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mystery-salad · 3 years

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Let’s Have A Talk About Canach

Canach is a character you can't possibly not know about in the gw2 fandom and game, he shows up everywhere and regardless of how good or bad the opinion is, everyone has some sort of thoughts on the guy. He does not fade into the background. And he is, at his core, the best handled and nuanced antagonist-turned-friend I've seen in a game.

And that is because he cares deeply. He cares so deeply and intensely about everything and everyone he can find room for, no matter how much he's been hurt or ridiculed or insulted or talked down to. And through that caring he stumbles a lot, but he learns over time to handle it better, to the point that he becomes a valued and trusted friend.

Let's start at the beginning.

Canach didn't have an easy life from nearly day one, the first time you can see his name pop up in the history of sylvari is in lws2 Seeds of Truth. Through a memory of Caithe's you find out about a group of secondborns captured by inquest scientists intent to experiment on the "newly discovered" sylvari. Among those captured is Canach. And what have the inquest done with these test subjects? Well they've directly tied their lives to powering golems of course. As Faolain dismantles a golem you hear Canach yell "No! Cease your attacks! I feel a strong energetic connection between us and those constructs." And not a moment later one of the secondborn captives dies with a scream.

Further fatalities occur before the rescue, Faolain does as she wishes and, no matter what you do as Caithe, she will continue dismantling the golems. You can hear several screams and cries punctuate the soundtrack as you race her callous violence to save the remaining secondborn. It's a hell of an introduction to the outside world and it's likely to warp these saplings' perception of what lies ahead for them outside of the Grove. And yet, in your success, as you save the sylvari who were in danger, Canach speaks again. "Pain, humiliation, and eventually death. For us...and for them. Did you have to kill them?"

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The next time you find Canach is in a part of the story that we at large no longer have access to, in lws1 when he had been hired by the Consortium to map and explore Southsun Cove. This was in preparation for building settlements and tourist facilities around the newly discovered island. During this exploration he began to closely study the local flora, collecting passion flowers with his team to study them further, which accidentally provoked the local karka to attack the expedition. Those who survived the attack fled back to Lion's Arch with karka on their tails. To avoid being arrested for instigating the karka attack unintentionally, Canach volunteered to help fight the Ancient Karka though he fled soon after.

In the events and dialogue encountered within said karka attack, Canach is prickly at best. Defensive immediately upon the assumption that you, like everyone else around him right now, sees this all as directly his fault. And he’s not wrong, you are there to oppose and fight him. The man has a quick defensive habit of making it clear he'll stand up for himself if he thinks you may wish him ill will, an understandable defense to have in the life he's led so far and being stuck around groups such as the Consortium. And he's justified in this bitterness, despite the Consortium sending out many researchers such as him and being the reason this was even a problem, they let Canach take the fall and full guilt of this incident, as the person with his fingerprints on the knife so to speak. "I've admitted my mistake, but I deny the Lionguard's right to punish me. The Captain's Council has done much worse to secure their positions." "I am secondborn sylvari; I do not make excuses. What's done is done. Punishing me benefits no one. However, if I'm alive and free, I can make restitution to the city."

Upon fleeing the Ancient Karka fight, a manhunt begins for the fugitive Canach, by order of Ellen Kiel. In his freedom as he runs from the law though, he takes it upon himself to position as a champion of the weak. No doubt in part to avoid guilt, but he could have run so much further and caused so much more damage had he simply been avoiding custody. Instead he seeks out and destroys a molten alliance weapons facility, aiming to aid in his freedom rather than hinder. His goal is ultimately to get even with his old Consortium contractor and to free the refugees from the molten alliance and the Consortium's contracts, who only walked into danger because the Consortium had lied about the safety of their new island settlements and afterwards had been coerced into signing contracts for safety that would also prove to force them to stay on as new labor for the Consortium.

In his effort to cause civil unrest and toward the Consortium's plans and to get ahold of the corrupt contracts, he spread a wildlife-aggravating toxin that caused enough commotion to again put the island on the Lionguard's radar, leading to his eventual capture by Ellen Kiel with assistance from the Commander. This does however also lead to Elen herself having those contracts destroyed, though subtly handled for reputation’s sake. Even in the supposed failure of crimes, he's already helping people.

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While it feels like a lifetime before we see him again, Canach does show up several times in lws2 Party Politics and any present day depictions show him to now be a Shining Blade agent. Not by choice, but by the event of Countess Anise purchasing his billet from the Lionguard and enforcing his sentence as now serving the Shining Blade for an undetermined length of time. He is once again working for an organization he doesn't really side with, for a boss he doesn't seem to much like or trust at all. Back to where he was in lws1 at the start. But this time, there's a small difference. He will willingly go through this duty, to serve his sentence at least out in the open rather than confined to a cell. The lesser of two evils in his eyes. "Technically, I'm still a prisoner. It's just now my bars are lined with velvet." "So long as I'm a good grunt, she'll keep me with her and I don't have to go back in the cell." "I'm no fool. I could be in a much worse situation than this. I guess you could say I learned my lesson. I know I have a reputation for acting rashly, but those days are behind me."

He does make his distaste of his new boss clear though, just as blunt and sarcastic and prickly as he was the first time he'd met the Commander on less than ideal terms. After all, he has to hold his own and he's far learned by now that no one else will back him up. He's on his own, surrounded by noble humans in a city that functions as his prison.

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Again he shows up in lws2, now in Caithe's Reconnaissance Squad as a willing enough teammate who works with Caithe to try and figure out what exactly is going on with the mordrem in the Silverwastes. There's minor banter, and already he's less scathing than when at Anise's side. He knows his strengths, and he makes himself useful to a very effective degree. It's worth noting that unlike with the Ancient Karka, he does not flee as the mordrem outnumber the team. He stays right at your side fighting the danger until escape for everyone is possible, the first of many fights to come where Canach will be an ally now.

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And then we hit Heart of Thorns. A hell of an expansion for the game, one where Canach appears even in the trailer for it. He is once again defending himself from others, shouting "We are not your enemies!" A line shown to prove that others are indeed now wary at best, hateful at worst of sylvari for being unwitting dragon minions the whole time. Many times in this plot you are faced with characters who do not want anything to do with sylvari, who expect the race to attack on sight or report back to Mordremoth. Further cementing his own distrust of others, and his harsher demeanor towards those who would wish him harm on sight.

And yet, when he could take this as a huge chance to just say "fuck you" to everyone and go on a rampage or leave, entirely with the excuse of "what can I say, mordremoth got to me I couldn't help it", he does not. Instead he follows through on Anise's orders and joins the Commander in the search for Trahearne and the rescue of many along the way. No matter how loud the dragon gets in his head and no matter how antagonistic some companions can be, despite how often his dialogue is him once again having to defend his sanity against teammates, he stays with you. Because he has something to prove here and he will make it clear that sylvari are more than their maker. "I have an obvious personal stake in defeating the jungle dragon." "I don't want anyone mistaking me for a mordrem guard of pact turncoat." "It would be a cruel irony for me to die wrongly accused." He even goes so far as to tell you what Mordremoth is thinking if the opportunity arises, effectively a spy on your side. "Mordremoth knows we're here, but it doesn't seem concerned. It's interested, but not...urgent." along with bringing up the dragon's much quieter voice while within Rata Novus.

He also is the first to reach out to a mordrem found within Rata Novus, not with swords but cautious yet kind words. "The call is quieter here. Maybe this one sought refuge. Maybe there's something left inside." "Brother? Hello?" And he so calmly pulls answers from the distressed mordrem, talks with them for as long as they can hold their will, and does not fight until the mordrem strikes first. And while it still ends in a fight, he tried. He did what no one else in that scene would have, and it provided the team with invaluable heartbreaking information about how Mordremoth corrupts sylvari, along with one moment of kindness in what was a panicked and terrified end for a sylvari who gave in to the call. Again, he goes above and beyond to care about someone who by all accounts should be an enemy on sight.

And then we come to the end of Heart of Thorns. Where Canach is one of the three teammates you can choose to enter the dragon's mind with you to defeat Mordremoth. And his reasoning on why he should help doesn't include asking you to trust him, he's smart and knows the two of you don't yet have enough actual time together to have built trust from a rocky start. But instead he appeals with the fact that he has nothing to lose and everything to prove here. "I can help you, and I've got less to lose and more to gain than anyone else here." "You know what I'm capable of, and you know the circumstances that lead me here...so you know I'll help you get the job done. No matter what."

Even more convincing are his words once brought into the mind to face down a vision of himself as Mordremoth's corrupted champion. "My mind has always been my own. I seek no master and never have. I am no one's servant." "No. To redeem myself, I choose to serve." "I've done my best to kill the old me. I remain ready to eliminate this version." "I was strong enough to change what I was."

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In lws3 we once again cross paths with Canach almost immediately. He returns once again, though not as our companion this time. Instead, he is back under the thumb of Anise, on a Shining Blade mission to apprehend or kill Lord Caudecus, the leader of the White mantle. Our interactions with him this season are tangential and only intersect when we also happen to be after the same person.

But this time is notably his last set of missions under Anise's orders. Upon the capture or death of Caudecus, he will officially be a legally free man once more. High stakes for a sylvari who's spent more time under the orders of others than he'd ever care for, being constantly reminded of his mistakes and shortcomings. And yet, despite the dangers he faces and the scathing exchanges with Anise and the White Mantle that can be heard throughout, he still takes time to be kind when necessary. Upon finding out that Demi, the woman accompanying you, is Caudecus' daughter, he pauses in his snark towards Anise and the White Mantle to instead discuss Caudecus' current state with her. "Is he really your father? I'm so sorry." "Well...he was consuming bloodstone his lackeys gathered from the explosion. He might be unrecognizable to you, my dear."

And upon earning his freedom at last, he doesn't immediately leave. He sees Lady Valette Wi begging to atone for her own wrongdoings and, despite being on the receiving end of her animosity moments ago like the rest of the team, he immediately goes to bat for her. "She should stand trial. Past deeds... You should be given a chance to make up for them."

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And then he parts ways, striking out on his own for the first time in many years. Not for too long though of course, as he says your paths will cross again, and they certainly do in Path of Fire.

You reunite with him in Zalambur's casino, a location Canach has been frequenting for an unknown amount of time and he's quite comfortable there. Though he makes it clear shortly after that he intends to again accompany you, now as a friend and official teammate as you go to take down a God. Despite Rytlock's immediate greeting of asking you if he can kill Canach, he works several times with the charr, trying constantly to handle the partnership with skill while still throwing barbed words, well earned, back and forth. There's a running joke on the wager he placed on the Commander winning, a plot-handy vote of confidence from him in the coming battle.

I write all this long-winded backstory to say, Canach cares. He cares so deeply and so unabashedly, he cares enough for it to rashly drive decisions and calm moments where he's annoyed and push him back into danger with the Commander because the world matters to him too.

Yes, he’s snarky. But that snark is only dark or piercing when in response to someone who does not respect him as his own person. The Commander when arresting him, Anise who holds his contract, the Consortium who threw him under the bus and abandoned him, Rytlock who repeatedly is overtly racist and cruel to him...he holds respect for himself, and a caution well earned through a very harsh life. And he still works with all these people cooperatively despite his words.

And why do you think we find him in a casino of all places, once he’s free? He could’ve met with us anywhere in Amnoon, he knew we were coming. But the casino was his chosen hangout whenever not out with us. Think about it further than “he’s got a great bet on us and he’s good at gambling”. Think about how the Consortium is around, helping Amnoon. How the casino is known to serve people regardless of morality or reputation, a point made in a way that says nowhere else in Amnoon tends towards that. This is likely the only place Canach can genuinely relax and avoid most chances of side-eyes and backhanded comments. He’s on equal ground here and he can’t be guaranteed the same with the group that threw him under the bus milling around the city. On top of that we have an all too real trend he follows of someone with a lot of discrimination and trauma veering into troubling habits such as gambling, because they’re the few unbiased communities when it comes to people who could face discrimination. Join a gang they don’t judge, drown yourself in drugs or alcohol to ease the pain at the end of the day, the casino won’t judge you so long as you spend your money here.

He is so scarred by the world. He’s faced an onslaught of difficulties from when he was a sapling to now, and many people with positions of power ensure he will never forget it.

And yet. And yet! He chooses to be kind every time the opportunity arises. He chooses to be kind to Demi, a woman he’s just met who’s related to the villain who had him imprisoned and tortured. He chooses to be kind to Lady Wi who he directly fought. He chooses to talk gently with a mordrem who could lose control at any second. And he chooses to feel loss and sorrow when the inquest who hurt him and his friends are killed. He shows compassion whenever possible, and it's clearly fueled by empathy in his case with how he seems to emotionally connect with these people so surprisingly well in spite of everything.

Special shout-out to @ascalonianpicnic who helped me try to make this as short as possible, it was so hard to edit it down on my own!

#gw2 #guildwars2 #guild wars 2 #canach #hey so this is that long meta post i was having so much trouble editing lmao!!!#hope y'all enjoy!!!#there will be a trahearne one following too #both edited with the help of the always amazing Socks

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dancemachinetrait · 3 years

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1st May, 1908- Little Windenburg Village Hall

Extract from Clem’s diary

The Church Ladies outdid themselves for the dance. There wasn’t a surface to be seen in the hall that wasn’t bedecked in flora. It’s been absolutely cut-throat between them all and the atmosphere in church has been sizzling every Sunday for a month. Miss Lee and Mrs Yates are practically cutting each other dead. Still I must say it looked magnificent, like Titania’s bower.

I felt sure I’d be a wall-flower all night, despite Daisy’s best efforts to remedy the pig’s ear I’d made of my hair, but Oliver Elbsen asked me to dance right away.

I overheard Myrtle Stephens make a cattish remark to Sybil Copeland about what gangly, red-headed babies we would have. The very thought sent a shiver down my spine. Still, I managed not to tread on his toes, or if I did he was too polite to say so. I was dreadfully afraid that I’d put one of my beastly French heels right through his foot.

Afterwards he insisted on fetching me a glass of punch as though I hadn’t two legs in perfect working order. (As well as they could work in those wretched shoes! When I think what they must have cost Mother I am racked with guilt for despising them.) We ‘sat out’ and talked of football and what he had read in the Boy’s Own. He supports Foxbury Town, I, of course, the ‘Windies’ (Windenburg Wanderers), and we had a heated but amiable debate.

I was beginning to think we could be chums, although I would have much rather talked to Hon. Poor Hon! It seems so beastly unfair that I should dance, and hate it, when she would love to and isn’t allowed. I could tell she was sorry about it although she wouldn’t have let anyone see it for the world. What a brick she is.

Dizzy was the belle of the ball, of course. There was scarcely a boy in Little Windenburg she didn’t dance with. She stopped by in between dances to fill me in on the pertinent happenings. Norman Dunn caught it with the Church Ladies for taking liberties with Midge Sheldon’s person- although Midge didn’t seem to mind the taking of the said liberties, and might be said to have given of them freely. (Not Daisy’s exact words.) Myrtle and Justice Bowlinger had danced together twice, and she looked like the cat who got the cream and was lording it over all the other girls. What a perfectly pompous pair they would make! I wish them joy of each other.

I had almost begun to enjoy myself, in spite of the pinching of the horrid shoes. And then as Oliver and I were walking out of the hall, he stopped at the door and waited for me to go through. Nobody ever did that for me before. And I was struck with this awful thought, like a bolt of lightning: ‘He thinks I’m a girl.’ I couldn’t say a word to him after that. I couldn’t stop thinking it. I still can’t. What can it mean? Of course I’m a girl. I have to be one.

And yet...and yet, I know in my heart I’m not. I’m not, and I can’t make myself be. There! I’ve written that down now. I shall have to hide this diary more carefully than ever, and leave instructions in my will to have it burned. When I think of living my whole life with everyone thinking I’m a woman I want to scream and scream.

I got up just now and looked at myself in the mirror. I don’t look very girlish. I’ve got straight eyebrows and Papa’s nose and- thank heaven- hardly any bosom. The idea of having a bosom like Mother’s always filled me with dread and I hadn’t the least idea why.

What am I, if not a girl? What hiatus is there between my bodily structure and my feelings? Perhaps I am neuter, like the bees.

previous | next | beginning

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AUTHOR’S NOTE:

A big fat L-O-L to the idea that I was ever going to get this done before actual May Day came and went.

In terms of Clem’s pronouns, I am going to continue to use she/her in the story until Clem has figured out how they prefer to be referred to. Outside of the story I currently think of them as they/them.

I drew on a couple of real historical sources for this story. Clem’s moment when Oliver holds the door open is based on this passage from Out of the Ordinary, the autobiography of Michael Dillon. Dillon was a trans man who transitioned in the late 1930s. The story he tells took place in around the 1920s, but I saw no reason why something similar couldn’t have happened to Clem in 1908.

The second source is an anonymous queer person who was interviewed by Havelock Ellis in the late 19th century. Ellis conducted numerous interviews with queer people and got them to write testimonials about their life experiences which were published anonymously. They are a fascinating look at how real queer people saw themselves.

The end of Clem’s diary entry references this quote from one of the testimonials:

‘I had never come across any theories on the subject, but I decided that I must belong to a third sex of some kind. I used to wonder if I was like the neuter bees! I knew physical and psychical sex feeling and yet I seemed to know it quite otherwise from other men and women. I asked myself if I could endure living a woman's life, bearing children and doing my duty by them. I asked myself what hiatus there could be between my bodily structure and my feelings, and also what was the meaning of the strong physical feelings which had me in their grip without choice of my own." Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume II, History XXXIX

Last of all, but most certainly not least! Thank you so, so much to the lovely @simming-in-the-rain for making me so many beautiful sims (including Oliver!) when I hit a brick wall and simply could not make any more background characters. I’m sorry to the other people who made me sims I didn’t get to use this time; they may turn up in a later installment.

#decades challenge #history challenge #ts4 history challenge #s4 history challenge #decades legacy #gillespie legacy #gen1

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curedeity · 3 years

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From Different Worlds

Summary: the world of Magix is made up of many different peoples, and thise differences are sometimes very, very tangible.

(Aka: what if the winx were actual aliens)

It was a bright morning, the sun having snuck in through the blinds and forced all the girls awake. Stella was still yawning as she and Bloom padded down to breakfast together.

“Hey Stella, could you tone it down a bit, the sun’s being super obnoxious today, like you,” Musa sniped as she passed the duo with her tray. Stella pulled a face at her, leaving Bloom in a fit of giggles.

“That is a misconception of her powers, it's doubtful Stella has the actual power to control the sun,” Tecna pointed out the obvious. “And if she did, Flora would already be begging her for help with her gardening.”

Flora shrugged innocently, walking over to go sit with Mirta today.

It was a normal morning, all in all. Fairies pouring into the breakfast hall, slow conversations and sleepy eyes.

