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#All hail the mighty oak!
odinsdaughterco · 1 year
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SKÅL AND BONES, Raise a glass to the god who can drink an ocean full of mead before having his fill. A god who can eat two bulls and nine salmon, then ask for more. The god of thunder and lightning, the protector of Asgard, the mighty Thor! Notes of Honey Mead, Oak Barrels, and Spiced Musk can be smelt when he is near. Hail Thor who watches over us all! @odinsdaughterco
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rk099 · 3 months
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Guardians of Green: Exploring the Majesty of Trees
Introduction:
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it's easy to overlook the silent giants that stand tall around us—the trees. These majestic beings, often referred to as the guardians of green, play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of our planet. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, trees are vital contributors to our environment, providing oxygen, shelter, and a myriad of other benefits. In this exploration, we delve into the enchanting world of trees, unraveling their mysteries and celebrating their importance in our lives.
The Lungs of the Earth:
Trees are often hailed as the "lungs of the earth," and for good reason. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, playing a pivotal role in purifying the air we breathe. The lush green canopies of forests act as giant filters, mitigating the impacts of pollution and promoting a healthier environment for all living beings.
Biodiversity Hotspots:
Forests are not only a source of oxygen but also hotspots of biodiversity. Trees provide habitats for countless species, from insects and birds to mammals and fungi. The interconnected web of life within a forest is a testament to the intricate relationships that trees nurture, sustaining ecosystems that are essential for the survival of various organisms.
Cultural Significance:
Throughout history, trees have held profound cultural significance for diverse societies around the world. Many ancient civilizations regarded trees as sacred symbols of life, wisdom, and strength. From the mighty oak in Celtic folklore to the revered banyan tree in Hindu mythology, the importance of trees is deeply ingrained in human culture.
Therapeutic Touch:
Beyond their ecological and cultural contributions, trees offer therapeutic benefits to our well-being. Forest bathing, a practice rooted in Japanese culture known as shinrin-yoku, encourages individuals to immerse themselves in nature, surrounded by trees. Studies have shown that spending time in forests can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall mental health.
Challenges and Conservation:
Despite their resilience, trees face numerous challenges in the modern world. Deforestation, climate change, and urbanization pose significant threats to tree populations globally. Conservation efforts are crucial to safeguarding these guardians of green and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.
Conclusion:
As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, it's imperative that we recognize the vital role trees play in maintaining the health of our planet. From the Amazon rainforest to the ancient sequoias of California, each tree stands as a silent sentinel, a guardian of green that deserves our admiration and protection. Let us celebrate the majesty of trees and strive to be stewards of the environment, working together to preserve the beauty and balance they bring to our world.
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sebek ⚔️ romantic delights in bites please
Order Up!
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CLANG!
Sword struck sword and caught on each other’s cold metal teeth.
This was your chance.
You gritted your head own teeth and pushed forward, hoping to overpower your opponent. At the other end of the sword, Sebek dug his foot into the dirt and held his ground. He was as firm as a mighty oak, refusing to bend to the roaring winds.
“Hmph! Not bad! Your moxie is to be admired,” Sebek scoffed—though what little humility he demonstrated was underscored by his smirk. “HOWEVER!!”
He surged forward, a green blur as he landed a series of lighting fast blows. You reacted quickly, bringing your sword back to deflect and parry. Forced into the defensive, you stared through the flurry, seeking an opening for attack.
Sebek’s forehead shone with a light layer of sweat, and his mouth was pursed in a determined scowl. His reptilian eyes were trained on the prospect of victory, of overcoming you.
Every time your sword and his clashed, it sent a spirit-rendering wave through your entire body. Soul against soul, heart against heart. Connecting in an intimate way that mere words could not.
Lost in the rhythm, your focus clouded over.
CLANG!!
With one final push, Sebek rolled his wrist, sending your sword flying across the field, disarming you. You blinked, suddenly realizing the sensation of emptiness in your dominant palm. It had happened so fast, the phantom feeling of the sword and its weight still lingered.
“It’s a thousand years too early for you to defeat me,” he concluded, turning his sword downward and planting it in the ground. Sebek stood tall, resting his hands on the hilt and handle of it. “And that is ‘game’, as they say!”
“Okay, wise guy, you win,” you conceded, bringing your hands up in a gesture of defeat. “... Best 6 out of 10?”
“No good comes out of overexerting the body,” Sebek warned as he sheathed his sword. “It would be best to take a break. Of course, I could keep going, but I wish to be cognizant of your limitations as a human.”
“I can keep going, too,” you insisted. “I’m a lot more resilient now thanks to your mentoring.”
“NO!!” Sebek snapped—a little too quickly. He caught himself and quickly corrected it, mumbling, “Erm, I mean... No, I do not believe you’re at that stage in your training yet!!”
“Sebek...” You raised an eyebrow. “Are you worried about me?”
Red exploded across his cheeks—more color than the sword fighting had ever brought to him. He looked like a bright cherry tomato in the middle of the P.E. field. Round and red and cute despite all his pointed features.
“Wh-What?! N-No, do not be ridiculous!” Sebek sputtered (very unconvincingly). “There is no way that I would... th-that I would... P-PLEASE EXCUSE ME, I WILL GO FETCH US WATER BOTTLES!!”
“Huh? H-Hey, wait...!”
But Sebek had already turned and bolted off, his arms and legs swinging wildly as he propelled himself off the field.
He was a storm of emotions. Rain and lightning and wind raging as one. His face burned with the intensity of a hundred suns, his heart drumming like rain and hail pelting the pavement.
Sebek abruptly met the dirt and grass.
A dull wave of pain shuddered through his body. His chest, flat to the ground. Sebek blinked slowly, trying to reorient himself with his spinning surroundings.
“I tried to warn you,” you teased, crouching down to meet him, “that you might trip over my sword.”
Sebek’s jaw hung wide open in shock. He hadn’t thought of that.
You laughed and extended a hand. “Here, I’ll help ya up, big guy. Then we can get that water together.”
Sebek continued to gawk at you. His mouth formed a straight line, but his gaze was quiet and thoughtful.
“...................... Y-Your insight is appreciated!” he said at last, slipping his hand into yours. “I will accept your charity this once!!”
“Hehe, good.” You squeezed him and smiled. “Now let’s take that break we deserve.”
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mvaljean525 · 2 years
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Erectheus, next in line, with mighty sway and justice, ruled all Athens on the throne left vacant by the good Pandion's death. Four daughters and four sons were granted him; and of his daughters, two were beautiful, and one of these was wed to Cephalus, grandson of Aeolus. — But mighty Boreas desired the hand of Orithyia, fair and lovable. — King Tereus and the Thracians were then such obstacles to Boreas the god was long kept from his dear beloved. Although the great king (who compels the cold north-wind) had sought with prayers to win her hand, and urged his love in gentleness, not force. When quite aware his wishes were disdained, he roughly said, with customary rage and violence: " Away with sentimental talk!
My prayers and kind intentions are despised, but I should blame nobody but myself; then why should I, despising my great strength, debase myself to weakness and soft prayers? — might is my right, and violence my strength! — by force I drive the force of gloomy clouds.
" Tremendous actions are the wine of life! — monarch of Violence, rolling on clouds, I toss wide waters, and I fell huge trees — knotted old oaks — and whirled upon ice-wings, I scatter the light snow, and pelt the Earth with sleet and hail! I rush through boundless voids. My thunders rumble in the hollow clouds — and crash upon my brothers — fire to fire!
" Possessed of daemon-rage, I penetrate, sheer to the utmost caverns of old Earth; and straining, up from those unfathomed deeps, scatter the terror-stricken shades of hell; and hurl death-dealing earthquakes through the world!
" Such are the fateful powers I should use, and never trust entreaties to prevail, or win my bride — Force is the law of life! "
And now impetuous Boreas, having howled resounding words, unrolled his rustling wings — that fan the earth and ruffle the wide sea — and, swiftly wrapping untrod mountain peaks in whirling mantles of far-woven dust, thence downward hovered to the darkened world; and, canopied in artificial night of swarthy overshadowing wings, caught up the trembling Orithyia to his breast: nor did he hesitate in airy course until his huge wings fanned the chilling winds around Ciconian Walls.
There, she was pledged the wife of that cold, northern king of storms; and unto him she gave those hero twins, endowed with wings of their immortal sire, and graceful in their mother's form and face.
Their bird-like wings were not fledged at their birth and those twin boys, Zetes and Calais, at first were void of feathers and soft down. But when their golden hair and beards were grown, wings like an eagle's came; — and feather-down grew golden on their cheeks: and when from youth they entered manhood, quick they were to join the Argonauts, who for the Golden Fleece, sought in that first ship, ventured on the sea.
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Orithyia and Boreäs
Brookes More  1859-1942
Author of original: Ovid  /  Pūblius Ovidius Nāsō  43 BC – 18 AD    
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Graphic - Oswald von Glehn  (B.1858)
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city-witch-magix · 3 years
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Beltane
May 1st, many festivities begin the evening before the last night of April 
It’s a time when the Earth mother opens up to the fertility god, their unions bring healthy livestock, strong crops, and new life all around and the magic in the season reflects this. 
History: The Celtic people would honor the fertility of the gods with gifts and offerings, including animal or human sacrifice and in Ireland the fires of Tara were lit first and all other fires were lit off of that one. The Romans said “go big or go home” and celebrated everything extravagantly, for Beltane they spent the first day of May paying tribute to their Lares or gods of their households, and have a festival of flowers called Floralia that consisted of three days of sexual activity. The Romans also had a fire festival called Bona Dea where sacrificed a sow for the fertility Goddess. In May Greeks celebrated Plynteria for Athena, only the women would clean her statue, feast, and pray. This celebration would last 3 days and starts on the 25th after the homage paid to moon-god Artemis on the 24th. The Norse celebrate Eyvind Kelda or Eyvind Kelve on May 6th for Eyvind Kelda who was a martyr who was tortured and drowned by the King  for not giving up his Pagan beliefs and a week later they celebrate the Festival of the Midnight Sun that launches a 10 day celebration as tribute to the Norse sun goddess. 
Folklore/Legends: *The Green Man and Cernunnos also turn up around this time and is usually found in lore around the British Isles, the green man is a masculine face that is covered in leaves and shrubbery *The Maypole is a symbol of fertility *In some traditions this day is when the May Queen and Queen of Winter battle each other *Some believe this is a time for the faeries *Beltane is a wonderful time for magical workings surrounding any type of prosperity
Decorate your altar with greens, bright spring colors, fertility, male fertility symbols include antlers, sticks, acorns, and seeds and female fertility symbols include cauldrons or cups. A floral crown or a potted plant. 
Symbols include swords, arrows lances, honey, oats, and milk are also some symbols. 
Am Beannachadh Bealtain- Bless, O threefold true and bountiful, Myself, my spouse, my children. Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession, Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn, From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve, With goodly progress and gentle blessing, From sea to sea, and every river mouth, From wave to wave, and base of waterfall. Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, Taking possession of all to me belonging. Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest, Protecting me in truth and honor. Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones, Blessing every thing and every one, All my land and my surroundings. Great gods who create and bring life to all, I ask for your blessings on this day of fire.
Prayer to Cernunnos- God of the green, Lord of the forest, I offer you my sacrifice. I ask you for your blessing. You are the man in the trees, the green man of the woods, who brings life to the dawning spring. You are the deer in rut, mighty Horned One, who roams the autumn woods, the hunter circling round the oak, the antlers of the wild stag, and the lifeblood that spills upon the ground each season. God of the green, Lord of the forest, I offer you my sacrifice. I ask you for your blessing.
Prayer to the Earth Mother- Great earth mother! We give you praise today and ask for your blessing upon us. As seeds spring forth and grass grows green and winds blow gently and the rivers flow and the sun shines down upon our land, we offer thanks to you for your blessings and your gifts of life each spring. 
Prayer to Honor the May Queen- The leaves are budding across the land on the ash and oak and hawthorn trees. Magic rises around us in the forest and the hedges are filled with laughter and love. Dear lady, we offer you a gift, a gathering of flowers picked by our hands, woven into the circle of endless life. The bright colors of nature herself blend together to honor you, Queen of spring, as we give you honor this day. Spring is here and the land is fertile, ready to offer up gifts in your name. we pay you tribute, our lady, daughter of the Fae, and ask your blessing this Beltane.
Protect Flocks and Herds- We light the fires of Beltane, sending smoke up to the sky. The flames purify and protect, marking the turn of the Wheel of the Year. Keep our animals safe and strong. Keep our land safe and strong. Keep those who would protect them Safe and strong. May the light and heat of this fire bestow life upon the herd 
To the Gods of the Forest- Spring has come to the earth. the land is fertile and ready at Beltane, seeds will be sown, and new life will begin once more. Hail, great gods of the land! Hail, gods of resurrected life! Hail, Cernunnos, Osiris, Herne, and Bacchus! Let the soil open up and mother earth's fertile womb receive the seeds of life as we welcome the spring.
Some recipes: https://www.learnreligions.com/recipes-for-the-beltane-sabbat-4126076 (Green Man Cake, Asparagus and Goat Cheese Quiche, Southern Style peppery Green Beans, Easy Summer Salad, Candied Flower Petals, Fertility Bread, Beltane Bannocks)
Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/beltane-4159809
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sneezefiction · 4 years
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“it’s okay, i’ve got you.”
Sugawara x Reader - Scenario
event request: “Congrats on 600 followers bb 🥰 could I req number 14 and Sugawara?”
a/n: i haven’t posted any scenarios for Sugawara yet and i love this prompt for him omggg. this deals with a fear of storms and how Suga helps you through it. thank you for the request, love!! <33 i hope you enjoy it!
warnings: storms, anxiety
wc: 1150
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“Y/n stay right there, I’m looking for a flashlight.” His voice is reassuring, but there’s an underlying tinge of urgency.
