#tos ritualist
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Ritualist - Perform a blood ritual on a player at night. If you guess the correct role you will deal an Unstoppable Attack to the player.
Coven Leader - Kill all who would oppose the Coven.
Dreamweaver - You may invade the dreams of your target and attempt to drive them Insane.
Get out of town >:)
lil timelapse or whateva >:)
#total drama#total drama island#td noah#td heather#td alejandro#alenoah#town of salem#total drama heather#total drama noah#witch#coven#tos coven leader#tos dreamweaver#tos ritualist#tos2#town of salem 2
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opening a few comm slots!
two for now so i dont get overwhelmed! im trying to save up money for a trip im taking later this year. slots may reopen after im done with the current lineup!
i take paypal! dm me thru discord (slurmware) if youre interested!!
some examplies
(sorry the shaded one is an older example from 2022, i just havent had any good shaded stuff recently. characters in examples belong to @/cadavertrolls, @/spider-gets-artsy, @/asks-n-trolls, and @/ritualistic-trolls respectively!)
more examples of my art can be found in my art tag! i also have non-fantroll hs art here, and non-hs art here.
slots:
1: open
2: open
prices and tos under the cut!
lineart prices:
bust (shoulders up): $30 | thigh up: $50 | full body: $75
flat color prices:
bust: $45 | thigh up: $75 | full body: $90
full color prices:
bust: $60 | thigh up: $85 | full body: $125
not currently doing backgrounds except for solid color or transparent
props can be discussed! medical aides (canes, oxygen tanks, wheelchairs, etc.) are free of charge
prices are per character and in usd
i will send you an invoice in two parts for orders over $40, one half before and the other half after the first sketch is sent
allow 2 weeks to 2 months turnaround time depending on complexity and energy levels!
dm me with your refs (i wont draw characters from description), pose/expression, any extra details you want added, and your paypal email
i can draw:
humanoids, trolls, some furries, and simple robots
oc x canon/selfship
selective fanart
blood/gore
i will not draw:
nsfw (for the time being)
complicated mecha/cars/etc
proship shit or anything hateful/derogatory/etc
i THINK thats it please let me know if you have any questions!!
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Still Thinking.
In TOS there was a lot of promise on fleshing out the Vulcan culture. You get phrases in Vulcan before you ever get any phrases in Klingon. Which makes it interesting that moving forward, you learn much more about the Klingon language.
As a language lover I'd be interested to know what the body of the Vulcan language would have looked like, had it been more officially explored. You know it would be filled with dichotomy, due to the ancient and ritualistic roots of the language versus the need for utmost logic, which would influence both grammatical structure and the writing system(s).
From what I've seen, the writing leans far more on the "ancient tradition" end of things. It's beautiful, yet it is lacking in terms of practicality.
I like to imagine that they would have multiple modes of writing- the loopy cursive writing for religious and cultural / ceremonial practices, and maybe a more standardized and phonetic script for daily use (likely to also be vertical and cursive, but can be written horizontally as well). Also I'm not sure how phonetic it is to begin with so I'm just making shit up here.
Well I know one thing for sure, they have at least 2 scripts, based on the writing seen on Spock's robes vs other scenarios (perhaps Old Vulcan or Ceremonial Vulcan).
Another fun thing I like to imagine is that perhaps Vulcan follows a root based system like Hebrew or Arabic. For example in the male names, the most common denominator is S----K or S--R--K.
SpocK, SaReK, SuRaK
Women, it is the letter T.
T'Pring, T'Pau
Both genders use the consonant P.
sPock, t'Pring
So, those consonants could be based on a certain shared notion, whereas the vowels change the nuance of the translation.
Arabic (Modern Standard) example, paying attention to the consonants:
KeTeBe = writing
KiTaaB = book
MeKTaB = desk
MeKTaBe = library
(sorry for the weak transliterations, it makes more sense looking at it in Arabic, you'll see the commonality in the consonants):
كتب
كتاب
مكتب
مكتبة
#ramble#vulcan culture#klingon#star trek#linguistics#i love language homies#looove it#my romanizations might look weird because I have to rely on the accent of my arabic professor to romanize#and arabic dialects vary a Lot#my Prof is from Iraq and she has a cool accent. i just try to copy how she says stuff so I have a consistent accent#im not sure how much accents affect FusHa tbh
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✿ " ToS 2 ; incorrect quotes ed. ! "
this is just my collection of incorrect quotes i made for roles in the game ! [ i might do modded later . ]
don't ask me why , i just wanted to make this .
click on " keep reading " if you want to see .
Jailor , standing right above prisoner and sharpening their sword : We've got ways of making people talk .
Jailor proceeds to cut piece of cake .
Prisoner : . . . Can I have some ?
Jailor : Cake is for talkers .
Admirer : You have to apologize to them , my dove .
Coroner : Fine ! But I must warn you that this might make me a better , nicer person and that is NOT the person you fell in love with !
Veteran at party , holding an antique bottle : Is this whiskey or perfume ?
Tavern Keeper grabs and chugs the entire bottle .
Tavern Keeper :
Tavern Keeper : It's perfume .
Amnesiac : There is no " i " in " happyness " . . .
Ritualist : There is if you fucking spell it right .
Dreamweaver is hugging Enchanter .
Jinx : Hey ! It's my turn to hug them !
Jinx grabs Enchanter .
Conjurer , knocking down the door : What do you mean , " yOuR tUrN " ? We agreed now is my time slot !
Dreamweaver : No , It's still my turn !
Enchanter , suffocating : Guys , I love you , but just because I'm the smallest doesn't mean you can be hugging me constantly !
Jinx : But we need the moral support !
Dreamweaver : And you're small ! Which is cute !
Conjurer : If I don't hug you right now I think the depression will kick in and my body will stop functioning .
Enchanter , close to tears : Well — I , I guess .
Investigator : Hey bud , I’ve got an idea for how to solve this .
Veteran , pulling out a shotgun : Yeah ?
Investigator : Wh — No ! That’s not the idea , pal !
Admirer is crying after a breakup .
Tracker : There there , lovebird .
Admirer , still crying : Thanks , but how did you get into my room ?
Tracker : Great question —
Spy is telling a story .
Admirer : Wow , darling , this story has everything ! Action ! Adventure ! Romance !
Retributionist : Romance ?
Admirer : I have a crush on them .
Jester : God has let me live another day and I'm going to make it everyone's problem .
Trapper : You’re my best friend , I would do anything for you .
Seer : I want you to eat 3 meals a day and have a decent sleep schedule .
Trapper : Absolutely not .
Trapper : Where is everyone ?
Coroner : Seer had a nervous collapse , Admirer is looking after them , Trickster is trying to kill Vigilante , so I’m in charge .
Trapper : Oh my god !
Coroner : I know , right ?
[ dividers by cafekitsune ! ]
#My Post#My Text#Incorrect Quotes#Town of Salem#Town of Salem 2#Jailor#Admirer#Coroner#Veteran#Tavern Keeper#Amnesiac#Ritualist#Dreamweaver#Enchanter#Jinx#Conjurer#Investigator#Tracker#Spy#Retributionist#Jester#Seer#Trickster#Vigilante#Bruh how many character roles i need to tag#I think that's all of them#Just tag them for organization simply because my tumblr is a mess#anyways enjoy incorrect quotes post
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Just some ToS 2 moments with a friend
Friend had the Hang Man bug on his side. I was outed conjurer by Spy (him) and Lookout so I conjured at my friend before being voted. This is what he saw.
Asked him in whispers for role. Next day was voted up for role and went afk.
Was Ritualist asking Potion Master to reveal someone so I can use Ritual. Last words were "if i dotn die."
Same game as above, but my friend tried to say that 14 was either Serial Killer or Shroud.
Solo game this time. 1 Berserker (and a Jester) against town, everyone won except the Berserker. Berserker also died to my trap lol.
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Thinking about that big, empty house where the Sarek family lived in Discovery. It always bugged me how it was presented and I think I've figured it out - Vulcans wouldn't have a house like that.
If we suppose that Vulcans have very few furniture and decorations, then why would they build a house like that? Why would they build these big rooms that they have no use for?
In Enterprise when T'Pol goes home they present a very different idea of a Vulcan home. It's not big yet still comfortable. The furniture is simple and practical. The bedrooms are small and has limited light, which makes sense for this particular house as it's in the desert.
There's still decorations. Not a lot, but since you don't see these vast, empty rooms only a few items are enough to change the vibe from "Empty dining hall" to "A home". It seems inspired by Japanese architecture and decor.
The Discovery version is very much a human house made to feel Vulcan, if your idea of Vulcans is that they just... don't have any furniture. I find Enterprise's version simply more believable in relation to how Vulcan architecture and interior design would develop.
Look at Spock's Enterprise quarters in TOS. It's actually pretty packed with items that he obviously value and that represents his interests. Vulcans do actually have their hundreds of candles and tea pots and pyramids.
What I'm saying is that the narrow view of Vulcan culture is that they just shun possessions or place no value on items. They clearly do. But they wouldn't build those big, showy houses with vast rooms to fill with stuff. I think it's much more likely that Vulcan architecture would be the kind of modest, low key thing we see in Enterprise. It would focus on practicality and rituals, since the essence of practicality is their ritualistic approach to life.
I think it was a missed opportunity to show a house which was built with actual Vulcans in mind.
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spirk fic rec for when you have time
(descriptions were created by me. quotes used from the text are in quotation marks. just wanted to put that there to avoid confusion)
fics are organized from gen to explicit, from shortest to longest.
A ritualistic form of affection by thesoundofnat
Jim inadvertently learns about the sensitivity of Vulcan hands, and now he’s constantly on edge with his First Officer. On another note, Jim is now in a cooking competition of sorts. (Gen, 3k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
What Could I Do to Change Your Mind? by elisa_pie
“I cannot lose this, Jim thinks frantically as he squeezes Spock’s hand before regretfully letting it go. Spock closes his eyes and seems to sigh. I cannot lose him.”
Spock’s leaving, and Jim doesn’t know what he’ll do. (Teen, 4k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
Space Rom Com by Nicnac
There are misunderstandings, and Jim really, really, doesn’t want all this angst. (Teen, 5.5k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
Take This Sinking Boat (And Point I Home) by sinestrated
“Spock loves you, he wants to say, wants to grab Jim by the shoulders and shake him until he gets it. Spock loves you, and you won’t let him.”
