#the ENDLESS NIGHTS AND SHE IS WITH SINBAD!
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the sheer jubilation and glee i felt when brennan dropped scheherazade into the narrative orbit....
#she and cinderella... ARE SO DEAR TO ME <33#how 1001 nights became the endless nights ACTUALLY GO OFF BRENNAN#i love when established lore the classic stuff gets. misshapen a bit. in this very particular way of being touched with darkness.#the ENDLESS NIGHTS AND SHE IS WITH SINBAD!#god i love when people take cool stuff and put a very decent and dark spin on it. my favourite thing.#neverafter#d20
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Dimension 20 Neverafter FPE (Fairytales Per Episode): The Numbers
I’ve been updating the original version of this post since Ep. 3, and as such it has a lot of theories/additions/explanations/ramblings. This is just the numbers. Every fairytale, nursery rhyme, or piece of folklore included, referenced, or alluded to across the series (that I found).
For some of these, I was unable to determine one specific tale, and for some of these, I am unsure as to whether the reference was intentional. I’ll put that if that’s the case. It is what it is, baby. Enjoy!
Full list beneath the cut, by episode.
Ep. 1
The PCs (and their backstories)
Mother Goose (+1)
Mother Hubbard (+1)
Jack
jumped over the Candlestick (+1)
and the Beanstalk (+1)
Ylfa (Little Red Riding Hood) (+1)
“Huff and puff, little one” = 3 little pigs allusion (+1)
Pib (Puss in Boots) (+1)
Pinocchio (+1)
Cinderella (+1)
stepmother’s official art says “Cinderella...” at the bottom
Rosamund (sleeping beauty/briar rose) (+1)
Gerard (the princess and the frog) (+1)
Snow queen (mentioned by Elody) (+1)
the rest of the episode
the little red hen (+1)
Ol king Cole (+1)
The little old lady who lived in a shoe (+1)
(alluded to) Alice n Wonderland (+1)
rabbit pulling a teapot
total tale count: 16
Ep. 2
Herr Drosselmeyer (+1)
The Nutcracker
Snow White (+1)
(alluded to) Beauty and the beast (+1)
furniture coming alive
total tale count: 3
Ep. 3
.........nothing new to report
tale count: 0
Ep 4
the fairy with the turquoise hair is actually not exclusive to Pinocchio - she has her own book*.
*I found out later that this is not true, hence no +1
(alluded to) the little mermaid (+1)
“a dancing princess who either cannot or will not speak near a beach.”
there’s. So many rabbit and fox tricksters in the world.
One specific tale for Fox is alluded to, so he gets (+1)
a reply to the original post mentioned a character named Reynard the Fox from medieval French literature that might be the reason that the Fox speaks with a French accent.
“Isengrim” is the name of the daggers Pib gets.
There’s a tale called Ysengrimus from 1152 CE where Reynard the Fox (along with a certain Wolf) appears.
No specific tales for Rabbit are specifically referenced except for Pinocchio’s story, but if Fox’s French accent is an allusion to Reynard the Fox, I’m taking Rabbit’s Cockney British accent to be an allusion to Peter Rabbit (the most famous British trickster rabbit I can think of.) He gets a (+1)
There are surely other rabbits that inspired Brennan, but I’m not qualified to sift through all trickster rabbits ever.
I’m sorry if it’s not a Cockney accent. That’s just what it sounded like to me. +1 for each of them seems fair regardless.
the golden goose (another Jack/Mother Goose tale not specifically mentioned before) (+1)
total tale count: 4
Ep. 5
hey diddle diddle (+1)
the dish ran away with the spoon + the cow jumping over the moon
itsy bitsy spider (+1)
first allusion to little miss muffet (+1)
(alluded to) goldilocks (+1)
”just enough” oats
first mention of Aesop (+1)
1001 nights (+1) (scherazade/The Endless Nights)
“spider queen”/scherazade’s spider (+1)
I cannot describe the lengths I have gone to to try and figure out who the mythical spider that fuses with Muffet is. there are many possibilities but none seem more likely than the rest. please, god, if you know which spider is being referenced here, let me know.
sinbad (+1)
“Sinbad the Sailor”
magical palace w the tapestries of starlight (+1)
there’s a fuckload of magic palaces in 1001 nights. idk which one this refers to but it does refer.
total tale count: 9
Ep. 6
No new tales - expands on ones already mentioned (muffet, scherazade’s spider)
first actual appearance of little miss muffet
total tale count: 0
Ep 7
the cloak of rushes (the gillesuit/haystack cloak) (+1)
As of Ep. 9, we know that this is probably from the English fairy tale “Cap-o’-Rushes”
the golden bridle (+1)
some cursory googling indicates that this is most likely from the celtic tale of Guleesh.
In ep 13 & 14 (& the adventuring parties) they talk about what it does, and while nothing they say rules out Guleesh, it doesn’t really match up either.
so…….maybe it’s not intended to be the one from the tale of Guleesh. I remain optimistic.
the golden chair (+1)
a grimm fairytale with a weirdly christian bent
it is very possible that this was not an intentional allusion.
I have to mention here that the cloak of stars recovered from the spider’s den is a reskin of the DND 5e “Robe of Stars”
I spent multiple months trying to figure out what this cloak could be an allusion to. there’s nothing clear-cut. like the sword of truth, I believe this to be an archetype from no one tale in particular.
total tale count: 3
Ep 8
first actual appearance of Aesop!
the lion and the mouse (+1)
the boy who cried wolf (+1)
the scorpion and the frog (+1)
total tale count: 3
Ep 9
BABA YAGA (+1)
(alluded to) the princess and the pea (+1)
siobhan asks if anyone sees any stacks of mattresses without peas under them to sleep on
(alluded to) this little piggy went to market (+1)
it’s not in the captions but emily axford says ‘well there has to be a market, right? cause this little piggy went to market’
first actual appearance of 3 little pigs
total tale count: 3
Ep 10
(alluded to) peter and the wolf (+1)
the baron’s named peter and there’s a wolf. that can’t be a coincidence,
total tale count: 1
Ep 11
the emperor’s new clothes (+1)
“the naked emperor”
rumpelstiltskin (+1)
“the king of apogee“ and the rumor about him
Koschei the deathless (+1)
(alluded to) the binding of Fenrir (Norse mythology) (+1)
Ylfa puts her hand in the Wolf’s mouth to prove her and Mother Goose’ good intentions.
I didn’t catch this one at first - thank you to the many posts about it in the #neverafter tag!
total tale count: 4
Ep. 12
Rapunzel (+1)
The North Wind (+1)
from what I can tell, this is from "East of the Sun and West of the Moon"
I’m sure The North Wind is from other things too, though
first actual appearance of the little mermaid!
total tale count: 2
Ep. 13
no new tales - expands on the little mermaid & pinocchio
total tale count: 0
Ep. 14
the legend of the children of Lír (+1)
it is revealed in this episode that the sea witch is named Alba Mac Lír
“Mac Lír“ in Scottish Gaelic = son of Lír
thank you @twoeelsforsupper for this observation!
total: 1
Ep. 15
no new tales, unless you count Clara The Horse Princess
total: 0
Ep. 16
thumbelina (+1)
hans christian anderson tale from 1835, in the second volume of his Fairy Tales Told For Children series.
tom thumb (+1)
English folklore, there was a 1621 book called The History of Tom Thumb
Jack the Giant Killer (+1)
in ep 17 adventuring party, brennan talks a bit about the multiplicity of jacks, and clarifies that there are TWO separate Jack + Giants myths.
Jack and the Beanstalk - an English fairytale about a young boy who accidentally grows a beanstalk to the Giant World and only “kills” the giant at the end by cutting the beanstalk down, leaving the giant to fall to his (their?) death.
Jack the Giant Killer - a Welsh fairytale about a warrior named Jack who fights a bunch of giants with a huge club and wins
So, while we’ve already counted Jack and the Beanstalk, this episode does introduce a new variation on Jack - Jack the Giant Killer.
total: 3
Ep. 17
Fear Not (+1)
another grimm fairytale
the brave little tailor (+1)
aka “the guy who kills a bunch of flies with his belt”
Jack and Jill (+1)
three blind mice (+1)
total: 4
Ep 18
The Wishing Star (+1)
look there’s many stars you can wish on. “star light, star bright” has one but there are many others
Ep 19
no new tales - it’s finale time!
total: 0
Ep 20
fairies!
so in the 1880s, Andrew Lang wrote a series of fairytale books named after fairies of various colors. I’m counting each fairy who has a book named after them as a new tale.
