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popawritter12 · 6 days

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Could I request headcanons for

Yandere blood moon pyke with a male reader who is a singer.

Author's notes: These days were… somewhat complex for me, sorry if I left everything for a few days, I'm trying to come back <3.

Yandere! Bloodmoon! Pyke Headcanons x Male! Singer! Reader

Chances of your loved ones being killed

I mean, you would have a better chance of killing them-

Don't get me wrong, this demon is a great danger to the world itself. However, my dear anon, I don't see that he is interested in the death of those close to you.

Will he lead you to murder them? Possibly.

Now, would he kill them? Nah.

First impressions

You were a singer belonging to a cult that was basically the complete opposite of the Blood Moon in general. What do I mean by this?

The cult was not centered on the Blood Moon, but on a human being called “Angel of the Andes.”

That angel was no one but you, reader; The cult tried to show itself as a perfect being, from the finest fabrics to your skin or the best skin care were provided to you only for each appearance on stage; your voice honed with inhuman hours of training and a love in every word that could only be described as pure.

An angel on earth that was extracted from a remote town far from civilization, one called “The Andes”

Of course the whole story could have been a lie but oh well.

To give you an idea; an image that bordered on the divine due to excess perfection, all your appearances were so calculated and perfected that they bordered on the inhuman, the seams in each costume, the affection expressed in each lyric of all the songs; You were called “the angel on earth,” and rightly so, you were loved in many nations.

You were so superficially loved, so resoundingly acclaimed as a deity, so… horribly idealized, everything was so superficial that in your mind you were… empty. You felt like that shell that looks so perfect on the outside, but inside has so little happiness that it feels empty, tremendously empty.

And so, you tried to look for something to fill that void, and you found that in books. Soon, in your long travels across Runeterra, you found the darkest part in the books.

The Blood Moon summoning rituals were very new, and in fact it was incredibly difficult to get a copy of information about the demons or cultists attacking Runeterra. However, even with everything you had done, it took you a long time to get a copy, and even longer to hide it from your parents and friends.

So, Pyke met you when you summoned him.

It was a funny night, actually.

Fall in love

He was beyond confused, I mean, anyone would be if a singer who is revered as perfect out of nowhere SUMMONS A DEMON.

He asked you what you wanted, and when your response was a measly “I was curious” he was three times as confused, I mean, anyone would be-

You insisted that you were interested in talking to him; You didn't want to make sacrifices or anything, you just needed a friend.

And in part, he felt that you were screwing him, mostly because he was obviously not used to talking to humans but his job was simply to take demons to their next bodies to occupy.

But just as he was about to leave, he noticed the great amount of sacrifices you had made; They were more than necessary.

“Will you summon me again?” he asked.

“As many times as necessary,” you responded.

And he snorted, angry.

And, as the days passed, you invoked him, again and again and again…

And when you invoked him, you only talked about everyday things, you showed that side of yourself that no one had seen.

This is not going to end well…

Beginning of Yanderism

They had a very strange friendship, and obviously it didn't take long until it became routine for him to see you, even going so far as to greet you on several of the occasions when you called on him.

But suddenly, you stopped doing it.

At first he thought you were looking for more sacrifices, and it was normal that he even felt relieved not to have a human calling him every damn week.

But, as the weeks went by, he became intrigued to know what was going on with you. And he decides to go by his will to see you.

He encounters a scenario… very strange.

Chained to a bed, a look of penury on your face… It was obvious that something had happened.

And it didn't take long for him to enter your room, ask, and see that your eyes were practically almost bursting into tears when you saw him.

He, out of curiosity, asked you what happened, why was there a chain? Or why were you so broken that your dark circles were noticeable? And why weren't you smiling anymore?

He got no response, as you just sobbed, the emotions that you had held so tightly to your soul had consumed you to the point that… you weren't the same person.

When he dared to ask what had happened, he only got the most obvious answer; His parents, and the rest of the cult found the book of invocations, and the sacrifices you had used.

You had sacrificed people, their people, you had used people's corpses, their corpses, and you used them as sacrifice, their sacrifices. What kind of monster had you become?

No, they could not allow the representative figure of so many people to be shown as corrupt, committing such heresies. And that's why they locked you up, separated you from the entire world, and tried not to let you out.

And believe me, a person who has had the privilege of interacting with someone like Pyke only means that… those who make him suffer will pay in blood.

And there you have it.

First murder or Yandere act

Eye by eye, tooth by tooth.

He murders those primarily responsible for your confinement, and it is worse if something on the level of physical abuse or worse, sexual level occurs.

Weeks passed until the service returned to normal; new people, new ideas, they even let you choose which places to go and sing!

You don't think there was anyone else involved, do you?

TRUE?

Relationship or kidnapping

The relationship between the two of you became beyond strange; Now you didn't invoke him, it was he who was chasing you. He would show up in your room at unexpected hours, temporarily abandon his “job,” and dedicate himself to making sure that no one, absolutely NO ONE dared to do anything else.

However, you weren't complaining; not because you knew he had done it for your good or your safety, or even if it was because you meant more than just a friend to him. It was because you were afraid of him, very afraid.

You were as touchy as possible, and even on stage, it took a lot of getting used to knowing he was there; observing, always attentive to any movement of yours.

Sooner or later, the bomb is going to explode.

Coexistence

It's horrendously terrifying for you.

Not only in the sense that you were terrified that he would react badly to any of your friends (which it should be noted happens on several occasions), and even if you try to explain it to him, he won't understand it; + He does not understand limits, and he is the focus of fights on this point of coexistence between the two.

Marriage and family

Not to either of them.

In the first because we are literally talking about a DEMON.

And in the second because he simply does not care what your family thinks of him.

In this case, would he adopt?

Nah, I don't think so.

More than the fact that he barely understands what a “friendship” relationship between humans is (and “friendship” take it with a pinch of salt)

Bad ending

Well here comes my favorite part

There comes a point when you can no longer resist what you think; They end up in a very strong fight; You screamed and even sobbed in the middle, you were very terrified and damaged by the “friendship” you had with him. It was painful to know that he had done so many horrendous things for a simple friendship.

Or at least, what you thought was a friendship.

Pyke ends up… walking away from you. You thought that was the end, and that he wasn't going to come back, and that everything was going to go back to “normal.” But, a couple of days later you realized that it was completely the opposite.

He returned to the “temple” that had your cult, but he had gone for a very specific reason;

A demon behind him, looking for a new body to invade, accompanied him.

And when he let the demon go to invade you, the terrifying demon ends up invading your body, corrupting your mind and forcing you to be like him, to be a part of him, to now be someone like him.

That night, the blood flowed, it disappeared as so many people died that your memories are blurred of those you murdered or those you decided to harm until they never came back to life again.

When you came to, you tried to kill Pyke, he had hurt you so much and ruined your life in such a horrendous way that it caused you to be changed forever. And you thought you could make him pay.

However, someone like him couldn't die, and he refused to fight you; He had fulfilled his purpose, and also, he had made sure that you were part of that purpose, so that you would live with him too.

Reasons to be a Yandere:

-Let's agree that he has no other purpose in life other than bringing demons into his body, so many things can happen if he is given something like a friendship.

-Demons have no scruples, they are quite sadistic and cruel, so they do not know that moral line of what is right or wrong.

Extra data

-Deep down, he likes to listen to you sing.

-After the bad ending, he resorts to following you everywhere; Not to make sure he's okay, but to take care of you. He knows how hard it is to be a demon for a newly arrived human!

-You are like his “weak point”, he cannot get angry or fight with you, you are his human, he cannot get angry with the only one who accepted him as a friendship.

-He probably spent DAYS researching which demon to bring to invade your body; either they were too stupid or too gross for you.