A sun shining brightly in them-

God, what Bloom wouldn’t give for some shade. Maybe if she stood behind Stella, her shadow would block out the glare-

Bloom’s eyes flicked down, widening in shock, before she tapped Stella’s shoulder.

“Huh, what is it hun?” Stella turned around to look at her, one perfect eyebrow cocked.

“Where’s your shadow?” Bloom whispered.

Bloom had seen some strange things at her time in Alfea. Magic had become a routine occurrence in her life, just another part of the atmosphere. Yet she had to be dreaming right now.

“Oh, I don’t have one,” Stella shrugged. As though that was all the explanation needed. Stella was Stella, so she simply didn’t have a shadow.

Bloom was going to fucking lose it.

“Almost all Solarians don’t have shadows. It has to do with how their bodies process and emit light,” Tecna explains to the look of confusion on Bloom’s face.

“Oh yeah, you wouldn’t know that,” Musa mumbled to herself in the background. Bloom was glad some of them were now remembering how batshit this stuff was to her.

But-

“That doesn’t make sense.” Bloom dredged through her memories of her middle school science classes. Because Stella’s body was opaque and solid, light wouldn’t pass through it. Therefore, due to the angle of the sun, parts of the ground would end up shaded from where her body blocked the light.

That’s how things worked.

“Well, I don’t get how you all have shadows,” Stella waved a hand dismissively.

“I guess not all of us can be as radiant as you, Princess,” Musa taunted her.

And the conversation moved on after that, leaving Bloom to just having to accept that some people didn’t have shadows. Because that’s a thing now.

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Flora was the best roommate Bloom could’ve asked for. Sure, sometimes her plants ate her homework, but in those cases Flora would help Bloom redo them. And Flora was much better than Bloom at the problems, so it would ultimately raise her grades.

Or at least, that’s Bloom thought. The day her opinion was challenged was after one of Griselda’s classes. They had spent two whole hours practicing a litany of spells, and Stella was the only one of the Winx in the class with her.

Griselda hadn’t let them off easily afterwards either, piling them high with homework to complete over the weekend.

Bloom was exhausted by the time she returned to her room, her bag digging into her shoulder. She swung open the door with a little shout to announce her presence, and stumbled on in, ready to drop her bag on the floor, then drop herself onto her bed.

Her attention was captured, however, by Flora. Who was sitting on her bed. And eating dirt right out of a flower pot.

She ate it like popcorn, squeezing it in between her fingers and tossing it into her mouth. She wasn’t even focused on that, rather she was doing her homework. It was… casual.

Flora looked up with a soft smile directed towards Bloom, as she did every time Bloom entered their shared room. “How were your classes Bloom?” She inquired, as she popped even more dirt into her mouth.

“You know, you know you’re eating dirt, right?” Bloom couldn’t stop herself from asking. This had to be a mistake made from lack of sleep. Flora must’ve been reaching for the bag of chips they kept on the counter for studying snacks, and accidently grabbed one of the many, many flower pots instead.

“Yeah, it’s specially made to taste like cotton candy! My sister sent it to me as a treat. Would you like to try some?” Flora offered, sticking the pot out in Bloom’s direction.

“No, thank you,” Bloom managed to respond, giving up on the conversation entirely and flopping down onto her bed.

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Classes at Alfea didn’t tend to run on any curriculum Bloom could understand. While there were vague outlines for the subjects, it seemed like the teachers could give any lesson, and if they had even the vaguest justification Griselda wouldn’t stop them.

Which, Bloom supposed, was how they had ended up learning about sea creatures in Professor Paladium’s class.

Living in the same dorm as Aisha, Bloom had already learned a fair deal about the variety of species that lived in Magix’s seas. Flora, Aisha and Tecna could get into long discussions about the biodiversity and importance of them. It seemed to be one of the few commonalities between the many planets of Magix.

When Bloom first thought of magical sea creatures, her thoughts were filled with ideas of Krakens and Sirens, Kelpies and so much more. And while there were some very odd creatures out there that made her fantastical heart scream with joy, there were also many that were similar or the same as those found on Earth.

“Dolphins are quite majestic creatures. They eat a variety of other fish in the seas, making them quite the predator. In fact, they even have quite the complex language, made up of calls, whistles and clicks,” Professor Palladium lectured them, spreading his hands out in grandiose gestures, a picture of a dolphin on the whiteboard behind him.

“It would be helpful if you could all hear them communicate then. Oh, Musa, could you demonstrate for us?” Professor Palladium clapped his hands together as Bloom tried to piece that sentence together in her mind.

Before she could even give it a cursory thought, a series of inhuman noises filled the room.

Bloom jerked around wildly, her eyes landing on Musa.

Who had her mouth open.

And was emitting those eldritch calls.

Like- like a fucking. Dolphin.

“Fantastic demonstration Musa, now, each dolphin has their own individual name…” Professor Palladium’s class droned on as Bloom sat at her desk, reconsidering the existence of reality itself.

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Bloom had never played many video games. Consoles were expensive, and she spent most of her free time drawing or reading. It had been during her first week at Alfea that she had been hanging out in Musa and Tecna’s room, doing her nails, that she had paused to watch Tecna play.

Bloom had entertained herself by sketching the wild scenes, a mash of movement and color of the fast-moving games Tecna played. After a few days, Tecna had offered the controller to Bloom while she had gone to grab a few snacks. She had returned to Bloom having died a dozen times.

Video games were not Bloom’s forte, and she often came in last during Winx Game Night. The few times Stella got worse scores than her, Bloom was 99% sure Stella did so on purpose so Bloom wouldn’t feel bad.

It was fun though, to watch Tecna obliterate Timmy in every game they played. They were a quite competitive duo, and Tecna had no qualms about crushing them in virtual combat.

It wasn’t until the specialists had joined them for their game night that Bloom had realized Tecna and Timmy made an even more terrifying team. After that, Tecna and Timmy were no longer allowed to partner together during these games.

Bloom had to admit, she was a bit jealous that Tecna could maintain her decent grades while spending so much of her time goofing off.

That’s why it was odd when, during one of their long weekends with little homework, Bloom entered Tecna’s room to find her not playing video games but rather opening a package.

“Whatcha got there?” Bloom asked, peeking over Tecna’s shoulder curiously. It was a fact of life that privacy was different when they all lived together. They were expected to knock on doors before entering any room, not to eat each other’s snacks, and not go through each other’s cabinets. Anything else was fair game.

“It’s a new controller that was just released on Zenith, I ordered one to test it out. It has new technology that should improve response time, which will make it easier to shoot Timmy before they shoot me,” Tecna explained, grinning all the while. Tecna’s grins were small, just a tiny upturn of the mouth, a twitch of movement. Barely any warning before she destroyed all your plans.

Bloom watched as Tecna pulled out what looked like a small half orb. A cord dangled from the base, and Tecna plugged it into her laptop.

“Uh, how does that work?” Bloom couldn’t see any buttons on it, and it couldn’t spin…

“Oh, I release a certain amount of electrical data that this controller interprets and uses for it’s commands. I just have to hold it and have the right instincts.” Tecna’s attention was more on loading a new game than talking to Bloom.

Bloom had been at Alfea for a year and a half now. She just left the room.

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Bloom had used to love summer, school was stifling and getting to sit outside all day and draw the scenery really was her passion. But now, her feelings on it had become more bittersweet. Every year it was hard to readjust to the routine with her parents after spending so long with the Winx. No more late nights throwing popcorn at Flora’s plants, or getting her makeup put on by Stella in the mornings.

It wasn’t bad, she missed her parents dearly while she was at Alfea, but there would always be pieces of her scattered at both places.

They still saw each other over the summer. Stella would take her out for shopping at Magix, and Flora stopped by the shop to help out her mother. Musa got concert tickets for all of them, and Tecna had a server set up so they could always text and play games together.

Aisha, for her part, had invited them all out for a beach day.

Bloom rubbed sunscreen onto Tecna’s back while Stella just laughed at the duo. It was unfair that Stella couldn’t get sunburn, when she could burn easily through other means. Bloom stuck her tongue out at the laughing girl.

Musa had gone off to get them surfboards, given Aisha had promised to teach them all. The other two were already in the water, laughing as they splashed water at one another.

Bloom stood up, giving her own sunscreened body a once over to make sure she had got everywhere. Stella was already dashing for the water, only a cursory cry of warning that gave neither other any time to move out of the way before Stella cannonballed between them.

The water showered over them, Aisha just laughing as she playfully promised to get Stella back, and Flora coughing as she tried to rid her lungs of the excess water. Bloom paddled in and rubbed her back.

“Sorry Flora!” Stella shouted before returning to her banter with Aisha.

“I’m ok,” Flora smiled at Bloom, clearing her throat once more.

Bloom returned her brilliant smile. “We’ll have to plan a retaliation.”

Flora nodded, “Most definitely.”

Bloom’s attention was drawn back to the argument at a splash of water, Aisha was already gone by the time she looked over, only a shadow under the water, and she watched as Aisha pulled Stella down with her.

“I think Aisha might’ve given her enough actually,” Flora admitted, and Bloom had to give her that.

She watched her two friends reemerge, hair soaked and Stella whining. Her attention was almost caught by the way Stella’s hair glowed in the sun, before her eyes noted a rippling on Aisha’s neck.

There, closing back into layers of skin, were gills.

Alright, so one of her friends had gills. That’s fine. This is fine.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bloom’s parents had always known she was a strange kid since the day Mike brought her home, but sometimes that oddity was really hammered in. It was only now, with the context that Bloom was basically an alien child, that the two sat at the dinner table and began reconsidering all those incidents.

“Remember that time Bloom got stuck in that walk-in freezer while we were chaperoning one of her school trips?” Vanessa added in to the litany of memories.

“I don’t want to remember that was terrifying!” Mike shivered. “But then I opened up the door and she was completely fine other than a bit annoyed.”

“I guess we were too relieved to think properly about that, huh?” Vanessa teased.

Mike sighed. “What about that time we went camping and were making s’mores and Bloom just held the marshmallow in her hand and stuck it into the fire.” The anxiety Mike had felt in that moment bled into his tone, now mixed with the resignation of time.

“Oh yeah! That’s why we never went camping again,” Vanessa mused.

Bloom had been a very strange kid, but they’d loved her all the same. Maybe it would do some good to check in with one of the other fairies and see if all this should be considered normal though, just in case. They were responsible parents after all.

#fanfic #fanfiction #winx club #the winx #all the girls appear in this #just a group fic #from different worlds #alien!winx #listen i just had a ton of fun writing this #destroying blooms sanity yknow #swearing #hope you enjoy!

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theladyofdeath · 4 years

Text

In the Bleak midwinter {17}

A Throne of Glass Period AU: 1920s.

Summary: 2 years after Arobynn Hammel is killed by Rowan Whitethorn, Maeve has returned from Eyllwe with a vengeance. Meanwhile, Rowan is getting married, Lorcan is a father, and Lysandra is finally ready to give her heart away. There’s been peace in The Cadre’s Orynth for 2 years, but peace never lasts.

A/N: Coming in close to the end!

All characters belong to SJM. I am no more than a fan with a plot.

**Warning: mature content - language, alcohol use, drug use, sex, murders and shit.

Links & masterlists:

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The Cadre - 1920s AU {TOG}

In the Bleak Midwinter {The Cadre, Part 2}

Aelin didn’t know how long she and Lucy had been in that room, but she knew that she was cold, achy, and terrified. It took a while for Lucy to notice. She was a curious one, and pretty independent, so she could make herself comfortable in most places, especially once they had food. But, now, Aelin was running out of comforting conversation topics to have with a toddler as anxiety and fear thrummed through her veins.

The food they were given hours ago had made her sick, although she tried to keep everything down, for Lucy’s sake. Meanwhile, every horrible outcome of what was taking place outside of the four concrete walls she sat inside had her heart beating faster.

“Ae Ae,” Lucy began, and Aelin looked over at her, trying her best not to cry.

“Yes, Luce?” she replied, quietly.

“Dada,” Lucy whispered, her lip wobbling, but before she could cry, the door was unlocked, and pushed open.

Aelin quickly snatched Lucy up as she stood and held the toddler tightly in her arms.

Cairn stood there, looking as deadpan and serious as ever. “Come with me.”

“Where to?” Aelin asked, not moving a step.

Cairn showed no emotion. “Come with me, or I’ll lock you in here, again. It’s your choice.”

Aelin hated that she didn’t hesitate. Instead, with Lucy in her arms, she followed Cairn out of the little room and through the winding hallways.

The rest of the building wasn’t any better than the little room they had been trapped in. The stone walls continued, and Aelin didn’t feel comforted at all as they followed Cairn through the narrow hallways. Lucy was whining, which didn’t comfort Aelin either. Aelin should have been the one to comfort her but her own nerves were spiraling out of control.

Their walk seemed to last forever, but eventually, they came to a door. Lucy clung to the neckline of Aelin’s dress, and Lucy was grateful for it, it was the only thing that was keeping Aelin connected to reality.

Even though that reality was horrifying.

Cairn pushed open the door and gestured for Aelin to enter. She was smart enough not to fight back or be stubborn, even though she so desperately wanted to both be stubborn and fight back.

Maeve knew it, too, judging by the horrific smile on her red-painted lips as they entered. Aelin, Lucy in her arms, stopped just inside of the door with her chin raised high.

“Mrs. Whitethorn,” Maeve crooned, as Cairn shut the door behind them. “How are you enjoying your stay?”

“Food is shit,” Aelin said, plainly. Lucy’s whines had turned into a silent cry, her face buried into Aelin’s shoulder. “Is my husband on his way?”

Maeve’s eyes narrowed. “To the old train station, yes. In fact, he’ll be leaving that ungodly mansion of yours shortly.”

“Whatever you’re asking him for, he won’t give it to you,” Aelin said, shaking her head, but even as the words left her mouth, she knew she was wrong. For his wife, and his niece, Rowan would give Maeve whatever she wanted.

As her dark eyes lit up, Aelin knew that she knew it, too.

“I plan to test that theory,” she said, at last, her nails clicking on the hard desktop she sat behind. “Cairn.”

Lucy was being removed from Aelin’s arms before she could even have a second thought. The second she was in Cairn’s arms, she was wailing.

“No!” Aelin cried, taking a step forward to fight for her niece back, but a gun was cocked, and Aelin froze.

Maeve didn’t hesitate as she pointed her pistol at Aelin’s head. “One more step, and you die, which would just be awful for all of us, wouldn’t it?”

Aelin put a protective hand over her stomach, then looked at Lucy, who was being held by Cairn at Maeve’s right hand side. Aelin couldn’t help the tears that lined her eyes as she listened to Lucy cry.

“Edward!”

The door opened and a man Aelin had never seen before entered the room and took Aelin’s arms behind her back.

“Fuck you!” Aelin yelled, spitting at Maeve.

