#((sophia continues to use her powers for evil

[magickmuses]

🔮✨MAGICKMUSES━━━━ an indie multimuse rp blog that tells a tale set in Earth-13980 (it's host to a myriad of colorful characters~) primarily fantasy/superhero based.

Conjured by Angus | 33 | He/Him

Non-Selective & Private. OC & Crossover Friendly!

High Activity | Beta Editor

Blog Content Warnings: religion, politics, discussion of trauma & mental illness, reincarnation, general violence, torture.

Affiliates: @ancicntforged ✨ @the-purple-hero ✨ @thatbellagaze ✨ @x-whiskeylullaby-x ✨ @the-expatriate ✨ @fctedivided ✨ @pcrplevenom ✨ @olliesmultimuse ✨ @gh0ulfriend-muses ✨ @strcngered ✨ @rxnowned-vxmpire-hxnter ✨ @purple-paw-muses

Glossary of Terms often used on the Blog:

The Skylanders: Much like before in their original homeworld, the Skylanders are the champions of righteous justice on Earth and Akerah. Although their numbers are vastly much less than they were 1000 years ago, when Spyro was their leader. But when they needed him most, he was gone. The Skylanders were hunted down one by one at the hands of the wicked Power-Fist, until only 20 were left. The Skylanders now are led by Cynder, while still being opposed by Power-Fist and his space armada. They possess powerful and unique abilities over the elements, each Skylander being a different one. Currently, the Skylanders are kept in check by the Mabu Defense Force, who keeps a ever-watchful on them, lest they go rogue and cause trouble. Spyro the Dragon and Cynder are most popular among the Skylanders seen in the Mythical Multiverse, they are pretty famous among the general public and very much much well-liked. The Skylanders are bold enough to take on threats than even the Avengers and other heroes can't handle by themselves.

Arkeyans and Their Technology: Relics of the begone Arkeyan Empire that was defeated 10,000 long years ago by the original Skylanders, the Giants. Who were the Arkeyans, you ask? An evil empire of sentient robots. Too bad much of their history has been lost to the sands of time. The influences of this civilization continues to be felt throughout the universe to this day, and many of their inventions continue to be discovered by archeologists many centuries after their reign ended. As an ancient civilization and empire, nobody knows the true origins of the Arkeyans, but it is known they were once peaceful beings. It was the Arkeyans who created the modern day tech that humans and aliens use. With their marvelous technology, they created immensely powerful war machines, to which they used to wage war upon the universe as a superior lifeform. Soon enough though, the great Arkeyans dominated Skylands and the rest of the known cosmos. They were absolutely brilliant in their vast intellect, during their reign all of Skylands had been enslaved by them. Led by the ruthless King Arkus, they were the most powerful civilization in the universe. Until their downfall by the Giants, they were practically unbeatable. The Iron Fist was later locked away in the Skylanders Museum.

Portal Masters: They were once considered the wisest and most powerful beings in Skylands and the universe. But they have since faded from relevancy in favor of superheroes, and are now considered a myth by others. Only quite a few in written history have been born with ability to manipulate portals and command legendary heroes, such as Master Eon and more currently, Portal Mistress Sophia. Portal Masters were the protectors of Skylands alongside their chosen champions, their mission to defend the realm from The Darkness and all those under it's influence, such as Kaos and Malefor. While the Portal Masters were once in the defends of the universe, they like the Skylanders are now next to non-existent. After Power-Fist arrived in Skylands, their future looked bleak, but however, a new Portal Master hailing from Earth is now on the scene. And she's doing everything in her power to drive back the forces of evil once more after Spyro's return in the Mythical Multiverse.

The Titans: These guys are the original the Skylanders for the most part, but other members of the species exist as well. They are titanic and monstrous in size, and are recognized for immense power. Alone a Titan can single-handily level a large city within an hour, but together they can take on even the gods themselves. Most Titans wish to be left alone at their tropical resort, some are legendary heroes, and others are absolutely malevolent and seek to bring harm unto others. Much as Manos the Destroyer of Worlds for example. The Titans are considered dangerous on so many levels by mortals, and are rightfully considered the original gods before others showed up, such as the Greek, Norse, and Celtic pantheons. Yet when all goes wrong, even the mightiest of heroes will take on a Titan that is on a rampage.

Divine Powers: There are millions of gods and goddesses scattered through the Mythical Multiverse. The first and oldest pantheon in existence is the Draconic one, followed by the Elven pantheon, and then others. On Earth there are Greek, Norse, Celtic, Hindu, Egyptian, Polynesian, Chinese, Japanese and more that exist. Some of them appear humanoid in the case of Zeus and Thor, while others are more monstrous in the case of Sobek. Even the Lovecraftian gods exist within the Mythical Multiverse in the case of Ephi, The Darkness and Azathoth, these powers are the Outer Gods and they are among the most powerful beings in the infinite multiverse.

The Elements: There are ten known elements seen within the Mythical Multiverse, with the possibility of even more out there existing. They are the essence of everything found in the Mythical Multiverse. Everyone has access to an element, but one only. Though every element is different from one another, they are all equally important to each other. The known elements are as follows, Air, Earth, Water, Fire, Tech, Magic, Life, Undead, Light, and Dark. Together they all make up the building blocks of the Prime Matrerial Plane in the Mythical Multiverse.

#pinned intro #please dont reblog

[tiodolma]

I've always thought the prophecy was about both striking a balance. Merlin was meant to keep Morgana in check and Morgana was meant to keep Merlin in check.

Me too. Even Alice Troughton in the dvd commentary with Colin Morgan for s4 admitted that love/hate were always coexisted with each other.

Morgana certainly had the power and the invincibility for it, to keep Merlin in check, to draw him out, to make him face his dark and human side, to make him face his wrongs his sins and his victories.

Unfortunately Morgana didn't have the information he had. Merlin had all the information and he used that against everyone. Moreover her magic matured too late (with respect to Merlin's).

I think the real tragedy of Merlin's life was that he was already conditioned to kill from the very start (ep 1x06 Remedy To Cure All Ills ironic title ngl). That episode alone started it all. He was so so new and naive to everything and in that episode he showed absolutely no remorse at "accidentally" killing someone who offered him guidance and knowledge (at the expense of gaius).

And look I get it, he panicked. But after that he never wondered why Edwin was so so righteously angry at Gaius. Remember, Gaius sold Edwin's parents out to Uther and let young Edwin escape. Edwin's gravitas was so justified, you know? Merlin never tried to learn about the things Gaius did to protect "others" and most importantly to protect himself and his position. Even if Gaius thought black magic was evil, he still threw others under the bus for fighting for their lives. He still left Edwin (and Merlin) an orphan.

How does this relate with Morgana? You see from that point on, from episode 1x06 up to "2x03 The Nightmare Begins" Merlin has already killed at least seven people, most of them magic users.

Edwin,

Mary Collins (indirectly but him thwarting her plan zapped her of all energy),

Aulfric,

Sophia,

The Black Knight (who had a reason for it's anger),

Tauren's goons,

Nimueh

Sigan

Hengrist's goon's

plus he almost choose to get Mordred killed... 2 times.

He knew the reasons most of these had, but they didn't matter to him, he was never allowed to properly emphathise with them (Gaius taught him very very very well). Because his orders were always to "eliminate the threat" "kill them" for the sake of his destiny.

As Morgana's magic truly manifested in S2, Merlin was already too far gone and too far deep in the liar and vigilante game. Merlin was continuously performing treasonous and unlawful tasks UNCHECKED for two years! TWO YEARS!

TWO YEARS OF "JUSTIFIED IN HIS OWN HEAD" HOMICIDE AND MURDER WITH NO REAL REPERCUSSIONS.

And also I get why they had resorted to that kind of actions. One of the definitions of extremism from wikipedia said:

In addition, extreme acts are more likely to be employed by marginalized people and groups who view more normative forms of conflict engagement as blocked for them or biased.

That kind of radicalization and extremist training by both Gaius and Kilgharrah was effective as hell.

Morgana only started the proper coups at around mid-s2. She hasn't truly killed anyone for magic yet (aside from Tauren in S1). Even in Fires of Idirsholas she felt guilty of accidentally collaborating with Morgause.

It took 1 year of isolated training away from everyone for Morgana to be fully radicalized, forged in the fires of extremism herself. Even then, even in 3x01 and 3.02 when she killed one guard and she actively helped set in motion Morgause's terrorist attack, she still was willing to hear Merlin out in the crypts. She even laid out all her cards, showed her strengths and vulnerabilities for him to see and judge. Morgana still choose to be diplomatic despite it all.

What Morgana didn't know was that she wasn't dealing with a proper negotiator, she was dealing with a vigilante and secret agent who has three years worth of (1)all the vital information, (2)unchallenged power, (3)unchecked morals, (4)numerous kills, (5)experience in deception and (6)extremist conditioning. And the worse part was that the person who she thought was her friend, Merlin, even with everything he had, genuinely believed he had nothing to offer in exchange for her peace.

I think that's the tragedy of it.

With her truly coming into her full power only at s4, Morgana was too late to have a chance to inspire change in Merlin as a proper equal to him. Merlin has been in that overpowered and unchallenged state for 5 years at most. And by the time Morgana had become truly confident in s4, both of them had gone in the farthest ends of the extremes of their idealogies.

Merlin knew everything about her. But Morgana lacked the most important piece of information, the identity of Emrys.

No one could keep Merlin in check in the proper diplomatic manner anymore.

They have to come to arms.

#mergana #merlin critical #bbc merlin #bbc morgana #wars of truth and privilege who would win #otp: secret service x insurgent #otp: there is no other way #failure of negotiations #merlin meta #merlin essays

[beansportfolio]

Monsters In the Living Room

            Lightning strikes in the distance as the rain pours from the sky down to the ground. A rolling thunder roars above the clouds. The last crackle of the skies rage scares little Sophia awake. She grabs her best friend Mr. Bear, a small teddy bear that wears an eyepatch because she lost his one eye, and carefully gets out of bed. She exits her room, walks to her right, and crouches behind the railing at the top of the old wooden steps. She can see her parents argue downstairs.

            “I’m tired of arguing about this. We’ve discussed this a million times already,” says her mother.

            “And we’ll continue to discuss this because there’s no way you’re just going to take her and leave. She’s my daughter, too,” her father replies.

            “Oh, get over yourself. She needs her mother. She’s coming with me when I leave tomorrow.”

            “She needs her father, too; she is staying here.”

            At the top of the stairs a little tear begins to roll down Sophia’s cheek. She steps back, the floorboard shrieks and croaks as her little foot steps on and quickly off it. Uh oh, she thinks. The entire house lights up a bright blue color as the thunder and lightning make a return.

            “Sophia, is that you?” her mother asks.

            “We gotta get out of here Mr. Bear,” Sophia whispers to herself.

            As Sophia scurries back to her room she hears footsteps behind her. She dashes for her bed and crawls underneath to hide. Her mother opens the door to her bedroom slowly and quietly, and the whole house is suddenly shrouded in darkness.

            “Sophia? Where are you, sweetheart? The power just went out, are you in here?” asks her mother. Her mother calls out to her father, “Garrett! Where’s Sophia? I didn’t see her in her room. We need to find her.”

            “What? Okay, I’ll start searching, yell if you find her,” her father replies.

            Sophia crawls out from under her bed. “What should we do, Mr. Bear?” she asks. “They have become a bunch of monsters.”

            “I’m not sure, we should stay away from them for now. What if we tried to remind them of when they weren’t monsters?” says Mr. Bear.

            “Hmm, that could work. How would we do that though?” says Sophia.

            “Ooh I know, a photo. We need to show them a picture of when they weren’t evil,” says Mr. Bear.

            “Mommy put a picture in a box downstairs on the big table the other day. That’s gotta be the right picture,” says Sophia.

            Sophia walks to her bedroom door. Slowly and quietly, she opens the door. She hears a noise behind her and hides underneath a little table in the hallway. Through the darkness she can make out the monster. A large, burly werewolf lurks through the second-floor hallway. The beast reeks of alcohol, sawdust, and wood stain. The stench of it all mixes together and finds its way into Sophia’s lungs; she uses all her strength to resist the urge to cough but fails, letting out a quick cough. Ahhh! We need to run Mr. Bear, she thinks. The werewolf turns towards her, growls, and exposes his long sharp teeth as drool drips from his lower chin to the floor, seeping into the boards themselves.

            “Sophia? Is that you?” the werewolf says.

            The werewolf walks towards her as she runs. Sophia heads down the stairs quickly. It’s impossible to see anything. It’s a miracle we made it down the stairs Mr. Bear. We need to avoid going up and down, she thinks.

            “She’s down there!” the werewolf yells. “She has to be somewhere near you.”

            Sophia lays flat and still underneath the old wooden coffee table in the living room while she stares at the big table in the dining room. That’s where the picture is, we just need to reach that box on the table, where’s the other monster though? Do you see her, Mr. Bear? Behind the large table the windows are lit up with the bright flash of the lightning outside. The flash of light reveals a witch. A short, beautiful woman in a long black robe and tall black heels.

            “Sweetheart, where are you? We don’t want to hurt you, I promise,” the witch says.

            The soft and gentle voice of the witch tempts Sophia to answer but she remains strong. The witch walks towards the coffee table. Each step of the high heels on the aging hard wooden floor gets louder as she nears.

            “Come out, sweetheart, we miss you,” the witch says. The witch approaches the coffee table then stops. She bends down towards the coffee table, “There you are. Come here.”

            “AAAH!” Sophia screams.

            “Run, Sophia, run!” screams Mr. Bear. “Leave me, get to the table. Get the photo.”

            Sophia rolls out from underneath the coffee table opposite of the side the witch is on. She gets up and sprints towards the big table. Never looking back, she can hear the witch’s heels right behind her. Sophia reaches the table and uses all her strength to climb onto one of the tall chairs that surrounds it. She climbs up onto the table, finds the box in the dark, and opens it up. The lights in the house flicker a couple of times before staying on. Suddenly the dining room light fills the room. The witch and the werewolf are revealed.

            “Sophia, why are you running all around the house at night? And hiding from us?” her mother says.

            “You guys are monsters now,” says Sophia. “I was trying to find the picture in this box of when you weren’t monsters, and we were happy.”

            Sophia reaches into the box and pulls out a photo of her with her parents at a theme park. The three of them together smiling wide for the camera. Her mother’s face sinks, then turns to her father. The two parents stare at each other and a little tear begins to roll down each of their cheeks.

#writing #my writing #fiction #writers on tumblr #flash fiction #horror #monster #marriage

[wlwsims4]

Back at it again with this whole challenge stuff.

This Challenge is half “Survive this”, half Legacy, and based around the various stages the main group in the TV Show “The Walking Dead” went through. You don’t need to have watched it to play this challenge, but many requirements will feel arbitrary if you haven’t. Since these aren’t really, uh, generations, I will refer to the individual parts of this challenge as “Stages” Packs required: Outdoor Retreat, Seasons, Eco Lifestyle, Get Together, City Living, Discover University, Get to Work

The Setup:

- You will need either Triplis’ “Kids Quit School” mod ot MCCC to make quitting school possible. - Create your founder and any number of other survivors in CAS, Two of these additional survivors need to be children. - Use your own physical dice or find an online dice roller, you will need that!

General Rules:

- It’s the Apocalypse, so buy mode is heavily restricted. You can’t just go to Ikea and buy  new couch! You will need to use the fabrication and handiness skills to make furniture! Some Random Events and generational rules may allow you to get stuff otherwise

- You may only cook with ingredients you have! If you play this after the release of Cottage Living, use the Lot Challenge!