#poppa thoughs #yandere #obsessive love #poppa things #yandere male #yandere x you #yandere league of legends #league of legends #yandere headcanons #Pyke #Pyke lol #Yandere Pyke #Blood moon pyke #yandere blood moon #demon #Yandere demon #lol

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bison-appreciation-club · 7 months

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gotta love the tudors and their catchy book titles like

The Principall Navigations, Voiages, and Discoveries of the English Nation: Made by Sea or Over Land to the Most Remote and Farthest Distant Quarters of the Earth at Any Time within the Compasse of These 1500 Years: Divided into Three Several Parts According to the Positions of the Regions Whereunto They Were Directed; the First Containing the Personall Travels of the English unto Indæa, Syria, Arabia ... the Second, Comprehending the Worthy Discoveries of the English Towards the North and Northeast by Sea, as of Lapland ... the Third and Last, Including the English Valiant Attempts in Searching Almost all the Corners of the Vaste and New World of America ... Whereunto is Added the Last Most Renowned English Navigation Round About the Whole Globe of the Earth

short. punchy. catchy. beautiful

#am i making fun of richard hakluyt?#yes. yes i am.#tudor history #dee rambles

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thebeautifulbook · 1 year

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TRAVELS INTO SEVERAL REMOTE NATIONS OF THE WORLD BY LEMUEL GULLIVER by Jonathan Swift (London/New York: Macmillan, 1894) Illustrated by C.E. Brock. Introduction by Henry Craik.

source

#beautiful books #book blog #books books books #book cover #books #illustrated book #vintage books #victorian era #jonathan swift #gulliver’s travels #c.e. brock #lilliput #houyhnhnm #brobdingnag #laputa

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mybeingthere · 1 year

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Yannima Tommy Watson (ca. 1935-2017) was born at Anamarapiti, approximately 40 kilometres west of the small community of Irrunytju (also known as Wingellina) Irrunytju is situated in Western Australia near the tri-state border of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Watson is a Pitjantjatjara man, and his skin group is Karimara. He spent his early childhood and teenage years living with his family, travelling from water hole to water hole, hunting and gathering and learning from his father the practical skills on how to survive on their lands in the arid regions of the Gibson Desert. While growing up he learned to understand the significance of social organization and the spiritual and tribal law teachings of his ancestors. Watson also inherited the knowledge on how to find water and food within their region. However, the fate of Watson and his family and many of the other western desert nomads was sealed with the introduction of assimilation policies. This combined with the severe drought throughout the 1950’s resulted in many of the Pitjantjatjara, Ngaanyatjarra and Pintupi Aborigines moving from their home lands to the administrative centres in Warburton, Ernabella and Papunya. The unfamiliar world of the Government settlements was no place for these free nomadic people who were use to a life of unlimited travel, they became disoriented and more than half of the population of these new communities died. Most never adjusted and eventually in the 1970’s and early 1980’s returned to their traditional homelands.

In 2001 Watson was one of the founding artists of the Irrunytju art centre. His work is rich in the knowledge of the topographical landforms of his country and the Tjukurrpa law that underlies it. He paints the stories of his mothers and grandfather’s country recording the sacred dreamtime stories intuitively using large vibrant colourful dots of pinks, burgundy, orange and reds to symbolically represent the dreamtime journeys of the ancient spirits and the significant episodes in the history of his tribe.

“My grandfather’s country, grandmother’s country. When they were alive, they would take me around the country, when I was a kid. That’s why we look after country, go out whenever we can. See if the rock holes are good”

His most important dreamtime stories are the Great Flood Dreaming, a story of the melting ice that flooded the lands north of the Great Australian Bight. Another story tells of the Pangkalangku, tall man eaters from the north east and his other stories tell of the tribal conflicts between the Pitjantjatjarra and the Yankunyatjarra.

As a young man Watson became a stockman at Mount Ebenezer, and then travelled to Yuendumu where he gained a reputation as an exceptional horseman. He is now a tribal elder and law man and frequently travels widely across the Pitjantjatjara lands to fulfil his traditional obligations. Today he divides his time between the remote community of Warakurna on the edge of the Great Victorian Desert and Alice Springs where he has a house and painting studio. He is widely recognised nationally and internationally and his work is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Western Australian Art Gallery, Perth, South Australian Art Gallery, Adelaide and in many important private collections .He was commissioned in 2005 to produce artwork to be permanently installed in the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, France, which opened in 2006. The painting Wipu rockhole (2006) was enlarged and reproduced on stainless steel tiles which adorn a ceiling within the museum.

Ken McGregorhttps://www.metrogallery.com.au/artist-tommy-watson

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ladylooch · 9 months

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Letters in Your Last Name- Chapter 11

A/N: So the next several chapters center in the COVID universe. A fun dynamic of Kevin has to leave and Sam has to stay. Our lil babes are gonna go through it a lil bit now 🥺

Word Count: 4.6k

Warnings: COVID talk, swearing, angsty

NHL suspends season indefinitely as coronavirus outbreak continues.

The air in the apartment is almost giddy despite the unknown of what is to come of the 2019-2020 NHL season. With the Coronavirus beginning to grip the world more fiercely, all large events in the United States have come to a screaming halt, seemingly overnight. As disappointing as it is for obvious reasons, it is even more so for the Wild specifically as they were really beginning to turn their season around. The last game against the Ducks in Anaheim was a dynamic game for Kevin with two power play goals to lead the team to their latest, and maybe last, win of the season. For now, players, and their families, have no choice but to wait in limbo to see what the next steps will be.

Now with all that, why are we giddy? Because since October, we haven’t spent more than 7 consecutive days together. Therefore, the idea of getting extra, almost borrowed time, has us both on a comfortable high. Kevin and I are having a lazy day, a rarity during the late season that we are taking advantage of now. We already ate a delicious dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup. Now we are catching up on a few Netflix releases we have missed in the last few weeks. To All The Boys Part 2 is playing on our living room TV. My hand loosely fingers the strands of Kevin’s hair. I can tell he is drifting in and out of sleep on my lap.

The shrill sound of his phone ringing jolts both Kevin and I from our relaxed positions. He reaches for it on the coffee table, flipping the screen. We both see the picture of him and his mother. He clears his throat and rubs the sleep from his eyes.

“Ahoj?” Kevin answers in Czech. I can hear the rushed sound of talking over the other end and furrow my brows inquisitively. Kevin stands and walks out of the room to our bedroom, listening intently. When he returns a few minutes later, he is off the phone and has a worried expression. “The U.S. is banning air traffic to and from Europe on Friday.”

“What? No way… that can’t be true.” I say, becoming alert. How has this already escalated to a point where we would essentially shut down commerce and travel between continents? Fear grips my throat at the look on Kevin’s face.

“My mother just told me.” He motions to his phone. He reaches for the remote for the TV and flips to one of the national news programs. There, the President is confirming what Kevin’s mom told him just now. A travel ban will begin on Friday. All non-US citizens are restricted from entering the United States if they are coming from 26 different European countries- including Switzerland and Sweden. For now it seems, Kevin would be able to return to Europe from the United States. How long that will last is unknown at this time.

Kevin and I grow dead silent as we watch the press conference play out on NBC.

“Does this mean you need to go?” I wonder what we are both thinking out loud.

“I… Don’t know…” He trails off. I faintly hear a sound and I know it’s the fictitious noise of our bubble of bliss giving way to the cold, dreadful reality of a global pandemic.

“Kev, I’m getting nervous.” I admit to him. He reaches for me and pulls me across the couch, into his chest.

“Me too.” He whispers against my head. “I’ll call around tomorrow and figure out what I should do.” He assures me. I know his words are meant to soothe me, but they don’t. Instead, the lump of fear in my chest expands until I feel like I’m suffocating.

The next day, I sit quietly at the island in the kitchen as Kevin makes his calls. The kitchen is filled with smells of soup simmering in the crock pot and my latest bath and body works candle burns in the center of the counter. It feels like any other, winter day, but it isn’t. His first call is to Andy Heydt, Director of Hockey Operations for the Wild. Andy is still unsure of the exact direction the NHL is advising for players, but he promises to follow up with Kevin once he hears more. The next call is to his agent, who echos the same thing to Kevin- they still don’t know what to advise players to do at this time. The next few calls are to his parents, a few friends in Sweden including his trainer, Andreas. Life seems to be going on normally in Sweden despite the news from across the pond.

“This seems to be a lot of hurry up and wait.” Kevin shrugs as he tosses his phone down and sits next to me. He reaches for a piece of granola from the bowl in front of me and crunches on it. “I can’t really do anything until the NHL decides what we can do.”

“Well, they have already suspended the season, so it’s highly likely they would support players returning home.”

“Yeah, it’s just tough because we don’t know how long that will be. A few weeks, a month? No one knows at this point and if they let us leave, we likely won’t be able to return until the travel ban is lifted.”

“What a mess.” I murmur, grabbing a cluster of granola. I bring it to my lips, but can’t stand the idea of eating anything else while my stomach summersaults inside of me. I drop it back into my bowl and push the rest to Kevin. “If you can go, do you think you will?”

“I’m not sure. Honestly, I might have to with my VISA. If the league isn’t running, that means I’m not authorized to be here longer than 90 days. This shutdown could be longer than that.” Kevin explains to me, letting out a frustrated sigh. “At least we can spend some time together.” I nod in agreement. Yet, I can’t help but reflect on how long we will have.