NOTE: the Blue Fairy (+1)
ok look i fucked up yall. The Fairy With Turquoise Hair is re-named “The Blue Fairy” in a lot of adaptations, so when I previously counted her separately from Pinocchio bc she had her own book, I was referring to “The Blue Fairy Book”
so we’re counting it here instead bc it’s the first appearance of the actual Blue Fairy
The Red Fairy Book (+1)
The Green Fairy Book (+1)
The Orange Fairy Book (+1)
The Yellow Fairy Book (+1)
total: 5
total series tale count: 62
allusions (aka ones where nothing is referenced by name e.g. Fenris): 17
could be unintentional: 8
direct, clear references: 37
have a good one yall!
#neverafter#neverafter spoilers#d20#d20 spoilers#dimension 20#dimension 20 spoilers#original post#myth#folklore#stories#dropout#brennan lee mulligan#dnd#fairytale#now to go work on my list of greek/latin root words used in names in trw#it aint much but its honest work
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The opportunities we may take
Sinbad x Oc
Soulmate AU
Part 15
Confession
--- Kingdom of Sindria, Palace of Sindria---
Exuberant laughter echoed through the well-filled hall. The generals, their families and some of the king's guests sat all around him, enjoying the music and the wine that was being served. To the delight of Sharrkan and Sinbad, some female dancers and bards also took part in the small celebration and thus turned it into an illustrious little gathering. Sinbad hadn't given a reason for the occasion, but in the end he was never needing one to pass the time with some of his favorite activities such as drinking and flirting with beautiful woman.
As already during the Maharajan a few weeks ago, some scantily clad ladies had gathered around the king of Sindria, fawning over him, while they vied for his attention, which he seemed happy to give to the willing women. Deep down, Salome felt a painful stab in her chest at the sight of her savior sharing frivolous gestures with his female guests, not understanding how much the bond between them affected her so strongly while apparently he seemed not at all affected by it. The young prophetess looked down in dismay as she dug her fingers into the light fabric of her dress. Sinbad had not exchanged a word with the young woman since he received the scroll from Isaac, a behavior that bothered her more than she was ready to show in public. Why had he ignored her for the rest of the day? What was going on inside his mind?
Instead of pressuring him, Salome had also withdrawn to give him some space, but the more hours passed, the more unbearable this situation became for her. Nonetheless, at the beginning of the festivity, the young woman had sat a little further away from the other attendants. She had placed herself on one of the wide window sills and was now leaning against the golden, ornate frame while she silently listened to Malik's and Isaac's conversation, without really registering what they were speaking about. Other priests who were allowed to linger in the castle also sat around them and talked quietly to one another, but these too were no more than part of the background noise that surrounded her.
Lost in her own miserable thoughts, the young prophetess looked out of the window and began to watch the sunset with a yearning gaze. Its orange glow reflected on the lively waves like golden flames, coloring the water in a sea of liquid gold. The surface reminded her of Sinbad's eyes, when candles illuminating his iris by night.
"Salome?"
Surprised, the addressed girl turned around and looked at Isaac, only to find that her childhood friend kept his attention to the King of Sindria with a frown, watching him with his steel colored eyes. "Yes?" She replied, pushing a strand of hair away from her face and secured it behind her ear. "Are you happy?" He asked bluntly without turning towards her, not wanting to lose sight of Sinbad's behavior. Malik fell silent, observing his sister glumly, while Salome followed the archpriest's gaze and watched as Sinbad laughed at something one of the ladies had told him in a coquettish manner, as he pulled her onto his lap and leaned carelessly over her neck with a wolfish grin. Swallowing hardly, the young prophetess witnessed how the scantily clad woman pressed her lips to the king's ear, before biting in its shell without shame. At that very moment, however, Sinbad's eyelids lifted, so that his golden iris looked purposefully past the dancer's neck and focused on his little prophetess. They kept eye contact to each other for a few seemingly endless heartbeats before Sinbad turned away again to empty his goblet filled with spiced wine, turning his attention back to the dancer, who was looking at him questioningly, because he had not reacted to her directly.
With trembling lips Salome turned to Isaac, who was now appraising her with his typical calculating, almost piercing look. She forced herself to relax her stiff body before she nodded reassuringly. Knowing what he meant, the dark haired woman decided to answer accordingly, with a forced smile on her face: "Do not worry. King Sinbad and I are just friends. Nothing more and nothing less. "Isaac looked at her in silence, while slowly but surely a disapproving expression spread across his features. He didn't need to speak his mind. She could guess where his thoughts were going, thinking about the bond that should bind them to each other. But unlike Sinbad she had been groomed all her life to accept this link that surrounded them for what it was. The king however, was not someone who naturally believed in such things like destined couples. So she was glad that they were able to form a friendship over the past few weeks, taking tiny steps to get to know each other. Smiling more widely, the young prophetess nodded softly, before she looked back to the setting sun, thinking that the conversation was over, when Isaac asked again:
"But... are you truly happy with that?"
.
.
.
Sighing, the young prophetess leaned forward to rest her forearms on the cold stone of the balcony veranda. It was already in the middle of the night, but some lights could still be seen behind the castle walls, illuminating various spots throughout the whole kingdom of Sindria. The mild night air played with the young woman's loose hair as she sighed sadly, looking up at the sky in deep thoughts. Before the celebration was over, Salome had retired to her room. At some point she hadn't been able to take it any more and was no longer capable to watch the frivolous spectacle of the king and his little flirt, while keeping a mild smile on her face. Worse, the question Isaac had asked her had thrown her pretty much off track.
Was she actually happy? Was she happy that she and Sinbad were 'just' friends?
But how could she actually be happy with it when she had adored this man before she had even got the chance to meet him in person? Her feelings for him had been immortalized in the stars. It was her destiny to love the reader of the waves and she did so unconditionally every day a little more, despite his haughty and manipulative personality. She just had no other choice, her soul was drawn to him and longed for him with no ifs or buts in her case.
But ... what could she offer him anyway? A young girl just before her 18th birthday and yet still so much younger than the King of Sindria. In his eyes she was surely still almost half a child. Would he even be able to ascribe himself to a single person, or would that be too much to ask of a king? Was it naive to wish for a partnership based on a dedicated relationship between two people? Was this connection perhaps more like an iron chain for him that pulled him down and tied him to her in an uncomfortable way? He was a free spirit, so was he able to love her at all?
Plagued by self-doubt, Salome squeezed her eyes together as she desperately tried to hold back the agonizing tears that began to build behind her eyelids. Her body was shaking hard, but she just wasn't able to calm down her breathing, which is why she couldn't suppress the tremor at all. Images of Sinbad pressing his lips against the dancer's neck, began to spread in her head and made the young girl finally sob in a bitter way. She imagined how he had been whispering sweet nothings into thee ear of the nameless woman, before he disappeared with her in a secluded area, leaving his other guests behind, without a second thought. Why did she have to feel so strongly for the King of Sindria?
A sudden knock against the door of her chambers tore Salome out of her bitter thoughts. Startled, the prophetess winced before turning quickly towards her balcony door to look into her room, while she wiped her tears hastily away from her cheeks.
From there, the dark-haired woman could watch how her doorknob moved, but she had locked the entrance, which is why it would not open without her unlocking it. Again it knocked quite urgently, which finally caused Salome to decide to answer her late night guest. When she opened the door, she was surprised to find that none other than Sinbad himself was standing in front of her. The strong smell of alcohol was emanating from him and he leaned relatively heavily against the door frame, breathing quite hard, when he lifted his head to settle his piercing gaze on her glazed eyes.
"S-Sinbad? What are you doing here? ", Salome whispered in surprise, while she stroked her cheeks again as a precaution to wipe away the paths of her tears, in hope that he didn't catch that she had been crying a few moments ago. Instead of answering, Sinbad pressed his hand against the polished wood and pushed it and the young woman aside so that he could easily enter her room. As she stumbled, long, slender fingers cupped her upper arm and pulled her back with a hasty jerk.