- You will always play off the grid!

- The monetary cost of crafting is considered “materials”. You can "barter” for materials by using the selling table from City Living, or sell furniture and stuff you scavenged, thus “dismantling” it and salvaging it.

- Any children you have aside from the two you create in CAS automatically suffer a -2 penalty to all rolls they perform, on account of being children. 

- Randomized townies you encounter are generally considered zombies. (or WaLkErS of you don’t wanna use the evil Z word). If they engage you in conversation, consider it an attack and roll a d20, adding 1 for every two levels of fitness the Sim in question has. Below a 15, they get injured in the scuffle and are out of comission for the rest of the day. Below a 10, they get infected and die

- Pregnant and elderly Sims cannot perform any chores or other survival tasks and suffer the same -2 penalty as children!

- Every ingame week, roll on the random events table!

- Play with normal lifespan!

Stage 1: The Atlanta Survivors Camp You just survived the Apocalypse’s initial outbreak and you are settling with a small group outside a large city. However, calamity soon threatens your little sanctuary.

- Move your household anywhere with freerealestate, then take a vacation on the campground lot in Granite Falls.  - Set your money to 5k and start your grind. When you can no longer extend your vacation, your camp gets overrun and you are forced to flee. Roll Fitness checks for each member of your group and disable/kill accordingly. - If your founder dies in this, appoint a new one from the surviving sims

Stage 2: Hershel’s Farm After getting out of the overrun camp and having a little happening at the CDC, you are back on the road and lose one of your two kids in a run-in with a horde. Worse, even, your other kid gets shot and is badly injured! Thankfully, you are offered help by a small family on a nearby farm.

- Kill of one of your two CAS-created kids. Sorry, Sophia! - The other CAS-created kid is now injured for the rest of thi stage and can’t help you out or build skills. - Move your sims to one of the lots south of the Chalet in Windernburg (Or Henford on Bagley if Cottage Living is out!)  and build a little farmhouse big enough to accommodate four sims, with a small vegetable garden and 2 power generating and 3 water generating items. -Create four Sims that “own” the farm and help you out. One of them has to be an elder! - Two weeks into this stage, the farm will, unfortunately, get overrun and also set on fire. Do your fitness rolls for everyone and run for your life.

Stage 3: The Prison Again, you are on the run, but there’s a little shimmer of light at the end of the tunnel - an abandoned prison! Now, you just need to like... reclaim it.

- Build a Prison, or download one from the gallery! - Cheat one of your sim pregnant, if you don’t have a pregnancy yet. - Reclaim the prison! Make Fitness rolls for each level + the outside. - After your pregnant Sim gives birth, kill her. Sorry, Lori! - Create a rival 8-sim household and put your sims in a club, and their rivals in one too. Have  “fight (other club)” as one of the activities, then have them visit you and... start... a gathering... ;)

Stage 4 The Prison 2, Electric Boogaloo You defeated Woodbury! ... or did you? Well, you don’t really have time to deal with it right now, because there is a deadly strain of influenza wrecking your community. 

- Start placing ads for roommates. Those are the former Woodbury people you took in! - Every Time someone gets one of the GTW illnesses, roll your d20. Below a 10, they die to the sickness. Kill them, and roll fitness for one of your household sims, since the dead turn into walkers! - Three weeks into this stage, your friend, the Governor of Woodbury, comes back with a fresh new group he roped into his nonsense. Roll Fitness checks and book it. (also kill the Governor. RIP in pieces)

Stage 5: Terminus From bad to worse, you’re on the run again, and split up this time. Divided we fall, huh? Good thing there’s this totally not ominous set of markers leading you to a place called Terminus. I’m sure nothing bad will happen there.

- Split your Household and surviving roommates and pop them all into different empty lots. Play a week with each of them (aging off here, this is meant to happen simultaneously!) and roll on the random events table until you have eight sims left in total. Hope you weren’t attached to any of them. - Put them back into the same household again, and create yet another rival club to beat up. That rival club is Terminus. Surprise, the group with the name meaning “Death” was bad! - Switch to your Terminus household and “invite” your sims over, then lock them in the basement, true sims style. Go downstairs and start a club gathering. Keep an eye on them, every time someone loses a fight, kill them. Do this until you have either 5 good guys left or all of Terminus is dead.

Stage 6: Alexandria and The other blokes You got away from the humanitarians and were invited into the community of Alexandria. Thing are finally looking up again!

- Move to a 50x50 lot and build a little “village” with gardens, energy production and everything you might need. - Create two more 8-sim-households on similar situations and create clubs for them, with the activity to be friendly with yours! These two households will be Hilltop and The Kingdom. - Make one of the Evergreen Harbor Community Spaces a marketplace and frequent it! - Stay in this stage for four weeks!

Stage 7: The Saviour War Things just couldn’t stay okay, could they? You ticked off a horrible cult-of-personality-type organization called the Saviours, who now start their reign of terror against you.

- Create another household and club meant to be mean to you, Hilltop and the kingdom. Make their Leader a magnificent bastard and give that one plot armor. Narrative Immunity! - Host a little multi-club gathering and roll a d8 twice. Look at your own household portrait lineup and kill two of your sims whose portrait position corresponds to your rolls. - Take your strongest fighter, aka the highst fitness stat, aka Daryl Dixon and put them into their own household, to take them out of the equation for a while. They’re the Saviours’ prisoner now! - Congrats, you have been promoted to vassal state. The Saviours demand five of every crop you produce. Don’t hav enough to feed your people? Sucks to be you! - Stay in this stage for 4 weeks, then bring back your poor fighter, and kill off half of the Saviours, add the rest to your household and Kingdom & Hilltop. Their Leader must survive! Keep them in your basement from now on and visit them regularly to gloat.

Stage 8: The Whisperer War Finally, some stability. Oh, whats that? New enemy faction, and this one of even worse? Fantastic.

- Cease communication and trade with Hilltop & Kingdom for two weeks, Then hold a big party! - ...during said party,  kill 12 total sims from each faction. - Create a new rival faction called the Whisperers. Make their two leaders, Alpha & Beta, level 10 in fitness. - Hold weekly brawls with the whisperers. Kill every fight loser, but replenish the Whisperers losses. There’s no end to their forces! - Give Alpha a daughter and take her in after your first clash with them. - When you resume trade, roll a D20 every time you travel away from your lot. Below a 10, your travel party gets attacked by the Whisperers! Roll Fitness checks for every Siim traveling. - Remember the Saviour leader? Yeah, they’re doing better. Have them befried one of your household’s children, and gradually integrate them into your community. - After an additional 4 weeks of this, send your redeemed Saviour leader over to the Whisperers and befriend them. They’re a spy now! - Survive another week, then ply s the Whisperers and attack Hilltop! Move the survivors into your main household. - After this attack, your spy strikes and kills Alpha. Put them back into your household, then gear up for a big fight! - Cheat “Roughhousing ecouraged” in your NAPs, then gather all surviving characters along with the Whisperers and fight!

Did you survive this? Well, until season 11 comes out, that’s as far as we go. You can continue playing with the Random Events and general ruleset!

RANDOM EVENTS:

D20: 1.  There’s a drought. Sell all your stored water and reset your money back down 2. Zombie Attack! Roll Fitness and kill accoridngly! 3. Electric whoopsie-doopsie. Sell your stored electricty and set your money bck down 4. Roving bandits! The next time travel, all your traveling sims lose their inventory contents! If they had none, kill one of them! 5. Baby Boom! Get one fo your Sims pregnant 6. Other Survivors! Roll a d4 and add the resulting nuber of sims to your household! 7. Tragic accident! Kill a random sim 8. Extra Ammo! Every Sim gets a +1 to their next fitness roll! 9. Thunderstorm! Your Sims may not leave their lot for this week! 10: Supply thief! select a random sim and hoard food for this week. At the end of the week they get found out nd either killed or exiled! 11. Breach! Your wall has a breach! Reduce your funds by 150 to fix it. If you don’t have that much, kill a random sim in the resulting zombie incusrsion! 12. Illness! There’s a flareup of the deadly flu from the prison! Play with this Stage’s rules (regarding the illness) for this week! 13: Re-roll! 14. Sabotage! Your fabricator and woodworking table cannot be used this week! 15. Zombie Attack! Roll Fitness and kill accordingly! 16. Lost Child! You find a random child, adopt one! (cheat the money for the adoption) 17: Feast! Your Sims make the poorly informed decision to par-tay! Delete all the stored crops you have. 18. Horde! It’s too dangerous to leave the fortifications right now! Suspend all travel this week. 19. Foraging! Cheat yourself enough money and buy a seasonal seed packet that corresponds to this season! 20. Re-Roll!

#my post #ts4 #the sims 4 #sims 4 #simblr #sims 4 challenge #sims 4 challenge rules #the walking dead #twd #sims 4 zombie #sims 4 walking dead #sims 4 twd challenge #my challenges

[sserpente]

OKAY OKAY WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE SECOND EPISODE BECAUSE I HAVE QUESTIONS AND I AM SQUEALING.

First of all, it’s bold of them to assume that we need a “previously on”. It’s not like we don’t know the first episode by heart already, hahahaha!

Alright, so first of all: LOKI USE YOUR POWERS BABY. Was he stalling? Was he trying to get more information? Is “Lady Loki” really that powerful?! It kind of looked like he didn’t really WANT to fight her, does that make sense? It makes sense to me! Also add telekinesis to Loki’s powers, YES BABY!

Speaking of "Lady Loki”--I was SCREAMING because she looks so FREAKING BADASS I LOVE IT but I still don’t buy it! YES, she’s got the Loki costume. YES, she’s got the horns even but hear me out: SHE’S BLONDE. I don’t mind Lady Loki being blonde, it looks REALLY COOL but that MUST have been a conscious decision of them then because as far as I’m concerned, Sophia is not naturally blonde, neither is Lady Loki in the comics but you know who is?! SYLVIE. And when Loki called her “Loki” she was like “ugh, don’t call me that”. EXCUSE ME, WAS THAT A HINT? Also did Loki recognise her? He didn’t have any lines after that, so I can’t tell? I have to watch it again! if he didn’t recognise her, then maybe the story will stray a little further from what we know about Loki and Sylvie in the comics (in which Loki gives Sylvie her powers so they’d have the same magical signature or whatever). Or with all the different timelines and multiverses, our Loki never met Sylvie in this one, who the fuck knows? I feel like there’s gonna be another plot twist. Don’t forget we get a “Young Sylvie” at some point, that’s gotta mean something!!! I still believe this is the Enchantress! And/or, taking up my previous theories on it being both Lady Loki and Sylvie at the same time, she might have changed her identity for whatever reason and now firmly believes she’s Sylvie or something. IDK, GEEZ.

Guys, I have to be honest with you, I have NO CLUE where this is going! I’m completely BLANK! WHAT does she want?! WHY is she doing this? Honestly, I don’t think she’s evil, I don’t think that her goal is the annihilation of everything. There’s gotta be more to it than that but we just don’t have enough information yet to put the puzzle pieces together. AND NOW THAT CLIFFHANGER HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT WEEK?! Where did they go? IDK. Could be that “purple” place from the trailer. They sure are going to have a  proper conversation though in the next episode.

Now I freaking love Loki’s outift, I just RAAAWR. That TIE. That JACKET. I WANT THAT JACKET. He ALMOST got his daggers back, my poor baby, SO CLOSE! This episode made me cackle so much, it’s soooo different to see Loki like this; first of all, again, knowing his usual tricks don’t work and he doesn’t have the upper hand per se makes it really interesting to see how he acts around Mobius and the rest of the TVA. Away from Thanos and the influence of the sceptre, Loki seems so much more... blithe? Does that makes sense? It’s a completely different side of him but then again we get those darker scenes where we see the intimidating Loki we know and it’s like we’re getting to know Loki all over again? JUST IMAGINE WHAT HE’S LIKE IN A RELATIONSHIP THEN, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! It just makes SOOOO MUCH SENSE that Tom said that Loki acts differently around dfiferent people.

ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT HOW HE TRIED TO HIT MISS MINUTE!!!

Now, two more things (I’m really just randomly throwing things at you here):

First of all, LOKI SPEAKING LATIN. Again, I’m not quite sure how or if the Allspeak still affects him (since the Mongolian thing in the first episode made us wonder about it already) but I’m just gonna go ahead and say that Loki is fluent in Latin because he FREAKING COULD.

Second of all, I thought it was very suspicious of Mobius to say “I don’t care what makes you tick” because in the first episode he wanted Loki to explain to him just that. Was he lying? I still don’t trust him. NOTHING IS REAL, honestly! That conversation they had in the cafeteria really proved to me that the TVA isn’t to be trusted. When Ravonna and Mobius talked I even thought maybe the Time Keepers don’t even exist at some point.

AND LOKI IS NOT LETTING ANYONE GET TO HIM ANYMORE. Did you see him read of the destruction of Asgard?! He was TEARING UP, you could see the grief on his face and then when he told Mobius (RIP Mobius’ salad) and he went like “I’m sorry” Loki was just like “Yes, very sad,” in a nonchalant way and moved on to tell him what he’d found out rather excitedly. This is the PERFECT example of Loki continuing to do what he does so much, just concealing his feelings and his vulnerability behind mischief and I STILL WANNA HUG HIM.

All the different Loki Variants they should the team, I freaking loved this but it does raise the question at what point in the “sacred timeline” these Lokis hopped off the timeline to cause mischief? Which in turn raises the question if we’re right not to trust the TVA and the sacred timeline is a bunch of bullshit? Also, you know what would have been hilarious too, if they had included a Norse Mythology version of Loki. You know, ginger hair and all. I feel like Loki would have approved of that cameo, hahaha!

Speaking of the Norse Myths, it’s funny how Loki freed those goats in Pompeii because in the myths, he once tied a goat’s beard to his testicles to make Skadi laugh. Thought that was a fun little connection!

It’s now canon, by the way, that there’s no candy on Asgard. Not even chocolate?! We know that Loki looooves chocolate, don’t we? Awww, baby! Now I feel like writing an Imagine where you take Loki to a candy store and he gets to try everything and then gets a sugar rush, hahaha!

And, last but not least, “PROFESSOR LOKI” HIT DIFFERENT. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. He’s such a smart cookie I LOVE IT.

I might add some more stuff and reblog this post once I’ve watched the episode again, I’m still processing everything, hahaha!!!

#loki #loki spoilers #loki show spoilers #loki show #loki series #loki series spoilers

[mirrorgrets]

Teyvat, the twins, and the Archons: a theory

Hello today I will be explaining my genshin impact theory which is most likely right because I say so and I have an inflated ego

Note: I will be referring to the MC as traveler and the Leader of the Abyss Order as such or as the missing twin for neutrality’s sake. And also because I chose Lumine and I can’t bear to say Lumine is “evil”

Note after writing all of that: Actually, I’m wrong. Reading it made me realize how batshit off the rails it all sounds. But here it is anyways because it’s a funny theory.

Contains multiple spoilers for the entirety of the game (1.3 edition)

Part 1. Gnosticism, Archons, and Humanity

I think by now, most of us have heard of the Gnosticism theory. If you haven't heard of it, Gnosticism is the belief that humanity could be more than what we are at present because of the world we're in.

Gnosticism has many versions but the basic concept of it is that humans are stuck in a fake world where our full potential is locked away because of our belief in false gods. The true God is the creator of the true world and between us and him, are beings called Aeons. One Aeon who is called Sophia (meaning Wisdom) created a being who thought of himself as the One True God and created the physical world in his flawed image. Oh, and he gave seven beings rule over the world he created, who are called the Archons.