In which Pike is good at reading people. (Teen, 6.7k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply, has more angst then i made it sound)
Translating Ennoia by WerewolvesAreReal
Spock was planning on resigning, but with him meeting his t’hy’la, and now getting promoted to First Officer, that would hardly be responsible, would it? (Teen, 7.6k, TOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
Subtext by noodleinabarrel
When Spock leaves the Enterprise for a month for vacation, Jim texts Spock a cheesy pick-up line. Surprisingly, Spock answers. (Teen, 13k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
Confusion leads to Delusion by CinnamonSecrets
Jim instates a ship-wide Valentine’s Day gift exchange. Just something to raise ship morale and to get closer to Spock. Simple and fun. But of course, nothing on the Enterprise can be easy, can it? Cue misunderstandings! (Teen, 27k, No Archive Warnings Apply)
Perched in the Soul by Betazoa
When Spock and Jim get bonded after a disastrous mission, they try to turn a blind eye to the bond. But no matter what they do, the bond still pulls them together. Can they keep ignoring it? Do they even want to? (Mature, 12.8 k, TOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
"Chimborazo, Cotopaxi had taken my speech away" by Wingittofreedom
Spock and Jim meet on Tarsus IV. It is only the beginning. (Mature, 40k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply) (this fic is amazing, and my description does not meet the quality of this fic)
The Accidental Matchmaker by notboldly
It’s Valentine’s Day, and Spock gets a love letter. Misunderstandings ensue. (Explicit, 9k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
Friends with Benefits for Idiots by yaoichan12
To relieve excess energy, Spock and Kirk start a friends-with-benefits relationship. Just one catch though; they’re desperately in love with each other. (Explicit, 25k, AOS, No Archive Warnings Apply)
hope y'all liked this list! special thanks to @jimkinkk , @toocollectionluminarystuff, and three different anons who encouraged me to make this. as this is my first one, i decided to keep it rather short. if you have any fic rec requests, or you think i should rec more fics leave them in my inbox/comment them down below! also, if you like any of these, make sure to give the authors a lot of love!
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Thank you so much everyone who swooped in and saved my day with some glorious TOS spirk prompts!!🥰
Aw yiss, this is awesome! I'm fascinated by all the Vulcan rituals and I'd like more fic on them. I'll do some research, but there's a 35% chance I'll go full AU and come up with something super weird 🤷♀️ ritualistic sand baths in the nude, anyone? lmao I'm kidding or am I
🥺 Aaw, yees!! Okay, we need purring Spock! What does canon say about purring? I got to look it up
Confession: I've only watched up to Wrath of Khan because I got so sad about Spock's death and kind of scared he'd be different in the following movies... I was expecting them to show he was alive at the end, but nooo... Lmao, I'm going to watch all the TOS movies though so no worries, I'll get back to this once I have!
So many prompts! These are gooood, especially the last two, haha 😏 Also, you're such a mood, anon! I don't know how to make memes, but this hit me right in the heart, because I, too, am gay and don't really know tbh so have this
I got these + one other prompt via messages, but keep them coming if you have something else for me! I'm notorious for being bad at finishing WIPs, but I try to write one shots and post them as my beta has checked them over because I love TOS so much, I don't want my stuff to just sit on my hard drive :( I'm at that point of my tumblr career where I'm mostly offline, but I periodically check in to see if anyone has contacted me, so asks, messages, you know, all that, come in and I read and reply to them when I'm around
I'll post the fics on ao3, but post links on here so watch this space for spirk content! (Or watch my ao3 if that's preferable, I write under mustehelmi!)
#long post#fanfiction#tos#star trek#spirk#prompts#e.txt#kirkspock#star trek: the original series#thank u!!!😘
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Getting to know me: a novel
@ignisgalaxia @imaginationdrift @bizships @lodessa and @streepmulgrew have all tagged me for this, and I just can't take the peer pressure any longer. However, I'm so long-winded everyone will surely be very sorry that you five ever asked me. I will try very hard to put most of this below a "read more" link, but my mobile app doesn't play nicely with that feature any longer, so I truly deeply and sincerely apologize if yours doesn't either and you get a callus scrolling past all of what follows on your way to the gifsets you're on Tumblr to enjoy.
1. Relationship status: married -- legally and everything. It was the mid-'90s. I was considering having a religious ceremony but forgoing the state-recognized marriage license part, in solidarity with same-sex couples who at the time and for many years afterward were denied that privilege. However, my father absolutely put his foot down (something he almost never did with me, especially in my young adulthood) and insisted on the marriage license. He supported marriage equality, but he was thinking of my economic security in case our marriage didn't last. He was right to do, as I ended up taking many years out of the paid workforce to raise children, which I hadn't planned on doing when I decided to marry.
In case Tumblr is stupid, right here is where I’ve inserted a “read more” link as I’m writing this post. I tried.
2. Lipstick or chapstick: Usually neither. Actually, never literal Chapstick because that stuff is made out of petroleum and isn't good for your skin. I learned that when I was playing a lot of flute in high school and college and had to take extra special care of my lips to play well. If the weather gets really cold and dry, which it rarely does where I live, and if I can hang on to any of the half-dozen tubes I buy every year but which invariably get swiped and then lost by family members, I use a Burt's Bees lip balm. I seem to have a knack for finding them barely-used in the bottom of my purse during the warm months and then never having one at hand when I actually need it. I think I own one lip pencil currently and I'll sometimes use that to outline my lips when I'm doing some sort of special-event public speaking kinda gig but I don't wear any make-up normally. My husband claims that I knew full well it was a date the first time we got together socially because I wore make-up. I have never admitted to him that he is correct, but he is.
3. Three favorite foods: Too many to narrow down to just three. I enjoy and appreciate a wide range of foods. Things I enjoy and appreciate perhaps a tad more frequently than I ought to in the strictest interests of nutrition are chocolate in almost any form, ice cream (especially that of the chocolate persuasion and most especially any form of peanut-butter/chocolate), and Starburst brand jellybeans, which my son and I share somewhat ritualistically most evenings after dinner (which is somehow not the same thing as for dessert.) Why yes, I do have a sweet tooth -- why do you ask?
4. Song stuck in your head: Currently "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (I had to google that.) I don't know why but suspect it was on TV this evening, which makes me fear that it may be the campaign song for some politician I would never vote for. Which reminds me -- US citizens, please double-check that you are registered to vote and make a plan for voting in the upcoming midterms! This will probably the most important election of your entire lifetime, past or future, no matter what your age, and in many races in many states, voter turnout will be the single deciding factor in who controls the future of our country for a very long time to come. Please vote!
5. Last movie you watched: "Crazy Rich Asians," with my husband, unwisely just two days after I had minor (but surprisingly butt-kicking) surgery. We went to the first matinee showing on a Saturday and actually arrived at the theater before it even opened, a sure sign of mature middle age if I've ever heard of one. We both loved the film -- it was glitzy, funny, extremely well-written and -acted, got all the Chinese cultural details right, offered caricatures but no stereotypes, was very female-centric and multi-generational, and of course starred the exquisite and inimitable Michelle Yeoh who also plays Philippa Georgiou on Star Trek: Discovery. Laughed until my belly hurt (literally, sadly) and then went home and slept the rest of the day.
6. Top three shows: This will sound really strange for someone who is on Tumblr because of TV show fandom, but I don't watch TV. I grew up with Star Trek TOS reruns and movies, then TNG in college & grad school, then Voyager until extended stays abroad made it impossible to keep up with (back in the days before streaming and VPNs.) I reconnected with Star Trek in summer 2017 when I was home alone for six weeks and binged all of Voyager and then started digging up fanfic for all the reasons all the Voyager fans turn to fic -- to fix what the show's writers mutilated -- and now here I am, but I don't watch TV, and when I do it's the nightly news or whatever sports my husband is watching and then it's just because I feel like sitting in the same room with my husband at that particular time. The one exception to this fact about me is that I did watch Star Trek: Discovery as it was being released last year, and even got my teenager into it. (He is a Netflix addict but never watched any Star Trek anything before that. I don't know where I went wrong with this child.)
7. Books I'm currently reading: Eternal Tide by Kirsten Beyer because @voyager-book-club; Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (audiobook but I'm counting it); Five Ways to Forgiveness by Ursula K. LeGuin, Soul at Work: Spiritual Leadership in Organizations by Margaret Benefiel; Pachinko by Min Jin Lee; and Selecting and Using Breastfeeding Tools: Improving Care and Outcomes by Catherine Watson Genna. Except that the last three books on the list are ones I have at hand and keep wanting to read but haven't so much as opened yet. But including them gives you a more complete sense of my interests.
8. Last thing I googled: "you ain't seen nothing yet lyrics" because #4 above. Before that, "instant pot beef stew recipe." No need to look further back in my search history (she said during a break from writing smut.) *whistles innocently*
9. Time: 10:30pm as I write this. No idea when I'll post it or when you'll read it. This seems like a silly question to include for a post of this nature.
10. Dream trip: India. But I've also never crossed the equator and really feel I should someday, so who knows, maybe I'll find a way to drop in on all the Australian friends I've made in Voyager fandom. Now wouldn't that be lovely?
11. Anything you want: Anyone who knows me in real life (and anyone hanging around the Voyager Book Club discord server) knows I never shut up about breastfeeding support and advocacy. But I always try to make it clear that I'm not preaching at parents about how they should feed their babies; rather, I'm working to help parents who want to breastfeed overcome any challenges they encounter. I save my preaching for the folks involved with policy and institutional barriers to breastfeeding, and when it comes to the unethical and demonstrably harmful advertising practices of the infant formula industry, my preaching leans hard toward the hellfire and damnation variety because that is some truly evil shit, folks -- the advertising practices, not the formula milk itself; let's be very, very clear about that.
Rules: Tag 15 people you want to get to know better.
Here I shall echo @imaginationdrift: "(Really?! That sounds like a number chosen by an extroverted maven.) / Ok, here goes. / FEEL FREE TO: never complete this. I won’t be disappointed, promise." Also, apologies to those who have already responded -- feel even freer to ignore.