Without realizing what was happening around her, Salome's back crashed against the re-locked door, while the king placed his hands next to her head and imprisoned her between his muscled arms. His heavy breathing mingled with the young woman's gasp of surprise, before he also leaned his forehead against the cool, polished surface of the wood, right next to her head. The smell of sweet perfume clung to his clothes and mixed with the familiar nuances that the man exuded as usual. The sweet scent made the young prophetess stomach contract uncomfortably, while it made her think about who Sinbad had been with until a few moments ago. With a heavy heart, Salome turned her head to his opposite side but dared not to move otherwise. His upper body was so close to her that she felt the high-quality fabric of his scarf brushing against her upper arms, while his necklaces clinked against her golden amulet. His warm breath brushed her bare shoulders, making her shiver with tension.
What was he doing here? Why wasn't he with the dancer with whom he had left the festivity just a few moments ago? Rooted to the spot, her eyes fluttered bashfully, before they focused on Sinbad's tense arm and watched as his hand clenched into a trembling fist beside her head.
"Fate!" the king spat deeply, while his body began to shake faintly. Flinching at his bitter tone, the prophetess bit her lower lip in a shy manner and squeezed her eyes shut, listening to his outburst, while she was unable to cope with the situation. "I have never let fate guide me. I, manage my damned destiny the way I like it!" "I know.", Salome breathed meekly, catching how Sinbad's knuckles cracking softly in his anger.
"Then tell me why this God, whom you worship so much, has apparently already chosen a path for me? Where is that a self-determined fate, huh?", he snapped, while he banged his fist against the door, before he abruptly turned away from the girl, when he noticed how Salome winced quietly. Overwhelmed by the situation, the young prophetess kneaded her hands desperately as she searched for the right words. "It was your decision to travel to Dalmasca.", She answered quietly, which seemed to take the wind out of his sails. "How could I not have done that when the mere thought that you may be out there somewhere didn't let me sleep, after I regretted years in advance that I didn't took the chance to reach you when I was younger?" He confessed urgently, while the surprise of his own behavior was written all over his face. Exhausted, he fished the scroll out of his tunic, before he sat down on the edge of her bed, in an exhausted manner.
"What is written in this translation is actually nothing new to me. You said it yourself in your recording after all.", he muttered while he glanced at his prophetess. Salome reluctantly moved away from the door and took a few cautious steps towards the king with gentle expression.
"You have already declared that your God wants you to stand by my side and aid me!" Sinbad explained while he watched as she slowly walked towards him, pausing briefly in front of his figure sitting on her bed, before she lowered herself to the ground in front of him. Organizing her nightgown, she sat only a few inches away from his legs, before she looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. The image that played out in front of Sinbad reminded him even more of the scene that she had immortalized of herself in the small crystal ball. The message that she had send to him in hope to be able to reach out to the king of Sindria.
"To aid me .... to keep me in the light ..." the king whispered absently, receding some of the words that were written in the scriptures of Solomon. Salome listened carefully, fighting her upcoming tears as she put her hands on her lap and folded them together in a praying manner. Her eyes were watery, but not a tear flowed down her delicate cheeks. Sinbad swallowed hard before continuing. "You were right. The bond that binds us has unsettled me just as much as the fact that the lines of your waves seemed to blur behind you. But nothing prevented me from still... feeling pain every time I decided against you!", the king confessed bitterly, as he leaned forward and supported himself with one arm on his knee while he stretched the other in her direction to run his callused fingers over her beautiful cheekbones. He looked at her with searching, golden eyes, pondering whether or not to keep talking, revealing one of his most hidden secrets. Pausing, Sinbad closed his honey colored eyes for a moment while he withdrew his hand and ran it over his face, to hide his features from her view. Salome could see that the man was hesitating in front of her, but in the end he decided to speak his mind, showing her the bitter truth: "But what's even worse is that I can't promise you what you had asked me to do in your message anymore."
An oppressive silence spread between the couple, because Sinbad was unable to find the right words to show her what he meant. Waiting for him to explain his statement, Salome looked at the king with tense shoulders, but there were no more words that tumbled from his lips. Taking a deep breath, Sinbad bent his upper body even further downwards so that his hair now also shielded his face from her, which was already covered by his trembling hands. His tense shoulders dropped when suddenly the bright atmosphere around him changed into something colder, more sinister. The bright light that usually surrounded him dimmed down slowly, while suddenly he radiated a certain coldness that send shivers down the spine of the lady of the rukh. Sobbing, she watched for the first time with widened eyes as black ethereal birds revealed themselves to her and mingled with the white ones who accompanied the king uninterruptedly. They fluttered in a lazy manner around Sinbad, who kept his head bowed in shame. Taking a deep breath, he slumped a little further down while his hands wandered from his face to his hair to bury them tensely in his lavender colored tresses. Tears ran down Salome's cheeks when she realized what he was revealing to her. Sinbad had already lost a part of himself ... She had asked him not to fall, but her request had reached him far too late and there was nothing she could have done to stop this. No more words left the king's lips, but neither was it necessary to understand the agony that seemed to be residing inside of him.
Cautiously, Salome slid forward a little, settling herself between the man's legs. With shaking hands, she grabbed Sinbad's cheeks as tears continued to run down her own. She brushed his purple hair away, to get a better look at him, watching how he pressed his eyes shut as if he were in pain. Overshadowed was her own sorrow, which she had felt a few moments ago, now emphasizing with the man who crouched over her. Determination spread in her chest like a beacon of light, when he opened his honey colored eyes, linking his hurtful gaze with her's. She hadn't been able to be with him in his hardest times, but that was now in the past. From now on. she swore to herself, she would give everything to keep the remaining light that surrounded him with all her might. "I don't care if you are surrounded by white or black rukh! My heart belongs only to you. It was always yours and nobody will ever be able to change this. No matter what comes: I will support and protect you with all I can give!", Salome swore in a firm, passionate voice, while she pressed his forehead against hers, looking deeply into his honey-golden eyes. "Always mine... protecting me... heh. Fate is a cruel thing, gifting me someone like you, after so many years...", the king repeated, almost amused, but his eyes betrayed how moved he really was by her words.
Sinbad took a shaky breath, chuckling lightly, while he also put his callused hands on her wet cheeks, cradling her head as if it could anchor him to the ground. His eyelids fluttered for a brief moment, before he returned her gaze with the same passion that sparkled in her turquoise colored eyes. "I know I said that I decide my fate myself, but I'm willing this one time not to rebel against destiny and accept what it has planned for me, if it means that you are the price I receive!", Sinbad confessed in surrender, as he passionately buried his fingers in her dark silky locks, while he lovingly pressed his nose against hers. His warm breath brushed her trembling lips, which were only a few inches away from his.
Salome's entire body trembled in a pleasant shiver, when she felt his fingers dig deeper into her hair, while he pulled her up, closer to him. His legs caged her delicate frame and gently grazed her on both sides. Her heart skipped a beat, only to pound within her chest twice as fast. This was it! This was what she wanted! Isaac had been right, she couldn't just be friends with Sinbad. Everything in her longed to surrender to the feelings, that slumbered within her core since the beginning of time.
Forgotten were all the plans of taking it slowly. She didn't just want to be his friend, no, she wanted everything this man was willing to give her. Probably in the future she would come to a point where she would question her heart. Yes, maybe at some point she would regret giving herself to him so willingly, but here and now she just couldn't help it. All she was left with were the overwhelming feelings that spread in her chest, as she instinctively arched her back and bridged the rest of the space between them, to press her lips passionately against his own. A comforting shiver ran down her spine, while her entire body tingled with pleasure. A sigh escaped her lips as Sinbad reacted just as fiercely, returning the kiss as if his life was depending on it. His mouth moved against hers without hesitation, animating her to follow his rhythm, while he easily took the lead.
Her trembling hands wandered from his cheekbones down over his neck to the beginning of his collar, where she finally dug her fingers into the fine fabric. She could feel his own beating heart pounding under her fingertips, how it drummed wildly against his chest. A huge amount of golden rukh circled the pair in contend silence. They were accompanied by a few black ones that continued to surround Sinbad, since he still hadn't pushed them away to hide them from the sight of those who can see them. What they both didn't notice, however, was how a handful of the black rukh began to slowly lighten up, losing their dark color during their passionate kiss, which they shared in bliss. The blackness slowly dissolved, revealing its natural golden shape, before a few of them began to take on a rose colored shade.