Under Gnosticism, humans are thought to be part physical, but also have a spiritual component in us that grants us divinity. But because the false god and archons actively work to make sure we never realize that there is divinity within us, we never reach our full potential.

Connecting this with genshin impact, the humans in Teyvat have access to visions that give them power, as well as a chance to attain godhood. However, they believe that it is a gift from Celestia instead of a thing any of them can attain themselves. In fact, they don't even know that if one "receives" a vision, they can become gods because it's a secret that only Archons are privy to. Venti says this himself at the end of the prologue section of the main storyline when we ask him about visions.

It seems like Celestia doesn’t want humans to ascend to godhood. If we pair this  with what we know from the Main Storyline trailer that Dainsleif narrates, it becomes clearer. He says that Celestia goads humans with their seven treasures, rewards for the worthy, the doorway to divinity. However, it seems like there is a warning for those who dare to try and ascend, as if they say that the throne in the sky is not for us even if we have the means to.

Doesn’t that seem to contradict the purpose of the vision? Yes, it is a means to help humans live in Teyvat, but why give out visions when the Archons know fully well that it could help them gain access to Celestia? Doesn't it then seem like visions are not gifts from the Archons but instead innate power that all humans possess?

Part 2. What are the twins + What is Dainsleif + What are they doing in Teyvat + the Genesis Pearl = A Loop

Most signs point to the idea that the twins are actually older than they look. It seems like Lumine and Aether landed in Teyvat at least 500 years ago during the cataclysmic event that wiped out Khaenri’ah.

Going back to the idea of Gnosticism, the true God sends out Messengers of Light to the false world to guide the humans to their full potential. And we see traveler helping their companions ascend further, reaching their fullest potentials when they “max out.”

Furthermore, it doesn’t seem like they’re human. During the 1.2 Dragonspine event, Albedo does tests on us, and though he doesn’t tell us his complete findings, he alludes that we are like him, created from a substance that is yet to be defined. This goes off from the theory that he’s a homunculus, created from chalk, purified soil, the building block of the world. Aside from that, after our fight with Childe, one of the dialogue options after he mentions the fact that traveler can use both anemo and geo, is that they’re slowly gaining back their true power.

And of course, when the twins first enter the world, they have actual wings which were stripped by the Unknown God. Doesn’t seem very human to me.

So, if the travelers are Messengers of Light, then why is that not their main goal? Based on the We Will Be Reunited trailer, when the Abyss Mage mentions the traveler to the missing twin, their face looks shocked, like they just remembered that they have a twin. There’s desperation in their steps when they rush to the cliff to see their twin again, like it’s been so long since they’ve seen their sibling who they literally forgot. I think that aside from stripping them of their power, the Unknown God also took away some of their memories.

So the missing twin might remember the actual purpose as to why they’re in Teyvat, but didn’t remember their sibling until recently, and traveler remembers their sibling but doesn’t remember the reason why they were in Teyvat in the first place (or they do but that isn’t their main concern since they’re putting their sibling first).

So how does Dainsleif relates to this particular segment? Well, in another version of Gnosticism, Aeons come in pairs. Sophia’s partner was Jesus. Now, in the Main Storyline trailer, Dainsleif alludes to a woman when at the very end of the video where he says “My memory has all but faded completely, but I will always remember, how she too loved these flowers.” The flowers are the flowers Lumine especially likes, the ones she adorns in her hair. A flimsy connection it may be, but a connection nonetheless.

Now, I’ve seen theories about Dainsleif being an older version of Aether, but that theory doesn’t hold water if you choose Lumine as your traveler or if you consider the fact that Dainsleif and Aether don’t share the same eye color. Yet, it’s not completely off. There are thirty Aeons in total, although this number can differ in other versions of Gnosticism.

Now, in Dainsleif’s quest, we immediately question this stranger as he is somehow omniscient, if we haven’t already questioned him with all his narration in the Collected Miscellany videos where he hints that he knows more than we do. I will say it now: I think that Dainsleif takes upon the role of Jesus.

I could be wrong. But I think I’m right. For now.

In another version of Gnosticism, Jesus goes to the false world and saves Sophia, as she forgets who she is, she forgets her divinity and is stuck there. If we follow the theory that Dainsleif is actually the second heir from the Gnostic Chorus teaser, and that he is searching for the Genesis Pearl. The Genesis Pearl symbolizes the beginning and purity that is incorruptible. This could be the essence of Sophia, the lost Aeon who incidentally created the false god.

Back to the Main Storyline trailer, Dainsleif says that the war has already begun, and that is just a continuation of past battles. We could take this in a sense that the conflict has reached its boiling point and that it was only because all these problems were left alone for too long. However, we could also consider the possibility that Dainsleif has lived through whatever the twins are going through right now because he is the first Messenger of Light to step foot in Teyvat.

We can also look into Dainsleif’s name, which is a Nordic name, actually written as Dáinsleif. This means Dain’s Legacy which is the sword of King Högni, which aided him in a never ending battle that went on until Ragnarok.

It seems like the twins are repeating a cycle that has already happened to Dainsleif and whoever the unknown woman who also likes the flowers the missing twin likes. All four of them are Aeons or Messengers of Light.

So who is that woman? I have no idea. It could the unknown god but that feels like a stretch. The unknown god might actually be the demiurge, the false god that created Teyvat and the seven Archons, and not Sophia herself. It could also be Paimon who might have some kind of relation to the unknown god, whether it be that she is the unknown god, or she is a being from Celestia. Either way, both feel like shaky theories.

But of course, Mihoyo is only taking inspiration from Gnosticism and several other sources which could lead them to take creative liberties when applying it to the game.

Part 3. The Abyss Order and Khaenri'ah: war crimes against humanity

Going back to my point about the twins’ original goal to why they went to Teyvat in the first place, let’s question why the missing twin joined forces with the Abyss Order and began to lead them to burn the throne of Celestia.

While we don't hear the missing twin mention Celestia in the We Will Be Reunited trailer, the only other time a throne is mentioned is in the Main Storyline trailer when Dainsleif mentions that Celestia does not want humans to ascend to take up a throne in the sky.

Back to the safety of the game's actual lore, we understand that Kaenri'ah is a godless nation that might have underwent a calamity that might have killed off most of its people since they were closer to understanding the truth, and were technologically advanced, compared to the other nations of Teyvat. An alchemist named Gold ultimately led to this cataclysm due to their greed for seeking erudition.

It is safe to assume that Celestia wiped out Khaenri'ah and all the technology they created. We could also assume that the people were all killed, yes, but it would be better to assume they were cursed instead. Into what though?

The hilichurls.

In the archive section of the game, under the books, there's quite a lot written about the hilichurls, thanks to Jacob Musk. The author describes the hilichurls to be drawn to old relics of the past, with even attempts to recreate it. Their way of lifestyle is even described, and it looks like they worship the element itself and not the Archons who represent it.

Doesn't it seem like the hilichurls have a connection with the ancient civilization of the past? Not to mention their strange connection to the elements in which shaman hilichurls (samachurls) can harness the elements without the use of a vision? If I am correct with my theory, then hilichurls were once citizens of the bygone Khaenri'ah who discovered they could harness the elements without an Archon's blessing that came in the form of a vision.

It doesn't feel too surprising considering that for monsters, hilichurls are quite smart. They even display human-like characteristics. In the game, we see them dancing, sleeping, just minding their own business in general. They have their own architecture and their own language. In the Hilichurl Cultural Customs book, we even discover that hilichurls are not as barbaric as they are made out to be as they have leaders who decide their policies and course of action. It's as if they have their own culture.

Ultimately, the hilichurls are part of the Abyss Order. The organization's main goal is to get undermine Celestia's rule, and at this point of this mess I call a theory, doesn't that make them stand in a position where nothing is painted as black and white as it seems. Yes, they do heinous things like steal, possibly murder, and set off a dragon on Mondstadt, but it looks like they're operating through a "the end justifies the means" kind of morality.

And the missing twin shares this sentiment. As they had seen what Celestia had done to Khaenriah 500 years ago before the beginning of the prologue, their desperation grows. Their war with destiny will not stop until Celestia falls because it is their ultimate mission. Traveler has taken up the safer side of this war, wherein they help the humans but the missing twin has taken up the side of fallen humans. This is why they're not evil per se; just going through questionable steps to achieve a righteous goal.

Part 4. Teyvat and its Archons

Based on all that, it seems like I’m painting the Archons to be the bad guys. I am. They wiped out an entire civilization on the basis that they might learn the truth of the world, and their uncanny closeness to Celestia.

But we like Venti and Zhongli, right? Of course we do! However, they were still complicit in the downfall of Khaenri'ah and the limitation of humanity in Teyvat.

To start, Venti had his gnosis was forcibly taken from him. He doesn't seem to mourn over that (although he could be hiding it) and it looks like he can still present himself in a godly manner as we see in Venti's quest when he revealed himself as Barbatos to Stanley. When we spend time with him under the tree of Vennessa, while he divulges the secrets of Celestia to us, he still seems to comply with them. This could be chalked up to the fact that ultimately, he is Mondstadt's Archon and also the weakest of the seven. We could also consider the fact that at the time of Khaneri’ah’s downfall, he was in Dragonspine with Dvalin, dealing with Durin.

With Zhongli, it becomes a bit more interesting. He gave away his gnosis under the agreement of a contract we do not know the details of. But why he did? Why not because of his regret as the geo Archon and of love? Zhongli once ruled over Guili Plains with another god named Guizhong, the god of dust. Guizhong loved their people but perished during the Archon War. He then moved their people to Liyue Harbor and in her place, began to love them. Although he is stilted with the way he deals with his people, we see that he cares. Over the years, he has grown soft and shed the persona of Morax, a god who dealt with war. He says this himself and it feels like his ability to care extends beyond that of Liyue. It's possible he gave up his gnosis because he understands what the Tsaritsa is doing and what she's fighting for.

The Tsaritsa is the cryo Archon and the god of love. However, according to Tartaglia, she had to harden herself to go through with her plan. But what is her plan but an act of love for humanity? Wiping out Khaenri'ah could've opened her eyes to the inherent cruelty of Celestia. The timeline makes sense because Venti said that 500 yers ago, he knew her well but now, not so much. It’s at that point she loses whatever loyalty she had for Celestia. She had to steel herself and begin her plans to overthrow Celestia, which involves taking the gnoses of the six other Archons to fight the false god and alleviate humans from the hell they are in. That is her way of showing her love to humanity.

Teyvat is only a false world. We have seen many instances of this being hinted at like when Katheryne of the Adventurer’s Guild says “rebooting” or “error” as if she is only a program, or when Scaramouche says that the sky and the stars are all fake. Even in the game, if you take a closer look at the stars, it feels fake, as if it is a dome that traps the humans in Teyvat. Even more unsettling, when going deeper within the Spiral Abyss, the more stars you see which could mean Teyvat is actually upside down and that go deeper within the Spiral Abyss, we are ascending closer to the true world.

What greater act of love could the Tsaritsa commit other than giving humanity the truth?

Part 5. In conclusion: none of this makes sense

To summarize my main points:

Genshin Impact takes a lot from the mythos of Gnosticism

Visions are not gifts from the Archons but an inherent power from humans that come from their own "divinity"

The twins and Dainsleif are related in some manner

The twins are repeating a cycle that Dainsleif has already been through

The twins are suffering some kind of memory loss

The twins are in Teyvat to help humans realize their power

Celestia is not heaven but more like hell

Teyvat is a false world

The Tsarita is actually good

The Abyss Order is a morally grey organization

Archons are bad

This could all be wrong as this is only a theory. But the connections I pointed out make a bit of sense. There’s still more lore to uncover as we’ve only unlocked two regions and the Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies only have one volume out so far (this book is important because an Abyss Mage says that there is a lie within it) so this could all be debunked when new regions are unlocked.

Still, it’s a pretty fun theory to believe in at the moment. Thank you for reading this mess I call a theory!

#genshin impact #genshin impact theory #lumine #aether #dainsleif #venti #zhongli #and when im wrong ? #who cares this is a funny theory actually #if anyone wants to discuss this theory ahaha my dms r open #also if i have made any mistakes pls tell me LMAO #take shot whenever i say gnosticism I HATE IT HERE MY BRAIN IS SO FRIED #i could write this more seriously but to keep myself from slipping im writing this what i call i can get away w comedy in my academic papers #bc its not funny #just me barely holding onto the tendrils of my sanity #yes i linked a wikipedia page LET ME BE I DONT WANT TO EXPLAIN RAGNAROK ANYMORE #wont mention battle pass anymore for dainsleif its too long lmao

[fanfic-mind]

Blood on my hands (all that i've gained and all that i've lost)

pairing: merthur

warnings: non

status: fanfic draft, Part 1/? (~ 2300)

It’s yet again an hour of need for Camelot. But the weapon they need to safe kingdom and people comes with a price. Only those who prove that they are powerful and wicked can receive it. The knights of Camelot don’t have enough evil deeds to be worthy of the sword. They think everything is lost - until  Merlin speaks up...

A magic reveal story in which Merlin makes good use of being a morally grey character. Because, yea, Merlin-is-the-victim-reveals are swell and all but he is capable of making his own decisions and some of them are pretty shady. There is still a good amount of Uther bashing included.

Somehow they get into a situation that requires someone with blood on their hands - figuratively (otherwise it wouldn't be a problem because seeing how often Arthur and Merlin and also Gwaine get wounded by just existing they probably wouldn't even have to injure anyone)

Maybe a god of the Old Religion guards a weapon they need to kill the magic beast of the week or to destroy a cursed item.

In any case: they are really desperate. People are dying and this is their last hope, their last resort.

To their misfortune, this weapon is guarded by a very cunning and wicked god and they will only give their weapon to someone who has the power and the will to use it for evil deeds

There is a test that must be passed by the one who wants to receive the weapon. They must prove that they did enough evil deeds to be worthy of it.

Arthur quickly fails his test because despite some wrongs he's done he is way too just and noble to be wicked

The only knight that seems to get at least a few moments more of consideration is Leon who has done some terrible things - however under Uther's orders which isn't quite powerful enough

"Ahh, Uther Pendragon," the god muses, "Him i would have given the weapon. Such rage and blind hatred and, oh yes, so much blood."

Arthur grits his teeth and sets his jar. he wonders if his father would be disappointed in him for not living up to this legacy of his. he wonders - not for the first time - why he wanted to be like his father once and how he managed to end up being so different.

The knights discuss their strategy. non of them is wicked enough to pass the test. they have wicked people in Camelot's dungeons. But Camelot is three day rides off and their quest is really urgent.

They could separate and seek for wicked folk, but the chances seem slim and the risk of them keeping the weapon as they receive it seems too big

People are dying and they need to do something now.

"there must be another way to destroy it," Lancelot suggests, though they've been over this. His eyes stray to Merlin, but Merlin seems caught up in thought.

If there was an easier way to do this, Merlin and Gaius would have come up with it by now. asking the god had been their idea in the first place.

"What if there isn't?" Gwaine argues heatedly. "We can't have waisted six days for nothing. This is probably our last chance."

"so what do you suggest?" Lancelot interrupts somewhat irritated. They temperaments are heated at this point. And suddenly knowing each other’s worst deeds doesn’t exactly lighten the mood. "All of us failed the test. i wouldn't have thought that I'd ever be angry about being found too good and noble."

Gwaine shrugs with a grimace. He hadn't thought that he'd ever be deemed good and noble in the first place.

"maybe there's a way out of that," Arthur says. He hasn’t spoken in a while and all heads turn towards him.