Kevin and I pass the time snuggling on the couch under a large blanket, watching HGTV. I’m a sucker for Love it or List it even though the entire show seems staged and fake. At least it is a distraction from the heaviness of what is happening in the world right now. Kevin has fallen into a brief cat nap when his phone begins to buzz again. He puts it on speaker as Andy’s voice rings out.

“Hi guys. I just got word from the NHL & NHLPA that they are making moves to allow for players to return home. An announcement will likely be coming in the next few hours. Because of VISA expirations, the NHLPA is recommending all Non-U.S. Citizens return home. Kevin, at this time you are required to return to Sweden and self-quarantine for now. Start looking for tickets for the first flight you can find. They’re going fast. If you need help, let me know and we can get our office on it as well. The NHL & NHLPA will be meeting again in the next few weeks to decide on additional next steps for resuming the season. There is optimist talk for that to begin at the end of this month, but the likelihood of that is looking slimmer by the hour.”

“Okay.” Kevin confirms. I don’t look at him while he wraps up the conversation.

“Be safe, Kevin.” Andy ends the call with a click, off to call the other international players on the Wild.

“I guess I’m going.” Kevin whispers, pulling me into his lap. He buries his face into my body and I hold him close. I don’t want him to go. I am so afraid that he can’t stay with me. The idea of no set date of a return for the league, and therefore Kevin, makes my stomach twist into an uncomfortable knot. The way this seems to be coming together- the talk of visa expirations and leaving despite a travel ban- the league is preparing for an extended break. Kevin lifts his face and looks into my eyes. A pained expression flashes across when he takes in my tears. Now that they have started, I can’t stop them.

“I know.” He tells me, pulling me forward and resting his cheek against mine. “I’m sorry.” I nod and a hiccup sob escapes my lips. “It will be okay.” He assures me. We both know he can’t guarantee that, but it eases a bit of the pressure in my body to know he believes it.

The rest of the day is awful. Kevin begins to make his arrangements to leave and soon we can’t hide from the truth. He leaves tomorrow for Sweden on a one-way ticket. Kevin releases a heavy sign when his purchase is confirmed and flips his phone to the other side of the couch. He looks at me, but I can’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I know I should at least be pretending to be supportive in this, but it’s difficult. There is so much unknown in this world. It’s scary, yet I felt like if we were together, we could make it through. Now he is leaving and the loneliness is hovering. I can feel it descending on me like a despondent shadow trying to steal my joy.

The crockpot beeps in the kitchen signaling the Chicken Wild Rice soup is done. We both glance in that direction before our eyes meet in a loaded look. I feel tears stinging my eyes and I have to look away. I don’t want to cry again. I want to be strong for now and then completely fall apart after he leaves tomorrow.

Kevin stands and slowly walks over to the windows, looking out at the Minnesota skyline. The sun has set and the city lights twinkle in the cold winter night. I know we are both thinking similar things. This morning when the sun rose, everything was okay. Different, but okay. Now, when the sun rises tomorrow, Kevin will leave for an undetermined amount of time. I swallow the lump in my throat and slowly rise to finish the soup. I stir in the heavy cream and spoon us both up a small bowl, handing Kevin his at the window. He turns to me, grabbing it from my hands and pulling me into his arms.

“Sam, I don’t want to go. I need you to know that…” He trails off, whispering into my hair. All I can do is nod my head in acknowledgement.

“This is going to be really hard.” I whisper to him. I’m afraid if I talk any louder, my voice will break.

“I know, baby.” Kevin rests his mouth on the top of my head. We stay like that for minutes- until the soup is cold and the show ends and the sadness has begun to suffocate us. I pull away first to look into his beautiful face.

“I love you.” I say simply. It won’t fix anything or change this pandemic, but at least we have that.

“I love you too.” He responds. I grab his soup bowl from the table and walk back into the kitchen. I set the bowl down on the counter and frown at all the soup in the crockpot. The last thing I’m interested in right now is eating. The only thing I feel right now is nothing at all. I’ve evidently gone numb in the last hour.

“Baby.” Kevin calls to me from the hallway. “Let’s go to bed.” He holds his hand out for me and I take it, following him slowly down to our room. But I don’t want to go to bed. I don’t want to fall asleep and wake up knowing he will be gone in a matter of hours. Kevin throws the comforter back on our bed and pulls me into him. He settles me deep into his chest and holds on tightly. No wandering hands. No sexy smooches. Just the deep intimacy of holding one another close.

“Maybe it won’t be that long.” Kevin murmurs to me. I shake my head no. My heart can’t take the speculation of the what ifs tonight. I tilt my face up to look at him, wanting to memorize every bit of this moment together. “Even when I leave tomorrow, a part of me is staying here with you.” He tells me, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear and holding my face in his hand. I close my eyes and lean into his touch. His thumb brushes against my lips before I feel him kiss me. It’s emotional-filled with pain, sorrow, and a deep love that leaves me aching. His hands pull me in tighter and I lace my hands behind his head.

I don’t know how I will possibly let him go tomorrow.

_ _ _

“Alright. I think that’s it.” Kevin says as he grabs the final suitcase from my SUV. He sets it on the ground and closes my trunk. Between the multiple suitcases and all of his hockey equipment, he has the luggage cart overflowing. I can’t imagine how much that all costs to fly across the ocean.

“Do you need help?” I ask him, fidgeting with my keys.

“No, I got it.” He assures me, sliding each of his arms into his backpack. “Come here.” He demands, tugging me into his chest and squeezing me tightly. We stay like that for several moments. I realize that I’m crying and I don’t even care. What is the point in being strong now? This entire week, this entire virus, has been exhausting, terrifying, and at times, heartbreaking. I want to go back to yesterday morning. The blissful, ignorance of it all was reassuring and safe.

“I don’t want to let go.” Kevin whispers to me. I just shake my head in response; there are no words left to say.

His hand rubs comfortingly up and down my back through my winter jacket. I blink rapidly as I pull away, rubbing the sleeves of my sweatshirt under my eyes. Kevin’s arms stay around me as he looks down into my face.

“I don’t know what to say to make this less hard.” He admits to me. “All I know is that I miss you so much and I’m not even gone.”

“Kev, we can’t change this. Just be safe.” I mumble to him, standing on my toes and bringing our lips together. He immediately opens his lips and his tongue finds my mouth. The kiss is passionate and painful. I never want it to end. His hands pull me tighter to him. I grip his jacket firmly, trying to stay as close and held by him as possible.

“I love you.” I tell him earnestly when we pull apart.

“I love you too.” He repeats to me. The sadness on his features breaks my heart all over again. “Be safe, okay?” I nod my head as my bottom lip quivers again.

With all my remaining resolve, I step from his arms completely. Kevin stays there for a moment, just looking at me. I’ve never seen his face so sullen, his eyes so desperate and his demeanor so damn sad.

“Kev… just go.” I encourage him, knowing it’s what he needs to hear. A final, dark expression crosses his face but he nods in response.

“Bye.”

“Bye. Have a safe flight.” I watch as he puts his mask on. I swallow hard, determined to keep it somewhat together until he has disappeared into the airport.

“I’ll call you when I get there.” He tells me as he puts his hands on the cart. It takes all my will power to not step towards him and beg for him to hold me just a few moments longer. Instead I look at his shoes, because if I look at his face, I’ll be done.

“Okay.” I whisper to him. When I lift my eyes to his, I’m right. I’m done. Tears fall from my eyes in a steady stream. Kevin’s eyes are getting glassy and he’s trying hard not to let his tears fall. He reaches for me and I rush into his arms one final time. My tears soak into the shoulder of his jacket. When we release each other again, we know it has to be the last time.

With a final longing look, he turns and pushes the cart towards the door. I watch his retreating back, eating up every second that I can get of him. When he disappears through the door, a strangled sob escapes my lips. God damn it. Leaving him at this airport might just kill me. I suck in a breath of air and it immediately comes out as another sob. I press my hand to my lips and turn, jumping into my SUV and resting my head on the steering wheel. I don’t care that I’m sitting in a space someone else could use. I don’t care that security is walking along the sidewalk encouraging people to keep moving. I can’t think of anything beyond the deep, aching pain in my chest.

This is not how it’s supposed to be.

_ _ _

In July, the ringing of a FaceTime call pulls me away from my intense concentration of coloring in my adult coloring book. Entertainment is tough to come by when most of the city is shut down still due to COVID. Living in downtown was warm and homey prior to COVID. Now, it’s just cold and industrial without people around. I miss the constant stream of cars and noise. In April, I had to buy a white noise machine just to be able to get to sleep every night.

