need the moment where Percy learns that the gods just discard people. Also it helps him humanize Mr. D a little bit more.
Nico apologizing because it shows that Hade’s and his kids aren’t villains and I just think that is so very important.
Beckendorf and Silena are so important to me they deserved better but it’s okay. I think everything that happens with them in Last Olympian has such amazing and perfect impact. I could go on for hours about this.
Hestia because I love her. Before I read the books and knew the basic principle I wanted to be her child. I still do but I really love the way she was treated in this book. So good.
Annabeth saving Percy without knowing!!!
I want a moment similar to Endgame when everyone comes out to stand against Thanos with the Hunters when they come to help in New York.
Sally and Paul fighting!!
The Ares vs Apollo cabin fight. Honestly I think that was so good. Because it gave us a way to feel like Percy was going to fail. And it showed Clarisse’s fatal flaw.
Speaking of that I want more fatal flaw stuff.
Finally I want the moment when Ares shows approval of Clarise. That moment got me. Honestly I am a Clarisse stan.
Over all I’m just ready for more episodes of this show.
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Kiss Me (Until My Lips Fall Off) Chapter 1
"Sire, we have captured the foul bea-" Morpheus lifted his upper body off the bed that he was lying on in a elegant manner, the ruby encrusted jewels on his rosy nipples with delicate golden chains attached to them proudly on display for the captain of the royal guard standing before him "What is it that you have captured, Matthew?" The king asked, raising an eyebrow as he sat up "Speak up, you have my full attention" He added, his tone a warning in itself as his satyr lover gave the poor man a deadly glare that prompted him into getting on with it "My apologies, your majesty..I meant to say that we have successfully apprehended the creature that has been terrorizing the town folk".
That information made the raven haired ruler stare in bewilderment, skepticism in his tone as he asked "Where is the monster held up at the moment and what fate do you have planned for it?" Matthew puffed his chest in pride as he answered his majesty "He is currently kept in chains in the dungeons where he will remain until he will be executed at dawn, your highness" Morpheus pondered for a moment, getting off the lavish bed as he began to put on a sheer blue robe, brushing his long black hair back as he spoke "Take me to the dungeons, I want to see the cursed thing myself before his life ends". The guard tried to protest, to tell him to reconsider but the king's voice silenced him "You dare defy your king, Matthew? You seem to forget whom it is you have sworn allegiance..perhaps I shall let Hob refresh your memory" His voice a dark velvet as he gave the brown eyed satyr sitting by his side a warm look, his pale hand stroking his bearded cheek tenderly "One word, and your blood will be spilled by his magnificent horns". The guard shook his head, swallowing thickly at the threat "Of course sire, I shall not do so again. Right this way, your majesty" The ravenette smirked, running a hand through the thick hairs on his satyr's chest as he whispered in his ear "Fret not, lover of mine, for I shall return to our chambers at nightfall for another evening of unbridled passion" The king's words and touch brought out a whine out of the goat man as he watched his raven haired love follow Matthew outside of the royal chambers.
The pair went down several flights of stairs to reach the dungeon, were supposedly the elusive beast that had been responsible for the deaths of several villagers in the last month was held captive. The creature seemed to be hunting them for their hearts, tearing it out with it's maw before leaving the rest to the vultures. There were a few who had sworn that they have seen a pair of blue glowing eyes staring out of the forest, others have claimed to have witnessed a large white wolf running by and despite the several attempts made to capture it, the large canine continued on with its onslaught, leaving carnage wherever it went..until now. The guard lead the king into the dungeon, marching towards the cell that contained the monster "Be careful, your majesty : he has tried multiple times to break free" Morpheus merely nodded as he heard the warning, stepping inside the cell before standing in front of something that left him bewildered. "Are you certain that this is the one responsible for the slaughter?" He asked, taking in the sight of the man whose arms were bound with chains : skin of a grayish black with a white, full-body tattoo of a skeleton (starting as a half-skull on his face), a tall frame that was lanky but decently muscled and long tangled white hair that partially hid eyes of a bright blue. When the ruler began to take a closer look at the chained creature, the royal guard began to fidget with his armor as he stared on nervously "It is him, Sire, we found him near a lake. He was devouring the heart of the stable boy who went missing a day ago". The werewolf hadn't uttered a word during the exchange, instead he growled as his wild eyes were focused on the dark haired man that analyzed him from head to toe though the sound that had left his blood-stained lips died out when his chin was lifted by the raven haired lord's pale hand, the look in those beautiful eyes of his compelling him to obey.
The chained man remained silent as he felt the delicate but firm hand slowly trail down his neck to touch the worn out collar clasped around it, the medal on it bearing a name that he hadn't used in a while "Hobo Heart" The king read out loud, turning his attention to the prisoner "That is your name, correct?" When the white haired man nodded in reply, Morpheus turned his attention towards the frightened captain of the royal guard "Release him from these shackles, tell the servants to run him a warm bath and prepare him a set of clothes to wear" The guard was about to protest but stopped, he knew that it would be foolish to question the king once again so it was with a shaky voice that he asked "Is there anything else that you need be done, my king?" The king smiled, his thumb stroking the cold cheek of the confused beast chained in his presence "Send out measurements of this fiend's neck to the best jeweler of the kingdom, let him know that King Morpheus requires a collar encrusted with the finest of rubies, adorned with a medallion that is just as tasteful with the words 'Hobo Heart, Royal Pet Of King Morpheus' engraved in it". Matthew gasped in shock, had his king fallen to madness? But his majesty only smiled still as he looked at him "Afterall, a royal pet must be displayed as such for the entire kingdom to marvel at. Now go, take him alongside you and notify the others of my decision at once" A quick nod and soon, Hobo Heart was dragged off to be prepared for his new life as the pet of the dark king, who was quite happy to have been disturbed : he had gained a new toy to play with. When he was certain that his orders were carried out, he returned to his chambers to spend another amorous evening with his wild lover, not yet understanding how difficult his new pet would prove himself to be.
With a pleased sigh, Morpheus buried his face in the crook of his lover's neck, covering it with kisses as he relaxed in his embrace. He then rested his head on the satyr's well furred chest, eager to sleep by his side until he was interrupted by the sound of the doors of his chambers being opened frantically, as if the person was in a state of panic. With a scowl, the king raised his head with the intention to tell Matthew to leave at once but stopped himself : the one who stood before him was Jessamy, his favorite maid "Jessamy, what has happened?" He asked in a soft tone that he rarely used, the fear in the young woman's eyes worried him. The sweet maid took a few seconds to calm down, inhaling a deep breath before speaking "It's your pet, sire...He is attacking the guard Corinth, trying to gouge out his eyes" The information made the raven haired male sigh as he got up, straightening his robe as he looked at her, concerned still for her well-being "Has he hurt you in anyway?". The servant shook her head, fidgeting with her hands as she explained what had happened : the werewolf was behaving quite well during his bath but that quickly changed when one of the servants present tried to untangle his hair, resulting in him growling and trying to claw anyone that got too close.
The guards were summoned soon after as an attempt to calm the creature but even that didn't work so it was decided that the king must be alerted at once and since the maiden was more favored by his highness, the task went to her. She took a deep breath after briefing her king, before adding "Sir Matthew suspects that Hobo Heart might have been acting oddly because he wanted your presence, sire". Morpheus raised an eyebrow in amusement, the idea of his new pet craving his attention already was adorable though he was certain that the reason was more simple than that "Then let us go see what my beloved pet requires at the moment, Jessamy. I am certain that your presence along with mine will surely have a soothing effect on his agitated nerves" The king gave his sleeping lover a tender kiss before walking out of the chambers once more in the directions of the room were the bathtub was kept in, with his favorite maid at his side.
"Stop laughing and do something already, Mervyn!" The captain of the royal guard scowled at the older man as he tried to pull the blonde guard away from the feral beast, who did not relent his attacks : sinking his claws under Corinth's eyes, trying to drag them upwards to reach his target all the while growling in fury when he wasn't successful. "Enough, Hobo Heart! Let go of Corinth at once, this is not a request" The king's authoritative voice soon made the werewolf let go of his prey, letting out a small whine as he sat down in the tub full of water with a pitiful look on his face. All but Morpheus were shocked at how quickly the wild man obeyed the words given to him but what was more surprising was seeing their ruler walk towards the creature before kneeling next to him, speaking to him with tenderness "You lashed out, not because you were requesting my presence, but because you were in pain. The servant who tried to brush your hair pulled on a knot too hard, causing you to react poorly. Is that right, my pet?".
To the surprise of the guards and the royal staff, the werewolf spoke "Yes, it hurt when they tried to brush my hair. They went too hard" Hobo Heart's eyes were downcast, remorseful as his king lifted his chin gently "If Jessamy were to take care of your hair from now on, will you behave and treat her with the same respect that you give me?" The ravenette asked softly, brushing his thumb against the cold skin of his pet's cheek, smiling as he saw the snow white haired male nod. "Good. Matthew, take Corinth to the medic bay to treat his wounds. As for you all, besides Jessamy, leave. She and I will take it from here henceforth" All murmurs of protests died at the sight of their lord's eyes staring them down and it was only when it was the three of them left in the room that he allowed himself to relax, smiling as he removed his robes in front of an awed Hobo Heart. "Would it be alright with you, my darling pet, if I were to join you? I am afraid that my..activities have rendered me sore" He said with a smirk, stepping into the bathtub when his question was answered with a small nod, smiling as the blue eyes of the creature were focused on the jewelry adorning his nipples.
The rest of the evening went on without a fuss and just as Morpheus predicted, his maid soon became the werewolf's favorite person in the castle (besides him of course) : he stood still when she styled his long white hair in a elegant plait and dressed him in a silken lace dress that was red with billowy sleeves and had a plunging neckline that would compliment the gift he would receive soon. His eyes were then lined with red Kohl to make them stand out and ears were adorned with hanging clip-on earrings, studded with garnets and rubies : the king's royal pet was truly a marvel to look at, all that he needed was one final touch to let the whole kingdom know of that fact.
"Stand up, my pet" Hobo Heart's obedience made the king's face smile in pride as he opened an ornate box to reveal a dazzling collar encrusted with fine rubies with a heart shaped medallion bearing the words 'Hobo Heart, Royal Pet Of King Morpheus'. The werewolf's eyes were wide in shock, it was clearly handmade and must have cost a fortune, but when he tried to protest and say that his old worn out collar would suffice plenty, the ruler brushed his concerns aside "A king's werewolf deserves something that shows off it's position to the whole kingdom as a symbol of pride, for you my dear pet are more than worthy of that title" The king smiled as his new pet let him put the collar around his beautiful neck, stroking his cheek after he was done "Good boy, you have been good today, despite the attack you did to one of my guards" He murmured in the male's ear, chuckling at his expression as he attached a bedazzled leash to the loop of the collar "Come, my pet, to the dinning hall were you will have hearts and many more delicacies to feast on. You must be hungry after all of this, hmmm?" The eager nod that the white haired pet gave earned a smile from the ruler, who lead him out of the dressing room into the hallway by holding his leash, the pair unaware of the satyr watching from a distance with a scowl on his face.