"what do you mean, Sire?" Leon asks, looking uneasy as if he already knows and doesn't like it.

"If you're not noble enough, you proof your nobility by doing good deeds," Arthur starts matter of fact. "so, logically, if I'm not wicked enough, i prove my wickedness by doing an evil deed."

The god smiles a toothy smile.

"To murder just anyone obviously isn't evil enough" Arthur says, looking at the god with disgust. "so it must be somthing worse. murdering a friend, for example."

"My king, with all due respect, this is madness," Leon say carefully.

"sir Leon, that's the point." Arthur says sourly.

"is that really it?" Gwaine shouts at the god who watches his outburst unimpressed. "You want us to slaughter each other?"

the god laughs, distant and hollow and the earth seems to vibrate with it. "The weapon can only be taken by those of power who are wicked and cunning enough to wield it." the god repeats his earlier words.

"So there's not even a guarantee," Gwaine says, throwing up his arms. "Arthur, let's just leave and see if we can find something else."

"there is nothing else, Gwaine, you said so yourself!" Arthur returns. His expression is incredibly pained but determined in a way that makes them all shudder. Leon, Percival and Lancelot unconsciously get into fighting stance.

Gwaine takes a few steps to put himself between the king and Merlin who is the most vulnerable

Arthur nods to himself, seemingly coming to a decision in his head.  Tehn he draws his sword . "If either of you kills me while i try to kill you, that might be enough too" he muses

They all stare at him in horror, unable to believe that he will go through with this.

"My people are dying," Arthur says, his tone pleading, "if i have to sacrifice my good conscience to help them - well, it is a price i must be willing to pay. I'm sorry. But all of you swore to protect Camelot at all costs too."

Arthur halts for am moment then nods grimly. "Don't try to sacrifice yourself. I'm sure that's not what he's looking for" Arthur nods towards the stony god who smiles.

"you can't be serious" Mordred whispers.

"I'm afraid i am. Now, it's been an honour. truely. and i hope - i hope I'll still have your respect afterwards. Though, i can understand if you can't trust me again."

"that's enough."

They all turn around. Partly, because they had forgotten about Merlin who has been uncharacteristically quiet the whole time. and partly because they have rarely heard this sort of tone from him. harsh and demanding. a voice more fit for a king than his manservant.

They stare at him and he makes short eye contact with Arthur before he steps forward, in front of the statue that the god is using as a vessel.

"test me." Merlin says. his voice is determined and his shoulders are set.

Arthur let's out a short laugh, because clearly this is absurd, right? Merlin is the best and kindest of all of them. Actually, coming to think of it, if he's really honest, Merlin probably is the reason Arthur is not like his father. Merlin makes him better. Merlin makes him want to be better.

A few of the knights share his sentiments, laughing slightly hysterical with tension but still perplexed over this development.

Only Lancelot steps forward with a frown as if to pull him back, but merlin raises a hand without looking at him and he stops in his tracks.

Arthur who was about to say something stops too.

The god looks more alive than before he seems to stretch himself to his full height as if he has waited for this

"welcome" he starts as he has with all of them. "young warlock, tell me your deeds."

lancelot tenses, casting a worried glance back at the king who stands there, sword still drawn, eyes fixed in Merlin as if he doesn't understand any of this

Lancelot doesn't either. Even if Merlin is a sorcerer - what evil deeds can he possibly have done? Saving Arthur's life over and over without ever seeking credit doesn't have a ring of evil to him.

"I am Merlin, and they call my Emrys." Merlin starts.

Some of the Knights gasp. Emrys is a name they know by now.

Lancelot wonders whether Merlin considers his identity an evil deed in itself. The possibility breaks his heart a bit.

"I was born with magic. I am the most powerful sorcerer there is."

Merlin takes a deep breath.

"i lied to all my friends. I let them think they can trust me, that they know me. But they never will. I could kill them just by looking at them. I am magic and i killed many behind friends backs and before their eyes, but never revealed myself to them"

"I am a slayer of my own people," he continues, his voice hard, "I killed many creatures and men of magic to protect their murderers - the king and his son. I did it out of self-righteousness and out of selfishness because...” for a moment, Merlin halts, but then he continuous with the same hard tone as before, as if something is forced out of him, but he wants to stand for it.

“I loved Arthur more than my own people. i let many of them die even though i could have helped them if i had revealed myself. But i couldn't bear the thought to be separated from him so i stayed quiet and watched them burn."

The god nods Merlin on. They all stand in shock. They know from before that Merlin won't be able to stop telling his deeds before the god thinks he is done.

"I killed the witch Nimueh even though she told me i have to pay with a life to save Arthur's. Instead of giving my life as i promised, i killed her."

"I killed Mary Collins, Afanc, Aulfric, Sophia, Cornelius Sigan, Myror and many more. "

Merlin's voice falters a bit, but he seems to pull himself together visibly, because his voice is clearer again when he keeps speaking.

"My betrayal to my people is so great, my wickedness so deep, i considered to kill a child on the mere possibility that he could threaten what was mine in the future."

Mordred makes a quiet stricken noise.

No one dares take their eyes off Merlin, but Merlin himself turns his head slowly.

There is a gasp of horror when they all see that his eyes are glowing yellow with magic.

Up until now, no one except Mordred and Lancelot had truly believed it.

"I tried to kill Mordred when he was a child and i wish his death even now though he is kind and serves Arthur."

Lancelot looks at Merlin with complete bewilderment as Mordred sobs.

Merlin doesn't answer Lancelot's gaze, he just turns around again.

They can hear him take in another breath and it sounds more halting than before.

"I knew that my friend had magic and i saw her turmoil and her fear of being killed. of being burned by her own kin like all of the others. but instead of helping her, i left her in the dark. I told her to trust me - she trusted my - and then i poisoned her."

Merlin stops for a moment, his voice sounds rough as if speaking becomes quickly more difficult.

"I gave Morgana poison in full intend and watched her as she died and i regretted when she was healed."

"Only i had the power and knowledge to save her, but i turned my head from her suffering, i killed her when she didn't know better than to turn to her sister, it was me that made her what she is today."

There is another short pause. Lancelot is desperate to see Merlin's face. To demand how this all really went. Because though he knows that Merlin is bound to say the truth by the power of the god, he still thinks there must be a mistake or a trick. This is not Merlin. Merlin would never...would he?

"I conspired with and freed the dragon that attacked Camelot which led to the death of many innocent people. I attempted to kill Arthur on multiple occasions."

Lancelot frowns. This one he knows to be untrue. Merlin didn't want to kill Arthur. it was Morgana's doing that he went after him.

"i saved Uther Pendragon's life - more than once. I let him live even though he slaughtered my people. I saved his life even though i didn't have to. I never killed him even though i had many opportunities."

Merlin pauses then, looking up at the god.

"Do i really need to go on?" he asks and it sounds almost indifferent. except they know Merlin and they know how his face looks when he sounds this way.

The god leans their head to one side slowly. the stone his vessel is made of groans.

"You are worthy, young warlock. More than you know. Into your hands i command my sword."

Suddenly, there is noise and light and they cover their eyes, everyone except for Merlin and Mordred.

They can't be sure but they think they can hear Merlin's voice through it all, speaking a foreign tongue. Then, it's over.

When the air clears, Merlin stands alone, the stone vessel of the god has crumbled to pieces, a big sword in his hand. For just a moment, when he turns around to face them, he looks nothing like Merlin at all. His eyes are golden, and his face is grim, lips pressed into a thin line. His posture is straight and majestic and he holds the sword like a warrior. His appearance strikes them with fear. He looks like power incarnate.

The others notice from the corners of their eyes that Mordred kneels before him. and even as they are completely bewildered, they have an urge to do the same.

The next moment though, it's all gone, and Merlin looks like he's never handled a sword before. His eyes are blue and his cheeks messy with dust and tears. He sinks to his knees and the weapon falls from his hands - is pushed from his fingers as if through magic, landing on the ground with a strange sound.

Merlin looks after the sword with disgust clear on his face. Then he looks up and suddenly he looks afraid.

To be continued

#merthur #magic reveal #merlin fanfic #merlin x arthur #merlin

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

the sun is still shining

19-year-old Russia Olga Misik was sentenced to 2 years and 2 months last week, for attending a demonstration at the Rachmaninova Memorial in Moscow. At the demonstration, she sat in front of an OMON member (on the figure) ) and read him 31. article of the Russian Constitution, which declares citizen s' right to non-violent assembly.

Olga Misik delivered a breathtaking speech before the court. Here are some thoughts from her worth reading and remember: ′′ People often ask: Are you afraid? Those who don't live in Russia are asking this most because they don't quite understand the reality of Russia. They don't know banging on doors in the middle of the night, arresting and imprisonment without reason. They don't realize the feeling of despair we sucked with mother's milk. And this feeling of despair has taught us to live in hopelessness, but at the same time it weakens fear. Fear loses sense if you have no influence on your future.

I've never been afraid. I felt despair, hopelessness, helplessness, disorientation, anxiety, frustration, burnout, but never fear. I wasn't afraid when the armed men invaded our apartment and threatened to jail. They wanted to scare me but I wasn't afraid. I laughed and joked knowing that the moment I stop laughing I would be lost."

′′ When they drove me in a black van, I thought that this sunrise would be the last one I'd see. I was thinking about my father who I first saw crying in my life. To my mom who whispered in my ear: don't confess anything. I was sad and full of pain but I had no fear.

However, during the last nine months (in prison) I was afraid continually. I haven't really slept once since the first night. Every night I woke up to different sounds and imagined steps in the hallway. I was photographed by panic at the sound of cars passing under the window... Someone said it was impossible to be afraid when you know they were right. But Russia teaches us to be afraid. It's a country that tries to kill you every day, and if you're not part of the system, you might be dead already.

Of course I took part in the protest. I don't regret it and I'm proud of my actions. I didn't really have a choice though. I had to do what was in my power, so there's no point in regretting anything. And if I got that opportunity again, I'd do it again. Even if I was threatened with execution, I would do it again. I would do it again and again until some change started. They say doing the same things all the time and expecting a different result is the definition of madness. Perhaps hope is a manifestation of madness. But not doing what you believe in, just because someone around you thinks it's not meaningful, is only learned hopelessness. And it's better to be crazy in the eyes of the world than to be a creature without hope in your own eyes.... But you who jail me and reject all arguments of defense and accept all false evidence of plaintiffs, you know very well what crime you commit. But you can't ban youth. You can't ban freedom. You cannot suppress the truth.

This trial will affect your lives far more than mine. I chose where I stand. It's now up to you to choose the path you will go in life. If you condemn me, you will condemn yourself..."

′′ A fascist government never seems to be fascist from the inside. It only looks like occasional and illogical censorship and some repressions that don't affect you. But I'm not the only one in this process. Today you don't decide my fate, you decide your own. You can't lie to yourself forever. You know what's going on. You know where good is and where evil, freedom and fascism, love and hate are, and if you decide not to join the right side, it will be a colossal lie from you. Those who chose evil have prepaid tickets to The Hague.

I don't promise to win tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, in a year or in a decade. But one day we will prevail, because love and youth will always prevail. I can't promise I will live to see it, but I hope you live to see it."

′′ The past nine months have been difficult and I asked myself if something could have happened differently. But I was just telling myself because nothing could be different. From the moment I took the institution into my hands, my fate was carved in stone and I accept it with pride. I made the right decision and for such a totalitarian state will always be paid with a high price. I always knew I'd end up in jail one day. I knew what I did wasn't stupidity or misfortune or coincidence and not a crime. I always knew this would happen and I was always ready. I'm not surprised by anything."

′′ The Nazist regime fell one day, just as the fascist regime in Russia falls. I don't know when but one day it will happen. The last words of Sophia Scholl (German student and anti-Nazist warrior executed by Nazist in 1943) before the execution were: ′′ The sun is still shining." Really, the sun is still shining. I can't see him from behind the walls of prison, but I always know he's there. And if now, in these dark times, we can turn to the light, maybe there is no victory that far."

(According to Diary N, Martin M. Šimečka, 16.5.2021)

#quotes #protest #fascist #courage #Russia #stories

[keptvigil]

does alistair go to soldier's peak? if he does, what does he think of the stuff he sees there and who does he end up siding with?

He does go! Timeline-wise I would actually place Soldier's Peak between DA:O and DA:A. The middle of a Blight is hardly the right time for such a quest: both for Levi to propose and Alistair to accept. It would be easier (and more logical) for Levi to contact Alistair about it a short while after the Battle of Denerim while he's still in the city. (Alistair will also have access to any of Duncan's notes or correspondence that might mention the Drydens.) Further, Alistair would be particularly motivated to accept at this time as the Wardens have recently been accused of treason — the very crime that saw the order ousted from Ferelden centuries ago. He has thoroughly redeemed the order, but there is yet work to be done, and looking into this matter might help.

He's also still not in the best headspace. It takes him a while to be able to gear down from the Blight and longer still to unpack all that's happened. He's exhausted, of course, but unable to slow down. The commencement of the Thaw Hunt keeps him geared up, and he is subconsciously glad for this. It's both being unable to pull himself out of that "death is near" headspace and that the busier he is the less time he has to think about all that's happened. Even the nightmares are easier when you've collapsed from exhaustion. So investigating Soldier's Peak is one more way to keep himself occupied.

It certainly delivers on that front. I am due for a replay of this DLC, but based on my recollections: he does his best to preserve the wealth of information the fortress holds, especially what pertains to Sophia's rebellion. (I imagine there were some lost treaties, valuable Warden intel, etc. as well.) He's still on speaking terms with Eamon at this point unfortunately, so he shares pertinent information and asks for his help. He doesn't outright say it, but he basically asks Eamon to spin it in the Wardens' favor. Not terribly difficult. The Wardens were an insignificant and unpopular order when Sophia was forced to join. She reinvigorated the order and later felt compelled to rebel against a cruel, tyrannical king. Sound familiar? The circumstances aren't identical, but they're close enough that a clever politician like Eamon can work some magic. Avernus probably becomes a scapegoat whenever one is needed in Eamon's tale.

As for the really juicy stuff — Sophia and Avernus — those were probably some of the easier decisions Alistair's made. What's happened does make his stomach turn, despite not being the worst he's ever seen. Sophia is clearly not Sophia; it's a powerful, malevolent demon wearing her skin. All of Soldier's Peak is proof of that. He slays it.

But where he sees Sophia as a threat, he sees Avernus as a horror. That he is a mortal, not a spirit, perpetuating these evils somehow makes it worse to him. He would cut him down where he stood except he needs him to repair the damage to the Veil. Thus he persuades him to submit to his judgment. I say persuade but with Alistair, it's more like intimidate. I generally think of persuasion as being more gentle and smooth-talking, but in the vast majority of instances where the coercion skill would be applied, the reality is that Alistair is speaking with such authority and conviction that he cannot be denied. What he says will be done. Which brings us back to Calenhad, but I'm getting off-topic.

As you might have guessed, he refuses to drink the concoction — probably smashes it — and executes Avernus. He is sorely tempted to destroy Avernus' research, but he ultimately keeps it. Seals it away somewhere safe where no one else can get their hands on it. Probably asks for Zevran's help in devising suitable safeguards if he's still around. That research sickens him to his stomach, but he can't deny how valuable it might be. To be clear, Alistair has no interest in seeking a cure to the taint. (To the blight, yes. To the taint, no.) However, Joinings with a 100% success rate? Wardens able to tap into all the benefits of the taint with none of the consequences? No more Callings, nightmares, guarantees of becoming a ghoul?