@garrulus @rikerssexblouse @klugtiger @ussjellyfish @kate-coleman-writes @lameraextranjera @armitagetrekkie @warp6 @admiralkatcornwellfan @zjofierose @writtenndust @trekkiefeminist @quirkette100 @nerdfishgirl @hoidn
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wotmey vagh
Sab decline, deteriorate v
Sach expand v
Sagh be serious v
SaH be present (not absent) v
SaH care (about), be concerned (about) v
Sal ascend v
Sam locate, seek and find v
Sang obliterate v
Sap volunteer v
SaQ cry v
Saq land v
Sar be varied, various v
SaS be horizontal v
Saw marry (husband does this) v
Saw' have a depth of v
Say' be clean v
Say'moH clean, cleanse v
Say'qu'moH sterilize v
SeH control v
Seng cause trouble v
Sep breed v
SeQ be formal, be ritualistic, be ceremonial v
Sev contain (an enemy) v
Sey be excited v
SeymoH excite v
SIch reach v
SIgh influence v
SIH bend v
SIj slit v
SIm calculate v
SIQ endure, bear v
SIS rain v
SIv wonder v
SoD flood v
SoH you pro
So' encrypt v
So' hide, cloak v
So'Ha' decrypt v
So'Ha' decloak, emerge from concealment v
Sol quarrel v
Son relieve v
Sop eat v
SoQ be closed, shut v
SoQmoH close, shut v
Sor speak literally v
SorHa' speak metaphorically v
Sorgh sabotage v
Sot be distressed, be in distress v
Sov know v
Soy' be clumsy v
Sub be solid v
Such visit v
SuD be green, blue, yellow v
SuD gamble, take a chance, take a risk v
Sugh install (in office) v
Suj disturb v
Sum be near, be nearby v
Sup jump v
Suq acquire, obtain, get v
SuQ be toxic v
Suq gain v
Surgh skin v
SuS blow (into musical instrument) to produce sound v
Sutlh negotiate v
Suv fight v
taD be frozen v
taDmoH freeze v
tagh begin a process, initiate v
taH be at a negative angle v
taH continue, go on, endure, survive v
tam be quiet v
tammoH silence v
tam exchange, substitute v
tap mash, squash v
taq be scarred v
taQ be weird, bizarre, unnatural (maybe creepy) v
taqmoH scar v
tatlh return (something) v
tav shake v
tay be civilized v
taymoH civilize v
tay' be together v
ta' accomplish v
teb fill v
teH be true v
tem deny, contradict, disavow, claim as false v
ten embark v
tenHa' disembark v
teq remove, take off v
tet melt v
tey scrape v
tey be uncomfortable, be close v
teybe' be comfortable, be easy v
tey' confide v
tIch insult v
tIj board, go aboard v
tIl salivate v
tIn be big v
tIq be long, lengthy (of an object) v
tIQ be ancient v
tIS be light (weight) v
tIv enjoy v
tIw react emotionally, behave emotionally v
tI' fix, repair v
tob test conclusively, prove v
toD save, rescue v
togh count v
toj bluff, deceive, trick v
toq be inhabited v
tor kneel v
toS climb v
toy' serve (a master) v
tuch forbid v
tuD thunder v
tuH be ashamed v
tuHmoH shame v
tuj be hot v
tul hope v
tun be soft v
tung discourage v
tungHa' encourage v
tuQ wear (clothes) v
tuQHa'moH undress v
tuQmoH put on (clothes) v
tur carry out, conduct (a mission), perform (duties) v
tuS cough v
tutlh be tattooed, have a tattoo v
tutlhmoH tattoo v
tuv be patient v
tuy' spit v
tu' discover, find, observe, notice v
tu'lu' there is ... v
tlhab be free, independent v
tlhap take v
tlhaQ be funny v
tlhaS fight, battle (relatively minor fight) v
tlhaw' hit (percussion instrument) with fist v
tlhay' be tame, domesticated v
tlha' chase, follow v
tlheD depart v
tlhej accompany v
tlher be lumpy v
tlhetlh progress v
tlhe' turn v
tlhIb be incompetent v
tlhIH you (plural) pro
tlhIj apologize v
tlhIl mine v
tlhIn be particular, individual v
tlhIS spit out v
tlhIv be insubordinate v
tlhob ask v
tlhob request, ask, plead v
tlhoch contradict v
tlhoD be somewhat obscured, filtered, smudged, fuzzy v
tlhogh get married to, marry v
tlhoj realize v
tlhol be raw, unprocessed v
tlhong barter, bargain v
tlhorgh be pungent (referring to food) v
tlhorghHa' be bland (referring to food) v
tlhot land on water (like a bird) v
tlhov wheeze v
tlho' thank v
tlhuch exhaust v
tlhuD emit (energy, radiation etc) v
tlhuH breathe v
tlhup whisper v
tlhutlh drink v
tlhu' be tempted v
tlhu'moH tempt v
vaD be flexible v
val be clever, smart, intelligent v
van salute v
vang act, take action v
vaQ be aggressive, be effective, be vigorous v
vaq mock v
vay fight, battle (mid level ferocity) v
veb be next (in a series, sequence) v
vegh go through (an open door, a tunnel, etc.) v
vel cover, coat, mask v
vem wake up, cease sleeping v
vemmoH wake (someone) up v
ven be nerdy v
ver be dizzy v
ver be spiral v
vergh dock v
vev insert, put in v
vev pin, attach or fasten with a pin v
vey' be comfortable, be plentiful v
vey'Ha' be uncomfortable, be meager v
ve' travel with a purpose, for a specific reason, travel on a mission v
vIb move through time toward the future, propagate v
vIbHa' move through time toward the past v
vID be belligerent v
vIH move, be in motion v
vIl be ridgy v
vIng whine v
vIt tell the truth v
vItlh be high, great (in quantity, size, intensity) v
vI' accumulate v
von trap, entrap v
vong hypnotize v
voq trust, have faith in v
voqHa' distrust v
voQ choke v
vor cure v
vorgh be previous v
vo' propel v
vuj expel, eject v
vul be unconscious v
vum work, toil v
vun order (in a restaurant, from a catalog, etc.) v
vung cyclone, hurricane v
vup pity v
vuQ fascinate v
vur be modern, up-to-date, state-of-the-art v
vuS limit v
vut cook v
vuv respect v
vuy be helpful, supportive v
vu' manage v
wagh be expensive v
waH taste, try out (food) v
waH try out, test, use experimentally v
wal vibrate, be in a state of vibration v
wam hunt v
wan be straight v
wanHa' be crooked, bent v
waQ obstruct v
waS be wrong, awry v
watlh be pure v
wav divide v
way be striped v
way' parry, deflect a lunge v
web be disgraced v
wech serve fermented food at its peak v
wegh confine v
weH raid v
wel owe (someone) v
wem violate v
weq hit (percussion instrument) with palm v
wer be creased, be wrinkled v
wermoH crease, wrinkle v
weS lose, no longer have, suffer a reduction of v
wew glow v
wIb be sour, be bitter, be tart v
wID massacre (connotes indiscriminate killing) v
wIH be ruthless v
wIj farm v
wItlh break something off v
wIv choose, select v
wob hurl a spear by means of a chetvI' v
woch be tall v
woD throw away v
wogh transgress, do more than is acceptable v
woH pick up v
woj sterilise v
wol be creased, be folded v
wolmoH crease, fold v
wom peck v
woq confirm, substantiate, corroborate v
wov be light, bright v
wuD snore v
wun be unprotected, vulnerable v
wup burst into song v
wuq decide, decide upon v
wuQ have a headache v
wuv depend on, rely on v
yach pet, stroke v
yach strum (a stringed instrument) v
yaH be taken away v
yaj understand v
yajHa' misinterpret v
yan use or manipulate a sword v
yap be enough, sufficient v
yatlh be pregnant v
yay' be shocked, dumbfounded v
yegh be spotted v
yem sin v
yep be careful v
yepHa' be careless v
yeq cooperate v
yev pause v
yIn live v
yIQ be wet v
yIr gather (items) v
yIt walk v
yIv annoy, bother, irk, irritate v
yIv chew v
yI' speak in an honorable or respectful fashion v
yob harvest v
yoD shield v
yoH be brave v
yon be satisfied v
yong get in v
yonmoH satisfy v
yot invade v
yov charge (military term) v
yoy be upside down v
yuD be dishonest v
yuDHa' be honest v
yugh include, consist of, be composed of (in chemistry) v
yughmoH filter v
yuq outwit, outsmart v
yut distract, create a diversion v
yuv push v
yu' question, interrogate v
'ab have a length/height of (object is length) v
'aD have a length of, measure v
'agh show, demonstrate, display v
'al float (in/on air) v
'ang show, reveal v
'ap be dented v
'apmoH dent v
'argh worsen v
'av guard v
'aw' sting v
'el enter, go in v
'ep consume soup v
'eq be early v
'eS be low v
'ey be good, be delicious, be tasty, be harmonious v
'IH be beautiful, handsome v
'Ij listen v
'Il be sincere v
'Im render, boil fat v
'Ip vow, swear v
'IQ be sad v
'Iq be too much, be too many v
'Irgh bully, intimidate, pick on, harass v
'It be depressed v
'Itlh be advanced, highly developed v
'oD arbitrate, mediate v
'ogh invent, devise v
'oj be thirsty v
'ol verify v
'ol verify, check if (something) is true, make sure that (something) is true v
'om resist, fend off v
'ong be cunning, sly v
'or pilot, operate (an aircraft) v
'oS represent v
'ot withhold (information) v
'otHa' disclose, divulge v
'ov compete v
'oy' ache, hurt, be sore v
'uch grasp v
'uch hold, grasp v
'ugh be heavy v
'uH have a hangover, be hung over v
'um be qualified v
'umHa' be unqualified v
'up be unsavoury, be disgusting, be repugnant v
'ut be essential, necessary v
'uy press down v
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@herousanimarum, “Linus, calm yourself. The most popular and common costumings of this rather ritualistic and pagan holiday center around negative figures. One is /supposed/ to dress as that which they are not usually.”
Linus would have snapped at Aella, but he was tripped up a bit by the way she spoke. It was so weirdly like his brother, he could only stare for a moment.
“Saints, you two really are made from the same cloth,” he muttered under his breath, arms folding across his chest as he regarded her. “Why’s it all about being a bad guy, though? I’m not…like that. I don’t wanna be like that, even if it’s some fake bullshit for one night.”
It didn’t make any sense to him, and even if it was all a game, some part of him simply didn’t want to tease crossing that line of wrong. He already toed that line close enough some days…
The clattering of people excited for this holiday is rather too loud to be ignored, Aella’s long decided -- her book lays closed, her chin rests against the fist of some fingers as she watches them excitedly chatter about what they are going to be. It is rather a surprise when she and Linus are afforded moments outside of the bubble of activity to speak, and even more of a surprise when his voice is tempered gentle towards her.
“I believe the original intent was to scare spirits away or, ah... something.” Her history in this matter leaves much to be desired, she is aware. “Regardless, I am told people often appreciate playing negative roles in the realm of fantasy. Perhaps it gives them a feeling of power they wish they had in their regular one.”
( You two are made from the same cloth... A serious breath, a momentary glance down. )
“I have never celebrated this. I cannot tell you. You do not have to dress as anything -- nor as anything you deem bad, if you do not wish.”