Hob stared a bit more before deciding to follow them to get to the bottom of this situation, eventually the three of them arrived at their destination. While Morpheus was seated and was enjoying fruits, his pet was knelt onto the ground at his side and feasting on a fresh heart. The sight made the satyr recoil in disgust but his attention shifted as he heard his lover call out to him "My darling Hob, oh I have missed you" The words were said with so much love and devotion that the goat man had forgotten his anger, going to his dark haired beauty to lavish him with kisses under the calm gaze of the werewolf. "My dear Hob, this is Hobo Heart, my new werewolf pet. He is also yours to play with, if you ever wished to" The satyr frowned a bit at his lover's words, he hardly could see himself enjoying the presence of a rival in his territory but out of love for his king he simply said "I might in the future but not right now, I'm a bit tired from our activities, you know?" Hob tried his best to be kind to the pet but his nerves couldn't handle the look of adoration that Hobo Heart gave Morpheus as he rested his cheek in the offered palm. The sight itself brought out an inhuman shriek out of the satyr's lips as he soon headbutted the werewolf, which soon lead to a fight that gave the king no other choice but to separate the pair. The two were glaring at eachother even as they were brought to their respective room, both vowing to destroy one another when the chance would strike.
#kiss me au#spooky throuple#dreamling#the sandman fanfiction#the sandman#dream of the endless#hob gadling#dream x hob x hobo heart#king!morpheus x satyr!hob x werewolf!hobo heart#satyr! hob#satyr hob gadling#werewolf!hobo heart#werewolf hobo heart#cw male lactation#cw lactation#cw hybrids#hobo heart#cw breastfeeding
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Attila from Powerwolf, but he's a satyr. Do you like Sattyrla ? 👀
I really like fauns/satyrs, they are my favourite mythological creatures I think.
But the question is : if I had to draw the rest of the band, who would you see in which creature ? (Maybe Matthew as a mermaid baha)
#powerwolf#attila dorn#faun#mythology#mythological#creature#design#character design#powerwolf fanart#powerwolf art#art
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God's Judgments on the Nations
1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people:
let the earth hear, and all that is therein;
the world, and all things that come forth of it.
2 For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations,
and his fury upon all their armies:
he hath utterly destroyed them,
he hath delivered them to the slaughter.
3 Their slain also shall be cast out,
and their stink shall come up out of their carcases,
and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.
4 And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved,
and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll:
and all their host shall fall down,
as the leaf falleth off from the vine,
and as a falling fig from the fig tree.
5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven:
behold, it shall come down upon Idumea,
and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood,
it is made fat with fatness,
and with the blood of lambs and goats,
with the fat of the kidneys of rams:
for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah,
and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.
7 And the unicorns shall come down with them,
and the bullocks with the bulls;
and their land shall be soaked with blood,
and their dust made fat with fatness.
8 For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance,
and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.
9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch,
and the dust thereof into brimstone,
and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.
10 It shall not be quenched night nor day;
the smoke thereof shall go up for ever:
from generation to generation it shall lie waste;
none shall pass through it for ever and ever.
11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it;
the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it:
and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion,
and the stones of emptiness.
12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom,
but none shall be there,
and all her princes shall be nothing.
13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces,
nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof:
and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island,
and the satyr shall cry to his fellow;
the screech owl also shall rest there,
and find for herself a place of rest.
15 There shall the great owl make her nest,
and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow:
there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
16 Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read:
no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate:
for my mouth it hath commanded,
and his spirit it hath gathered them.
17 And he hath cast the lot for them,
and his hand hath divided it unto them by line:
they shall possess it for ever,
from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.
— Isaiah 34 | Authorized King James Version (AKJV)
The Holy Bible: Authorized King James Version; Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK. All rights reserved.
Cross References: Genesis 6:13; Numbers 23:22; Deuteronomy 14:13; Deuteronomy 29:23; Deuteronomy 32:1; Deuteronomy 32:41-42; 2 Samuel 1:22; 2 Kings 21:13; 1 Chronicles 1:44; Job 39:9; Psalm 11:6; Psalm 44:19; Isaiah 1:20; Isaiah 1:31; Isaiah 10:4-5; Isaiah 13:5-6; Isaiah 13:21-22; Isaiah 14:19; Isaiah 14:31; Isaiah 17:13-14; Isaiah 24:6; Isaiah 35:4; Isaiah 40:23; Isaiah 41:11-12; Isaiah 59:5; Jeremiah 13:25; Jeremiah 50:39; Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:25; Revelation 14:11; Revelation 18:2; Revelation 19:2
#Lord#God#indignation#nations#world#warning#Isaiah 34#Book of Isaiah#Old Testament#AKJV#Holy Bible#Authorized King James Version
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satyr and dragonborn
satyr: how did you discover critical role
So a good friend of mine from college who was part of the team that animated our student film was super into Critical Role; this was 2017-2019, so they'd seen Vox Machina and were following the Nein, and they talked about it (and DnD in general) a LOT. It wasn't really something I was interested in at the time (I was Going Through It in 2017), but I respected it.
dragonborn: when did you start watching
Well, fast forward to 2021 and I was playing Fire Emblem nonstop, and I had finally gone backwards to Awakening, where I immediately got the most PATHETIC crush on Chrom. CR had actually kinda come back on my radar through YouTube compilations of Sam's ad reads, and I was like dude. I NEED more Matthew Mercer. I want to hear the voice of my husband. And I also thought, hm, I'm picking up again with this 3D modeling project for my portfolio, I should have something to listen to that takes a long time so I can sit and work. So around...early September, I wanna say? I was like y'know what, let's start from the beginning. No big deal, probably won't get that invested.
I got invested.
critical role ask game
#this started with a crush on chrom and it's going with a crush on percy. look chrom is at his hottest when he's being decisive#i have a type#asks#critical role
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INTRO POST YEAHHHH
Okay so this is @f4y3w00d5s writing blog, I'll occasionally post short stories (probably unrelated to my main books) and things about characters, plots, subplots etc from my main stories.
CURRENT MAIN WORKS
-Freak Show (and other books in this world. This is where Ben and Faye come from)
-The Ghost Story (something I've been working on the sides. Pretty epic. I dont think it will end well. no official title or names, just ideas.)
-The Horror Stories (works i started when i was younger, series of short horror stories. Some characters may be reworked to be in main stories. Faye and Ben started out as these.)
You may submit asks to my characters, I will work on getting them pictures and bios on here.
List Of Characters To Ask Things
(Freak Show)
-Asmodeus (main character of Freak Show. half demon. A lot of development in the stories, most of which is planned out)
-Fay (okay you know her. shes my wizardblog person. but this is OG Faye. Some things are a bit different this verision doesnt have an e though)
-Ben (same as Fay. but more different.)
-Purple Haze (nonbinary and asexual supervillain. Faye and Bens boss. She's epic. Also just human.)
-Evil (pronounced Eh-vil. OG version of Matrix. Above gender. All seeing all knowing primordial being. actually neutral.)
-Merlin (this version of Merlins a faerie. also one of Bens exes)
-Cyprus (Merlins mortal boyfriend and leader of his guard)
-Cyrus (Vampire. Gay. Magnus Bane vibes.)
-Haydyn (Shapeshifter. Gay. sorta punk but very insecure)
-Evelyn (shes 14. when shes added. she'll date Azzy for a bit. Then some angel fucker named Tristan.)
-Cody (Fays youngest brother. he dies and turns into a vampire.
-Kyra (Jengu. i hate her guts. Shes one of the heroes.)
-Hazel (Kyras gf. Satyr. I also hate her. also one of the heroes)
-Dolores (Hah... hahaha... dont get me STARTED on this bitch)
-Matthew (Dead. used to date Dolores. One of the horror story people)
-Kylan + Christopher (boyfriends. Wraiths. Horror people again)
(Horror Story)
-Anaira & dolls (poor traumatised doll girl :(
-Fern (oh shes fucking EPIC!!! also traumatised.)
-August Smith (IMAGINE DROWNING ON THE TITANIC COS OF A PRANK)
-Adrika (please adopt my poor baby :(
-Jinx (literally just that song Parents by YUNGBLUD)
(The Ghost Story)
-MC (main character. unnamed.)
-The ghosts (oh i love these fuckers. boy + girl. murdered.)
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I think the aquatic races should be merfolk. Quarren have tentacles, mon calamari are either shrimp or lobster-like, Nautalans have tails, etc.
Thissoissians are already Magasi so idk how you can make them more fantasy like, unless they become four-armed dwarves since they canonically have beards.
Sidious should be a hag that casts a glamour to appear as Palpatine.
The Death Star and/or Star Destroyers should be wooden dragons of some sort.
I think certain separatist droids should be centaurs, but I’m not sure which ones. Maybe the droidekas?
Oh yes, there will absolutely be merfolk for the aquatic races. I like your ideas, and will now be stealing them.
I am going to be honest, I had to Wookiepedia Thisspiasians (I recognized them once I did but I didn't recognize the name at first 😅) and I totally agree. On a similar note, which I was reminded of because of the arms, Besalisks are centaurs, but I like the idea of some separatist droids as centaurs too.
I LIKE THE PALPATINE IDEA. ACCEPTED. RIGHT NOW.
So, a little bit of background for the world geography before I get into the Star Destroyers idea. I wanted to keep the idea of separate planets, but obviously because we're not in Space (TM) anymore, I transposed the world into a huge archipelago, with each island being a separate country- I'm working on a map right now. That being said, all the spaceships are now, quite literally, full-on BOATS (i love boats they are so cool and i am very mad that i can't draw them >:( ). The Death Star, I was thinking, would be a huge floating fortress- or maybe, one disguised to look like an islet (small island), as these are stand-ins for moons in the AU. That being said, I like the idea that once the Republic dissolves and the Empire takes its place, Star Destroyers have dragon figureheads mandated by Vader (can I interest you in some Matthew Stover Sun Dragon imagery, anyone?).
Again, I like the centaur Droids idea; I think that droids should be either A) reanimated skeletons, an absolutely fantastic idea developed on this AU (from which I took much inspiration and also which I am desperately trying not to copy too much from) or B) Automatons (in the classical sense; I've linked the wikipedia page here) that merely resemble reanimated skeletons. But absolutely some of them should be centaurs; I'm thinking Super Battle Droids, while maybe regular Battle Droids would be satyrs?
These ideas are absolutely amazing, and whoever you are, thank you so much :)
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The Scarlet Pirate - Chapter 6
This is the finale to a six-part "Chapter Story" for my OC for Twisted Wonderland, James Killian - based on Captain Hook from Disney's Peter Pan. (Also featured are Smitty McCarthy, based on Smee, and Matthew Satyr, based on Peter himself...oh, and Nakoda - my Kaa OC - also has a role here.) The basic premise of this story has been in my mind for almost as long as James has, but for numerous reasons, it wasn't till just within the past few weeks I finally got a chance to develop and write it out.
