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#sled lantern
guiltyidealist · 5 months
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The Red Lantern icons: Iggy
(simple cropped screenshots-- credit not necessary)
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heartscrypt · 11 months
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one of these days i am going to draft out a fake sled over heels cast and plot based on everything idia has ever said about it in the harveston event
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darkwood-sleddog · 2 years
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Get your dog sledding yayas out in the new God of War game yall.
(with wolves wearing x-back harnesses!!)
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In honor of the moose/Iditarod rule 34 chaos post reaching 1000 notes and then Dallas Seavy winning the Iditarod here are all the unhinged stories and things I know about that race
They changed the rules and schedules so you can't do this anymore, but there was a subset of mushers who would race the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod back to back. That's a 1000-mile race followed by another 1000-mile race through some of the harshest terrain on earth in late winter. And the Yukon quest doesn't even finish where the Iditarod starts. To do this required putting dogs in a plane OR having another team of dogs waiting in anchorage and someone to deal with both teams of dogs.
The first woman to win the Iditarod was Libby Riddles in 1985.
Only to have her finish promptly blown out of the water by Susan Butcher who won the race in 86', 87', 88', and 90' while setting speed records the whole way.
Susan did race in 85' but she ran into a moose early and it killed two of her dogs and hurt the rest so she scratched. Dallas got lucky this year.
She was also the first person to mush a dog team up to the summit of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. This is not what dog teams are intended to do, I don't know why she even wanted to, other than to prove it was possible. I don't think anyone has since.
The race now requires GPS trackers on all the racers and you would not believe the bitchfit everyone threw over those. Mushers can either hop between checkpoints or camp on the trail and it may surprise you to learn that these are the kind of people who have secret camp spots in the woods that they don't want anyone to know about. So now, everyone has acquiesced to the tracker requirement but you must have an account on the race website if you want to see them.
The race has 2 paths that alternate even and odd years with different checkpoints but every year includes a section of race that crosses the sea ice, approximately 50 miles from Shaktoolik to Koyuk. so forget landmarks. point the sled north and hope you're going the right way.
the race is in honor of the 1925 Serum Run and the diphtheria outbreak, but the trail itself is the old freight route which is almost twice the length. also, it's a freight route for hauling freight which means the the racers are going at more or less lightspeed as compared to the intended use.
the most effective way to avoid frostbite on your face is a fur hood and duct tape on your cheeks and nose. Cold-related injuries are rare but far from unheard of. The average number of toes and fingertips among mushers is lower than that of the general population.
The finish line is a massive burled arch in the middle of main street in Nome. There is not a lot going on in Nome at any given time and this time of year is the exception. Every racer who finishes the race gets the same reception, which is everyone in town crowding into the finish chute to cheer them on and the city fire siren going off. The last racer in gets the Red Lantern Award which means that they finished dead last but didn't scratch.
the 2020 race had started and was fully underway when the pandemic lockdowns came into place. as far as social distancing goes, you really can't do much better than being isolated 100 miles into the middle of frozen nowhere but the checkpoints are itty bitty villages with no medical infrastructure and the finish was reportedly terrifying because instead of a crowd to cheer at the burled arch, it was just the siren going off in a ghost town.
there is no way I can tell this story that doesn't sound like I'm making it up as I go. The sign says no sniveling and they fucking mean it.
no really, click that link. here's the YouTube vid (non-graphic, after-the-fact interviews)
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tescheer · 6 months
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TES Cheer 2023 is Happening!
This year, things will be a bit different from the past two years, and you can find rules and more information on our pinned post here.
The event will run from November 26th, 2023 until December 25th, 2023, but there will also be a grace period until January 1st, 2024 as well! We understand that it can be a very busy time of year for many and want anyone who chooses to participate to feel as welcome as possible.
Please remember to @tescheer and tag your posts as #tescheer or #tescheer2023 so we can find you!
The Prompts
Week One: November 26th - December 2nd - Cloak - Snow - Sparkle - Home - Music
Week Two: December 3rd - December 9th - Sled - Gray - Kiss - Party - Mountain
Week Three: December 10th - December 16th - Gift - Lantern - Hat -Snuggle - Night
Week Four: December 17th - December 23rd - Bells - Dance - Fur - Blizzard - Treat
Week Five: December 24th - December 25th - Free Day
[Image ID available by clicking each image]
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anime-aus · 1 year
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TWISTED WONDERLAND EVENTS THAT I THINK SHOULD HAPPEN
Coral Sea Event: A bunch of characters go to visit the Coral Sea. We learn a lot more about the place. We get to see the mermaid forms of Azul, Jade, and Floyd. We meet the family members at Mrs. Ashengrotto’s restaurant. The characters need to track down a family recipe of hers that has gone missing. I think for the character cards everyone gets a mermaid form! All the characters get to become temporary mermaids with transformation magic!
Royal Sword Academy Competition: There is a “friendly” school vs. school competition between RSA and NRC. There are different categories like athletics, fine arts, and skill competitions. Each dorm competes against the one that is opposite of their own (Pomefiore v. Neige’s Dorm, Heartslabyul v. Chenya’s, Octavinelle v. Rielle’s, etc.) Many new characters are introduced. Will NRC win this competition and is someone trying to sabotage them?
Waterpark Event: Everyone gets a swimsuit. That’s the first thing I desire. Swimsuit cards! Crowley is going to take another vacation and he takes some random winners with as a surprise. Despite the fun they expected to have, everyone keeps running into bad luck (Rook gets sunburnt, Vil got pushed in the pool, Ruggie got his stuff stolen, etc.), but local sunshine Kalim is going to try and make the vacation as fun as possible for everyone with what time they have left.
Shaftlands/Land of Pyroxene Event: Jack and Vil bring Pomefiore and Savannaclaw to their hometown during the winter. The characters meet Jack’s siblings and Vil’s father. Everything is fine at first, but unfortunately Vil reunites with a former classmate. He always antagonized Vil when they were younger. The former classmate challenges Vil to competition and Vil accepts. All the characters try to win in competitions of snow games (ice skating, sledding, building snow forts, etc.) because Vil is determined to win this. Also Vil is about to reclaim his title as the Snowball Fight Master. No mercy!
Lantern Festival: A bunch of characters attend a Lantern Festival that takes place in the Shaftlands. There are a lot of new twist tunes. Songs were ver important to a princess with long beautiful hair because the music would give her magical powers. There is a small fun music competition taking place in the town and the NRC boys choose to compete.
Fashion Week: NRC has been chosen as the place to hold a photo shoot for the Poisoned Apple modeling agency (I wonder which characters could possibly be associated with that). When things start to go wrong the students guess that they either got cursed or somebody is sabotaging them. Now certain students are going to investigate before fashion week is ruined! I was thinking “How could I possibly give everyone cool outfit cards” and this appeared.