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4 _ Exploring Secrets
With time as its only company, man-made structures began a slow corrosion that escalated quicker as the days, months, and years pile on. Experts have theories, one being the lack of maintenance and repairs a prime cause of steady deterioration. With none present to keep the area tidy or to repair what breaks, places get left behind and forgotten. Other theories from a spiritual side have deduced that an area not loved or rarely visited can become depressed and thus without the living, a place can simply give up trying.
When a place, a building, is abandoned, outer forces fight to reclaim what they own. Many of the windows are smashed and old plywood has been nailed across the frames, to prevent most from breaking in. The night air is cool and quite with the slow chatter of crickets singing their last songs before fall. The interior of the rooms are dark, there is precious little moonlight out and not enough cracks in the roof or broken boards in the windows to bless rotten carpet with light. Dirt, leaves, and every manner of outside creation has fought to find its way inside the building through available openings. With none present to wage war with uncivilized nature, the courthouse fought to remember what it was while the world it was created from sought to take it back.
Through the halls rises a shrill cry. Silence tends to the dark halls confused by the commotion, as a light flutters into and out of doors lining a hall. The voice pants and wheezes as its owner catches hold of a doorknob, the handle turns in his grip and he dart into the room and shoves the door shut with his shoulder.
The light swings around as Arthur adjusts himself and presses his ear to the door. Silence has reclaimed the other side and its presence causes tremors to work up his spine. Then, when he holds his breath and focuses, he’s certain there is a rustling over the dry leaves.
Arthur steps back and kneels to the floor, he swings around his backpack and digs through the pockets in a panic until he finds a notebook that is nearly as limp as cloth. The pages flutter as he hastily thumbs through, until he finds a very basic design accompanied by a mad manner of chicken scratch. Arthur begins digging through the sack, before he snatches up a nearby chunk of tile and with that he makes sharp marks and symbols in the doors chipped paint.
In the midst of his frantic movements, the walkie-talkie on his belt sputters with a voice.
“Did you just run from the shadow?”
Arthur pays it no attention for a moment as he presses his ear back to the wood. The sounds are still out there but they should stay there. He takes the communicator from his belt and taps the send button. “It scratched me. All right?” Arthur hissed. “And it hurts! I’m bleeding.” He pressed his hand up under his shirt and brought back red stains. “You guys said this was a weak spirit!”
“It was,” Vivi answered back. “Some spirits feed off your fear. That’s why you’re not supposed to run.”
“Yeah? I wasn’t running till I was cut.” Arthur took his thumb off the transmitter and drew his knees up to his face. He waited for another answer, but there was no response. “Are we ready to exorcise this thing or what?”
“Did you get pictures?” Vivi’s voice was almost optimistic, but Arthur sighed and dropped his forehead to his knee.
“No,” Arthur said. “I don’t really much reckon I want a part of that, thank you.” He bit the antenna of the walkie-talkie as he began going through his backpack again, until he found the large sheets of gauze. Arthur paused to listen while communication was cold. Outside the door, the noises had vanished and that concerned him. He jerked when the transmitter screeched out by his ear.
“Where are you now?” Vivi asked. He could hear sounds in her background feed, of Mystery barking and her shoes on tile.
Arthur was about to say when a loud thud came to his door. With expert ease his thumb flipped the walkie-talke off and he snatched up his bag before dashing to the other side of the room. Arthur hid between gray beams of moonlight amongst the rows of pews at the rooms front. The room was outdated and small, but he felt confident he could duck out if there was no other exit. In the dark he couldn’t see where any doors, but he had to shut off his flashlight and pray the specter didn’t detect his whereabouts.
The door groaned on its dry hinges and a beam of light slipped in, followed by a dark shape. Arthur could just kick himself, in his hurry he’d dropped the gauze sheets and now the beam of light had fallen on them.
“Someone in here? How bad ya hurt?” he called, light slicing over the dark wood pews and walls.
Arthur debated on staying silent until Lewis left, but he’d be worried, and Vivi would make the connection in no time. “It’s me. I’m fine,” Arthur called, as he rose from between the pews. He winced when turned the light in his direction, but Lewis was solid about not shining torch lights directly into people’s faces. “Got me good though.” He flipped his own torch on, and adjusted his backpack when it pressed into the warm blood on his side.
“Tough mate,” Lewis said. “Did you take care of it?”
Arthur scoffed, “Of course not. I’m not hanging around after getting—”
“Not the spirit,” Lewis broke in. He toed at one of the gauze sheets lying in the dust. “Have you checked if you need stitches?”
Arthur lifted his shirt off his back as Lewis directed his flashlight to the red spot. “It’s not that bad I don’t think,” he said. “I didn’t get a good look at the ghost either, felt the burn and took off.” Arthur didn’t look at Lewis as he scrutinized the wound.
“It looks more bloody than deep,” Lewis finally deduced. “Typical spectral affliction.”
“Pretty much,” Arthur echoed. He moved around Lewis’ tall form and pulled at the door. “A basic ward script held it off.” Lewis took a quick scan of the symbols scratched into the wood, before he stepped back out into the hall, Arthur keeping close to him. Lewis leads the way examining the rooms Arthur had bypassed in his panic, but there was no movement in the shadows to indicate the presence of the shadow. After a few feet of silence, Lewis glances back when a soft click comes from Arthur and he sees his friend checking his chainless pocket watch.
“A little past 0100,” Arthur says. “That’s consistent with activity spikes that witnesses reported.” There’s a pause as Lewis pushes a broken door on its hinges and shines his light into the room beyond. “I know what you’re gonna say,” Arthur murmurs.
“Hmm?” Lewis asked. He and Arthur jerk around to soft scratching but the beams of their lights catch nothing, not even nameless movement.
Arthur sighed and elaborated. “’If you weren’t such a chicken, hostile spirits wouldn’t pick on you.’ Or, ‘Just don’t show your fear.’”
“I don’t really think that,” Lewis admits. He checks in some of the rooms they’ve passed, the ones that were open. “Spirits might just be drawn to you.”
“And cult fanatics?” Arthur grimaces. First assignments dealing with ritualistic cults and summoners, four times unbroken they show up when he’s alone.
Lewis shined the light bream across his face and smirked. “That’s just bad judgment, thinking they can snag a scrawny runner.”
Arthur frowns. “They’re well trained with the whole snagging thing.”
“Partly true.” Lewis led them to the end of the hall and flashed his light across a large staircase before them, the clutter of desks and broken chairs had been left out by vandals. “We’ve never let them get away with you yet. Hey, you need some help getting some bandages on that?”
Arthur was about to answer, until a shape in the shadows to his side caught his attention. He swung back from the approaching figure and slashed his light across its surface to dispel it.
“Ow. Arthur!” Vivi snarled. She shield her face with a hand and glared. “I’m glad you didn’t throw your flashlight.” Mystery gave a single bark in response, as though punctuating the notion.
“What are you doing sneaking up on wounded people, in a dark hall?” Arthur screamed. “A little warning. Yes, thank you.” Arthur lowered his light when Vivi held up her walkie-talkie.
“I lost touch with you,” she said. “I was worried.” Arthur made a small sound of recognition and reached to his belt to flip the switch on. “You have to be more careful,” Vivi went on. She turned her light over on Lewis behind Arthur. “I didn’t know you guys met up.”
“I’ll try,” Arthur said, with some drop of conviction leaking into his voice. He turned and lowered his light to his path as he began moving away. “If it’s fine by you guys, I need to make an errand to the van and get a change of shirts.”
“You goin’ alone?” Lewis asked.
Arthur turned back, his torch downcast. “I’ll be fine,” he insists. Arthur hesitates when the distinct click of a lighter comes, and the brief flare of a yellow flame. The embers die instantly and he’s presented a bundle of sweet smelling sage, the coils of thick smoke visible in the pale light cast by the flashlights.
“Focus on where you’re going,” Lewis says. “And if you need anything, we’re just a click away.”
“Go with him Mystery,” Vivi says. Mystery’s paws thud on the thick carpet as he joins Arthur’s side.
Arthur takes the sage and thanks Vivi. “We won’t be gone long.” With Mystery close by,Arthur rounds the steps of the stairs case and begins his descent, his torch light dissipates when he descends from the third to second floor.
The walls and floor creaked in the still night, and even the crickets had gone silent as the hour grew late. At times the sounds were unnatural, sometimes pacing footsteps a floor above or rattling within the walls around them. Lewis had opted to accompany Vivi as they tried to trace the origins of the sounds. Vivi had a camera ready while Lewis palmed a piece of chalk.
“There could be more than one spirit lingering,” Vivi said, as she and Lewis climbed the steps to the next floor.
Lewis moved his light across the banister of the floor above trying to catch the incriminating shadows that darted beyond the railing. “We could try a conjuring, but there’s no guarantee that’ll work tonight,” he said. A conjuring could work if they knew the spirits history and had a significant possession, but even if they fulfilled all these requirements factors would work against their efforts.
“We still have one more night,” Vivi said. The upper floors were smaller and consisted of narrow halls and small individual rooms, for the employees and record keeping. She picked her way around the congestion of desks that had been moved from the rooms into the halls, from some past event. “It’s hard to get decent images if we drag the spirit out of hiding.”
Lewis turned himself sideways to slip between a stack of desks and the wall. “Getting some payment is better than nothing,” he said. A few feet from the desks he stopped to scrawl on both sides of the wall barrier runes. As Vivi continued following the motions of her torch, Lewis examined the marks he set on the wall. Lewis jerked to a sudden crack at his side and was nearly face to face with a pair of dark eyes. He took a large step backwards as a white flash filled the hall. Lewis nearly tripped over Vivi when she raced to his side, camera in hand and igniting another blaze of light. An instant later the shape was gone.
“You okay?” Vivi asked. She lowered her camera and watched as Lewis gave his vest a quick pat.
“I think so,” he said. “Just startled me.” Lewis leaned over as Vivi began to fiddle with the camera. “You were quick.”
“I was ready for it,” Vivi said. She frowned at the first image to appear on the screen. Aside from the side of Lewis’ white sleeve, the entity was undistinguishable from the shadows coiling across the ceiling and floor. “It’s fine,” she said. “The hall’s just really small. We should just focus on the lower floors.”
The second image was more promising but remained ambiguous. A nondescript specter with long arm attached to its shape and a face with dark eye sockets, its body was accented by lines and under its head was the suggestive edge of a collar.
“So that’s who got ahold of Arthur?” Lewis said. He scanned over the surrounding hall briefly before suggesting they head to the lower floors.
“He resembles that one guy,” Vivi said, as they descended the stairs. She kept looking at the image on the camera, only partially focused on the steps coated in dust and leaves. “From the Klondike case. His suit resembles one they wore during that time.”