The result is, I think, the single longest "Chapter Story" for any of my OCs for TW I've created so far. Take that information however you will. So long as this tale, that it went from a planned three-parter, to a planned five-parter, to now being a six-parter, standing at approximately 150 pages in total! Hopefully, all the work and length will be for the best. XD
As is typical for my Chapter Stories, I have been posting this one chapter at a time per day over the course of this past week. You can find the previous chapter here.
If you wish to start from the beginning, you can find the first chapter here.
WARNING: While this story, throughout all six parts, does not FOCUS on my kinks, there are instances of very mild stuffing/belching related content sprinkled throughout, as well as various instances of implied or near vore situations. If you're into these things, good on ya. If you aren't, just be warned they will show up here and there, although not with any degree of spectacle.
With that said...I hope you enjoy.
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The skull-and-crossbones on the gauntlet flashed…and then it came again. The depression. The oppressive negativity. Sorrow and guilt, fear and pain, anger of the most hopeless sort…all of it flooded your mind. Hunger, cold, and darkness swarmed your mind, and you felt as if an anchor had been dropped upon you.
All at once, you and your fellow students fell to the cavern floor, all crying out in the same tone at the same time: one of abrupt, gut-wrenching despair. Nakoda rolled onto his back, holding onto his belly, gasping and wheezing as if his gut was being compressed by some external force. Sebek was in a similar state, grinding his molars and curling up from pain. Azul was once again covering his ears, as if trying to drown out voices inside his own head. Matthew collapsed in front of you, directly beside Smitty, each clutching their chests, as if their hearts or lungs were in pain. Kes desperately buzzed her wings, trying to keep herself aloft, but as James began to walk closer, the waves of dark power that seemed to surround him overtook her, and she fell from the sky.
“K-Kes!” Matthew gasped between harsh, ragged breaths, and caught her in his hands.
“Wretched fairy,” snorted James, looking down as if the pixie were a vulgar insect.
“James…James, p-please stop this!” Smitty begged.
“How…how is this even…h-happening?” groaned Azul.
“None of us t-touched him again!” meowed Grim.
You couldn’t answer; it felt as if your tongue had gone numb. But you knew what had happened. Overblot always did this: everyone in Jamil’s vicinity had been put under his spell. Azul had easily begun to drain people’s powers. Leona had nearly turned the whole campus to sand. James no longer NEEDED to touch anyone; the magic was just POURING out of him at this point, and with it came the weight of Doubt & Despair.
“Look at you all,” James grinned cruelly, pausing and lifting his clawed hand, flexing his fingers. As he did, you saw Nakoda start to writhe, as if every motion of that hand was creating lashings of new distress. “And I thought seeing you drop before me in the treasure room was pleasure enough. No…this. THIS is what I’ve LONGED for. What I’ve truly waited years to see! Everyone…at me feet…without a hope. Without a prayer. Dying of broken hearts and bad dreams!”
A sadistic, unhinged laugh left James, jangling in your eardrums like nails on a chalkboard. As he cackled, Matthew held Kes to his face; she seemed weak. Frail. Her golden pixie light began to flicker.
“No, Kes! N-No, please…please don’t go out!” he pleaded.
“Oh, dear, dear,” tutted James Killian mockingly, noticing this, a wicked glint in his red eye. “Is somebody’s little pixie unable to take the weight of it all? Such a shame…”
“James…you…c-can’t…!”
“SHUT UP, YOU TRAITOR!” shrieked James, rounding on Smitty McCarthy. “I AM THE CAPTAIN HERE! I AM IN CHARGE! FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE, I HAVE EVERYTHING I COULD EVER ASK FOR!”
He froze…then grinned and looked towards the rock where the treasure chest still sat.
“Well,” he snickered. “Almost everything.”
James started to walk towards it…then stopped as he felt a hand grip his boot. He looked down and back, a repulsed look once more curling his features grotesquely as he saw Matthew Satyr holding onto his boot with one hand.
“Leave them…alone…y-you stinking codfish,” he hoarsely rasped.
James growled…and kicked the arm away.
“You think I’ll take orders from you?!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “YOU HAVE NO POWER HERE ANYMORE, SATYR!”
James suddenly reached down, his gauntlet hooks snatching up Satyr by the front of his costume. Matthew’s hands loosened around Kes, and her little, limp form fell to the floor. Her wings twitched and she went still. Killian, meanwhile, dragged Matthew over to one of the stone walls, slamming his back into it.
“I AM YOUR WEAKNESS! JUST AS YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MINE!” James roared into his face. “EVERY TIME YOU FALL! EVERY TIME YOU STUMBLE!”
James Killian reached back with his un-hooked hand and began to punch Matthew repeatedly in the diaphragm.
“I! WILL! BE! THERE!”
James then tossed Matthew aside. Tears were in the half-fairy’s eyes. He started to crawl away. James let out a psychotic sort of giggle.
“Oh-ho-ho-ho, no. No, no, no, you don’t get to fight it!” he grinned, with madness in his eyes. “LIE DOWN AND LOSE! JUST THIS ONCE! DAMNATION, LOSE!”
James kicked Matthew, who cried out in pain. He then looked up, and grinned viciously, seeing his sword, still stuck in the rock at the top of the stone tower. He looked down, leaning close and patting Satyr’s cheek.
“Wallow in misery for a second,” he said, softly. “I’ll be back in just a moment.”
As James began to ascend the tower, it was all too clear what he had in mind. A surge of light burst inside of you: this couldn’t happen! He wasn’t going to give up, but you had to stop him!
Your eyes looked towards Kes. You bit your lip and began to crawl along the cave floor towards the fallen fairy. It was a slim hope, a slender chance…but you had to try.
And that determination helped you crawl a little faster.
“Prefect…ssstop,” you heard Nakoda hiss behind you.
“Don’t…he might…might…see,” Smitty whimpered.
You ignored them both. If James Killian was focused on Satyr, nothing would tear him away. You had to rely on that belief. You had to pray that you weren’t miscalculating.
You had to stay focused. You had to believe.
Your belief was answered. James Killian pulled his sword out of the stone, without ever noticing. As he did, the rapier-like blade changed in his hand, transforming into a cutlass, with a skull-shaped hilt, and ink staining its blade like black blood. He strolled back down the slope towards Matthew Satyr, who was shaking his head, as if trying to dispel bad memories. James paused, cocking his head with a smug look, as if taking in the despair…drinking in the moment…
“How does it feel, Satyr?” he asked, calmly. “I didn’t get a chance to ask in the pit. What is it like? What feelings are filling your heart? What unhappy thoughts are weighing you down?”
“Sh-shut up,” Satyr spat.
“Let me guess,” James went on, inspecting his blade. “Loneliness, perhaps? The recognition that, for all your brass, you’re still an abandoned child, not wanted by fairy or human alike? Perhaps the disbelief that I’ve finally beaten you? Or perhaps the realization I was always destined to win to begin with?”
“I s-said shut up!” Satyr responded, looking up with teary but indignant eyes.
“HA HA HA!” James laughed uproariously. “Is that all you have to say?! Odds, bobs, hammer, and tongs, Satyr! YOU’RE PATHETIC LIKE THIS!”
With a beastly growl, James kicked Matthew again, and sent him rolling across the stone floor. You tried to ignore the scene as you were now just about arm’s length from Kes. You reached out; her little pixie eyes flickered as she looked up at you, her tiny chest heaving as she tried to breathe, to fight the negativity that threatened to put out her light.
“Reach for me,” you whispered. “Trust me. Have faith.”
Kes looked confused…but she seemed to believe you. Her little hand reached out, shakily, her miniature fingers just brushing yours…
“I need you,” you whispered to her. “Matthew needs you. We all need what you can give us…and you know what that is, don’t you?”
Kes’ wings twitched…suddenly, the light began to strengthen. You smiled, and felt the light in your own heart intensify…
“Come on…we can do it. Together. If you believe in me…I’ll believe in you.”
“What are you d-doing?” you heard Smitty whine out.
“Using the one thing that James can’t extinguish,” you said, and began to hold yourself up on your hands and knees. “I just…need…time…!”
Time was not something you had an abundance of. Matthew Satyr tried to pull himself to his feet, but James pounded his iron-clad hand down in a hammering blow, knocking him down again.
“STAY THERE! Let me see it…let me see you weep, Satyr!” he spat. “Let the tears flow, like they did before! LET ME WIN AND DIE!”
“You…you don’t…h-have to…do this…James, you’re…you’re not going to…survive this!” Matthew sputtered out, clutching the bruised parts of his body.
“I’LL TAKE THAT CHANCE IF IT MEANS BEATING YOU!” screamed James. He raised the cutlass above his head. “SAY YER PRAYERS, MATTHEW SATYR!”
“YOU FIRST, YOU OLD CODFISH!”
James Killian froze up, and turned to see who had spoken. He was astonished when he saw you standing, with Kes sitting in the palm of your hand, while all the rest remained on the ground.
“Y-You?!” gasped James.
“Prefect?” peeped Matthew…and slowly started to smile despite the pain. “K-Kes?!”
“How are you up and about?!” roared James, pointing his sword at you. “YOU SHOULD BE PROSTRATING YOURSELF, CRYING FOR YOUR MUMMY AND DADDY!”
“I haven’t cried for them in a very long time,” you said, gravely serious, then smiled. “I have a lot of bad stuff in my life. We all do. Everyone in this room has experienced terrible things, even DONE terrible things. I’ve lost people I cared about. But I’ve also gained friends, even a new family, and experiences people back in my world could only dream of. For all the reasons I could have to despair, there’s one thing I’ve learned since I came to this world.”
“And what is that, pray tell?” snarled James Killian, scraping the edge of his sword and the claws of his gauntlet together threateningly.
You just smiled wider.
“There are three things in life that are certain,” you reminded him. “And it wasn’t what you said. Remember?”
“If you’re about to sssay what I think you’re about to sssay,” you heard Nakoda mutter. “I ssswear to Chernabog I’m eating you…”
“Seconded,” Azul grumbled.
Sebek just groaned.
You giggled at all their reactions, even as James took up a dueling stance, sword poised, claws held high.
“I don’t think any of you have any place to argue,” you said, and looked towards James Killian as he began to inch towards you, eyes wild, like an animal ready to pounce. “Don’t you see, James? You’ll NEVER win! Not so long as there is Faith…Trust…and…”
“Seriously, don’t say it,” moaned Grim, covering his ears.
You said it anyway.
“PIXIE DUST!”
Kes spun around you, sending a shower of golden, glittering dust onto your head and shoulders. James roared like a feral animal and plunged forward, ready to run you through with his blade…
…And missed as you flew into the air, clean over his head.
Every drop of despair and dismay fell away from you as you lifted towards the ceiling of the cave…then came swooping down, flying just above the surface of the lake. You caught some water in your hand and splashed it in the pirate’s face as you flew like a bird, getting behind him. You bowed tauntingly in mid-air, James eye twitching as his teeth gnashed.
“No! NO!” he wailed, and ran at you, swinging his weapon wildly about. “I WON! I! WON! YOU CAN’T BE FLYING, TOO! NOT NOW! YOU CAN’T!”