(Edit)
Family Day: I’m adding a family day because I want to see more characters’ family. The specific characters I want to see are Vil’s dad, Azul’s mom, the Leech twins’ parents, Kalim’s siblings, Ace’s brother, Deuce’s mom, and Sebek’s parents. That’s a lot now that I’m writing it all out. I’d also think it’d be interesting if we got to see some of the staff’s family as well.
Harvesting Harveston: I would love to see Harveston when it’s actually apple season. I’d especially like to see how Vil and Rook would react to Epel’s hometown.
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alice-angel12x · 10 months
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Epel x Death Reader Pt. 1.5
Part 1 Here (Harveston event)
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While Epel's grandmother was explaining the rules to his friends, he was too busy having his mind blown. Knowing that his closest friend and schoolmate is also his town's founder. He sat on the side as he watched Y/n Death and the mayor have a friendly conversation. The mayor talking about Harveston's long and amazing history. Which Epel now knows that Y/n was there to witness.
"Anyway, long story short, we can't participate in the race this year," The Mayor sighed.
"WHAT IN TARNATION?!" Marja shouted, causing everyone to flinch.
"I know we're going to disappoint the townsfolk, and I'm very sorry about that," The mayor sighed.
"Well, there's nothing you can do about an injury. We'll do our best to place as high as we can," Epel spoke up.
"THAT AIN'T GONNA CUT IT! "As high as you can"?! Ah don't think so! It's first place or nothin', bub!" Marja shouted.
"Our goalpost has just shifted considerably," Jade commented.
"We can't just let a team full o' non-locals win! If the mayor can't do it, then it's up to you boys! No ifs, ands, or buts! Is that clear?!" She scolded.
"But you're being unreasonable, Grandma! I'm the only one on my team who's ever sledded before!" Epel tried to reason.
"QUIT SPLITTIN' HAIRS! Ya can't write off somethin' as impossible before ya even try! You'll never grow an apple tree or get any apples if'n ya don't sow the seeds!" Marja said.
"That's one scary granny," Grimm commented.
"Your animals are sittin' in the assembly hall, so go an' get 'em, toot sweet! Get a move on! You boys ain't got a minute to spare! You'll need all the practice you can get!" She ordered.
She started to train the boys to be #1 in the sled competition. Y/n watched silently as Marja instructed them. Y/n smiles as they remembered Marja as such a competitive little girl. And even after all these years, she did not lose that spark.
____________________________
While the boys practiced, Y/n decided to walk about the town and visit the hollow grounds of the past. Y/n lightly walked on the snow as they passed many graves, slowly passing many generations. Till she got to the very first, where her friend lay, with the rest of the first children of Harveston.
"You did well all of you," Y/n smiled softly at the gravestones around them. "Oh and some students From RSA are also competing."
"What?!" The boys gasped.
"And from what I observed, they are pretty skilled. Make sure to bring your A-Game," Y/n smiles.
"HAAAH?! As if we'd lose to the likes of Royal Sword Academy! THE CHAMPIONS...ARE GONNA BE US!" Epel shouted.
"I cannot wait to see you emerge as champions," Y/n smiled.
Y/n smiles and happily listens to Epel as he showed them around the town. Showing off the apple lanterns and many other hand-crafted knick-knacks.
Till they finally returned to Epel's home, where Marja prepared a large barbeque feast for the boys and company. Y/n tried to politely turn down the meal. But the granny already set a plate for them. So Y/n had no choice but to sit down and partake in the food.
Sadly, if only they knew that Death was incapable of digesting food and does not eat. It was a rough couple of hours for Y/n as they sat as food... essentially just built up in the void of their body.
_____________________________
At Dawn, the race was in full swing, as the crowds watched and cheered from the stands. Y/n Death stood from on top of the spectator booth and simply wished everyone a safe return.
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remember when
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They made Cater's phone case into an official merch item???? Or the time when they made a fake irl Magical Wheel for April Fools' Day 2021???? And not to mention that TWST also has released official NRC school uniforms and armbands for cosplay!
The TWST merch team should turn other character-owned items into actual merch 👀 There's so much potential???/ Like... just think about them actually producing Vil's skincare line (from episode 5), a Magic Carpet replica, Rollo's ugly chunky ass ring and handkerchief, the Tweels' earrings, glasses that look just like Trey and Azul's, Heartslabyul tea sets, Rook's photo album, some of Idia's weeb merch, Gao Gao Dragon-kun yes, I know the TWST tamagotchi things exist but I need a real Gao-Gao, ACTUAL TUNA/CAT FOOD IN CANS THAT LOOK LIKE THE ONES GRIM EATS OUT OF... Oooh, and event items too??? The apple lantern from the Harveston sledding event, the tarnished lamp from the Scalding Sands, fake flower bouquets that look like the ones from Ghost Marriage...
SO MUCH UNTAPPED POTENTIAL.
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bumblesimagines · 10 months
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Under The Moonlight
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Part 11
Request: Yes or No
~~~
Novgorod was what he expected and more. A fairly sized city protected by tall stone walls. Surrounding the exterior of the city sat ships on sleds, collecting snow as they waited to be used. (Y/N) noticed the tall buildings peeking out from beyond the walls with domes resting on top. Such an odd shape for a roof. Within the city were many merchants and traders, calling out offers and the services they provided.
(Y/N) stopped briefly, watching two men ride past him on a sled pulled by a bulky horse. Harald chuckled and patted his back before approaching one of the sellers and offering his silver ring in return for three bowls of broth. (Y/N) took the small wooden bowl into his hands and brought it to his face, letting the steam warm his face before he drank and chewed on the chunks of meat floating in the broth. 
"What are they doing?" Leif asked and (Y/N) turned to look at him, following his line of sight toward two men in front of an old wooden building. One of the men sat on the snowy ground, slumped over and looking half-dead. The other man stumbled about before leaning back against the building and sliding down to the ground, head limply going from side to side. 
"Opium," Harald answered, pitifully looking at the men and shaking his head. "They say its smoke enters your body and steals your soul." 
"Why would they do it?"
"To escape this Earth. To talk to the dead." Harald shrugged lightly, finishing his broth and using his sleeve to wipe the snow and remains off his lips. (Y/N) hummed lightly, drinking the last of his broth and turning around at the sound of loud cheering coming from a large perched tent behind them. Harald grinned widely and nodded toward it, eagerly walking forward. The brothers followed him inside and (Y/N) took note of the multiple shirtless sweaty men of varying ages hanging about. Many with bruises. Wooden beams for lanterns and seating areas had been built within the tent. Toward the back of the tent, perched on a wooden stage of sorts, sat a middle-aged man drinking from his goblet. In the middle was an open area where two men connected at the wrist by rope swung at each other, blood dripping down their skin and bruises littering their bodies. Some men walked around the seating areas with bowls, taking coins from the spectators. 
"That's him," Harald whispered to them, motioning to the middle-aged man (Y/N) had noticed minutes prior. Harald walked along the sidelines as the fight ended with one of the men roaring in victory. Before Harald could get to his uncle, two guards stepped in front of him, blocking his path. Frowning at them, Harald scoffed. "Let me by. I'm Prince Harald Sigurdsson. I'm here to see my uncle!" The guards refused to budge, even shoving Harald back when he got too close. 