He recognizes the potential dangers of creating what are essentially super soldiers. He likewise recognizes that this research was birthed from evil and continuing it would likely perpetuate evil. But, he also sees the benefits, both for the Wardens and the world they protect. Thus he hides the research and is very tight-lipped about it. I don't know when or if he would reveal it to another. Perhaps after DA:I when he wonders if it might've allowed them to avoid the whole debacle with Corypheus.

#⊰ headcanon | primary ⋄ i have made mistakes; i continue to make them ⊱ #trouble is I say he begins hearing his true Calling soon after the false one ends so #he won't get very far before he has to pass it off #anonymous #hope that answered your questions! #if there's anything I didn't cover just let me know #OH I will say this does also factor into why he stays out of politics as much as possible post-Blight #he got super involved during the Blight despite knowing better #so between that and seeing Sophia's situation he's like 'no thx xoxo' #and is even more glad he avoided the throne

[bonmotx]

SERVANT ORIGIN REGISTERED.

Something has broken. It’s a loud noise. The world is a blur in her head. It’s all so loud. It’s all so quiet.

Something has broken. It’s a loud noise. Someone is crying. There’s a lukewarm sugar in her brain.

Something has broken. The world is splintered around her.

Something has broken. Someone is crying.

“My child… my child…”

A dog is barking.

“My wife… she doesn’t remember…”

All the evil things in the world speak.

Her fingers ache.

A child born without an arm wails. Someone too depressed to go to work wails. The prostitute wails. The soldier on the wrong side wails. Their screaming is deafeningly quiet. The surrender is deafening.

Ah. Is that the point?

All these people. These beings. Lost in an empty space. It almost tastes like milk.

Oh. That’s what happened.

.  .  .

She fell.

There’s a scream. Captain Nemo and Kleinici don’t have enough time to respond. The Master is the most clear threat to the one who seeks to keep his position as the final god of this world.

A single lunge. A single swipe.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra stood on the Shadow Border.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra fell off of the Shadow Border.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra reached out her hand.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra locked eyes with her murderer.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra and Arjuna’s gaze met.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra reached out her hand.

 .  .  .

Sophia Vogel-Westenra plunged into the milk sea.

Everything was colorless. The people wailing were uncountable. Screeching with grief and rage and their nonexistent emotions. This empty white space was where everything deemed not right for the world was placed.

Perhaps it was fitting that she fell here.

…Cassie would be okay…

…so maybe…

She could just…

…close her eyes for a moment…

…

.  .  .

……

.  .  .  .  .

………

.  .  .  .  .  .  .

…no.

…this sea isn’t screaming.

It’s singing.

The wails become a harmony. Something understandable. The lost flowers, the scattered arms of eaten gods. Every lost life exists here.

…no. It wasn’t lost.

It was put here.

It was-

[ S a c r i f i c e d ]

-so that a perfect world may exist. It was

[ S a c r i f i c e d ]

-for one person’s own ambitions. It was

[ S a c r i f i c e d ]

-and occupies this space because of it.

This very, accessible place. This sea of sacrifice, of suffering, where she now was placed.

It made her angry.

Who was he to choose? Who was that blue eyed god to choose? (Eyes were more grey, but they’re cold as ice.) Why does this blood that drips from her mouth feel so cold? (The ice killed her. It has taken root in her.) All this screaming has become a beautifully frigid noise, sliced through violin strings, a broken piano. (The funeral song of rage and grief plays as the Master of Chaldea dies not from a dramatic action but because her suit failed and she froze to death, a death devoid of purpose or meaning, just an empty, sad accident.)

Who was he to choose? Who were they to choose?

Ah. The death of her parents, too, was a

[ S a c r i f i c e ]

It’s all so obvious. (Something still obscured has become a weapon of unknowing origin and violent intent.)

All of this, all of this here, from the first god who reached a hand to a lost son, to the most very recent victims of the cycle, and everyone and everything in between, can all fall under the label of

[ S a c r i f i c e ]

And that… was something she could reach out to.

Sophia nearly laughed.

She could grab-

[ S a c r i f i c e ]

-and use it like she was used.

No human could survive this.

But it was fine.

She wasn’t           h   u    m  a      n   -

.     .          .         .

The world outside continued for the seconds that passed. There was not enough time to respond with anything of value.

But those seconds resulted in something odd.

It was a cough.

A wet, choking cough.

From the final god, Arjuna.

Then, something rips. His stomach splits open, like cut from within.

It’s a beautifully horrific knife. A pale, nearly blue blade. A hilt like rusty red blood. It was sharp. Horribly, horribly sharp. The hilt itself even has rough edges, like ripped paper, like a swan song in a solid form, like a glacier’s edge.

It’s cold, and the frost chills the earth.

Something crawls from the milk.

Da Vinci gasps, tears in her eyes. Captain Nemo seems more confused. Within the Shadow Border, Sherlock Holmes steeples his hands.

Sophia Vogel-Westenra grabs her knife.

Madness fills her mind.

She breathes, inhuman.

The ice fills her lungs and she draws power from it.

    .    .    .

“Arjuna. These sacrifices…”

“…I’ll kill you with them.”

[Servant Origin Registered: C???t?r ?u?r????] [Sophia Vogel-Westenra] [Berserker]

#sophia ic. #sophia headcanon. #meta. #gore tw #unreality tw #death tw #suicidal ideation tw

[toku-explained]

The Swordsman of All

SSSS.Dynazenon: Sizumu finds some kids looking at what he dubs a failed Kaiju, Zaiohn it goes away, later spraying paint on a sleeping Gauma. Yomogi and Yume go to Futaba's workplace, but he quit a while ago. Koyomi recalls Inamoto showing him a stash of money she found and suggesting they run off together, he ran away. Recalling his recent dealings with her, he goes to throw a rock at a window when everyone is called by Gauma, wanting the paint spreading Zaiohn found. Yomogi and Yume find it easily, it's quite sad cute, and convince Gauma not to kill it since it's not being used by the Eugenecists, he tries using Instance Domination on it unsuccessfully, the others try as a joke, and Yomogi sees a weird vision. They're spotted by the GridKnight Alliance. Sizumu takes the Eugenecists out. Anosillus and Knight explain Kaiju have sources, which must have been spread around based on their appearance locations, which are fed by human hearts, both silent when Gauma asks how they know so much when they aren't Kaiju, warning to keep an eye on Zaiohn. Mujina excels at bowling, Onija at tennis, Juuga just worries about relaxing instead of finding Kaiju. Gauma looks at the Kaiju while wondering where his princess is. Gauma fell asleep and Zaiohn escaped, Sizumu suggests a movie, Tarabaman, Onija and Mujina are weirdly of one mind about things now. Knight meets Yomogi and helps him look, as Zaiohn, now bigger, keeps going, they talk about if its possible it has a human heart. Knight acknowledges some Kaiju have human hearts, but others will deceive, and hesitating to kill one that then causes real damage isn't okay, if it's a threat, he will kill it. Koyomi and Gauma leap into action to try and lure Zaiohn from the city, panicking crowds separate Yume from Chise. Knight tells Yomogi that at the size it is, Zaiohn needs to stopped, they go into battle. Reacting to GridKnight, DynaSoldier converts into the Dynamic Cannon, which he wields. Yomogi is unsure on killing Zaiohn. When it starts damaging the building, and learning Yume is inside without DynaWing, he tries Instance Domination, having the same reaction and it looks right at him, Yomogi forces himself to use Dynamic Fire. Afterwards Yomogi is unsure of himself. The seed Chise found now resembles a kaiju frame. Sizumu is the only one of the Eugenecists who was even aware of the battle. Yume asks Yomogi to grab food together.

Heroes' Odyssey: Zero talks about the traitor to the Land of Light, Ultraman Belial, and his own battle with Kaiser Belial and Arch Belial, before talking about Tiga battling Geozark, leading to Masaki Keigo stealing the Sparklence and the fragments of the other statues, using it to revive another Ancient Giant of Light as Evil Tiga. Guardie attempts and fails to get through to the heart of the original giant, his friend, and is killed, before Tiga arrives and manages to stop him.

Saber: Yuri explains that Luna singling out Touma marks him as the one who will inherit Wonder Worlds power. Kento believes Touma might be able to change fate, but Kurayami is still showing him the World's destruction, Tassel's bird flies by. Master Logos shows Storious his new book, explaining if it absorbs the other books a new Seiken will be born, allowing him to fulfill his ambitions. Sophia explains her attempt to replace Kuna and disrupt the ritual, apologising for not revealing she's an artificial human, but everyone accepts her. Mei notes Wonder Story is partly blank. Touma needs to save Luna and receive power. Ryoga explains to Reika that the Shindai clan have a duty to protect Master Logos, and if they deem him unworthy of that title, there is only one thing to do. With the golden Calabdolg in hand, Master Logos uses the Omni Force Wonder Ride Book to bring darkness, the Northern Swordsmen rush to face him, he mocks his predecessors for not seizing the infinite power, and humanity, rejecting his duty when Yuri mentions it. Master Logos uses Omni Force to become Kamen Rider Solomon, the Swordsmen use their strongest forms against him. He overpowers them, then create seven books in the air in major cities worldwide. An image appears from each work, Izaak introduces himself, declaring he will rule humanity, he tells the survivor of war amongst humanity will be saved. Ryoga now knows what he and Reika must do, Bacht ponders things. The prophecy about Rekka tells how Touma can receive the power to face this, but all the Swordsmen must be aligned. Ogami and Daishinji seeks Ren, Yuri Kento. Ren reflects on recent events and his Masters advice to always seek strength, hiding with Desast when they come looking, Desast points out he actually does want to fight with them. The Shibdais confront Izaak, who rejects the name Master Logos, and prepare to remove him, all three changemand fight. Rekka reacts, and Touma can tell Durandal and Sabela are fighting Solomon. Kento tells Yuri the book will destroy everything, Yuri can tell he plans to engulf everything, himself included, in shadow. Solomon is able to counter the siblings' techniques, mocking them for continuing their familial duties, when Saber and Blades arrive. Durandal has a moment of stubbornness but is convinced by Touma to fight with them. Yuri knows, as Kento does from his visions, that if Touma receives Wonder World's power he'll become it's Guardian and have to remain there, Kento finds this unacceptable, but Yuri thinks even this can be changed now, he should believe in Touma, then goes to get the others to safety. As Kento wants to join Touma but thinks it's too late, Sophia appears to him.

Zenkaiger: Boccowaus is getting frustrated, Barashitara intends to deal with things before Ijirude finishes his work. Zyuran and Magine run into some kids, but they're only fans of Twokaiser, Zyuran is frustrated by the Goldtsuikar's and the others acceptance of them. Katatsumurui World appears, slowing everything else in an area to a snail's pace. Twokaiser arrives, but is also slowed on entering the area. The others arrive, but Flint from CrocoDaiOh warns them off entering the slow area. At Colourful Flint explains the powers, trying to help them make a plan, insisting it's just to save her brother. Zox is keeping his spirits up, while Magine and Zyuran listen. Barashitara orders Katatsumuri World to eliminate the ones he has captive, but when he attacks it emerges Zox had used the waiting time to prepare attacks in advance. Ijirude is finishing his work, but Stacey wants it now. The others arrive, using Turboranger to speed up the others to normal speed, they get Katatsumuri World, then empower others in the area. While they all change and announce themselves, Twokaiser refuses to be included in the team. When Katatsumuri World tries to slow them again, Zenkaiser and Twokaiser both use Turboranger to counter (Blue Turbo for Zox), and swiftly finish things. Dai Katatsumuri World arrives, ZenkaiOh ZyuraGaon battles first, but the tough shell makes things hard. Ijirude finishes his work and sends out Stacey, who arrives in his Battle Caesar Robo toattack ZenkaiOh. The twins decide to try Flint's new modification to CrocoDaiOh, and so using Katana's Kikai side, Twokaiser brings out Twokai-Oh Katana. Stacaesar uses the new arrival to focus on ZenkaiOh exclusively, Rekka Daizan finishes Dai Katatsumuri World, and Stacaesar leaves so Twokai-Oh doesn't interfere. Zyuran and Magine are frustrated by Zox still.

Saber X Ghost: 3 followers of Danton have captured Kanon, and are using her to try and find Makoto, or "Leon" as they call him. Kanon wonders about in a trance looking for him, spotted by Desast, who smells that she isn't human and grabs her, spotted by Youma and Mei. Saber fights Desast but Kaanon is still in a trance, throwing Desast away after e beats Touma. At Daitenkuu Takeru has the book Ghost Ijinroku, Javel brings Condor Phone over, whoever is on the other end tells him Kanon is missing and he runs off. They briefly run into eachother, each momentarily distracted by the other's main item. Takers encounters the 3 followers, who aim recreate Danton's Ultimate Lifeform. Definitely some novel continuity here, as Takeru specifically refuses to allow them to harm Chloë with their plan. One turns into a Ganma Superior to hold him off. Javel runs into Touma and Mei, both groups essentially looking for the same thing, Kanon and Desast both quickly arrive. Kanon flips out and beats off Desast and runs after Touma becomes Saber, Desast and Saber chasing, Javel aims to help with his own abilities, but he doesn't have them anymore. The fight continues between Saber and Desast over Kanon when Javel and Mei arrive, Javel fails to appeal to Desast's better nature, and Takeru and the Ganma arrive as Kanon wails on Saber, then brutalised Touma only to snap out when he promises to help find her brother. Takeru and Touma properly make introductions, and become Saber and Ghost to fight Desast and the Ganma, who make a quick deal for Kanon. Facing Desast, Ghost uses Musashi, while Saber unable to do anything, until Takeru lends him Ghost Ijinroju, kept at Daitenkuu for generations. The form represents Ghost and the 15 Heroic Spirits, and Ghost switches to Grateful, the two together finish the Ganma, and Desast runs off. After some talk Takeru promises to help find Makoto, and Javel takes Kanon to the temple, but on the way back they're ambushed by the remaining followers, who drag Kanon away.

Dogengers Nice Buddy: Great Z tells Riku he's determined to bring about his justice. Yabai Kamen prepares to run away, but is caught by Shaberryman right before Riku gets home. Riku is given pause by Yabai Kamen's words, reminded of something Yamashiron said to Great Z, then sweet talks Yabai Kamen into staying with them, before getting an alert they need Nectaris and Uzagi. Filming has a giant Uzagi via camera trickery, before Great Z arrives to fight Nectaris and the Karamis. Watching on TV, most of the Dogengers rollout, leaving Fukuokaliber with a despondent Yamashiron. After a couple of attacks from Nectaris, Great Z begins a heroic speech when he has another attack, seeing images of teasing from eyeless children, and the child being teased's anger. Fishing out a pill, he angrily recalls his experiences with the Dogengers thus far, takes his medicine and brutally attacks Nectaris, everyone watching turning from amused to concerned. Getting ahold of himself, he pulls Nectaris up, and summons Great Daizenshin for a finish, Uzagi jumps to Nectaris when filming is disrupted by police cars escorting the remains of the Kitaqmachine and El Brave, Kitaqman, Ohgaman, Rookie and Kitaqman Metal arrive. After indulging Ohgaman's cop drama bit, they try to survive Great Daizenshin's onslaught, Yamashiron is scared watching but Fukuokaliber has him wait and eat, a meal specifically involving Bell Peppers, which Yamashiron digs into. He's reminded of how the 3 of him learnt to cook together, and now feels ready to fight again. The building that makes their base shakes, and emerges from the ground in front of the others, atop a giant yellow robo.