I reach for my phone, smiling when I see Kevin’s face.

“Hi!” I say excitedly, “Tell me you have good news!”

There have been rumblings in the hockey and media circles that the NHL is close to resuming. It’s been almost five months since the NHL season was paused. It’s been over 100 days since I’ve seen Kevin. To say it’s been difficult would be an understatement. What feels more difficult is that Kevin is able to live relatively normal in Sweden, while we have been under various mandates and lock downs to mitigate the spread of this virus. When Kevin first returned, he was cautious. He spent most of his time in his apartment or training at the local arena. However, as the months have dragged on, he’s gotten pretty loose. Part of me worries for him and the other part of me is insanely jealous.

“Relatively good.” He confirms. “I’ll be back soon!”

“Yay!” I yell, kicking my legs in excitement.

“And then I’ll be leaving for Canada in three weeks.”

“What? No.” The smile drops from my face. “The league is doing the bubble?” I groan, throwing myself back down onto the couch.

“Yeah.” He sighs deeply. “Sorry, babe. But at least we will have some time together.” I watch as Kevin walks out of the arena and into the bright sunlight. Sweden looks gorgeous today. Kevin waves to someone out of the camera view, then looks back down at his phone. “I’m heading back to my place to look at flights. I can let you know what a few of the options are to see what works best?”

“Whatever gets you to me the fastest and soonest.” I say to him. He grins in response, nodding. “I miss you so much, Kev. I’m so excited to see you!”

“Me too, baby. What are you up to?”

“Coloring.” I show him my coloring book. It’s a black and white page filled with different types of flowers. In the middle in loopy calligraphy are the words eat a bag of dicks. “For Alex.” I wink at Kevin who bursts out laughing.

“I want to be there when you give that to him.”

“You better get here soon then. I think I’m going to frame it and give it to him for his birthday next week.” I giggle wickedly at that. “Speaking of birthdays, what are you doing for yours tomorrow?” I wonder, tossing my art project to the side and focusing in on him.

“Andreas is taking me to a good pizza place here.” He mentions his off-season coach as he settles into the driver seat of his car. “I wish you were here though.” He gives me a small, sad tilt of his lips.

“Stupid COVID.” I pout at him. “I hope someone gets you a princess cake!”

“I actually got myself one already.” He admits somewhat sheepishly. “I’ve been dying for a piece all day but forced myself to wait until after training.”

“Cake for breakfast is definitely a birthday tradition for you.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him. We both grin as we remember his birthday last year in Sweden. Frosting everywhere, his sheets being ruined and us not caring at all.

“Just doesn’t taste as good without you though.” He beams at me.

We chat a little bit longer as Kevin drives back to his place. Eventually, we end the call as Kevin gets ready to hop into the shower. He has a meeting with a company for a potential sponsorship opportunity. It’s an athletic, energy drink that we do not have in the United States. He says he will bring some back for me to try.

Once our call ends, I busy myself with completing Alex’s picture. I search around various websites for a frame, finding one on Amazon that can be delivered tomorrow. Satisfied with my purchase, I begin the chores I’ve been putting off for the last few days, including laundry, dishes, and cleaning the bathroom. Once I’ve accomplished those, I turn my attention to dinner. I found a soup recipe on Pinterest that seems light enough for summer. Even though the summer heat in Minnesota feels oppressive at times, there is something about soup that comforts me. I could use some of that as I wait out the last few weeks before Kevin arrives. I ponder when he may be back. Hopefully it’s within the next week or so. It’s hard to know what options are available with how limited the flight choices are these days.

My phone jingles as I’m cutting up the onion for my soup. I glance down, seeing it’s the front desk of our building. I click the green button and shove my phone between my cheek and shoulder so I can continue working on dinner.

“Hi Dave.” I answer. We have a few people who work the front desk here, but I know it's Dave today. With limited interaction with the outside world, I've gotten to know the front desk people and their schedules well. Dave is my favorite though. He's in his second career after retiring from the Postal Service at an early age.

“Hi Sam, you have a food delivery here.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t order anything. Does it say from where?” I ask adjusting the phone from my shoulder to my hand.

“Not sure. It’s just a white bag.”

“Okay, I’ll be down in a second.”

I end the call as I’m stuffing my feet into my sandals. I grab my keys from the bowl, trying not to frown at the sight of Kevin’s keys. Soon. He will be home soon. I take the elevator to the lobby. Dave is waiting for me outside the elevator and hands me the white bag.

“I figured I’d save you a few steps.” He smiles kindly at me.

“Thanks, Dave. Are you heading home soon?”

“I am, but I’ll be back tomorrow- same time and place.”

“Well, I’ll stop by with some soup. I’m trying a new recipe tonight.”

“I’d like that. Goodnight, Sam.”

I wave goodbye and hit the 15th floor again before peering into the bag. I can see a gold, Wuollet’s Bakery sticker on the white box along with a red ribbon securing the sides. It’s sizable and heavy, but I’m unsure what is in it or who it could be from. When I enter the apartment, I set the bag on the counter and carefully lift the box out of the bag. Beneath the box is a white card with my name on it. I open the envelope and flip the card over to read the message.

Save some for when I’m home on Friday. I love you!- Kevin

My stomach drops to my knees and I let out an excited squeal. I carefully undo the ribbon from the box and open the top to reveal a Princess Torte. Although not completely the same, it’s very similar to what Kevin will be having tomorrow for his birthday. I glance at the time, seeing it is after midnight in Sweden, meaning it’s officially his birthday. I grab my phone and click on his name to begin the FaceTime call. Kevin picks up after one ring.

“Hi birthday boy.” I murmur to him through my large grin. He cheeses back to me in his dark apartment.

“Hi beautiful.” He tells me as he sits up, pausing the show he is watching.

“It’s your birthday, but I’m getting cake?” I ask him, flipping the camera so he can see the cake.

“Well, it is technically for both of us.” He insists, his smile somehow grows larger.

“You’re really coming back that soon?”

“Yep!”

“Baby…” I trail off, looking back at the princess cake.

“Friday.” He confirms to me.

“Two more sleeps.” I respond.

“I have to quarantine…” He reminds me.

“Shush. Don’t ruin it.” I tell him, grabbing a knife to cut into the cake.

“Okay.” He laughs. “Hey, that’s a big piece.” He scolds me jokingly, watching me cut into the green fondant. “At this rate, you’re going to eat it all without me.”

“Oh my god, Kevin. You like this cake more than me.” I tisk at him, turning the camera so it’s back on me.

“Eh.. It’s good, but not that good.”

“Uh huh.“ I roll my eyes at him while savoring the bite of sugary goodness.

“It’s really doing something for me watching you suck on that fork.” Just to tease him, I flick my tongue up the fork and giggle. “You’re gonna have to pay for teasing me like this.”

“Looking forward to it.” I tell him, running my tongue along my lips tantalizingly slow. I watch him gulp before I take another slow bite of the cake.

“Damn.” He mutters to me, blowing out a quick breath. “I can’t wait to kiss that mouth.”

I take a sip of my water from my Yeti and laugh lightly. When I return my gaze to him, he’s watching me through sleepy eyes.

“You should go to sleep. Just because it’s your birthday doesn’t mean you get a day off from training.” I tease him. Kevin yawns and rubs a hand over his face.

“That’s true. If anything, I’m probably going to get my ass kicked.”

“That’s how you know Andreas cares.” I give him a sweet smile, pushing the cake away to lean against the counter. “I’ll see you soon though.”

“So soon.” He whispers back to me. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay. I love you. Happy birthday, babe.”

“Thank you. Love you.” He smiles before I end the call.

My heart swells as I glance at the clock.

Only 48 more hours of living in different countries.

But who’s counting?

#letters in your last name au #kevin fiala #Kevin Fiala Fic #los angeles kings #my writing #hockey fan fiction #hockey writing #NHL writing

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bleachbleachbleach · 1 year

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Hello, I've been hooked up with Bleach since 2008 but still there are things that don't sit well with me. I hope your thought would bring me into the light lol. Like.. Didn't Masaki stay in Soul Society? I mean, is Ichigo able to meet her somewhere in SS since he now could easily travel between two worlds. Same question with, can Orihime meet Sora? Chad meet Abuelo? Uryuu meet his mommy, etc etc. Do you thonk Gotei 13 have the updated data of each residence of Soul Society? When I think it over, I hope it's not that easy for them to meet their late relatives since it wouldn't be special to be seperated by death 😅 Waiting for your amazing explanation! Thanks

As far as how the nature of souls and memory and the slippage between worlds works, I feel like canonically, different characters have offered several different explanations, which is a multiplicity I appreciate. But as to why people aren't meeting up, we get one fairly straightforward explanation:

[Bleach 076]

(Lol that woman doing her hair while standing in line. An icon)

That is, why don't people meet up with their dead loved ones in Soul Society? Because it's statistically hideously unlikely and logistically a nightmare. People are punted off all over the place and there's some implication that memories fade over time, though at what rate and for what reason may not have rhyme nor reason.