A gong sounded off and (Y/N) looked back at the middle, noticing two new shirtless men fighting each other. Suddenly, Harald handed Leif his sword and rushed forward, kicking the man holding the other down. The second man scrambled to his feet and stood up, only for Harald to whirl around and punch him. Turning to face his surprised uncle, Harald spoke despite being swarmed by guards, "What this fight needs is a Viking named Prince Harald Sigurdsson of Norway, great-grandson of Harald Finehair and blood relative of the esteemed Yaroslav the Wise!"
"Stop!" Yaroslav ordered, standing from his seat. He stopped and squinted down at Harald, hooking his fingers into the belt around his waist and raising a brow. "Harald?"
Shoving away the guards, Harald panted and greeted him. "Uncle."
"Look at you... What has brought you to Novgorod?" Yaroslav questioned curiously, eyeing the worn clothes on his body. Harald looked far from princely with his long snow-covered beard and messy hair. Unlike his nephew, Yaroslav appeared well-put together. He wore black clothes with gold designs embroidered on them. He had short curly black hair that swooped delicately over his forehead and a neatly trimmed beard. From everything Harald had told them, Yaroslav was a reasonable and hospitable man.
"It's a long story, Uncle. One told better over food and drink." Harald responded and a large smirk spread across Yaroslav's face.
Everything afterward passed by in a blur. They were taken to the finest inn in the city and given rooms where they bathed and changed into fresh clothes before being taken to a brightly lit room. Many colors covered the walls and the fabrics the people wore were eye-catching. (Y/N) supposed when one lived in a barren land, it was only natural to want to stand out. They sat at a long table with other guests, though Harald sat near his uncle. They were served a lot of food and given wine to drink. Harald spoke with his uncle and another man while Leif listened in on their conversation and (Y/N) occupied himself with the food.
"Greenlanders!" Yaroslav called out to them and (Y/N) paused mid-chew, turning his head toward the ruler. Yarslav grinned at them. (Y/N) wondered if everyone related to Harald was so friendly. "They have language at the edge of the world, don't they?"
"Last time I was there," Leif responded as chatter at the table ceased and eyes turned to look at them curiously. (Y/N) swallowed down his food and licked his lips, glancing at Harald. The prince smiled at him encouragingly.
"And tell us, what is it like to live so removed from civilization?" 
"Greenland is quiet," Leif answered again and shrugged lightly. Yaroslav stared at him, slowly nodding as his gaze flickered between the brothers and then to Harald. Not a good enough reply to quench the ruler's curiosity. 
"Quiet, and...?"
"Gives you time to think about things. At night, we would watch the norðurljós. Colors of all the heavens would light up the sky." Leif smiled, looking across the table at his brother, gaze turning fond as he spoke. The woman beside Leif watched him with a warm smile. "We heard stories when we were younger that they were the reflections of the Valkyries' armor. (Y/N)'s mother had a different story, though. When the moon is low, and the sea is sleeping, you can hear the songr of the hvlar swimming at the bottom of the ocean. And then, all at once, they explode from the darkness. Mouths open wide enough to swallow ships." (Y/N) smiled. He could still remember when his mother sat them outside to watch the dancing lights in the sky while she told them the story.
"I hated Greenland when I lived there," Leif confessed with a grimace, gaze falling onto the table. "Now I miss it. I miss the people I knew there." 
"I understand that," Yaroslav said with a hint of longing in his voice. Reaching for his cup, he lifted it in the air and smiled widely. "Welcome to Novgorod, where, unfortunately, quiet does not exist." Laughter scattered across the table and the guests raised their cups in turn. (Y/N) sipped on his wine and returned to his food, finishing his plate, and then hearing Yaroslav raise his voice at Harald.
"I cannot risk upsetting him or his crazy father just so that you can fight for something you never had!" He shouted and Harald looked away from him with a frown, leaning back in his seat as silence fell over the table again. Never taking his green eyes off Harald, Yaroslav continued more calmly. "As I see it, beloved nephew, you have two options: return to Kattegat and swear fealty to Olaf-"
"No."
"-Or do what Vikings have always done. Reivent yourself." His words made Harald's brows furrow but an interest blossomed in his eyes. 
Once Yaroslav finished eating, the dinner was considered finally over and most quests excused themselves to their lodgings. (Y/N) bid his brother goodnight and headed to his own lodgings, looking forward to sleeping in a proper bed that wouldn't make his muscles ache. Pushing open the door and stepping inside, he couldn't bring himself to be surprised when he noticed Harald sitting on the edge of the bed with his arms on his knees. With his gaze on the floor, (Y/N) couldn't get a clear view of his face. (Y/N) closed the door and stepped further into the room, slipping his dagger off his waist and setting it down on a chair before walking closer to Harald. He gently began running his fingers through Harald's soft locks, feeling Harald nuzzle against him and sigh heavily.
"My uncle is well within his rights to refuse me in favor of Canute. He claims the southern river trade route is blocked by a group of brutal nomadics called Pechenegs. Trade is what keeps Novgorod flourishing. He cannot risk going to war with Canute and losing his northern trade." Harald explained quietly, arms slowly slithering around (Y/N). 
"What will you do then? Reinvent yourself?" 
"Yes." Harald tilted his head upward, pressing his chin against (Y/N)'s stomach. Chuckling when (Y/N) gave him a puzzled look, he explained. "I cannot keep expecting others to help me. I need to work for it. I just need to find something that will sell for a good price."
"And what will you do then?"
"I will gather an army and take Norway," Harald answered confidently and (Y/N) hummed softly, tucking a brown strand behind Harald's ear. Harald smiled lovingly, leaning into (Y/N)'s hand and pressing a fluttery kiss to his wrist. (Y/N) shifted slightly, pressing the front of his feet to his ankles and carefully slipping out of his boots. 
"I hope you have a proper plan this time, Harald. We do not need a repeat of Kattegat." (Y/N) murmured, shedding the first layer of clothes and stepping around the bed. Laying down, he moved under the many warm blankets and snuggled into the pillow, watching Harald take his boots off and get comfortable. 
"I know, my love." Harald reached out and tugged him closer, rubbing his hands against the fabric of (Y/N)'s tunic. 
"Harald, we should talk about what I said back in-"
"We've had a long day, love," Harald interrupted quietly, kissing his forehead and pulling him further against his chest. Resting his chin on top of his head, Harald stared forward at the dim lantern keeping the room lit as his mind desperately tried to scrub away the words that made his heart ache. He'd found a love that made him stronger. He couldn't lose that. Not after the betrayals from Canute and his own brother. "Get some rest."
                    ➸        ➸       ➸       ➸       ➸       ➸
Stepping out into the cold, (Y/N) felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. For a split second, he could see the icy ocean in the distance and hear the roaring wind slipping between the sparse trees near their home. But those visions were replaced by bustling crowds and the sound of chatter. With a sigh, (Y/N) headed down a staircase, easily finding Harald amongst the crowd. He spoke with a man selling all sorts of furs. (Y/N)'s brows furrowed at the sight. 