Another deep rumble from outside, its eerie echo bouncing off the homes in your neighborhood. Before, your house felt like a reliable fortress, but as the walls shake from the reverberation, you’re not so convinced.
“I’m coming in just a second, baby. Do you want to talk to me while I gather everything?” 
Sugawara probes the question, but your hands are already tightly pressed against your ears, eyes shut rigidly. He shuffles through the supplies much faster, sweat beginning to form on his forehead, anxious to get to you.
*Crack*
Light shudders through the windows, casting wide, shifting shadows on the walls from leaves and ghostly trees in your yard. The lightning lasts but a stark moment, however it reveals the ghastly winds that blow at full force against your home. 
Another delayed crack and rumble seek you out.
You let out a whimper, your trembling body pressed against the frigid interior of the ceramic tub. You could feel every chilling vibration from each deafening roll of thunder. Every furious, battering drop of rain.
“Where’s the damn radio? I swear I put it here. Shit, shit, shit.” Sugawara’s tone is now a breathy whisper.
“Ah, here it is. Y/n I’m coming to the bathroom now!” He shouts across the house, making his way back downstairs to your guest bath.
What else do I need? I have the flashlight, my phone, some water, batteries… nope I have everything, Suga’s mentally checks off his list.
Now he just needed to get to you. Fast.
Tonight was, quite frankly, not going to plan.
You and Sugawara had just been getting ready for a Friday night out at the movies. His silvery, soft hair looking even more lovely than usual and your body adorning one of your nicest outfits. The intimate, 2 year anniversary celebration had only just begun.
But nature doesn’t take hints when it comes to festivities and movie nights.
A tornado siren got the better of you, its uncanny ringing filling the late-night air of the small town. Suga’s heart dropped at the noise, his eyes falling right on you. But before either of you could properly prepare, mentally or physically, the howling wind found its way to your street. It violently cut down powerlines, jolting the electricity, and flung you into a major panic.
Sugawara’s instincts kicked in, telling him to pick you up and put you in the windowless bathroom downstairs while he would go in search of necessary supplies.
You knew he only needed to grab a few things, but what only really took him 5 minutes felt like an eternity to you. With every second, you felt your pulse beat faster, as though it were trying to escape the confines of your shaking body.
You attempt to humor yourself, shifting your mind to how you wished you’d been wearing something less constricting. The fabric of your shirt took delight in tugging deeply into your shoulders and forearms, leaving red marks in the tighter places. It was all thanks to the way you shielded your eyes and ears from the creaking and groaning of the weather outside.
Because, of all things, it would be a storm to ruin your special night. Your greatest, most rational fear is coming alive when you should be kissing your lover in the sultry light of a movie theater.
So you only hoped, God, you begged that Sugawara was on his way to you.
You manage to detect footsteps even with your effort at muffling all sound. The eyes you had shut so tightly are given permission to peep open slowly. Every inch of you floods with relief at the sight of Sugawara’s figure, his arms full of blankets, flashlights, and water bottles. You’ve never seen a more merciful silhouette before.
But just as things start to feel safer with the shimmering eyes of your boyfriend resting on your form, you’re met with a frightening snapping noise from outdoors. The crackling and crunching outside is followed by a loud thump, shaking the entire foundation of your once secure home. A fallen tree? A powerline?
Soon your wide, fearful eyes are watering, hands fling back to your ears, body bunched up tighter than before.
Sugawara immediately tosses a soft blanket across your body. It’s both an attempt to briefly distract you and to free up his arms so that he can join you. You scoot forward, allowing him to steadily climb in behind you, his legs spanning the length of the tub while tangling with your own.
Sugawara’s heart breaks as his skin meets yours. You’re shivering violently, hair damp from sweat, the summer heat and lack of air conditioning getting to you. Every sound makes you jump, from the squeak of his shoes on the ceramic bathtub to the drumming of hail on the roof.
He can tell that you’re living your worst nightmare. Your fear of storms was nothing new to him, but Sugawara has never seen you react this badly to anything… ever.
For some, it’s hard to know what to say in these situations. But for Suga? The words are on his tongue in the most natural form.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you.” A gentle voice reaches you and a pair of sturdy arms circle around your middle. 
You startle at the contact, but back into it immediately, clinging to his touch as though it were your only lifeline. You sink into his warm body, curling into a compact ball, covering one ear with his chest, and using your free hand for the other.
“I’ve got you... I’ve got you, baby.” He breathes faint, whispery words into your hair, allowing you to soak in his vows.
His tone isn’t so much soothing as it is protective.
He will not let anything happen to you.
Sugawara is a mighty oak, unswayable under the winds of life nor by the stormy gales just outside your front door. The way his body encompasses yours reminds you of the solid tree’s branches, covering and shielding anything within or around it. You are safe.
He’s got you.
He won’t let go.
He’s got you.
You repeat these simple words to yourself until they eventually escape your lips in a hushed murmur. It doesn’t go unnoticed by the silver-haired boy above you. He shifts to cradle you, a hand resting on your waist, the other stroking the side of your face with his knuckles.
In the most literal way, he’s got you. You’re wrapped within his hold, untouched by the chaos surrounding you.
The thunder begins to lose its edge. The lightning, its fear factor. Even the deafening winds streaming off of the tornado seem calmer now that you can hear Suga’s heartbeat by your head. With every beat, you hear those words again. And again. And again.
He’s got you.
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tags: @cherryonigiri, @yams046, @kaidasen, @miss-rin
(comment or send an ask to be added to my general tag list) 
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𝙾𝚑, 𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚢 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝙰𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛
*SCREAMING IN INSANITY*
Who would’ve thought, right? Though this was his job. Theatrics has been in the family for years, a forbidden reputation untouched, unbroken. And oh, there was many categories to choose from for his generation. And him? He chose cosplay. Pizzazz and extravagance were not his area of diligent expertise.
Romania Sanders [Roman MtF] x Virgil Sanders
Word: 1,168
TW: Cursing, TikTok (i guess?). Msg if there is more.
"God, he’s pretty…” Romania can only coo an arbitrary swoon as the screen flashed in front of her, porcelain skin glimmering with the added shinning filter.
On the diamond glass screen, a boy of 26. His pitch hair was tucked neatly into a wig, synthetic brown locks tousled boyishly over his handsome features. A grin adorning his lips as the silver of the moon and the brown of the oak were hidden behind two artificial autumn irises. A black button up had fit like a glove over his upper body, clinging to his torso, stretching over his chest like a godforsaken daydream. A black leather cord stretched around his neck, the ring hanging from it standing out like a gem against his skin.
She sighed heavily, a raging forest fire exploding through her radioactive heart. The hail of pastel candy hearts and withering ruby red rose petals overtook the race of her common sense, one in the name of love, the other standing in logic’s title. Her measly excuses of pursuits for him are inept and almost pitiful, the fabric of her conscience merely tulle and lace as it slowly though surely pushed her off the marble balcony of rationality. She’s helpless. She’s helpless for him and him only.
Oh, to love a man living in a social platform on your phone screen.
It started in Musical.ly. Far-fetched for her, she knew. In all fairness, really, call it boredom, call it that little notorious little sickness called ‘curiosity’, she didn’t know what she signed up for. After all, her stretched millennia of cultivating a persona of stretching olive green vines and swords forged from the blood of the unfortunate souls who bit the dust of the Bubonic Plague in 1625 London wasn’t for nothing. Arbitrary and luck had been loyally stuck to her side ever since she was born. She’d been skipping around through hell fires and black holes as if it was a playground of sorts.
She’s been pretending the shadows were like sunlight for all her 25 years.
Oh, happily ever after… what do you know? What do you know? Oh… skip to the ending… who’d like to know? I’d like to know, author of the moment, can you tell me? Do I end up, do I end up happy?
Does she? A hopeless romantic, a teenage girl in senior year, living the life Heather Chandler The All Mighty would envy. Top of her classes, class president, and of course, desired by men and women alike. Perfect, even. Little Miss Perfect of Westerberg high, yet here she is, squealing over a boy living in her phone screen. Pathetic, as one would call it. But really, who cared in this modern society? She’s no better than most so why be ashamed of it? And school was just scratching the surface at her popularity. Come an app with a glitched T as an icon.
TikTok.
She’ll admit, the site itself was... vulgar and... messy, as one would say. Not anything like, say, Twitter, but it's not perfect. Nothing was, really. It was the cruel, sharp reality she had faced merely 3 years ago. You have no obligation to be perfect. Nor does anyone else. You’re not perfect for society, you’re not perfect for your loved ones, you’re not perfect for yourself. Because “perfect” is a myth. There is only “good” and “better”. Romania can only afford good for now, what, with the 16K followers. Cosplay was an art she’s been mastering for, oh, maybe 4 years now. And the only person she’s been looking up to now? User Dark_Web_404. Again, the name was a stretch, but oh well. It's not about the appearance, after all. His name was Virgil.
Oh, Virgil. Little did she know how much he adored her right back.
Maybe worse? Maybe just as much? Either way, he did.
Who would’ve thought, right? Though this was his job. Theatrics has been in the family for years, a forbidden reputation untouched, unbroken. And oh, there was many categories to choose from for his generation. And him? He chose cosplay. Pizzazz and extravagance were not his area of diligent expertise. No glitter bombs, no flying lions, no lost pirate cities to discover, no. Shimmer and glory were the dream but passion and acceptance was his. Pretending to be something you’re not is a pleasure one can yank from his cold, dead hands.
And this Romania person… well, she was truly your typical diamond in the rough, isn’t she? Miss_Scarlette_Letter. That lass had stolen his heart as fast as a sunset went by. With a snap of her lightly tanned fingers had her sweet velvet ensemble flashed into an unnaturally dark display. She had a leather harness pulled over her front, under the tight-fitting turtleneck. A pair of shiny leather leggings clung to her legs like a second skin, a harness holding a knife on her thigh only ever so merciless. Forgive him for the lack of modesty, he’s ashamed of it too. Really though, she was an untouchable rose to him. More on his anxiety, damn you.
Really, it was tastefully bitter how that little purple monster he called Anxiety crawled up his back, almost tauntingly like a spider. Every step pushing deeper than a bullet of intricately chosen words
So come that one fateful word. A single Calibre “Hi” on TikTok’s chat feature. This was harder than he thought.
Dark_Web_404: Hi.
Dark_Web_404: I know this is out of the blue but I’ve been your mutual for quite some time and watching your work has been an honour.
Dark_Web_404: But through this endeavor, I realize one thing.
Dark_Web_404: You’d be perfect for my friend’s cosplay magazine. Can I interest you in it?
He felt like he just climbed Mount Everest. He felt like the weight of the world just crashed against his already creaking shoulders as the wifi deemed the text presentable and let it go miles away into another device.
Fuck, this might’ve been a mistake.
Only it wasn’t. It really fucking wasn’t. In fact, he changed a life that night.
One particular life that lived under her own little self inflicted burdens. One that faked and cried her way to the top, one, while unsuspecting of it, that was finally, god, finally, rewarded something unknowingly well deserved.
It took her a hot moment of comprehension before reality’s surprisingly warm palm took hold of her flushed cerise cheek, holding it suspiciously gently against its own track record. This can’t be real, right? It can’t possibly be happening. It was simply too impossible for her luck to let slide. Yet... there it was. Clear as day. Shining in onyx black letters on her luminous screen, 6 fateful letters taking her by the neck as her mind melted almost hypnotizingly. Was that even a word?
This can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this can’t be happening, this cannot be happening.
Oh, but it’s fucking happening.
“Wait... mutuals?”
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The Serpent’s Tomb
Many miles off the coast of the Netherlands
The restless sea tossed its waves against the sheer cliffs rising out it, fanning out and foaming, like hands reaching up towards the top of rock walls that were shrouded in mist. The fortress stood strong against its thundering force, as it had for nearly a millennium, shielding its dark secrets from both the waves and the world. Within the walls of this natural crater, an atmospheric inversion capped the caldera with a thick blanket of clouds. Even flying over it in a jet would only let you see this strange cloud mass floating right over the sea. Walls form a dark ring and in each of the cardinal directions, an ancient stone carving of a woman was a sentry looking out into a vast ocean. The women were dressed in long robes, each one about 12 feet tall, their hair sweeping back, as though facing into the gale. They were covered in lichen, their sightless eyes peering endlessly towards the horizon. The cloud cover hid a crystalline lake of water, forever hidden from the sun by the constant cloud cover. It stretched 40 miles across and in the center was an island where a granite stone monastery was the only sign of human habitation. The lights were on in this monastery, the single point of light, in a world that hadn't seen the sun, moon and stars for a thousand years.
In the central worship chamber a man in a hooded cloak knelt in front of an image of a serpent climbing up a long pole. In the Bible, there is such an image. A copper serpent that cured the snake poisoning of those who could gaze upon it, only to be destroyed when people began worshiping it like a god as this man was doing. However, this image was not of that curative snake. Nor was it the medical serpent, the staff of Hermes or the rod of Asclepias.
This was something far more ancient, yet far more grounded in reality than any of those. 
The man raised his eyes to the great serpent. The staff was painted blood red and the snake was painted black. It’s eyes were solid gold and peered down with a cold, judgemental gaze from a height of five meters. The carved scales glittered in the light of the candles, the flickering of the fire granting a sense of motion to those mighty coils. Yet it must have paled in comparison to the true serpent, the Midgaardslang, a snake so big, it could circle the whole world and grasp its own tail. The worship of the Midgaardslang was born out of fear of forces too great to understand. But because of the reality of this snake, the culture that revered it held out to the end against the forces of Christianization.  Once you had seen the god with your own eyes, there was no longer room for doubt, no longer any need for faith, and no true conversion to anything else. There was only one true religion. The dragon.