“You’ve already decided on a theory, haven’t you?” Lewis glanced back up at Vivi, her face partially caught in the flashlight beam she used to identify the functions on her camera.
“It was the case based on Mable Klondike, she was the little sister to Rufus Klondike,” Vivi stated. They stopped at the bottom of the steps scanning the walls as the noises came, shuffling and thumps of agitation. “It was one of the earliest cases of malpractice in the town. Rufus filed charges against the doctor that had looked after his kid sister when she was given an emergency Appendectomy. I think it was on record that the doctor had been intoxicated, and resulted in Mable passing later due to severe infection – which was common back then. The doctor won the case.”
Lewis shook his head and gave a deep sigh. "What a mess that was. Poor kid.“
"Life was rough back then,” Vivi says. "The medical advancements we take for granted today, weren’t even dreamt of back in their time.“ Vivi leaned around Lewis and raised her camera very slowly. It was near silent as the buzz went off and the room was washed with bright light. Lewis glanced around, before turning to Vivi as she held up the camera. She went on with, “Rufus fell to Bootlegging and alcoholism, before his death two years after the case. It wasn’t said, but I wonder if he felt drawn to this place? Trying to win a case that had been lost, decades before.” With her pinky, Vivi outlined a silhouette beside the hall entrance across from them. The same shape and details, but watching them.
“Looks like we don’t need to summon him,” Lewis said. He prodded the piece of chalk in his hand, as he strained his eyes into the gloom to locate the empty hall Vivi had photographed.
__
The nights came quicker and in hindsight the group should have been off the day before, but after the fiasco with the Klondike ghost they had decided to spend one more night at the motel and finalize some of the images that had been picked up, and pick out prime segments credible to the electronic voice recordings taken during the seance to contact one Klondike, Rufus. The greatest irony was compiling the authentic information to a degree that it wouldn’t be labeled as hoax material; there was a fine art to revealing a ghost enough that skeptics could say, “That might be ghost,” rather than, “It’s so dark. What am I looking at?”
During the seance, it wasn’t missed by Lewis that Arthur seemed more uneasy than usual. This wouldn’t be a new matter, but the whole job seemed to have taken a heavy toll on Arthur by the time they were done. Lewis asked Arthur about it while they were loading supplies, but as per his nature Arthur was aloof toward the concerns directed his way.
“I was going to ask,” Vivi admitted, as she helped Lewis secure and pack away their bags of provisions. They each had a bag with their preferred ‘comfort objects’ when they investigated a case. “But I thought I was imagining it.” Vivi sighed as she pushed Arthur’s yellow sack aside. “You don’t think it’s me, do you?”
“Mi arandano,” Lewis chuckled. “Arthur is resilient. He’s taken care of himself through our every misadventure.” It was midday at that time, Vivi’s least favorite time to be productive; yet here she and Lewis sat in the back of the open van, while Arthur was elsewhere picking up some fast and cheap food. “And if it’s any sort of problem, it’s his problem.” Lewis was wrapping sage into tight bundles, and cutting twine to keep the soft leaves tied. They had a whole container of the stuff, compliments of their provider.
“I do like him. More than a friend,” Vivi said. Lewis handed her some sage to stuff into Arthur’s bag, though he hardly ever burned it. “But I like you the same way.” And after a pause, while she was fully focused on finding the perfect spot in Arthur’s bag for the sage. “Sometimes more, I think.” She bit her lip and looked up at Lewis.
Lewis nearly cut himself with his pocket knife when he directed his gaze to Vivi. “Just ‘sometimes?’” he said, while shutting the blade.
“More,” Vivi suggested. She moved away from Arthur’s bag to sit on the bumper by Lewis.
“Ah, I see,” Lewis said. “More sometimes more, then.” Lewis stopped fumbling with his pocket knife when Vivi placed her hand on his. They sat their quietly, up until Arthur hailed out that he and Mystery had returned.
The remainder of the day, up until they were forced into the close quarters of the van, each member developed their unique ballet of avoidance. Arthur had become more reticent and despite Lewis efforts to get him off for a quick chat, that didn’t pan out. That had been the day before.
They drove none stop taking turns, one or two sleeping at a time. It wasn’t the ideal arrangement, and Arthur drove for about two hours on his turn before he had to switch with Lewis. In the passenger seat curled up in a little ball was Mystery, in the middle seat slumped Vivi with her head resting on Lewis’ shoulder as she slept. Lewis didn’t mind, but Vivi was really out and his shoulder was starting to go numb. In the short time before Arthur had awoken him, Lewis hadn’t gotten much rest. It was very tempting now to just pull the van over and shut his eyes.
Thankfully when the sun began to set Arthur had roused from his noisy sleep and poked his head over the passenger seat. Lewis didn’t miss the glance he took of Vivi knocked out, before Arthur directed his bleary gaze to Lewis.
“Yo,” the blonde yawned. “Where we now?”
“Old back road,” Lewis said. “Cut the distance without going through all the major cities. Can you grab me a coffee?”
In the back of the van the four kept a small ice chest with cold packs, and a few of their choice beverages. “You want the latte?” Arthur asked, smirking.
“No, I don’t want the latte,” Lewis hissed, trying not to raise his voice. He frowned as the van rattled down the old road, unable to do much but drive and be a pillow. His face scrunched up when he was met with silence. “Is that all that’s left?” He looked to his side when Arthur held out the chilled coffee drink in the glass container. “Are you Joshin me?”
“Nope.” Arthur took off the plastic wrapper and popped the cap for Lewis. “If I remember right, Vivi got the last mocha. You were being a classy gentleman.”
Lewis took the offered drink and sipped the mellow flavor. “I wasn’t thirsty at the time. Why do we even buy these?” He set the drink in the cup holder and cleared his throat.
“Vivi likes them,” Arthur said. “Though, not often enough.” He leaned back as the aforementioned began to sit up and stretched her arms.
“I like what?”
“Latte’s,” Arthur supplied. “We buy the ice coffees and you’re the only one that want’s the latte’s, but you never drink them. Have you noticed that?”
Vivi adjusts herself on the middle seat and straightens her headband. “No. You’ve never even tried them.”
“I don’t even like the iced coffees,” Arthur snapped. “Too sweet. Ugh.”
Lewis sighed and massaged his eyes with his hand. “Anything to keep me from nodding off,” he said. “We should just buy those 5-hour energy boosters. We can be miserable together.” He takes another swig of the chilled drink in hopes to knock more of the daze in his eyes. “The blueberry isn’t so bad.”
Vivi sets her hand on Mystery’s head after the dog uncoils himself and shakes. “The purple flavor has that artificial grape taste,” she said, smacking her lips. “I like it.” Mystery leaned towards Vivi as she rubbed his ear between her fingers.
Arthur sighs and drapes his arms over the backseat. “You guys betray me. Where’s your dignity?”
“Kind of lost it,” Lewis said. “You kind of build a resistance up over time.” He looked over when Arthur smacked his shoulder.
“Need me to take over?” Arthur asked.
Lewis shook his head and leaned more on the steering wheel. “Give me a few more minutes, and let yourself wake up a bit more. Not that I don’t trust you.”
“I’ve been up for a while,” Arthur admits. He leans on the seat more and rests his chin beside the headrest. “Lemme know when.”
“How many more miles do you think we are from the city?” Vivi asked. She took the latte container from the cup holder and passed it back to Arthur when he reached for it.
“Meh,” Lewis hummed, he cocked his head as he thought about the time. “It’s about six now, maybe we’re another six hours away?” Arthur made an annoyed sound as he passed the bottle to Lewis’ hand. “Hey, I’m not going to risk hitting a deer or some other animal that might be out.” He took a drink and gestured Mystery with the bottle. “Mystery appreciates my consideration, don’t you?”
Mystery barked. Yes, it was nice when humans considered that they were not the only creatures active after dark.
“You ready to pull over now?” Arthur asked. He was slumped over the seat hoping Lewis would volunteer for a little longer, but the van began to decelerate and rolled to a clear spot on the side of the road.
As Lewis slipped out of the van, Vivi leaned forward and collected her carry pack and a flashlight. “I’ll be right back. Don’t worry, I won’t go far. “You stay here, Mystery.” She snapped the door shut and turned the beam of light onto the dusty grass swaying under the breeze. The dull thrum of the van raised as her shoes crunching over the gravel became distant.
Mystery hopped between the middle and passenger seat a few times, before the dog planted his paws up on the window to watch as the dark figure followed the light fading into the overgrown woods. He barked and wagged his tail as he turned to look back at Arthur.
“She’ll be fine,” Arthur soothed. “I worry more about the thing that messes with her.” Arthur crawled over the driver’s seat and wriggled down onto the cushion. He didn’t see where Lewis went, until the passenger door opened and the purple vested figure climbed in. Mystery spun in the middle seat before he jumped up and over the back of the seat, his softs paws made a low thud when his weight came down in the vans back. “How long’ve you been driving?”
Lewis wrapped his arms over his chest and leaned back into the seat. “Nine hours? A hundred. What’s the difference?”
“How much coffee you put away?” Arthur braced his elbows to the steering wheel and set his face into his palms and rubbed away the sleep. “God, I hate these night shift road trips.” He could foresee himself driving till the crack of dawn, which he didn’t mind but it was lonely when you were the only one awake.
Lewis leaned forward to look up through the tilted windshield and to the quarter moon creeping into the sky. “I hear ya,” he says. “I was hoping we’d see some Saint Elmo’s fire, hitting the back road like this. It’s supposed to be common in these parts.”
“How common?” Arthur scoffed.
Lewis smirked. “People have actually reported seeing it? It’s the right time of year, I think.” Lewis jerked to the passenger side when Vivi snapped the door open. He grimaced when she shined the light under her chin and grinned.
“Guys! Guy’s. Come check this out!” she hissed. Vivi leaned forward and took the bottle of 99, she rubbed some of the jell on her hands as she nodded her head off toward the dark lining of the forest. “You’re gonna flip.”
“What’d you find out there?” Lewis was the first out, standing before Vivi as she started talking.
Arthur tried to get a word in as he groaned and thudded his forehead onto the steering wheel. “I have a six hour drive ahead of us,” he said. “Can we come back when we come through this area again?”
“That never works out, Art.” Vivi beckoned him with her hands as if reeling him out of the van. “You can stay here if you want, but you’ll miss out.” She tossed her bag onto the passenger seat and took a drink from the iced coffee. “Mystery! You’re coming too.”
Mystery sailed over the middle seat and bounced out of the van to join Vivi and Lewis.