"Sleep well?" His brother asked as he approached, voice gruff and slightly shakey. His head turned back in the direction of the old building where opium was given, gaze lingering on it for far longer than (Y/N)'s liking. Taking Leif's arm gently, he pulled Leif's attention off the building and onto him but Leif averted his eyes upon seeing the frown on (Y/N)'s face.
"Leif-"
"What is Harald up to?" Leif cleared his throat, tugging his arm free and quickening his pace to greet the prince. (Y/N)'s frown only deepened and he followed after him, eyeing the furs bundled up and scattered across the tables. Harald grinned widely when he spotted them, stepping away from the seller and extending his arms to either side of him.
"I have a new plan!" He declared, slinging his arms around their shoulders and bringing them closer to the tables. "I must fund my own army since Yaroslav will not back one for me. I intend to buy as many furs as possible here and sell them in Constantinople."
"And how do you plan to get there?" Leif questioned, looking at his brother and quirking a brow in question. (Y/N) only shrugged in response.
"I will worry about that detail tomorrow, my friend." Harald chuckled rather sheepishly, tightening his hold on the brothers again and dragging them away from the table and toward the large fighting ring tent. (Y/N) grimaced, hearing an eruption of cheers slip out from the tent. "Today, we must make money doing what we're good at." 
Just like the prior day, the tent had been packed with both spectators and fighters. The fighters all dressed similarly. They wore no armor and carried no weapons. The only article of clothing on them were loose pants, leaving the rest of their body exposed to their opponents. A quick way of painting one's body in purple and green. The next fighter had been the victorious one from the day before. He was a tall dark-skinned man with short dark hair braided back tightly against his skull. When he turned slightly under the lantern light, (Y/N) spotted the scars littering his body. He carried an air of confidence, searching the crowd for any fighter bold enough to step up to the challenge as another man, his partner most likely, stepped forward.
"Who wants to bet against Kaysan, the great African warrior?" His partner called out, cackling when no one stepped forward. Shorter than Kaysan and less muscled, the man had fair skin and big brown eyes filled with arrogance. His hair had been cut short and trimmed even shorter on the sides. He seemed particularly proud of Kaysan, exchanging smirks with him when the other fighters looked away. "No one wants to bet against Kaysan?"
When no fighters stepped up, the man looked toward one of his own, motioning for him to step forward. "Maybe some of you will bet against Kaysan now!"
"I'll bet against both of them!" (Y/N) blinked, head snapping in Harald's direction. The prince stepped forward, turning sideways to point back at Leif. (Y/N) scoffed softly. "Two against two."
"Harald," Leif called quietly, lightly shaking his head and glancing around as the crowd grew louder and tossed their coins into the bowls the collectors carried. 
"Come on," Harald breathed, walking toward them and clapping his hands over Leif's arms. "We need the money."
"You need the money." Leif chided and frowned. 
"We're not gonna fight for the entertainment of these people, Harald." (Y/N) told him, gaze hardening. Harald looked at him, taking in the disappointment on his face. Pursing his lips, Harald nodded and sighed, looking back toward the three men. 
"I have a better idea!" Harald called and approached Kaysan's partner, smirking at him. "If this man accepts my bet of 100 hryvnya, I'll fight against both of his fighters." Harald looked back at the brothers, meeting (Y/N)'s eyes. His lover shook his head at him but Harald ignored it, giving him a small smile instead and looking back at the man. Kaysan chuckled softly under his breath as Harald and his partner shook hands. Harald walked off to get dressed and Kaysan powdered his hands, rubbing them together and walking by the two brothers. 
"Don't worry," He smirked lazily. "I'll try not to kill your brother."
"I can't promise he'll return the favor," Leif murmured and Kaysan chuckled before strolling back toward the center. (Y/N) folded his arms over his chest, feeling every muscle in his body tense. The crowd shouted Kaysan's name and poured more coin into the bowls. If Kaysan had so many fans, it meant he fought pretty often. And won. Harald's carelessness would get him killed, (Y/N) just knew it would.
Harald returned and powdered his hands, looking at the brothers with a confident smile. When the gong sounded off, he reared up his fists and charged first, punching the second fighter in his stomach and then connecting his fist to Kaysan's jaw. Kaysan stumbled back from the hit and Harald turned, swinging at the second fighter who blocked most of his hits. Grabbing the man by the arms, Harald turned and threw him to the ground, causing Kaysan to trip over him. Taking advantage of the moment, Harald kicked Kaysan in the face and stepped back, waiting for the men to get back onto their feet. 
Kaysan stood first, snarling as he swung at Harald. Harald dodged and blocked, landing a hit on Kaysan's side before pressing his forearm to Kaysan's chest and pushing him back against a support beam. Kaysan swung at Harald's stomach and Harald grunted, baring his teeth and punching Kaysan's cheek. He turned in time to see the other fighter close to him and ducked before the punch could land. Harald grabbed the man's leg and tossed himself onto the ground, rolling over and forcing the man to fall back. As he moved to stand, Kaysan charged, kneeing him in the stomach. Harald fell back, grunting softly and quickly moving onto his hands and knees. Kaysan grabbed his long hair and pulled him up onto his feet, grasping the sides of Harald's face and bringing his head down while also bringing his own knee up. (Y/N) grimaced when Kaysan's knee connected to Harald's face. 
Breaking free of Kaysan's grip, Harald dodged the punches thrown by both fighters and caught Kaysan's forearm, tossing his leg up and nearly hitting Kaysan in the groin. He punched Kaysan's face again but before he could turn, the other fighter, wrapped his arms around his waist and heaved him up, tossing him down on the ground. The weight of Harald forced the fighter to fall as well and the two men took big gulps of air as they recovered from the fall. Once orientated again, Harald moved forward and got on top of the fighter but the fighter quickly rolled over, shoving Harald off of him and right next to Kaysan. Harald tried scrambling back but Kaysan loomed over him, large hands reaching for Harald's throat. (Y/N) wrapped his fingers around his necklace and winced, almost looking away when Harald was picked up by the throat and tossed back down on the ground. With that, the gong rang again, signaling the first round was over. Leif reached back, taking the cup of water someone offered him for Harald.
Harald staggered onto his feet, drenched in sweat. His hair stuck to his face and trickled down from his lips. Harald walked toward the brothers, panting heavily and chuckling breathlessly. "See what you're missing?" Harald laughed, taking the cup and drinking.
"You're gonna get yourself killed." (Y/N) muttered, running his thumb back and forth over the bones and listening to the hollers from the crowd. He didn't miss the way one spectator shouted for Harald's death.
Tugging at his own necklace, Harald's grin widened. "I've got my lucky charm." He reminded him, chugging back more of the water and cringing at the taste of metallic. Leif eyed the other two fighters as they drank and gathered themselves again.