The man finished his prayer and stood to his feet. “Your great gift has finally returned to us. We are eternally grateful. Eternally.” He drew back his hood, revealing salt and pepper hair and steel grey eyes. His skin was transparent from not seeing the sun all these years. He looked aged but the cords of his neck and the set of his jaw bore no wrinkles or sagging. He turned away, walking with the firm and confident step of a warrior. His cape fanned out and swept up whirls of dust in his wake. He was alone in this room, this man always worshipped alone.  But as he walked, the candles all extinguished behind him. The golden-eyed serpent was swallowed by darkness. 
Outside the entrance to this central room is a hall full of doors and staircases. The Monastery was built like the ancient pyramids, to guard against looters and thieves, there were many false entrances, trap doors, and misdirecting signage, a labyrinth of stairways and halls. The man descended the spiral staircase without hesitation. Monastery’s true form was hidden underground, under the lake. It served as both a tomb, and a vast city hidden below the obsidian water. The water was kept at bay by pumps that worked with the tides, an example of how the ancient knowledge of the dragon was passed down to these people. Who could imagine in the age of fossil fuel and solar electricity that people in the middle ages could harness the power of gravity to create a self perpetuating pump system and use the heavy waters of the lake and the mist above to hide from the world?  As he descended further down, the sound of water could be heard, a deep sucking sound, like a giant’s heartbeat. That water ran through pipes like veins and arteries. The intake and the outflow of the water reached an equilibrium and the water level in the lake never rose or fell.
Pinpoints of light came into view and revealed a hall as wide as a highway. All the inhabitants of the Monastery City had come out for this occasion. They stood on either side of the way, dressed in dark cloaks, with black sheer veils covering their faces. They murmured in hushed voices as he walked through, a single man, dwarfed by the size of his own domain. As he passed, they all bowed their heads. The highway led to a dead end, a circular room with a ceiling too high to see. At the center of the circle, Dominic lay on an altar. His eyes stared up into the ceiling, burning golden. He was still dressed in the clothes from the soccer game, save his shirt that was removed. His skin was pale save the purple bruises on his chest and face where he’d been struck hours earlier.
This area was cool and damp. Even with the cloak, the man couldn’t help but shiver slightly.
 Five other people stood around him, their voices murmuring low and steady without pausing, deep and guttural noises like snarling. This Yanling was unique to this area. It was not something that affected Dominic but it called to the dragon technology embedded in the room and that was acting on Dominic’s body. So long as they chanted, Dominic could not move, staring up, transfixed by something no one else could see. Every few seconds he would blink slowly. His pupils were thin and needle-like slits in the golden irises.
“How long do you think it will take?” The woman’s voice was a soft whisper, so as not to interrupt the concentration of the five hybrids standing around the stone altar. They were the high priests of this place, aged with little energy to come here and chant. If they were interrupted now they might just faint and perish.
“It shouldn’t be much longer. This is not only his home, but his birthplace. The tomb… and the womb. Where he was buried, and where he was born. He will naturally return here. Mind, body and spirit.” He looked on Dominic with a quiet reverence of someone regarding a holy relic.
“Though… the body… What is it?” Her eyes gazed upon him in both curiosity and fear. After leaving the Netherlands by boat, they flew the rest of the way here by helicopter. The only real way to reach this place any more. Dominic had kept fighting the whole way, unaware of his heritage or his fate. He was in terrible pain and kept asking for medicine. She couldn’t tell him anything of course, but just reassured him that he would heal just fine once they reached their destination. Once his dragonblood awakened, he would recover in days from wounds it took weeks for a normal human to recover from.
“What he is is something beyond our comprehension now. The building… The whole city was built under the direction of the writings of those now dead. And the Midgaardslang left this place hundreds of years ago. It’s just a husk. And all we have left are the myths that say that the Midgarslaang called forth an army of giants that cast down hail, while it climbed up the oak tree to spew poison from the air. The great hero Donar struck the serpent in the head so hard that he crushed it and the ground beneath it. The land sank seven miles deep under his hammer. But Donar was poisoned by the serpent and died. The crater filled with water, becoming his grave and the grave of the Midgardslaang.”
Such feats were impossible for a man to do, but for a hybrid, it wasn’t that hard to believe. This great god of a serpent and the man that slew it, dying together deep beneath the earth was one of many events in the history of Dragonslaying around the world. Donar’s pyrrhic victory ran true in the hearts of those who battled dragons. Killing one at the sacrifice of one’s own life was normal. What wasn’t normal, was the end of the tale. Unlike most myths, the end of this myth has a specific date, 1222 AD. A great fire came from the grave of the Midgaardslang and the ghost of the serpent ascended into the sky, fleeing north. Such specific references at the end of what should have been the annals of fantasy was a jarring reminder that this did happen.
“Once the door opens, we will finally have access to the last of the documents and our work will begin.” He turned to her with eyes that showed a burning excitement. “Sylke, our journey is beginning now. Like the dragon we have slept and now…”
Sylke was the woman who held the phone to Dominic’s ear. She was his guard and was therefore permitted into this space, watching over him. She saw that his breathing was coming a little faster as though being tired out by a great effort or, perhaps, being frightened by something. But those eyes didn’t stop staring into the depths of that ceiling. He suddenly cried out arching his back in pain. A great rumble came from above, followed by a sudden downdraft of frigid cold air that carried with it a heavy rain. Tons of water cascaded from an opening that came from that vast ceiling. It crashed down with the force of Donar’s great hammer. Like most great dragon knowledge, what was hidden in this shrine came designed to be obtained with a price, a sacrifice of human life. However, just before the torrent could rush in and obliterate everyone in the room, it congealed above their heads and rose back up again, forming a conveyor belt.
Yanling - Vortex.
Sylke’s eyes were bright gold. She held her hands above her head. The wind from the moving water blew her hood from her hair. She held back a water pressure great enough to stop a tank. This Yanling could be used as a barrier, but also as a way to move through water. man wrapped his arm around her waist. A thick blue coil of water separated from the flow and lifted them from the floor, sweeping them up into the tower. The water carried them up towards the ceiling into the thick darkness. Much to the man’s surprise, Sylke leaped from the water into an open air space. They were once again standing on solid ground, wet and shivering in the pitch dark. 
Sylke had to continue her water control. “You have 3 minutes a most. That’s the best I can handle!” She was straining against the force of the water now. Even if the old monks got out with Dominic, the whole chamber could be permanently flooded. But he came prepared, lifting up a bright waterproof flashlight. When he flicked it on he gasped in shock.
It wasn’t just a few paintings or obscure ruins or relics. Bookcases lined an entire wall around the central cascade of water. 
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conaionaru · 3 years
Text
The Drowned girl
No fear
Synopsis: Siggy leaves Kattegat for the first time, setting out on a journey of a lifetime. But of course danger follows as well
Warnings: violence, shit parenting (Bjorn), child abandonment, language, canon divergence
Tags:
@pieces-by-me​
I don’t own the gifs.
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Siggy stood at the side of the ship, holding onto a rope for stability. The wind ruffled her neatly braided hair and her new cloak. Floki stood proudly at the head of the boat, watching all his ships sail to Kattegat's docks so everyone else can come aboard as well.
Never before did she feel so light; all those times she leaped off high places was nothing compared to this. She felt like soaring in the sky, leaving behind Kattegat and all its shadows.
The people on the docks looked so small from up here, just spots that would soon be left behind. With a grin, she ran past the other sailors and Floki. "Siggy!" Warned Helga while the girl sprinted up the dragon's head and jumped onto the docks, giggling like a madwoman.
The docks were packed with people saying goodbye to their families. She could see Bjorn and his family, as well. How she loathed them all, looking happy and like a proper family. Someone nudged her shoulder.
Floki wiggled his eyebrows at her and jerked his head towards the Ragnarssons and Aslaug. "Say goodbye to Sigurd. We will not wait for you forever." Siggy rolled her eyes at him and skipped over to Sigurd.
The snake-eyed prince grinned at her and waited for her to reach him finally. "Don't die stupidly." He whispered into her ear in the middle of their tight hug. Siggy nodded against his neck and gripped his tunic tighter.
"You won't survive a day without me, Uncle Sigurd." He hit her over the head and glared at the title he hated so much.
"Go. The sight of you disgusts me."
"At least I don't look like a flock of raven's attacked my hair."
Sigurd touched his hair and glared at her remark. His hair was a touchy subject for him. Truth be told, it wouldn't be so touchy if he used a comb once in a while. But Siggy hates that torture device as well, so she won't judge too much.
"Be safe, Little Sig."
"You too, Sig."
She turned on her head and walked back to the boat, shouldering past Bjorn, who watched her with dark eyes. He always observed her, especially when she was happy. It seemed to offend him to some extent. But that was his problem.
Siggy watched the world pass by, the gentle breeze like a lover's touch against her face - adventures first caress. "Off to Rome, we go." Helga chuckled at her side and ruffled her hair affectionately, joining Floki and Bjorn at the brow. Hvitserk threw an apple at her head, snickering when it hit her in the ear.
"And here I thought I could suffer you for longer," Siggy complained and stormed after him, twirling around the mast and people as Bjorn barked at them to calm down. He must be regretting taking them with him.
The blonde run-up to the mast and climbed up using a rope as support. Taking a deep breath, Siggy closer her eyes, and enjoyed the more windy place. She could hear Helga warning her to be careful and Floki giggling as she stood on top of the sail.
Slowly she opened her eyes and grinned at the beautiful sight before her. The clear water with loads of boats on it seemed like the perfect place to be. She was meant to be here all along. Sailing the world and proving to the gods that she deserved to live. "Try to strike me down now..."
For all the love for traveling, Siggy felt, sailing there just took too long. Frankia was just within reach, and she had no desire to see Rollo. Floki talked of him sometimes - the traitor to his kind. What good would the man be? Raiding the towns and murdering those who attacked would be easier than striking a deal.
"Are you going to try and contact uncle Rollo?"
The silence that followed Hvitserk question sent shivers down Siggy's spine. Bjorn made his decision long ago, and no matter how everyone disapproved, he won't change it.
The Frankish boats met them head-on, warning bells tolling in Paris to announce their coming. When they docked, Bjorn chose men to go with him to meet with Rollo. To her great annoyance, Siggy was left behind because she can't "behave," whatever that's supposed to mean.
"If we get attacked, we will need all the fighters we can," Helga whispered to her, trying to brighten up her mood.
"And if they attack the envoys? What then?" Siggy seethed, watching the enemy soldiers lead everyone to the palace.
"Then Floki will fight his way out. You have not seen them fight. They will be alright." The young volva sighed and walked to the boat, and take out her arrows to sharpen them. It was a lie; Siggy had seen Floki fight. And Bjorn too.
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Whenever Bjorn came over to visit Floki and Helga, Siggy sneaked off to spend some time alone. But the sun was already setting, and she felt lonely. Sigurd was sick, so he was home with Aslaug and Ivar. Floki was busy with the plans for the boats.
She wanted to train to become a great shieldmaiden. If she was meant to travel the world, as Floki said, she had to become the best fighter out there. Not cook or collect herbs with Helga.
Her destiny was laid out on the water and foreign lands, not in the forests of Kattegat. But at least the knowledge of herbs was useful for something. Making a sacrifice to the gods, for instance.
With a small skinny knife, she cut off bark from an oak and brought it to her little pyre made of twigs and dry grass. She lit the fire using two stones and blew into the flames, hoping the fire would grow.
When the flame was big enough, she stopped blowing and stepped back, looking at her gathered ingredients. "Oak for strength, Edelwise for courage, Sage for wisdom, and Dill to protect me from evil." One by one, she threw the items in.
The fire would bring the offerings to the gods, and they would protect her from now on. They have been cruel to her until now - abandoning her just like her parents, nearly letting her die. All because she was never acknowledged by her father - a bastard in everyone's eyes.
But that would change the moment she became famous; she would be like Ragnar. Then no one could call her a freak, failure, or insult her. They would all cheer for her, praise her and talk stories of her to their children. She wouldn't be Crazy Siggy or Siggy the Drowned girl. Instead, she could be Siggy the Great or Siggy Mighty.
The gods would accept her sacrifice and protect her from then on. She was a descendant of Odin, just like Ragnar. The gods should be on her side as well; she was a Völva and never turned her back on them! With a swift cut, Siggy cut open her palm and dripped the blood onto the fire.
"Hail All-father, Wise Warrior,
One-eyed wanderer, Come sit at my fire.
Tell me of your wisdom stories,
The scenes your missing eye sees. You who chooses the slain,
Look on my deeds and when my time comes
To run the sky with you,
Let my end be worthy of song.
In the meantime, let me feel
Excitement and poetry and fury and joy,
Let me understand sacrifice,
Think long, Remember well, And Journey Far.
Odin, Witness this."
The fire sizzled as Siggy watched it burn to the last amber, ignoring the world around her. She could feel herself grow lightheaded, and her ears grow deaf as she slowly faded. Her now milky white eyes watched the fire turn to ashes.
The scenery changed to a great ship out on the water, all alone as the water seemed to boil around it. Steam concealed everything around the vessel as thunder boomed above. On the boat stood a man made of light bound with chains sailing towards his doom.
Laughter broke her away from her vision as hands tugged at her neckline. Siggy startled and tried to break away from the dirty hands; three men stood around her. The one that was pulling on her tunic grinned, showing his rotten black teeth to her.
Siggy did her best to wretch away from him or stab him with the blade, but another man stepped on her hand. A crunch and a stab of pain made her cry out and pull her hand with two broken fingers to herself. The last one laughed at her panic and hit her own over her head to make her stop resisting.