“Mystery’s coming,” Lewis said, with a shrug. “Turn the motor off while we’re gone and lock the doors.”
Arthur twisted the keys out of the ignition and shut off the lights. “You didn’t say please.” Arthur locked and shut the door, before he rounded the front of the amber hood. “What is it you found?” He directed to Vivi.
“It’s not far off the road,” Vivi began, as she spun away. “Looks completely abandoned.” Mystery trotted ahead of her beside the beam of light from her torch. “Out of curiosity, I read some of the old articles online about mines in the area.” Vivi slipped effortlessly through an opening in the tree trunks, Lewis was not far from her selected path.
“A mine?” Arthur snapped. “Are you sure?” He weaved around the dry timber of the forest edge, struggling not to lose his footing when he detoured from the light source a bit. The lack of suitable moonlight made it a challenge to see anything under his white shoes, given how thick the tangled branches in the canopy were. He focused on the crackle of brush generated by their progress, as the gnarled branches snagged and cracked in his pants. The woods were silent of life and eerie in their stillness, and swarming with dark shapes tinged with emerald glitter.
“Can… I get some light over here?” Arthur stopped in his tracks when he was aware of how alone he was. He looked around and spun in place but Vivi, Lewis, and Mystery had vanished. He was in the middle of a dark thicket with the black shapes of trees barring him in. A creeping sense came over Arthur as if he were not alone, though at this point he wanted to be. It caused his heart rate to escalate when he decided there was no logical reason why he should be feeling the creeps, but for his overworked mind.
“Vivi?” Arthur called. “Mystery? Lewis?” He jerked around when a flutter of birds crashed through the night, and winced when his rash movement upset his cut. The insignificant light around him was dimming, he could feel it. Where did the light go? “Guys? C’mon!”
“Arthur.”
Arthur spun in place, fighting to peer through the veil that coated his eyes. The woods were silent and still, he was alone. “Lewis?” He sprang back when a cold hand snatched at his wrist, he gave a shout as he ran his back into a tree.
“Arthur, it’s us,” Vivi hissed. She directed the torch light to his feet, her glasses sparkling fuchsia under the glimmer. “Are you okay? We turned around, and you weren’t there.” Lewis and Mystery were on either side of her, concern in their expressions.
Arthur glanced over them as he took control of his breathing, one hand pressed to his sore side. “I’m fine now, really,” he assured. “I got turned around. That’s all. Turned around.” He looked up at Lewis when he exhaled a sharp breath.
“Don’t do that,” Lewis said. “You scared the crap out of me.”
Arthur nodded. “Yeah. Sorry,” he sighed. “I’ll be more careful.”
It was no problem for Vivi to relocate their trail and lead the three to her find. There was actually rusted, metal bars sinking under the coils of roots and leaves in the thick woods. She commented how cool it was to find out in the woods, and then to follow them into the clearing ahead.
“Look-look.” Vivi skipped over to a rail track that was imbedded with rock, lying beside it was a partially eroded mining cart. “How often do you go for a walk in the woods, and you find this?” To her question, she directed the flashlight beam toward the yawning opening of stone, jagged icicles jutting down where the water had eroded.
“Wow,” Lewis gasped. “This looks incredibly old.” After a pause as Vivi danced the light beam over the caves mouth, he spoke again, “And you looked up some articles about mines in this area?”
“Well, I looked a few up,” Vivi admitted. “Silver, gold, coal – all were the more common ones. Mines I mean.” Vivi approached the dark entrance, the insignificant blaze of light was swallowed up in the swirling gullet. “I didn’t look up any on the map.”
Mystery had broken from the group to stand directly in the entrance of the mine, ears forward and body completely still. He didn’t move, even when Lewis knelt beside him and gave his shoulders a scratch.
“Something in there?” Lewis asked the dog. Mystery didn’t say and didn’t budge. “Do any of you feel like taking a look inside? Arthur? Remember what I said about the Saint Elmo’s?”
At first Arthur didn’t answer. He was focused elsewhere, turning left and right and looking over his shoulder. His movement wasn’t immediately obvious in the pale moon light, but that could be how the trees had stretched over the area and refused what little light the moon had to offer. After another prompt, Arthur jerked back to Lewis with a whimper.
“Yeah.” Arthur clasped his face between his palms and rubbed his hair back. “I mean no. We really should get back on the road. Right Vivi?” He winced when Vivi turned the light to him, then directed it back to herself.
Vivi slung the flashlight beam across the caves opening. “Just a few feet,” she said. “Then we’ll come back out. We might not get another chance to explore it.”
Arthur took a step and paused. Under the frail moonlight the rocky rise of the mine had chopped lines and shimmering textures, as if miniscule quartz crystals had caught the light. It almost looked green, with the deep blue backdrop of the night sky and the stars sparkling. He took a step back and shook his head.
“This… doesn’t feel right,” Arthur said at last. “Y’know when we go into those weirdly built homes, and you get that sinking feeling? Only this is ten times worse. Fifty, maybe.” He took a few breathes. “Besides, abandoned mines can be dangerous.”
Vivi turned the light as she looked to Lewis. “Well,” Lewis began, “maybe it’s best you stay out here. We’ll be fine. You want Mystery to stay with you?”
Arthur made to answer, but he heard a sound, or a whisper. The wind, he decided. Though the air was still and cool that night. “No!” He hurried forward, shaking his head. “You think I’m scared, do you?”
Lewis held up his hands. “No one said that,” he said. “I think you’re just worried about us. We’ll be fine, I promise. Just wait here.” Lewis separated from the group and hunted around under the moonlight at the edge of the woods, before he returned with a sizable stick in his fist. Lewis took a bandanna from his pocket and wrapped it tightly to the sticks end, then with his lighter Lewis’ lit the makeshift fire torch.
Arthur rolled his eyes a bit. A quirk of Lewis’ though he almost always carried a flashlight for emergencies. Lewis thought the flaming torch added to the spooky ambiance if he could manage it safely.
Lewis took a few steps toward the cave, the excited flame gave off orange and yellow contrast that rolled across the gray stone of the jagged stalactites. He turned back to Vivi close by and nodded towards the ragged opening. “You want me to go first?”
Vivi frowned at him. “Oh sure,” she said. “When you fall down a chasm, I can grab you and pull you back up.”
Lewis laughed dryly at that, as they entered into the spreading black. “We’ll take it slow, and not put our feet where we can’t see.” Lewis glanced back when Arthur hurried up, Mystery matching his stride. “You sure Arthur?” The group cringed when a scuttling, rasp sound came from the deeper interior of the tunnels dark depths.
Arthur grabbed the back of Lewis’ vest when he ran into him. When the sound died down and it was obvious it was some animal or the air settling, Arthur let out a breath. “No,” he sighed. “But the suspense is agonizing.”
The tunnel’s interior was larger than anticipated, as if opening up the deeper they went into the side of the hill it was carved into. Arthur kept between Vivi and Lewis as the noises continued at random intervals – sometimes rustling or clicking, but his companions didn’t seem fazed by it. The added intensity of the flickering torch helped subside some of the creeping shadows that rolled at the edge of the groups circle, while Vivi’s light faithfully led the way.
“Mystery, don’t go too far head,” Vivi called, as the dog sprang ahead. “Stay where we can see you.” She shined the yellow beam on the little dog, while Lewis moved a little further ahead with Arthur clinging to his back.
Arthur shivered audibly. It was one of the few times he wished he wore his sleeves down. Arthur studied the musty surfaces of the rocky walls as the orange light rolled through the black, his eyes occasionally dart down on the gravel that crunched under foot of their varied weights. The black minerals almost glint with a green sheen like emerald, in some areas more vibrant than others. Arthur tried to focus on the images working in his mind, and attributed for most of the distortions to the thick shadows contrasted by the light.
This didn’t explain the chatter or scurrying whispers on the air.
“What are those sounds?” Arthur murmured. He gripped Lewis’ shirt a little tighter, certain the curtain of light that wound around them would pass over some shapeless mound of fur and teeth.
“I don’t hear anything,” Vivi confessed. “Probably just bats, or maybe a ‘coon? Mystery, is there something?”
Mystery paid her comment no mind. There seemed no sound or smell that had his undivided attention, but he had drawn back to the group and kept close to Arthur’s feet. Mystery noted that the tracks of the mining cart had twisted apart and ended some distance back. A few tools lined the sides of the path beside the rock walls, pick axes and a shattered helmet.
Stone steps were set into their path, and along the side of the tunnels interior was an old railing with a chain. Vivi ran her hand along it feeling the icy dampness. “I wonder if they had tours down here,” she pondered. “I can’t believe they would leave this place open like it is.”
“Maybe we should—” Arthur cut off as he swung around, rigid and wide eyed. “Leave,” he finished. “It’s probably closed to the public.”
“They’d have a big gate out front to keep out intruders,” Lewis says. He leans his torch to the path sinking to the left, the stone steps leading downward. “Sometimes old places like this get forgotten when they built the big interstates. Not a lot of people these days want to drive out to a big hole in the ground.”
Vivi laughed. “When you put it that way….”
Lewis cackled with her. “Yeah,” he says, in good humor. “And buy postcards of ‘the big hole in the ground.’”
Still unsettled, Arthur cracked a nervous little grin. “Every summer you’d go off on those family vacations.”
The laughter died down and Lewis inhaled the musty air. “I miss ‘em though.” He brought the flickering torch closer to the group to highlight his smiling face, gratified he was able to share new adventure with his friends. Vivi turned her eyes from Lewis and smiled at Arthur through the light, and she could make out the fluttering outlines of Arthur’s face as he returned a mild smirk.
“There’s a path this way,” Vivi said, as she stepped carefully on the dusty rocks. “It looks like it heads up.”
“Vivi,” Lewis warned. “We should stick together.” He could make out her shoulder and hair as she moved out of the light, as she tilts herself to peer up the direction the tunnel banked.
“I’ll be all right,” she said, as Lewis turned to follow. “I’ll have Mystery with me. C’mon Mystery.”�� She shined the light back when Mystery padded over. “You guys go that way, we’ll go this way and just see what else is here.”
Lewis wasn’t comfortable with her going off alone, but Mystery would be there. “Let’s go Arthur,” he said, and directed the torch on their heading. “It is getting late.”
“Now it’s getting late?” Arthur scoffed. “It’s five minutes later than we could have been down the road.” He stepped after Lewis, his shoes slipping on the rocks and loose gravel.
“Careful!” Lewis hissed, grabbing his arm and steadying his movements. “If you want, Vivi can drive for a bit. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to, if you asked.” As they walked, Lewis rotated his shoulders and worked out the stiffness that had formed from being a pillow. “That reminds me,” he began, and let his voice trail off.