The woman snorted and set her gun down on her desk. Then, she nodded her head, and Aelin was hit in the back of the head, the rest of the world going dark around her.

~~~~~

“They’re late,” Lorcan grumbled, his hands opening and closing at his sides.

Rowan pulled the pocketwatch out of his breast pocket. Lorcan was right. It was two minutes past.

“They’ll be here,” he snapped.

Gavriel stood just behind them, watching the other side of the old abandoned platform, waiting, calmly. Fenrys was there, too, his jaw locked. They had left Aedion at home, watching and waiting in case anything happened there. Lysandra was with him, along with a hysterical Natalia.

Just as Rowan’s patience was running short, he saw them coming. A sleek, black car was driving up, followed by one that was nearly identical. Rowan had no doubt to whom the cars belonged to.

No one moved, no one said a word as those cars pulled up to the other side of the broken tracks.

They waited for a moment, and Rowan was about nearly to combust as the door to the first car opened and Cairn came out. He ascended the platform, and met their gazes as he approached.

Alone.

Before Rowan could open his mouth and spit out a retort, Cairn said, “Maeve sends apologies. She couldn’t make it, she was otherwise occupied.”

“Where are they.” It wasn’t a question, but a demand. Rowan’s voice was low, calm. He didn’t want to even start thinking about where Maeve’s attention was.

“Depends which one you’re asking about,” Cairn replied, simply.

Rowan froze, and it was Lorcan that growled, “Stop dancing around the subject, tell us the fucking conditions so we can get on with it.”

Cairn stared at them, perfectly happy with Lorcan’s outburst. It’s why he let the silence ensue before saying, “Mr. Whitethorn comes with me.”

Gavriel’s shoulders tensed as Fenrys snorted. Lorcan had begun to say no, but Rowan interrupted them all, saying, “And Lucy and Aelin come back?”

“I have Lucy in the car,” Cairn replied, simply, and when he didn’t go on, Rowan asked, “And my wife?”

Cairn just smiled, slowly.

“Well?” Rowan asked, after Cairn said nothing.

“Lucy comes back to you now,” he said, quietly. “Aelin will be sent back to the estate when Rowan is safely delivered to Maeve.”

“No,” Lorcan breathed, even though Rowan knew it hurt him to say it. “We find another way.”

“Lucy needs to be safe now,” Rowan said, quietly. “And Aelin needs to be safe now. I’ll be fine, and I’ll figure something out, but they need to be home, where I know they’re okay.”

Lorcan stilled, but Rowan said, “Bring Lucy to Lorcan and I’ll come willingly.”

“That undoes everything that we’ve fought for so far,” Fenrys muttered.

Rowan closed his eyes, knowing full well he was thinking of Connall. But Rowan wouldn’t have another death on his hands. Not his niece. Not his wife. He was done watching those he loved die, those that his family loved die.

He was over it.

Done.

Cairn waved a hand and the door to the second car was opened. A man in a suit came out, carrying Lucy, who was looking around with big, round eyes. The moment she spotted Lorcan, she began to cry, scream for him, but the second Lorcan took a step toward her, a gun was pointed at him.

So he stilled, and waited, even though it killed him to do so. The second Lucy was in his arms, though, he was clinging onto his daughter for dear life.

“Dada.” She wept his name, and if Rowan had any sort of hesitation, Lucy’s little voice pushed him over the edge. Without looking back at his men, he took a step toward Cairn, then another, and another.

Before anyone could say anything otherwise, Rowan was shoved into a car and being driven away from the abandoned train tracks.

Toward his aunt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

@mariamuses @garnet-29 @writer-reader-traveller @rowaelin-cressworth @space-buns-arsinoe @negativenesta @empress-ofbloodshed @the-regal-warrior @starseternalnighttriumphant @westofmoon @sammyjojaaaa @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter @carbconnoisseur @acer6437 @lorcansalvatearupmyheart @cool-ish-nerd @mynewdreamwasyou @mourning-razorlust @thespiritualrider @rowaelinforeverworld @didsomeonesayviolin @gloriouspaintercreatorbandit @yeah-just-ignore-me-thanks @queen-of-glass @the-dark-swan @http-itsrebecca @holdingon-21@babycardan @tswaney17 @mollycateoc @chemicha @bat-wing-rhys @exersize-me-i-dare-u @thespiritualrider @luna-the-little @morebooks-pls @shyvioletcat @hermajestyanna @a97girl @stardustsroses @queenofthemoon22 @alifletcher2012 @awkward-avocado-s @faerie-queen-fireheart @cwheart @lovemollywho @emilyrose111294 @nerdperson524 @sleeping-and-books @cursebreaker29 @flora-and-fae @feyrethedarklady @the-dark-swan @rowaelinforeverworld @sjmsstuff @januarystears @mis-lil-red @acourtofmoonlight @rowaelinforeverworld @courtofmaasdestruction @jjellybean @thewayshedreamed @wind-drinker @aelin-rowan-whitehorn @starseternalnighttriumphant @hurema @http-itsrebecca @lorcansalvatearupmyheart @cityofchelsea16 @januarystears @iliketoasterstrudels @lightitup-bryce @yikesitsmaddie @feyrethedarklady @i-love-all-books @keshavomit @sleeping-and-books @scarznstars @http-itsrebecca @cat5313 @moondancer-204 @booklover242 @belamoonbeam @they-call-me-cuatro @b00kworm @mu-si-ca-l @thegayerpotato @abraxos-is-toothless @keshavomit @musicdreamer003 @superspiritfestival @sailorsassley @mymultiversee @alxanxah @viviaannvu123 @mysweetvillain @theghostlyharrypooperfan @highqueenofelfhame @shyvioletcat @maastrash @the-third-me @rinad307

#tacmc itbmw #period au #1920s au #pb au #tog #throne of glass #fanfic

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queenjunoking · 3 years

Text

Wolf Taming pt 42

CW: Noncon - Pain - Abuse - Torture

This particular entry is a bit more violent than most of the other ones so I thought I should give a heads up.

Sonja doubled over my knee, seemingly surprised at what I did. I really couldn't imagine why. I pushed her over and onto the floor as I decided to go check out what items she had laid out on the table nearby.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Sonja yelled as she got back to her feet, glaring at me. “If you want your stupid slave back you better fucking listen to me you worthless bitch!”

I looked over the items available and picked up one of the flip knives. “You’re very stupid, you know that right?”

“Excuse me!” Sonja was livid, her face had gone a deep red.

“I read the stupid contract. The parts that mattered anyway. You cannot maim or kill me. Unsurprisingly those conditions don’t apply the other way around.” I pressed the button on the knife and the blade flipped out to accentuate my words. I watched her look at the knife, then back at me. “Your job is to break people. Targets don’t cooperate right away. I am your target and you were dumb enough to just approach me and asked what I wanted. It’s your job to secure the person you’re breaking.”

I threw the knife at her as hard as I could and heard her scream as the blade sunk into her shoulder. “You are a barrier between me and what I want. If you want to break me you’ll need to get me to submit.” I picked up another knife off the table and turned back to Sonja, watching as she yanked the blade out of her shoulder.

“Oh, you’re going to submit. You’re a washed up has been. I was just trying to be nice to you before I felt sorry for you. I was trying to give you a bit of dignity. But if you want to be humiliated I am more than happy to oblige.”

“Sonja, you might think you’re in charge of this room. That this is your chamber. But it isn’t. I’m not locked up in this room with you right now. This isn’t your special little chamber in the auction house.” I looked at the table one more time and picked up a taser sitting there. I pressed the button and watched the electricity arc between the prongs.

I walked slowly towards her with a smile. “No Sonja. You’re currently in a locked room with me. You decided to stand between me and Sasha. You will understand your mistakes. Unfortunately you aren’t going to get the chance to learn from them.”

I watched Sonja back up to the door and try turning the knob. Subtly at first, but it quickly became desperate. “Someone open the door!”

No one answered her prayers.

I kept walking towards her and she decided to finally take a stand. She held the blade she had pulled from her shoulder in front of her, acting like it was some kind of threat. After I walked a few more feet she lunged at me with the knife.

Everything Sonja did betrayed her. She talked big, but she was obviously very new to all of this. I moved out of the way and tripped her, sending her face first into the ground.

I slipped my foot under her and kicked her over. She tried to reach for the knife so I stomped on her hand. She yelped, pulled it back and looked up at me, I could see the glint of fear in her eye. This was the real Sonja, not the big talker that had entered the room. Little by little I was pulling away the facade.

I decided to just get this over with. I stood over her and sat on on her stomach, listening to her gasp as the air left her. She tried to talk but there was nothing left in her lungs to form words with. She desperately tried to push me off, so I punched her. First with my left hand. Then my right. Then with the left again. She covered her face and I took the opportunity to take the taser and place it against her neck and press the button.

I could feel her convulse under me, my weight the only thing keeping her in place. I gave her a second jolt for good measure before I got off of her. I looked around the room to decide what to do next when I spied a chair sitting off to the side. It would have to do.

I grabbed Sonja’s convulsing body by her hair and started to pull her across the room.She desperately tried to regain control of her limbs to stand back up, but was doing a poor job of it. I pulled her over to a chair, a nicely shaped chair that looked like what you might find in a gynecologist office. Though the ones in the office probably lacked locking straps for the head, legs and feet. I picked her up and dropped her none too gently onto it before strapping her down.

“You’re going to l-let me go or I’m going to make you a bloody smear on the w-wall.” Sonja managed to stammer out, but it was too late for her to save herself. We had reached the point in the process that the victim had no chance of escape.

I ignored her for the time being. If anyone was going to stop me they were taking a while to get here. I began looking through the items in the room to see what all Sonja requested. Mostly torture instruments, not much I typically used. But eventually I found the kinds of things I was looking for.

The first thing I found was a small spray bottle of liquid. I made an assumption about what it was and hung it around my belt loop. I found a powerful vibrator meant to be attached to the edge of the chair. I began to set it up as Sonja suddenly started to struggle more. “Get that thing away from me! If you don’t let me go this instant I will make sure you won’t ever see that stupid slave of yours again!”

After I got the vibrator in place I got up and stood behind her. I whispered into her ear. “Don’t you want to feel good, Sonja? Just let me do my thing and soon you’ll never have to worry about ridiculous things like being a breaker again. You’ll get to be where you truly belong.”

“Someone stop her! This wasn’t part of the deal!” Sonja screamed at the window that Rayne and Flora were likely sitting behind. But no answer came.

“Just say ‘Please Miss Z, make me feel good’ and I won’t inflict any pain on you.” I whispered into her ear again.

“Fuck you! You can’t do this! I’m-” I lifted the bottle off of my belt loop and sprayed it into her mouth as she spoke. There was a small delay before she screamed and began to thrash around. I smiled to myself, glad I was right. It was the same kind of thing I used to use. The contents were made of the Hellfire Kiss pepper.

While her attention was on the horrific burning sensation in her mouth I got to work on her clothes. I found a pair of scissors on the table that were sharp enough to cut through cloth. They sliced through like a knife through butter, interrupted only when I needed to move them because of the chair restraints. I had removed her pants and her shirt before she could concentrate on anything else but her burning tongue.

“O-one m-more ch-chance Z.” She tried again with the tough guy act despite the tears that were streaming down her face. “You s-stop now and I’ll forget all about this.”

“Oh, sweetheart. If I had my way with you, you would never forget anything I was about to do. I want it burned into your mind for the rest of your life. That’s the point of this process.” With a swift movement I cut off her bra, then her panties and threw them aside. Her face turned a deep red as she was bound naked to the table. I doubt she ever thought she’d be subject to something like this.

I grabbed the back of the chair and pulled it down, moving her from sitting in a recycling position to laying backwards at a small angle. I could see her crying and I gently wiped away the tears. I looked around the room and saw a small water spigot and a hose in the corner. “That big strong person who entered earlier isn’t you. This is you. How about I get you something to cool you off?”

I attached the hose to the spigot and grabbed a cloth before I walked back to her. It took her far too long to catch onto what I’m doing. “Wait. No. No, no, no, no, you can’t do this to me! I- the contract said I couldn’t maim or kill you! I was just doing what the contract said I had to do! Please, there’s no need for you to do this! I’ve failed! I’ll leave! I’m sorry!” The facade was gone. All it took was the threat of torture and the strong exterior was gone. She was just begging for freedom like any other person put through this process. It just proved that this is where she belonged.

I wiped away a few more tears and gave her a gentle smile. “You’re pathetic.”

Her eyes went wide as I tossed the cloth over her head, flipped on the vibrator and turned on the water.

Flora

“Apologise, Master Rayne. Lady Flora. We… never really expected this possibility or we’d have added it to the contract.” Molly was nervous, shuffling through papers.

Rayne held a hand up, signaling to her to be quiet. “If Z went quietly then it would b-”

“Someone stop her! This wasn’t part of the deal!” Sonja screamed as the cloth was momentuarily removed from her face, interrupting Rayne. It was a dumb decision seeing as it would just leave her with less air for the next round.

“It would be boring. That’s what I was going to say.” Rayne said once there was a gap in the screaming.

“I suppose in an odd way Z is following both sides of the contract. Technically waterboarding doesn’t maim. I suppose it could kill Sonja if she isn’t careful, but I’d like to think Z is better than that.”

I watched the scene in front of me play out a few more times. Sonja convulsed wildly as Z poured the water over her head. Z would lift the cloth, give her a few short breaths and then repeat the process. I could see Sonja fighting the restraints with all of her might, but she wasn’t stronger than steel.

It was wonderful to get to see Z actually work. She only had one recorded session and I had watched it to death already. She was ruthless and apathetic to her victim, but at the same time seemed to be doting over them.

I turned to my raindrop and noticed she was upset. “What’s wrong stormcloud?” I rested my head on her shoulder and looked up at her, giving my eyelashes a flutter.

“I wanted Z to be a gift to you, lilac. The scene we’re watching is fun, but every moment that it’s happening is one less moment Z is being pushed to breaking.” Rayne was agitated. I couldn’t really blame her because she made a good point. I did want my gift. “I chose Sonja because she is one of the few people I could find that did straight up torture. I wanted to see blood and pain. Instead I’m just watching Z asphyxiating someone while making them orgasm over and over. A fun spectacle for sure. I’m not saying we shouldn’t try this on one of the maids. I just feel we’re wasting precious time while Z just sits around and tortures another member.”

“Former member, dear.” I looked away from Rayne and over to Molly. “Molly, once your team is finished getting Z’s doggy back please begin paperwork to submit to the auction house to let them know Sonja probably won’t be fit for work anymore. Make sure that it shows everything happened to her was done by contractual agreement but leave out who it involved. Also, have her tracked, I want to buy her.” I looked at Molly and smiled. She just nodded and took some notes. Molly was dreadfully boring but at least she was good at what she did.

I looked over at my brooding stormcloud and decided to make a suggestion that might make everyone happy. “Rayne, may I suggest you go have some fun? You are so strong and Z isn’t going to go down without a fight. In the meantime I can look for another breaker to come in that might be fun for us to both watch after Z has been knocked down a peg.”

I felt her hook her finger under my chin and tilt my head up. She kissed me passionately and deeply. It made my stomach flutter. After a few moments she pulled away and smirked.

“I think I will.”

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huesofblue · 3 years

Text

A Dive Into Artistry and Athleticism (Pt. II)

With the basic information discussed and our minds enlightened with how the sport works, we will now be diving into the real deal of this blog post: the Full Team Event of Artistic Swimming at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

It would be crucial to note that I am not at all familiar with the technical terms and lingos of artistic swimming. So, I would like to put up the disclaimer that I will not be able to use them much in interpreting and analyzing the game; so, if the technical terms of the sport do show up but were not used according to its definition in the sport, then please assume that they were used in their regular and literal meaning. Or, if the terms will indicate their respective lingo meaning, then I apologize in advance for its potential misusage. Additionally, any opinions to be mentioned here are all of my own thought, since this is a subjective review.

For reference, we will be watching the event through this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRGQDubSAqw

The full team event had took place on a bright sunny day in Rio de Janeiro, with the temperature at 24°C, the humidity at 68%, the wind direction going north north east, and the wind speed at 11.16km/h.

The event was the free routine, and the ordered list of the teams performing were as follows: Egypt, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Russian Federation, Ukraine, People’s Republic of China, and Japan. This list was also utilized for the technical routine portion of the competition, but the order was changed; the first 4 to perform in the free routine portion were the last 4 to perform in the technical routine event the day before, same with the last 4 in the free routine event being the first 4 to perform in the technical routine portion. Moreover, within those groups of 4, each team was chosen at random to perform next.

According to one of the announcers, the event had three specific panels of judges: there was a panel who would judge based on execution and synchronization, another panel will base points on artistic impression, and the last panel will judge the difficulty of the presentation.

Soon, the competition began and the first team to compete was coming up the deck.

Egypt

The first team to compete was Egypt, and as soon as they stepped up the stairs and went up to the deck, they began a short performance for their entrance, that I do appreciate seeing since it added to artistry of their performance as a whole.

As for their proper performance – just...wow. I can’t get too technical since it is a free routine, but just seeing their performance unfold was astounding to witness. The sheer strength and breath control they must have to be able to flip in and out of the water with no rests in between – watching them admittedly left me breathless. Bear in mind that this is the first performance of artistic swimming I’ve seen, which is why I am reacting like this.

From what I could see, Egypt executed about 4 lifts and 3 lifted tosses mixed with various leg and raised-upper-body movements. And while the tosses, according to the announcers, took a bit more time to be set up than usual, they were still impressively done; same goes for the lifts that were littered all throughout the performance.

What really intrigued me with this act, as well as artistic swimming in general, is that all the movements they do are so well-thought of and calculated. The Egypt team athletes had performed the whole 4 minutes without even staggering in their skills. Even when nearing the end of their act, their legs still moved in precise angles quickly along the fast beat that played through the speakers – and mind you, they still had giant smiles plastered on their faces. I don’t know about you, but that to me screams utter determined professionalism.

It wasn't long until the end of Egypt's performance came, and the announcement of points immediately followed the performance. Moving on - on the authority of the panels of judges, Egypt’s score had totaled to 78.5667 for the free routine – 23.5000 for execution, 31.4667 for artistic impression, 23.6000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 76.9838 for their technical routine. With both scores, Egypt in total had a score of 155.5505 in the whole artistic swimming event, which tentatively placed them in first.

Australia

The second team to compete was Australia, and according to the announcer, the team adopted an ‘Outback’ theme that featured ‘unique flora and fauna.’ Like Egypt, they also had a performance for an entrance before diving into the pool for their main showcase.

Australia began with a full standing lift with one of the athletes, followed by – what I assume is – a back stretch lift. After that was a lifted toss that took a bit of time to be set up. The athletes also executed numerous individual flips across the water. Their pattern was phenomenal for their routine, and comparing their artistry with Egypt’s – I can say they offered more, overall.

I did, however, notice that the precision in their synchronization was a bit off compared to Egypt’s that was more defined. It isn’t too noticeable, but if you’re looking for it, then you can catch some of the athletes falling a fraction of a second behind their other team mates when doing certain movements.

Granted that Australia’s athletes were relevantly new and that they were doing more difficult patterns and movements for their level of expertise, the off in precision is understandable. They did good though, and their performance was fun to watch, as well as interesting since they incorporated a lot of elements that matched the theme they were going for.

After the end of their performance, the scores were announced. On the authority of the panels of judges, Australia’s score had totaled to 75.4333 for the free routine – 22.6000 for execution, 30.1333 for artistic impression, 22.7000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 74.0667 for their technical routine. With both scores, Australia in total had a score of 149.50 in the whole artistic swimming event, which tentatively placed them in second.

Italy

The third team to compete was Italy, and like Australia, they also had a theme, that which was ‘Seasons of Earth,’ and all of their athletes – save for one of them – were also first-timers.

After a short showcase as an entrance, the Italian athletes dove into the pool and began their main performance. Starting off with a 2-flip toss, the Italy team was off to a good start.

Their synchronization was spot on, and their interpretations of the Earth’s seasons were also artistically impressive. Their patterns were executed well, and every single position was seemingly well-defined. They displayed an immense amount of core strength and speed as first-timers, and to see them transition so quickly from one segment into another was really a sight for sore eyes.

In comparison to Australia and Egypt, I believe Italy’s precision was more concrete and cleanly exhibited. Their formations were well put-together, and most – if not all – of their lifts (which were noticeably more, compared to the last two teams) were very powerful. When you see them without knowing a bit of their background, you’d think that they were seasoned Olympians and not like the first-timers that they were.