When they were about to rip her tunic off an axe, hit him in the back of his head. Siggy shrieked in fright, and as he fell on top of her, blood seeping from his mortal wound. The two remaining men drew their weapons but were cut down as easily as their friend.
To her surprise, Bjorn beheaded the last man as Floki pulled the corpse off her. She shook on her spot and looked at the frantic man with tearful eyes. "What were you thinking wandering so far away? We told you there were berserkers in the woods."
She choked on her words and clung to him, rocking from side to side. He wiped the blood from her face with his thumbs, shushing her crying. Bjorn glared at her and stomped in front of her.
"Are you completely stupid?! Do you have any idea what they could have done to you? Your stupid fire attracted them here!"
"Quiet, Bjorn!" Floki snapped and made Siggy look at him.
Tears streamed down her face, her lips trembling in the aftershock. She leaned closer and whispered so the Ragnarsson wouldn't hear. "I made a sacrifice to the gods. I just wanted them to help me. So I could be a great traveler like you said I would."
Floki tutted at her and pulled her closer, hiding her face in his chest. Bjorn fumed behind them and gathered the men's weapons so no one else would find them. "I had a vision. I am sorry."
The boatbuilder pulled her back and shook her head slightly to make her pay attention. "There is nothing wrong with your visions. They are gifts from the gods, no matter how heavy of a burden they might seem. But never wander off so far without telling us. Do you hear me, Siggy?"
She nodded and let him pick her up like she was weightless. For such a skinny twig, Floki was strong from all the heavy work. She rested her chin on his shoulder, watching the dead bodies on the grass. Never before did she see someone fight like Bjorn. His fighting style was nothing like Floki's. It disgusted her how it intrigued her - how much she wanted to fight like him.
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Siggy was growing antsy. The envoys have been gone for too long for her liking. So when she could hear footsteps from her spot on a tree, she notched her arrow and waited for the intruder to arrive. "Don't even try it, Little Menace."
She jumped from the tree and landed in front of Floki, grinning. Her eyes drifted to the tall stranger that joined them. He looked ridiculous in his orange tunic. "Who is the princeling?"
"My name is Rollo, Duke of Normandy."
Siggy looked at Floki with her head tilted to the side in confusion. "He is joining us. Now be quiet." Bjorn commanded and walked past her, not sparing her a glance. 
"I hope the traitor slits your throat first!" She spun around and hit her chest with her fist, glaring at his retreating back. Helga took her by the shoulders and asked her how she has been, complimenting the yellow tunic that she changed into.
Of course, Helga didn't need to know that she only had to change because her old tunic was covered in mud from faceplanting into it. No one had to know that, in fact. 
When the boats set sail again, Siggy watched the brother of Ragnar with wary eyes. He looked laughable in his clothes. So when Bjorn gave an order to drown him, she actually giggled in glee.
They pulled in the oars and tied up his hands and feet. Everyone watched as he was thrown in. Siggy enjoyed the view from the ship's head, Floki right under her. They pulled at both sides of the rope, trapping him under the boat, and halted at Bjorn's signal. 
Siggy felt giddy at the thought of death so near her, even if there was not gonna be any blood. She will take what she gets and enjoy it too. 
"Pull him up!"
Damn it, Bjorn! Siggy groaned and pouted at the boatbuilder, who looked as let down as her. When they pulled the traitor back up, he laid still before retching up the water that entered his lungs. Siggy pouted harder and jumped over his body as Bjorn gave the order to row. She could hear Rollo laughing but paid him no mind. Using Hvitserk's shoulder as support, she climbed back up the mast and watched the sixty ships sail away from the castle. 
They dressed him in leather as if he didn't cause the deaths of many Vikings and betray his own blood. When it was time to eat, Siggy climbed from her seat and sat down next to Helga and Floki. She watched his back as he stood next to Bjorn. She didn't know who she hated more. Floki always spoke of Rollo as scum that deserved to die. And she saw Bjorn the same way.
Maybe it was a blood thing? Rollow betrayed Ragnar and the Vikings, Ragnar betrayed the Vikings, and Bjorn betrayed her. Hopefully, Aslaug gave the other Ragnarssons some sense.
Passing by Hvitserk munching on an apple, she jumped on the edge of the boat and balanced over it. "Be careful. You don't know how to swim."
Rollo turned around and watched her dance on top of the wooden edge, dipping her toes in happily. "You don't know how to swim?"
"And you don't know how to be loyal. We all have our faults, Rollo." The man chuckled and observed her. She was a mystery to him; by her age, she couldn't be Floki's and Helga's daughter. Angrboða died as a child, and this one was too old to have been born after her. And the way she beat her chest when angry seemed so familiar to him. 
She nearly tipped over into the water but steadied herself and strode on fearlessly. "It would be fun if I drowned. Like the original Siggy."
The blood in his veins grew cold at that. He hadn't heard the name; the last time he did, Bjorn's daughter was born. This annoying little madwoman couldn't be Bjorn's Siggy. 
The blonde teenager twirled around on her toes and gripped a rope in her hands. She wrapped it around her throat and gasped mockingly. "Or maybe I could hang myself instead. Be original and spice it up."
"Stop fooling around!" Bjorn's voice boomed from behind them, and Siggy's features darkened. Now that she was angry, they looked so much alike. "For once in your life, be responsible and act your age!"
Jumping off the edge, she glared at him, fists clenched tightly by her sides. Helga ran to her and tried to calm down, but it was to no vain. When she spoke, her voice was icy and colder than the first frost in Kattegat used to be. "I am acting my age, your Highness. I am fifteen, as you would know if you cared enough. I always wondered why my mother left."
Bjorn pushed his shoulders back to scare her into shutting up. But it didn't work one bit; all it did was make her talk louder for all to hear. "Maybe I was an ugly baby or cried too much. But I am sure the problem wasn't me. I mean... How could she ever suffer to be near you? You are angry, unloyal, neglectful, and stupid. No wonder she left! I would have done the same!"
"That is enough! You will treat me with respect!"
"I will do no such thing, you fucking oaf!"
"You little-" 
Floki cut in between them and smiled uneasily. "Don't do something you might regret, Bjorn. Friend or not, you will not touch Siggy." It always amazed Rollo how menacing someone as skinny as Floki can look. It must be the wild look in his eyes and the deranged mind.
With a huff, Bjorn turned away and stalked towards the head of the ship, his back turned to the still fuming blonde. Siggy stood there glaring at him; face stuck between anger and sadness. Everyone stared at her as Helga tried to calm her down, but nothing helped.
That is until Floki turned to her and cupped her cheek, patting her on it while tutting at her. "You will scare off all the men like this. How are we ever meant to get rid of you then, huh? And here I was hoping to get a castle for you."
Siggy turned her brooding blue eyes at his, shining the say way Ragnar's used to do. "Floki!" She scoffed and hit him over the side of the head, feigning to be insulted. "What man would be stupid enough to want me?"
"There are lots of deranged men out there." Floki joked, giggling.
"Speaking from experience, are you, Old man?"
The boatbuilder snickered again and took her by the shoulders, leading her back to their sleeping place. "Who are you calling old, huh? I am younger than I have ever been."
"Keep telling yourself that."
Hvitserk came to her later, eating like always. He ate from her share of food while she repainted the markings on her face. She had taken up to the art after she wanted to impress Floki. A child really, probably twelve or so. Back then, it looked bad, but with some practice, she got better. Now she can do it, still half asleep with her eyes closed.
"Didn't think you were a flower kind of girl." Glaring at him, she tried to grasp what he meant but then sighed. In her lap laid the flower Sigurd gave her as a parting gift.
"Bay flower means glory. It was a wish for me to wet my blade with blood and gain the people's respect."
"Aaah, so it's from Sigurd."
"No, Hvitserk. It's from your latest conquest. She cried when she gave it to me. Said I was far better than you ever were."
Hvitserk chuckled and leaned closer to her. "Why? Is your cock bigger than mine?"
"As long and thick as the mast behind you." She teased back, smirking, putting away her paint to steal back her food from him. He laughed at her boldness, patting her on the head as one might do to a dog.
Hvitserk left her to sit by Bjorn and Rollo, who tried to make sense of where they were. So Siggy made her way to her parents, who were having an argument.
"No, Helga."
"Yes. I need something more from this life."
"But not a child. Don't you remember?"
"Of course, I remember. How would I not remember?"
"There won't be a "this time." I have set my face against it. I do not want another child. Siggy is enough."
Floki stalked off, and Siggy watched Helga sob with sad eyes. It tore at her heart to see her sad. "Are you alright, Helga?"
The woman looked at her and sniffled before opening her blanket and waving her to herself. Siggy settled against her chest, her head tucked under her chin. "I am sorry."
"'Tis, alright. I have you. My pretty little warrior." The blonde gave a timid smile and hugged her mother closer. If her presence could give her some solace, Siggy would gladly look like a child in need of its mother to the other warriors. If anyone voiced it, well, they would die, of course.
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zrtranscripts · 3 years
Text
Home Front, Mission 28: Battle at Rackthorn
All that Glitters
~
JANINE DE LUCA: Hello, listeners. Colonel De Luca here, and I must warn you, today's fitness session may differ from your expectations. Do begin warming up. Stretch out, or commence jogging on the spot. Before I begin this workout, I will repeat my briefing for runners in the field who are concerned for Runner Five's well-being: Runner Five is safe and well. Repeat, Five is safe and well.
We do not know how Artemus Thurman found his way to the top of the lift shaft before Five got there. We can only presume he knows the secrets of Spectrum Mall better than any of us. However, for reasons we also do not understand, he simply looked at Runner Five for a few moments and then walked away. Five is now back in the camping shop in the Spectrum Mall. I have personally instructed Five on how to board up and secure the entrance to the underground village. If you are listening, Five, we will rescue you.
And for that purpose, we all need to be fitter than ever, which brings us to this so-called workout. Of late, Mr. Yao has been littering Abel's comm facilities with notes from his [paper rustles] Demons and Darkness campaign, a type of fantastical war game, I believe. Normally I am not one to engage with Mr. Yao's absurdities, but certain notes have caught my eye: a scenario entitled Battle at Rackthorn, in which a castle is besieged, a situation not dissimilar to our own, trapped in our shelters, surrounded by zombies.
The siege is described as unwinnable, something I have never countenanced in tactical exercises. Indeed, examining the particulars, it seems to me there is an obvious way to win, provided my solution is within the bounds of physical endurance. So in the coming break, you may continue warming up or rest, and when we return, you will test my solution.
You will adopt the motions required of Mr. Yao’s fantasy hero to prove his war game can be resolved, but I must emphasize, this will not be one of Mr. Yao's cleaning romps. It is an exercise in tactical theory intended to test my thinking and keep your minds and bodies sharp. When the break ends, be assured, I will be pushing you to your very limits, and this absolutely most certainly will not be any fun.
~
JANINE DE LUCA: Now, during my tactical training days, I often undertook simulated exercises. For such sessions, it is vital to fully invest in the scenario. So direct your mind to accept the following field conditions: you are a bold adventurer. Having bested the mighty Abhorroghast, you have been summoned to Castle Rackthorn, a hilltop fortress. The castle's feasting hall surrounds you, a vast stone chamber lit by flaming torches. [flames crackle]
The hall is packed with frightened, wide-eyed peasants. [crowd chatters] Pushing past them to the back of the hall, you find a staircase. The man who summoned you is at the top. The staircase is a spiral of unevenly-sized stone blocks rising through a turret. You must ascend quickly.
For the next minute, run on the spot, lifting your knees as high as you can and swinging your arms. High knee running will keep your strides large enough to avoid tripping on the irregular steps. Begin. [rapid echoing footsteps] As you ascend, you pass a window. Outside, knights crowd the battlements, armor shining in the moonlight. Beyond them, a horde of gigantic spiders claw at the castle walls.
The castle was besieged shortly after your arrival. Nobody knows where the spiders hail from, though rumors say they were bred by dark magics in nearby caves. [swords clash] Maintain your pace. According to Mr. Yao's story notes, you were to join with the knights to battle the spiders while the castle evacuates before it inevitably falls, though Mr. Yao has overlooked better uses for your sword, I think.
You are nearing the top. That is one minute passed. Unfortunately, Mr. Yao has spilled tea over the notes describing the dimensions of the castle. I judge one minute to be a sound minimum for reaching the top of the stairs, but if you would like to keep running in the break, by all means consider it a reasonable addition to Mr. Yao's campaign.
~
JANINE DE LUCA: Atop the spiral staircase, there is a wooden door slightly ajar. Entering, you find a bedchamber, its walls covered by oak bookshelves. Slumped over a desk, there is a bearded man wearing thick gold chains and red velvet robes, snoring. The man is King Sigmund, the castle's cowardly ruler who has given in to despair at the spider horde, retreating into his cups. Near the king, you notice a bookcase drawn away from the wall, revealing a stone tunnel beyond, a secret passage.
You must snatch a gold chain from the king's neck. I believe the rules of the game mandate a dice roll to judge your success. [dice clatter] Ah. You successfully snatch a gold chain, but the king is woken from his drunken doze. As you dart into the secret passage, he rants - Mr. Yao specifies a Scottish accent for the king. Odd, in a world with no Scotland. Very well, for the sake of the simulation -
“Stop, blaggard! Doref, is that you? You'll never take this castle as long as I'm alive!” While you plunge through the secret tunnel, the king pulls a lever by his desk. Arrows shoot from hidden mechanisms in the ceiling above you. Listeners, balance on one foot with your knees and arms bent. Now hop to one side, landing on the ball of your opposite foot, then hop back again. One minute of side-to-side hopping will simulate you dodging your way through the tunnel. Go!