All the two of them could concentrate on at that moment were the feelings they shared through their deep kiss they shared with each other.
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Inseparable
Word Count: 4000+ (oneshot)
(AO3 Link) (FF.Net Link)
Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Pairing: Hakuei/Paimon
Summary: Expelled from her Vessel and returned to human form after the final battle, Paimon will still do her best to serve her beloved queen.
References events from my previous fics “Take Up My Sword,” “Where I Reign,” and “Solitary,” but it’s not necessary to have read those to understand this one. And, a few days late for the “hurt/comfort” day, but written for Magi WLW Week! @magi-wlw-hq
~0~
“And I’m not alone...With the touch of your hand, I am whole again.”
- Not Alone, All That Remains
~0~
After three long years of solitary confinement, freedom from her Vessel had not come at all in the way that Paimon had imagined it would.
For instance, she had not expected that she would only be freed after all the fighting was over: all the fury of the storm that had been pent up over so long was now left with no place to be unleashed. Neither had she expected that she would awake to see the system she had been fairly comfortably placed in for a thousand years completely torn to shreds. And the world with it, though to be fair she’d never seen quite enough of it to be too fussed over its entirely swapped locations. It had been both thrilling and frightening, yes, to walk out from the ruins of Alma Torran into this new place. But she had known full well that that was what had to be, and it was a world of all their creation to boot.
This? This was entirely unfamiliar; even the original form she’d reverted back to felt too small and too flimsy. Too powerless. Unused to the earth beneath her feet again, unused to standing on her own two legs, skittering around as she got her balance...She wasn’t sure she liked it at all.
But then she lifted her head, and froze when she saw the one person that sent all the fear and doubt flying out of her body just as fast as they’d set in. Then all at once, she was sprinting as fast as these legs could carry her, at that spot of clarity in this mess of color and sound --
“Hakuei-chan!”
There was just enough time for Hakuei’s head to turn and her eyes to widen before impact. In immediate hindsight, Paimon thought maybe she should have slowed down a bit, feeling Hakuei nearly buckle and fall under the force of her embrace, emitting a distinct “Oof!” sound as the breath was knocked from her. But she couldn’t help it. The feeling of her queen at last, at last, safe in her arms again, was too overwhelming...She was safe, right?!
She pulled back just as quickly as she had come in, holding Hakuei by her shoulders and looking her up and down. Her mouth was moving without her thinking about it. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?! I don’t know how I ended up all that way away from you!”
Hakuei was blinking up at her, with more surprise and wonder in her eyes than there’d been the first time she’d seen Paimon, all those years ago in her treasure room. “It’s all right, Paimon, I’m fine. Don’t panic.”
Her voice was somewhat faint, but other than that, she seemed mostly undamaged. Which left room for something else to catch Paimon’s attention. She glanced down at herself: only an inch or three taller than Hakuei instead of towering over her, tan skin and brown hair instead of deep blue, and...Oh, thank heaven, she was wearing clothes. But still!
“You...You know who I am?” she blurted.
Hakuei smiled, albeit weakly. “Of course I do. Who else has ever called me Hakuei-chan?”
That sent a pleasant chill over Paimon’s newly thin skin. She was all ready to say more -- perhaps to address the worn and tired look she saw around her queen’s eyes -- but then Seishun and the Kouga clan, shaking off their surprise, had crowded around them, and she was quickly occupied with getting acquainted with them. Of course she knew all her sweet children, even if they were not technically her Household anymore, but they were not quite as familiar with her.
The Djinn were no longer Djinn, but they of course did not cease to exist when their Vessels were rendered powerless, instead were merely ejected from them and reverted to their original states. The majority, as she heard, elected to stay with their former masters, their bonds still holding strong. All of the Ren family’s had, anyway, as they returned to Rakushou together, even if there was some confusion in figuring out where they would belong from now on.
(The palace rumor mill informed her that all of Sinbad’s seven had, as well, lingering in Sindria and waiting for the return of their vanished master. She couldn't say she understood them, but she did find herself pitying them, still holding a candle for a fickle, traitorous thing like Sinbad.)
Vinea now resided in a lake that had conveniently sprung up near the shaken palace grounds, where she was happy to provide Empress Kougyoku with advice as needed -- very proud, she said, of how her little fledgling had grown. Zagan could usually be found annoying Prince Hakuryuu and his ex-Magi partner, contrasting Belial, who tended to keep his distance from the pair. Leraje still hung around Prince Kouha and his girls, smoking and scoping out potential mates, just like the old days. Kouha, as she'd heard, had been more than happy to officially add her to his loyal band of outcasts. Phenex spent her time fussing over Prince Kouen, trying to see what she could do to help him recover, while Agares and Astaroth joined Dantalion in helping the royal family with their efforts to restructure the country’s military and bureaucracy.
And here Paimon was, lingering around the palace with no clear purpose, not having spoken to Hakuei in weeks.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, not at all! She would spend every waking minute by her queen’s side if she could, it was just...she wasn’t certain if Hakuei felt the same way anymore. Not only had she made no effort to seek out Paimon, she seemed to be actively avoiding her, ducking out of the room and avoiding eye contact whenever they came close. She hadn’t heard the princess speak another word to anyone since her return, and the pallor of her face and the dark shadows under her eyes concerned Paimon deeply.
She had a decidedly unsettling suspicion of what could be causing her distress, so much so that she had felt the need to go get some confirmation.
“Seishuuuuun, what’s the matter with her? Have I done something wrong? Won’t she talk to anybody?”
“Well,” said Seishun, who was quite quickly getting used to Paimon flopping down on top of him. “I don’t think it’s about you, exactly. She’ll talk to us and to Hakuryuu a little, but she won’t really look us in the eye. After, um...everything that happened with her, I think she’s ashamed. And confused, probably. I think...Maybe just give her a little time? I’d go talk to her but I don’t want to hurt her or scare her any worse.”
Paimon sighed. That had sounded fair enough, though she did tell herself that if Hakuei did not respond within a week or if she started to look any worse, she would step in. But as it happened, she didn’t have to. That very night, she turned the corner to the branch family’s rooms (where she and Zagan had been situated as well) and there was Hakuei, dressed for bed but leaning against the wall beside her door, arms crossed and head turned down to the floor. She glanced up at the soft sound of Paimon's footsteps, and Paimon stopped in her tracks, heart sinking at how utterly miserable the poor woman looked.
“Paimon.” Her voice was still so quiet. “May I talk to you?”
Paimon blinked. “Yes...Yes, of course you can, what is it?”
“I...”
Hakuei trailed off. She turned around and went into her bedroom, gesturing to Paimon to come with her. Paimon followed her in and across the candlelit room, sitting down on the bed next to her. Hakuei looked determinedly down at the floor again, hands folded in her lap. She swallowed hard and bit her lip, as if trying to say something but not finding the words.
It cut Paimon down to the bone to see her like this: worn, exhausted, afraid, as if she'd been through an endless war with no respite. And she had, hadn't she? Arba’s laugh echoed in her head, and brought her own burning hate back with it. It was that witch’s darkness that had done this, forced itself inside Hakuei and drained her dry, with no one to protect her -- !
Another second and Paimon might have blurted something out, but Hakuei beat her to it. “Did you...know what happened to me? Before they told you.”
“...Yes, I did.”
“And you knew who it was.”
“Yes,” Paimon answered, with some surprise and more than a little dread. “Did...you?”
“No. I didn’t know anything until she told me. She was all too happy to boast.”
Paimon swore she felt herself go pale as she realized what that meant, and was too horrified by it to respond right away. So Hakuei continued, and with her next words, might as well have stabbed Paimon directly in the heart.
“Paimon, I’m sorry...” Hakuei’s head twitched, as if she wanted to look at Paimon but couldn’t make herself do it. “Were you angry at me? Do you hate me?”
She felt very abruptly as if she’d been dunked bodily into cold bile, and hoped that the slack-jawed stare she was giving Hakuei now wasn’t too off-putting.
“You thought...No!” Her sudden shout made Hakuei jump and look her her in shock, and she immediately regretted it but couldn’t stop the words spilling out of her mouth. “No, of course I’m not angry at you! And of course I don’t hate you! Wh-Why would you think that?!”