Because of the speed that they utilized in executing their routine positions and patterns, I’m sure that the athletes were tired after doing all of them, but all through to the end of their performance, not once did they falter nor did their tiredness seep into their movements. And that, to me, is very impressive to witness.

After the end of their performance, the scores were announced. On the authority of the panels of judges, Italy’s score had totaled to 92.2667 for the free routine – 27.5000 for execution, 37.0667 for artistic impression, 27.7000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 91.1142 for their technical routine. With both scores, Italy in total had a score of 183.3809 in the whole artistic swimming event, which immediately pushed them up into first place, leaving Egypt and Australia largely behind.

Brazil

The fourth team to compete was Brazil – specifically mentioned as “The Carnival.” Judging from their appearance right at the start, I could tell that their performance was going to be bright and lively.

They began with an artistic flip toss that kickstarted an impressive synchronization among movements, as patterns were unfolded and the whole presentation was beginning to play off.

The speed at which the athletes transitioned from position to position was an immense sight to behold – the way their legs just moved so quickly even while hitting the water; everything was near-perfect, and it was only still the beginning of their performance.

Brazil incorporated a lot of elements that presented their home country in the presentation, and the athletes’ executions of such elements definitely contributed to the artistic impression that they were going for.

Like Australia, Brazil too had a lot of formations all throughout, and the swimmers also transitioned into them so quickly yet so precisely. This team’s movements were absolutely neatly executed, even when, I assume, the swimmers must have been tired by then – it really shows how much endurance they have to keep going at the speed they were going, while also doing a multitude of things one after the other in a cleanly executed manner.

Brazil’s whole presentation just screamed and conveyed absolute precision. And I think I’ve already mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again for good measure – their synchronization is really spot-on, even with the speed.

After ending their performance in a circle formation with the hands clasped together and raised up in the air, the scores were announced. On the authority of the panels of judges, Brazil’s score had totaled to 87.2000 for the free routine – 26.1000 for execution, 34.8000 for artistic impression, 26.3000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 84.7985 for their technical routine. With both scores, Brazil in total had a score of 171.9985 in the whole artistic swimming event, which placed them right behind Italy but ahead of Egypt and Australia.

Russian Federation

The fifth team to compete was the Russian Federation – the defending champions – with the theme of ‘Angels.’

The powerful music began, and after the swimmers dived into the pool to set-up for their beginning lift, they executed a breathtaking flip that I believe really showed the expertise that these seasoned athletes had.

Launching into strong patterns, the synchronization was heavily present in Russia’s presentation. Granted that their moves were slower in speed compared to Italy and Brazil, the Russian swimmers made up for it in artistry, precision, and power.

The way the athletes executed their moves and positions – it seemed like everything was calculative in that it was all done at the same height, in the same manner, at the same amount of time; thus really showing their synchronization to the point that it could even be said that they were really mirroring each other – even the way they sculled were almost – if not, really – identical. Now, this might seem a bit of a stretch but witnessing a performance like theirs, only good things can be said, and I say this as objectively as possible.

The patterns they incorporated were near-perfect and really elegant, I could say. Their whole choreography – from the beginning and, I assume, up until the end – was really well thought-out and very original; the illusions, fluidity and artistic movements they do with their whole bodies were really an impressive sight to behold.

At the rate and exactness that they went, I have really high hopes for this team.

After finishing off their presentation with a lift that was well-balanced and executed, their scores were announced. On the authority of the panels of judges, the Russian Federation’s score had totaled to 99.1333 for the free routine – 29.7000 for execution, 39.7333 for artistic impression, 29.7000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 97.0106 for their technical routine. With both scores, the Russian Federation in total had a score of 196.1439 in the whole artistic swimming event, propelling them way up in first place and leaving a very big gap to catch up to for the other teams in their wake.

Ukraine

The sixth team to compete was Ukraine, and this team was mentioned to be fighting closely against Japan for the bronze medal. With the theme of ‘Illusionism’ and ‘The Magic Box,’ these elegant swimmers dressed in white were ready to take what they deserved.

After diving into the pool, the athletes quickly got into formation to set off an impressive flip that kickstarted their presentation. Following that, they launched into moves that displayed a great amount of strength and balance, thus already rendering their performance amazing.

The speed at which they executed the combination of positions for their routine really bode well with their synchronization. According to the announcer, this was the first time Ukraine dabbled into team events, but they were already doing really well as first-timers.

The nature of some of their movements were noticeably not as difficult to execute compared to the moves done by previous teams, but the exactness at which they execute them, I think, is the reason why they are hard to do for other athletes. The precision they display with their combined positions whilst being in very close proximity amongst each other really shows how much strength, endurance and expertise they have.

Aside from their movements being done in a synchronized manner along to the beat of the music, Ukraine’s formations were also really impressive, and the transitions the swimmers did to move into such formations were unfalteringly quick.

Each movement the athletes made flowed well into each other. And the one thing I really want to point out, without even saying much since it speaks for itself, is the high split done in mid-air after a tossed lift by one of the athletes at around the 46:20 timestamp.

After closing the presentation in an artistic circle formation, the scores were announced. On the authority of the panels of judges, Ukraine’s score had totaled to 95.1667 for the free routine – 28.2000 for execution, 38.2667 for artistic impression, 28.7000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 93.4413 for their technical routine. With both scores, Ukraine in total had a score of 188.6080 in the whole artistic swimming event, which placed the team tentatively at second place behind the Russian Federation and ahead of Italy.

People's Republic of China

The seventh team to compete was the People’s Republic of China, and the team adopted a dragon theme, specifically titled as ‘Finding Dragon.’

They began their set with a flip toss that incorporated full-body spins in mid-air. Followed by moves that illusioned a flowing square pattern, the team was already off to a good start.

The angles that these swimmers moved into, the precision, the power, and the elegance to their movements – everything contributed nicely and neatly to their whole performance. Not only were they exact in where they wanted a limb to be placed up in the air, but they also managed to show their personalities through their movements.

The sequences of their patterns, positions and formations were woven well into each other without even taking a fraction of a second to rest in between them. The interpretations, as well, to their theme definitely contributed to the artistic impression that they were aiming for.

While their transitions to formations and positions weren’t as quick as the previous groups, the Chinese athletes still outdid themselves in the nature and fluidity of their movements. Not to mention that each of their patterns were done so skillfully even at the speed they were going at – it really shows how much they wanted to win gold after seeing Russia’s performance in that event.

Their whole routine was spot on and magnificent, I must say. It was culturally artistic with just the right amount of athleticism poured into it.

With the end of their performance came the announcement of scores. And, on the authority of the panels of judges, the People’s Republic of China’s score had totaled to 97.3667 for the free routine – 29.1000 for execution, 39.0667 for artistic impression, 29.2000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 95.6174 for their technical routine. With both scores, the People’s Republic of China in total had a score of 192.9841 in the whole artistic swimming event, and which pushed the team right up at second place behind the Russian Federation and ahead of Ukraine. While it was seemingly not quite the gold that they were hoping to obtained, at least the swimmers will be going home with a shiny silver medal around their necks and the whole pride of China on their hearts.

Japan

The eighth and last team to compete was Japan, and like most of the previous teams who already performed, they too had a theme they adopted – ‘The Dawn Start of a New Glory Towards the Sun.’

At the drum of their music, the swimmers quickly dove into the pool to get into formation, readying themselves to execute their beginning lifts. With a lifted toss that also incorporated full-body spins, quickly followed by a spinning lift, Japan had kickstarted off into a brilliant start.

Right off the bat, their synchronization was already well-displayed in their quick combinations and patterns, showing off an amazing sequence of leg positions that rivaled that of the other teams’.

After starting with a music that was a touch bit cultural as it sounded like it was played by traditional instruments, the music had transitioned into a sound that was seemingly being played by more modern instruments, thus igniting a bright and lively vibe to the whole performance. The athletes' whole vibe changed upon the transition of the music, and that, in itself, was a really good show of artistic impression.

There was one lift that I really want to touch upon – the lift executed at the 59:58 timestamp. It was a breathtaking section to see as it displayed magnificent balance, and seeing the other members working hard underneath the lifted athlete just proves the difficulty of execution for that one specific lift.

The music, after that section, transitioned back into a soft cultural piano instrumental that really presented well along with the athletes’ elegant choreography. The successive flips followed by the smooth patterns were telling of how well and how fluid the theme was being interpreted by these athlete-performers.

Nearing the ending of the showcase, the music took a festival-vibe turn, and as the performance transitioned accordingly to it, not once did the swimmers show any sign of faltering nor slowing down in their movements.

Ending on such a powerful note, Japan had finished their presentation, and the announcement of their scores were quick to follow. On the authority of the panels of judges, Japan’s score had totaled to 95.4333 for the free routine – 28.5000 for execution, 38.1333 for artistic impression, 28.8000 for difficulty, and 0.0 for penalty. Prior to their free routine score, they also managed to attain a score of 93.7723 for their technical routine. With both scores, Japan in total had a score of 189.2056 in the whole artistic swimming event, which successfully acquired them the bronze medal they were hoping

With all eight teams having competed already, the full team event came to a close. The order of winners are as follows: Russia in first place, China in second, Japan in third, Ukraine in fourth, Italy in fifth, Brazil in sixth, Egypt in seventh, and Australia in eighth.

[screenshot taken originally from the Olympic's official Youtube channel]

Being a complete newbie to this sport, every single performance I’ve seen for this review really opened my eyes to how much work is put into by each and every athlete. Not only do they have to strengthen their bodies and move as precisely as possible, but they also have to be limber and flexible enough to move so elegantly. Their ability to make each movement, each position, each highlight and each formation look so easy is just outstanding and breathtaking to witness.

Personally, I think Russia was just miles ahead from the other teams, not including the fact that they were multi-time winners of the Olympics for artistic swimming. The sheer strength, power, endurance, elegance and calculation into every move really separated them from the other teams. They were noticeably slower in some transitions, yes, but only in fractions of a second, and what they lost in speed, they made up for in difficulty and in execution. With the performance they presented in that event, it is safe to say they successfully defend their title.

China, in comparison, was also almost as strong as Russia, but the precision in some of their movements, especially because of the speed, were a bit lesser compared to Russia. They too executed moves that looked easy but were difficult in reality, but had they poured in a bit more into its execution, I’m sure that the artistic impression and difficulty would have displayed more prominently in their routine.

Japan and Ukraine were in a really close match, and you could see that they really did the best of their best against each other, even though Japan won in the end by mere decimals. Italy also did really well, but I could see there was still more room for improvement; their speed of execution was definitely something I have to hand to them because the quickness in their movements was just astounding to see. The rest of the teams – Brazil, Egypt and Australia – had done tremendous jobs as well, especially for their athletes who were mostly first-timers at the Olympics and newly exposed to the standards of the worldwide competition.

Overall, the full team event was not only so informative but also so staggeringly amazing to see. I’m glad I got to know another new sport that, I’m sure, will soon take the world by storm in its prime.

That marks the end of this blog post. If you’ve reached this far, I thank you for taking the time to sift through my musings and opinions. That is all for the review on the Full Team Event of Artistic Swimming at the 2016 Rio Olympics. See you in the next blog post!

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techouspeaks · 5 years

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Winx and White Washing

Does the studio really have something against darker skin folks or is it just an over exaggeration by overly sensitive fans? Let’s find out shall we?

To be honest, I’ll just get to the point. Everyone is paler in this and I mean every single one! Don’t believe me?

I mean the yes, someone pointed out that some of the background characters, specifically in World of Winx are darker, but the thing is. Everyone, regardless of them being paler, still knows what representation the two are which leads to my main point. EVERYONE IS PALER! NOT JUST AISHA, NOT JUST FLORA! EVERYONE IS PALER IN THIS! AS WELL AS THE OUTFIT COLORS!

Even Musa, who is the palest one of the bunch, seems to be whiter in season 8 that she would make milk jealous!

The only reason why people point out Aisha and Flora are paler and not even bother to notice the other Winx are paler too, is because Aisha and Flora are darker skin. It’s also not even the fact the skin is lighter, the hair and some of the outfit colors are paler too, mainly the casual outfits. The only thing really dark on the characters in season 8 is the orange, purple, pink and green, because it wasn’t enough for them to turn the Winx into Walmart Barbie Doll rejects, they wanted to blind you as well!

People have pointed out that the background characters in World of Winx, least some of them were darker, including the villain mermaids, but I think this more has to do with style too because again, ALL THE WINX are paler in that as well!

Wouldn’t even say the colors are paler but more so faded out, with the dark being in the outfits and hair, probably to give it that classic culture look. As for why some of the background characters are darker, probably this is a stylistic choice that is actually very common in anime and Disney movies. It’s to make the main characters stand out. It’s easier to spot the main characters if the main cast are brightly colored and easy to spot amongst the darker faded backgrounds and in crowds of people. Again, if it was done out of discrimination, Aisha nor Flora would be as focused on as they were nor treated as respectful strong characters. Even with their paler coloration, everyone who knows Winx would know what representation Aisha and Flora are. so it wouldn’t even make sense to make them paler for a discriminatory reason. They can’t hide it, they know fans know these characters and shoot, with just the hair style and hair color Aisha and Flora have, people know very well what race they are representing, regardless if the skin is lighter. People automatically know it!

(In fact, honestly, I think Tecna lacks the most development in WoW if we were to really be honest. She always gets the slack. Flora and Aisha are the more popular characters.)

Also, the darker skin characters that they do have like Tiger Lily here wouldn’t be as bad ass or respectable as a character if it was done intentionally for a hateful reason. They’re still seen as strong, powerful and even wise characters and again, ALL the Winx are given this same, faded out, brighter treatment. It’s just because again, Aisha and Flora are darker, is the real reason why people complain.

I know some people will disagree or a lot will say “It’s still white washing regardless how cool they make the character!” And I say “Then guess what! They white washed all the Winx then by that logic because they’re all paler too, including most of their frickin’ clothes and if you want to ignore that, than you’re basically proving that you have some bias ideals yourself!” All the girls got the same treatment! All the Winx became paler so if it’s about equality, there’s no need to complain because even the clothing colors got washed out too! If it was just the skin, I may reconsider this but it’s not. It’s also their hair and clothing and I know they don’t wear the same exact things as the older seasons, but like with the denim Bloom wears and what they usually wear, you can tell the color changes within the outfits.

I’m all about feminism and equality but here’s the thing. It’s important to know the difference between real prejudice intentions and what is not because so many people who claim to be feminists, end up being just as vile as the people who are really against equality and freedom. In fact, they’re on the same boat just reasons switched around. There’s too many people like that, which is why it’s important to know when something is and when something isn’t prejudice.

To me, being all the Winx got paler and faded including their hair and even clothing in World of Winx and Winx season 8, I conclude it wasn’t a racist intention. If it was just their skin that was paler, maybe but it’s not. To me, I think people are just so sensitive and want to look for something racist or prejudice that they end up seeing nothing but that, while ignoring the important facts that debunk this reasoning.

If you honestly still think it’s white washing, go ahead and believe that and you can go ahead and say how ignorant or other colorful language you have in your vocabulary about me. (Ya see what I did there? Haha...) There’s a reason why I don’t look at notes when I post these things because I really don’t care what people say about me. I’ve been called all kinds of things under the sun and criticized as wrong for having an opinion. So what’s stopping ya? Ya’ know?

Before anyone says “I don’t understand what it means to be discriminated for my race” because that’s another one people scream at me when I don’t agree with something they believe is a race related issue, I do. I’m Asian American and Native American mix. In case you don’t realize, Asians and Native Americans are often the ones getting the most ignored and the least represented in Western culture. As well as I’ve been personally discriminated at for being biracial and so if you honestly really don’t think I understand because I simply don’t agree with you...

But I personally think that this is just a case of “oh the darker skin characters are slightly paler in a different style! Let’s riot!” and ignoring the facts staring them in the face. I’m not even joking! In Precure, people rioted for Cure Solei’s plushie being slightly lighter despite colors translate slightly differently in plush form...

So yeah, that’s what I have to say about it. I’m sure I’ve made some or a lot of people mad for disagreeing. I’m not gonna change my views for something that should be obvious. I also would like to point out that I think it’s even more pointless ranting on about it being white washing when it’s an Italian cartoon and most people moaning about it are from America, where we kinda have no power over trying to fix problems like that. Italians may have a different view on said subjects, so that’s another thing on why I am tired of the moaning. It’s not in our hands! We have absolutely no say in it! It’s not like Disney where if they make us unhappy we vote to retaliate and boycott their stuff! We’re not the main demographic for the show! Rainbow is like “Okay, we’ll let you show our crap in English!” that’s it! They can just get revenue from those in their own country alone and it’s probably cheaper that way too!

So that’s my rant! Seeya in the next review!

#Winx #winx club #world of winx #winx 8 #winx season 8 #winx s8

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barbariccia · 4 years

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finding juliana’s daughter was about as difficult as taking a piss.

the geth have up up barriers around the entrance and exit of the exogeni building, so we can’t get in easily. tali, who i brought along specifically for the additional geth-related dialogue, says this is typical of the way they act: they deploy barriers to keep others out, and go ham.

so... why are they here, exactly? it’s not exactly their MO to terrorize colonies for no reason. er, yet.

Lizbeth: It’s an indigenous life-form. ExoGeni was studying it. I don’t really know that much about it. I think it’s some kind of plant being. I know it’s very old. Thousands of years, even.

lizbeth stayed behind to do some additional work as the geth hit, and wasn’t able to get out with the rest of the scientists, but she’s not exactly able to help us out with the geth everywhere now. she gives us her keycard to get into the building so we can go find out, and we hear an... all-too familiar gripe as we enter the building.

VI: If you have no more questions, please stand aside. There is a queue forming behind you.

we’ve all been there, buddy.

once we kill the krogan, we can access the VI terminal to find out what it was trying to access before us. we get that information easily as the terminal recognises us as lizbeth, due to her keycard.

VI: The previous user was attemping to access details on the study of Subject Species 37, the Thorian. I was unable to provide the previous user with any relevant data. Aside from lacking proper access, there has been no new data available on Species 37. All sensors monitoring the observation post at Zhu’s Hope have been inactive for several cycles.

Shepard: What does Zhu’s Hope have to do with the Thorian?