"Watch the left of the big one. He's slow to defend." Leif quietly told him and Harald hummed, handing back the cup and taking in a big gulp of air before turning around and walking back toward the center. 
Once the gong sounded off, Kaysan attacked first and Harald dodged his first punch, only for Kaysan to throw another punch at him with his other arm and hit the side of his face. Harald notably staggered more, the exhaustion of the first match beginning to take hold. Luckily, Harald recovered quickly and dodged the next punch, rearing up and repeatedly punching Kaysan in the face before shoving him back to have some space when he backhanded the other fighter. He turned back to Kaysan and attempted to throw another punch but Kaysan blocked it and shot his arm forward, grabbing Harald by the throat again and sneering down at him. The other fighter came up behind Harald, repeating his move of wrapping his arms around him and tossing him to the ground, only this time he landed on Harald. With the man on his back, Harald elbowed his side only to get kicked down by Kaysan. The other fighter moved fully onto Harald's back and slipped his arm around Harald's neck, forcing his face up for Kaysan to kick. But Harald used his weight to push back against the fighter on him, rolling over and causing Kaysan to miss. Before he could land some hits on the smaller fighter, Kaysan kicked his side again, hitting him hard enough to force him away and onto his back. 
As Kaysan approached, Harald threw a punch at his groin and Kaysan instantly leaned over in pain, giving Harald a clear opportunity to punch his square on the nose. Kaysan fell back from the force and Harald rolled onto his belly but before he could get up the other fighter crawled toward him and grabbed his ankle. Harald easily kicked his face and got up, letting the two men gather themselves and stand. The other fighter moved first, stumbling forward with a bleeding nose. Harald wrapped his arm around the man and used it to hold himself up and kick Kaysan in the stomach with both feet. With his arms still around the fighter, he used his weight to turn and slam the man onto the ground. Getting on top of him, Harald punched him again and again until there was a sickening crack and Harald got off the heaving man. 
With his fighters losing, Kaysan's partner looked at his last fighter and motioned for him to get into the fight. (Y/N) glanced toward the man at the gong but he remained still, even as the new fighter grabbed Harald from behind and tossed him toward a support beam. With the fight turning into three vs one, Leif shed his coat as Kaysan got on top of Harald. Harald raised his arms up to block Kaysan's repetitive punches while the new fighter checked on the other man.
"Fuck!" (Y/N) hissed when Leif charged, tackling Kaysan off bloody and bruised Harald. He got a punch in before standing to face the third fighter and grabbing his arms. Leif shoved him back against a support beam, taking the side of his face and slamming it against the beam again. When the man fell to the floor, Leif wrapped his arms around his neck and rolled onto the floor so the man was on top of him. Wrapping his legs around the man's body, he squeezed his forearm around the man's neck, and then seemingly out of instinct, he snapped it. Kaysan and his partner quickly fled the tent, whether out of fear or not wanting to pay, (Y/N) couldn't tell nor force himself to care. Harald scrambled onto his feet and pulled Leif up.
"We won, Leif!" Harald laughed, holding Leif by the shoulders and lightly shaking him. Leif panted, breath going in and out in short bursts. His widened eyes stared down at the dead man at his feet and (Y/N) picked up Leif's coats, approaching them and handing them off. Leif slipped them on and quickly walked away, looking disoriented and panicked.
"(Y/N)-" Harald began, reaching out toward him but (Y/N) ripped his arm away when Harald's fingers grazed it. One would've thought Harald had burned him. Harald's throat tightened when (Y/N) didn't even look back at him as he walked away from him and exited the tent.
(Y/N) caught up to his brother, his heart cracking when Leif flinched. "Come, Leif." (Y/N) whispered, rubbing his hands against Leif's arms and guiding him back toward the inn. Leif's breathing slowly returned to normal but his gaze remained distant. Guilt clouded his eyes. (Y/N) headed toward Leif's room, opening the door and closing it behind them. 
"I... I killed a man." Leif breathed out, slumping down on his bed and burying his face in his hands.
"You saved Harald's life." (Y/N) pointed out softly, taking a seat beside his brother and rubbing circles along his back. But they both knew it hadn't been the act itself that had shaken Leif. It'd been the way he lost control of himself, just like their father did. For a man who spent most of his adulthood hoping to prove he wasn't like his father, flipping the switch so easily meant everything he worked toward was a mere mask. It meant a day would come when he'd fully lose himself to blind rage and bloodlust. 
Inhaling deeply, Leif pulled his hands away from his face and (Y/N) noticed the unshed tears in his eyes. "I did not need to kill him... it-it just happened so quickly-"
"I know, Leif." (Y/N) cooed, wrapping his arms around Leif's shoulders and pulling him close. Placing a hand on the side of Leif's face, (Y/N) kissed the top of his head and murmured soft comforts into his ear. He sat still on the bed, allowing his brother to weep for as long as he wanted. For months, Leif had been swallowing his grief and letting it eat him up inside. (Y/N) waited until Leif grew tired before letting him have a moment alone. 
Stepping out of Leif's room and heading toward his own, (Y/N) heard the distant clap of thunder. When he entered his room, he spotted Harald sitting on one of the chairs and tending to the countless bruises and cuts on his body. Harald gently dabbed at his skin with a piece of wet cloth, wiping away the dust and blood on his body. (Y/N) stared at him. No part of him wanted to help Harald with his injuries. 
"A friend of my uncle's has given us two thousand hryvnya to get him to Constantinople. I've already bought the furs. All we must do now is-"
"Leif killed a man for you... and you're talking about furs?" (Y/N) remained rooted in his spot by the door, watching Harald pause his movements and look up at him. Harald swallowed, squeezing blood and water from the cloth before setting it on the table and standing up. 
"I understand you're upset-"
"Upset? I'm exhausted, Harald. I've been away from home for almost a year, I've been forced into two wars, and my brother isn't well. You... You are so..." (Y/N) pressed his quivering lips together, tearing his eyes away from Harald and shakily exhaling. The disappointment and sadness washed away, becoming muddled with anger and exhaustion. A small chuckle escaped him. "You and your brother are the same, Harald. All you desire is power. You've spent your whole life wanting a throne that was never yours."
Clenching his jaw, Harald spoke, "My great-grandfather was Harald Finehair. My family has sat on the throne for many years. Olaf promised the throne would pass to me and it has been given to a boy instead. The throne belongs to my family, (Y/N). It does not belong to the son of an oathbreaker."
"It belongs to your family, yes. But not you. You were born too late. You never had a claim to it." (Y/N)'s tone turned icy and filled with irritation, teeth grinding together as his eyes shot back to look Harald in the face. The prince stared at him, disbelief settling on his face. "The throne would've been yours long ago if you had a proper claim."
"Not true."