#toku explained #kamen rider saber #kikai sentai zenkaiger #ssss.dynazenon #dogengers

[prettyallfriends]

Pretty Rhythm: My☆Deco Rainbow Wedding Prologue

(Hi! This is the first Pretty Rhythm 3DS game, and is also where Rinne originated. My notes will be in brackets, and I’ll only be translating one option from each choice; my chosen option will be in bold. Also… yeah, some plot points in these games are dumb as hell. But the Rainbow Live game literally made me cry so they’re not complete nonsense haha. Translation starts under the cut.)

’Dance’, ‘fashion’, ‘music’. When all three are brought together, they create ‘entertainment’. A certain legend has been passed down in the world of ‘prism shows’ since long ago…

‘Lovely’, ‘pop’, ‘feminine’, ‘ethnic’, ‘cool’, ‘sexy’. And, of course… ‘star’. The prism star who could bring together the power of these seven coords and collect the ‘rainbow charm’ would acquire the ‘rainbow wedding (dress)’.  Wearing this rainbow-coloured, shining coord of legend was the aspiration of every prism star. However, nobody had ever even seen this ‘rainbow charm’.

Everyone began to see the ‘rainbow wedding’ as nothing but a legend. However… they were wrong. The rainbow charm has always been waiting to be found by a star who can use the power of ‘My☆Deco’ to create their own original prism stones.

This is the story of a strange prism star with the power of the rainbow. You will be playing the leading role. Yes, the rainbow charm… It’s been waiting for you all along. Welcome to the world of prism shows!

(Meganee appears, you are in a real-life Prism Stone shop)

??? (Meganee): Ah, welcome! You can play Pretty Rhythm here! It’s a super fun game where you can collect shining stones! The controls are simple, so even beginners can enjoy themselves! So, do you want to try playing Pretty Rhythm?

Choice: Hm… Will I give it a go…?/Now’s not a great time…

??? (Meganee): Great! Put in a coin to start the game! I’m looking forward to a sparkly prism show! …Hm? Wait, you’re… Come with me for a sec!

(You both enter the arcade machine)

???(Meganee): Welcome to the world of prism shows ! 

Meganee: Sorry, sorry! I surprised you, didn’t I? My name is Akai Meganee. I help everyone with their coords right here in the world of prism shows. Feel free to call me Meganee! …More importantly, you’re making a ‘Why did you bring me here?’ kind of face, huh. The reason I’ve brought you into the world of the game is… 

??? (Penguin-sensei): Meganee-chan! You’ve found the new star!? 

Meganee: Ah! Penguin-sensei!

Penguin-sensei: So it’s this girl, huh? Hm… hmmm?

Meganee: Wait a minute, Penguin-sensei. You’re all up in her face…

Penguin-sensei: Perfect! This girl will do great! You have the aura of a destined star!

Meganee: Right? But, wait a second. There’s still a lot we don’t know about you. So, tell us about yourself!

(Character creation. I’ll refer to the player character as ‘Player’ from now on. Also, there’s no skintone options… Shit Sophia strikes again)

Meganee: I feel like I know you a lot better now. Nice to meet you, Player-chan!

Penguin-sensei: Good, now that that’s out of the way, we can get going! …Huh? Where are we going, you ask? The Prism Stone shop, of course!

(We are now inside the fictional Prism Stone from AD/DMF)

Meganee: You know, Player, there’s a reason why I chose you. It’s because your heart is shiny and pure… Having that pure heart should let you use the power of My☆Deco!

Penguin-sensei: Huh? Don’t tell me you don’t know what My☆Deco is? Well, it’s better to learn by doing! Let’s My☆Deco!

(My☆Deco tutorial)

Meganee: Wow, amazing! You deco-ed it wonderfully!

Penguin-sensei: You’re clearly nothing to sniff at if you can make such a pretty stone first try!

Meganee: Hm… With your skill, I’m sure you’ll be able to make the rainbow wedding!

Penguin-sensei: You’re right… To do that you’ll need this… The rainbow charm!

(A peacock-design charm floats down from the sky. Figuratively, I guess)

Meganee: The rainbow charm has lost its power… Player-chan! Please bring the power of the seven coords together! If you do that, you’ll be able to create the rainbow wedding coord! If you gather the power of all of the coords and get the rainbow wedding, you can make a lot of people’s hearts happy-lucky! So, will you collect power for the rainbow charm?

Choice: Understood!/Will I really be able to do all that, though?

Meganee: Thank you! I knew you’d say that! 

Penguin-sensei: Now that that’s sorted, you’ve got to train from here on out! Your goal is to become a sparkling prism star! In order to debut as a star, you’ll need to practise prism jumps!

Meganee: Player-chan, good luck! …You’ll definitely be able to help that girl…

–End of Opening– 

Prologue: A Strange Power

Meganee: Player-chan, your prism star activities are just beginning! …Hm? Who’s the girl I just mentioned? Well, if you continue doing prism shows, you’ll probably meet a strange girl who has a pure white heart, just like you. Although, she’s forgotten something very important, so we need you to use your power to help her remember. I’m sure you’ll be able to become close to her, and your sparkling heart will make everyone happy-lucky. Feel free to deco your pure heart in a way that suits you! You’ve already learned how to My☆Deco, so next you’ll be tackling prism shows! A prism show is where the strengths of dance, fashion and music come together. It’s very fun entertainment! 

Penguin-sensei: The most important part of a prism show is the prism jump. A prism jump is a jump of the soul!

Meganee: A prism star’s excited heartbeat becomes their prism jump. I wonder what kind of jump Player-chan’s heart will create?

Penguin-sensei: We’ll have to see then, won’t we? Let’s prism show! ……Wait, you… haven’t performed a prism jump before?

Choice: Of course I have!/No, I haven’t… 

Penguin-sensei: There’s no way you can debut then! Hurry up, I’ll give you a lesson! You’re lucky, you know? You get to experience a special lesson taught by me!

Meganee: No need to be so worried, you’ll definitely be fine.

Penguin-sensei: The excitement in your heart will become your jump… is what my friend Jun said once. Hm? You don’t know who that is? Well, whatever. It basically means that if you believe in your heart, you’ll be able to do an amazing prism jump!

Meganee: The Prism Future Arena’s pretty close, so why don’t we go there to practise?

Penguin-sensei: Prism jump lesson, start! 

(Obligatory prism show tutorial, followed by obligatory prism show)

Meganee: Woah, great prism show!

Penguin-sensei: You really do have something amazing… and that is… a star’s aura! You’re going to become a great prism star!

Meganee: A prism star, huh… Wait, do you plan to enroll her there!?

Penguin-sensei: Of course! I’ve already told President Asechi that I’ve found the prism star of the future!

Meganee: Pretty Top has a lot of prism stars, it’s a very famous agency. Being able to go there is amazing! Congratulations, Player-chan! 

Penguin-sensei: Well… officially, you need to take a test to be accepted. Will you take the test?

Choice: I want to take it!/I can’t do it!

Penguin-sensei: That’s what I like to hear. With that attitude, you’ll definitely become a great prism star. Even if you fail, the important thing is that you tried. That’s youth after all! Now, let’s go! Follow me, Player!

Meganee: Ah! Penguin-sensei, if you drag her so suddenly…

Penguin-sensei: Aaah! (Falling sounds)

Meganee: Ah… they both fell… Are you guys okay? …You’ll definitely be able to collect all of the power for the rainbow charm. Believe in the shine of your heart. If you do that, you’ll definitely become a wonderful prism star!

(This is so fucking long good lord. I still haven’t been able to save. I haven’t seen my family in weeks. My crops are all dead. Anyway, after a transition we are in what looks to be a bedroom… Alone with Penguin-sensei… Ruh-roh Scoob)

Penguin-sensei: Good♥mor♥ning♥

Penguin-sensei: HEY! Don’t scream when you see a person’s face! That’s so rude! You’re making a really surprised face, huh. You didn’t think that yesterday was just a dream, did you? Pinch your cheeks, see? You’re not dreaming. This is reality! You’re going to be taking Pretty Top’s admission test in order to become a prism star! Why are you spacing out like that? Get ready! 

Penguin-sensei: This is your My Room. Just like it sounds, it’s your bedroom. You can change your coord and makeup here. Once you’re ready, you’ll be taking your test! Show me your power in the world where talented prism stars come together! Let’s gooooo!

–To be continued–

Meganee: Welcome to the world of prism shows! In order to become a sparkling prism star, please work hard doing prism shows and lessons. You have the power of My☆Deco, so use it to create a lot of coords! If you continue in ‘Aim to Become a Prism Star’ (story) mode, you’ll be able to meet a lot of friends with different dances and jumps. I have a present for you, the future prism star! Make a lot of My☆Deco stones with the power of My☆Deco! And please, save that girl… She needs your power! I’ll give you a present every day. I’ll be happy if you come to play tomorrow, and the day after that. I may even get you a surprise present for your birthday, so look forward to that! May Player-chan, who has the power of My☆Deco, stay safe…

(And finally… a menu. I have been freed from the shackles that Meganee had bound me with. Why did I translate that last bit of non-story info? To let the world know that Meganee is pure evil. Guilt tripping us with promises of presents so that we play every day and in so doing fall for her machinations? No thank you. Anyway, I hope people actually read this as it was an absolute slog to get through lmao! I’m planning on translating both PR 3DS games, and possibly the PriPara ones too if people want them. Also, if anyone wants a quick translation of the actual gameplay menus etc., I’d be happy to do so!)

#pretty rhythm #pretty series #pretty rhythm aurora dream #pretty rhythm dear my future #pretty rhythm 3ds #mdrw

[rayshippouuchiha]

Merthur drabble

So this is the first time I’ve written something since I wrote a Gary Stue x Mary Sue kind of fic at age 11, so don’t judge it too hard ok?😅Also, it’s more a collection of ideas that spawned from the first one than a drabble, since I didn’t want to expand too much on it. Do tell me what you think please 😊

The idea was born over me wondering “since Merlin is immortal, even from physical wounds and poison, what would’ve happened if his magic was discovered by Uther and he’s taken to the pyre?”. Bonus points if you catch the reference to an episode in the later seasons of the show that I sneaked in there. This would take place right before Morgana goes to the druids the first time (meaning she is still mostly loyal to Uther, Arthur and Camelot). Maybe Myror doesn’t try to kill Arthur during the tournament but instead disguises himself as a servant and tries to do it when he finds himself alone with Arthur in a corridor, with Merlin coming from around the corner just in time to catch him.

Merlin is too far away and the knife was thrown from such close range that he can’t save Arthur subtly as usual, and is forced to conjure a magical barrier between Arthur and the assassin instead, while still in Arthur’s field of vision. Using the assassin’s moment of shock against him, Arthur is able to kill him but is then consumed by the feeling of betrayal and rage. He does what he always does when he wishes to see someone punished: he takes Merlin to Uther, initially expecting him to be merely banished from the kingdom on account of having used magic to save his life. Pretty soon, he realizes that Uther does not care in the slightest what the magic was used for, only that it existed, when he declares that Merlin will suffer the ultimate punishment for his treason: the pyre.

Arthur ardently tries to protest, of course he does, but it is already too late. There is no going back, and due to his strong feelings on the matter Uther confines him to his rooms, watched by half a dozen guards, so that he would be unable to help Merlin escape. He also decrees that he cares too much about a mere servant, and to teach him a lesson he will be forced to witness the execution himself

Merlin is taken to the dungeons, bound in cold iron shackles (or something similar), unable to access his magic to free himself, and is visited by Morgana.

She starts cursing out Arthur for his part in his fate, but he begs her to forgive him. “He’s an idiot”, he says, “but he didn’t mean for this to happen. He just thought that I had been lying to him all along, and he wanted me banished for it so he acted impulsively. We both know that if he had taken a moment to think he would have sent me away himself then changed his mind in a few days after speaking to you and Gaius. You didn’t see his face when Uther declared I was going to the pyre. Please don’t blame him”

Morgana then tries to tell him that she will get him out somehow, but he convinces her otherwise, since she already attempted to allow Tom to escape recently, and thus would be the main suspect. And besides, he is being too closely guarded for any escape attempt to succeed without the use of magic.

He explains that he knows she has magic, and begs her forgiveness for not helping her sooner. He suggests that she make up a reason for going on trips occasionally, and use that time to ask the Druids living nearby to teach her to control her powers. Finally, he grabs her hand, smiles sadly and says:

“You are the kindest, fairest lady I have ever known. Don’t let your fear and anger make you lose sight of that. I am honored to have called you my friend. And remember, never lose hope, because at the very least I will make sure my death reminds Arthur that magic is not always used for evil. He will change things once he is king, I know it. So have faith, milady. And protect that cabbagehead for me once I’m gone, will you? He gets into so much trouble, he’s gonna need someone at his back”

Morgana loses her composure and begins to cry, releasing heaving sobs while Merlin tries to comfort her. He tells her that it will be alright, and to stay with Gaius and Gwen the next day. He does not wish for them to see him die this way.

The next morning at dawn, he is taken before the stake where his “crimes” are read out loud. He is then tied to the stake and allowed to speak his last words. Merlin draws himself up as much as he can, and declares in a loud voice that he didn’t choose to learn magic, and was instead born with it, and in all his years he has never once used his abilities for evil. He proudly proclaims that he has only ever used his magic in service of Camelot and his lord, Prince Arthur. He killed the afanc and thus ended the plague upon the kingdom. He enchanted the blade that defeated the griffin. He defended Arthur from bandits and assassins from the shadows. He discovered the treachery of the sorcerer Edwin then used his own magic to reverse the spell that would have killed Uther. He killed the Sidhe Sophia and Aulfric before they could sacrifice Arthur’s life to return to Avalon. He took part in the forging of the blade that ultimately felled the wraith of Tristan de Bois. He convinced Anhora, guardian of the unicorns, to give Arthur another chance when he first failed his trials. He saved Arthur from the bite of the Questing Beast by offering his own life in return, then struck down the sorceress Nimueh when she attempted to take the life of an innocent person instead. He defeated the dark sorcerer Cornelius Sigan and his magical army, then sealed his soul away once more.

Once finished listing his deeds, he looks Arthur directly in the eye and says with a tremulous smile “Arthur may think of me as an underachiever but I’m quite proud of those accomplishments. I… I can die happy”

Incensed, Uther gives the order to light the pyre while a heartbroken Arthur is forced to watch, held back by two guards as he desperately tries to run over and free Merlin from his bonds. The fire ignites, and Merlin can’t help but scream. Arthur closes his eyes. Next to him, Leon turns away.

One hour passes. Then three. Then six. And yet, Merlin’s screams still ring out over the crowd. Many people, initially eager to witness the execution, now thoroughly regret coming. The screams, they reverberate in their minds, and those with family members around his age feel sick to their stomachs. No one in the world, not even the most heinous of criminals, deserves such a brutal, horrendous pain, and if his words before the pyre was lit are to be believed Merlin deserves this least of all. No one can understand. There is no wind to blow away the flames, no rain, and Merlin is clearly burning, yet he just won’t die.

Looking closely, it is apparent that something strange is afoot. Merlin has burns all over his body, his skin is red or blistered or charred black by turns. In some places, one can even see the white of his bone peek through his wounds. However, after a few seconds, the blackened skin seems to heal and turns pink once more, only to burn again.

Uther orders several of the guards to move forward, and use spears to end Merlin’s misery. They stab him in the gut, and Merlin’s blood dies the ground crimson. After a few minutes, Merlin’s screams cease and a sigh of relief sweeps through everyone present.