“I...She...She said you knew her. And because I was her daughter, y-you’d think I -- ”
“No, no, no, you stop right there.” Paimon scooted closer to Hakuei until their knees brushed together, looking directly into the younger woman’s eyes. “Listen to me. Whatever she told you, it was a lie, all right? Just a cruel, petty lie meant only to hurt you.”
“She said you felt it happen, when she took me. She felt your anger...” A sardonic huff came up from her throat. “You should have heard her screaming in rage, she said. About how I must have tricked you, I didn't believe her but she said things like that over and over, for so long, I -- “
“I said stop! Right now!” Paimon reached out to take Hakuei’s shoulders in her hands, gripping her tight, not bothering to hide the desperation on her face. “Yes, I did feel her take you, and yes, you should have heard me, because I was terrified out of my mind for you! All this time, she was right there next to you, right under all our noses planning to do those awful things to you, and I never knew until I heard you crying out and felt her forcing her way in, washing you away with all her -- ”
She choked on that, on the memory of that ice-cold evil overwhelming her. Before she knew it, her throat was closing up and Hakuei’s image was blurred by stinging tears. The only thing keeping her from breaking down was the feeling of Hakuei’s shoulders under her fingers.
“I wanted to come and save you, I swear to you, I did! But she, she threw my Vessel away, and I couldn’t get out, I tried so hard, but I couldn’t feel you at all, and I -- !”
She flinched in spite of herself when Hakuei’s hands flashed up to grab her wrists, holding on just as desperately as she was.
“It’s okay! It’s okay. I understand, I was just being paranoid, I-I...I was fighting too.”
It took Paimon a few tries to swallow the lump in her throat. “Y-You...were?”
“Yes. I...It was...so strange. In that place...And it was a place. Even Arba wasn’t sure where exactly. But I...She was in control, always. I was either someplace between asleep and awake, or awake but not able to do anything. I couldn’t see or hear outside for so much of the time, I could never move, but I...I...” Hakuei looked down at Paimon’s lap, and mumbled the next words. “In any case, it was Arba’s domain, that much she made clear. I was...”
Every word did things to Paimon’s insides she hadn’t thought possible, but she still found it in herself to speak. “You were awake, this whole time. I was praying that you were asleep, that you weren't afraid or in any pain. But she hurt you.”
It wasn't a question. Hakuei’s fingers trembled, and she clung tighter to still them. She took a deep, slow breath before answering. “Yes. She did, she was...doing everything she could to make me stop fighting for control back. To make me lie down and die, in other words. But I couldn't do that to any of you, I couldn't! Even if...Sometimes...”
Hakuei tried to go on, but only a shaky, nervous noise came out instead, that told Paimon very clearly that the conversation needed to veer in a completely different direction.
So, driven by her gut instinct, she threw her arms completely around Hakuei and pulled her in close for a hug. From the way Hakuei only stiffened in surprise for a second before relaxing into Paimon’s touch, giving a contented hum as she sank her head onto her chest...She knew that that must have been the exact right thing to do.
“You can tell me anything, you know,” she said softly. “You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, but...You’ve been so brave and so strong, but you’ve been all alone. I’m here for you now, is all I’m trying to say. Even if I can’t lend you any more power.”
“It did feel wonderful, to be bonded with you that way. I never felt more powerful in my life. But...If I’m really being honest, I think I prefer you this way.” Hakuei lifted her head slightly to look up at Paimon’s face, with a hesitant little smile as she took it in. “I never noticed until just now, but...Do you know, you have the most beautiful brown eyes I’ve ever seen?”
“O...Oh?” A startled Paimon blinked them several times, her stomach performing a series of impromptu backflips. She couldn’t tell whether it felt good or not, she reflected, as she ran a tentative hand over Hakuei’s loose hair. “Well...I never thought about that. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is you, after all.”
Hakuei laughed, but there was something hollow in it. The princess rolled over in Paimon’s arms, and she laid back against the pile of pillows to accommodate the new position. She looked down at her own robe-clad body with an an expression that Paimon couldn’t place, but that worried her.
“I don’t feel beautiful. When I look at myself, after everything she did, I...I expect to see myself...mangled. Torn apart. Stained with her handprints, everywhere she...” Hakuei gulped, turning her face back to Paimon’s shoulder. Paimon, for her part, thought she knew exactly what Hakuei was so unwilling to say, and it boiled her blood, but she forced herself to stay calm and attentive as Hakuei pressed her fingertips to her cheek...her now smooth and perfect cheek. “But there’s nothing, no proof I was ever hurt at all. And I can’t even say I’m exactly the way I used to be, either. My scars, she erased me, she took away my scars -- !”
She choked on the beginnings of a sob.
“A puppet. That’s what she called me. Not a soldier, she said, I was never born to be a soldier, just a pretty little puppet for her to use. She didn’t just take three years of my life. She didn’t just take my father, and my brothers! She took hold of me and tried to rip out and throw away everything I made of myself, a-and now I’m...I’m just this blank shell that’s rotten and empty on the inside, and there was nothing I could do to stop her, I couldn’t even free myself in the end -- !”
Hakuei broke off into tears, and Paimon held her closer, as if just holding her tight enough could extinguish every bit of her pain. “Shhh, shhh...It’s all right now. You are a warrior, with the strongest heart I’ve ever known. You fought her as hard and as long as you could, and you’re safe now, that’s what matters.”
“It’s...Everything she did, it’s all my fault...!”
“No, no, it’s not! It’s not. Hakuei-chan, believe me, if you fall into that trap of blaming yourself, you’ll never come back out. All of Alma Torran was tricked by her and ruined by her, and there was nothing any of us could do about it until it was too late!” Paimon bit her lip. These were not exactly memories she wanted to be reliving, either. “It’s shame and anger and betrayal that never leaves you, I’m sorry to say. What you’ve lost, you’re not going to get back. But you’ve got your life back now, even if it’s not what you knew before. So now you pick yourself back up and move on with it. You do whatever you can. And you can do it with the people who love you.”
“You make that sound so easy.”
“...No one blames you for what happened, you know. They understand. They know it wasn’t you doing any of it.”
Hakuei sighed, deep and weary. “Yes, I’m sure that, ‘she’s possessed by her ancient body-stealing mother who technically isn’t really her mother,’ was the first conclusion everyone reached when I started doing such terrible things.”
“But that wasn’t you.”
“No, it wasn’t. But it was my voice and my face and my form, and that’s just as bad. Seishun and Doruji told me, while they were explaining how long I was out, that it took a full year before Aladdin realized that I wasn’t me anymore. All of them felt that pain of someone they loved and trusted turning around and treating them like trash, for no reason at all. There’s no way around it, and I...I haven’t been able to face any of them yet. How can I?”
“Well, you just ask!” If the situation weren’t so serious, Paimon would have giggled. “You’ve done all right with me tonight, haven’t you?”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course I do! If you need me to be with you while you go to them, then I’ll be right there by your side. But it is something you need to do. You can’t keep avoiding your family forever. You want to be with them again, don’t you?”
“Yes...Yes, I absolutely do, I love them all more than anything, but I...I don’t know whether it can be the same anymore. They’ve kept me in the dark about so many things, for so long. I don’t know what Kouen or any of them really thought of me, and Hakuryuu...” She snorted. “Hakuryuu acts like everything’s just perfect now. But the last time we talked...He made it clear that he never fully trusted me, that there’s plenty he blames me for. He’s had time to move on from the way he used to be, that much is clear. And it makes me happy to see him, and proud, but...That was time that I lost. I’m still lost. And I don’t know where I am in my own family and my own home anymore.”
Paimon nodding, continuing to stroke Hakuei’s hair as she explained. “That’s not something I have an easy answer for, I’m afraid. The only thing to do for it is to brace yourself and take the plunge.”
“...Yes, I figured as much,” Hakuei admitted. “I suppose it is the obvious answer. But still...It scares me, more than it should.”
“To tell you the truth, they're just as nervous to talk to you. They're worried they'll accidentally hurt you more. They don't know how you're feeling, and they should. You'll all feel better once you've got everything out in the open.”
“It won’t be a one-and-done thing. This...This is going to take time.”