VI: Species 37 is located within the substructure of the Zhu’s Hope outpost.

oh, GREAT.

Shepard: Tell me everything you know about the Thorian.

VI: The Thorian is a simple plant life form that exhibits a sentient behaviour uncommon with other flora. Through dispersion and the eventual inhalation of spores, it can infect and control other organisms, including humans. The Zhu’s HOpe control group has yielded interesting results. Before sensors went offline, almost 85% of all test subjects were infected.

Shepard: Are you saying ExoGeni knew its people were getting infected?

VI: It was deemed necessary to assess the true potential of Species 37. [... It] was discovered several weeks ago when a small team was infected with spores while examining ruins near the Zhu’s Hope outpost. The outpost was quarantined immediately and study of the infection began.

VI: Within 21 days, 58% of colonists exhibited altered behaviour. Within 28 days, 85%.

so, current climate notwithstanding, this isn’t a totally made-up phenomenon!

[rubs my grubby hands together]

entomopathogenic fungi are a very real thing, utterly bizarre and downright terrifying to consider. the best known is ophiocordyceps unilateralis, sometimes mistakenly referred to as a cordyceps fungus. the fungus targets a specific host - Camponotini ants - and changes their behaviour toward the end of their life cycle, turning them into what’s colloquially known as ‘zombie ants’. once infected, the ant falls from its aerial trails (which is fascinating in itself, ants that live in the high canopy of tropical forests as opposed to on the ground), climbs a nearby plant of a particular height and other variables and attaches itself to the leaf, where it dies. the fungus continues to grow, eventually strengthening the ant’s exoskeleton and securely attaching it to the plant, and continues to grow until fruiting and releasing more spores, which other aerial ants will eventually fall to, be infected, and continue the cycle.

ophiocordyceps are not, of course, the only mind-altering parasite in the world. acanthocephalans worms infect their prey and causes serotonin to be “massively expressed” within the prey body; apocephalus and other phoridae ‘zombie flies’ infect bees, whose behaviour then changes; and of course, there are plenty of parasites that induce suicide or risky behaviours in the hosts they infect.

i find it very important to note that the parasites that induce this behaviour are almost universally animals (insects top the charts), and that true mind-altering infection from a plant is strictly fungal-only at this point in time. and man, who even fucking knows if fungi are alive or not - not just mushrooms, but things like yeast and mold. it’s interesting in mass effect’s context that they’ve gone with a plant rather than an alien in the sense that we think of them.

ok. parasite plant. spores aren’t going to be easy to fight. and, er, i’ve been walking around with my helmet off...? (granted, the helmet toggle is an aesthetic function when you’re planet-side.)

h-how big...??

Shepard: Is it intelligent? can I reason with it?

VI: The Thorian does not exhibit the focused behaviour of a predator. The release of spores is an act of survival, not aggression. It does trigger advanced behaviours in the humans it enslaves, but we have yet to discover whether it recognises - or is capable of recognising - humans as more than tools.

VI: It is sufficiently alien as to defy classification at this time.

Shepard: Do you know how it controls its slaves?

VI: The will-subversion manifests as intense pain if directives are ignored. The effect is severe enough that subjects are soon conditioned against even minor thoughts of rebellion. Observation suggests the Thorian views its thralls in a utilitarian way. Care is apparently taken to avoid injuring them. As long as no action is taken against the creature’s objectives, the subjects are free to pantomime a normal existence until specifically tasked with something.

hey, remember that woman screaming in pain from those headaches? oh, and there was a guy in the sewers that i met while turning the water back on for the colony, who made very little sense and was in apparent agony!

:^)

#mol plays mass effect #discussion of parasites and parasitic behaviour within this post; no images only text

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the-gayest-dump · 4 years

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A half-orc and his ax. Chapter 1: Welcome to Warwick.

It’s been a year since the death of the battleborn tribe. Ox was now 21 and had been living off of the land just as his mother had taught him. Kill and take only what you need, use every piece of your kill, never kill the women or children, and always replace what you take when you can.

The half-orc was seven feet of muscular and scarred gray skin now wearing an iron helmet that covered his entire head but his eyes and jaw. The helmet had a cut on the left side from where Ox had knocked the former wearer down but it still served its purpose. He chose not to wear a shirt so he could move easier and show his enemies that this was not his first battle. The only thing that covered his back was his father’s ax that fit into a holster that slung through his arms like a travelers’ backpack and let the ax stay on his back. The ax had a dark green blade with blades on both the left and right side so its owner could cut in any direction necessary and a long handle for two hands. Third-degree burns went around his arms and several scars from cuts too deep to heal covered his chest and back. He knew the story and face of every scar and who caused it for he was proud to have fought a worthy opponent. His pants were made of simple brown wool that reached his black leather boots that were from his father.

The brute had been surviving well off of the land but he could not do everything himself. He was a warrior, not a medic or priest. He knew of simple remedies using the medicine the local flora provided but the wounds he was receiving were beginning to be too big for a novice healer to handle. He knew a town was nearby his camp for he set it up there on purpose to protect them if bandits ever attempted to raid them but Ox was not sure what would await him inside those gates. He was raised to know that all living beings are strong in their own way but what would they think of a battle-scarred warrior walking into their town? He had never been in a town and for all he knew he was a completely new creature that no one had ever seen before. How would they react to not only a warrior but a half-orc warrior? He decided to take a day to introduce himself to the town and hopefully make some allies.

It was a bright and sunny day when Ox prepared for his journey into the city. It had rained the night before but now not a single cloud lingered. Ox put out his campfire after finishing the boar he had caught the day before and set out towards the town. A ten-foot-tall wall made out of cobblestone surrounded the town from basic intruders such as wildlife and bandits with no tools. Archers filled small towers every few feet to keep a lookout and provide support to fighting guards. Ox approached the large oak gate where he saw merchants enter frequently when two spears crossed together and blocked his path. He looked at the two guards wondering what they were doing as this had never happened for the merchants.

“You ain’t from around here big guy. State your business.” Stated the guard to his left. They were both outfitted in iron armor that covered their entire bodies with a single slit to see through on the helmets. The voice sounded deep and wise as an old veteran warrior.

“Business?”

“Why do you wish to enter?” Clarified the other. This voice sounded lighter and calmer than the other.

“Ox lives near town.” He said pointing to where he had set up camp for the night. “Ox wants to meet people and see how Ox can help.”

The guards looked at each other as if comparing notes with their eyes to tell if the other trusted him or not.

“If work is what you’re looking for there’s a notice board in the central plaza. Don’t cause any trouble and there won’t be any trouble. Got it?”

“Plaza?”

The left guard sighed as the right clarified again “Big open area in the center of down. Keep going forward from this gate and you’ll see it. Welcome to Warwick”

Ox nodded as the guards removed their spears and the gate opened. As he entered he could hear the guards whisper

“Not too bright that one is he?” Said the man that was to his left.

“Like you can talk. Last night you couldn’t remember your husband’s name and you’ve been together for 5 years now.” replied the girl.

“That’s different. You know how I am with too much mead. That ones completely sober and doesn’t seem to know how a pronoun works!”

“Yeah, and Joseph is a hard name to remember, right old man?”

“This is why we never talk on duty.”

Not the best but certainly not the worst way Ox had been greeted before. Inside the gates, the town had simple worn down dirt paths showing the most common routes to all of the homes and stores which were made primarily of wood with strong oak doors. Pine and oak trees could be seen surrounding the outside walls and signs jotted out of every building that was not a home telling what they were. Most of these words Ox had never seen before. Temple? Witches cauldron? Leatherworkers? He would have to explore these after finding the notice board. The streets were almost empty aside from smaller vendors shouting for attention.

Following the guards’ directions, Ox found the notice board that seemed to be made of parchment more than wood with several notices covering older ones. Most of the notices were from the town guards about festival times or public notices with some bounties here and there. Some notices, despite being hidden underneath several others, caught the brute’s eye. One said “Please save our little girl” and showed a crude drawing of a half-elf girl that looked to be in her teens and immediately beside it “WANTED: Alasar “Deaths Hand” Yanthor. Dead or alive”. With another drawing showing a middle-aged….creature that was certainly not any race he had ever seen. Scales covered the man’s face as if he was an overgrown lizard with a large maniacal smile showing that sharp carnivorous teeth filled his mouth while piercing eyes seemed to scream “Catch me if you can”. Both were posted near the same date but had been on the board for weeks. Ox took both of them off the board and followed the address listed if interested.

The directions brought Ox to a two-story building made of cobblestone with a sign coming out of the wall that said “Armory”. An area next to the door had been cut out to let citizens watch the guards train or talk to the person at the desk inside the armory. A girl with dark brown hair raised into a small ponytail was currently behind the desk wearing the same armor as the gate guards but had taken off the helmet for comfort and visibility. She was mumbling to herself as Ox approached saying “Can’t believe those fuckers gave me desk duty again. You break ONE man’s arm and-.” She stopped when she noticed Ox standing awkwardly beside the desk waiting for her to finish as not to be rude. With a very noticeable fake cheery voice, she introduced herself

“Well hello there!” The fake cheer annoyed Ox more than it should have but he let her continue “My name is Opal and I’ll be answering any questions you have today.” She finished with a smile that seemed like it physically hurt her to put on as the warrior put the notices down in front of her

“Where find family and bastard?” He explained pointing at the daughter and bandit respectively.

“First of all let me speak on behalf of the city of Warwick by thanking you for-”

“Stop.” Ox interrupted.

“Stop?”

“No fake voice, no smile. Ox will not tell others. Just be self.” He tried giving a reassuring smile that just seemed weird to her but she got the point.

“Oh thank Marisol I hate putting on that persona for the people!” she exclaimed in a much lower and natural-sounding voice. “I shouldn’t have to sound like a merchant trying to sell some garbage she paid too much for and has to make a profit to people. I’m a guard! I’m supposed to sound tough to show people they’re safe!” she sighed and collected herself before continuing

“Sorry. Long day. Anyway, the Gray household is next to the leatherworkers. They can tell you about the kidnapping and this-” She stopped upon seeing the wanted poster and leaned back in her wooden chair to get a better look at the new person in town. “I haven’t seen you here before” she stated looking at the ax and scars on Ox “You’re clearly no trainee with that many stories to tell on you. What’s your game? Bounty hunter? Sellsword? A knight that lost his armor?”

Ox looked more and more confused with each suggestion. Were these clan names? The last one seemed too long to be a clan but that was all he could think of.

“Battleborn” he replied hoping he guessed correctly.

“The fuck is a battleborn? That the name of your group?”

“Clan.”

“What’s your code of arms?”

Instead of answering he tried to change the subject so more strange words wouldn’t come out of her mouth “Why does angry one care?”

“These are high-level bounties you’re picking up here. Both related to each other and I don’t want to send some newbie to his death. This isn’t some kid who ran away from home and made a band of idiots serve him. This is a dragonborn who’ll roast you without any pleasantries.”

“Dragonborn?”

“Person with a high amount of dragon in their blood. Not a direct descendant but enough to gain some benefits from his bloodline. Elemental breath of whatever their ancestor likes, sharp claws, natural scales, and usually a massive ego.”

“Ox can take scaley man down a size. Where is bastard?”

“Alright. Don’t come crying to me when those burns on your arm start adding up. If you go out the north gate and follow the road you��ll see an old fort. That’s where he is and presumably where he’s keeping the girl. Come back here with his head and the girl as proof and you’ll get some gold for your trouble. Don’t come back and I’ll mention how strange you look in some stories at the tavern.”

“Thank you. Ox will be back tomorrow”

“I look forward to it.”

Finding the Gray household wasn’t as easy as the armory since all houses were nearly identical in structure and materials but eventually Ox found the correct house and lightly knocked on the door. He had to crouch down so his face could be seen through the door since this town was obviously not built for anyone above 6ft tall. A small woman with dark wrinkly skin and medium length straight gray hair answered the door as she was talking to someone

“I promise I’ll remember the peaches this time dear I’ve even written it on my- AHHH!” She let out a horrid scream upon seeing Ox in her doorway and he grabbed his ax and looked for who had frightened her. She slammed the door as he continued searching and she screamed “Guard! Guards how the hell did a bandit get in the city!?”

Not finding anyone that matched her description and all nearby eyes being on Ox he finally realized he was the ‘bandit’ in question and knocked on the door again “Ox is not a bandit. Ox wants to help wi-”

“You can help yourself to a big slice of burn in hell! Was taking our daughter not enough for you fuckers!? You want to come and finish us off now!?”

Since the house was close to the gate one of the guards for it came rushing over to the disturbance “Hey there again big guy. Find everything alright? Sorry about my friend. He’s just cranky all the time.”

Ox wondered how she could be so calm when someone was calling for her to take off his head but nodded and showed her the notices he had taken.

“Can’t wait to see those done. Oh and don’t worry about Mrs. Gray. She scares easily. Having her think you’re a bandit that got a hold of guard armor is practically a part of your initiation here. Sorry for not warning you about her”

“Ox is sorry to scare her. Can scared one please calm down?” He said sounding sad for disturbing this woman.

“Yeah hold on.” the guard went up and knocked loudly on the door and screamed in “Mrs. Gray there’s no bandits for the thousandth time this month! This here is a new person who wants to help ya find your daughter and kill Alasar!”

“Well, why didn’t he speak up or at least put on a damn shirt!? Not right walking around civilized folk like you just crawled out of a cave!” she said as she opened the door again. Ox looked at himself and thought ‘Ox not from cave…..’ as she invited him to crouch inside.

The home was rather small with the kitchen and living room only separated by kitchen counters and three closed doors along the walls. The living room had a few chairs and a table with a bottom compartment that held various tools for hobbies such as sewing and woodworking kits. Ox took a seat as he waited for details.

“Honey! Another one wants to disappoint us today!” Mrs. Gray called out. Another elderly woman with a lighter skin tone and hair kept in a bun came out “I told you time and time again if you keep talking like that no one’s going to ever volunteer again.” She looked at Ox with a smile and held out her hand “Stella Gray. A pleasure to meet you.”

“Ox. Ox knows-”

“Yeah, you know everything we put on that notice. She was taken late at night while trying to find local ingredients to cook with when bandits nabbed her. Guards told you where the fort is. Now get going”

Stella silently glared at her partner before she corrected herself with a sigh “Look. I’m sorry. You’re probably a swell fellow and you’re very skilled and offering to help from the bottom of your heart but I’m just tired. Our little girl has been gone for weeks and every week some brave young adventuring type swears on their life they’ll get Sylis back and the next day either their corpse turns up at the gate or they come back with a bunch of excuses about how tough they are and they couldn’t do anything and blah, blah, blah.” She put her head in her hands and sighed again as Stella continued

“Sylis isn’t our daughter through blood as you can probably tell from the picture. We found her lost in the woods outside town and tried to find her parents. The guards found them but not in any kind of state a little girl should be hearing her parents are in. We tried finding someone to take her in since we thought ourselves too old to be caring for younglings but no one would have her and treat her right. We don’t know why bandits would take her of all people from this town. We’re not wealthy by any means so we can’t pay any ransom even if we did receive one.”

“Ox will not bore wise ones with Ox’s skills since wise ones have heard skills before but Ox will try to bring little one home safe and take bastards head with.”

“Well, we look forward to it if you can. I wish I could offer you more information or something to help you but that’s all we know. May Marisol light your way.” They both waved goodbye to Ox as he left the city gates and once again heard the guards talking behind him.

“You think he’s gonna make it?”

“You ever seen someone that big before old man? He can definitely take Alasar one on one but I don’t know about his entire camp.”

“50 gold says we find his corpse at the gate next shift”

“You really wanna lose your gold that bad? Deal.”

‘At least someone believes in Ox’ he thought. They will know that Ox does not break promises, especially concerning the death of bandits, in due time.

#a half orc and his ax #chapter 1 #fantasy #story #orcs #bandits #dragonborn #magic #mages #D&D #dungeons and dragons #Ox

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harrisonstories · 5 years

Photo

John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr at the Whisky A Go Go with Jayne Mansfield. There’s some confusion over the exact date, but it was either the 24th or 25th of Aug. 1964 in West Hollywood, CA.

The Beatles and Me On Tour by Ivor Davis Excerpt #5:

Jayne [Mansfield] wanted her picture taken with the boys, but Brian [Epstein], who hated the idea of celebrities trying to ride their coattails, said no. However, John wanted to see more of Jayne, so without telling Brian, they arranged to meet two nights later – a day off for the boys – at Hollywood’s newest and hottest nightclub, the Whisky A Go Go on the Sunset Strip. Jayne told them her pal, singer Johnny Rivers, was performing and that he had a devoted following of some of the biggest names in the music business.

The next day, Derek [Taylor] alerted me to the rendezvous and invited me to go. The following evening, we got to the Whisky ahead of John, George and Ringo, and the place was jammed and noisy. Several tables were roped off for the Mansfield-Beatles party. We were led to a table fewer than eighteen feet from where the main action was to unfold. “You are guests of Miss Mansfield,” said a waiter, delivering a bottle of Moët & Chandon.

It was quite an odd scene: We were on floor level while Jayne and guests were perched a little higher – ensconced in a gigantic leather banquette surrounded, and at times snuggling up to, George on her right, wearing an open-necked cream dress shirt, and John on her left, in jacket, shirt and sunglasses. Ringo sat next to George looking a bit left out of it. The only Beatle not there was Paul, who Derek quietly told me was off with Peggy Lipton.

Mansfield was thirty-one years old and an “older woman” compared to the twenty-something Beatles, but that didn’t appear to register with her table mates. She was stunning, with her braided hair piled high and held tight by a rhinestone-encrusted headband, and a fetching velvet dress with a hemline that reached mid-thigh.

Before I could take a sip of champagne, the paparazzi descended, having been tipped off by Jayne’s boyfriend-manager Matt Cimber, who found himself exiled to the outer perimeter of the booth. From the sidelines, we watched the chemistry at play.

Then there was another flurry of exploding flashbulbs – and in flounced Mamie Van Doren, a Mansfield rival who was more famous for the men she had dated (Clark Gable, James Dean, Rock Hudson) than the movies she made. She squeezed herself into an adjoining booth, heightening the drama. It was like watching a tennis match: the Mansfield-Beatles booth, then the Van Doren booth, then back to the Mansfield-Beatles booth. The photographers were having a field day.

At the Beatles table they had gone through almost two bottles of rum, smiling and even waving at the cameras, until all of the photographers had retreated – except for Bob Flora, a freelance photographer who worked for United Press International. He was relentless and continuously snapped Jayne and her captive Beatles.

Then he moved to within touching distance for even more pictures. In those days, press photographers used Speed Graphic cameras, which were bulky and had giant flashbulbs attached that nearly blinded their subjects when they were triggered. There were no telescopic lenses to reduce photographic intrusions, so the photogs had to get close to their subjects. George, who was uncomfortable about being part of the whole scene in the first place, was getting more than a bit tipsy, and the more he put away, the testier he became.

“Bugger off…let me breathe,” George finally shouted at Flora, as he angrily wagged a finger at him.

Flora fired off again.

“Fook off,” George yelled, but Flora didn’t appear to hear, instead moving even closer and firing off yet another flashbulb.

George decided he’d finally had enough. He jumped to his feet, picked up his glass of Coke and whiskey and tossed the entire contents in the direction of Flora, who just kept shooting. The ice and drink sprayed everywhere. Most of it missed its main target and, instead, doused Van Doren in the next booth. She screamed as if she had been stabbed.

Jayne grabbed George’s hand, “Let’s get the hell out,” she said, and, within seconds, club bouncers and Jayne’s bodyguards hoisted the actress out of the booth and lifted George and John out over the crowd. Ringo, looking alarmed, was pushed and pulled by a bodyguard in the direction of the rear exit. The dampened Van Doren dabbed her dress and décolletage with a napkin and waited for an apology. It never came.

By the time I squeezed my way out to the rear parking lot, the Beatles and Jayne were already in their chauffeured limousine making a quick getaway down Sunset Boulevard.