…

But it is not over. Soon, Merlin’s shrieks start anew, and one knight slits his throat in desperation. But to no avail. Suddenly, as the wound at his throat heals itself, Merlin’s cries restart. But they have changed. The ground shakes, and the sky turns black from countless dark clouds suddenly converging over Camelot as he loses control of his magic. And over the cacophony of noise from the thunder and the rumbling of the earth and the screams of the frightened public, Merlin can be heard…. Begging someone to please, please kill him.

Arthur weeps helplessly in the grasp of the guards. Uther is flabbergasted. He doesn’t understand what is going on, and thus is forced to call his resident magic expert to the scene. Gaius has to be dragged kicking and screaming before him, tears running down his face.

“What is it you want, your majesty? Isn’t it enough that you are killing the closest thing to a son to me, for the crime of saving your son’s life? Do I have to watch it happen as well?”

Uther forgives his insolence, just this once, and instead asks why it is taking Merlin so long to die. Gaius almost can’t believe what is happening, but ultimately explains that Merlin is called Emrys the Immortal by the druids, who say he is magic itself. He never believed this literally, having only thought they meant he is a being of unfathomable magical power, but it is now apparent that their words are nothing but the truth. Merlin can’t be killed, and continuing with this atrocity is only meaningless torture.

Uther agrees, and has Merlin taken into the castle. Arthur immediately frees himself from the stunned guards and goes after him, only to find him in the corner of one of the cells with his wounds slowly healing by themselves, crying silently while occasionally letting out heartbreaking whimpers. He is staring at the wall blankly, and doesn’t react at all when Arthur speaks to him. His mind wasn’t able to withstand the excruciatingly torturous experience, and has shattered.

Eventually, Arthur convinces Uther to allow him to keep Merlin with him, since he is clearly not a threat to anyone. After a while, Merlin stops making any sound and will only look ahead, unseeingly, only capable of following orders, completely unable to do anything by himself. Wracked with guilt, Arthur then does his best to take care of Merlin with the help of Morgana, Gwen and Gaius; feeding him, bathing him, dressing him, and comforting him when he wakes from night terrors in the middle of the night. Looking after someone who is essentially disabled eventually takes a toll on Gwen and Arthur’s relationship, and they agree they are better off as friends.

At some point, Arthur is attacked again and Merlin instinctively protects him with magic: this is the first action he has taken by himself since the pyre. Arthur breaks down into sobs, hugging Merlin close and begging him to say something, ANYTHING. Merlin doesn’t answer.

It takes many months, perhaps even years, but eventually with Arthur’s loving care Merlin does get better. His very first word after his ordeal is “Arthur”.

Arthur is so overwhelmingly relieved the first time Merlin makes a sassy comeback again that he falls to his knees in the middle of a council meeting. A panicked Merlin helps him to his feet, and Arthur uses his arm to pull him into a backbreaking hug. Merlin becomes Arthur’s most trusted advisor, and there is no threat they don’t face together.

In the meantime, his words before the pyre and the way he continues to protect Arthur, even in his current state, move the hearts of the people and obviously Arthur himself. Eventually, the protests in favor of repealing the ban on magic get so ridiculous, with so many people behind them, that even Uther has to concede defeat. Forced to face the truth about the nature of magic users and the reality of his actions against them, Uther health deteriorates from the stress and he confesses his mistakes to Arthur and Morgana, particularly in regards to what happened with Ygraine and Vivienne. It is a long time before either of them will speak to him again after that, and it takes almost until he is on his death bed. When he takes his very last breath, their forgiveness feels like absolution.

Morgana takes Merlin’s words to her that night to heart, and settles for being named an official princess once Arthur is king, and being given her very own stretch of land to lord over. She still spends much of her time in the castle, and once Merlin is back to his old self somewhat, she visits him often to practice magic, dote on Aithusa and share gossip. She eventually makes Morgause come around and she becomes Morgana’s most fearsome guard and protector. She is also given a place in court by Arthur.

Arthur names Merlin Court Sorcerer, and eventually their devotion for each other blossoms into a love so passionate, so fiercely protective on both parts that no one dares speak out against it. Gwen agrees to be their surrogate to create heirs to the throne, with loving support from her husband Lancelot. He and the other Knights of the Round Table accept Merlin as one of their own, and are almost as protective of him as their king. Soon, Uther’s supporters, magic haters and dissenters stop appearing.

With the entirety of Albion behind them, Merlin and Arthur bind their lives together in what is later called the wedding of the millennium.

As prophecy stated, together Merlin and Arthur usher in an era of peace the likes of which the world had never known, for both magical and non magical people. Once Arthur decides to retire, he leaves the kingdom in the capable hands of their first born, and then they leave to explore the world. They come back from time to time, of course, to check in, to share their wisdom, and they defend Albion with everything they have when called, but for the most part they just travel and revel in each other’s presence.

As their legend spreads throughout the world, people will sometime claim to have seen them in one place or another. Sometimes it’s true, sometimes it isn’t. And when Albion’s greatest time of need comes, they are there to face it. Together.

#Merlin #Merthur #OHHH THIS IS GOOD #submission

[tawakkull]

ISLAM 101: Spirituality in Islam: Part 3

SOFI

Sofi is used to designate the followers of Sufism, particularly by speakers of Persian and Turkish. Others use Sufi. I think the difference arises from the different views of the word’s origin. Those who claim that it is derived from sof (wool), safa (spiritual delight, exhilaration), safwat (purity), or sophos (a Greek word meaning wisdom), or who believe that it implies devotion, prefer Sufi. Those who hold that it is derived from suffa (chamber), and stress that it should not be confused with sofu (religious zealot), also use Sufi. The word sofi has been defined in many ways, among them:

- A traveler on the way to God who has purified his or her self and thus acquired inner light or spiritual enlightenment.

- A humble soldier of God who has been chosen by the Almighty for Himself and thus freed from the influence of his or her carnal, evil-commanding self.

- A traveler on the way to the Muhammadan Truth who wears a coarse, woolen cloak as a sign of humility and nothingness, and who renounces the world as the source of vice and carnal desire. Following the example of the Prophets and their followers, as well as sincere devotees, they are called mutasawwif to emphasize their spiritual states and belief, conduct, and life-style.

- A traveler to the peak of true humanity who has been freed from carnal turbidity and all kinds of human dirt to realize his or her essential, heavenly nature and identity.

- A spiritual person who tries to be like the people of the Suffa the poor, scholarly Companions of the Prophet who lived in the chamber adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque by dedicating his or her life to earning that name.

Some say that the word sofi is derived from saf (pure). Although their praiseworthy efforts to please God by serving Him continually and keeping their hearts set on Him are enough for them to be called pure ones, such a derivation is grammatically incorrect. Some have argued that sofi is derived from sophia or sophos, Greek words meaning wisdom. I think this is a fabrication of foreign researchers who try to prove that Sufism has a foreign and therefore non-Islamic origin.

The first Muslim to be called a Sofi was the great ascetic Abu Hashim al-Kufi (d. 150 AH9). Thus, the word sofi was in use in the second Islamic century after the generation of the Companions and their blessed successors. At this point in time, Sufism was characterized by spiritual people seeking to follow the footsteps of our Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, and his Companions by imitating their life-styles. This is why Sufism has always been known and remembered as the spiritual dimension of the Islamic way of life.

Sufism seeks to educate people so that they will set their hearts on God and burn with the love of Him. It focuses on good morals and proper conduct, as shown by the Prophets. Although some slight deviations may have appeared in Sufism over time, these should not be used to condemn that way of spiritual purity.

While describing Sufis who lead a purely spiritual life, Imam Qushayri writes:

The greatest in Islam is Companionship of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings. This honor or blessing is so great that it can only be acquired by an actual Companion of the Prophet. The second rank in greatness belongs to the Tabi'un, those fortunate ones who came after the Companions and saw them. This is followed by the Taba'i al-Tabi'in, those who came after the Tabi'un and saw them. Just after the closing years of this third generation and coinciding with the outbreak of internal conflict and deviation in belief, and along with the Traditionists, legal scholars, and theologians who rendered great services to Islam, Sufis had great success in reviving the spiritual aspect of Islam.

Early Sofis were distinguished, saintly people who led upright, honest, austere, and simple and blemish-free lives. They did not seek bodily happiness or carnal gratification, and followed the example of the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings. They were so balanced in their belief and thinking that they cannot be considered followers of ancient philosophers, Christian mystics, or Hindu holy men. Early Sofis considered it the science of humanity’s inner world, the reality of things, and the mysteries of existence. A Sofi studied this science, one determined to reach the final rank of a universal or perfect being.

Sufism is a long journey of unceasing effort leading to the Infinite One, a marathon to be run without stopping, with unyielding resolution, and without anticipating any worldly pleasure or reward. It has nothing to do with Western or Eastern mysticism, yoga, or philosophy, for a Sofi is a hero determined to reach the Infinite One, not a mystic, a yogi, or a philosopher.

Prior to Islam, some Hindu and Greek philosophers followed various ways leading to self-purification and struggled against their carnal desires and the world’s attractions. But Sufism is essentially different from these ways. For example, Sofis live their entire lives as a quest to purify their selves via invocation, regular worship, complete obedience to God, self-control, and humility, whereas ancient philosophers did not observe any of these rules or acts. Their self-purification if it really deserves to be considered as such usually caused conceit and arrogance in many of them, instead of humility and self-criticism.

Sofis can be divided into two categories: those who stress knowledge and seek to reach their destination through the knowledge of God (ma'rifa), and those who follow the path of yearning, spiritual ecstasy, and spiritual discovery.

Members of the first group spend their lives traveling toward God, progressing “in” and progressing “from” Him on the wings of knowledge and the knowledge of God. They seek to realize the meaning of: There is no power and strength save with God. Every change, alteration, transformation, and formation observed, and every event witnessed or experienced, is like a comprehensible message from the Holy Power and Will experienced in different tongues. Those in the second group also are serious in their journeying and asceticism. However, they may sometimes deviate from the main destination and fail to reach God Almighty, since they pursue hidden realities or truths, miracle-working, spiritual pleasure, and ecstasy. Although this path is grounded on the Qur'an and the Sunna, it may lead some initiates to cherish such desires and expectations as spiritual rank, working miracles, and sainthood. That is why the former path, which leads to the greatest sainthood under the guidance of the Qur'an, is safer.

Sofis divide people into three groups:

- The perfect ones who have reached the destination. This group is divided into two subgroups: the Prophets and the perfected ones who have reached the Truth by strictly following the prophetic examples. Not all perfected ones are guides; rather than guiding people to the Truth, some remain annihilated or drowned in the waves of the “ocean of meeting with God and amazement.” As their relations with the visible, material world are completely severed, they cannot guide others.

- The initiates. This group also consists of two subgroups: those who completely renounce the world and, without considering the Hereafter, seek only God Almighty, and those who seek to enter Paradise but do not give up tasting some of the world’s permitted pleasures. Such people are known as ascetics, worshippers, the poor, or the helpless.

- The settlers or clingers. This group consists of people who only want to live an easy, comfortable life in this world. Thus, Sofis call them “settlers” or “clingers,” for they “cling heavily to the earth.” They are mainly people who do not believe, who indulge in sin and therefore cannot be pardoned. According to the Qur'an, they are unfortunate beings who belong to “the group on the left,” or those who are “blind” and “deaf” and “without understanding.”

Some have also referred to these three groups as the foremost (or those brought near to God), the people on the right, and the people on the left.

#allah #god #islam #muslim #quran #revert #conevrt #conevrt islam #revert islam #reverthelp #revert help #revert help team #help #islamhelp #converthelp #prayer #salah #muslimah #reminder #pray #dua #hijab #religion #mohammad #new muslim #new revert #new convert #fow to convert to islam #convert to islam #welcome to islam

[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Sun, Sept.20, 2020

Commemorated on September 7_”Old” JuIian calendar

 Martyr Sozontes (304)

     The Martyr Sozontes, a native of Likaonea, was a shepherd. He read the Holy Scriptures attentively, and he loved to share his knowledge about the One God with the shepherds who gathered together with him. He brought many to the faith in Christ and to Baptism. By night-time once, when he sat under an oak tree, he had a vision foretelling his deed of martyrdom for Christ. He set off to the city of Cilician Pompeiopolis, where a festal pagan celebration was being prepared for a golden idol, standing in a pagan temple. Unseen by anyone, saint Sozontes went into the pagan temple and broke off the hand of the idol, and having smashed it he gave the gold to the poor. The missing hands of the idol caused an uproar and commotion in the city: many were under suspicion, given over to interrogation and torture. Not wanting to be the cause ofd suffering for other people, Saint Sozontes went to the emperor Maximian (284-305) and declared, that it was he that broke the hand from the idol. "I did this, – he said, – so that ye might see the lack of power of your god, which offered me no resistance. It is not a god, but rather a deaf and dumb idol. I wanted to smash it all into pieces, so that people would no longer worship its wrought hands". The emperor in a fitful rage commanded that Saint Sozontes be tortured mercilessly. They hung him up and struck at him with iron claws, and then they put on his legs iron shackles with nails inside and took him through the city. After this they again suspended him and beat him with iron rods until his bones broke. In these terrible torments Saint Sozontes gave up his spirit to God (+ c. 304). By decree of the emperor, slaves set a strong fire so as to burn the body of the martyr, but suddenly lightning flashed, it thundered loudly and a strong rain poured down over the flames of the fire. Christians took the body of the martyr by night and gave it over to burial. By his grave and at the place where he had the vision, there occurred healing of many of the sick. A church later was built in memory of the sufferings of the holy martyr.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Saint John, Archbishop of Novgorod (1186)