“That’s right. No one’s going to rush you.” Paimon paused. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Arba told me so many things over the past three years. She had so many stories, so many tricks, it’s going to take so long just to parse out what was the truth and what was just another lie.” Hakuei swallowed hard. “I need to talk to Hakuryuu, if no one else. She taunted me about what she did to him, but she’d also laugh about how she could be lying about the...the worst things she talked about, and I...I just have to know what was going on. What nobody thought I could know.”
Paimon nodded, wishing fervently that she’d been paying more attention herself. Family discord, especially on the degree that royal families’ tended to escalate to, was not something she was well versed in. “We’ll put together what you want to ask about, and go from there, all right? We’ve got time now, no one’s going to hurt us anymore. The world’s feeling like a pretty friendly place lately, after all.”
Hakuei smiled at that, resting her head on Paimon’s shoulder. “That has been a relief. You know, I think that’s the part of all this that I’d like in my head before I go to sleep tonight.”
“Yeah, this seems like a nice place to break for the night,” Paimon agreed, glancing out the bedroom window at the golden full moon and stars. Those, at least, were still perfectly intact. She rolled over onto her side, taking an unresisting Hakuei with her. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the peace of the moment: in the dark and the quiet, wrapped in cool, soft silks and satins, with her beautiful queen safe and soothed in her arms. She would protect this peace, Paimon swore to herself, she would protect her queen with her own life.
“I’ve always found it best to sleep on things like this, anyway,” Hakuei murmured, snuggling up closer to Paimon, who wondered if Hakuei knew exactly how quickly that made her heart melt. “If you don’t mind...Would you keep doing that with my hair? It feels so nice.”
“Oh, I absolutely would not mind,” Paimon assured, stroking from the top of her head down to the back of her neck, slow and rhythmic.
“You know...” Hakuei smiled against Paimon’s collarbone, looking as if she’d like to laugh. “I used to keep you under my pillow. Your Vessel, I mean.”
At that, Paimon really did giggle. “Is that so?”
“Yes. If I’d wake up in the middle of the night, I’d just reach under and feel the feathers, the gold trim, and it would help me fall back to sleep. It was nice, knowing you were there even if I couldn’t talk to you.”
“Glad to be of service. Then and now.” With her free hand, Paimon gently traced the bruise-like shadows under Hakuei’s eyes. “You haven’t been getting much sleep lately, have you?”
Hakuei’s smiled faded, and she pressed her forehead against Paimon’s shoulder. “I...I dream of her. Every night I think I’m back with her. It’s...suffocating.”
Paimon leaned down to kiss Hakuei’s forehead, as she had the first time they’d met, without thinking. It felt like the most natural thing in the world to do, and Hakuei seemed to calm immediately. “It’ll be okay. I’ll keep every nightmare away from you. I’m here now, I’ll be here with you as long as you’ll have me.”
And just like that, the smile returned to Hakuei’s face. Her answer did not come in words; at least, not right away. Instead, she wrapped a hand around the back of Paimon's head, and moved to close the short distance between them and press her lips softly against Paimon's. Letting out a surprised and excited "Mmf?!" was pure reflex on Paimon's part, but then again, so was kissing back, deeply and lovingly.
When after what felt like forever and at the same time, nowhere near long enough, Hakuei pulled back and looked up at Paimon, her eyes shone. “Then I suppose you’ll be staying forever, then?”
In answer, Paimon turned around to blow out the single candle on the nightstand, and tugged the blankets over the two of them as she laid back down. She cuddled Hakuei close, their legs entwining under the thick, soft fabric, basking in the pure sensation of each other’s bodies. How long, she wondered, had she dreamed of this?
“That sounds just perfect to me.”
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Sinbad prompt 1.
As per requested, this one and those subsequent from @huntersmoon1 will relate to Sinbad and his daughter. Just FYI and for context~
Love
❥ Sinbad had few things that he could say he truly adored more than his daughter. He hadn’t been there for her birth but that fact had not deterred him from loving the bundle of joy that came into his life so out of nowhere. The moment she did, though, Sinbad had to admit that he had not been prepared for it in the least. Unlike Ja’far or Hinahoho, he had no experience whatsoever with children and the learning process proved quite the challenge for one who called himself the High King of the Seven Seas. But despite the sleepless nights and endless crying, Sinbad couldn’t deny how worth everything was. And he wouldn’t deny that when he would see her bright smile everything else would simply vanish leaving him just as giddy as her.
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Ayesha Liveblogs Magi: Labyrinth of Magic
[Karen Smith voice] If your name is Alibaba why are you Japanese?
“Throwing me out like that is pretty mean,” he said, to someone whose house he had broken into in the night
“Do you like money, mister?” “Yeah, I mean, since I need money” me too Alibaba
Ten minutes into this series and they’ve already introduced the concept of slavery in their society guess they’re not fucking around
Alibaba are you seriously taking a baby to a brothel
You know the girl in chains is a protagonist because of her Anime Hair
Is this some kind of Venus Wine Trap
Omg was Aladdin just waiting for Alibaba to exercise correct moral judgement before stepping in, those people were being digested
“All I ever did was lie, and not do anything” same my guy
Now that he mentions it I would wonder why they didn’t bring any supplies to this Tower of Death
You know, I really thought Aladdin would be the one to bite the insect first
I hope that Alibaba continues to use that dagger no matter how magical his fights get like ‘guess u just brought magic to a knife fight’
“So I guess I better let him know why I entered this dungeon” I thought it was for gold and prostitutes
“Labour is the duty of mankind” okay Lord Bourgeoisie
This situation has really escalated we went from declarations of friendship to kidnapping and stabbing in like thirty seconds flat
This guy only has two reactions to people helping him which is tipping or stabbing Alibaba is truly living the customer service life
“Where’s Alibaba?” it appears that he has burst into flames
Can you really fault Morgiana for not responding to ‘Slave Lady’ immediately after you learned her name?
Morgiana: [Beautiful description of homeland delivered in monotone]
“But how?” “I’m immortal that’s how” Last episode you were being digested by a plant????
Morgiana displays the benefits of not skipping Leg Day
I guess if you’re immortal you’ve got endless time to master swordplay
Lord Jamil’s really got some issues what’s with this endless “kill him” chant
Divine Right seems like a very poor way to choose your leaders
“I even messed up really bad one time” this is some kind of Reverse Foreshadowing it’s like Backshadowing
‘My Sinbad Dream’ sounds like the title of a bad fanfic
Where’s he gonna put all that gold does this ancient Arabian city have banks
Update from ep. 11: Yes they do and they are corrupt
Amazing Alibaba used his treasure to abolish slavery truly the only honourable boy in this society
“The same blood runs through our veins” Baba implying they’re all inbred
“You’re Baba’s child now” should not be a comforting statement from someone you just met
Sure, when babies drink milk directly from the teat it’s healthy and a bonding experience but when Aladdin does it’s inappropriate
“Don’t worry Toya, I’ll protect you no matter what” Dude’s gonna die ain’t he
I don’t imagine that they’re going to get a peaceful submission to foreign rule from an independent and inbred nation
I knew Ryosai would be a dick from the moment he opened his mouth
“Until I see the faces of my children’s great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, I’ve got to make absolutely sure I live on with everyone” WHAT THE EVERLOVING FUCK
Princess Hakuei is such a good leader even if she is an imperialist
What kinda Sailor Moon-esque transformations are these and when do I get to see Alibaba’s
“I’ll keep you in those chains for the rest of your life” Poor Morgiana that Jamil really fucked her up
“You have a sense of justice and value your friends” “I’m telling you that’s not true” lmao what an objection Leila
I’d call this guy Lipstick Kakashi but I feel that’d be insulting to Kakashi
“Don’t lump me in with those ridiculous bandits,” said the slave trader
Yikes @ Morgiana explaining the concept of slavery to this tiny girl but I guess it doesn’t help to sugar coat it
YAS MORGIANA KICK THE ASS OF ALL THINGS END HIM
This is a sidenote but I’ve gotta imagine that if Goltass was one of the Plainspeople they should’ve noticed him because he’s massive??