“Mere child’s play!” you teased, zipping away and flying out of the path of his weapon. Sparks flew as it scratched the stone wall. James hissed like a rattlesnake and whirled about, raking his hooked claws through the air to try and catch you, but you flew higher and further out of range.
“GIVE UP ALREADY!” James yelled.
“You first!” you mocked.
Cursing in a wild, over-the-top fashion, James held out his iron hand. The red skull flashed again, and you could see a plume of dark mist come flying towards you. You dodged the wave of negative energy, flying in circles, racing out of the path of every shot of power.
“DOUBT AND DESPAIR! DOUBT AND DESPAIR!” James howled, sounding very much like a toddler throwing a tantrum. “LET ME WIN! JUST LET ME WIN! JUST ONCE! I WANNA WIN!”
You sighed and shook your head as you flew down and hovered near the ground.
“Oh, James,” you said, sadly, then injected venom into your words. “Grow up.”
James Killian all but pounced towards you, sword and claws raised alike, as if he meant to cut you to ribbons. You flew out of the way just in time, and he crashed into the stone wall behind you. Hard.
The instant he did, the wave of dreadful power that was overwhelming the others seemed. Cautiously, everyone began to climb onto their hands and feet…but James Killian was doing the same. He grunted and gasped, his clawed hand reaching up and slapping onto the stone wall…
…Then, iron screeched against stone as James Killian let out a despairing, sorrowful moan…and finally collapsed, the Overblot effectively beaten out of him as unconsciousness overtook him.
It was over.
You touched down with a sigh, as you felt all the energy - positive and negative - fall away. Both spells had run their course. Kes zipped over to you and you smiled, holding up a hand as her own miniature mitt gave you a high-five.
“Great work,” you said to the pixie. “I knew I could count on you.”
“That might have been the corniest win I’ve seen in my life,” Azul’s voice spoke up, as he staggered to his feet, fixing his glasses. “But…I must admit, it seemed effective.”
“Kes! You’re okay!” cheered Matthew, and flew over, weightless once more. The pixie flew into his hands and he smiled at her as she perched there like a little bird. “I’m so glad you’re safe…you stopped him! You saved us!”
“Correction,” Sebek spoke up, rubbing his chest where his heart was, as it still felt a lingering heaviness from the fatal fury of James’ power. “A fellow student of Night Raven College has saved us. Your pixie helped, though. Proof that humans are not totally useless when aided by fairykind, I’d say!”
“When I decide whether or not I should be insulted, I’ll respond to that,” you said to Zigvolt snidely.
“Nya…what even happened?” Grim asked, staggering a little, as if dizzy.
“It wasn’t a miracle, I promise you,” you chuckled, scratching behind his ears, then explained: “When James went into Overblot, and used his power on all of us at once, I somehow found it in me to realize that I couldn’t let him win. And in that moment, I realized something else: Matthew’s power was still working on us at the time. None of us were USING it, but it hadn’t worn off. I could still feel the light, still feel the happy thoughts; I just had to focus on them and replenish the pixie dust.”
“Ssso it wasn’t AS cheesy as it ssseemed; jussst a matter of magical logic,” chuckled Nakoda. “I sssuppose I can avoid eating you for that. Thisss time.”
“But how did you know that would work?” Matthew blinked. “Even I didn’t realize it!”
“You were being kicked around like a football,” you replied blandly. “I’ll forgive you for the oversight.”
Satyr blushed, and you heard Grim snigger. Kes giggled, a sound like a music box, in the half-fairy’s hands.
“I just had to have faith and trust to use Faith and Trust,” you shrugged, then gestured to your Night Raven associates. “If any of these guys are gonna kill me someday, it’s not gonna be from the mother of all depressive funks, I’ll tell you that much.”
“I think we’ll have to remember that,” Azul said slyly, while Nakoda licked his lips and nodded in agreement.
You blushed.
The conversation was halted when all of you heard a familiar voice…
“James! J-James, get up!”
You all looked to see Smitty McCarthy, kneeling beside his friend, worry upon his face. James Killian was still in his Overblot form as the smaller man rolled him onto his back. However, as he was laying there totally unmoving, it was clear he posed little immediate threat.
“James…James, please wake up,” whimpered Smitty, checking the pirate’s head. “I’m…I’m sorry, I…please…”
“Relax, Smitty,” you called out, as your friends and allies approached the scene. “He’ll be okay. He’s just out cold.”
“And I’m gonna guess not for long,” added Grim.
“Nope,” you said with a shake of your head, and pointed to the white mist that was already starting to pool around Killian’s extremities. “Not long at all.”
Smitty squeaked and jolted back; you caught him to prevent him from clumsily falling over. This was in reaction to James’ whole body shining like a pure white beacon, glowing like a star, as more and more silvery-white mist floated from his form. The mist gathered a few feet over your heads, creating an oblong, elliptical shape, like a mirror or a window.
You all knew by now that meant. (Well, most of you did, anyway.) You watched as shapes formed in the center of the misty cloud, creating visions of days gone by. It was time to take a peek into the past…
“Come on, James! You have to do better than that!”
James Killian was younger. Smaller. Slighter. He was also much less flashy. Dressed more conservatively, almost shabbily, in the kind of outfit a humble sailor’s son might wear. His hair was shorter, and his expression slightly nervous. He was almost unrecognizable as the Killian of the Present.
Two things were still visibly the same: the tattoo of a hook upon the back of his left hand…and the deft way he handled the rapier-like sword in his hand.
Not deft enough, though, for his opponent, with a sudden, almost whip-like motion, knocked the fencing weapon from his grasp. It was sent spinning into the air…before being caught by said opponent. They didn’t have far to travel to catch it.
After all. They were already airborne.
Matthew Satyr grinned cheekily down at James Killian, as he held the hilt of the rapier out, his own weapon - a shorter sort of sword - held in his other hand. The half-fairy had not visibly aged or changed a bit.
“My game, James.”
James blushed and carefully took the sword.
“It’s not fair,” he whined. “You always fly out of the way!”
“Hey, our instructor says use everything you can to your advantage,” shrugged Matthew, sheathing his sword blade and giving a teasing wink. “Can’t blame me for using my power, can ya? It doesn’t even generate blot!”
“You guys with light magic have it easy,” sighed James, then smiled. “Good form, though.”
He held out his right hand. Satyr floated a little closer to the ground…and smiled before shaking that right hand.
“You weren’t too bad yourself,” Matthew grinned.
James smiled a little wider. His expression was bashful; his head dipped slightly.
“Thanks,” he chuckled.
Matthew smiled back, his own grin widening as he gave James’ hand a light squeeze. Then both realized how long they’d been holding on and quickly broke away with a couple of awkward laughs.
“You’re gonna be more than ready when the contest comes up,” Matthew assured his friend, wiping his hand absent-mindedly on his dark green vest.
“Not as ready as you,” chuckled James. “I’m gonna need a miracle if we fight together.”
“Hey, you’ve beat me a few times!” Satyr replied, flying around James to his other side and placing a hand upon his shoulder. “I mean, I’ve beat you way more, buuut that’s just because I happen to be awesome.”
“Well, you aren’t very bashful,” smirked James, brushing the hand off his shoulder.
“Got no reason to be,” Satyr giggled. “I’m half-fairy, I can fly, I’m super good with a sword, and everybody loves me! What do you expect me to do, lie?”
Before James could answer, two new voices broke onto the scene.
“HELLO, MATTHEW!” they called out at the same time.
The pair turned around to see the source of the twin call. Two young ladies - one a blonde with fair skin, the other a brunette with copper tones - came running towards the duo. Or, more accurately, they came running towards Matthew Satyr, not even seeming to notice James Killian.
“Hi, Gwen! Leela!” greeted Matthew, waving happily.
“We’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Gwen (the blonde) called out, with an embarrassed sort of look. “We thought you might be avoiding us.”
“Of course not!” said Matthew with a laugh, and flew over to the pair, gesturing back towards James. “I was just helping James practice for the contest coming up soon.”“Oh, Matthew, you’re always so helpful!” sighed Leela (the brunette), dreamily. She didn’t even look towards James, and neither did Gwen. “That’s why we came to find you!”
“Oh?” blinked Satyr, cocking his head curiously.
“We were hoping you could join us for a study session,” Leela elaborated, while Gwen nodded in agreement. The two were nudging against each other, as if each young lady was trying to be at the forefront of Matthew’s vision, the center of his attention.
Matthew looked between the two. He seemed confused.
“Well…I’d be happy to help, girls, but you know schoolwork isn’t my strong suit,” he chuckled nervously. Then his expression lit up, and he jabbed a thumb towards James. “Hey, maybe my friend can help you! James is super good with school stuff!”
James smiled, perking up a bit; he’d been looking rather dour and dejected this whole time…but his smile fell when, once again, the two ladies never even turned his way.
“Ah, but it’s YOU we want to study with!” insisted Gwen, and smiled in a sneaky, flirtatious sort of way. “Maybe we can help each other.”
“Well, if you’re sure,” Matthew said, with a slightly uncertain sort of laugh. He didn’t seem to even remotely notice the almost vixen-like smirks on each girl’s faces, or at least, didn’t grasp what they meant. He then turned back towards James. “I’ll catch ya later, James! See you at the dueling competition, if nothing else! Stay safe, pal!”
Matthew Satyr then flew off, with Gwen and Leela running fast to catch up behind him. He laughed, teasing them to go faster, while they giggled and chattered, bumping into each other, racing to see who could get closest to the half-fairy.
James Killian watched them go, his expression hollow and sad. Silently, he sheathed his still-undone rapier and walked away.
The scene shifted to sometime later. James Killian was now sitting on a balcony, at the top of a great and mighty-looking clock tower. The tower stood high above a seaport town, and the Sun was setting on the horizon, coloring the ocean waters in gold and pinkish hues.
“You shouldn’t let it get to you,” said a voice at his side. The younger, less spiffy James turned and smiled somewhat sadly. Smitty McCarthy sat beside him; each of them held a popsicle in one hand, as they sat high over the city.
“They never even noticed me, Smitty,” James said, softly. “Not once. It was like I wasn’t there. Like I was invisible.”
“I thought you didn’t even like Gwen and Leela,” Smitty said, between slurps of his popsicle.
“I don’t,” shrugged James, and gazed off towards the horizon once more. “But it isn’t just them. It’s…everyone. I don’t understand. I study hard, don’t I? I have better grades, I always do my work on time, and I have more practical knowledge than that silly boy will ever have. But because he can fly and is oh-so-sociable, everybody notices him.”
Smitty narrowed his eyes.
“James,” he said, quietly. “Are you…angry with him?”
James blinked at Smitty. He looked surprised.
“Angry?” he said, and chuckled. “Why would I be angry? No, no…I…I’m not…angry, Smitty.”
He looked at the slowly-melting popsicle in his hand as if it were a magical mirror.
“But I am…jealous, I’ll admit,” he murmured. “I wish…I wish more people would look at me, the way they look at him. I wish I could get that praise. I wish I could have that recognition. I wish someone would CARE about me the way they always seem to care about what he does, what he says.”
Smitty looked hurt for a moment…then scooted closer.
“I do,” was all he said.