"You think all this has happened for no reason? Canute's betrayal? Olaf's betrayal? Why else would the Gods stop you from sitting the throne? You were never meant to be king, Harald!" (Y/N) snapped abruptly and Harald flinched slightly, lips parting. His eyes flickered between (Y/N), his hands growing clammy and his throat tightened. Harald shook his head repetitively, collecting his shirt and coats. His gaze remained downcast when he walked forward, arm brushing against (Y/N)'s as he walked past him. The door slammed loudly behind him, nearly rattling the walls. (Y/N) felt himself deflate, staggering forward toward his bed and collapsing onto it. Curling into himself, he stared at the fireplace, listening to the fire crackle and the thunder grow closer. Pain and guilt flooded his veins like a wave. But he couldn't deny the trickle of relief.
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befuddled-calico-whump · 10 months
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4 and 15 for CERUS
psychological torture + torture room
from this game ///// Penumbra Masterlist
His cart was heavy, almost too heavy for one man to maneuver, but Cerus supposed he should count himself lucky the overseer had given him something with wheels. Of course, he knew it wasn't an act of kindness. He was here to work, and dragging sled after sled full of coal up out of the mines would be excruciatingly slow, even for those who would only watch him struggle under it.
The only thing that kept him placing one foot in front of the other was the fear of slipping up, of having the cart roll backwards and crush him, and not kill him but leave him broken, in the hands of uncaring men until the Healer came round on seventh day.
Cerus was nearing the opening of the mine, the fading daylight and fresh air. The cart wasn't ten yards from the entrance when it suddenly stopped. Frowning, he gave it a shove, but it wouldn't budge. Something must be caught in the wheels, but he didn't dare step out from behind the heavy thing, for fear that it would roll all the way back into the heart of the mountain, giving him no choice but to waste precious strength to retrieve it.
So instead, he knelt, holding the cart in place by leaning a shoulder into it, and squinted into the darkness beneath. Suddenly, the thing jolted backwards, nearly crushing his hand, and Cerus frantically threw his weight against it. Laughter came from somewhere in the darkness, and an oily yellow light began to pool on the walls, soon followed by the silhouette of a man, his face ghoulish in the glow of his lantern.
In the weeks since his arrival, Cerus had made an effort to memorize the names and the faces of the miners he worked alongside. Not out of any misplaced sense of camaraderie, but because he'd quickly learned that some had more reason to hate him than others. And some, he'd had the displeasure of learning, were less hesitant to act on that hatred. Gauguin, a redhead from the plains. Dark eyed Drez. And, towering over him now, standing in the way of his cart and his much-needed rest, Nerros, a craggy-faced blond man with a smile that reminded Cerus of the twisted snarl of a wolf.
He watched in silence as Nerros knelt down, removing something that looked suspiciously like a pickaxe from the tracks. The man leaned against the cart, pushing Cerus back another few inches.
"Hard at work, little shadow?"
Answering pointless questions had never helped him before, and Cerus wasn't about to push his luck. He bowed his head, slowly stood while keeping his weight against the cart, and hoped the other man would vanish.
But of course, Nerros being who he was, he knew the other man wouldn't be deterred by something as simple as silence. When Cerus tried to push against his weight, he only leaned more into it, forcing him to splay his legs to keep himself balanced. A spike of pain shot up his ankle at the shift, and he gripped the edge of the cart so tightly he thought it might break skin to keep a yelp at bay. His hand spasmed, causing him to nearly lose his grip altogether, but he managed to hold on.
"Was talkin' to you, Shadow King. Impolite to ignore your superiors, you know."
Were his magic still intact, the man wouldn't dare speak to him that way. Were he still king, he could send a hoard of undead to tear him to pieces. But here, in the damp of the mine and endless toil of the camp, Cerus had no power.
Not meeting Nerros's eyes, he gave a curt nod. "Nearly done," he said softly.
The other man gave the cart a light shove, pushing it another inch back.
"Nearly done, eh? What makes you think that?"
Cerus kept his eyes downcast. He wanted nothing more than to reach his raggedy excuse for a bed and collapse there, sinking into the reprieve sleep brought until dawn, when he'd be woken with a boot or a shout. Such a small desire, held out of reach by this lowborn vulture.
"It's my tenth load," Cerus said, trying to keep his voice neutral. Too fearful or demure and Nerros would latch on like a parasite; too angry, and the other man would seize onto the opportunity to punish him for defiance. It seemed there was very little Cerus could do that would allow him to avoid misery. "The daily requirement is ten," he continued, but as Nerros leaned forward, he knew it wasn't enough.
"I count nine." 
Cerus saw what was going to happen before the other man moved, but could do nothing to stop it as Nerros suddenly gave the cart a hard shove, too much weight behind the motion for Cerus's frantic countering push to do anything. It was all he could do to scramble out of the way and avoid being crushed under the wheels.
As hours of work went careening back down the sloped trail, Cerus didn't bother to quell the rising feeling of despair.
"How unlucky," Nerros said, heavy boots trudging towards Cerus's sprawled form, not stopping until the toe of one was pressed against his ribcage. Whether it was a promise of pain or a mere threat, he was uncertain.
"You'd better get back to work," the other man continued. "Ten's the requirement, ain't it? Or should I beat you for lying down on the job?"
Wordlessly, Cerus began to struggle to his feet. Not fast enough for Nerros, and the man made his impatience known with a kick in the abdomen, prompting a cry from Cerus and a laugh from his tormentor.
"Better hurry, little shadow." His teeth glinted in the dim light as a grin crossed his face. "Be dark soon."
Then, mercifully, Nerros at last turned away.
§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§•§
@whumpwillow @rabbitdrabbles @kixngiggles @honeycollectswhump @chiswhumpcorner @whatwhumpcomments , @dont-look-me-in-the-eye , @turn-the-tables-on-them , @pigeonwhumps , @itsmyworld23 , @andromeda-liske , @starlit-hopes-and-dreams , @haro-whumps , @kira-the-whump-enthusiast ,
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guiltyidealist · 4 months
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The Red Lantern cast stimboard 8/10: Slayer
x x x x x x x x x Banner
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ochremutt · 2 months
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I have been in such a dog mood lately. Just bark bark bark
I think partly because I've been playing that Red Lantern game. And also reading about sled dogs and watching sled dog movies/docs again lately. It's always a good time when I'm in a dog shift for more than a few days.