Arthur picked up the pace anticipating a conversations, but Lewis didn’t elaborate and they walked in silence. The chatters still came, snipping at Arthur’s ears as if insects were buzzing about. Arthur focused on the edges of the light worrying the dark masses that seemed to slither and conspire over the rock. When Arthur had endured long enough, he asked, “Reminds you?”
Lewis waited a bit longer, ensuring that their voices didn’t echo in the jagged walls of the stone. He noted that the carved rock was jagged in some places, and had a green tint that might’ve been caused by algae. “You thought I forgot our conversation we started the other day?” A long sigh came somewhere behind him.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
Lewis is carful as he looks back over his shoulder. “Neither do I. But you want to give me an idea?” He lifts the flame higher when a shape behind Arthur melts out of sight. Arthur gives him a perplexed look, Lewis only returns his attention to their path. “If there is something on your mind, we could talk about it.” He continues after a pause, “You’ve seemed more run down, and you’re constantly getting harassed. It used to not be this bad. I’ve noticed.”
Arthur caught up to Lewis and turned his eyes to the rocky floor between them. “I swear it’s nothing. I’m just working through some things,” Arthur says, hands in his pockets. He swipes at his face, startled by a faint flutter. “Usual story, have a lot on my mind. Just give me some time and I’ll work it out.” He met Lewis’ eyes when Lewis looked his way, and Arthur made a mild gesture with his hand.
“Whatever hermano.” Lewis switched the troch staff between his hands. “Just remember, you can always talk to any of us. We’ll help you, or make a complete mess of the matter. The point being, we’ll try for you.”
“I know,” Arthur muttered. “Some things though.” He paused when the tunnel opened up and the air thinned. The light of the torch Lewis carried seemed engulfed by the black void, with only the barest hints of walls at the furthest their eyes could reach. “Woo.”
“Look at that,” Lewis said, with awe. He swept the orange glow of the torch around, when only their path became the solid surface visible. “Do you see that?”
“No?” Arthur glanced around at the sharp spikes carved from the stone stretching and curving toward them. Lewis kept moving, the light thinning around Arthur’s shoulders to admit the presence of dark shadows. “Lewis?”
“Stay there,” he said. “I think there’s a pit.” Arthur could make out the outline of his tall friend under the intensity of the flame. Lewis lowered the light as he stepped cautiously, Arthur could make no sense of his surroundings but the black box that seemed framed around his broad shoulders. “Echo!” He called with little effort. “Geeze, I wonder how big it is. You wanna come see?”
Arthur snorted, “No. Hell no, I can see enough.” He turned his attention to the other side and examined the sharp drop beyond the rocky spikes. Below twisted a haze of green, Arthur inched closer to the side mesmerized by the liquid movement. “What IS that?” He felt it pushing through the air, twisting into the back of his mind. Arthur made a soft sound as he stepped back, pressing a hand to his brow.
“Don’t move around too much,” Lewis warned. “Well… we should probably head back and regroup.”
Lewis dropped the light when the dark shifted. A green jewel glittered high above, becoming brighter and brighter as it ascended into the black void.
#mystery skulls#mystery skulls fanfic#mystery skulls animated#msa fanfic#msa#mystery skulls lewis#msa lewis#msa vivi#msa arthur#mystery skulls ghost
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HOFU: HIDDEN TREASURE IN OUR BACKYARD
Would you like a cup of tea?
Well, I’ll quickly turn on the kettle, drop the tea bag in the cup, pour the hot water and there you have it!
This quick fix is customary in other parts of the world but here in Japan, they perform tea ceremonies that are held in high esteem; Japanese take great pride in their tea ceremonies.
But why such pomp and reverence over a cup of green tea? Originally, tea plants didn’t grow in Japan. They were brought here from China. Tea was once a very rare, valuable drink used as medicine. Hence, the formality we see on display up to this day.
Sometimes we want to travel far out on great adventures and we fail to realise that the treasure we’re looking for is right there in our backyard. This was the case with our visit to Hofu, which is a neighboring town in our prefecture （parish）.
For us, experiencing the tea ceremony was a rich, royal, cultural experience. I knew we were in for a very different encounter from the time we slipped off our “outdoor shoes” and tip-toed into the respectful silence of the tea house.
Such stillness. Such quiet. Such peace.
The way our host served us our cups of Matcha, was like watching a graceful rendition on THE ART of serving tea. Our tea experience was filled to the brim with ritualistic movements. Everything from sitting in the Japanese “seiza” position to bowing upon receiving and returning our bowls. Yes, the experience is steeped in etiquette traditions but it is also very much about the act of service from the host to the guests.
It literally came to a bittersweet end with the serving of Japanese traditional sweets which are served to restore balance to the palette after drinking the slightly bitter green tea.
Before I go, let me share the highlight of the day. After the tea ceremony, our host escorted us down the hallway and past these scaping glassdoors which beautifully framed the roji gardens. In a few words, the gardens were like a magical bubble of everything Mother Nature has to offer: luscious trees, whistling rivers filled with coy fish and decorated with uniquely shaped mini-boulders in all the right places.
She led us into a petite room. Not small….PETITE! In this room, was a Nijiriguchi, which is a traditional crawl door used in the old Japanese tea house. It was symbolic of a quiet portal into a peaceful zen away from the noise of the world.
Right before we gobbled down some yummy okonomiyaki (savory pancake) and takoyaki(octopus fried in a batter), Moe took an adventurous bite into some squid tentacles. NOT I...said the cat! I’m not on that level yet.
It was a great day of culture, adventure, and food. Yes, there are thousands of pearls scattered across the world in exotic places dripping in history and tradition but if we look closely, we can also find the treasured pearls in our backyard.
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2705 Words of IDFK what this is. Please Enjoy.
Give Me Sad Drabbles | Currently Always accepting.
A little over a week’s time had passed since the ‘ assault ’ . Verona was told she was nothing short of LUCKY to be alive , that she should be grateful for the blessed breath in her lungs. However , rather than being treated as a victim , the young witch found herself facing potential interrogation. What really coated her veins was exposed , the corpse beside her showed signs of ritualistic disposal ( signs of which were drawn underneath the John Doe across the cobbles ) , evidence of arcane foul-play was found … Something , or rather someONE was very much amiss in the castle walls and all fingers now pointed to her. The little second-hand prodigy had survived all odds , but at what expense ? How ? WHY ?
It seemed that par for course in dramatic fashion , inner circles tried to sweep the event under the rug to avoid suspicion and unwarranted effects. However , with one unnamed , unmarked grave to dig and the only known witness ( and potential suspect ) on their hands rather coincidentally muted from her injuries , answers would not come easy even for the brilliant minds tethered within the castle. Besides , forgeries and clever addendums could only get us so far , isn’t that right ?
Now why would we need to protect HER and all her secrets … ?
UNLESS —
⋞ ╰ ⚔ ╮ ≽
Pandora hunched as he bends by the open window , the feeble little flowers placed in the vase on the sill beneath him withering underneath the breath of his presence alone. He was BEYOND consolation , BEYOND furious ! Why ? Why would she ever do this ?!
“Come away from the window , Pandora , please ,” Verona urges , pushing herself upright with a grimace. It was telepathy now that spoke for her , a rather invasive craft of communication but it would suffice. “I don’t need anyone else raising the alarm about us anymore than they already have.”
The apparition rounds on her then , normally featureless face splintering and giving way to boned , avian-esque visage. “You shoulda’ considered that shit b e f o r e you got yourself caught up in all of this , girl !” Verona keeps her features placid , but cannot resist flinching at his tone. “Do you – ” He points a lean hook at her , crested mane shuddering as he stalks to the side of the bed , looming over her. “ – Have any gods-damned idea what you’ve gotten us into ? ANY IDEA ?! Tell me !”
The young witch simply looks up at him , her skin prickling unpleasantly as he draws nearer , towering above in seething scorn. “Pan , p l e a s e – ”
“No !” He bellows , swinging his hand off to the side. Hueless , soulless gaze dancing between the swordsmetal gaze of his master’s , trying to cling to any sense of remorse within her still-human heart. “Not this time ! You don’t GET to simply tighten the reins n’ say ‘ please , Pan ’ n’ believe it will all go away ! You don’t GET to hocus-pocus your fuckin’ way outta’ this one ! It doesn’t work that way , not ANYMORE ! And I don’t know how to make you understand that !” Permanent grin is shaped more like a sneer , colorless orbs in deepened sockets shining dangerously with his anger. “You’ve opened a door into some inescapable , hellish unknown. And LUCKY YOU ,” He waves his hands about , stepping away in a dramatic turning gesture , “You earned his undivided fuckin’ attention ! And lemme tell you , since c l e a r l y you haven’t figured it out : he did not SAVE you that day , he was the reason you’re like this now ! He was the reason our lives are bein’ ripped apart ! And he will not stop , Verona , I assure you , he will NEVER be satisfied !”
The room falls quiet as Pandora finishes his tantrum , his gaze searching Verona’s face for something – ANYTHING – to assure him she had heard his words , that she u n d e r s t o o d. Instead , he finds she turns her head away , eyes closing. She’s chosen to run from him as much as she’s elected to run from the truth. But he can tell , by the way water stains the corners of her eyes , and her teeth pinch quavering lip , that she k n o w s what she had done. The shadow of the Peryton heaves a sigh and defeatedly sits on the edge of the bed , feathered tail flicking to and fro like an irritated whiplash.
“… He’s goin’ to return , you know. And every time he does , there will be more n’ more to give. And believe me , there is no telling him he cannot take it. There’ll be nothing left when he’s through with us.” Unearthly face presses to palms. Resigned to their fate , he adds on , “If only I’d fuckin’ been there…”
Verona takes a breath to steel herself , slowly looking over at her Familiar. She reaches out and gently takes his hand in her own , her skin unfond of the way the connection feels. For him , she offers a weakened smile , silently trying to tell him it will be o k a y , one way or another.
⋞ ╰ ⚔ ╮ ≽
Ienzo stands , harrowed and shaken , outside the doorway. They had only been able to eavesdrop on one side of the conversation ( or was it an argument ? ). And by the sounds of it , there was plenty they had not been informed of. Verona neglected to tell them about whatever this all was.
No , that’s not true , there were signs… They should have noticed ! They could have helped her ! Agitation bled through them , both at their outright incompetence and at Verona for choosing to keep them away from her. They couldn’t place where this ire spawned from , couldn’t explain why they felt the least bit betrayed by their friend ; did none of those moments beneath stars and playing pretend with their magic matter ? did none of the words - ?