James looked at his friend again. He smiled gratefully.
“Then know that you may be alone,” was all he said.
“I don’t care if I am,” said Smitty with a smile. “You’re my best friend, James. You mean more to me than anybody else, Matthew included. I mean…it IS kinda cool how he can fly and do all the stuff he does, but…you’re just as good a swordsman, you’re way smarter, and you’ve helped me out a lot. That’s why I want YOU as my captain someday.”
James smiled wider, and slurped on his popsicle thoughtlessly.
“Well, we can only hope that day will come soon.”
“Oh, I think it’s gonna be closer than you think,” Smitty said slyly.
James frowned and raised an eyebrow. Smitty reached into the pocket of his coat and held out an envelope.
“Some of your mail got mixed up with mine,” he explained. “Figured you’d want this.”
James slung himself off the balcony edge, naturally onto the solid floor towards the back. Smitty did the same, leaning against the railing as he watched James step away and open the envelope. Killian scanned the message inside…and his eyes widened, his jaw dropping in amazement.
“This…this is…!”
“You got accepted!” cheered Smitty. “I knew it the moment I saw! James, the Naval Academy wants you to join!”
James laughed, disbelieving, running his hands through his hair.
“I…I…Smitty, I don’t know what to say! I’ve been waiting for this for ages!”
“I know!” grinned Smitty. “Just think! You’ll be able to go to sea, you’ll be able to study a-and start moving up in the ranks! Our dream is coming true, James!”
James beamed from ear to ear, looking up at the sky. He clutched the message to his heart. He couldn’t believe his luck. Already he could imagine being at the helm of his ship…then he frowned and looked towards his friend.
“But…what about you?”
“Ah, don’t worry about me. I’ll get by till the time comes,” shrugged Smitty. “All you’ve gotta do is keep going the way you’re going, and we’ll both be closer to what we always wanted.”
James Killian swore he had tears in his eyes.
“You’re right. And…and really, what could go wrong now?”
These unintentionally ominous words heralded another scene shift. James and Matthew Satyr were now dressed in dueling uniforms, and seemingly in what looked like a locker room.
“You ready for this?” Matthew asked.
“You’re not my opponent, so I think so,” joked James.
His smile faded when he noticed Matthew looking at a tiny vial of strange fluid, before the half-fae put it in his locker.
“What’s that?” James asked.
“Huh? Oh!” Matthew grinned. “Just a…little prank I was saving up for my opponent. The guy’s kind of a meanie, so I wanted to teach him a lesson.”
James frowned and narrowed his eyes.
“After the competition, I trust?”
“No, before,” said Matthew.
James blinked and tilted his head, very suspicious.
“What exactly is it?”
“A confusion potion. Makes everything look like it’s reversed in a mirror,” giggled Matthew.
“That’s cheating,” James chastised.
“Psh. Not if he’s not suffering the effects when we’re fighting,” Matthew scoffed, waving his hand about airily. “I figure it’ll just make him stumble around like an idiot. Maybe bumping into a wall or two will teach him to be less rude.”
“What exactly did this person do?” James asked.
Matthew paused…then beckoned James over. Curious, his friend approached and peered inside…then his eyes widened.
A tiny, golden pixie sat inside the locker. One of her wings was clearly injured. She backed away with a jingling whimper at the sight of James Killian.
“It’s okay,” Matthew soothed. “He’s my buddy.”
“What’s her name?” James inquired.
“Kes,” said Satyr. “The big dummy was treating her like a dragonfly he caught, hurt her wing pretty bad. I saved her and brought here so she could heal in peace.”
James nodded and smiled gently.
“Don’t be afraid, Kes,” he said, tenderly. “You’re safe around me.”
Kes gave a nervous smile back.
The scene shifted once more. James Killian stepped onto the dueling field. This time, no words were uttered, the scene played out visually. Across from him stood a young man, with bangs that hid his eyes, in a dueling uniform. The two adopted their ready positions…but as the fight began, something was clearly wrong. James would lunge, and his enemy would abruptly, blindly swing out, gasping in alarm, as if he hadn’t seen the attempted strike coming till it was too late. He blocked each strike, but only just. He stumbled and staggered, and James had to struggle to keep his own form on the straight and narrow.
The turning point came when, suddenly, James flipped off his opponent’s helmet. The young rival was supposed to call out “Touche!” and signal his turn had ended…but something must have gone wrong. Instead, he turned towards the blade, which had been given a point…
…And a scream heralded the scene changing again. Now, James Killian was seated with a haunted, worried look outside of an office. Voices were chattering - one was yelling - inside. A few moments passed, then there was silence…before the door opened. Two people - a man and a woman - rushed the young man out, shooting a sour glare at James as they went. Their son’s face was bandaged.
A moment later, another man came out, strict and tall in appearance. James looked up fearfully.
“Headmaster?” he greeted questioningly.
The Headmaster paused and knelt down.
“I have good news and I have bad news,” he said. “The good news is that you won’t be penalized for this. No one can prove that you put that confusion potion in Mr. Dippet’s drink, and I don’t think you did.”
“Confusion potion?” James repeated, eyes widening. “That’s…that’s what happened?”
“He took a VERY large dose,” said the Headmaster, gravely. “He’s lucky something worse didn’t happen, since we were using pointed weapons. Both our school and his will be investigating the matter, but since you never had an opportunity to get anywhere near whatever he drank…”
“What’s the bad news?” pressed James.
The Headmaster paused again before answering: “I’m sorry, James, but…under the circumstances, you were disqualified. I don’t imagine that’s ESPECIALLY surprising, so I hope you aren’t TOO upset…”
James nodded sorrowfully, turning away. He supposed that made sense; he couldn’t be ranked for a duel he didn’t REALLY win, but it was still disappointing…
“...But there’s something much worse.”
James looked up in a start.
“Worse?” he gulped.
The Headmaster nodded.
“Not so long ago, you received an acceptance letter from the Naval Academy. Well….I’m sorry to tell you this, James, but…they heard about what happened, and…I guess they smelled something fishy, because…they’ve rescinded their offer. You no longer have acceptance there.”
James could only stare.
“I know this hurts. That application meant a lot to you. Your father is furious - not with you, with them - but…there’s really nothing we can do. We could try to appeal, but…if they were willing to withdraw just for this…”
James remained silent and staring. It was as if he were frozen.
“There are other schools, of course. I’d personally suggest Night Raven College: they don’t have anything related to naval work, but…you might be able to find other avenues, and it’s VERY prestigious school. If the Dark Mirror accepts you, you might have a chance at finding a way to…well.”
The Headmaster trailed off. James was still staring at him silently. The man awkwardly stood up.
“Ahem. Anyway, that’s…all I have to say, Killian. Given the situation, you are dismissed for the day. If you…want to speak to me about this later, you know my office hours. Good day.”
The Headmaster retreated to his room.
He never saw the look of absolute, gut-wrenching pain on James’ face as James looked out towards the glass door of the building.
Something twisted when James saw a familiar, human-shaped shadow…flying through the air in the distance.
The scene shifted one last time. James Killian stood at the balcony atop the Clock Tower. He was facing away from the horizon. He could feel the clock gears turning, feel the vibrations of the mighty timepiece only yards below his feet.
A sword was at his side.
He felt, rather than heard, the moment a figure flew to the top of the tower behind him.
His feelings were confirmed when an almost timid, bleating utterance of “James?” greeted him.
He clenched his teeth, refusing to turn around…then took a deep breath to speak.
“You’ve robbed me, Matthew.”
Silence.
“Why did you do it? Did you think it was funny? Making me look like a filthy, stupid cheat?”
Silence.
“No. No, YOU envied ME for once, didn’t you? You were afraid that just once, JUST. ONCE. I might win the tournament. And you had that potion right there. It must have been so tempting…”
Silence.
“I’ve lost my chance at the Academy thanks to you. My dream…Smitty’s dream…you’ve just gone and ruined it. I’ve wanted this all my life, and after all this time…all this time seeing you - hovering over my head, pretending you’re so important and special, and acting like YOU WERE MY FRIEND - you decide it’s time to make sure I can never have what we want most.”
Silence. James turned, glaring, eyes misty and bloodshot.
“Have you NOTHING to say?”
Matthew Satyr’s face was hidden by the shadows. He simply…floated there. Silent. Unmoving. Hovering in stoic, unflinching silence. James felt his blood boiling hot in his veins. His fists clneched tighter and began to shake.
“Tell them the truth,” he hissed. “That’s all you have to do. Just tell them what happened.”
Matthew remained silent and still.
“PLEASE!” James exclaimed, turning around fully. For a moment, the rage left his face. He became pleading. Desperate. “I’ll do anything you say, Matthew! I’ll…I’ll make sure nothing too bad happens! All you have to do is TELL THEM! Just…just tell them, I’m BEGGING you!”
The silence and the stillness continued.
James felt the tears run down his cheeks. They were very, very hot. He felt the anger flood him again.
“No. No, that’s too difficult, isn’t it?” he sneered. “You can’t tell the truth. You can’t feel guilt. You can’t even tell when people love you! You can’t even understand what it means to be someone’s friend, can you?! You IDIOT! You fly around, feeling like you’re better than anyone else, like you can’t do anything wrong! WELL, IT DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY! WHY WON’T YOU JUST TELL THE TRUTH?! WHY WON’T YOU JUST OWN UP TO YOUR MISTAKES?! WHY CAN’T YOU JUST GROW UP AND BE A MAN?!”
Matthew Satyr seemed to flinch…and without a word, without a single other action…he flew away.
James Killian reached for his sword…but then sheathed it halfway through. He ran to the balcony, looking around for Matthew, but couldn’t see him anywhere.
“SATYR! SATYR, COME BACK HERE!” he shouted, his voice echoing across the harbor and the town.
There was no reply. No sign of Satyr.
James shuddered. He sobbed…then staggered back and collapsed, crying pitifully.
A few seconds later, a small figure poked his head out from the doorway leading onto the balcony. A tragic look was on Smitty McCarthy’s features. He trundled forward, and smiled gently, reaching towards James.
“Hey,” he whispered. “Hey, it’s alright. I’m still here, James. I’m-”
James swatted Smitty’s hand away. He never noticed the hurt look on his friend’s face. James lifted his head, looking up at the sky. The sky that, even now, so high above the city, he could never touch. He reached out with his left hand, as if to do so…
…Then closed it and growled, as the tattoo on his hand flared up with a crimson glow.
“I’ll get you for this Satyr,” he hissed with pure hatred. “If it’s the last thing I do.”
Finally, the mist receded…and as the white cloud disappeared, James Killian - in his usual form - was seen laying upon the floor of the cave.
The silence that followed was broken when Grim whistled, as if impressed.
“Nya…I think that’s the longest explanation we’ve ever gotten,” he said.
You yanked his tail and he yelped. “HEY! What was that for?!”
“For once in your flaming life, have some propriety,” you glared sternly.
Grim just pouted in response.
“Tell me what that word means first,” he mumbled to himself.
You could only sigh irritably.
“James.”