I’m guessing this handsome sleeping man is Sinbad
“My name is Sin” not only was I correct but also he calls himself Sin pls
What kind of a fucking outfit is Sinbad walking around in my goodness
Lmao at Sinbad this is the equivalent of telling your two Indian friends ‘hey maybe you guys know each other’
I thought the guy with the black hair was Jafar? Did I hallucinate or is this a plot point
“I’m gonna fight with you” “Yes ma’am” is it wrong 2 hope they get married
What an honourable ruler he wants everyone to have autonomy
Sinbad just wants to cuddle with Masrur
“He’s only wealthy from your taxes. If you don’t believe it’s worth paying, take back as much as you want. But, don’t take any lives.” I! Love! Him!
This has got to be an Alibaba and the forty thieves reference
Oh no Alibaba and Aladdin look so sad I don’t care for this
“We can’t let them end up like Mariam” the Backshadowing continues!!
Fsfjhdskjhfksdhgl I want men to look at me like they look at Morgiana and by that I mean terrified
SHE JUST PICKED UP A GROWN MAN I LOVE MORGIANA
Aladdin sure knows how to diffuse tension in a room
“She was a prostitute of the slums” this childhood memory got dark real quick
It’s weird that brown people exist in this universe but none of the people with Arabic names are brown
!!!! Alibaba is the rightful ruler of Balbaad omg
Oh shit I guess all of Alibaba’s skills aren’t just down to immortality
“They’ve been driven out by the state... something about re-development” this magical society is a little too real
Things are about to go terribly awry I know it Cassim is about to ruin everything
WHY ARE YOU STILL HANGING OUT WITH THIS GUY ALIBABA HE’S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL YOUR SUFFERING???
Dfsdkfdsjfhksdjhfsdglfg Sinbad “eavesdropping is in such bad taste” ur right Jafar
I mean I get Cassim’s plight but I also don’t trust him
“Cassim and I had a special bond, he was my family and friend” he is responsible for your dad succumbing to illness??
I want Alibaba to rule Balbaad but that would really not fit into this narrative arc of travelling
“It’s Cassim” who could’ve predicted that Cassim would ruin everything
Sinbad joining the Fog Troupe is simultaneously exactly what I expected and not at all what I expected?
“What kind of a hardened and callous man are you?” poor Jafar lmao
“I choose not to interfere with domestic issues” he said, after asking two contenders for the throne to speak in a public forum
“You aren’t even fit to be king dammit” them’s treasonous words my friend
What a creepy old man my goodness
Oh it’s Judar not Jafar that explains it I guess???
Poor screamy Alibaba trying to protect his nation’s people
Damn Sinbad’s so charismatic he gives other people a complex just by standing next to him
The Humble King trope is my favourite Alibaba pleading for his people’s lives or in Naruto when he pleads for Sasuke’s life like that’s some Good Shit™
Judar: Hi I don’t want anything I’m just here to be an asshole
It’s ironic that a character who shares a VA with Natsu is proficient in ice magic
“Why are you doing these things?” Because he’s a dick that’s why
There are only like 3 known magical people here so I’m guessing it’s someone we haven’t met yet
“I’ll remain and finish off this little child” why is Sinbad the only moral adult in this universe
All these poor Balbaadans must be like ‘I didn’t sign up for this shit I just wanted to know how the negotiations went’
I can’t believe that Sinbad defeated them through the Power of Handsome
Sinbad: Capitalism is an obvious trap how could you fall for it
Every single one of Alibaba’s reactions to being thrust into leadership roles are me
Amazing all Matthew Mercer characters get drunk and trash talk their homies
“It was Alibaba who saved me” Lmao @ Morgiana’s shoujo reimagining of her being freed
Sinbad captured Judar’s dungeon and I’m sure there’s a sex joke in there somewhere
Uh-oh Alibaba’s about to get an inspirational lecture
“Why do you think I should go back to where Sinbad is?” why do you have such issues with Sinbad, Cassim
I kind of love this trope reversal from “there are some things worth dying for” to “there is nothing worth human lives”
“He’s still my friend” Alibaba’s still protecting Cassim when he’s basically done nothing good ever in his life what kind of fuck ass loyalty
I love battle training!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
“I have a feeling that she’s a woman who’d lend me an ear” Sinbad’s gonna fuck her into changing her mind
Even though I’ve been questioning the logistics of Alibaba becoming king, Sinbad’s a king and he’s not in his kingdom so who am I to judge
“Could this be a case of the marriage blues?” Something old, something new
My boy and his new sword I’m so proud of him
“I may not look like it but I’m a very powerful girl” “I know” actually I hope these two get married just so I can watch her toss him around forever
Lmao @ Morgiana partially destroying every building she comes into contact with
Real talk we know who got all the looks in the family like who was Ahbmad and Sahbmad’s mother yikes
Alibaba threw his brother’s sword away and then slapped him I love him
Props to Princess Kogyoku for taking the revelation that her fiance is gross in stride
“As of this moment, the country of Balbaad will be ending its monarchy!” OH MY GOD ALIBABA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alibaba’s doing the nationwide equivalent of declaring bankruptcy
“Are we saved?” A legit question, royal guardsmen
I’m so in love with Alibaba creating a democracy in a world of empires my baby
“Doesn’t it seem like it’s all a big scam?” Why is Cassim like this he’s the worst
I’m gonna guess that Ugo belonged to Aladdin’s dad
For someone who doesn’t want to be king Alibaba sure is good at leading
“Sounds to me like all you wanted was to be king yourself?” that’s about the size of it
Why. Are. You. Like. This. Cassim???? Chill the fuck out
“Is that thing Cassim?” He’s literally a demon beast now killing all the citizens of your country I don’t think you have to feel bad about fighting it
Sinbad is just constantly joining in the fray to he’s like the older brother Alibaba needed instead of the two dinky ones he had
“Later I plan on making you mine too” gay but rude
“It’s because you’re you, Alibaba” <3333333333333333333333 Baby boy and his baby bro ah!!!
“Halharl infigare” sounds like something you’d say when you could no longer form words
“You never lost that radiance did you?” so what ur saying is that u hated Alibaba bc you had a little gay crush on him
Alibaba refuses to let Cassim get away with being a dick just because his father was one
SHIT THE MONTAGES OF DIFFERENT PATHS ALWAYS GET TO ME
I weep for Alibaba who weeps for his lost friend
Thought the villains would be like 4 or 5 people but it turns out it’s a whole cult
What a beautiful turn of events I’m upset in a good way I’m tearing up a bit
Sinbad @ Alibaba: I’m kidnapping you out of love
These people look so happy to see a giant sea monster bless them
“His lunacy might rub off on you” I’m not sure if I want to see Alibaba become a high-impulse swordsman but tbh his impulse control isn’t that good anyway
Oh my god Morgiana and Alibaba are so cute and bashful
“I’ve already got family, each and every person who lives in this country” that is adorable but that’s also what Ashoka said and look how the Mauryan empire turned out
I love Morgiana’s commitment to saving people from oppression
“You should do whatever you feel like doing, now and forever” ALIBABA AND ALADDIN JUST INSPIRED HER SO MUCH SHE BROKE INTO DANCE
I thought the Djinn transfer would be much more complicated but there you have it I guess
The entire royal guard is about to slut-shame Sinbad
Fdgkldgjlkdfgjldkfgj I know that Sinbad didn’t actually do anything but this is still so funny
“By the way, I’m the culprit” Ka Kaboun is such a mess lmao
“You’re an upstanding person Ka Kaboun” she said, after he tried to frame a man for a sexual assau/t
So this is a scarred man with designs against his own family’s empire who will probably team up with the happy-go-lucky protagonist I’m not saying that this is Arabian Zuko but he’s Arabian Zuko
Those long chains seem a little impractical for battle and walking around
I love that Alibaba is so incorruptible that even with a literal demon inside him he refused to hurt Hakuryu
Kind of harsh of Alibaba not to help the little girl but I guess he is poisoned and Hakuryu stepped up right away anyway
Well at least this time they tried to bring supplies
My three children are so beautifully in-sync with their battle maneuvers
I really thought when they split up that Hakuryu and Alibaba would be a team
“It kind of seems like he’s always trying to take on everything by himself and it kind of irritates me I guess” Pot kettle Alibaba
“I’m doing the very best I can, you know?” ME TOO HAKURYU
I LOVE HAKURYU AND HIS CRYING FIT HE’S ADORABLE
“I’m counting on you to be right there” Brotp: Crybaby Princes
I love Sinbad worrying about his teenage homies A+ adulting
What happened to these people that they are psychologically scarred at any mention of war
WHAT THE FUCK WHY IS MORGIANA HURT WHY WOULD U DO THAT
I guess even King’s Candidates aren’t immune to PTSD
Everything is escalating so quickly I’m very worried about Sinbad and Alibaba
“If you’re the enemy then act like it!” oh no this is sad
“Why does everyone do such things as if it were perfectly normal?” THAT’S MY QUESTION ALIBABA
NO THIS ISN’T WHAT I WANT AT ALL MY BOY WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU
I knew Zagan belonged to Hakuryu!!!! He wouldn’t have abandoned Morgiana if he hadn’t already healed her
“You’re nothing more than a magician” “Sorry, you see I’m also a genius” I love Yam
“You’re Alibaba whom I love so much” I love grammatically correct declarations of friendship my nerd baby boys holding hands ah!!!!!