This time, the mini scandal – an angry Beatle dousing a pressman – could not be ignored. Flora’s photo of George tossing the drink was splashed across the front page of the Los Angeles Herald Examiner the next morning. From there, the photo made its way via UPI to all the editors in London.

Much later, in The Beatles Anthology, George offered his measured version of what took place. It was, he claimed, a “total set-up” by the publicity-hungry Mansfield. “John and I were sitting either side of her and she had her hands on our legs, by our groins – at least she did on mine,” he said. When a paparazzo tried to photograph them, George said, he threw a glass of water at him, but the contents of the glass accidentally hit Van Doren, who happened to be passing.

The slightly dampened Van Doren later weighed in with her own version – claiming that it was an entire bucket of ice that hit her in the face.

#ivor davis #john lennon #paul mccartney #george harrison #ringo starr #jayne mansfield #the beatles #brian epstein #derek taylor #mamie van doren #bob flora #matt cimber #peggy lipton #the beatles and me on tour #1964

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triple-tr0uble · 5 years

Text

Her Pretty Eyes

My little sister has always had pretty eyes.

I remember seeing them at the moment of her birth. Her eyes popped brighter than ours did. I asked Dad why and he said it was because of a genetic mutation. They were so pretty and still are until now. They were a very bright color between green and blue. They went well with her mop of black hair. It made her look like a cat.

She was shy but she seemed to be genuinely happy being around me. Her eyes freaked out a lot of the other kids so she was always stuck with me. So most of our childhood consisted of us spending time together. She didn’t say it a lot but I’m sure that she was happy with being my sister.

But when I turned 14, I was taken away from those pretty eyes of hers. Our parents were never on good terms, and so they separated and Dad took me with him. I left my sister in Miami, while I was taken to Los Angeles. It wouldn’t be easy for me to visit her when she lived on the other side of the country. Plus, our parents by then held grudges against one another. I don’t know what Mom was like when it came to taking care of her. Up until the fights with Dad, she was a pretty sweet woman. I was sure that my sister would be fine. Plus, with me gone, she might be able to push herself to meet new people. I was hopeful about that.

Through the years we were apart, we still kept in touch but it seemed to me that Bianca was growing distant. She didn’t reply that often as she used to when we were younger. I figured that school was eating up most of her time, oh - how I wish that was the case. I didn’t know what was going on with my little sister. The most she’s told me was that she liked studying and reading and that she still didn’t find any friends in school. I couldn’t help but feel guilty, knowing well that I could be there to keep her company.

My wish was answered - but not in the way I hoped it’d be. It was in the early months of 2010 when Dad was murdered. I could still remember the sickening smell of our apartment. I only got back from school when I found him hunched over in his desk, his room was littered with petals and leaves. It was almost like someone brought a forest into our home. I remember turning him over to find that almost everything there was about Dad was replaced with flowers and petals. His skin was made a shell for the flora. I remember crying and vomiting on the floor, along with the pitiful gazes the police gave me after they investigated our home. I hate that I still remember it.

But that’s not why I’m writing this.

I went back to live with my Mom and Bianca. While I’d normally be happy to know that I’ll be able to see my sister again, nothing could rid of my gloom.

And it was going to get even worse.

Ever since Dad and I left, Mom has apparently turned to alcohol, cigarettes, and other vices. She was never home to watch over my sister, she never tended to anything that she needed, she didn’t even cook or clean the house. She was only there to pay bills and make sure that the authorities don’t think that she’s neglecting her child.

What did that leave my poor sister?

Bianca was always quiet, but now she barely even spoke. She had to suffer through our mother’s wrath whenever she was high or drunk. She had no friends to talk to and drowned herself in homework, books and the like. She spent so much time doing who knows what on her study desk that there were days she’d skip meals to do those hobbies. She’s grown paler and scrawnier from when I last saw her. It broke my heart to see that she shut herself in her room and chose to spend her free time alone.

Things weren’t any better in school either.

She was a smart kid, very observant and took good note of anything she saw and practically engraved that into her head. Her grades were exceptional and she did especially well in Math and Computer. Though that didn’t make her popular at all. Of course, her freakishly pigmented eyes made her stand out, but to other students, there was nothing that appealing about her. She wasn’t cheery and upbeat enough to attract people, nor did she do anything weird or odd for anyone to pick on her. To put it simply, she was just there.

Though the isolation didn’t seem to bother her at all. She was a bystander, someone who was just there to witness anything that happened. She learned to adapt and stay out of the picture.

Maybe it was for the best though. Our school, Santa Rosa Christian School, wasn’t the nicest of places. It wasn’t nice getting involved with anything and I learned that the hard way. At this time I was in my senior year when I somehow crossed a rather large clique. It would be your typical high school cliche where I was being accused of dating the popular girl’s boyfriend. I knew better and chose not to mind it. I was in my senior year, after all, I didn’t want to end my school life with something bad on my record.

That was until she cornered me and hit me. The blooming bruise on my cheek would be enough of a reminder to not cross her. I’m sure if the bell hadn’t rung earlier, I’d have more than an aching cheek to worry about. She stomped away to catch up to her next class. I just wanted to get my bruise looked at in the clinic.

I stormed my way out of the locker room.

It was her pretty eyes.

Bianca had been standing outside of the locker room when I walked out. She didn’t even seem embarrassed or panicked when she saw me. She gave me a knowing nod and spoke her first words in what nearly felt like forever.

“She hit you because she was scared. “

I sighed. How long has she been standing there exactly? It must’ve been a good 10 minutes when the girl’s ridicule started. Though that wasn’t my priority. I had a bruise to attend to.

And so I assured her that I’d be reporting what happened, and she only nodded in response. I turned to head to the nurse’s office. However, every time I glanced back, she’d still be standing in the very same spot, eyes glued on the back of my head.

Those pretty eyes were making me nervous.

Perhaps she was just worried. I decided to pay it no mind and get my bruise done and report what happened to a teacher.

Since that incident, Bianca has been coming home later than usual, and she stayed up late too. Though, it seemed that she wasn’t even going off to hang out with anyone. No one at school seemed to know if she was doing anything. I tried to talk to her about it but she shook her head.

It was only after a week that I got my answer.

The girl that had hit me was dead. She was killed by her boyfriend by what the cops believed to be a fight between the couple. According to the boyfriend, she had been cheating on him and when he came to confront her about it, the two ended up fighting instead. The two were fighting at the school’s rooftop when it happened and he ended up pushing her off the edge. She was dead and authorities were investigating on whether or not it was an accident.

Though what irked me was that he was aggressive towards Bianca. He screamed at her and blamed her for her death. ‘You knew, you knew, ‘ was something that echoed in everyone’s head as he burst with rage. However, the more this went on the more agitated and aggressive the boyfriend became. He’d go into fits and sometimes burst into tears. And the subject of blame would always be Bianca. Though the counselors only found out that she knew of the affair but did nothing more.

At times he’d cry upon seeing her, in other cases, he’d get violent. Not just at Bianca but anything or anyone that agitated him.

A month later he had committed suicide.

Was he right?

I’d go and confront her about my fears but she’d shrug it off. It seemed that she didn’t do anything either.

But that guy wasn’t the only one. Weeks after that, more and more of our schoolmates would be found dead, having committed suicide or having murdered a fellow schoolmate. And the center of their blame was always Bianca. People would come into fits of rage and scream at her and others. Others would cry and beg her to stop.

Some would claim her to be some kind of demon that wouldn’t get out of their head, that their ears would ring because of her very presence. That they just didn’t feel right. Others would claim that they swore they felt her following them but none of those allegations were proven true. Try as the police might investigate her, they’d realize that she didn’t do anything to hurt anyone. She just simply knew and that’s all there was to it. Even with cameras all around the school, none pointed towards her even coming into contact with anyone.

It was in 2011 that our school shut down after the body count had hit 53, and it was then that she told me.

“I knew everything about everyone. “

It was something even an idiot could realize. Though how she knew it and what made those people die was something that terrified me.

She liked watching, but to what extent?

Anyone being watched would feel paranoid, especially if they knew that the person was seeing something that you didn’t want others to see.

It was because she knew.

They lost it because she knew.

She was watching,

With those pretty eyes of hers.

#creepypasta #creepy story #horror #mystery #creepypasta story #original #original story #original text #thriller #scary story

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drops-of-moonlights · 5 years

Text

Blue-tinted Memories (Winx AU fic thingy)

WHAT I WROTE SOMETHING I’M SHOCKED. I’m more shocked this took me less time than I thought it would. 1000~ words, Stella-centered. Kinda sad content, I guess? It’s about Stella and her parents.

"Hey, Stella?"

The blonde girl was currently painting her nails blue, a catchy pop song playing in her laptop nearby. She was preparing to go out with everyone before classes started in full, to celebrate they had recently recovered Aisha after her dissapearance due to Darkar earlier in the year, when the princess entered her room. "What is it, Bloom?"

"I was just curious. Why did you choose to be a Fairy?" - the other princess asked.

Stella froze for a bit, but then turned to Bloom, giving an awkward smile. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, I asked the other four. Flora wanted to be like her dad, Tecna and Aisha got better results for a Fairy on that... FWTP test thingy? That's what it was called I think," Bloom paused, thinking about it for a bit, then continued, "and Musa said she didn't want to dwell on the harsher memories every time she used magic. So I was curious, since neither me or Roxy actually 'chose', so to speak".

"FWSL test, Bloom. It stands for "Fairy/Witch/ Sorcerer Level". And I'm with Musa on this. I'd rather.. not remember some things." -the other princess answered, looking down a bit.

"Oh. Sorry if it was a touchy subject," the fire Fairy apologized. "Hope it didn't bring up some bad memories."

"It's fine, don't worry," Stella lied. "I'll be ready in a bit, you decided where you wanted to eat yet?"

"Oh yeah, I needed to ask about that too - Musa and Flora said they were in the mood for Calistonian food and everyone else agreeded. You okay with that?"

"You know I'm up for anything," the blonde joked. "I'll be ready soon, okay?"

"Okay," the redhead nodded, before leaving the room.

The blonde finished her nails, and started casting a quick-dry spell. She went to brush her hair, and paused on one picture of her a few years ago, with both her mother and father in it.

"I'm home!" a younger Stella said in a happy tune, coming back from school. It came a little forced and she hoped it wasn't too obvious; she had failed a test that day and didn't want her parents to find out yet.

"Welcome, Princess", her maid Lucina greeted her, a kind smile in her face. "Had a nice day at school?"

"Yeah, totally!" the girl lied. She knew Lucina wouldn't press her on it until later so she didn't try hard enough. As she lended her her bag, she asked, "Are my mom and dad on this side of the castle or in the throne room? Is their meeting over?" She knew they've been having a lot more meetings recently, and she had certainly noticed they seemed more tense. It probably wasn't too dire, as they hadn't informed her of it yet, but she was curious nonetheless.

"About that," Lucina looked away for a bit. "They're just done with a meeting, they're behind the throne room" she wasn't able to finish before the Princess started running to search for them. "Your Highness, wait!"

"Don't worry, I won' trip and break my glasses again!" the young girl said, getting farther and farther away. She found the room pretty quickly, having lived in the castle all her life. She grabbed the knob and started to twist it until she heard shouting.

"Even on this, you're impossible!" she heard her mother yell. Her father's voice soon followed.

"Oh sure, just blame Radius on everything! It has worked oh so fine all this time, hasn't it?!" Stella heard the venom behind the words.

"Oh please! I'm the one that had to clean up the mess during that meeting with the Isitian Queen, just because you didn't think what you wrote suggested cutting all ties with the kingdom!"

"And what about the issues with Eraklyon, huh?! Those were all you, yet I was the one that had to apologize to Erendor!"

Stella wanted to stop them before it got farther, and started to open the door, before more screams started to come out.

"What, so you wanted for them to arrange a wedding for Stella and Sky?! They're barely know each other!"

"Do not use Stella as an excuse for your failings, Luna! She has nothing to do with this!"

"Oh, but when YOU use her as an excuse like when you avoided the meeting with the Dominite Order it's fine, right?! You call yourself a good father?!"

"I'm not the one that forgot her in the Eclipse Chamber for six hours because she fell asleep! She still is scared of that room, you know that?!"

"Oh, but who was the one that wanted-?!"

"STOP!" Stella screamed, an intense light covering the entire room and breaking the windows. "Please stop," she muttered, tears falling from her cheeks.

"Stella? Nonono wait-" both Radius and Luna inmediately stopped arguing, and went to confort their daughter.

"Stella, sweetie, it's fine, don't cry," Radius pleaded while giving her a hug.

"It was nothing, don't worry, it's over now, and we won't fight like that again." Luna said in a tender voice, wiping Stella's glasses of her tears.

Stella looked up. "You promise?" the girl asked, still sniffing a bit.

Radius and Luna looked at each other, then smiled a bit. "We promise", they said, hugging the princess. "Now, go to your room for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon, okay?" Radius said, gently guiding her to the hallway.

"Okay,", Stella said, still shaking a bit, the magic burst having drained her somewhat. "See you at dinner," she said as she walked away.

Radius and Luna looked at her go, before turning to each other, a more calm look in their eyes.

"Luna, I was going to talk to you about this earlier, before we started fighting. It's about us, and about Stella."

Two days later, they announced their divorce. First to a shocked Stella, then to the rest of the Kingdom.

"Stella, are you ready yet?!" She heard Musa groan at her door. "Come on, the next bus to the city leaves in 20 minutes, and it's a 15 minute walk to the stop!"

She noticed her eyes looked teary, and quickly wiped them off. "I'm coming, I'm coming, jeez!", she half-complained as she opened the door and left her room, the song having stopped a long time ago.

She was with Musa on this. She didn't want to remember every time.

#Winx Club #Stella #Winx Redux AU #Drops writes apparently

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trashpandaorigins · 5 years

Text

89P13: Ch. 12

You have studied your entire life, sacrificed friendships, lovers, family for this-the message now on your tablet. Holding your breath, you tap the message and your heart jitters, you’ve been accepted. There it is plain as day. Accepted to The Halfworld Bioweaponry Laboratories. You start Tuesday.

My take on Rocket’s origins.

WARNING: Animal abuse, PTSD, Graphic descriptions of violence and gore

Subject 89P13’s incredulous face glares at you, it’s wet sniffing nose inches from your own.

“Don’t think about it, don’t even think about it,” it snarls murderously. “Get whatever sick thoughts you have out of your head, or I’ll blow them out the back of your skull.” It waits a moment, appraising you with those beady red eyes. With no pupils it is impossible to tell exactly where it is focusing. You squirm, your tongue trying to work its way around the device in your mouth. P13 smirks, you think it is a smirk. It is hard to tell. “Heard they let you out after everyone came back,” it reaches for device in your mouth and removes it. You cannot help but a shiver of fear. A grenade, or at least some version of one.

“Your….your vocabulary has improved,” you observe. P13 raises a brow, twirling the key to the explosive around its finger. It wears clothes now, a utilitarian looking jumpsuit, and it bares more fur then last you saw, silky and thick. Healthy. Though you can still see the two cybernetic implants on its collar bones. You try to move your arms, but the flora colossus holds you fast, your arms trembling with the effort.

“Say Groot, how do you think you make a humie into a monster?”

“I am Groot,” the creature rumbles. You can feel its deep voice vibrate through the bark that holds at you no matter how hard you try to wriggle free. P13 nods,

“That’s right,” it praises. “Go ahead.” Whatever the flora said is lost to you, but you sense its hesitation as P13 glares up at it.

“C’mon Groot, you said you’d help me out!” There is a moment of heavy silence. You cry out as white snapping pain shatters through your arms and legs. Your vision swims as you fall to the ground. Both your arms and legs broken with a simple tightening of vines. P13 grins, its pointed teeth reflecting in the light through the open window. “Don’t dry doc,” 13 mocks as your eyes fill with stinging tears, “I’m just trying to make you feel better.” It steps closer to you its claws out…out of every modification you made why didn’t you ever take the claws out? You wince as it climbs up on top of you, its weight pressed against your lower back. Your limbs twinge with burning agony the arms and vines of the flora colossus clamping down is the only reason you don’t topple over. “Tsch, tsh, tsch you humies are scrawny.” Its little claws puncture through your sides drawing blood where it crouches. “Your gonna need some enhancements.”

“S….st…stop…s” your words are lost to the sharp slicing of flesh as P13’s tears at your shoulder blades. You scream, and nearly fall to the floor but the wooden arms hold tight. You can feel your blood running down your sides, watching it glide down your arms. You hear the tear of flesh P13’s claws ripping at you.

“Now, now, now what do we say to people who are just trying to make you feel better?” You bite your tongue against the pain, and you let a shriek as something cold is wedged into your open back. P13 hops down and faces you again, those soulless eyes gleaming. “What do you say?” 13 demands and lifts its arm up, a shiver runs through your spine. A wristband, nearly identical to the one you once wore. You let out a low moan “use your words!” The moan rises to a cracking scream when you feel white hot branches of electricity fire through your tender swollen muscles, striking against your bones. Your vision blurs and your stomach revolts. “We’re gonna play a little game,” P13 continues as the electricity ebbs. It pulls yet another firearm from its belt. “Can you identify this weapon?” You stare at the gun in its paws, small, black and brown metal, you realize with a start that you have no idea. Your blood runs cold, face paling. “What is it?” P13 asks again, examining the weapon with a chilling fondness. You muster a sniveling laugh,

“Your impressive P13,” you raise your exhausted head to look at it. “You’ve advanced far beyond anything I thought capable. I ought to congratulate myself.” A vicious hiss and you let out a wail as P13’s claws grab a fistful of your hair and wrenches your head up, neck cracking. You twist feebly but the Flora colossus still holds you hostage. 13 hisses something indistinguishable putting the gun under your chin.

“Why’d you do it?” It growls in your ear, holding your head up, the darkness twirls before you. “Why?!” 13 cries, you can feel its arms shaking the gun clinking lightly.

“Why did I create you?” You laugh a little, of course…it is only natural that such a thing would begin to inquire about its own existence. “Why not?” You smile through the numb aching in your limbs, the crick in your neck. You manage to angle your head to the left, so that you can barely see P13’s red eyes in your periphery. “I wanted to see if it could be done,” you grin at your own youthful naïve dreams. “There was no purpose,” you force the words through your teeth, “no great plan or scheme for you or any of the other subjects.” The grip on your hair constricts, the gun pressed hard against your flesh. “You weren’t made for anything but my own amusement 89P13, and for the glory of scientific and technological advancement.” You suck air through your throat over the pain in your raw back, “what greater purpose could there possibly be?” P13 shudders beside you, tightening its paw around the grip of gun. “It wasn’t easy either,” you reflect. “Your heart stopped over twelve times during the procedures. I kept having to revive you. And that one time an intern snipped some nerve endings and you were brain dead for four days. You were no easy feat to create.”

Silence. Only your own breath, and its own breath, both wheezing.

“I died?” It wonders, “I should have died…” it thinks allowed. “I wanted to die.” You recall subject 89P16 who unbeknownst to it or not, succeeded in that endeavor when it clawed out its implants.

“Oh yes 89P13 by all accounts your brain and heart stopped functioning a total of seventeen times in the procedures or during conditioning.”

More silence.

“Can yah undo it?” It finally asks, that same small low tone you heard so many years ago. Timid and filled with a longing hope. Your body lists as the flora colossus grip loosens for a moment. You force yourself to turn looking at the wooden face. Those large watery eyes laced with hurt and sorrow, looking at 89P13 with unyielding empathy. “Can you undo it!” 13 begs, wrenching your hair so that your head bends to the side, neck strained. “Undo it! Undo all the shit you did to me! Turn me back!" Tears prick at the edge of its eyes. "Turn me back to whatever I was before…you fucked me up! Before…before…” and with that something seems to break inside of it lowers the gun, letting go of your hair. You rub the back of your neck though your arm protests with shoots of pain. A cool haunting breeze teases your hair through the open window, goosebumps puckering on your skin. P13 stands before you, tail lashing. You haul yourself to your knees.

“You’d give up all you’ve learned?” You challenge, “you’d have all your strength and knowledge and abilities stripped of you to be a…a mute dumb animal groveling in the dirt?” 13’s eyes shift from its feet to your own gaze and you feel your spine twinge in fear. “Even if I could….” You smother your fright under your ego, “I would never forsake a lifetime of work to unmake you, a perfect weapon…a perfect little monster.” P13 flinches and the flora colossus rumbles. It lifts the gun once more, aiming squarely between your eyes. Though your mind and adrenaline compel you to run your body is too tired, to swollen and nauseated with agony. P13 glares at you, its stance firm but its body shakes, the gun rattling. Its feverish eyes burn with vitriol, every hair on end. You wait for it, expecting it, it is fitting really like all the tales. The creator destroyed by their own creation.