You looked up to see Matthew Satyr had flown over towards the fallen pirate. He knelt down on the opposite side of Smitty, both looking worriedly at the scarlet-coated renegade. Matthew nudged him slightly.
“Hey. James. Wake up,” he whispered.
Killian groaned but didn’t react.
“He must have hit that wall REALLY hard,” grimaced Smitty.
Kes zipped over and rang her bells in both of their ears.
“No, I’ve got this,” Matthew answered…and tugged on James’ hair. Hard.
“YEOWCH!” exploded Killian, and sat up in a flash, clutching the side of his head. “WHAT SUBVERSIVE SAVAGE JUST ATTEMPTED TO SCALP ME?!”
Kes giggled while Smitty sighed with relief.
“Good as new,” he muttered to himself with a slight chuckle.
James glanced about in confusion, as if startled…then his eyes fell on Matthew, who was still kneeling at his side. Satyr smiled in a sort of reassuring manner…which only elicited a growl from James. He looked around and saw his cane-sword - also returned to its usual state - on the ground beside him. He made a move to pick it up only to wince and half-collapse before he could.
“Blast it,” he groaned, clutching his head. “Who hit me with the broadside of a galleon…?”
“Memo to self: rock walls are very effective,” you chuckled to yourself.
“I’m just glad that’s not what I got,” you heard Azul mutter.
“Sssame,” shuddered Nakoda.
“James,” Matthew said, catching the attention of all again. “I…I think you and I need to talk.”
“Oh, NOW you want to talk?” sneered James Killian, and heaved himself to his feet. “Well, regrettably, I feel the two of us are far beyond having anything worth saying to one another.”
Matthew just looked at him.
James glared back, then turned away, staggering a few paces away from the whole group.
“Do you know what REALLY hurts?” he said, darkly. “About growing up? It’s not the dashed hopes. It’s not the aches and pains. It’s not even the stench of death, as it draws ever closer. No…”
He glanced back coldly over his shoulder, at both Matthew and Smitty, the latter of whom winced.
“It’s knowing that, one by one, the people you called your ‘friends’ will betray you, and abandon you.”
“James, it wasn’t like that!” insisted Satyr.
“I beg to differ!” James yelled, turning around fully, grinding his molars as he spoke. “This treasure is my key to getting what I always wanted! Something YOU took away!”
“There were other ways to get it,” Sebek spoke up. It was strange to hear him NOT yell for a change.
James shot him a heated glare, then looked back at Satyr. Matthew just looked with something like pity at Killian.
“Why don’t you take it away again?” snarled James. “I’ve committed enough sins today to earn expulsion at best, and far worse beyond that. Go ahead, Matthew. Be the hero. Stop the villain. Send me away and win. We all know it’s too late-”
“-To apologize?”
James blinked.
“Apologize?” he repeated. Then sneered. “You expect ME to apologize?!”
“No,” Matthew said. He walked - not flew, walked - closer to James “I meant me.”
James could only stare. He seemed astounded. Matthew Satyr took a breath and looked up at the taller duelist, right into his eyes.
“That day,” he explained, “I put the potion in the drink of MY opponent. But backstage, your opponent and mine…they were sharing the same room. I don’t know what happened exactly, James. Maybe I put the potion in the wrong drink. Maybe they two traded, or your opponent drank from the wrong cup. But I never meant to hurt you. I just…wanted a bit of fun, to get back at the person who hurt Kes. I never knew what was going to happen.”
“You think that makes it better?”
“No. Because you’re right: I should have owned up. I should have told the truth, and I never did,” Matthew admitted. He paused before finishing: “I’m sorry I did what I did. I’m sorry I hurt you, James.”
James Killian just…stared. He was slack-jawed. Bug-eyed. As if he couldn’t believe at all what he was hearing.
That was when you heard another intake of breath, and Nakoda Spivak stepped forward.
“All of usss,” he hissed, the sound echoing through the cave and catching everyone’s attention. “We’ve been where you’ve been, Killian. I ssspent ssso much of my life feeling like I didn’t matter. Feeling like I was nothing but a worm; sssomething for others to ssstep on or ignore. I tried ssso hard to break that mold, and when sssomeone came along who threatened that desire…I sssnapped. I know what it feels like.”
“As do I,” admitted Azul, stepping forward as well. “Like you, I reinvented myself from the ground up. I couldn’t stand who I was before. I couldn’t stand being weak. I couldn’t stand being seen as something lesser by so many.”
Sebek squirmed. He didn’t say anything, but you knew memories of trying to live up to vast expectations were filling his mind.
“Everyone in this room,” you said with a gentle smile, “Has a desire to be something greater, and everyone here has had to face a moment where that desire was threatened. But sometimes losing one dream just means there’s another out there you can find. And when someone makes a mistake, sometimes it’s best to forgive and forget. Because as long as you hold onto that hatred, that bitterness…you can’t escape it. Don’t let your rage consume you, James.”
James Killian looked at all of you. His expression had chilled. It had become unreadable. He looked towards Matthew Satyr. Matthew’s own expression was unusually solemn.
“When I was under your power, both times,” Satyr said, “You were my unhappy thought. It wasn’t fear of losing, James. It wasn’t feeling powerless. It was knowing that I’d let someone I considered a friend down, and all this time…I’ve never wanted to admit it. Just like you, I’ve had that buried deep inside me so long. And I think it’s time we made that stop.”
He extended his hand. A hopeful smile was on his face.
“It’s time we BOTH grow up, James,” he said, quietly. “If you help me, I’ll help you. That’s what friends are for, isn’t it?”
James hummed thoughtfully.
“Friends,” he repeated, to himself, looking down at the offered hand once more…
…Then a sadness flooded his face. A strange, unknowable melancholy. He seemed to smile, but it was a bitter, pained sort of smile, then he looked into Satyr’s eyes.
“No,” he whispered, then turned away. “I’m sorry, but…no. It’s too late for that. Far too late.”
Matthew’s hopeful expression fell. He closed his hand and pulled it back, crestfallen as he looked down morosely.
“However…”
Matthew looked up and saw James looking back over his shoulder. The brown eyes were warmer and more pleasant than they’d ever looked in a long time.
“...Just because we aren’t friends…that doesn’t mean we have to be enemies.”
Matthew blinked…then his expression brightened, and his feet lifted off the ground as he began to float into the air. James smirked as he turned to face him totally.
“I will not rest till I defeat you, once and for all,” James promised. It sounded like a challenge, but not a threat. “And I will do so without any tricks. Without any magic at all. Nothing but my skills and my wits. I expect you to treat me precisely the same way. Do we have an accord?”
Matthew nodded.
“Sounds fair to me,” he replied.
You and your friends smiled, looking at each other proudly.
“Of course, since I won the game already this time, that will have to wait till next time,” Matthew added.
All smiles fell.
“Wait, what?” droned Sebek.
Matthew Satyr smirked.
“Did you guys forget about the rest of my team?” he teased. “We figured out the clue ages ago! I sent them to find the ACTUAL prize chest, while I flew over to save Kes! And with how much time we’ve spent playing James’ own game, I’m betting by now they’ll have been at the beach AGES ago. So…yeah! I win again!”
“Wait!” James exclaimed. “You…you KNEW it was a trap?! AND YOU KNEW WHERE THE PRIZE WAS?!”
“I think I just said that,” giggled Matthew. “Seriously, James, subtlety isn’t really your strong point.”
James eye twitched…and he roared, suddenly lunging forward to try and grab Mattthew Satyr. The fairy youth laughed, zipping to and fro as James danced around, trying to get hold of him.
“SATYR!” he yelled. “Ye little crustacean-sucking, knock-kneed, squid-faced, plank-walking sack of soiled, sea-salted, unwashed fish buckets full of BAD BARNACLE BUTTS!"
“Wow, that’s gotta be one of your best insults so far!” laughed Matthew. “Too bad the game’s over! See ya later, James! Better luck next time!”
So saying, Matthew Satyr flew fully out of James grasp and tipped his beret hat to all of you.
“Same goes to the rest of you from Night Raven College! So long, suckers!”
And with a whoop and a laugh - Kes trailing close behind him - Matthew Satyr flew out of the cavern and disappeared from sight.
“COME BACK AND FIGHT LIKE A MAN! YOU DOUBLE-CROSSING PIPSQUEAK!” yelled James, shaking both fists and raging at the ceiling itself. “I’LL GET YOU FOR THIS! JUST WAIT AND SEE!”
“In case you’ve forgotten,” Azul spoke up. “He’s the least of your worries right now.”
James froze…and looked towards your group. Now that the sentiment had died down, he could see the anger in all of your eyes. He gulped nervously.
“Ah…I…take it I’m not off the hook?” he peeped.
“Not. Even. Clossse,” Nakoda glared.
“I will be benevolent and leave out the bit about you nearly feeding us to a giant crocodile,” Azul said. “But as team captain, I WILL be reporting how you were a very bad sport…again, to say the least. You jeopardized this game on more levels than I can count, even without counting your Overblot state.”
“Let this be a lesson to you, Codfish!” boomed Sebek. “Thy cheating ways hath done thee in!”
“Can we point out how I fell out of a tree thanks to him?” Nakoda suggested.
“Oh, that will be an EXCELLENT start,” Azul assured the naga.
James shrank back with seemingly every sentence. He chuckled nervously, face flustered.
“H-Ha ha ha…ha…I…suppose I have no grounds to argue all this,” he said, in a strangled sort of way.
“NONE,” you all chorused angrily, making him flinch.
“Very well,” he mumbled, morosely…then, trying to salvage some dignity, he straightened himself up and adjusted his coat. “However, with your kind permission, I would at least like to ensure THAT…”
He pointed to his boat.
“...Will be returned safely to where I typically keep it, before we all return to campus.”
“Ha! You think we’re gonna let you go off alone in that? You’ll run for sure,” huffed Grim.
“Oh, I hardly think so,” Azul spoke up, and strode towards James. “After all, I think our Little Codfish knows that if he goes anywhere near the ocean in that little toy boat…”
The octopus was almost nose to nose with James, his expression dangerously predatory in appearance.
“...I won’t be far behind.”
James gulped and blushed, and drew an X over his heart.
“Back to school. No fleeing. On my admittedly dubious honor,” he squeaked out.
“Good,” Azul crooned, and playfully patted James’ cheek, then looked towards your teammates. “Nakoda? Sebek? Pick up the treasure chest. If we can’t return with the ACTUAL prize chest, I think having that will make a decent consolation prize.”
“You’re not going to keep it!” Sebek gasped.
“Why not?” smirked Nakoda.
“Oh, no, he’s right, I won’t,” sighed Azul, looking VERY glum about that. “The Headmage will no doubt confiscate it and have it donated to a museum, or kept in a vault somewhere, or something like that…a shame, but I suppose raising our school’s clout will have to do. At least this will put us in his good graces for SOME purpose or another. Now come along.”
Nakoda pouted, but obligingly helped Sebek lift the chest…not that Sebek needed much help, which he made clear as he pulled it clean out of Nakoda’s hands and started walking off with it, as easily as if it were stuffed with feathers. The naga in disguise called out - “Hey, wait up!” - before following as fast as he could, the pair following Azul towards the tunnel entrance.