But I think that explanation also invites two additional interesting questions:

If each soul is numbered, why can't these numbers be used to locate souls?

Why wouldn't you expect reunions in an afterlife?

Ways of Knowing

You'd think that naming and numbering districts and giving souls numbers would suggest that there's some kind of great ledger of souls that the Gotei keeps and they know where everyone is. We know that the Gotei has enough Rukongai census data to know when fucktons of souls suddenly go missing, after all. But we also know that they don't know what number goes to which soul and which souls are where; if they did Byakuya probably could've reunited his dying wife with her baby sister, even if it were still logistically a nightmare to do so. What are logistics in the face of limitless money?

And I mean, most people living in the United States have a social security number. But even though there's a billion more ways that number comes into play when you're trying to live in the US than your soul ticket number is likely to bear on your Rukongai life--taxes, mandatory K-12, digital footprints, bills, etc.--it's still hard to keep track of people. And I say this living in a very modern, surveillance-state era. At 331 million-ish, does the US have more or fewer people living in it than Rukongai, making it easier or more difficult to keep track of them all? Who knows.

To use an example that's dealing with a smaller number of people--and therefore, one might think, a more manageable dataset--during World War II, the US forcibly removed and incarcerated Japanese Americans at 10 incarceration camps and a number of DOJ prison camps. Every Japanese American family was given a number and sent off to X or Y camp. Despite the fact that this is recent history, was a literal federal operation, and concerned a population of 125,000 (much smaller than 331 million, and much smaller than the number of souls in Rukongai), and multiple call numbers for related documents housed at the National Archives, there is no complete, official record of who was incarcerated where, when, or for how long. Only this year is any of that narrative-through-information beginning to take shape, and notably not through the labor of the federal government.

So do I think Soul Society has complete, updated, or remotely useable records of all the souls in Rukongai? Hell no. No, I do not! Just thinking about how straightforward such a task seems on paper in our world and how utterly apart it is in practice, it doesn't surprise me at all that there aren't records for these things, nor assumptions that locating lost family members would be possible. And that's just the practical aspect of it.

Ways of Being

One thing that separates the historical example I used from whatever it is Soul Society is doing is, if a federal government is going to forcibly remove and incarcerate people, they better not lose (or never create) the damn receipts. To do otherwise is a failing atop a failing.

By contrast, at the thematic and/or spiritual level, I think it's understood--it is an existential belief--that Soul Society/Rukongai is not a place of reunion. It is a place of passage and of wandering, and to arrive in Soul Society is usually not helped along by shinigami. Konsou, the tickets, the numbered districts--those are all accoutrements that now exist, they are things that created Soul Society, but they are not this afterlife. This afterlife was not a place of reunion before it was any of those things, and is remains one even after their creation.

I think it's possible to trigger a kernel panic if your soul was briefly housed by a bird and some very-much-alive guy wandered into the afterlife through a secret trapdoor, and then you get to reunite. But I think it's not necessarily something you come into the situation seeking.

Souls get stuck in the Living World because they snare on this or that element of what was once their life, so I think it makes sense that in Soul Society, those same holds are not part of what it means to be or feel as a soul in Rukongai (particularly as memories fade, but not necessarily because memories fade).

And to return to the practical, I think the churn of souls is unpredictable enough to help the mindset that Rukongai is not a place of reunion. Your soul could be in Rukongai for three days before you die and return to new form in the Living World. You could be there for centuries. If you were to enter Soul Society with the expectation of finding one specific soul, you could spend a frenzied, obsessive lifetime searching for a soul that has already lived seven different cycles, back and forth between the realms, further and further away from you, without you.

And then who's the hungry ghost?

For further reading, @unohanadaydreams has some awesome recent posts on the Rukongai Ticket Fiasco here and here!

#god i can't stop thinking about ponytail soul now #LOVE HER #thank you for the ask!#asks #no brain just bleach #rukongai #shinigamiology #bleach headcanons #bleach meta

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mimigamasked · 1 year

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A Word on Wet-Woods, & A Brief on Brittle-Branches

Written by Hrisk Qwolompin Grϋes, 218th Minister of Diplomacy

The establishment of the Galactic Union has been to permit interstellar species to interact through peace without threats of interplanetary wars. However, while there exist several planets capable of supporting life within our very Galaxy, not all of them may produce acceptable species

Wet-Wood Civilization: A term coined by the Galactic Union based on the old Qekochi phrase, “a wet wood sparks no flame.” The point of the phrase is that it is pointless to attempt to help others if they won’t or can’t support themselves.

The usage of the term is that for as many species that can exist and become sapient, just as many that do are unlikely to prosper given their circumstances. This predominantly refers to fully-aquatic species as they would most likely lack reasonable means to achieve space travel, such as support structures, manipulatory appendages, capability to survive extended time-periods outside of water, and respiration.

Brittle Branch: A term coined by the Galactic Union based on the old Tekeker phrase, “a brittle branch is ally to none.” The term referred to individuals that pose an active threat or greater net negative consequence to any group.

The term sees use to refer to species that, while indeed do possess the potential or meet the criteria to join the Union, are prohibited in some fashion or other due to varying causes. This could be due to violence-feuled cultures, cruelty inherent to species, capability to negatively impact long-term projects, or issues of similar root (It should be noted that religious sacrifice is not the same as wanton violence, but morally, it is a major gray area). As such, measures are put into place to prevent these species from exiting their solar systems until major cultural overhauls or specific extinction or succession.

Thus leads to a special examination for every species that displays sapience or intelligent traits. Through a set time-limit depending on yearly orbit of the native planet, as can be read under Article 346, Section 5 of the Halberd Pact, members of the GU are prohibited from interacting with any species whatsoever on these planets to minimize risk of influence over native culture. The test is designed to observe the civilization’s sustainability, progress, and predispositions. To aid in monitoring, remote observatory satellites, such as “Halley” (as dubbed by Terras Humans), will remain in orbit around the solar system to regularly gather information over long enough intervals to determine the current state of progress within the world.

The common time-period is typically 36 of that planet’s millenia, adjusted as necessary depending on distance to native star and emergence of new sapient life. Upon success, ambassadors will be sent to greet the successful species and establish embassies in certain territories, permitting they are not attacked en route such as with initial contact with the Terras nation “United States of America.”

It is likewise that treatment of the world determines the granting of terraforming permits.

#Galactic Union #humans are space orcs #microfiction #space #diplomacy

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oregano-writes · 2 years

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Tartaglia's 5-Step Plan for Wooing Morax- Prologue

Next Chapter

Snezhnaya was cold. Far colder than any of the other six nations, and Tartaglia would know, seeing as he traveled the world for his work. However, no matter how cold the wilderness could get in the winter, it didn’t compare to Zapolyarny Palace. When he had first joined the Fatui, Tartaglia had assumed it was for intimidation, or to make foreign diplomats uncomfortable. However, as he got to know the Tsaritsa personally, he made the (not all too surprising) discovery that it was actually just because the Tsaritsa enjoyed the cold. Which, yeah, that made sense, seeing as she was the Cryo Archon.

Which was why Tartaglia could tell something was different when he entered the palace and didn’t immediately feel like he had plunged into the ocean. He tried asking around if anyone had seen anything strange that would explain the unusually high temperature.

“What’s going on with the heat?” he asked one of the servants- a short woman with brown braided hair that frizzed over part of her mask.

“The Tsaritsa had a visitor from Liyue,” she replied, fiddling with the hem of her coat. “The palace has been cooling down since he left.”

Tartaglia nodded, wished her a good day, and retreated to his office. He had never been fond of his office, as even with the furniture he recently had brought in from Morepesok, it never felt like home, and he couldn’t help but associate it with paperwork, underlings who wouldn’t meet his eyes, and taking long detours to avoid his fellow Harbingers in the hallways. La Signora and Scaramouche had been the only ones he even remotely got along with, but with them both gone, he didn’t have any excuse to avoid the others, and had to spend time with them instead. Originally, he hadn’t minded Dottore, but after a few not-quite-joking comments about wanting to dissect him, he had decided that the best course of action would be to stay as far away from him as possible.