Racing down the passage, you hear the king's distant ranting descend into pitiful sobs. You continue dodging as arrows strike the floor around you. Halfway there. Mr. Yao has described the king as a vicious, petty oaf who exiled even his most trusted advisor in a fit of paranoia. The passage is lit by torches which grow fewer and fewer as you advance. Continue your evasive action. You are nearing the end.
You feel fresh air on your face. The darkness ahead must conceal an exit. The arrows have stopped. You've likely cleared the traps. You can stop dodging, though if you'd rather continue during the break, that would be a reasonable abundance of caution, given your current position.
~
JANINE DE LUCA: You emerge from the secret passage into a woodland glade far from the castle. Behind you is a scarp of stone. Before you is a group of enormous spiders, each the width of a wagon, far too large to storm the secret passage. A hundred eyes gleam under starlight and hairy mouthparts twitch. [spiders hiss and chitter]
To your left, there is a boulder. Clamber atop it quickly. Now the dimensions of these spiders are clearly laid out in Mr. Yao's creature compendium. Their abdomens are bulbous and they cannot reach their own backs. To get past, you must jump across the spiders, leaping from abdomen to abdomen.
Jumping on the spot will serve for the motion. Keep jumping for one minute, landing with your knees bent. Go. The spiders move their mouthparts in odious glee as they perceive how close you are. The spiders are trying to shake you off their backs as you move from hideous body to hideous body. Jump faster.
[dice clatter] You're halfway over the spiders. One leaps towards you, but you are able to duck it. I must admit, these dice are a fair simulator of the luck element in any engagement, though the bright colors are unnecessary. You are almost across the spiders. They hunger for your living flesh. Do not slow. One minute elapsed.
You have jumped across the spiders, landing beyond their reach, and may stop jumping. You have a fair start on the monsters, but they are giving chase. Ahead, between tall trees, you spot a river. [water flows] The river descends from a waterfall uphill and is crowded with slippery rocks. Jump onto the rocks, then leap up river toward the waterfall.
Regrettably, Mr. Yao has smeared chocolate over his notes on the local geography, so the distance to the waterfall is unclear. To compensate, please keep jumping for as long as you can manage in the coming break.
~
[water flows]
JANINE DE LUCA: You near the waterfall. The spiders are some way behind, slipping on the rocks. Approaching the fall, you cast the king's gold chain into the water. Abruptly, the waterfall sweeps aside, revealing a cave. According to Mr. Yao, the fall is a water elemental which guards the cave, but has a weakness for glittering treasure. Your offer has bought passage. Rather reminds me of bribing enemy patrols with bullion in the Caucasus.
Unfortunately, the elemental is too impressed by the offering. Suspecting you have more gold, it summons a wave to wash you under the river. As you enter the cave, you hear a great rush of water coming from ahead. You climb the cave wall to your right. There is a crack in the wall just below the cave roof with a thin ledge opposite. You can wedge your feet in the crack and lean on the ledge.
Adopt a plank position, lying on your front with your weight on your forearms and toes. Hold that for one minute from now. [wave splashes] The first wave washes over your head and you're almost swept away. Hold on! The wave washes through the cave, seemingly endless. Hold fast. Now the first wave has passed, your perch is just above the water line. The wave is still coming. Fortunately, it washes away the spiders chasing you as they enter the cave. Water is still rushing below you, but you can feel the wave waning. Maintain the plank!
The wave has died down, leaving only puddles in the cave. The elemental should be too tired to summon another, but feel free to plank a little longer in the break, just in case. Otherwise, climb down and rest. The dark cave lies ahead, beckoning, for this is the cave system the spiders hail from, and deep within its heart, you are sure to find their master.
~
JANINE DE LUCA: Deep within the caves in a dank cavern filled with luminous blue moss, you discovered a hunched figure in a black cloak sitting amid a circle of giant arachnids, all bent in supplication. The figure has long dark hair and many jeweled rings. He is Doref, the king's chief warlock and most trusted adviser. Plainly, he commands the spiders.
Mr. Yao describes Doref's treachery as shocking, which is naive. In my experience, political advisors are often complicit in coup d'etat. In any case, Doref sees you and shoots to his feet. There is a glowing shard of crystal cupped in his hands. He whispers to it and the spiders charge. You must fend them off.
[spiders hiss and chitter]
Since it is doubtful many listeners will have a sword to hand, one minute of punching air will suffice to simulate combat. Begin punching now. The spiders reel from your blows. but Doref seems confident of victory. Doref mocks you. “For too long, I have schemed to overthrow that cowardly king. I won't let you stop me now! Rip and tear, my spiders!” Unhelpfully, Mr. Yao has simply specified “evil voice” for the warlock. I trust that was a fair attempt. [dice clatter] However, the dice are against you. Few spiders lie slain. Keep fighting. As Doref whispers to his crystal, more spiders appear from the shadows. Clearly, the crystal controls them.
You have survived one minute and bought yourself a temporary reprieve, but spiders keep coming. As you rest, a horizontal column of water comes crashing into the cavern, thrashing like a snake. [water splashes] It is the water elemental, still seeking your life. Thinking swiftly, you point at Doref’s crystal, and the elemental, entranced by the shine, descends upon it. Quickly, while Doref is distracted, aim your sword at the crystal and throw it. [dice clatter] A 20, excellent! Your sword smashes the crystal from Doref's hand while he gapes at the elemental. The crystal shatters, releasing an explosion of incandescent magical energy.
Around you, the cavern begins to shake and collapse. To your left, you spot a tunnel to the surface. As you flee, Doref leaps to follow, but the rings on his fingers have caught the elemental's attention and a tendril of water drags him back into the collapsing cavern. You have nearly escaped, but if you'd like to keep exercising over the break, feel free to strike an additional spider or two as you climb toward the surface.
~
SAM YAO: Hey folks, it's Sam here. Janine was called off on urgent business, so she asked me to take over the broadcast. I've been busy baking in the kitchens, but she's left a note to catch me up.
“Dear listeners, begin cooldown jogging. Congratulations! Many of you have confirmed completion of the simulation via ROFFLEnet. Your character has escaped the collapsing caves and the warlock has been crushed behind you. With the crystal gone, the spider horde is scattered. Castle Rackthorn has been saved and the villain slain, far more efficiently than in Mr. Yao’s planned story.”
I don't... are these... are these my D&D notes? Oh no! No! You're not supposed to get to Doref yet! All the obstacles... it's supposed to be impossible! That can't... how did you get past the spiders? [sighs] Listeners, I think um... yeah, I think we're going to have to end the session here. It's about time anyway, which is good because uh... because it-it looks like I've got some major rewriting on my hands. Oh boy. [sighs] Janine, what have you done?
~
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tipsycad147 · 3 years
Text
BELTANE  – WELCOMING THE FAE
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Beltane is one of the most celebrated pagan events each year. It falls midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. The holiday has it’s origins in ancient Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, but is widely practiced across the modern world.  Typically, celebrations start on the last day of April and continue into the daylight hours of May 1st (in the northern hemisphere).  There are numerous ways to celebrate including huge rituals, bonfires, dancing, singing, re-enactments, and rituals about the Fae, but the focal point is always fertility.  Throughout the years, our Beltane rituals have covered many of the traditional activities, but with the world going through so much change lately, this year it’s dedicated to the Fae.
Those who follow the old ways know that the veil between our world and the world of the Fae grows very thin but a few times each year; on Beltane and Samhain.  On those nights, all sorts of creatures from the faerie world can and do cross over into our world.  Likewise, brave humans can enter the other side, if they dare.  The Fae usually avoid humans, but sometimes they decide to have a little harmless fun at our expense.  Some humans find themselves feeling bold and may try to ‘play the game’ with creatures from the other side, but this almost always ends up bad.  History tells of mischievous faeries who trick humans on this night and they are never seen again.  It’s very important to keep in mind that the Fae are not to be toyed with.  Don’t make deals, enter into any arrangements or make promises you cannot fulfill.  Every interaction is an exchange and payment is expected in one form or another.  But, don’t let this deter you from interacting with the faeries, just be cautious and make sure you present an appropriate offering.
Our Beltane  ritual is focused on welcoming the faeries to our lands, our pastures and our gardens.  If we show them our appreciation, they will bless us with their gifts and there will be harmony.
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This ritual is written to be performed by a group, outside, with a bonfire.
What you’ll need to prepare for this ritual (as written)
Alter with fairy themed decorations and enough open space for each participant to place an offering Quarter Candles (4 total) in these colors –  Red (South,) Yellow (East,) Green (North,) and Blue (West) Goddess Candle – Large White Candle (I use a three wick candle for the Goddess) Hand bell Bonfire or fire circle of some sort
In order for success, please inform all guests that part of this ritual is about making an offering to the Fae, and that they should bring something special, of their own choosing. Also there is a meditation portion which may be lengthy, so a chair or yoga mat might also be in order.
Any portion of the ritual that is bracketed with <> refers to instructions that the ritual leader should perform rather than be spoken aloud.
The Ritual
<Opening Statement – A call to action for the participants to stop talking, gather, and prepare to begin the ritual>
“Let it be called, let it be cast, this sacred circle both present and past; a meeting place, a spiritual space, where we welcome all members of the human race”
Join Us As We Call the Beltane 2021 Quarters
East
As the spring winds slip ever so gracefully across the land, we turn our eyes to the East and give high praises to the great spirits of Air.  We welcome you to our circle on this night when the veil is very thin and the fairies are starting to move across the land.  Guard us from any mischief this night and help to guide those who are lost so that they may find a safe refuge until morning. <light yellow candle>
South
The last of the warming rays of the sun have just dropped beneath the horizon as we turn to the South, where the great Fire spirits make their home.  We give thanks for your attendance in our circle tonight and offer high thanks and praises for the gift of light which you’ve bestowed upon us.  Keep our path illuminated as we move from place to place so that no harm or accident will fall our way.  <light red candle>
West
Old ones of the West, mighty spirits of Water, we call upon you to join us in our circle tonight. Bathe each of us in your cascading and cleansing waters so that we may regenerate our spirit and carry forward with renewed hope for the future. <light blue candle>
North
Great ones of the North, magical spirits of the Earth, we extend our greatest wishes and honors and ask for you to join us as we celebrate all things associated with the land.  As the world around us rises, grows, and reaches to the sun, we see fertility in each direction.  We ask that you pull forth the positive energies of the planet to feed our crops and our souls, so that we may once again renew our relationship with everything in nature. <light green candle>
Goddess
Brigid, Great Goddess of spring, the dawn, and fertility; protector of mothers and children, we call upon you to grace us with your presence at this Beltane celebration.  You are the fire in the heads of the Bards, the heat in the forges of the mighty Blacksmiths, and the cleansing flames of the healers.  Join us tonight in our ritual, hail and blessed be!  <light Goddess Candle>
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Introduction – Beltane
Even though our ritual is about the Fae, we cannot forget the reason why we are celebrating.  If we look back into history, one thing is crystal clear, the great fire festival of Beltane honors life.  This celebration is known by many names, including Belt-an-a in Ireland, Bealtunn in Scotland, Shenn do Boaldyn on the Isle of Man and Galan Mae in Wales; it’s also commonly known as May Day. Beltane represents the peak of spring and the beginning of summer; the bright half of the year and the coming warmth.  It’s a celebration of the return of life and fertility to the physical world which surrounds us. It’s a time for sexual awakening in humankind with new relationships, marriages and the adventures of young adulthood.
The ancient tale resonates today just as it did in the past. At Beltane, the Maiden Goddess has reached her fullness of womanhood.  She is the manifestation of growth and renewal; called Flora, the Goddess of Spring, the May Queen, or the May Bride.  The Young Oak King, also known as the May King, Jack-In-The-Green, or the Green Man, falls in love with her and wins her hand.  Their union is consummated and the Goddess becomes pregnant.  This sacred union symbolizes the Sacred Marriage of Earth and Sky and has been re-enacted by humankind throughout the centuries.  Just as the May Queen will be the source of new life, so can we bring life to our brilliant ideas, hopes, and dreams on Beltane.
Musical Interlude
If you are a regular follower of our rituals, then you know that we try to include a music selection in each one.  Sometimes it’s a stretch to find an appropriate song to play, while other times it’s a snap.  This is one of those other times.  Our selection is called Beltane Fire Dance by Loreena McKennitt.  Start the music and skip down to the Fire Jumping section.
Jumping the Bonfire
On the eve of Beltane our Celtic ancestors would build two large bonfires, created from the nine sacred woods; oak, birch, ash, alder, willow, hawthorn, holly, hazel, and rowan.  These fires were deemed to have protective properties and were considered sacred.  All the livestock would be summarily rounded up and driven in between the two fires so as to purify and protect them in the upcoming year.  The villagers themselves would then leap over one of the Beltane bonfires, but for different reasons.  The young, unmarried villagers jumped the fire for luck in finding a spouse, travelers jumped the fire to ensure a safe journey, and pregnant women jumped the fire to assure an easy delivery. Couples would jump over hand in hand to ensure their union stayed strong.  This is not a complete list though.  Each person had their own reasons for stepping across the flames and no one passed on the opportunity.   <instruct the group on fire safety and take appropriate measure to make sure no one gets injured, then have everyone who wishes to, jump over the fire>
Think about what you wish for in the coming year while you’re carefully crossing over the flames.
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Welcoming the Fae
In ancient Ireland there lived a race of people of the Goddess Danu, called the Tuatha Dé Danann.  These people were the earliest magick users known to the world, having been cast out of paradise because they were becoming too powerful.  From high above they descended to the Island of Ireland to live out their lives, unimpeded, but when the island was invaded by the Milesians, they went underground.  They continued practicing magick and eventually evolved into what we now call the Fae.  They developed abilities to remain hidden from humans and lived in caves or other secret places, which they jealously guarded.  History tells stories of the rare human who found access to those hidden places and would never be heard from again.