     Saint John, Archbishop of Novgorod, was born at Novgorod of the pious parents Nikolai and Christina. He passed his childhood in quiet and peaceful surroundings.      After the death of the parents John and his brother Gabriel, having received a small inheritance, decided to make on their inherited property a small monastery in honour of the Annunciation (Blagoveschenie) of the MostHoly Mother of God. At first they built a wooden church, but a short time later built also a stone church. Their good intentions were not without difficulties. Before they finished construction on the stone temple, the brothers totally exhausted their means. Only their steadfast and living faith inspired them to continue what they had started. They turned for help with it to the Queen of Heaven, on Whose account this God-pleasing matter was begun. Through their unflagging prayer She manifested to them Her mercy – She foretold in a dream, that everything necessary for the completion of the temple would be provided. On the following morning the brothers saw a splendid horse, loaded with two sacks of gold. No one came by for it, and when the brothers took hold of the sacks, the horse then vanished. Thus did the Mother of god send means for the monastery.      Upon completion of the monastery construction, – here under the protection of the Mother of God, the brothers took monastic vows. Saint John took the name of Ilia, and Saint Gabriel – the name Gregory.      The chronicles speak about Saint John being made bishop under the entries for the year 1162. His first archpastoral missive was directed to the clergy of his diocese. It was embued with an endearing concern about his flock, written in a spirit of fatherly guidance: "It pleased God and the MostHoly Mother of God, through your prayers, that I but a mere man, should not refrain from this high dignity, of which I am unworthy. Wherein that ye yourselves have encouraged me to this service, now hearken to me..." The saint spoke about the vocation of the pastor – he is concerned about his sheep, he not only chastises but also heals those that lead a sinful life. "At the beginning of my discourse I ask you, be not strongly attached to this world, but rather be instructive to people. Look first of all, that they not give themselves over to strong drunkenness. Yet ye yourselves know, that through this most of all do not only the simple people perish, but we also. When your spiritual children approach you in repentance, then question them with mildness. It is not seemly to impose harsh penances. Scorn not the reading of books, since if we do not make a start of doing this, then what will distinguish us from the simple unschooled people?... Do not impose penances upon orphans.... Let everything be seemly, in that the yoke of Christ ought to be light..."      In the year 1165 Saint John was elevated to archbishop (from that time the Novgorod cathedra became archbishopal).      The winter of 1170 was a very difficult time for Novgorod. Suzdal' forces with their allies laid siege to the city for two days since the Novgorod people would not accept prince Svyatoslav, and likewise the took the tribute-tax of the Dvina district which was not subject to them.      In grief the Novgorod people prayed God and the MostHoly Mother of God for the salvation of the city. On the third night, while he was praying before an image of the Saviour, Saint John heard a voice, ordering him to go to the church of the Saviour on Il'ina street, to take the icon of the MostHoly Mother of God and put it up upon a trident-hook. In the morning the saint told the assembly about the command and sent the archdeacon with clergy to the Sophia church for the icon. Going into the church, the archdeacon bowed down before the icon and wanted to take hold of it, but the icon would not budge. The archdeacon returned to the archbishop and told him about what happened. Then the saint with all the assembly went to the Il'ina church and on their knees began to pray before the icon. They began to sing a molieben canon, and at the 6th ode at the kondak " Mediatrix of Christians" the icon itself moved from the place. The people with tears cried out: "Lord, have mercy!" Then Saint John took the icon and together with two deacons carried it on the trident-hook. The Novgorod people in terror foresaw their doom, since the Suzdal' forces with their allies had made their way ready for pillage. In the sixth hour of the evening there began an assault, and the arrows fell like rain. Then by the Providence of God the icon turned its visage towards the city, and from the eyes of the MostHoly Mother of God there trickled down tears, which the saint gathered on his phelon. A darkness like ashes covered over the Suzdal' forces, they became unable to see and with terror they fell back. This occurred on 25 February 1170. Saint John established in honour of this a solemn feastday for Novgorod – the Sign (Znamenie) of the MostHoly Mother of God (celebrated 27 November).      The Suzdal' army wreaked great harm on the Novgorod region. Here also the archpastor did not remain on the sidelines. He showed fatherly concern about devastated households suffering hunger, and he distributed aid to hapless orphans. Just like other Russian hierarchs, by prayer and by virtue he calmed and soothed the internecine strife in much-suffering Rus'. Thus, in 1172 the archpastor himself journeyed to Vladimir to reconcile the nobleborn prince Andrei Bogoliubsky with the Novgorod people.      The saint not only shared in the adversity of his people, but most of all he concerned himself about their spiritual enlightenment. Saint John devoted great attention to spiritual conversations, which often occurred in the circle of the clergy and the laypeople. There are preserved about 30 of his instructions: concerning Baptism, Confession, the Holy Eucharist. The Guidance for Monks is filled with spiritual grandeur: "Once having followed after Christ, monks as actualisers of spiritual life by the cross ought to live in solitary places, separate from worldly folk. Let them pilfer nothing for themself, nor not wholly be dedicated to God. A monk ought always to be a monk, at every time and at every place – both in sleep and in wakefulness they should preserve the memory of death, and in flesh to be fleshless. Not for everyone does the monastery serve as a doctoring for sensual-love, just as silence – is to anger, and death – to greed for money, and the tomb – to avarice... Monastic life and worldly life are incompatible, – just as they do not harness together a camel and horse. The monk bends his neck beneathe the yoke of the Creator and ought to pull the plow in the valley of humility, in order to multiply the fine wheat by the warmth of the Life-bestowing Spirit and to sow the seed-grains of the reason of God. The black-robed is not his own master; being like gods take care not to rot in likeness to people, nor fall from the heights like the light-bearing prince [i.e. of angels, Lucifer-satan]... for from human glory is begotten haughty pride..."      The saint's spiritual powers of grace were unusual. For his simplicity of soul and purity of heart God gave him power against devils. One time, when the saint as was his custom prayed by night, he heard in the wash-bowl something splashing the water. Seeing that there was no one alongside him, the saint perceived, that this was the doing of a devil trying to scare him. The saint made the sign of the cross over the wash-bowl and restrained the devil. Soon the evil spirit could no longer bear the prayer of the saint, which scorched it with fire, and it began to implore to be released from the wash-bowl. The saint was agreeable, but set a condition, that the devil carry him from Novgorod to Jerusalem to the Sepulchre of the Lord, and back all in one night. The devil fulfilled the command of the saint, but asked him to tell no one about his shaming.      In one of his conversations the saint told his flock, that he knew a man, who by night visited the Holy Land. The revenge of the evil spirit was not slow in coming. It began to scatter about women's things in the cell of the saint. One time when a large crowd of city-folk, stirred up by jealous and unvirtuous people, had gathered at the cell of the monk, the devil appeared to them, looking like a woman which ran out from the cell. The saint came out to the racket and gently asked: "What has happened, my children, what is the noise all about?" The unruly crowd, shouting various charges of perverse life against the saint, dragged him to the River Volkhov. They put the saint on a raft and released it down along the current of the river, reckoning to be rid of it. But the raft, contrary to expectation, sailed against the current straight to the men's Yur'ev monastery, situated three versts from Novgorod. Seeing this, people took shame and with weeping and shouts they went along the river-bank after the raft, beseeching the saint to forgive them and to return to the city. The heart of the simple-souled archpastor was filled with thankful joy, not only for himself but just as much for his flock: ""Lord, hold this not in sin against them!" – he prayed and granted pardon to all.      This occurrence happened not long before the death of the saint. Sensing its approach, he put off the hierarch's omophor and took the schema with the name John, – the same name he had in his youth. As successor to himself he appointed his brother, Sainted Gregory (Comm. 24 May). The saint died on 7 September 1186 and was put in the portico of the Sophia church.      In 1439 through the zeal of Sainted Evphymii repairs were being made at the Sophia cathedral; in the portico chapel-temple of Saint John the Fore-Runner a stone suddenly came loose and powerfully cracked the lid of the tomb standing there. Sainted Evphymii gave orders to lift off the boards broken by the stone, and the temple was filled with fragrance. In the tomb they beheld the undecayed relics of the saint, but no one was able to identify whom this archpastor was. In his cell Sainted Evphymii began fervently to pray God to reveal to him the name of this saint. By night there appeared before him a man, clothed in hierarchical garb, and said that he was Archbishop John, found worthy to serve the miracle of the MostHoly Mother of God in honour of Her Sign (Znamenie). "I proclaim thee the will of God, – continued the saint, – to make the memory of the archbishops and princes lying here, on 4 October, and I shall pray Christ for all Christians". His memory is celebrated likewise with the Assemblage (Sobor) of Novgorod Sainted-hierarchs on 10 February; in 1630 a feastday was also established on 1 December.

© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.

Luke 24:1-12 (4th Matins Gospel)

1Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.3Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

John 15:17-16:2 

17These things I command you, that you love one another.18 if the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.21But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'26 But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

1These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble.2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.

Ephesians 6:10-17 

10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

#orthodox #orthodoxchristianity #ancient christianity #spirituality #holyscripture #gospel #sacredtext #firstchristian

[brideylee]

Chateau Quarantine

                 Sophia Coppola smokes a cigarette while she waits for an omelette she has no intention of eating.  It’s a gloomy marine layered morning, you can barely see across Sunset. She’s been in lock down for three weeks and while she normally loves the moody, brooding decadence of the Chateau Marmont, its elite solitude is giving her a bit too much time to reflect. She thinks about the concept of crying as she watches a long torso-ed model skinny dip in the pool from the penthouse. There are no rules anymore, not that there were many in the first place. The hotel was shuttered to the public as of three weeks ago, and those who were already there could stay indefinitely. Sophia lives alone in the tower suite with the three bedrooms and the wrap around porch, known by some as “the Deniro”, but Robert himself couldn’t tell you why. Any legends or gossip about the Chateau were just bread crumbs to keep the public hungry and mystified. The real Chateau for the privileged few who used it, was an unceremonious respite for excessive loneliness, addiction, and often not great sex. The Chateau had a reputation: look but don’t fuck. Everyone’s genitals were rendered useless from anti-depressants.

               She thought she would be filming by now. Her cast is stranded too, with little guidance other than “we’ll wait it out.” The film she wanted to make stars Hugh Grant and Ewan McGregor as two estranged brothers coming together for their father’s funeral. Iman was set to the play the mysterious woman who shows up at the funeral who they then realize was their father’s mistress. It was going to be a slow movie about the brothers coming to terms with their father’s death and equally so falling in love with the woman he hid from them. All this would be suggested through intimate long takes, and funny, stylish, improvised montages. Always subtle and romantic without the sap, this was the tight rope Sophia liked to balance on.  At the end of the movie, both brothers are mildly changed, but not entirely. She has a sweet spot for the immovability of people’s psyches, particularly men. 

Sophia watches impartially, as the naked model floats on her back in the calm pool. It is so cold and early to swim, is she on drugs or is everyone at this place even more numb than they think? She wondered if her film was too male, too disembodied from her personally to mean anything.  Tapping into the male gaze, was an ability she was born with. Her father’s point of view was all she interacted with as a kid, and the underside of his specialties became her focus: the lost parts of men when they are too weak to hold up the heavy crown of their egos, who they were when they could let themselves feel outside of their work. But given the state of the world, and the molasses nature of time during lock down, Sophia started to question if what she always found to be her strength was just simply trauma. Was her whole profession a way to resolve some genetic creative stifling that took place in the shadow of her dad? Surely her body of work contains more than that. It’s not all a selfish attempt at repair. Is any art not selfish? "Maybe I should make a different movie, something that everyones gonna like for once.” She thinks to herself.  Thank God, her goat cheese omelette has arrived.

             Later on, the gothic lobby is empty besides the cast of her film and the elegant model behind the reception desk standing like a hollow sculpture, frightened by the chaos that lurks outside. Ewan McGregor, drunk off of five Marmont Mules, is showing Hugh Grant an app that maps the stars and constellations. Ewan has gone on and on about a camping trip he took around Scotland and how amazing the stars were, but when pressed for details about where exactly he was or what he saw or what year he did this, he can’t seem to remember anything at all.But that doesn’t dampen his excitement about the app. “See, that, there is Orion’s belt!” Ewan enthusiastically points out, his cute smirk displaying his bottom row of sweet corn kernel teeth. Ewan just recently learned about the stars. Until the age of 47, Ewan had been referring to them as “night freckles.” Many think this is why he didn’t have a fun time acting in  Star Wars, space simply befuddled him. Hugh and Ewan are dressed exactly the same: navy blue beanie, black jeans, a tight blue thermal, and desert boots- the actor man uniform they give you after you play opposite Nicole Kidman or Renee Zellweger.

“That’s brilliant,” says Hugh Grant completely perplexed by the app and confused at Ewan’s rambling. Hugh sticks a handkerchief up his nostril with his pointer finger and wiggles it around somewhat violently. Iman clocks this with a blink of disgust, her silk, gold blouse  glistens with god-like royalty in the amber glow.  “Can you turn your face away? That’s how the virus is spreading.” Her voice is deep and she rarely uses it because it changes the direction of the wind and messes with the tides.  “Aw, fuck me. That’s right, isn’t it?” Hugh Grant turns away and starting blowing his nose and coughing obnoxiously. Hugh is acting like a resentful brat because he knows he wont be able to have Iman. He decides he’s gonna pick a fight with Sandra Bullock via face time later to blow off steam. Iman is thinking she was right all along, she should never have agreed to this. She was already sick of the “beanie twins”. 

Hugh had been rattling on about how the movie needed a sex scene or at least a sexy scene and went on to say that Sophia had some sort of block. Iman felt that both Ewan and Hugh, however innocently, were exploiting their acting roles to gain real life experience, and there was no way in hell, she was going to kiss either of them.  Her kiss would make them immortal and Iman knew their souls needed more lifetimes to grow. Plus, she liked the script the way it was- underwritten and open for interpretation. Her character is symbolic of the side of their dad they didn’t get to meet-  spiritual, graceful, embodied. It was a soulful choice not to show any nudity or sex, one that could lead Americans to try to use whats left of their iPhone stolen imaginations.

                Meanwhile Michael Cain, who was supposed to play the dead father, is staring at the beautiful Victorian tapestry hanging behind her. “It’s like it’s right out of the Cloister’s.” Michael says under his breath. Michael is sweet, Iman thinks as she watches him stare at the tapestry with wonder, his mouth agape, and a lil warm milk spilling out of his left eye. Iman and him have known each other for years and he always reminded her of her husband: his fierce devotion to his craft, his rigorous intellectuality that does a bad job hiding an animalistic sexuality. Both men contained so much and no one can handle a man like that besides a mystical siren like Iman. 

Hugh and Ewan’s chatter dies as their drinks empty. “If I were to be honest with myself…” Hugh begins. “Better later than never…” Michael Cain interrupts without cracking a smile,  a dryness a la Maggie Smith. In fact, fuck, this was Maggie Smith. No one had realized. Hugh winks at Michael/ Maggie and continues. “ I don’t think were going to be filming any time soon, folks. I think we are being held hostage a bit by Miss Coppola.” Ewan stares off with a thinking face like no one has  ever had a deeper thought before. “That is interesting to think about. There is some kind of bratty assumption that all this will fade away soon enough. And we’ll be back on set. But what if it’s not for another year or so?”  Ewan is really getting worked up “What if we live here for the rest of our lives!!” His eyes are big and dazzling, it’s like he’s thinking of the most ideal outcome for the rest of his life.

               Suddenly, Sophia joins them at the table. “There they are, my little hunchbacks!” This is what Sophia affectionately calls her actors, the origin is unknown. Sophia has a strange new confidence around her. Usually, when she walked into places, she would feel like a Nat Sherman cigarette, like only some select tall New Yorkers in the back would still appreciate her. “Hello, love! Someone slept well.” Maggie Smith as Michael Caine chirped. Even when Maggie-Michael said something sweet, it still felt like someone was aggressively tickling your ribcage. 

          “I have news.” Sophia sits down, and smiled large and toothy, a stark contrast to her usual chic, despondent stare,  a look only afforded  to artists born with trust funds. “We’re not making the movie.” Hugh taps the table. “Well, I believe I won that bet.” Ewan’s jaw drops, destroyed. “You mean we cant live here together forever?” He runs his hands through his hair, petrified. Iman is quiet, which can mean many different things and all things at once, she is eternally the glory of God, a forgotten pyramid at the bottom of the ocean that if unearthed would explode us into 5D ascension. 

 “We are making a better movie! A super hero movie!!” Sophia exclaims. Sophia gets up close in the faces of her cast, pitching them on her new idea. “It’ll be a real heroes journey- good guys versus evil! Fun CGI! Sexy starlets and fun on trend jokes!” She turns to Michael Maggie, her mouth inches away from their milky eye, and says- “And much much more!” Sophia climbs up on the table now. “The adults will love it, as well as the little ones!” She does an Irish jig and starts spinning around and then poses with her arms up as though at the end of a musical.  It was not fun to watch.  Iman cuts her off-“I don’t trust what is happening.This is not reality. This is delusion. A karmic spell.” The power of Iman’s words blows the power out of the Chateau, pipes burst, the fire alarm goes off, and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte in room 304 stops jerking off for a second. Sophia is still catching her breath from her presentation, her sweating, arms stretched to the ceiling. She gulps as her eyes meet Iman’s. “Why don’t you just write from my character’s point of view?” Iman says as softly as she can without causing chaos.   Sophia freezes. Her whole body calcifies and turns to ice, then crumbles onto the table. Ewan and Hugh watch in absolute horror as Iman drops some of the ice into her water. She knows she shouldn’t have said yes to this project and looks on lovingly at Michael/ Maggie who has dozed off.