He had just gotten started on the mountain of paperwork La Signora had left him to finish after her escapades in Mondstadt (He had gotten stuck with her paperwork after losing an ill-advised bet that he would rather not talk about) when he heard a knock on his door.

“Coming!” he called out, shuffling the papers into something vaguely resembling a neat stack. However, when he opened the door, he was not greeted by a nervous recruit or faux-confident agent, but by the Tsaritsa, in all her sparkling, murderous glory. Even after traversing half the palace (much farther than she regularly traveled, seeing as she liked the quiet and had servants to run errands for her) her silvery hair remained up without a single strand out of place. Tartaglia assumed it was archon magic, although he had never asked.

“Do you, uh, need anything?” Tartaglia asked, doing his best to seem like he had expected her, instead of being startled out of his boots.

The Tsaritsa looked down at his shoes for a second before shaking her head, her jewelry clinking slightly. “No.” She was often brief and vague, but most of the Harbingers and those who worked with her often had accepted that she wasn’t one for explaining herself, and never would be, no matter how many headaches it caused them.

“Alright then,” Tartaglia replied with his best sunny there-is-nothing-wrong-just-a-normal-day-at-the-office smile.

The Tsaritsa nodded, and shut the door, leaving Tartaglia bewildered and mildly unsettled. He stood there for a moment, before turning around to go continue his work.

What on Teyvat was that about?

──────── ✧ ────────

A few days passed without incident, before Tartaglia was called to the throne room to have an audience with the Tsaritsa.

Targaglia was confused, as he didn’t think he had done anything wrong, but growing up in the military had undoubtedly warped his idea of misbehavior, as several unfortunate incidents earlier in his career had proven.

Most people’s first impressions of the throne room were underwhelming. Other than the singular chair and platform in the center, and the one-way windows surrounding the room, the room was relatively barren. However, the factor that most people forgot about when seeing the throne room for the first time was the Tsaritsa herself, who easily made up for any deficit in intimidation the room suffered from. Her hair was pinned up severely, and even though the throne room was the coldest room in the palace, the only even remotely temperature-appropriate piece of clothing she wore was the pearly mink fur boa around her neck.

Tartaglia kneeled to the floor, the cold floor biting into his skin. “Your Majesty, you wanted to see me?”

The Tsaritsa nodded. “I had a meeting with Morax recently, who, as you know, is the next Archon whose Gnosis we are trying to acquire.”

Tartaglia nodded- this was all information he had gone over already. “What do you need me to do?”

The Tsaritsa sighed. “He refused to hand over the Gnosis, and is proving to be a barrier to us achieving our goals. This has led me to look into alternative methods of acquiring it.”

“You want me to fight the oldest Archon? I apologize, Your Majesty, but if this is the current plan, I would suggest a different approach.”

The Tsaritsa chuckled to herself. “My child, do you think I have not considered that? No, you will not be fighting him. You’re being sent out to Liyue to befriend him.”

──────── ✧ ────────

Tartaglia was sent to gather his things and board the first boat to Liyue. He had not taken too long, as he mostly kept paperwork in his office at Zapolyarny, with all his personal belongings either with him at all times (like his scarf, the only thing he had been able to take with him when he joined the Fatui) or was left at his family home in Morepesok for safekeeping. That left a few changes of clothes, a spare mask, and a few assorted office supplies for him to pack.

Before he left the palace, he was stopped by an agent with a letter.

“Lord Tartaglia! I have an urgent message for you, from the Tsaritsa!” The agent handed him the letter. “You aren’t supposed to open it until you have privacy.”

Tartaglia nodded. “Thank you.” He looked at the note curiously, turning it around to look for any clues as to the contents. Seeing nothing of interest, he stashed it in his back pocket, grabbed his bag, and made his way to the boat.

On the boat, there were a few main rooms- the Captain’s quarters, the mess hall, the sailor’s barracks, and a few guest rooms.

The first room seemed like the one meant for a Harbinger, with no windows, a large map on the wall, and a desk set up with pens, ink and paper. It seemed nice enough, but Tartaglia wasn’t too fond of the idea of staying in the dark with only paperwork to keep him company. He understood the safety concerns over being seen from outside the ship, but they would spend most of the trip in the middle of nowhere, and it wasn’t like he had anything particularly valuable on hand.

The next guest room seemed much more comfortable, with a thick quilt on the bed, a small bookshelf, and a wide window partly submerged in the water, as well as various wooden storage components.

Tartaglia chose the room with the view of the water, and placed his things on the bed. He then locked the door, pulled the shade over the window, and lit the lantern to read the letter.

Mission Description for the Eleventh Harbinger, it said on the top in bold letters.

Tartaglia scanned over the letter, looking for anything that stood out as important. There were a few paragraphs of logistics he could read through later, noting that the Tsaritsa had included a new codename.

“Childe?” he read, incredulous. I know that they all think of me like a kid, but really, could they not have chosen something at least slightly more dignified? He sighed, before noticing a group of photographs left in the envelope.

He read the writing on the back first. Morax spotted in Yujing Terrace, Two days ago. He flipped the paper over, only to be greeted with a photo with the most beautiful man he had ever seen.

Ah, he thought eloquently. He’s hot.

He quickly checked the two other photos, and upon seeing that they were also of Morax, quickly put all three back in the envelope.

Nope, don’t need those. Drooling over the archon I’m supposed to be setting up an attack on is definitely a bad idea. Nevermind that in a few days I’m going to have to spend time with him for work.

Tartaglia- or, rather, Childe (he would need to get used to the new alias) decided to put away the letter and photos to put together his room first. He opened up the wardrobe, and sorted through his spare clothes. After getting that sorted, he placed his remaining luggage in one of the cabinets, before picking up the letter again. He left the photos in the envelope, and read out the letter more carefully. After finishing, it turned out that his mission objectives were to gather information on Morax (or Rex Lapis, the respectful title that he would have to use while in Liyue), which he had expected, and more surprisingly, to run the Northland Bank and to work on the Fatui’s reputation in Liyue.

I guess if Pantalone is busy elsewhere, it would make sense to put someone in the bank. But why me? Surely one of the less homicidal Harbingers would be better for the job, and would get along better with Rex Lapis? I know he’s the God of War and all, but I assume that means he wouldn’t have any qualms with murdering a foreign diplomat.

As Childe looked more carefully through the letter, that one question kept popping up with no clear explanation- Why me?

#zhongchi #tartali #genshin fanfic #fanfic #genshin #oregano's fics #tartaglia's 5 step plan

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streetsofdublin · 4 months

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GULLIVER MURAL BY MEAGHAN QUINN REF-226406-1

It is Swift's best-known full-length work and a classic of English literature. Swift claimed that he wrote Gulliver's Travels "to vex the world rather than divert it".

AT THE OLD MART ON SUMMERHILL ROAD IN TRIM In July 2011 Trim Tidy Town’s all-out effort to win big in the National Tidy Towns Competition included a number of striking murals springing up around the town. One of the most colourful was a depiction of Gulliver at the old mart, which has become quite a tourist attraction. Until a few days ago I was unaware of the 30ft long mural. The painting of…

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#Anglo-Irish writer #clergyman #depiction of Gulliver #Gulliver Mural #Gulliver Travels #Jonathan Swift #Lemuel Gulliver #Meaghan Quinn #Meath County Council #Mural #Old Mart #street art #Swift Cultural Centre in Trim #Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World #Urban Culture #urban expression

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lifeintentsportland · 6 months

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Glamping Tent Rentals: Where Nature Meets Luxury

Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the fresh scent of the great outdoors—all while cocooned in a cozy, luxurious tent with all the comforts of a high-end hotel. This dreamy experience is what glamping is all about. In this article, we will explore the enchanting world of glamping tent rentals, where nature and luxury harmoniously coexist to create unforgettable outdoor adventures.

Glamping Unveiled

Before we dive into the realm of glamping tent rentals, let's uncover the essence of glamping itself. What makes it such a sought-after trend?

What is Glamping? Glamping, short for "glamorous camping," is a style of camping that combines the thrill of the great outdoors with the lavishness of a hotel stay.

The Allure of Glamping: We'll delve into the reasons behind the growing popularity of glamping. From the desire for a unique experience to the growing eco-consciousness of travelers, there are several factors at play.

The World of Glamping Tents

At the heart of glamping is the glamping tent. These are not your ordinary camping tents; they are a portal to a world of opulence in nature.

Types of Glamping Tents: Explore the diverse range of glamping tents available, from safari-style tents to yurts, treehouses, cabin tents, and even retro Airstreams. Each type has its unique charm and features.