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These are greenland dogs, but close enough to qimmiit shhh
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sergeifyodorov · 6 months
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so the iditarod. any fun facts?
the Iditarod Trail as we know it was originally a mail trail. in the far north, dogs have been used as freight runners since precontact times by alaska native peoples like the inupiat (in fact, the name for the "malamute" sled dog breed comes from the name for a group of the inupiat, the malemiut who lived on the seward peninsula.
as a draft animal dogs are, pound for pound, stronger and faster than horses, and in an environment like the alaskan interior a carnivore is much easier to feed than a hay-eating herbivore. they are also much better at navigating the winding, slippery, and often difficult trails -- there are places that snowmachines can't go, to this day, but dogs can. old mail trail runners would have teams of twenty or more dogs, hauling cargo like gold and mail and people through the interior. the town of iditarod itself, although now largely a ghost town, once was larger than anchorage!
the history of the iditarod race starts in the winter of 1925 when nome, a town on the icebound bering sea, suffered a diphtheria outbreak. without serum and with no way to get it there by other means -- icebound, so no boats, and the only pilot who could make the trip was on the other end of the continent -- they organized a trail relay, seven hundred miles long. it took them six days.
fifty years later, with mushing considered a dying sport, they decided to resurrect the iditarod as a race, anchorage to nome, one musher and fourteen dogs. it's about a thousand miles long -- there's two different routes, which alternate every year.
uh list of fun trivia below the cut so i don't make this TOO long
specifying the two routes thing: the routes only diverge at about the halfway point and reconnect at about the three-quarter mark, at the checkpoint right before they hit the bering sea.
trail dogs wear little booties, not because their feet get cold but to protect them from things like fallen branches, and other hazards on the trail. mushers can go through hundreds of booties in a race.
the last musher to complete the iditarod is called the "red lantern," which is a tradition that apparently started as a joke and stuck. you may have heard of musher apayauq reitan, who made history as the first out trans person to run the iditarod? she was the red lantern in 2022!
the current general frontrunners of the iditarod are father and son mitch and dallas seavey. dallas is one of two people to have won the race five times.
four people have won four times, including susan butcher, one of the first women to win.
race times can vary HUGELY depending on year and musher. the records are about eight and a half days, but it's not uncommon for people to take two weeks. libby riddles, who won in 1985, had a winning time of 18 days!
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thegroupofalltime · 8 months
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I PUT OUR OCS NAME THROUGH AN EMOJI TRANSLATE AND
(these are in order of the phighting list) first up
truth's ocs
Hoe Canada Western Sahara Sniper rifle Japanese ogre Ribbon X Tightly closed eyes
met's ocs
Left right arrow Sled Seismic resistance Dagger knife Dagger knife Wild lanterns
ill post the rest soon
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purelyfiction · 2 years
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Contractual
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Nathan Drake x Female Reader
Word Count: 1,506 words
Summary: Nate’s gone missing again, and you’re about to get lost in the Canadian wilderness looking for him. 
Content Warning: weapon mentions, injury mention, blood depiction, body mention, blood for sure.
When would you ever find Nathan Drake on a beach somewhere? Or maybe at a bar with a drink in his hand and one waiting for you too? It felt like every time you turned around to find him it was in the most remote corners of the world. This time you’re in the mountains of Canada, a whole dog sled team leading your way, sat in the sled with Sully hovering above you, mushing the dogs on.
Victor had called you in. That had been bad news to start, but when he’d said he’d lost track of your boyfriend and needed another set of eyes, you’d booked your flight. Here you were, freezing your ass off and trying to find the brunette with his last known location. Despite the dozens of layers on your body, it’s absolutely frigid. It worries you. If you were cold, how was Nathan meant to survive this? Sully’s voice pulls you from your thoughts. In the distance was what looked like a camp, a smaller group of sled dogs tied to stakes. You slow to a stop and Sullivan helps you up from your seat. You greet the dogs who are beyond excited to see people, looking around. Not a word is spoken between the two of you. As you look around the campsite, you see that there is a large amount of supplies left behind, including weapons. That wasn’t a good sign. Moving from the tent you’re exiting to spot a field of red in the snow. 
Your feet move you quickly, you reach out to pull the shoulder of the figure on the ground, flipping them over - a sigh leaves you. It’s not Nathan, luckily, but it wasn’t encouraging. “This had to be Nate’s guide.” You offer, standing upright, looking over your shoulder, seeing the father figure staring at the ground. You join him as he finally speaks up. 
“Drake isn’t a size 14 shoe is he?” A wince moves over your face as you see the large shoeprint in the snow. 
“He’s an 11.” You mumble, sighing. There’s no sign of him, a dead body and evidence that he didn’t leave willingly. You set the dogs to their own sled, Sully leading the way with his team, and you with your own team set off following the  trail away from the campsite. 
It’s hours before you find any changes. You’d slowed to find a much larger campsite, multiple tents, a fire still burning. This wasn’t Nathan. The weapon crates told you otherwise. This was the camp of an army. “He would be up against another army, wouldn’t he?” You groan.
“Typically the kind of crowd he runs with.” Sully jokes, clearly trying to lift the mood. You dismount from the sled, drawing your weapon as you take careful steps around the area. Sticking your head into the largest tent, you see maps taped up to the canvas and battery powered lanterns lighting them. Approaching, you look over the material. You couldn’t understand what was written on them - french maybe? Seems valid considering the terrain around you. A wind rips over the tent, the sound startling you as you continue to take in the desk’s supplies. Pens, geographical maps, road maps, compasses that had been abandoned, Nathan’s handwriting, empty thermoses - Nathan’s handwriting. A shaking hand picks up the note, reading over it quickly. “This is from his journal.” You mumble, turning to the opening of the tent, exiting into the blistering cold. Sully stands with one of the dogs, petting them and giving them praise, causing you too look at him with annoyance. “Really?” The older man looks up at you. 
“What? They’re cute dogs. You know Nate wants one?” A roll of your eyes, you hold up the paper to him. 
“I found this in the main tent. Whoever was here has his journal. Or him.” You offer, digging your gloved hands under your armpits, trying to keep them warm. 
“I know this page. The kid had been going on about a hidden village in a valley in the woods. With the dense foliage they kept themselves pretty hidden.” Sully pockets the paper, leaving you to nod. 
“Okay, where is it?” You ask, and he shrugs. 
“Hell if I know, Nate was the one with the know-how.” Of course. 
“Sounds about right. Alright I guess we need to head out.” And so, you did, back on the next logical step. 
It felt like you were going in circles at this point. Your eyelids are drooping with sleep, the cold getting worse the further into the night you get. You can feel the dogs getting tired. “Sully, I think we need to call it a night.” You begrudgingly offer. With no response you shine your flashlight further up the path, seeing Sully and his team are almost a mile ahead of you. Great. You’re about the mush the dogs again when you hear something in the brush. You stop the dogs, moving your light to the sound. 
Part of you is scared to even breathe. There could be enemies in these woods, animals - who knows. Despite that, you’ve got your pistol ready, waiting. Instead, you find yourself waiting for the sound to come through again. You don’t hear it. What had been a hard thump, and breaking twigs, now is still. You step off the sled as you hear dogs running back your way. Sully must have figured out you’d stopped. Further into the woods you go, you finally hear him. “Hey, what are you-”
“Sshhh” You hush him, listening a fine tuned ear to the woods. There’s something there now. A groan. Labored breathing. Your eyes travel along the ground, until a pistol lays in the snow, just out of your way. Abandoned. Footprints litter the way into a makeshift path. One that begins to hold red circles in the snow every couple of inches. 
The circles grow in size the further you get. Footsteps soon turns to a trail, marks of someone crawling through snow. Blood streaking the way. Until the trail ends, a huddled figure, curled in the wooded area. The source of the grunting. The breathing. Bright orange jacket and all. 
Nathan. 