And yet we also hear a multitude of stories from the past where the Fae would have positive interactions with humankind.  Usually these begin with a generous offering of milk, honey, yogurt, pastries or other sweet delicacies.  Small tables, toys, fabric and other shiny objects may also be used to attract faeries.  But, the single most important part is to listen to the natural world around your area.  When you become sensitive to all parts of nature, you’ll begin to hear more and more and you’ll make that connection.  The Fae can tell who is sincere and who isn’t, and they aren’t on a time schedule.  It may take some time, but don’t give up.
Tonight as part of our Beltane celebration, we shall present the faeries with an offering.  Each person should place their item on our alter as a token of friendship and compassion toward all things from the other side of the veil.
<Ritual leader should allow as much time as necessary>
Now that we have prepared an offering, it’s time to listen to nature.
<Have everyone meditate and listen to the world around them.  No one should speak or move around, just listen.  This can last as long as you wish>
Now each of you may state a high praise to the faeries and introduce yourselves to them formally.
<Have each person speak out to the Fae as they see fit>
As we prepare to close, remember this moment and take it with you everywhere.  The more open your mind is, the more nature will reveal.
Closing our Beltane 2021 Circle
North
Magickal spirits of the Earth, we again offer thanks for sharing this festive evening with us.  Tomorrow we shall survey our lands and have a renewed sense of comfort for a prosperous growing season and bountiful harvest.  <extinguish green candle>
West
Mighty spirits of Water, our praise is never-ending.  We offer prayers on the banks and shores and across all the great bodies of water so that you can see and hear our feelings of gratitude.  <extinguish blue candle>
South
Legendary spirits of Fire, as we leave here tonight, we carry new memories of illumination; not just physically, but also spiritually and emotionally and we shall walk with more confidence and understanding.  <extinguish red candle>
East
Whispering spirits of Air, our faith is renewed as we watch the thin tendrils of smoke rise and glide away on your invisible currents.  We realize that we do not always need to see something to believe in its power and understand its magnitude. <extinguish yellow candle>
Goddess
Great Goddess of spring, we bid you the kindest and move loving farewell as this night comes to a glorious ending.  Bless us as we leave and protect us.  Farewell and blessed be!  <light Goddess Candle>
“This circle is open but never broken”
<ring bell>
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https://www.thegypsythread.org/beltane-2021-welcoming-the-fae/
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ladywindrunner · 4 years
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a kiss to gain control.
angst kiss :: not accepting //
She could recall faintly—
           They’d loved each other once.
           When the sun shone on Quel’Thalas, before the cold came with the marching dead. When fields of blooming tulips formed a sea of yellow, swaying in the gentle breeze. She could not remember many details anymore, though lingering on the edge of clarity were essences of adoration.
           Stolen moments in the shade of Eversong. The tittering laughter of a sheepish, young mage who’d enraptured the Ranger-General. Kisses that were feather-light and teasing, touches that were fleeting but meaningful.
           Romance that should never have blossomed, did so despite odds stacked against it.
           An shard of ice flew towards the Banshee Queen. She hardly moved to dodge it, leaning out of the spell’s path, dead flesh sensing the burn of magic within it as it passed by. She did not fear the cold, nor the woman who wielded it.
           The arrows she loosed trailed black smoke and indigo threads. Whining as they flew through the air, striking dangerously close, malevolent incantations burning into the frozen ground of Northrend.
           The Ranger-General was slow to love. Slow to admit it, to herself and others. She told it in different ways, subtle ones. Ones only the lovely Lady Jaina knew.
           Stolen glances, looks exchanged that were unknown to outsiders. While her ears did not move, and her lips did not smile, there was a glint of something in the quel’dorei’s eyes. Spoken in a language only Proudmoore could decipher.
            Strange that such thoughts burdened the Dark Lady now. The distractions proving decisive, as the Lord Admiral continued to gain the upper hand.
           Jaina raised both hands to the sky, her eyes a flame with mana, their bright blue radiance speaking silently of unrelenting power. The churning skies of Northrend bowed to her will, they roiled with thunder, lightning crackled—
           And ice began to fall.
           The Banshee Queen glared towards the sky.
Shielding her face as hail fell, loud snaps were heard as pellets cracked off of the ranger’s armour.
Pellets became spheres, easily the size of cannon balls. They did not bounce off the frozen earth beneath their feet. They crashed into the ground without remorse.
One struck the Dark Lady’s back, eliciting a snarl of pain, while another slammed into her shoulder and knocked her aside.
Vile fury turned the withering arrows stuck in the ground into chains, they extended to Sylvanas’ open hand.
With one mighty heave, she tore the ground out from under her enemy.
She’d tried to remember life before undeath. She’d clung to the memories as best she could, but loathing corrupted her. Even when she’d found freedom, it hadn’t come with solace.
The living came, and shouted monster. Suddenly the Alliance was against them. They did not want to see the undead, not unless the corpses were to be put into shallow graves.
           There came cries from the freed dead, eyes no longer blue but yellow. They ran to her, skittered in the dark, crawling out from crypts, sewers, and sacked villages.
           We are forsaken.
           Save us.
           Chunks of earth and ice erupted, shattering the Lord Admiral’s concentration. She was thrown up and forwards, debris cascading around her.
           The ground came quickly, Jaina extended a hand and—
           Great plumes of snow and dust exploded outwards. The howling sky went quiet, the last boom of thunder dismal. The Dark Lady stood, shrugging off the ice.
           Arrogance had been the downfall of many.
           She had to be careful it wouldn’t be hers.
           A blast of freezing water and ice struck her. She hissed, stepping backwards, wiping water from her face.
           A creature of ice and water lumbered out of the fog of fine snow. Hunks of earth swirled about its vaguely humanoid form, having a faceless head and two arms, either adorned with bronze cuffs. It had no feet, its torso blending into a volatile spout of white water that gliding across the cracked ground.
           The cry it emitted was deep, a bellowing warning that announced the presence of its master.
           Jaina emerged after it, blood trailing from her scalp. Her fine robes ruined. She’d saved herself, but not before the Banshee Queen’s trick had wounded her.
           The soldiers of the Alliance fled, and a chorus unlike any other rose out of the murky dark:
        ��  We are the Forsaken.
           There’d been a single figure who stood unafraid as the tide of undead streamed forth from the depths of Lordaeron. She hadn’t wavered when frightening their frightening Queen stepped into the light.
           Sylvanas did recall they tried to fool themselves into believing their love could endure. That somehow it could defy the hatred tearing into the dead ranger’s withered heart.
           The stolen glances became that of sorrow.
           They realized their love was wilting. For there was no joy, no warm embrace, or smiles waiting in their future.  
           Defeat is poison to what remained of the Dark Lady’s soul. She is struck with spell after spell. The elemental forcing her to expend more energy dodging its attempts, while suffering increasing blows from its master. The Banshee Queen could no longer feel mortal pain, but the incantations broke through the dulled senses of undeath.
           If she was not aching from magical bruising, her limbs felt as if they were on fire from the chilling bite of icy magics.
           Deathwhisper fell from her grasp; she stumbles as the tidesurger smashes her with a watery uppercut.
           An icy boulder forms before Jaina, gathering energy for the briefest of seconds before it flies forward.
           It strikes the banshee, exploding. She is sent careening backwards, until she slams into an icy rise and slumps.
           The burning crimson glow of the forsaken queen’s eyes diminishes until it is nearly vacant.
           The elemental moves aside.
           For once, the Dark Lady sees clearly without the hatred Arthas cursed her with. Dead eyes gaze up at the Lord Admiral, reminiscent of the woman who’d once been honourable. A fleeting glimpse that Sylvanas Windrunner, Ranger-General of Silvermoon, still lingered.
           “Why?” Jaina’s words stung with betrayal, with pain, and horror.
           Sylvanas said nothing. She sat in silence, admiring the mage with a clarity she hadn’t possessed in a long while.
           They’re laughing, Jaina is held in the Ranger-General’s warm embrace. They sit beneath an old oak on the bank of a nameless creek. They’ve finally escaped, found a refuge under the pale moon during twilight. Jaina squirms as Sylvanas’ breath tickles her neck, only to be followed with teasing kisses.
           Jaina has moved closer, her broken heart, held together by determination and disgust by the Dark Lady’s actions – was on the verge of bursting.
The Banshee Queen was dying.
Her dead flesh was not mending. Shards of ice, as sharp as an assassin’s blade, stuck out of the woman. Wisps of smoke seeped out of the wounds.
“I love you,” the young mage whispered, fingers grazing the elf’s cheek, gliding along her jawline as they lay together.
“Why did you do it?” Jaina hastened her question. She needed to know.
She touched Sylvanas’ cheek.
           Sylvanas snatches Jaina’s wrist, pulling her close.
           Cold lips press against warm, a kiss of death meeting life unabashed. For a moment it felt as if her undead heart might beat once more. She cups Jaina’s face in her hands. She defies her failing strength, standing slowly.
           Her hands fall away as their lips part. Dead eyes gaze into fiery blues, still alight with potent magic.
           “I love you,” Sylvanas murmurs as their foreheads touch.
           She should have told Jaina long ago.
           The blade ran across the Lord Admiral’s fair neck with the deftness expected of a ranger.
           The crimson glow once again claimed the banshee’s eyes.
           Jaina staggered backwards, hand clasping over the mortal wound. Blood spilled through her fingers. It splattered onto her overcoat and corset.
           The elemental shrieked, its power evaporating. The water of its body sputtered, turning to a hot mist.
           Sylvanas hurried forward, catching Jaina as she fell backwards. Her wounds were mending. Gone were the icicles and slivers that had marred her preserved flesh.
           Jaina’s mouth opened, her eyes wide, tears running down her face as she one hand grabbed hold of the elf’ arm. No words escaped her, she could taste blood, its coppery flavour coating her tongue.
           A being manifested behind Banshee Queen, a ghostly visage of a winged woman, with a face obscured by a helm.
           A val’kyr.
           “you won’t be as the rest,” the woman whispered, tenderly laying Jaina down in the snow. “Your flesh will not wither, decay, or rot…”
           She stood tall, gazing down at the dying woman, her blackened soul screaming with fury. No longer would Proudmoore be a world apart from the banshee. Her heart would still, and then she’d rise.
           Then perhaps, she’d understand.
           She glanced to Deathwhisper, the bow flew to her, catching it in her hand, she spared once last look at Jaina.
           “Farwell My Love,” she whispered, words tenderly spoken. “When you rise, you rise a queen.”
The clouds churned. Dim grey twisting into black, then purple and finally, a sickening, frenzied green. The heavens beyond roared so loud with thunder it resonated in the air.
           Pale eyes opened, blue irises as empty of colour. They regarded the sky with melancholy.
           The dead closed in, Scourge minions drawn to the scent of blood. Skeleton soldiers, ghouls, and fiends. They snarled.
           All at once, lightning rained down. Vicious bolts, eviscerating all who dared to approach.
           Until none remained.
           Fair skin was now pastel in hue, not pallid, but akin to fresh fallen snow. Seamless, even the cut along her neck had vanished.
           The val’kyr was gone.
           Jaina Proudmoore stood alone, but in the back of her mind there was a whisper. An ethereal connection, it turned her frigid gaze to the horizon, to Ice Crown Citadel.
           Her eyes radiated a harsh white light, the blizzard whirling around her parted, leaving her in deathly stillness.
           The ground next to her quaked, bones of a lost steed rising up, assembling itself. A single icy horn sprouted from its blacked skull. Effortlessly she leapt into the saddle, the freezing stallion breaking into a gallop after that.
           She would find Sylvanas, she’d tear Ice Crown asunder to do it if she must.
           And behind her, the storm followed, chasing the its new queen.
(ノ◕ヮ◕)ノ*.✧ kofi 
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divinum-pacis · 4 years
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Beltane Prayers
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Am Beannachadh Bealltain (The Beltane Blessing)
Bless, O threefold true and bountiful, Myself, my spouse, my children. Bless everything within my dwelling and in my possession, Bless the kine and crops, the flocks and corn, From Samhain Eve to Beltane Eve, With goodly progress and gentle blessing, From sea to sea, and every river mouth, From wave to wave, and base of waterfall.
Be the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, Taking possession of all to me belonging. Be the Horned God, the Wild Spirit of the Forest, Protecting me in truth and honor. Satisfy my soul and shield my loved ones, Blessing every thing and every one, All my land and my surroundings. Great gods who create and bring life to all, I ask for your blessings on this day of fire.
Prayer to Cernunnos
God of the green, Lord of the forest, I offer you my sacrifice. I ask you for your blessing.
You are the man in the trees, the green man of the woods, who brings life to the dawning spring. You are the deer in rut, mighty Horned One, who roams the autumn woods, the hunter circling round the oak, the antlers of the wild stag, and the lifeblood that spills upon the ground each season.
God of the green, Lord of the forest, I offer you my sacrifice. I ask you for your blessing.
Prayer to the Earth Mother
Great earth mother! We give you praise today and ask for your blessing upon us. As seeds spring forth and grass grows green and winds blow gently and the rivers flow and the sun shines down upon our land, we offer thanks to you for your blessings and your gifts of life each spring.