Get a grip.
Of course they meant nothing to her.
How could they be so easily manipulated ?
… But Verona …
Would never , would she ?
She was DIFFERENT. In more ways than one.
Time spent inside their head , sifting through memories to discern fact from fiction , causes the young mage to nearly jump out of their skin when the apparition of Pandora pokes his antlered head out of the door. Still reeling from being startled , Ienzo prepares to explain themself – any number of lies could’ve dissuaded the Familiar , they figured – but the mistake of meeting his gaze sends World REELING , everything turning topsy-turvy , stomach lurching into throat and bile boiling at back of tongue. Hand shakily reaches out to grasp the wall , eyes closing , body swerving… What was this ?
Arm hooks ‘round the plenty smaller form , and pulls them into the room , settling them into a chair. The Greater gives an offended grunt as if in reply to something. “How was I supposed to know your little boyfriend was outside ?” Pillow pelts the Peryton in the back of the head , one hand raising and pressing to temple as Verona begins to ‘ shout ’ at him. “Al – alright ! Alright ! RELAX ! They’ll be fine ! I’m goin’ , anyways…” The shadows slips out of view , disappearing somewhere.
Verona quietly watches as Ienzo gains their bearings , fingers knitting and unknitting her lap. “I… Did not think you would be able to get out of your teachings today , Ienzo.” She offers in a soft tone. “I apologize for Pandora , he has um – attributes – that cause sickness in others. I would bring him around more often if it were not for that fact aha – ” She tries for a laugh , but it sounds restrained , hollowed , gutted. Her gaze departs from her friend’s face , still sifting between paled unease and curious attentiveness to her telepathy. “But I – I am glad to see you. I’ve missed you.”
Ienzo manages to straighten in their seat , blinking away the remnants of Pandora’s influence in order to focus more fully on Verona’s words trickling through their thoughts. Telepathy… ? How did she happen to learn that ?
They manage a small smile , a nod. “I missed you as well. It’s been some time since we stole away into the library in the middle of the night.” At least the remark earned them a smile. They press on , “Funny though that your… Familiar … Believes us to be an item of some kind. I have to wonder what you’ve been saying whilst I’m not here.”
Verona sits up straighter , silvery gaze narrowing dangerously at the younger mage. “Fuck off.”
It wasn’t the EXACT reaction Ienzo expected , but the outright remark was enough to make them laugh. She was always going to be the more brash of the two , both in magic and in tongue.
The sound , though , of Ienzo’s own amusement was enough to make Verona’s features soften and warm considerably. She beams at them. “Why do you ask ? I never took you for someone who fed into gossip. Ah , are you interested perhaps in putting truth to the rumors ?” She was cruel , also , able to play the game of wits just as easily as they could. And she would not trade the staggered look on their face for anything in that moment. If she squinted , she might even dare say their cheeks flushed with her comment. What made it funnier ( at least to her ) was she could’ve sworn they muttered something in Russian. She snorted , shaking her head , “C’mon , I’m pulling your chain !” Another pillow is lobbed in jest. “Come here , make yourself comfy. We haven’t had time like this in a g e s !”
… Moments bleed into HOURS , sun high in his roost begins to sink lower and lower across the horizon , casting the room in a dusky gleam , an evening chill wafting in through open window. The two little conjurers nestled together – just as always – and talked about everything , about ANYTHING that came to mind. Though one thing stuck out : no matter what direction Ienzo tried to take on the topic , Verona would disclose nothing of what happened to her and though they were not usually one to pry , the fact she tip-toed and danced around their every question raised valid concerns.
There was something she wasn’t saying , something she desperately needed them to understand , they noticed , but they couldn’t figure out w h a t.
As she speaks to Ienzo as fondly as she always has , she senses an all too familiar lurking in the room. Ienzo must notice as well , they were keen and intelligent. They were the ‘ prodigal son ’ for a reason. Her heart trembles in its cage , the ichor in her veins burning wildly. It must show on her face :
The FEAR , the KNOWING.
“Verona ,” Their voice is lowered now , gaze intense as they look at her. “You have to tell me what is happening , otherwise I – ”
“No ,” She whispers , eyes wide , unblinking , swordsmetal hues akin to silvery pyres in darkening room. “You don’t understand !”
“Don’t tell me that !” Impatient now , offended by the very phrase she’d used , and very much through with being strung along. “Tell me ! Let me help ! I am your friend , I cannot simply sit idly by and watch this happen !”
There is a sensation of the air growing unbreathable , shadows uncoiling from their posts and converging , w h i s p e r s leaking through the gaps in their untraceable seams and shapes. Unearthly , eldritch form paces across the walls ; one hoof over the next , over the next , great horned skull cocked in their direction as they talk in hushed tones , glimmering hues tracing like fire across the woodwork , setting it r o t and smolder. Aura of room grows more clamorous , ripples of otherworldly energy seeks to smother meager little magely lights under the blankets —
( Hurt them to PROTECT them )
Verona trembles , her hand reaching out and sneaking a touch over their cheek before settling on their shoulder , pushing them away harshly. “My friend ?” She echoes , the reverb of her telepathy growing stranger. “Are you sure ?” Their confusion palpable , she continues , delving into their thoughts , ripping open doors to memories and imprinting shadows of her own within them. “I don’t think so.”
They can see everything now : the truth , what happened , she was showing them… Giving them access to her thoughts as she rifled through their own. “Verona – ”
“We are two sides of a very unlikely coin , Ienzo ,” She continues , forcing her presence into their skull , making them flinch and grimace at the sound of her. “And I fear… The face of the coin as fallen on my own.”
What – what did that even mean ? She was so very good at being cryptic but why at a time like this ?!
Clawed digits suddenly fix into Ienzo’s slate hair by the roots , touch is rotting , corrosive , skin is set to blacken and tarnish as illusionist is lifted away from Verona’s company like ragdoll , aurum torches against crowned visage examining them. A disdainful rumble ; displeased by what ungodly creature finds in Ienzo. A huff , blowing CINDER into the younger’s face before thrusting them painfully out of the room. A few flicks of hooked tail , fire crackles , spurns to life , leaking across floor and walls. Verona has no voice with which to scream , however she desperately , painfully lurches from the bed , scrambling for the door in a moment of regret and indecision , reaching for her friend across the threshold. Shadowed tendrils snag her tight , reeling her back to where she BELONGS , great wing securing her in place almost possessively. Vision of demonic entity and friend is consumed by fire and smoke , door slamming shut and locking —
⋞ ╰ ⚔ ╮ ≽
There was no real explanation for what happened. There was no sign of a fire nor anything of what Ienzo described. Verona just appeared to have left , without a trace , leaving not even a magical thread to go on and seek her by. The one thing – or perhaps one of MANY at this point – that Ienzo could not shake from their mind , was the look of KNOWING on Verona’s face. She knew this was coming. She knew what she’d opened the door to and evoked. She knew her price was due and it was only the beginning.
However , perhaps unbeknownst to her new Master , she’d left Ienzo with the pieces to come find her in the shadows of memories lingering in their mind ; notes and clues to help them unravel what really happened. And they made a promise to whatever God would have listened , that this would not be how it ended. Not by a long shot.
#fabulumn#theshadow; submission#theshadow; promptedanswers#theshadow; answers#[ read more for length#I sat and screamed at this as I started my shift#and I'm still internally screaming#and that ENDING?#perfect stubbornness right there#I love this so much aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ]#submission
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#StarTrekTNG S7E17 - Masks ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Packed full of prime, cheesy Star Trek goodness, #Masks feels a bit like a pure blast of TOS Trek nostalgia as the Enterprise encounters a rogue comet that contains an advanced alien archive. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We all know Brent Spiner loves a multi-role episode and he absolutely knocks it out of the park in this one, creating four distinct and fascinating characters as Data finds himself compelled to participate in a ritualistic reenactment of an ancient civilisation. It's not an action-packed episode but it's joyously surreal, beautifully staged and endlessly, goofily, entertaining as we watch the Enterprise inexorably transformed into an ancient stone temple. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #StarTrek #TheNextGeneration #masks #CraggusTrekTrekPhaseII #StarTrekTheNextGeneration #brentspiner #masaka #korgano https://www.instagram.com/p/B7VvDhUlDT3/?igshid=16adhv0mg2dqv
#startrektng#masks#startrek#thenextgeneration#craggustrektrekphaseii#startrekthenextgeneration#brentspiner#masaka#korgano
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Thoughts on “The Butcher Knife Cares Not for the Lamb’s Cry”
Star Trek Discovery spoilers follow
What the fuck is up with that title? It took 19 years, but something has finally displaced “Wrongs Darker than Death or Night” as the most pretentious Star Trek title of all time.
I like the dichotomy between Georgiou and Lorca; I really feel like they’re trying to set it up such that Georgiou is the nice, normal, “good” Starfleet captain like Picard or Janeway and Lorca is supposed to be like Garth of Izar or Captain Ransom. Really he’s the kind of guy who would be a one-off villain-of-the-week on TNG or TOS, though I suspect that they will give him more depth.
Speaking of Georgiou, those Klingon bastards ate her! Well, so much for my theory that she was still alive.
(It’s been thoroughly established that Klingons do engage in ritualistic consumption of the hearts of their slain enemies, but just eating the whole body seems like something that they would only do after facing starvation, which they were, so...whatevs)
I love and support the tardigrade.
They should have an episode where Christopher Pike or somebody comes by to give Lorca a good talking to about cruelty to animals.
Actually, with the whole tardigrade thing, Lorca reminds me a lot of Captain Ransom from the Equinox episodes of Voyager, and given that one of the writers of Discovery does most of the post-series Voyager novels, I think that this is probably pretty intentional.
Burnham needs to work on her people skills. Actually, that could be the tagline for this entire season so far.
How did someone as manifestly idiotic as Landry ever ascend to the rank of Commander, my god? Well, at least we don’t need to have her around anymore.
How come it took 6 months for anyone to try to help out good ol’ Voq and has sarcophagus ship?
Kol of the House of Kor. Presumably, he married into it.
I wonder if Kor himself will put in an appearance. If so, I hope he’s appropriately smooth-headed.
I checked to see whether Corvan II had appeared before in canon; apparently it’s the origin of that rare anteater thing that Riker and Worf ran into a burning classroom to save. So kudos to the Discovery for saving those anteater things from marauding Klingon invaders.
Lt. Stamets is a prick, but I appreciate that even his prickishness takes a backseat to his love of science.
So given that it’s not because of evil tardigrades slaughtering starship crews, how come we never see these fungal drives in the future? Maybe they’ll get lost in space. Ooh, or time.
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