You lingered behind - you and Grim - standing beside James. The three of you watched the pair go, then looked at each other.
“You fought well, for someone without magic. And you were quite clever in defeating me,” James congratulated. “Thank you for getting me out of that state; there’s nothing in which I revel as much as a worthy opponent.”
“Nya! It was nothing!” grinned Grim.
“I was talking to your human,” droned James, unimpressed.
“Yeah, well, between you and me, I think I’ll leave the ‘swashbuckling hero’ act to experts from now on,” you said.
James smirked and responded with a courtly bow, before turning towards his sailboat.
“Come on, Smitty!” he called out. “We have work to do.”
He paused after a few steps, when he realized no one was following him. Blinking in confusion, he looked back.
“Uh…Smitty?”
Smitty McCarthy had been quiet all this time. He was sitting beside the deep pool, and was looking into it quietly, as if peering at his own reflection.
Something flickered in James’ eyes. He frowned, looking rather annoyed, and marched towards McCarthy. He soon stood beside him, hands on his hips.
“Smitty!” he snapped.
Smitty jumped, as if he’d just heard James speak and looked up, still seated. He blinked in an almost puppy-like manner up at the taller fellow.
“Why are you lollygagging about?” snorted James. “When I call, I expect you to follow!”
Smitty blinked again.
“You…you still want me around?” he peeped.
James looked bewildered.
“Why wouldn't I want you around?” he replied.
Smitty bit his lip. He shuffled where he sat, tapping his fingers together guiltily.
“I…w-well, I…I SHOT you, James. A-And I tried to hold you back! I…I u-used my-”
“You betrayed me,” James cut in, glaring crossly. He waited till he was sure he had gotten Smitty’s attention before he continued: “You betrayed my trust. You betrayed our friendship. You betrayed everything I’ve stood for, for years, YOU LET ME DOWN!”
Smitty flinched as James’ shout echoed through the cave.
“Then…why?” squeaked Smitty.
James’ hard glare softened.
“Why?” he repeated. He paused…then sighed and knelt down. His expression was softer, kinder, than it had ever seemed before, as he looked into the smaller man’s eyes. “First of all, because you stopped me from doing something TRULY terrible. And second of all...do you really think you mean so little to me that a betrayal like that would make any difference?”
James smile vanished instantly when he saw Smitty’s reaction.
“Stop that,” he ordered. “With the eyes. Don’t do that thing with the eyes. How DO you do that thing with the eyes?! Brimstone and gall, it’s like they INFLATE!”
Smitty giggled and wiped some tears from his very, very wide eyes and smiled happily up at James. Killian’s own smirk returned, and he stretched out a hand, helping McCarthy to his feet and dusting himself off as he stood.
“Come on, you kelp-brained lummox,” he chuckled affectionately. “I’ll never have a chance of beating Satyr without you.”
“Aye-Aye, James!” Smitty cheered. “We’ll get him next time!”
As the two boarded the ship, you lifted Grim and let him perch on your shoulder…but before heading off, a thought struck you.
“Hey, Grim?”
“Nya?”
“How’d you like to take a little cruise around the island before we head back to school?”
Grim blinked at you, and tilted his head.
“What’s a cruise?” he asked.
You smirked and chuckled, then looked over to where James and Smitty were readying to get the Czarina out of the cave.
“Hey, guys!” you called out. “You got room for two more?”
By the time you all got to campus you’d discovered two things.
One, that it was really quite splendid sailing along the river of Sage’s Island.
Two…that Grim got seasick. Horribly so.
Some splendid things can only be experienced once…
----------------------------------------------------------
…Or twice. “Ahhhh…thisss is the life…”
You chuckled, opening one eye to glance to your side at the long and limber figure stretched out on a lounge chair upon the main deck of the Czarina. Nakoda Spivak was laying topless, wearing nothing but a pair of rattlesnake-skin-patterned swimming trunks and some sunglasses, soaking up the sunlight. Aside from his happy hissing, all you could hear were the gulls in the distance, and the sounds of the ocean waves - calm that day, and most serene - lapping against the hull of the sailboat.
“Feels good, huh?” you teased.
“Sssimply exquisite,” sighed Nakoda, and lifted his shades to give you a grateful smile. “I’ve never been on a ship of any sssort before. The jungle is wet, but there’s no real room for sssailing. I could grow to like thisss.”
You shrugged, closing your eyes again and resting with a sigh of your own, expelled through your nose.
“James has to do some ‘community service’ to make up for how he messed things up,” you explained. “I convinced the Headmage that giving some ‘seaside rest’ to his fellow students now and again could help. He wasn’t gonna say no, since it means he gets to sail and get easy points in the process.”
“Hmmmm,” you heard Nakoda murmur, and then blushed as you heard his fingertips scratching at his bare belly as it gurgled. “And you decided to invite me because…?”
“You saved us from that giant crocodile,” you replied. “The others may not know how to properly thank you for that, but I thought of a few ways.”
There was a pause…then your eyes shot open as you suddenly felt the sun disappear. Your heart nearly skipped a beat as you found Nakoda looming over you, leaning across your lounge chair, smirking in his usual sultry, slippery way.
“I jussst couldn’t bear the thought of anybody elssse having you for sssupper,” he cooed.
“Yeah, well, get in line,” you mumbled, squirming in your seat.
“Sss-sss-sss-sss!” Nakoda sniggered, and leaned closer still, voice dropping to a husky, dusky whisper. “Perhapsss there’s sssome other reward I’d like beyond a daytime cruise. Would you give it to me?”
“Not even if you wiped my mind. So don’t bother.”
Nako pouted.
“You’re a ssspoilsssport sssometimes, you know that?”
You smirked and booped his nose. Nakoda sneered and pulled back, blushing and covering his snout to protect it against further attack.
“With pride,” you replied, then blushed anew as the serpent’s belly let out another whining gurgle. “Sounds like you could use something in that stomach of yours, though…”
“Are you volunteering?” Nako grinned, uncovering his face…only to quickly cover it again when you lifted a finger threateningly.
“I can fix that!” called out a voice, and the two of you looked as James Killian himself, garbed in his usual red coat and carrying his gold-topped sword-cane in one hand (currently sheathed, of course), sauntered out of the cabin of the sailboat. He was carrying a very large lunchbox - a sort of miniature cooler - in his other hand. “Smitty packed an abundance of snacks for this voyage! Typically I’m used to simply shoving off alone, or just with him at me side. Tis grand to have fellow shipmates on this brief voyage!”
“We’re just taking a little ride around the island,” you chuckled. “I don’t know if that counts as a ‘voyage.’”
“Well, forgive me if I want to call it one,” sniffed James, snootily. “Now, do you two land lubbers want anything to eat or not.”
“Mmmm, that depends,” smirked Nakoda, as he returned to his own lounge chair, making a point of wiggling his tush as he got comfy and sat upon it. “Is codfish on the menu?”
James blushed. He coughed and responded: “Ah…actually, yes. Yes, it is.”
Nakoda’s eyes widened. He looked overjoyed.
“Ssseriousssly?” he breathed out.
James hurriedly pulled something out of the cooler to show it to the snake.
“I meant this,” he said, not making eye contact with the half-serpent. “Smitty, ah…made some codfish filets, and…packed them with ice. Ahem.”
Nakoda blinked…then smirked and shrugged.
“I’ll take it,” he replied, and then winked. “I can always imagine it’sss a particularly filling sssomebody here…after all, you’ll tassste exactly the sssame.”
“Um…d-don’t you mean THEY’LL taste the same?” James corrected, mildly.
Nakoda just grinned wider.
“I mean what I sssay, and I sssay what I mean,” he replied.
James blushed more, and cleared his throat.
“Ahem…Smitty?”
“Aye, James?” came a call from the helm.
“How long till we return to our docking position?”
“Oh, uh…another hour, I think, at least.”
James looked at Nakoda. The hungry fellow winked flirtatiously and licked his lips, rubbing his bare belly with one hand.
“Speed it up!” James barked to Smitty.
“I’ll do what I can,” Smitty called back, oblivious as ever.
James rolled his eyes, while both you and Nakoda snickered. Killian then passed out some codfish filets, wrapped in wax paper, which you all began to eat.
“I’m surprised you two don’t have any hard feelings, given my scurrilous behavior at the Scavenger’s Hunt,” James pointed out, sitting across from you two.
“In my cassse, I learned my lesssssson the firssst time,” shrugged Nakoda. “Plotting revenge againssst people jussst ends up with me getting bitten in the tail…possssssibly literally.”
James raised an eyebrow at this but said nothing.
“As for me…meh. I think almost everyone on campus has either tried to kill me or nearly gotten me killed at some point by now,” you said dismissively. “Frankly, if I don’t go a month or two without nearly dying horribly, I start to worry the universe is outta alignment or something.”
James and Nakoda chuckled.
“Honestly,” you continued, looking seriously at James, “I’m surprised YOU don’t seem to be harboring any hard feelings. I’m, uh…kinda paranoid about it, to tell you the truth.”
James smiled sincerely and looked out over the sea behind and beyond him.
“No one till you was able to withstand against my Unique Magic,” he said, gazing off but addressing you. “If nothing else, that fact makes me curious. Perhaps you are more special than you give yourself credit for, Prefect, especially given all you’ve been through. Besides, I already have one obnoxious, brat-sized, bagoong-eating bootlick to hone all my rage against.”
He turned to you with a slyer sort of smile.
“Why form new enemies when I can form new…alliances?”
“Still not fond of the word friends, eh?” you teased.
“And I never will be,” said James, seriously…then added more softly, “But allies…those are always nice.”
So saying, he passed out a few bottles of juice. You and Nakoda took them, and you held up yours like a cup in toast.
“Very well then,” you said. “To alliances!”
“Cheers!” chuckled Nakoda and James together, and the three of you toasted before drinking from the bottles. You and James took only a sip…but Nakoda slugged down the entire bottle. Soon, both yourself and Killian were watching, as if hypnotized, as each drop of fluid slid down the gullet, Nakoda’s Adam’s Apple bobbing in his throat with each swallow.
“Paaaahhhhh!” sighed Nako, as he polished it off, then thumped his chest and belched crudely. “BLLLUUUURRRLLLLGP! Mph…sssweetly refreshing. Is there any more?”
You and James were red as a couple of ripe cherries. You looked at each other wearily.
“So, wanna bet on which of us is going to survive the rest of the trip?” you droned.
“I think we’d both be lost causes,” James retorted.
“Sss-sss-sss-sss! Don’t tempt me now, sssnacks,” taunted Nakoda.
Smitty, from the helm, just rolled his eyes. His new friends were so strange…
As the four of you sailed on around Sage’s Island, you were unaware of a large pair of huge, green eyes, which poked up from the surface of the sea. They were attached to an equally huge, gray-blue head, and long, somewhat oily-looking black hair.
A fanged sneer split a mouth large enough to swallow multiple sailboats whole, and a snort preceded the monster dropping back under the waves.