You shake, your heart thundering, breath heaving. You think you break a rib from the effort, but you cannot feel it through the ocean of other agonies. You look at P13, its red glowing eyes boring into you and that is when you realize it with a blood curdling horror that this animal has created you as much as you have created it. 13 whispers something, and you watch the gun clatter to the floor. All is slow and silent then, your own uneven breaths in slow motion.

“I am Groot,” the flora rumbles with vitriol. Something sharp slices through your neck, splintering. You gag, hands going to your throat and feeling shards of bark slick with something sap like but too thin. Your vision wanes as your gurgle something red and liquid, tongue tasting something warm and metallic. Your vision tunnels, head in a fog, at the end of that tunnel is P13, it stares down at you as you fall. This pathetic little specimen, this pulverized beast, this freak of nature. All it knows is how to kill and reign destruction, its paws will never grace another’s hand. It will never know love or affection, there is nothing it can conceive but instruments of pain and death. It will never make anything beautiful. You have made it so. You think with smug satisfaction even as your eyes grow heavy and your breath light, blood slicking over your fingers. If 89P13 attempts to go against its nature and reach out to another, if it tries to form connection or feel compassion or empathy, it will only be because it is trying to rebel against its natural tendencies, and it will fail of course. Even its efforts to be something more than what it is will be because of you. Even if it tries to prove it is not a monster. It will always be a monster. There is not enough blood going to your brain. Your heart beats out of rhythm with the shock of losing so much of the vital substance so suddenly. You are chilled. You see those red eyes glowering down at you see them until you cannot see anything anymore. But you die knowing Subject 89P13 has made it through its development. You have succeeded.

#89P13 #gotg #Guardians of the Galaxy #my writing #rocket raccoon #groot

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browniesnivy · 6 years

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Random Asks!

This template was made by biaesthetic, just so you know. I cut out some of the questions I didn’t I saw feel like answering, but otherwise her template worked really well for my needs! I saw cyberenergyshock do something similar and felt the need to do one myself, so here we go! Y’all really don’t know anything about me (which is mostly because i’m super paranoid about privacy) and I don’t intend to give out super precious info or anything here, I just thought it’d be nice.

what was the last thing you read? The last book I read was issue three of the Bunny Drop manga. So far it’s a very cute story that I recommend to people who like family stories. It’s very touching and cute, but can be fairly thought-provoking at times. I haven’t finished it yet so I can’t give a full review or anything... but those are my thoughts so far!

favorite movie? Captain America: Winter Soldier! I know it’s a pretty basic choice as far as favorite Marvel movies go, but it really is just soooooo good. The action, the intrigue, the emotion, the relationships... all so good! Ten out of ten would watch again... and I believe me, I have. Three times in fact. And I’ve cried at least once every time because I’m weak sauce.

favorite book? That’s really hard... I really loved Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets but I haven’ t read that in years and am really fuzzy on the details... so I guess I’ll have to say the Warrior Cats Super Edition Crookedstar’s Promise. What can I say, I love Warrior Cats! And this edition is just so emotional. Without giving away any spoilers, this book is an absolute emotional rollercoaster at parts and contains one of the most manipulative, petty, dangerous, terrifying and broken villains the series has to offer and she is just fantastic. If your down with some of the special Warrior Cats-brand of stupidity this book is a total treat!

dream date? We’d be alone somewhere quiet and serene, nature surrounding us as we were covered in a blanket of stars. Cool, refreshing water babbles nearby, giving poetry to our escape. The most calming and tranquil environment imaginable. However, we wouldn’t just enjoy the soothing scenery, but we would talk in a low whisper, joking about things only we would understand and geeking out over fandom, all in between mouthfuls of take-out pasta from Olive Garden. It would be a mixture of a fun hangout with a friend and a romantic tender scene. (I guess all of that was really corny, huh? Haha, sorry!)

do you have a crush? Not on anyone real... but if Hatsune Miku asks tell her I’m free!

what are your hobbies? I love creative pursuits like writing and drawing and have loved them since I was extremely young. One of my favorite pass times is playing video games like Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Harvest Moon, The Sims,, Civilization, Stardew Valley, Super Smash Brothers, and many many others... too many to reasonably name! I love reading novels, but manga and anime alike are what I seem to do more of nowadays. My parents are pretty strict on which anime I watch though, so I spend more time reading manga because they aren’ t nearly as finicky about my reading material since my younger siblings won’t have to be subjected to it. Also, I really love philosophy. Ethics and morals have always fascinated me and the idea of mapping out the human spirit like a genome is endlessly fascinating to me... I love to read books on morality and watch philosophical YouTube videos in my down time, and I hope that someday I can come to some kind of understanding of the truth. I guess that means I’m kind of lame!

what’s your favorite time of day? Evening. I love the darkness. The chilling winds and the stars illuminating the dark skyscape is the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen, and it’s all right their in your backyard if you only care to look! Well, I guess if you live in the city or something you can’t do that... in which case I’m very sorry! Anyway, the serenity of the night is something the daytime can’t match for me. Peace and quiet are seldom found around where I live, so the silence is very appreciated!

if you could look like anything, what would you look like? Anything you say? In that case I guess I’d look like a calico cat. That away, I could climb along fences and gates or go exploring into the wilderness without anyone looking at me funny! Plus, maybe someone would pet me!

are you a romantic? If you just read my ideal date, the I you’ll probably know the answer. Yeah, I guess I am! I’m not super ditzy or anything, in fact I rarely every feel romantic attraction to people, but I do long to find a soulmate.

what’s your favorite type of weather? The rain, definitely. If you couldn’t tell, quiet tranquility is pretty much my aesthetic. I love water. It nourishes the plant life and makes everything sparkle with dew, the greenery becomes so much greener and everything becomes so much more vibrant... it’s like the spirit of the world has been born again. And yet almost nobody is out their enjoying it. Fine by me, I’d rather be alone on my walks down the rainy neighborhood streets. Bonus if it’s raining at night, because not only are the walks multiplied tenfold in their beauty, but when you decide to hit the hay the soft pitter-patter of the raindrops can gently lull you to sleep...

what do you like talking about? Well obviously I love to talk about Yu-Gi-Oh!, and I’m pretty much open to talk to anyone about it... but I also love to talk about other fandom! I also love mythology and philosophy (that though provoking shit) and just random trivia in general and it’s nice to talk to people who are also interested in it. Other then all that nerdy cooties, I just generally like listening to other people talk. As long as what you say isn’t completely repulsive to me I’ll probably listen, but I’ll probably crack jokes the entire time unless you’re being really serious. I love funny stuff.

if you got a tattoo, what would it be and where would you get it? Oh, I’d never even think about a tattoo! I’m far too much of a scaredy-cat, besides the initial pain the idea an image could be burned onto me forever kind of freaks me out. I have no problem with other people getting them at all, just not something I could ever do. I don’t really think I can answer this question adequately... but I guess if I had to choose I’d say something small like an eye or a teardrop. I’d put it on the lower part of my neck to the left side: it would be discrete and not very noticeable, but kind of pretty and thoughtful. Nothing to obtrusive or, dare I say, obnoxious for me.

do you want any pets? I wish! We used to have a dog when I was very little, and then we had a cat when I was about eight or so, but nothing since then. Such a shame, because I am filled with love and affection for cats and dogs especially and would like to have at least one of each someday. If I had to pick which breeds I’d like, I’d say a border collie (they’re so expensive, but hey a girl can dream, right?) and a calico.

dream job? “When I grow up I want to write books!” I’ve been saying that since I was old enough to write my own stories. Above all else, I want to be an author, but even most of those have other jobs as well. Of course I’ve gone through phases of wanting to be different things... when I was really small I wanted to be a waiter, then in second grade I wanted to be a marine biologist (I saw sea turtles at an aquarium and fell in love. Don’t want to do marine biology anymore but sea turtles are still the some of the most precious beasts on this planet!), but now I’m thinking either an animator, a journalist, or a moral philosophy professor. Who knows what I’ll end up doing, I'm only a freshman right now, after all.

dream place to live? Take me home, country road, to the place, I beloooooooong…! No, I don’t want to live in West Virginia specifically (though that would probably be pretty swell), but the American South is where I grew up and it’s where I want to live. The flourishing flora, sparkling water forms, and the waves of fertile farmland are just some pf my favorite set pieces of the Southern United States. I don’t live there anymore, and there are a lot of social problems down there that might target me specifically, but just for the scenery alone I wish to go back.

dream vacation? Japan! in this dream scenario, I can speak Japanese and navigate the land without many hitches, ordering of the menu and understanding all the signs. I’d go to a maid café and one of those resteraunts where there are stuffed animals everywhere, I’d buy a crap-ton of weeb shit, if I was lucky I’d see a vocaloid concert... and the sightseeing! I’d go hiking on the mountains and see cascading waterfalls and flourishing sakura and really neat beetles... I hope that happens to me someday!

do you want any piercings? I don’t even want my ears pierced at all, so not at all! I’m not a very flashy person, in fact I’m quite quaint, and I never wear jewelry unless my family somehow bamboozles me into it. I’d never wear any of it, so it wouldn’t be worth some weirdo assaulting my earlobes (or any other body part) for it.

if you had kids, what would you name them? I think me having kids might be kind of a long shot all things considered (but who really knows, right?) but I do have several names I’m really attached to that I would gladly give to someone. The first is Eve, which I just absolutely adore the aesthetic of. If you couldn’t all ready tell, I love the nighttime, and this name just screams a sort of lovely starlight elegance. Plus, it was the name of my first crush in Harvest moon Magical Melody so... backstory! The other name I��d go with would have to be Jamie. It just sounds so peppy and interesting, it’s a very unique name that I can’t help but love. Not coincidently, Jamie was the name of another Magical Melody character I was particularly fond of, because they were my first experience with gender nonconformity and non-binary gender identity!

what are your best traits? Am I really the best person to judge that? Well, I guess I can try. I try to be as patient as possible and to keep an open-mind because I hate hurting people’s feelings, believe there is always a kind and peaceful solution, and think every single person deserves personal respect and to be treated with integrity when possible. I’d say of all my traits, those are the ones I try the hardest to foster and exercise.

worst traits? I’m so anxious, literally anything going wrong cans end me into a panic. My family has kind of a history with predisposed anxiety, so I should probably get that checked out... but then the idea of being diagnosed as “wrong” freaks me out a lot. Vicious cycle. This underlying anxiety manifests in some other nasty traits of mine: specifically that I’m a wuss, a doormat, and a pessimist. Long story short, I’m way to worried for my own good.

what’s your worst fear? Well, I’m pretty much afraid of everything! Alligators, heights, amnesia, blood and guts, rejection, underwater tunnels, birds coming near me, loud noises, illness... there’s a lot more, but I’d say my biggest fears are failure and weakness. The two kind of go hand in hand in my mind, and the thought that I could fail and become irredeemable and worthless is petrifying.

what do you want to eat right now? Something to know about me: I’m always hungry. I snack incessantly, so it’s a wonder I’m still such a skinny little bastard! Right now, I could really go for some sushi. Put some seafood and some avocado on that shit and I’m sold.

favorite social media platform? Tumblr! I mean, it’s really the only social media I have, but still! Even though looking at all the fighting and toxicity on this website that can really make me feel awful, there is an undertone of community that outweighs that for me. Seeing so many fans of Yu-Gi-Oh! and ShrimpShipping in particular makes me feel like I really belong somewhere, and when I see the entire community harmonize to create a positive environment I remember what this life is all about. When I get a heart on a post, I think about how someone liked that post, how something I made or that I said might have put a smile on their face or roused a chuckle from them, and that makes it all worth it to me. Plus, all my mutual are really cool!

favorite article of clothing? Jackets, blazers, hoodies, coats, sweaters, suits... I love that cozy shit! I unfortunately live somewhere really hot, so a lot of times flaunting my style makes me uncomfortable, but it’s worth it too look fly as hell! When it comes to dressing, I’m very butch to androgynous, which makes since because I’m pretty gender nonconforming, I always have been. When I was younger and at a different school I was definitely the tomboy, but now I tend to try and blend in more just because people at my new school seem so much more judgmental.

do you play any sports? I’ve been playing tennis since I was in third grade! I really only ever play it during the school’s season because there is just so much homework and I’m always busy, and thus my growth has been greatly stunted... but it’s still a really awesome sport. There’s a precision and an elegance to it that just fascinates me, plus it’s not a team sport so I don’t have to worry about screwing my partners over! Unless it’s doubles, which I try to avoid whenever possible. Other factors that make me like it appealing to me is that I have the body for it (tall with freaky long-ass arms) and my dad plays it too, so we can go out and help each other improve our skills.

favorite meal of the day? Well they’re all great, I mean food is food, but I’m biased to dinner. The biggest most complete meal of the day that packs the most flavor and is the most filling, dinner is great! In my opinion, going to bed on a full stomach is one of the best feelings in the world, so we can thank dinner for that. Plus, my mom lets me eat snacks after dinner so I don’t have to sneak around to eat potato chips... heh.

what are you excited for? ShrimpShipping Week definitely has me excited, because I have so many shrimpy ideas to let loose upon this world... and I’m really looking forward to looking at everyone else’s contributions too! ShrimpShipping Week is the time I can see the most unity within the community, and it truly is a wonderful experience! Also I’m hyped as hell for Smash Ultimate and that currently unnamed Animal Crossing 2019 game... I’m a huge Nintendo fan my dudes.

when was the last time you cried? Like a few days ago? I can’t remember which of these instances came first, but I figured out I got on probation in NJHS because I got (gasp) a C+ in Geometry?! That seriously fucked-up my self-esteem, so I cried about that. But I can’t really remember if that was before or after I rewatched Madoka Magicia (which I personally consider a brilliant work of art and an anime must-see)… well either way I cried really recently.

dream house? Perhaps by the side of a crystal clear lake, maybe by the banks of a babbling brook, possibly by the sparkling seashore... but somewhere near water there would sit a two story house. Crisp hardwood makes up the walls of the construction, and there are windows opening the entire house to gorgeous natural light. Inside, everything is painted soft colors that seem to glow in the light, and every piece of furniture looks like you could sink into it’s soft surface. The downstairs floor has a living room with cases for cards, game boards, and video game disks are displayed neatly and conveniently alongside posters and figurines. It is essentially a nerd rec room. Beside that, the dining room and kitchen are organized and clean, and you can still smell pasta from the night before. A large flight upstairs leads to an upstairs library and study, which then empties out into a cozy bedroom full of stuffed animals and an open closet full of suits and coats. The bedroom has a balcony attached to it overlooking the water source nearby, a quiet and comfortable escape out into the serenity of nature. I suppose that’s all very idealistic, but this is a dream house... so I can have as many plushy sofas and anime girl figurines as I want!

what’s something you hate about the world? How selfish a lot of people are. I don’t mean to sound mean or judgmental, but there are just so many people who refuse to even try to be kind. All they care about is themselves and they don’t understand how much their actions effect those around them, and they certainly never try to adjust their viewpoints. I think there are so any problems we could resolve if we just tried to understand the people around us. After all, they aren’t going anywhere. You might as well try to make life as pleasant as possible for others, right? But that’s just my two cents.

what’s something you love about the world? Even though the world is full of self-serving close-minded folk, there are also those who are driven and motivated to try to improve themselves and those around them. They want to try to make things more positive for those around them, they want to help those in need, and they believe in people’s capacity to improve. They believe int he ability to change and to improve. And when I see these people join hand in hand to change the world, I feel very inspired. I know it’s not possible to solve every problem, at least not in one go. But seeing people who wholeheartedly try to help out is what I love most in this world.

what scents do you like? I tend to like scents like chocolate or sizzling steak, the kinds of scents associated with foods. Like I said, I’m always hungry. I also love the smell of nature after a rainy day, it just draws out all the scents from the flora in the most fantastic way.

what kind of sleeper are you? If a bomb detonated outside my house, I would still stay asleep. In other words, I’m an incredibly heavy sleeper. Basically no amount of rambunctious noise can awaken me from deep slumber, but I am very responsive to someone disturbing my sleeping environment by touch. if the bed rocks or a finger brushes against my face, I’m awake instantly, probably in an anxious sweat. That’s why I can’t sleep in the car. But if you give me a warm bed and take care not to touch me in anyway, I’m dead asleep.

are you a cat or dog person? Don’t make me choose! I love them both so much, but for completely different reasons. Cats are good because they are cuddly and soft and relaxing, but they for the most part don’t give a fuck about anything. And dogs are nice because they are so fun and loving, and sometimes they seem just as complex as humans in their emotional capacity. I love them both so much, I don’t want to choose!

how long would you survive in a zombie apocalypse? I’d probably be one of the first to kick the bucket honestly. I mean, I’ve beaten my siblings and other kids in wrestling matches more times then I can count, but a zombie apocalypse? I’d be too scared to do anything! The only thing that might push me forward would be the desire to help my loved ones, but even then I think i’d be pretty useless. Suffice it to say I’ll be easy pickings when the zombies come for our brains.

when do you feel safe? I’m pretty much always nervous to be honest, so I guess I feel safest when I’m asleep!

are you trusting? I actually don’t know how to answer that? I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and when I make bonds I get seriously invested in them, but most people on the streets I’m always a bit on guard about. Got to play it safe, you know?

what fictional characters do you identify with? Alderheart and Hollyleaf from Warriors. Alderheart because he’s really anxious and just trying his best to be useful, and Hollyleaf because she wants to do the right thing and follow the rules but often gets confused and starts going a bit batty. For something that’s not Warriors, I’d have to go with Homura from Madoka Magica, because she puts on a lot of strong fronts to protect those she loves and to avoid failure at all costs. I’m not trying to say I’m as fucked-up as some of these characters or that any of my situations are as bad as theirs were, just that I see bits of myself in them and can feel a connection to them.

what labels do you commonly get? Well there is a lot... fangirl, nerd, overachiever, butch, standoffish, weird, tomboy... if I named all the boxes I’ve been put in I'd be here all day!

what issues are you dealing with right now? Anxiety! That’s all I'm going to say, because I honestly think I’ve said enough about my problems. It makes me kind of uncomfortable shouting my fears into the internet because... it makes me feel guilty? I don’t know. Just... anxious. That’s my problem.

how can someone win you over? If they display an extensive knowledge of one of my fandoms then I’m instantly sold. Do you know how hard it is to find fans outside of the internet sometimes, and even in the internet? I’m so down to get in any amount of fandom talk!

#well there you go #that's me I guess #hope that wasn't long and boring lol #q and a #about me

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bigkevhidalgo · 6 years

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I’ve been working on this for a while... I need some test subjects... if you could read it... and let me know

There is nothing more terrifying than someone who has nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