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Prayer to Protect the Herds & Flocks
We light the fires of Beltane, sending smoke up to the sky. The flames purify and protect, marking the turn of the Wheel of the Year. Keep our animals safe and strong. Keep our land safe and strong. Keep those who would protect them Safe and strong. May the light and heat of this fire bestow life upon the herd
Prayer to the Gods of the Forest
Spring has come to the earth. the land is fertile and ready at Beltane, seeds will be sown, and new life will begin once more. Hail, great gods of the land! Hail, gods of resurrected life! Hail, Cernunnos, Osiris, Herne, and Bacchus! Let the soil open up and mother earth's fertile womb receive the seeds of life as we welcome the spring.
[Source]
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city-witch-magix · 3 years
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Yule, the Winter Solstice
Begins on Winter Solstice and lasts 12 days (Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, December 21st) 
Focuses on rebirth and renewal as the sun makes it way back to the earth. New beginnings with magical workings and welcome light and warmth into your home 
History: There are many variations of yule throughout the world. The Norse people celebrated Jul and viewed it as a time for feasting and merrymaking. Icelandic sagas believed it was a time of sacrifice. The Yule log, decorated Christmas tree, and wassailing can be traced back to the Norse people. Little is known of what the Celts did as celebration but it is said they sacrificed a white bull and gathered mistletoe in celebration. The Romans had a week long party full of merrymaking and debauchery that involved gift-giving, sacrifice, special privileges for slaves, and feasting. Ancient Egyptians celebrated the sun daily until they realized the cooler weather and cycle of life coincided. 
Decorate your altar with blues, silvers, reds, greens, and whites for the season. The reds help with chakra work because it is associated with chakra root. White helps focus on purifying. Gold can also be incorporated because it is associated with the sun and coincides with Yule. 
Symbols of Yule include gold discs, yellow candles, anything bright and shiny, a large pillar candle with solar symbols, evergreen boughs, sprigs of holly, pinecones, Yule log, Santa Claus, Antlers/reindeer, fruits (fresh apples/oranges), nuts (walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts), snowflakes, icicles, bowl of snow, candy canes, bells, and sunwheels 
Prayer to the Earth- Cold and dark, this time of year, the earth lies dormant, awaiting the return of the sun, and with it, life. Far beneath the frozen surface, a heartbeat waits, until the moment is right, to spring.
Yule Sunrise Prayer- The sun returns! The light returns! The earth begins to warm once more! The time of darkness has passed, and a path of light begins the new day. Welcome, welcome, the heat of the sun, blessing us all with its rays.
Yule Sunset Prayer- The longest night has come once more, the sun has set, and darkness fallen. The trees are bare, the earth asleep, and the skies are cold and black. Yet tonight we rejoice, in this longest night, embracing the darkness that enfolds us. We welcome the night and all that it holds, as the light of the stars shines down.
Prayer to the Winter Goddess- O! Mighty goddess, in silvery ice, watching over us as we sleep, a layer of shining white, covering the earth each night, frost on the world and in the soul, we thank you for visiting us. Because of you, we seek warmth in the comfort of our homes and hearths.
Prayer for Counting Blessing- I am grateful for that which I have. I am not sorrowful for that which I do not. I have more than others, less than some, but regardless, I am blessed with what is mine. [If you have a set of pagan prayer beads or a witch's ladder, count off each bead or knot, and consider the things you are thankful for, like so:] First, I am thankful for my health. Second, I am thankful for my family. Third, I am thankful for my warm home. Fourth, I am thankful for the abundance in my life. [Continue counting off your blessings until you have thought of all of the things that enrich your life and the lives of those around you.]
Prayer for the Beginning of Winter- See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way for the bright sun soon to come. See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way, for the world to awake once more. See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way for the longest night of the year. See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way for the sun to finally return, bringing with it light and warmth.
Nordic Yule Prayer- Beneath the tree of light and life, a blessing at this season of Yule! To all that sit at my hearth, today we are brothers, we are family, and I drink to your health! Today we do not fight, We bear no one ill will. Today is a day to offer hospitality to all that cross my threshold in the name of the season.
Snow Prayer- From the reaches of the north, a place of cold blue beauty, comes to us the first winter storm. Wind whipping, flakes flying, the snow has fallen upon the earth, keeping us close, keeping us together, wrapped up as everything sleeps beneath a blanket of white.
Prayer to Old Gods- The Holly King is gone, and the  Oak King reigns— Yule is the time of the  old winter gods! Hail to Baldur! To Saturn! To  Odin! Hail to Amaterasu! To Demeter! Hail to Ra! To Horus! Hail to Frigga, Minerva Sulis and Cailleach Bheur! It is their season, and high in the heavens, may they grant us their blessings this winter day.
Celtic Yule Blessing- The food is put away for the winter, the crops are set aside to feed us, the cattle are come down from their fields, and the sheep are in from the pasture. The land is cold, the sea is stormy, the sky is gray. The nights are dark, but we have our family, kin and clan around the hearth, staying warm in the midst of darkness, our spirit and love a flame, a beacon burning brightly in the night.
Elemental Prayer- As the earth grows colder, the winds blow faster, the fire dwindles smaller, and the rains fall harder, let the light of the sun find its way home.
Prayer to the Sun Gods- Great sun, wheel of fire, sun god in your glory, hear me as I honor you on this, the shortest day of the year. Summer has gone, passed us by, the fields are dead and cold, all of earth sleeps in your absence. Even in the darkest times, you light the way for those who need a beacon, of hope, of brightness, shining in the night. Winter is here, and colder days coming, the fields are bare and the livestock thin. We light these candles in your honor, that you might gather your strength and bring life back to the world. O mighty sun above us, we ask you to return, to bring back to us the light and the warmth of your fire. Bring life back to earth. Bring light back to earth. Hail the sun!
Some recipes: https://www.learnreligions.com/yule-cooking-and-recipes-2562933 (Yule Plum Pudding, Savory Sun King Soup, Baked Spaghetti Squash, Sunshine Skillet Casserole, Divine Yule Peppermint Fudge, Chocolate Yule Log, Wassail, and Hot Buttered Rum)
Source: https://www.learnreligions.com/all-about-yule-2562972
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28th November >> Mass Readings (Except USA)
Saturday, Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time 
    or 
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Saturday, Thirty Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical Colour: Green)
First Reading
Apocalypse 22:1-7
The Lord God will shine on them; it will never be night again
The angel showed me, John, the river of life, rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal-clear down the middle of the city street. On either side of the river were the trees of life, which bear twelve crops of fruit in a year, one in each month, and the leaves of which are the cure for the pagans.    The ban will be lifted. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in its place in the city; his servants will worship him, they will see him face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever.    The angel said to me, ‘All that you have written is sure and will come true: the Lord God who gives the spirit to the prophets has sent his angel to reveal to his servants what is soon to take place. Very soon now, I shall be with you again.’ Happy are those who treasure the prophetic message of this book.
The Word of the Lord
R/ Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 94(95):1-7
R/ Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;    hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him, giving thanks,    with songs let us hail the Lord.
R/ Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
A mighty God is the Lord,    a great king above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth;    the heights of the mountains are his. To him belongs the sea, for he made it    and the dry land shaped by his hands.
R/ Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Come in; let us bow and bend low;    let us kneel before the God who made us: for he is our God and we    the people who belong to his pasture,    the flock that is led by his hand.
R/ Marana tha! Come, Lord Jesus!
Gospel Acclamation
Matthew 24:42,44
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man is coming. Alleluia!
Or:
Luke 21:36
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. Alleluia!
Gospel
Luke 21:34-36
That day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap
Jesus said to his disciples:    ‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’
The Gospel of the Lord
R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Liturgical Colour: White)
(Readings for the memorial)
(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)
Either: --------
First Reading
Genesis 3:9-15,20
The mother of all those who live
After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’    Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,
‘Be accursed beyond all cattle, all wild beasts. You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust every day of your life. I will make you enemies of each other: you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. It will crush your head and you will strike its heel.’
The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.
OR: --------
First reading Genesis 12:1-7 All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.
‘I will bless those who bless you: I will curse those who slight you. All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.’
So Abram went as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had amassed and the people they had acquired in Haran. They set off for the land of Canaan, and arrived there.    Abram passed through the land as far as Shechem’s holy place, the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘It is to your descendants that I will give this land.’ So Abram built there an altar for the Lord who had appeared to him.
OR: --------
First reading 2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-11,16 The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House
Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’    But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:    ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’
OR: --------
First reading 1 Chronicles 15:3-4,15-16,16:1-2 They brought in the ark of God and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it
David gathered all Israel together to bring the ark of God up to the place he had prepared for it. David called together the sons of Aaron and the sons of Levi. And the Levites carried the ark of God with the shafts on their shoulders, as Moses had ordered in accordance with the word of the Lord.    David then told the heads of the Levites to assign duties for their kinsmen as cantors, with their various instruments of music, harps and lyres and cymbals, to play joyful tunes.    They brought the ark of God in and put it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered holocausts before God, and communion sacrifices. And when David had finished offering holocausts and communion sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord.
OR: --------
First reading Proverbs 8:22-31 Before the earth came into being, Wisdom was born
The Wisdom of God cries aloud:
The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded,    before the oldest of his works. From everlasting I was firmly set,    from the beginning, before earth came into being. The deep was not, when I was born,    there were no springs to gush with water. Before the mountains were settled,    before the hills, I came to birth; before he made the earth, the countryside,    or the first grains of the world’s dust. When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,    when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep, when he thickened the clouds above,    when he fixed fast the springs of the deep, when he assigned the sea its boundaries – and the waters will not invade the shore –    when he laid down the foundations of the earth, I was by his side, a master craftsman,    delighting him day after day,    ever at play in his presence, at play everywhere in his world,    delighting to be with the sons of men.
OR: --------
First reading Ecclesiasticus 24:1-4,8-12,18-21 From eternity, in the beginning, God created wisdom
Wisdom speaks her own praises,    in the midst of her people she glories in herself. She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High,    she glories in herself in the presence of the Mighty One: ‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,    and I covered the earth like a mist. I had my tent in the heights,    and my throne in a pillar of cloud. Then the creator of all things instructed me,    and he who created me fixed a place for my tent. He said, “Pitch your tent in Jacob,    make Israel your inheritance.” From eternity, in the beginning, he created me,    and for eternity I shall remain. I ministered before him in the holy tabernacle,    and thus was I established on Zion. In the beloved city he has given me rest,    and in Jerusalem I wield my authority. I have taken root in a privileged people,    in the Lord’s property, in his inheritance. Approach me, you who desire me,    and take your fill of my fruits, for memories of me are sweeter than honey,    inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb. They who eat me will hunger for more,    they who drink me will thirst for more. Whoever listens to me will never have to blush,    whoever acts as I dictate will never sin.’
OR: --------
First reading Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10 The maiden is with child
The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’    Then Isaiah said:
‘Listen now, House of David: are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men without trying the patience of my God, too? The Lord himself, therefore, will give you a sign. It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’
OR: --------
First reading Isaiah 9:1-6 A Son is given to us
The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone. You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.
For the yoke that was weighing on him, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.
For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire.
For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him: Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God, Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.
OR: --------
First reading Isaiah 61:9-11 I exult for joy in the Lord
Their race will be famous throughout the nations, their descendants throughout the peoples. All who see them will admit that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.
‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath, like a bride adorned in her jewels.
‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up, so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.’
OR: --------
First reading Micah 5:1-4 He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord
The Lord says this:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old. The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth. Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel. He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God. They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.
OR: --------
First reading Zechariah 2:14-17 'I am coming', says the Lord
Sing, rejoice, daughter of Zion; for I am coming to dwell in the middle of you – it is the Lord who speaks. Many nations will join the Lord, on that day; they will become his people. But he will remain among you, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. But the Lord will hold Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and again make Jerusalem his very own. Let all mankind be silent before the Lord! For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.
-------- ________
EITHER: --------
Responsorial Psalm 1 Samuel 2:1,4-8
My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.
My heart exults in the Lord.    I find my strength in my God; my mouth laughs at my enemies    as I rejoice in your saving help.
My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.
The bows of the mighty are broken,    but the weak are clothed with strength. Those with plenty must labour for bread,    but the hungry need work no more. The childless wife has children now    but the fruitful wife bears no more.
My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.
It is the Lord who gives life and death,    he brings men to the grave and back; it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches.    He brings men low and raises them on high.
My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.
He lifts up the lowly from the dust,    from the dungheap he raises the poor to set him in the company of princes    to give him a glorious throne. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,    on them he has set the world.
My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.
OR: --------
Responsorial Psalm Judith 13:18a-19
You are the highest honour of our race!
May you be blessed, my daughter, by God Most High, beyond all women on earth; and may the Lord God be blessed, the Creator of heaven and earth.
You are the highest honour of our race!
The trust you have shown shall not pass from the memories of men, but shall ever remind them of the power of God.
You are the highest honour of our race!
OR: --------
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 44(45):11-12,14-17
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:    forget your own people and your father’s house. So will the king desire your beauty:    He is your lord, pay homage to him.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendour,    her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold. She is led to the king with her maiden companions.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;    they pass within the palace of the king. Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers:    you will make them princes over all the earth.
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words.
OR: --------
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 112(113):1-7
May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!
Praise, O servants of the Lord,    praise the name of the Lord! May the name of the Lord be blessed    both now and for evermore!
May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!
From the rising of the sun to its setting    praised be the name of the Lord! High above all nations is the Lord,    above the heavens his glory.
May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!
Who is like the Lord, our God,    who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down,    to look down upon heaven and earth? From the dust he lifts up the lowly,    from the dungheap he raises the poor
May the name of the Lord be blessed for evermore! or Alleluia!
OR: --------
Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-55
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
My soul glorifies the Lord,    my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
He looks on his servant in her nothingness;    henceforth all ages will call me blessed. The Almighty works marvels for me.    Holy his name!
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
His mercy is from age to age,    on those who fear him. He puts forth his arm in strength    and scatters the proud-hearted.