“Let ‘em have some fun this time,” the sea beast muttered. “I’ve got bigger fish to feed on for now…”
With a flip of a giant tail, the monster sank back into the darkest depths of the great ocean…but only for now.
Pirates and serpents, it seemed, were far from the end of your adventures at Night Raven College.
The End
#fanfic#my writing#kink-related#but only peripherally#gonna tag the kinks#just in case#implied vore#stuffing#belching#burping#disney#twisted wonderland#chapter story#the scarlet pirate#chapter 6#oc story#ocs#james#james killian#smitty#smitty mccarthy#matthew#matthew satyr#nako#nakoda#nakoda spivak#non-ocs#grim#azul#azul ashengrotto
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Whitechapel series 4 press pack
Whitechapel IV – references to historical crimes used in the series
Block 1 (Ep 1 & 2) Witch hunts and espionage
Georgi Markov
7th September 1978, Georgi Markov was a Bulgarian dissident who was poisoned with the tip of an umbrella while walking across Waterloo Bridge. The murderer was never found and the assassination became one of the great mysteries of the Cold War. There was speculation that Markov’s death was a result of his criticism of the Bulgarian regime, and that the Bulgarian Secret Police and KGB had some involvement.
Matthew Hopkins The Witchfinder General
Matthew Hopkins the Witchfinder General who set out to rid England of its witches, put hundreds of men and women to death between the years 1644 and 1646. They were convicted on 'evidence' such as 'third nipples' considered to be a witches mark; a 'dead spot' that wouldn't cause pain or bleed when pricked; or even owning a cat (not necessarily black) or other pet that Hopkins considered to be 'familiars'. Many died by drowning - the idea was that if the accused floated, she had been saved by her master, the devil, and so was guilty for rejecting the baptismal water. If she sank and drowned, she was innocent, but at least she died without a stain on her character.
Matthew Hopkins was never directly appointed by Parliament, he appointed himself. Belief in witches was widespread, and he was paid by local authorities to find them. Many people blamed any misfortune on witches and a language of ‘apotropaic marks’ was used, symbols scratched in doorways and around fireplaces to try and ward off witches.
Peine Fort et Dure
A form of torture used in the 16th Century. One of the methods used to elicit confessions to witchcraft. Lying face up on the ground, a person would have heavier and heavier stones placed on their chest until they entered a plea, or died.
Ergot Poisoning
Ergot is a fungus which infects rye crops, which if eaten can cause Ergot Poisoning. In 1646 there was an outbreak following the freezing of the river Thames and lack of supply of flour. Afflicted people behaved like they were bewitched and suffered from delusions. It can also cause deformation of the limbs and gangrene. It has also been suggested the bewitched accusers of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials may have been suffering from the delirium associated with ergot poisoning.
Block 2 (Ep 3 & 4 ) Flaying and historic art
Ed Gein
Aka The Plainfield Ghoul, Gein had an obsession with his mother and became a murderer in the 1950s after her death. He abducted and killed Plainfield hardware store owner Bernice Worden in 1957. He wanted a sex change and wore a suit made of female human skin and exhumed bodies to gather more skin. He tanned this skin and used it to make various items in his home, from lampshades to belts.
Judge Jeffreys “The Hanging Judge”
A noose hangs over the riverside at the Prospect of Whitby pub in Wapping. Judge Jeffreys used to drink there in the 17th Century while the death sentence was meted out. It was a macabre pastime: he enjoyed watching criminals hang, especially those whom he himself had sentenced to the rope.
Historic art references
“The Flaying of Marsyas” by Titian - A painting of Marsyas a Satyr, half man half goat, flayed alive.
Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement” – A painting in which St Bartholomew holds his peeled off skin, thought to signify awaiting a new rebirth during the final judgement of humanity by God.
“The Flaying of the Judge Sisamnes” by Gerard David. Depicts a judge who was flayed for accepting a bribe and delivering an unjust verdict. His skin was then used to cover the seat in which his son would sit in judgment.
Russian Criminal Tattoos
Tattoos with recognised coded meanings, giving information about a person’s time in prison, offence, gang affiliation, date of birth. In the early 1950s, it became customary for thieves to tattoo dots or small crosses on the knuckles, the number of dots indicating the number of terms. Following the break up of the Soviet Union and the fierce gang wars that took place, the tattoos and coded meanings became more intricate. A prison guard made a study over years of the different tattoos and their meanings, often seen on members of gangs such as Vory v Zakone.
Dr Richard Smith
Richard Smith, a surgeon at the Bristol Royal Infirmary in 1821, dissected the bodies of executed murderers and then used their skin as book bindings. Smith had the body of John Horwood skinned, tanned, and used to bind the papers in the case of the murder of John’s ex-girlfriend, Eliza Balsom. This document is now kept in a museum in Bristol. This technique is called anthropodermic bibliopegy and is known to have been practised since the Seventeenth Century, and it was common to use the murderer's skin in this manner during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries.
Burke and Hare
William Burke and William Hare sold the corpses of their 16 victims to Doctor Robert Knox as dissection material for his well-attended anatomy lectures. Burke’s skin is rumoured to have been preserved using the anthropodermic bibliopegy technique.
Block 3 (Ep 5 & 6) Underground tunnels, exotic dining and doomsday cults
The Black Swine
Victorian Sewer Pigs which roamed around underground early 1850s in Hampstead. The story originated from among Victorian sewer workers who were interviewed in 1851. A pregnant sow is said to have accessed the sewers through a broken drain, in Hampstead, as the sewers were poorly maintained at this time. Getting lost in the underground tunnels she is said to have littered the piglets there and feeding on the offal and rubbish in the drain, the pigs bred and became numerous and feral.
Sawney Bean
A story from folklore of 15th/16th Century cannibals in Scotland. Sawney Bean was the head of a bloodthirsty clan allegedly responsible for the murder and cannibalisation of hundreds of people. They stole from travellers on the roads, and lived in coastal caves, where they dismembered their victims, pickled parts of them and littered the ground with bones.
The Acclimatisation Society
The Acclimatisation Society had many aristocratic and eminent members, who hoped to diversify the range of meats eaten in Britain in the 1860s. These Acclimatisation Societies existed around the world in the mid 19th Century, and imported strange and exotic animals, hoping to set up breeding programmes and offer a wider range of meats for the dinner table. Frank Buckland led the London Acclimatisation Society in introducing exotic species. Reportedly he had tasted buffalo, earwig, field mice, giraffe, kangaroo, leopard, mole, ostrich, porpoise, sea slug, snake, whale and zebra.
Doomsday cults
The series mentions cults which ended in mass suicide motivated by a leader, such as the Solar Temple in 1994 and the Heaven’s Gate members who committed suicide in 1997 in order to reach an alien spacecraft following Comet Hale–Bopp. 909 members of the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, aka "Jonestown", died in 1978, in an event termed "revolutionary suicide" by the leader Jim Jones.
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Ok here’s my picks for a Downton fantasy au so far, but it’s not set in stone, so wondering what you think of these choices?
Unicorn ✨Isobel
Gryphon ✨Branson
Fairy ✨Daisy
Wizard/witch ✨Sir Anthony
Harpy ✨O’Brien
High elf ✨Rose
Wood elf ✨Gwen, Jane
Mermaid ✨Cora, Sibyl, Edith, Martha
Halfling ✨Mrs Patmore
Minotaur ✨Alfred
Dragon ✨Carson
Satyr ✨dr Clarkson
Centaur ✨Matthew, Mary, Robert
Human ✨William, Ivy, Mr Mason
Gnome ✨Molesley
Hippogriff ✨ Lord Merton
Tiefling ✨sir Richard
Phoenix ✨ Lavinia
Sphynx ✨Violet, Rosamund
Werewolf ✨Bates
Vampire ✨Thomas
Angel ✨Anna, Ethel
Selkie ✨Vera
Siren ✨ Jimmy
Kitsune ✨Mrs Hughes
#long post#sorry lol#i just did this now so I’m sure I will switch them up a few times#but happy with most I think
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Matthew Rhys and James McAvoy look so alike, I was so bothered by it when I was watching The Americans
The whole time I was wondering who Philip reminded me of and the only answer I could come up with was Mr. Tumnus, which *is* true, but I dismissed it because the guy's a satyr, what do you want me to say? until I watched a YouTube video by CinemaTherapy about Split(I haven't watched it, don't know if I will. The DID community has very few split opinions about it. I have also not watched any X-Men movies) and I went, "Hang on a second, nO HANG ON-"
This was all happening as I was binging His Dark Materials on Disney, btw. I have no excuse.
Look how pretty McAvoy is tho😭
Now look at Matthew Rhys and TELL ME they don't look like the same person????
#james mcavoy#matthew rhys#the americans#split#his dark materials#lord asriel#mr tumnus#the lion the witch and the wardrobe#the chronicles of narnia#how pretty they are#cinema therapy
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Do you all remember the AU that I made where Morpheus is a king, Hob is a satyr and Hobo Heart is a werewolf that ended up becoming the royal pet? Not only did it get a name : Kiss Me (Until My Lips Fall Off), it also got worked so much that I just have to show you all a few snippets. Hope you all are as excited as I am about it🥰
"Sire, we have captured the foul bea-" Morpheus lifted his upper body off the bed that he was lying on in a elegant manner, the ruby encrusted jewels on his rosy nipples with delicate golden chains attached to them proudly on display for the captain of the royal guard standing before him "What is it that you have captured, Matthew?" The king asked, raising an eyebrow as he sat up "Speak up, you have my full attention" He added, his tone a warning in itself as his satyr lover gave the poor man a deadly glare that prompted him into getting on with it "My apologies, your majesty..I meant to say that we have successfully apprehended the creature that has been terrorizing the town folk".
Then we have some hot threats
"You dare defy your king, Matthew? You seem to forget whom it is you have sworn allegiance..perhaps I shall let Hob refresh your memory" His voice a dark velvet as he gave the brown eyed satyr sitting by his side a warm look, his pale hand stroking his bearded cheek tenderly "One word, and your blood will be spilled by his magnificent horns". The guard shook his head, swallowing thickly at the threat "Of course sire, I shall not do so again. Right this way, your majesty"
Last little snippet (As you can all see, I had way too much fun with this)
The king smiled, his thumb stroking the cold cheek of the confused beast chained in his presence "Send out measurements of this fiend's neck to the best jeweler of the kingdom, let him know that King Morpheus requires a collar encrusted with the finest of rubies, adorned with a medallion that is just as tasteful with the words 'Hobo Heart, Royal Pet Of King Morpheus' engraved in it". Matthew gasped in shock, had his king fallen to madness? But his majesty only smiled still as he looked at him "Afterall, a royal pet must be displayed as such for the entire kingdom to marvel at. Now go, take him alongside you and notify the others of my decision at once"
a little hypothetical question regarding my Without Question AU : if, and that's a big if mixed with a maybe, there were to be one of them having cow babies at some point, would you like to see it? let me know if it's something you'd like
#kiss me au#spooky throuple#dreamling#the sandman#dream of the endless#hob gadling#the sandman fanfiction#king!morpheus x satyr!hob x werewolf!hobo heart#dream x hob x hobo heart
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