His name leaves you in shouts as you run to him, pulling him from his position, out onto his back. A cry leaves him as you move him, a hiss coming through gritted teeth. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” You whisper it, hands hovering just above him. “You’re hurt, where are you hurt?” A hand is quick to caress his cheek, more leather than your actual hand, but it’s cold out. Looking over him, you see he doesn’t have gloves on. Hands are blistering red where they aren’t covered in blood. A shout over your shoulder as you call out to Victor. 
“Sully’s here? Bastard abandoned me.” Nate mumbles, and you shake your head. 
“No, no, he lost you, honey. Hey, hey.” You tap his face, finally getting him to look at you. You barely make out his blue eyes in the dark, wind ripping through the trees, burning your cheeks. “We’re gonna get you out of here. Okay?” You offer, rubbing his arm as Sully brings one of the sleds over to you. You’re watching the elder when a hand grabs your arm. You turn your attention back to the figure on the ground, looking at him eagerly. “Yeah, yeah, what is it?” Nathan looks at you, somewhat expressionless before he speaks. 
“You deserve so much better.” Your eyebrows furrow. 
“What?” It’s paired with heat in your face. Tightness in your throat. “Nate, wh-what are you talking about?”
“Better. Better than me. Shouldn’t...” He takes a sharp breath, another groan of pain. “Shouldn’t always be putting yourself in danger for me.” You can feel the warm tears on frozen skin as they fall away. 
“It’s... it’s you, Nate. Why wouldn’t I?” You can hear the break in your voice, you know that isn’t encouraging to him, which is what he needs right now. Strength.
“I ask myself the same thing every time you come after me. Why should you? I don’t-” A hiss comes from him as Sully starts to help him to the sled, “I don’t do anything for you. Selfishly run off on...” He’s struggling to speak now, leaving you to grab his hand. 
“You’re not selfish, baby. I signed up for this.” You remind him.
“You shouldn’t have.” You know what he means. The countless scars on your own body that had come from retrieving him, finishing out treasure hunts that ended with injuries and destruction. The death tally that had come from defending yourself just to get to him. “Better. You deserve better.” He’s repeating himself now. All you can do is sit with him, waiting for Sully’s word to leave. 
“I read the terms and conditions. I’m getting what I want. Not to worry.” You reassure him, petting the top of his head comfortingly. A kiss to his forehead. “That’s all I need.”
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tescheer · 6 months
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Hello all!
TESCheer is back for its third year and this time, to make things a little less overwhelming, we're changing it up quite a bit! The last two years, we had 25 prompts, one for each day of December leading up until Christmas Day. It was decided upon between the two mods of this event to switch it up for ease and convenience!
So what's changed? This year, instead of starting on December 1st and ending on the 25th (or Christmas Day), we've decided to start the Sunday following the US holiday of Thanksgiving, or November 26th. Rather than doing 25 daily prompts, the prompt list has been narrowed down to just 20 and sorted into weeks. Each week will have five prompts to choose from and it's up to you which ones you want to do and how many, too! The exception is the final week of this, week five, which isn't actually a full week, but the days of December 24th & 25th, or Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Rather than prompts, it's considered a "free day" for you to come up with whatever you want!
The point of this event is to bring some holiday cheer to the TES fandom, be it through writing, art, screenshots, gifs, edits, mood boards, you name it! If you're creating something that fits one of the prompts, feel free to share it in the tag, #tescheer. We look forward to seeing what everyone has to share this year!
Rules:
As this is an event for the Elder Scrolls fandom, please keep your submissions mostly relevant to the Elder Scrolls universe.
AUs and crossovers involving Elder Scrolls characters or the Elder Scrolls universe are welcome, but please make sure it is TES-oriented. Additionally, we ask that you tag these submissions as "alternate universe" or "crossover."
You are under no obligation to participate in every week, nor do every prompt for a singular week. If you only feel like participating in a prompt or two that catches your eye, we're still happy to have you! You are more than welcome to pick and choose as you please.
Combining prompts is welcome and encouraged! We just ask that you tag appropriately for organization reasons.
Tag your post with the corresponding week/prompt (ex, if the prompt you're using is from week two, tag it as "week two: [prompt]").
Ping this blog (@tescheer) and tag your submission as #tescheer or #tescheer2023 so we can find you!
NSFW is welcome but please tag accordingly and use a read more break for any NSFW content (mobile users can use a read more by typing ": readmore :" without the spaces and quotations, then hitting enter).
Please use a read more for longer writing submissions, too. 5-6 paragraphs without is fine, but beyond that, use your best judgement.
Keep your submissions cheerful! The whole point of this event is to bring cheer to the fandom and it's hard to do that if entries are extremely dark and depressing. This is by no means saying darker themes can't be explored and are forbidden, but please ensure some good comes of it for your characters!
No harmful content. This should go without saying, but for clarity's sake, no racism, homo/transphobia, sexism (this includes misogyny AND misandry), ableism, rape/abuse apology, incest, NSFW content involving minor/underage characters, or otherwise hateful, bigoted, or toxic content allowed. Understand that the decision to include this rule in no way reflects the personal views of the mods, but was tailored with the best interests of the event in mind in order to keep it safe, fun, and cheerful for yourself, the mods, and everyone else!
Be considerate, polite, and respectful toward each other. It's easier to just ignore something you don't like than to make a stink about it.
The Prompts
Week One: November 26th - December 2nd - Cloak - Snow - Sparkle - Home - Music
Week Two: December 3rd - December 9th - Sled - Gray - Kiss - Party - Mountain
Week Three: December 10th - December 16th - Gift - Lantern - Hat -Snuggle - Night
Week Four: December 17th - December 23rd - Bells - Dance - Fur - Blizzard - Treat
Week Five: December 24th - December 25th - Free Day
Questions Answered:
Do I have to celebrate holidays to participate? Absolutely not! The point of the event is to bring cheer to tesblr, and that's doable even if you don't celebrate holidays! The timing of the event is simply because the mods themselves do love the holiday season, but don't expect everyone else to feel the same way. If you want to stick to a festive, holiday theme, feel free! If it's not your speed, that's okay too!
Who are the mods? The mods are @elfinismsarts, who created and operated this event during its first run in 2021, and @friend-of-giants, who took over for its second run in 2022!
Can I submit a post late? You sure can! However, we will stop checking the tag and responding to pings as of January 1st, 2024. So if you really want your submission to be seen, try to get it posted and tagged before then. We understand that for most people, the holidays are a busy time of year, so we will try to give you as much wiggle room as possible.
When does the event start and when does it end? It starts Sunday, Novemeber 26th, 2023 and ends on Monday, December 25th, 2023. The extension period for late submissions will close on Monday, January 1st, 2024.
Does my submission have to be festive or wintry? Nope! As long as it's relevant to the chosen week/prompt and remains within the rules, you can submit whatever you want. While some prompts are a little on the nose, they are all completely up to your interpretation.
My question wasn't here! That's okay! Our ask box is open to any other questions you may have!
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