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
He casts the mighty from their thrones    and raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things,    sends the rich away empty.
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
He protects Israel, his servant,    remembering his mercy, the mercy promised to our fathers,    to Abraham and his sons for ever.
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name! or Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
-------- ________
Gospel Acclamation cf.Lk1:28
Alleluia, alleluia! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women. Alleluia!
Or: cf.Lk1:45
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled. Alleluia!
Or: cf.Lk2:19
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who treasured the word of God and pondered it in her heart. Alleluia!
Or: Lk11:28
Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it. Alleluia!
Or:
Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of all praise, for the sun of justice, Christ our God, was born of you. Alleluia!
Or:
Alleluia, alleluia! Happy is the Virgin Mary, who, without dying, won the palm of martyrdom beneath the cross of the Lord. Alleluia!
________
EITHER: --------
Gospel Matthew 1:1-16,18-23 The ancestry and conception of Jesus Christ
A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:
Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother, Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother, Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother, Obed was the father of Jesse; and Jesse was the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Azariah, Azariah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah; and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers. Then the deportation to Babylon took place.
After the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud, Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob; and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,
a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’
OR: --------
Gospel Matthew 1:18-23 How Jesus Christ came to be born
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel,
a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’
OR: --------
Gospel Matthew 2:13-15,19-23 The flight into Egypt and the return to Nazareth
After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:
I called my son out of Egypt.
After Herod’s death, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you and go back to the land of Israel, for those who wanted to kill the child are dead.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, went back to the land of Israel. But when he learnt that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as ruler of Judaea he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he left for the region of Galilee. There he settled in a town called Nazareth. In this way the words spoken through the prophets were to be fulfilled:
‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
OR: --------
Gospel Matthew 12:46-50 My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven
Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 1:26-38 'I am the handmaid of the Lord'
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 1:39-47 Blessed is she who believed the promise
Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’    And Mary said:
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour.’
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 2:1-14 'In the town of David a saviour has been born to you'
Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census – the first – took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.    In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:
‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour.’
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 2:15-19 The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem and found the baby lying in the manger
Now when the angels had gone from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 2:27-35 'A sword will pierce your soul too'
Prompted by the Spirit Simeon came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 2:41-52 Mary stored up all these things in her heart
Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.    Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have, you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’    ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant.    He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority.    His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.
OR: --------
Gospel Luke 11:27-28 'Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!'
As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’
OR: --------
Gospel John 2:1-11 'My hour has not come yet' - 'Do whatever he tells you'
There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. When they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the wedding was all finished, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said ‘Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water’, and they filled them to the brim. ‘Draw some out now’ he told them ‘and take it to the steward.’ They did this; the steward tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from – only the servants who had drawn the water knew – the steward called the bridegroom and said, ‘People generally serve the best wine first, and keep the cheaper sort till the guests have had plenty to drink; but you have kept the best wine till now.’    This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee. He let his glory be seen, and his disciples believed in him.
OR: --------
Gospel John 19:25-27 'Woman, this is your son'
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.
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anistarrose · 5 years
Text
Ford in Amphibia
Summary: Anne and the Plantar family take in an eccentric new guest.
Word Count: ~2100
Warnings: none
AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/19375102/chapters/46100365
Part 1 of… 2? 3? Probably somewhere in that ballpark, but it really depends on if the still-progressing canon of Amphibia throws me anything new. 
This chapter doesn’t require much Amphibia prior knowledge to read, though — as long as you’ve seen the first pair of episodes, you’ll be fine!
***
“Anne! Anne? Anne, you gotta wake up! It’s an emergency!”
“Ugh, what?” Anne sat up in her bed, rubbing her eyes as she checked the time on her phone. “Five A.M.? What the heck is going on, Sprig?”
“The whole town’s outside our door! And they’re asking for you, and saying it’s urgent!”
Sure enough, a muffled slamming noise sounded from aboveground, followed by of a chorus of distressed ribbits.
“But… I didn’t even do anything bad yesterday! What do they want with me?”
“Doesn’t matter! We can’t afford them bringing out the battering ram to bust down our door again, so c’mon!” Sprig grabbed Anne by the hand, and dragged her upstairs.
There was thankfully no battering ram in sight when Anne threw open the door to face the citizens of Wartwood, but it looked like Sprig hadn’t lied about the whole town being outside. He had, however, neglected to mention that nearly all of them were wielding torches, pitchforks, and other staple weapons of angry mobs.
“Here she is, the girl of the hour!” Sprig offered weakly. “… Please don’t kill her?”
One-Eyed Wally sprung forward, and Anne flinched — but rather than attacking, he cast his pitchfork to the ground, and took her by the hands. He gave a quick bow, and Anne realized his one golden eye was wet with tears as his head bounced back up to meet her gaze.
“Thank goodness you’re here! You’re the only one who can save us now! Please, my lady, I beseech you!”
“Uh… not sure I’m following what’s going on here…”
“Another foul beast has been spotted roaming these parts,” Mayor Toadstool explained, pushing his way to the front of the ground. “Go on and tell them what you saw, Wally. Be brave.”
Wally’s hands trembled as he spoke. “It had a haggard gray mane, and its eyes reflected red light brighter than the moon itself! It loomed over me like a mountain, and it — it —”
He rummaged around in his pockets, and pulled out a few charred pieces of what must have once been a tree branch. “It fired bolts of lightning out of its arm! It just barely missed me, but it reduced a mighty old oak to ash in a single strike!”
“But since we’ve tamed a loyal beast of our own, she can drive it away for us!” Toadstool finished. “Then the town will be saved, and none of us will have to risk our precious lives fighting it!”
“What?!” Anne gasped. “You really think I could chase off something like that? And — and even if I could, I’m not your attack dog!”
A murmur went through the crowd, and Toadstool looked seriously ready to debate the attack dog comment, but Sprig spoke up before he could say anything.
“Anne, wait! You should hear them out — you know how everything gets overblown whenever Wally’s the one telling the story. Maybe it’s another lost human, and this whole situation is just a misunderstanding!”
“Look, I accepted a while back that I’m the only human in this world,” Anne shot back. “If there were more, we would’ve crossed paths by now for sure! But… I guess Wally is kind of prone to overblowing things…”
She sighed. “Okay, tell you what. I’m not fighting that beast, but tell me where you last saw it, and I’ll do some recon on it for you guys.”
Wally immediately burst into tears. “You’re a hero!” he blubbered. “This town will owe you a debt for the rest of your days!”
“Oh, I don’t know about that —” Toadstool cut in.
It was only then that Hop Pop walked into the living room, stifling a yawn. “Kids? What’s all this commotion about? Anne?”
Anne darted past him, back into the basement, and emerged a minute later wielding her tennis racquet.
“No time to explain! Gotta go risk my life for strangers by hunting a lightning monster!”
“See you soon!” Sprig added as the two of them sprinted off into the early morning light. “Maybe we’ll bring back another monster from the woods, and let them live in our house too!”
***
Ford’s patience for the frog dimension was wearing thin.
It had felt (quite literally) like a breath of fresh air at first, after spending close to a week consorting with unsavory characters in the alleyways of a sprawling, smog-filled metropolis — but limited signs of civilization meant traipsing through long swaths of muddy terrain, and mud meant that new boots would be ruined and silent movement would be nearly impossible, and… well, he could go on and on about why he hated swamp environments. The list of inconveniences just never seemed to end.
Ford didn’t actually mind amphibians — in fact, they accounted for some of his favorite anomalies back in Gravity Falls. He didn’t even mind the anthropomorphic frogs that watched him from afar and then fled before he could approach them — directions would have been convenient, sure, but he still had faith in his navigation abilities.
No, what he hated were the frogs that crept up behind him at the earliest hours of the morning, and nearly gave him a heart attack because they just happened to have BRIGHT YELLOW EYES. Or worse, in the case of today’s encounter, just ONE bright yellow eye. Why couldn’t those frogs be the ones who minded their own business?!
A branch snapped behind him, and he whirled around, gun in hand.
“Come out where I can see you!” he barked. “I’m willing to resolve this peacefully if you are, but try anything funny and I won’t hesitate to shoot!”
A bush a few feet away let out a small whimper, followed by a series of hushed whispers like it was having a conversation with itself. Finally, the culprits peered out, hands above their heads…
Human hands, in one case.
“There are humans in this dimension?” Ford asked, just as the girl blurted out: “Wait, are you a human too? How did you get here?”
There was an awkward pause, before Ford replied: “Even if we are of the same species, there’s no guarantee we come from the same dimension.”
“Are you some kind of space pirate? Am I on another planet?” the girl asked at the same time, speaking over him. “Or a time traveler? Have I been in prehistoric times all along?”
“Uh… not exactly either of those, but closer to the first one,” Ford told her.
This didn’t feel like a trap. The human girl seemed genuinely inquisitive, and her frog companion looked scared out of his wits, not scheming. “I apologize for being so hostile before. I’ve just been on guard lately.”
“It’s fine. I did pretty much the same thing when I got here too,” the girl assured him. “I’m Anne Boonchuy, and this is my buddy Sprig. Nice to meet you!”
“Likewise. I’m Ford.”
“Just Ford? What, no last names on your planet?”
Ford sighed. “No, I just don’t like sharing personal information. You never know what identity thieves might lurk in unfamiliar worlds.”
It was his go-to lie when dealing with kids, since it sounded a lot less intimidating than there are a lot of extremely ruthless people after me and the less I tell you about myself, the less likely they are to be a threat to you. He didn’t think Bill’s minions would have much influence here, but it didn’t hurt to err on the side of caution.
He and Anne shook hands, and he couldn’t help but cringe slightly as she looked at his fingers and frowned in confusion.
“I can’t help but notice you’ve got, uh, more than the normal number of fingers… or is six fingers normal where you come from?”
“No, I carry a rare genetic mutation that causes polydactyly. I’ve always been something of an anomalous case, even in the world I hail from.”
“Wow, you sound like a pretty smart guy.”
“Well, I would hope so! My eleven PhD’s didn’t earn themselves.”
“Dang, you are smart!” Anne’s eyes lit up. “Hey, want to come back home with us? I’ve got some, uh… weird odds and ends from my world that I want an expert opinion on.”
“I dunno,” Sprig piped up, speaking for the first time since his exchange with Anne in the bush. “It worked out well when I brought you home, but… are you sure he’s not gonna eat us? He feels like the type of person who would eat us — he’s too fluffy for it to be anything but a trick, to make him look less threatening!”
“Oh, it’s just my beard that’s scaring you?” Ford asked, pulling a lighter out of his pocket and squinting as he held it just beneath his chin and flicked the wheel. “Because I can get rid of this real quick if I just — ah, here we go!”
He let the blaze travel up his face for a few seconds before patting it out, ignoring Anne and Sprig’s slack-jawed expressions.
“Dude,” Anne gasped. “Did you just set your face on fire?”
“Well, how else am I going to get rid of a whole beard in under thirty seconds? Not by shaving, that’s for sure.”
***
Anne motioned for Ford to sit down, and he did so as she unfolded the cloth concealing the object resting in her lap. The Plantar family had been surprisingly charitable towards Ford, feeding him breakfast and insisting that the couch was always available if he needed somewhere to sleep — just as charitable as they’d apparently been to Anne, when she’d abruptly been tossed into their lives not two weeks before.
She’d given the summary of her story over breakfast, and in return, he’d explained the very basics of his story to them: that he seeked to eventually overthrow a tyrant who threatened many parts of the multiverse, and that he traveled from dimension to dimension with very little control over where he would end up. Anne had seemed disappointed to hear that second part — presumably because she’d been hoping Ford would have a way to get her home.
But maybe, not all hope was lost in that regard just yet.
“This is the music box that brought me to this world,” Anne explained, tossing aside the cloth. “When I opened it for the first time, it flashed all colorful and I woke up here, but it hasn’t worked since.”
“Peculiar,” Ford muttered. “Where exactly did you find this music box?”
“Just a weird knickknack shop,” Anne answered, a little two quickly.
“May I hold it for a moment?”
“Sure.”
She handed it to him. It was metallic and oddly cold, far colder than anything should have been on this sweltering day — almost as if it was magically draining the heat from Ford’s hands. He held his wrist in front of it and pressed a button on his watch, and a grid of laser dots were projected onto it, signifying a scan in progress.
“Those gems were more colorful when I first found it,” Anne explained. “But they’ve been gray ever since I got here.”
“Hmm. Well, here’s your problem: this box was once a vessel for a large amount of magical energy, but that energy has since been depleted — presumably when it brought you to this world. That’s probably why the gems lost their color, and why it can’t transport you back anymore… but if you were able to recharge that supply of magical energy somehow, I think there’s good odds it would take you home. Either that, or it would take you an even more foreign dimension of even weirder creatures. No way to know for sure unless you try?”
“Well, that’s the best lead I’ve got by a long shot,” Anne told him. “How do I recharge it?”
Ford shrugged. “Good question. I’ve got no clue.”
“What? C’mon, aren’t any of your PhD’s in cursed music boxes?”
Ford shook his head. “Magic is a fickle thing, and it works differently in almost every dimension. In one world, you might learn how to cast a spell that rains bolts of lightning down on your enemies, but in another, you might barely be able to summon a spark using the same ritual. Even if I’d encountered a relic like this before, there’s no guarantee that yours would obey the same rules.”
“Oh.” Anne’s face fell. “Well, thanks for your help anyway.”
“Keep you chin up,” Ford told her. “Your search for answers has only just begun — there’s still plenty more research to do, and plenty more chances to have a eureka moment! And if you have any questions of the scientific sort… well, I’m not sticking around forever, but while I’m here, don’t hesitate to ask me anything.”
“Thanks. Will do.”
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