2.2 Luxury Features: Discover the opulent amenities that make glamping tents stand out. Think plush beds, private bathrooms, electricity, heating, stylish furnishings, and outdoor decks that let you enjoy the natural surroundings.

Benefits of Renting Glamping Tents

Why choose glamping tent rentals over traditional camping? Let's delve into the advantages of this unique way of experiencing the great outdoors.

1. No Camping Gear Needed: One of the biggest perks of glamping is that you don't need to invest in camping equipment. Your glamping tent comes fully equipped, so you can travel light.

2. Hassle-Free Experience: Say farewell to the inconveniences of setting up and packing down a traditional camping site. Glamping offers a stress-free and convenient experience.

3. Diverse Locations: Glamping tents are available in a myriad of locations, from national parks and beachfront sites to vineyards, remote wilderness, and more. You can pick your dream setting.

4. Ideal for Special Occasions: Whether it's a romantic getaway, a family vacation, or a unique celebration, glamping tents provide a special setting for making cherished memories.

5. Customized Packages: Many glamping providers offer tailor-made packages to cater to your specific desires, ensuring a personalized experience.

Choosing the Perfect Glamping Tent Rental

Selecting the right glamping tent for your adventure is key. Here are the factors to consider when making your choice.

Group Size and Accommodation Needs: Are you traveling alone, as a couple, with your family, or a group of friends? Your group size and accommodation preferences will guide your decision.

Destination and Setting: Think about the kind of environment you want to immerse yourself in. Options include mountains, beaches, forests, and deserts, each offering a distinct experience.

Amenities and Services: Consider the additional amenities and services that matter most to you. Some glamping sites offer spa services, gourmet dining options, guided tours, eco-friendly practices, and even pet-friendly facilities.

Tips for a Memorable Glamping Experience

To make the most of your glamping adventure, here are some essential tips:

1. Pack Light and Smart: Unlike traditional camping, you don't need to haul a truckload of equipment. Travel light and bring only the essentials.

2. Embrace Nature: Glamping encourages you to immerse yourself in nature. Enjoy outdoor activities, wildlife spotting, and the peace of the natural world around you.

3. Disconnect from Devices: Use this opportunity to unplug and unwind. Take a break from your devices and truly savor the tranquility of your surroundings.

4. Savor Local Cuisine: Relish the local flavors and cuisine. Many glamping sites offer gourmet dining experiences that are a delight for the taste buds.

5. Respect the Environment: Practice responsible travel and leave no trace. Many glamping sites have eco-friendly policies, and it's essential to respect the environment to preserve these beautiful locations for future generations.

Your Glamping Adventure Awaits

Glamping tent rentals offer a unique and luxurious way to connect with nature without compromising on comfort. Whether you're seeking a romantic escape, a family adventure, or a unique getaway with friends, glamping tent rentals can cater to your needs. With a variety of destinations, customized packages, and an array of amenities, the world of glamping is yours to explore. Trade the ordinary for the extraordinary and embark on a glamping journey that combines the best of both worlds. Discover the options, choose your destination, and prepare to create lasting memories in the great outdoors with glamping tent rentals.

#glamping #glamping rentals #event tents #tent rentals #bell tents #yurt tents

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greenjudy · 1 year

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greenjudy takes the train

This is my first trip in three years. Anywhere (with the exception of a handful of medical/optical appointments). I mean, I have remained in my remote Buddhist retreat center home without so much as a trip to the shops.

And I have just traveled in an Amtrak roomette from the Bay Area up to Seattle.

The roomette is... not cheap, although prices definitely vary by season. But for my purposes, at this moment, the roomette was just right: the weirdest, coolest way to do this.

vimeo

My train was hours late, and by the time we got underway it was after 11 PM. I crashed shortly after taking this video, sleeping very fitfully indeed in my clothes. (Newbie error. Just draw your damn curtains and put your jammies on.) When I woke up, it was just before dawn; we were north of Redding, traveling through a burn scar.

Fury Road; Mordor. Black branches of trees against a white sky, no color anywhere. It was a terrible reminder of the fires we've endured here in California for the last several years. But it was also strangely beautiful, with thousands of tiny dougie firs growing, trying to come back.

As the train rolled north, the snow that had lain in scattered patches on the ground grew deeper. Enormous banks of it pocked with footmarks: creatures making their own paths. I saw a deer on a ridge nearly at eye level with me, bedded down in a snow nest, watching the train, not 30 feet away.

Wondrous trees.

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After tunnels and travels through mountains and waterfalls and conifers, we had an enchanting passage through part of the Willamette National Forest; then the scenery grew more domesticated, bleak little farms giving way to industry and then city sprawl.

You can sense the energies of a unique culture, on the train. The Amtrak staff have a camaraderie and a sly humor that comes across in the announcements. (They held a union meeting for employees right after dinner!) The train staff take no shit and will not wait for you if you linger during the smoke break: get the fuck back on the train, or get left at Chemult to wait 24 hours for the next train, it's your call. The staff know their own worth, and I sure hope they are getting paid commensurate with what they give.

Dining cars are communal, which is part of the peculiar charm of train travel. Very Agatha Christie; get to know your neighbors. Sadly, we are still in a pandemic, and so I (vaccinated; boosted; covalent boosted) took all my meals in the roomette. This seemed safer from a Covid standpoint, and after all I am scheduled to visit a baby.

This is definitely a grueling way to travel, especially during Covid time. I stayed in my compartment the entire time, except bathroom breaks (and the tiny Amtrak toilets are most entertaining. Do you have contamination OCD? Most entertaining!). The allotted space in a roomette is Smol. If you are not Smol, you may find it confining. I would also urge you to bring a great deal of water along. Even though there is a constant fresh air exchange with the outside world, the filters make the air dry and crunchy. Bring water. (Newbie error #2: I forgot to do this.)

The rocking motion of the train; the melancholy jokes of the dining car attendant, with secret, in-joke layers directed at the room attendants.

And the wild country where the tracks were laid, more than a hundred years ago.

#greenjudy travels

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archfeyworkshop · 9 months

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World of Arturium: Eshandis

Okay, it's coming a day late because everything got delayed a bit this week, but I doubt people are too worried about that. And it's got a nice little name, even if it's not too inspired. Sue me, I'm dog-tired. In some ways the poster-girl for my setting despite being quite unlike much of it, I think the best way I can sum up Eshandis is...

In the north of the world is a long mountainous peninsula. The northernmost reaches of this are the north pole and then a long stretch of taiga, but the southern half of the continent is commanded by a dense rainforest and then a sea of black sands. Long long ago this land was the home of Fire Giants and was formed from scores of volcanoes and supervolcanoes, but so long ago those mountains were ground down into vast swathes of sand. Hence the name, comprised of granite, andesite and diorite sands along with all the others. The volcanoes that formed it are nowadays dormant or long-extinct for many millennia, believed entirely extinct until a supervolcano was almost forced to erupt by the Giant, Thaddeus. Thwarted by a group of adventurers the caldera was instead transformed into an Oasis and spread into a river that cuts through the desert from north to south.

Once part of a greater nation and now a sister nation to its neighbour, Sharadin, Eshandis is home to three species: Henbi, Lamia, and Elves. The Lamia and the Elves are the settlers - they reside in the cities, near universally full-figured with various shades of dark skin due to the climate. Their shape is courtesy of their origins in the old Spring Court, the first that was lost many millennia ago, the court of fertility and motherhood that thus provides its distant descendants with voluptuous forms, resulting in the quote above. When the Spring Court came to the world its people transformed over generations into what they are today and they were welcomed with open arms by the species that predated them - the Henbi.

Having dwelled in the desert since before the Faerie came to the sands, the Henbi are a nomadic serpentine people possessed of remarkably flexible genetics. Elves and Lamia may see evolution over only a few generations, but the Henbi are not only capable of reproducing with essentially any sapient species, they will produce a fertile offspring that is a clear hybrid of the parents. With largely serpentine features and this incredibly dynamic line, no two Henbi are even remotely like with number and arrangement of limbs, blood quality and content, necessary diet and almost every possible feature being wildly diverse between its members.

Led in caravans along the routes of long-lost volcanic corridors by their caravan masters, the Henbi had long traveled the desert and survived without settling, and as gregarious communal people they welcomed their new visitors.

The strife from there is a matter of many thousands of years of history - with the nations splintering and reforming then fracturing again, and the Henbi being subjected to the brutality of slavery as hospitality was forgotten and Eshandis thoughts turned to empire. Time, tragedy and the impatience of the shorter-lived races would re-teach these lessons time and again however, and modern Eshandis is relatively stable as a place with the Elves and Lamia residing in several coastal cities and the Henbi once more returned to their wandering, often traveling between the cities and bringing mail with them.