This world keeps many secrets, as it has been around for longer than most of us know or care to know. There are few who know how truly old this world is, those terrifying beings whom have witnessed and done unspeakable acts, by and for both the ones above and the ones below. Beings so old that have been almost forgotten, weathered by time and folklore. These beings are the ones we refer to as legends, myths, fairy tales and sometimes mere rumors. These old beings constantly locked in battle between what we can only understand and label as good and evil. Sides and alliances forged and often broken by the acts of these beings. Often led by emotions or cold calculated moves today further their agenda so they may gain a foothold on this realm whose inhabitants have little knowledge of this constant struggle; mankind. Few know of it and even fewer battle along the side of these beings. These few warriors known as knights who possess great abilities to aid these beings. From the line of these warriors greater beings were forged to protect this middle realm and those connected to it, beings whose abilities were passed on throughout time, beings that are foretold and prophesied beings known as Guardians.

As she ran for her life she could feel them at her heels, growls and snarls filling the alleyways, only the moonlight guiding her way. She could feel her heart almost beating out of her chest, her legs starting to cramp and her arm gashed open by their claws; throbbing with immense pain every time she took a step, every time she took a breath her lungs screamed in pain as if someone had set the air a blaze. She had no clue how long she could run for, all she knew was that she had to keep that bundle safe, even if it meant giving her life to defend it.

She looked back again, she could see them close at her heels, hell hounds coming at her full charge. She could see their fangs and their misshapen faces dripping what she could only describe as mixture of puss and drool, she could smell their putrid scent, sulfur and rooting flesh, made it hard for her to take gulps of fresh air, she had to constantly control her gag reflex. She could feel the heat radiating from their snarls and growls. She had no choice she could not beat them on foot and she could not fight all of them at once, she had found out when they came crashing through her bedroom window. She had to make it to the river, the river would sweep her out to sea, the moon and the tide would protect her and her little bundle, problem was that she didn't know if she would make it to the river. A sharp pain shot up her leg, followed by a burning sensation, she dropped to her side shielding her little bundle, as she looked down and inspected her leg she realized she had been slashed on the side of her leg. She knew that surely they would die but not before sending a couple of them back to where they came from. With the little dexterity she had left she quickly scooted herself back and found the wall, she drew her short sword and with a few quick words the blade began to glow a pale blue light and water ran at the edge of it. As she looked up a hound was pouncing down on her, she slashed it across the face. It let out a horrid screech, as it tumbled to her side. She quickly dug her blade deep on its jugular and as she pulled out her glowing blade the hell hound began to melt away leaving a rancid scent and goop like substance behind. That quick event caused a hesitation from the rest of the pack, all barking and snarling at her they began to circle her, awaiting for her to drop her guard, to simply look away. She sat there with her back against the wall with her blade firmly held on her left hand, the little bundle tightly held with her right arm severely injured, she held the little bundle close to her chest, her left leg quickly drenching her pant leg in blood. She didn't break her gaze, intensely looking into all of their glowing eyes, waiting for them to attack her. She knew there was no chance of beating them. They would take and kill her child on the off chance it would produce a Guardian. She had witnessed her fellow knights lose their children to these monstrosities, she had watched as they ripped the children and her fellow Knights apart. They had slaughtered every single member of her clan, her husband away in a mission, she was glad he was safe from these creatures, he surely would have perished defending them until his last breath but perhaps together with her magic and his strength they could have defended their only child and some of her peers, her family, herself... for the first time in a long time she felt helpless and hopeless.

Her eyes quickly filled with tears and began running down her cheeks, she could feel a sea of emotions bubbling up, she tightened the grip on her blade but at that moment a child's cry interrupted her train of thought. The hounds began to impatiently hop around and howl in excitement. She took her eyes off of them and looked down at her little bundle, she knew it she had made a big mistake, a reflex without thought, she checked on her little bundle, this was the end, as she looked up she saw their fangs barreling towards her, inches away from her face. She raised her blade full knowing the futility of it but she would not surrender, she would not give them the satisfaction, she began chanting a spell. At that instance something bigger than the hounds, quickly closed that gap, slamming a few to the opposite wall with one ferocious move. In front of her stood a massive bear, towering over all of it surroundings, standing tall on its hind legs. She was paralyzed with fear and confusion, she didn't understand where this massive bear had come from and why it was defending her. The hell hounds stood back in shock, perhaps as confused as she was. She may have been young but she knew that bears were not common to the area.

-Consuelo?! Are you alright? Are you able to keep fighting?

She was also certain that animals did not speak, her mind was racing, her heart about to leap out of her chest, she began to think, she knew of many wonderful and magical things. She knew of a few shape shifters but none of them commanded the ability to perfectly transform and keep their talking capabilities, except for;

-Fauna? Fauna is that you?! Oh thank the heavens! Why? How?

-No time to explain we need to get you out of here and save your little cub, she's pretty special, big things coming your way little lamb.

Her heart stopped for a second, she once again looked down to that little bundle, her little daughter was important to the lustrous ones. This could only mean one thing, her little bundle, she would bare the guardians, she was responsible for the upbringing the greatest warriors known to the realms.

-Consuelo! Snap out of it! Run you nincompoop! Run!

-I can't! My leg!

-Oh come on! Do I have to do everything around here!? Climb on!!

With a couple more swipes Fauna took out a few of them out and made the rest of the hell hounds retreat for a few moments. Allowing Consuelo to climb on her back. Fauna let out a powerful roar, almost as if signaling someone, or something, then with a quick turn made her way out of the city. Few hounds took after them but their vicious sounds faded away, some with some yelps as if in pain, others sounded as if they were running the opposite way. It all began to fade into the night, few kept persistent and try to keep on their heels. Consuelo's head was clouded, the astonishing news had left her befuddled. She held her little bundle even closer, she knew she would have to become stronger, wiser, keener on the art of sorcery and uncover many secrets of the occult so she could aide the guardians in their journey, although she was getting ahead of herself, she knew she would have to survive past tonight. As she snapped back to reality by the radiating pain coming from her extremities she realized she was riding on a enormous horse, how long has been out of it? Fauna had transformed into gorgeous draft horse and was now galloping along towards the jungle, she could see it out in the distance, the way lit only by the full moon, it was a clear crisp night night, she listened to Fauna's hoofs click and clack as she sped off into the horizon, she realized she had no clue where Fauna was taking her, all she knew is that the howls from the hell hounds had grown faint as they had put some distance between them and the city and she was glad of it, except she could not shake a somber feeling within her, she knew something had been forgotten, then he quickly came to mind.

-Stop! We need to go back and find him! We need to warn him! We need to find Gregorio!

-Don't worry little lamb! Flora was instructed to find your dearie and bring him to the parley, seems like things just got grisly. We're not far, Flora picked the spot.... Lots of foliage to protect the herd and that little cub.

The parley? Flora? Protect the herd? Questions began filling her mind. Fauna had revealed that her daughter was important but how did they know she would be the one to bare the guardians. Had a prophecy been made? Is that why hell hounds had began to attack so many clans, is that why no one was spared? But who would give such an order? What prophet had predicted such things and why would anyone order such brutal acts against clans? Had every clan been hit in such a monstrous way or had the prophecy been so clear that no high ranking being questioned such atrocious acts.

-Listen up little lamb! I was instructed to bring in that little cub and you alive. All this fossil knows is that all of this is major since they enlisted both Flora and I to watch over and retrieve you, Gregorio and that cub, I know quite the surprise since I was just informed of this a few hours ago. They said that they would fill me in later.... Honestly I feel a little shaky on the little info they provided this old hen with, so we're both a little on the dark. Mother said she would explain later but you know how it goes, they feel the need to keep us in the dark and end up sending us to slaughter house... I guess is all for the best but it doesn't mean I like it. I'll stop and will keep my belly aching down for now, in the end we are all just barking at the dark.

-Your Mother will be there?!

-As far as I know mother hen is there and papa Kronos himself will even be there. Like I said little lamb, 'big things coming your way'!

Consuelo's head was swimming, the lustrous ones had ordered for their protection, meaning that something big was coming or was already happening. She never imagined that a simple knight as herself would be blessed with the task of rearing the child whom would bare the guardians. How could she? She was just a child herself, still training and learning the ways of the oath. That night was the first time she had ever seen real combat, how could she begin to teach when she was not done learning herself, fear and doubt began to creep in.

-Stop that little lamb! Fear and doubt never helped anyone!

Consuelo was caught off guard, how did Fauna know what she was feeling?

-Animal instinct little lamb! That's how.

-What?

-You were wondering how I knew what you were feeling? Right? Well animal instinct, I've been around for a while. Also I have the abilities of the entire animal kingdom to my disposal, so I guess I'm sorta of a big deal little lamb! Don't fret, just hold on tight to that little cub. We should be there soon.

Consuelo liked Fauna, she had heard of the epic tales of her many feats and her legendary abilities but had never gotten the opportunity to meet her. She knew that Fauna was one of the oldest living lustrous ones and was responsible for creating all the creatures in this realm and even some on the other realms. She knew she was a nurturing being but had a temper to match, so far she was glad to be in her care and on her side. She again looked down at her little bundle, she had yet to name her. She was a couple weeks old and nothing had been good enough for her, she was a quiet baby, she had gorgeous big brown eyes and jet black hair, she resembled her father, such a good baby. She hoped all had gone well and that Flora had found Gregorio and he was safe and sound, he was a lot more experienced and he would also play a tremendous role in the tutelage of the guardians.

The jungle grew larger as they came closer, it completely blacked out the sky, she could only guess it was was for coverage since there would be such important beings there. Soon they were joined by Knights at horseback, perhaps that's whom Fauna had signaled in the city, she recognized a couple of them, they were escorting them, protecting them. They all wore different armor and garments, she recognized symbols and shields from different clans from around the province but for the most part, a majority of them were foreign to her more than likely other clans from parts unknown to her. She felt extremely small, an overwhelming sensation of inadequacy came down on her, there was so much she didn't know, so much she still had to learn. She gazed around at all of the different Knights that were escorting her and Fauna, she could could count fifteen of them, all carrying different style weapons, some had light armor some wore heavier pieces, one thing was indistinguishable; they were all ready for combat.

One of them came close to her and Fauna, Consuelo tensed up, she didn't know what her fellow knight wanted, the knight wore a tribal mask and very little attire, she was lean and held a long spear with a small pouch to her left side, she lifted her mask and behind it was a beautiful set of eyes that glowed as bright as the moon, her complexion was dark, she was beautiful, she spoke up.

-Hi I'm Ayana, I'm a mender, I could patch that leg and arm as soon as we get to the parley.

-It's very nice to meet you I'm Consuelo and I would truly appreciate that. I had forgotten about my wounds with all that is going on but now that you remind me, they are excruciatingly painful at the moment.

-I have something for that

Anaya began digging through her pouch and after a few moments came up with a small root.

-Chew on that, it'll make the pain go away but trust me when I say this, it tastes awful!

Consuelo took the root from her and hesitated to put it near her mouth

-Don't worry it will work and the flavor only lasts for the first couple minutes. It's completely safe, I studied different medicinal uses for plants under Flora. You wouldn't believe the benefits some plants hold.

Consuelo placed the small root on her mouth and bit down, it was dry but as soon as her saliva made contact it turned into a sap like texture and Anaya was not lying when she said it tasted awful. It was a combination of grass clippings with rancid meat, the more she chewed on it the worse it got but she noticed her pain began to fade and soon the flavor was gone as well.

-You don't want to chew it for any longer, you should spit it out, it numbs out your pain by blocking your nervous system also it numbs your taste buds so the flavor is there, you just can't taste it but trust me the after taste is ten times worse but it will do for now until we get you patched up.

Consuelo nodded as her fellow knight went back to her previous held spot on the line. She wondered where all these Knights had come from and who had summoned them. She also wondered who or what they were protecting them from asides from the hounds. The jungle grew larger in the horizon, until soon enough they made their way into it and it soon covered the moon. A couple torches were lit and soon the path was revealed, seemed as if someone had already come through and cleared a path that was until she noticed that the path was opening up as they walked. Consuelo looked back in awe as the path was closing behind them, leaving no trace of a path ever being there. Was the jungle aware of their presence? How was this happening, she had never witnessed anything like it before, was it sorcery by the lustrous or her fellow Knights?

-This is why Flora picked this spot little lamb, coverage for the herd, lots of greens and lots of hiding spots for my eagle eyes.

Consuelo looked around, she could barely see the sky and she began to notice the reflecting glimmering eyes of critters hiding in the foliage and she looked to their feet she noticed scorpions lining the path, almost as if they were escorting the whole party. They had taken great precautions to keep this meeting safe, she knew that there could not be a safer place than where she was, but she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling, she still had no clue why the precautions were being taken, there was a small army of Knights and the lustrous ones were also here.

They finally came up to a cave, an oddly placed cave that seemed as if someone had placed it in the middle of the jungle, vegetation was particularly thick around it, there were more Knights surrounding the entrance and some were on the top keeping watch, they were accompanied by animals; that Consuelo could only guess Fauna had assigned to keep watch along with the Knights, there were large jaguars, panthers and snakes that were fairly common to the region but not often seen together or even at all. As they walked pass them, they seemed to bow as Fauna walked by, they knew who she was, even in her current form and they honored and recognized her still. She couldn't believe her eyes, the tranquility these animals were exhibiting, if she wasn't witnessing it with her own eyes she would have never believed it herself. As they walked inside the cave and past what seemed to be the largest Knights she had ever laid her eyes on, both towering in stature over her and accompanied by two of the largest panthers in history, she instinctively clutched her little bundle tighter to her body. They went deeper into the cave, it was well lit, she couldn't tell where the source of light was coming from, her curiosity went away, as they walked a little deeper into the cave and she could hear Gregorio's voice, he seemed to be calmly speaking to someone. Her heart began to pound, her Gregorio was alive and she was about to be reunited with him, she felt relieved and her excitement grew. As they went deeper and came around a bend she saw him. There he stood, his face heavily outline by what she could only imagine was worry, but suddenly lit up as he saw Consuelo and their child. He stopped mid sentence and ran to them, he wrapped his arms around them both. Held them there in a long embrace only interrupted by him kissing Consuelo and their little bundle.

He stood there gazing at them, with the biggest smile and tear filled eyes, tears of what one could only imagine would be joy. Gregorio was a handsome man, he was tall with a very athletic build, his thick jet black hair matched by his facial hair. He sported a mustache with a pointy beard that only accented his strong jaw line. His eyes were a deep rich brown, strong features that matched his tanned skin. His pearly white smile could light up the darkest of rooms and his soft tone voice could calm the wildest of animals.

He wore his knight attire, wasn't much he simply bandaged his hands and forearms, same with his feet and shins, and wore light clothing with little to no armor. He specialized in spears and long range attacks, he carried a long shield that he had configured and rigged so he would be able to wear on his back, it covered from his shoulders down to his legs, he was proud of it, he claimed it had saved his life multiple times, he felt the need to justify it since most had nicknamed him Tortugá since the way he used and wore the shield, it reminded people of a turtle shell, and there were a few times he had used it as such.

He finally spoke

-I'm so glad both of you are safe, I was worried sick, this whole night has been... I'm just glad you're safe love, I'm glad both of you are safe.

He motioned towards the little bundle as if asking permission to hold her. Consuelo embraced him once again and slowly and carefully handed the sleeping baby to him. As she did she noticed whom he had been speaking with. It was a thin petite woman, she reminded Consuelo of a pixie, her stature may have been small but her presence commanded the room, she noticed the deep green eyes, it reminded Consuelo of emeralds, her long wild red hair seemed to have never met a brush, she could see small twigs, leaves and smaller flowers adorning her hair, yet those wild unkept red curls seem to fit her perfectly. Her porcelain like skin glowed from the light coming from the cave. Consuelo was in shock, she had never seen Flora in her human form, she had no idea she even had one. She wore a smile on her face, then her expression suddenly turned to joy and excitement.

-Fauna!!!!

-Flora!!!

Someone raced past her slightly bumping her on the shoulder. As she looked up she saw another woman embracing Flora, she was a bit perplexed, she hadn't noticed any woman that looked like her enter the cave with them, she then quickly realized it was Fauna's human form. They laughed and spoke in a different tongue she could not understand. She had heard of Fauna's human form but she had never imagined she would ever get to witness it.

She towered over Flora, her complexion a lot darker than Flora's, her build was muscular, she wore her hair in long jet black dreadlocks, almost down to the back of her knees, her body was marked by scars all over, seemed to be ranging from bite marks to even burn marks, although they did not seem out of place, they seemed to almost compliment her physical build, her eyes were dark, completely black like two onyx stones, accompanied by a little wild animalistic feel behind them, her smile was big and lined by pearly bright teeth, almost seemed like a hyena's smile. They were both gorgeous beings, she was in awe by them, she couldn't take her eyes away from them, they complimented each other very well.

-They have not seen each other in ages

Her trance was interrupted by a soft voice that came directly behind her, she turned around and was greeted by a big smile in a soft tan face on a beautiful woman she had never seen before. She stood not much taller than herself, long wavy jet black hair, it went past her knees, almost covering her body, if she hadn't been standing so close to her, Consuelo may have thought it was a robe. She had delicate features, big brown eyes in which she could see a diamond like spark, her hair held back by a crown of what seemed to be made of roots, vines and various flowers arranged around a beautiful gem that sat at the center of it... it almost looked like a sapphire, but some green and brown swirled in it, she soon realized that the gem was earth. It was stunningly beautiful, Consuelo could not take her eyes off of it.

-It was a gift from father, it's beautiful isn't it?

Consuelo felt her face turn hot, she was blushing and could not speak. She felt like there was a frog in her throat, she was hot and began to perspire.

-Please sweet child don't be embarrassed

-Terra please, it's the first time she's ever seen or even been around "The Lustrous Ones" specially Gaia! The mother of all living things in this realm! Mother Nature herself! Along with her daughters Flora and Fauna! This poor girl will surely have a heart attack, and we both know Grim certainly does not like bringing poor souls back, we can say he doesn't like wasting time. Like father like son you know?

A handsome older gentleman approached Consuelo, she was entranced by him. He elegantly wore his peppered gray hair parted to the side, with a nicely groomed beard and mustache to match. He wore clean pressed pants, a vest, and clean white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, in a pair of polished white shoes. A long chain hung from his side pocket, one could only assume it connected to a pocket watch. He was a dapper, very well put together man. His gaze caught hers, his eyes looked almost gray and clouded, she was entranced. With a gorgeous smile, he leaned forward and extended his hand.

-A pleasure to meet you, young Consuelo, my you're gorgeous in this time, I'm Kronos, or as you and your mates may know me; Father Time, you've met Terra, Flora and Fauna... and over there is Grim.

He motioned to a unlit corner of the cave. In the corner stood a slender almost sickly looking man, he was the opposite of Kronos. He wore all black, his attire consisted of slacks, a dress shirt, and a vest along with a matching tie. His whole outfit was wrinkled and unkept, almost as if he'd worn it to bed. His tie was loosened around his pale thin neck, almost looked like a noose. His hair was messy and greasy looking, covering half of his face, which seemed to be freshly shaven except for a small patch of hair on his bottom lip. He wore no foot wear, his feet were long and dirty, covered in what looked like tar, dirt and what seemed to be dried blood. He propped himself up with a long scythe. Consuelo felt uneasy and cold looking at him, then she realized, Grim was death, the Grim Reaper himself, her train of thought was interrupted by Kronos.

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