Eshandis is the birthplace of many things. Many systems of government have come and gone, magic was first learned and taught here and developed in the early eras. Control of the rainforest means that the world owes Eshandis for the marvels of chocolate and coffee, and many nations owe their starts in some part to the people of this nation. But if not for the Henbi much of it would have ended far more disastrously. Their presence was a constant check against ambition and detachment, and ultimately served as a primitive form of a manner of government later adopted by other nations across the world, with shorter-lived and longer-lived species balancing each other's qualities such as in Keda Varr.

Even so, its magic, chocolate and voluptuousness is what the nation is best known for. Its population has inspired many salacious rumours courtesy of traders, and its governmental system is a magocracy, with the education system fundamentally intertwined with the necessary skills to make one an effective politician and each of its key players within the government being a capable mage and experimenter. The exact details of this education system requires some work still but...hey, that's what worldbuilding is for.

In part as a result of this and other events in the nation's history, Eshandis is not particularly religious. Many Religions are allowed to operate within the nation but are kept firmly separate from the political workings, and there are additional requirements and licenses needed in order for someone to have any power drawn from another entity be it a god or other form of outsider, and failure to be properly licensed carrying a harsh penalty up to exile or life in prison. For Elves and Lamia, that is a very long life. Artifice often fills the gap left by divine presence, an arcane means to heal and rejuvenate, but prohibitively expensive, leaving holy healers in a hard to replace role but deliberately constrained beyond their norm in other nations.

I can't really hide the fact that a lot of Eshandis was designed after seeing an image of a busty Lamia in a crop-top. It led to a number of smaller features of the nation that are harder to fit into the natural flow of all this. That the sand bakes in the heat but there is frequent rain making less clothing more important than full covering. That the rainforest cities famously has nudist districts and bathing rivers. That every rooftop in every city is a little garden to support the nation, with ramps instead of stairs and large pits of pillows tending to replace beds for the sake of the serpentine peoples.

But I'm very tired this week, and this is all I can think of to explain for now. I think next week I'll explore its harsher sister, Sharadin.

#worldbuilding #fantasy worldbuilding #fantasy world #english vtuber #fantasy writing #pathfinder #ttrpg #dnd 5e #lamia #elf #yuan ti #desert

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wachinyeya · 2 years

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https://news.mongabay.com/2022/06/swiss-pledge-to-stop-illegal-gold-imports-from-brazil-indigenous-reserves/

Switzerland imported 24.5 tonnes of gold in 2021, at least a fifth of which came from Brazilian Amazon states. Evidence indicates most of it is mined illegally on Indigenous lands. Illicit mining operations have resulted in major Amazon deforestation, widespread mercury poisoning and soaring violence.

With the Brazilian government of Jair Bolsonaro unresponsive to the escalating crisis, an independent delegation of Indigenous people along with others travelled to Switzerland in May to plead with major gold refiners to end the importation of illicit Brazilian gold.

This week, the refiners published a statement pledging to remove illegal gold mined within Brazilian Indigenous reserves from their supply chains. If the initiative is fully followed, experts say it could be a game changer that could undermine the, until now, lucrative illegal gold trade.

Canada, the world’s biggest importer of gold from the Brazilian Amazon, has made no such agreement.

In a potentially landmark move, those refineries have just signed and made public a position statement condemning illegal gold mining and pledging “to trace and identify” the metal’s movements from its sources, potentially staunching the import of gold illegally taken from Indigenous territories in the Brazilian Amazon.

Also party to the statement was the Swiss Association of Manufacturers and Traders of Precious Metals (ASFCMP), which accounts for 95% of the precious metals melted and refined in Switzerland — 90% of which is gold.

According to the Swiss Federal Council, the country’s highest executive body, more than two-thirds of gold traded worldwide passes through the European nation. If the Swiss refiners fully implement their new pledge, it could be an important step towards reducing illegally extracted gold imports to Switzerland.

The non-binding document was drafted in association with an Amazon delegation — independent of the Brazilian government — that met with top Swiss gold refiners in Bern in May. That delegation of Indigenous and traditional leaders, lawyers and researchers emphasized how the refiners play a crucial role in an illicit gold supply chain that damages the rainforest and devastates the people who live there.

“The gold arrives here [in Switzerland] full of blood. Along with the Brazilian State, you who buy the gold are responsible for deaths in our territories,” declared Maria Leusa Munduruku, president of the Munduruku Wakoborũn Women’s Association, speaking at the May meeting which Mongabay attended.

Indigenous activist Maria Leusa has suffered reprisals for her fight against illegal mining, with her house and parts of her village burned in 2021 by wildcat miners, known as garimpeiros. “They set our houses alight and threatened us with firearms, even shooting my children in the feet,” she told the gold importing refiners.

Maria Leusa travelled five days from her home village in the upper reaches of the remote Tapajós River Basin in Brazil’s Pará state to talk to the refiners about the impact of their imports.

The Munduruku Indigenous Territory, where Maria Leusa, lives is among the most affected by illegal gold extraction. Forest destruction there, much of it due to illegal mining, tripled between 2018 and 2020, according to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), a Brazilian government research body,

Munduruku health has also been severely impacted as a result of mercury pollution in local rivers — a by-product of garimpeiros gold extraction and ore processing. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), a scientific institution, recently identified a higher level of mercury contamination than that considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 60% of the population in the three worst affected Munduruku communities. Mercury contamination causes neurological disorders, heart disease and cancer; it can also cross the placenta barrier and reach the brain of a foetus, causing irreversible damage.

“It is no longer possible to kill our children and our women and to ignore the cries of distress that nature is emitting, by saying that it is being done in the name of development,” said Luiz Eloy Terena, legal coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) who attended the meeting.

Illegal gold mining is also seriously harming forests, rivers and human health in the Yanomami Indigenous Territory, Brazil’s largest Indigenous reserve, located mostly within Roraima state. Since 2019, this ancestral home to nearly 27,000 Indigenous people, has been systematically invaded by more than 20,000 garimpeiros who illegally occupy it, while Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro government has failed to expel them.

The Yanomami way of life is being brutally disrespected, said the Indigenous lawyer at the Swiss meeting, who recounted the case of a 12-year-old Yanomami teen who was kidnapped, raped and murdered by miners.

Initially, the representatives of the Swiss refineries listened intently to Maria Leusa and Luiz Eloy but claimed not to buy gold from the Amazon. Official data on Brazilian exports, however, contradicted their assertion, showing that at least a fifth of gold exported to Switzerland in 2021 came from Amazonian states.

“We have discovered that, over the last two years, about five tonnes of the gold exported from Itaituba [in Pará state] and from Pedra Branca do Amapari [in Amapá state] went directly to Switzerland,” said Christoph Wiedmer, co-director of the Society for Threatened Peoples, the Swiss NGO that organized the meeting between refinery businessmen and the Amazonian delegation.

Almost all of these gold exports will have been mined illegally, but lack of transparency still surrounds the sector, both in Switzerland and in Brazil.

Another point widely discussed at the Bern meeting was a Brazilian mining bill, (PL 191/2020). The legislation, pushed hard in the Congress by President Jair Bolsonaro, would legalize mining and the use of water resources to produce electricity on Indigenous lands.

“These activities, within our territories, constitute a flagrant violation of the rights of Indigenous peoples, given that Brazilian legislation [safeguarded by the nation’s 1988 Constitution] grants Indigenous peoples the exclusive use of their territories.” said Luiz Eloy. “We also know that these large enterprises bring other types of violations to our peoples.”

Brian Garvey, a member of the delegation and a lecturer at Scotland’s University of Strathclyde, said that the refiners, if they really want to end the murders of Indigenous people and to prevent them losing traditional livelihoods due to mining on their lands, should take a stand against the bill rather than see it as a business opportunity.

The refiners, although they didn’t condemn the bill in their statement, expressed “fundamental concern about the negative effects of PL 191/2020,” and pledged to “reject any mining activity linked to Amazon protected areas, without the free, prior, informed consent of the impacted communities.”

The delegates see the just released gold refiners’ pledge as a victory for the Amazon forest and its peoples. Acting independently of the Bolsonaro government, leaders of Indigenous and traditional communities negotiated directly with the largest gold refiners and have now received foreign support for their struggle against illegal mining and rapidly multiplying human rights violations.

#good news #illegal mining #gold #indigenous activism #indigenous issues #indigenous resistance #swizerland #brazil #amazon #munduruku #yanomami

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