There’s so much I love about this episode Sinbad’s half-fallen reveal, the friendship between Alibaba and Aladdin, Hakuryu’s new power, Princess Kogyoku’s joining the Sindrians, everything is 10/10
“Just like Alma Toran, eh?” I guess we’re about to learn why everyone is so averse to war
If Alibaba truly doesn’t want to be a nobleman he’s gotta stop acquiring so much money
“I’m looking forward to crossing swords with him” why does every challenge to Sinbad’s authority sound so homoerotic
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If there was one thing Sera knew, it was how to spoil her husband absolutely rotten.
After a long day of paperwork, she’d checked out early, sneaking past Sin to slip out of their offices undetected and set up, sending one of their servants to get him no more than two hours later. The sight that waited for him was no less than perfect; soft lighting from the moon and several candles on the table, surrounded by various pink and purple flowers from the gardens. Several plates had been laid out, one for each of them while the rest contained a full, five course meal, still sending wave of steam into the night sky. Even the desert had been perfectly plated, a fresh fruit pie sitting off to the side.
Even so, the queen refused to sit just yet, leaving the table the moment she saw him in favor of taking his hands and slowly leading him closer. Was dinner on the roof, under the stars such a surprising thing? “I thought we could use a change of pace tonight,’ she whispered, glancing to the edge of the roof, where the sea could be seen on the horizon. “All your favorites- Grilled fish, a fruit pie- Come with me. Relax. Let me spoil you - You’ve been spoiling me every day since we met, love, even with just a smile. Tonight… I return that favor tenfold. Anything you wish, I’ll make it so- starting with dinner.’
Because what better way to make him smile than spoiling him rotten?
Ever since Sinbad found a home in Sera, his life has been anything but monotonous.
Sure there were the usual insurmountable piles of paperwork and endless deadlines he had to chase after, not to mention all the trials and tribulations that come with being king of a flourishing nation but he managed to endure it all. Nothing seemed impossible when you have something precious to protect… and what could be more precious than his heart, his home?
Sinbad has long learned to welcome surprises, especially when it comes to his doting wife. There was a time he didn’t think he deserved any of it but the king eventually learned to accept that Sera would go to unexpected (and sometimes extreme) measures to help him relax.
Tonight was no exception.
“I won’t even ask how you got everything up here…” Sin chuckled, pulling Sera in for a quick hug and kiss.
“Ah, but that view~”
“How about a quick dance before we dine? That’s the ‘punishment’ you get for spoiling me rotten.”
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MAGI 352 Full Spoiler Translation.
Disclaimer: i only to this for fun, to share it with you guys, and to practice my japanese :) which is very basic so keep in mind that i could be completely mistaken in some parts. This is just a fan translation of incomplete spoilers so: Don’t forget to support the official releases of Magi!
Source: From Tieba Baidu’s Japanese scans and from Jump.Netabare’s texts, Some pics belong to marumaru’s korean scans ^^
@maumauxmau @sayakakat2012
UPDATE: I added the jump-Netabare info that was missing. I checked it while looking at the korean scans so i would be able order it as if the texts were the in word balloons ( you can read it that way if you want to, while you look at the pics on the korean scans) ^^
Page 1
Narration:
David became god!?
The climax of the Sacred Palace’s battle!!
.
Alibaba: Amol Saiqa!!!
*Jump-Netabare text: The magic that comes out from Alibaba’s sword goes towards David.
NIGHT 352 “The Key of the Sacred Palace”
*Jump-Netabare text: The magic hits David directly on the face, and after this, his face breaks off.
*Jump-Netabare text: But immediately afterwards, his face is healed by white rukh. David smiles.
TN: The page says “Sinbad’s face is healed by white rukh” but this is a mistake because the scans show David being healed by white rukh.
Page 2
Narration:
David activated the “magic to return the world to the rukh”. He becomes the guardian of the Sacred palace and attacks Aladdin and Alibaba’s group by surprise!!
*Jump-Netabare text: David points the fingers of both of his hands towards Aladdin’s group.
*Jump-Netabare text: Magic similar to a beam fall incessantly on the direction where Aladdin and the others are.
*Jump-Netabare text: Aladdin and the others dodge the beams desperately.
Judar: Ch! It doesn’t work!
Hakuryuu: It’s the Same as when we fought against Sinbad. Physical attacks are meaningless when directed against god.
Page 3
Alibaba: But we have to defeat this guy!!
David: I will successfully complete the “Magic to return all the world to the Rukh”
David: If you want to stop me, you have no choice but to defeat me in this place!!
Alibaba & co: Let’s do it!
David: *Smiles*
Page 4
*Jump-Netabare text: David points his fingertip at Aladdin.
*Jump-Netabare text: from his fingertip, David fires a beam towards Aladdin.
*Jump-Netabare text: Aladdin moves quickly and evades all the beams
Alibaba: This guy… is he just aiming at Aladdin?
Page 5
Alibaba: Originally, David and Sinbad-san were aiming at Aladdin’s “Salomon’s Wisdom” …. So, is this what he’s trying to get now?
Aladdin: But, “Solomon’s Wisdom” is the key to get in and out the Sacred Palace!, and David already took over the Sacred Palace!.
Even though he achieved his purpose, why does he still needs to aim for it?
David: Hmm, I see. This is my grandson…. I don’t feel any sort of emotion!
David: however, you must die.
*Jump-netabare text: David raises his left arm and then swings it downwards forcefully.
*Jump-Netabare text: David’s left fist approaches Aladdin.
Page 6
*Jump-netabare text: Aladdin bends the space and guards himself from that fist.
*Jump-Netabare: without delay, David lifts his right fist.
*Jump-Netabare text: Aladdin bends the space to guard himself from that fist too.
*Jump-Netabare text: But David had already swung his left fist down.
Aladdin: !
David: My *conviction will come true!, I can see through destiny!!
TN: conviction/belief “I will materialize my belief/conviction”
Page 7
*Jump-Netabare text: In that moment, David’s head splits, and Sinbad materializes from inside it.
David: I was for sure the true singularity!!!!!
Alibaba: Sinbad-san?
Page 8
*Jump- Netabare text: David’s broken head collapses onto the ground. And Arba comes out from it.
Arba’s Manuscript: Oof!
Arba: This is a nasty way to make an entrance.
Alibaba: Arba-san too !!
*Jump-Netabare text: Fallen David Starts talking.
David: Why did this happen? The God hierarchy has *changed again!
TN: I understand that Sinbad switched places with David and surpassed him.
*Jump-Netabare text: From the surroundings, the System of the Sacred palace emits a “jijijijittt” sound.
Ugo: There are bugs mixed within the System of the Sacred Palace?
TN: Is Sinbad a virus? haha
*Jump-Netabare text: David and SInbad start talking.
David: What did you learn, Sinbad?
Sinbad: Did you think that I would not take any countermeasures against you stabbing me on the back?
Page 9
Jump-Netabare text: The djinns appear in the background.
Page 10
David: The seven djinns…
*Jump-Netabare text: David gets up and his broken head immediately sticks.
*Jump-Netabare text: David gets himself on a sitting position and then talks to Sinbad and the others.
David: Sinbad, Ugo, and the four challengers… there is no deficiency from the opponent.
TN: He means that he acknowledges them as worthy opponents.
Sinbad: Are those your true feelings, David?
David: Of course!
Sinbad: Why did you come here to begin with? If you want to return all the world to the rukh, all you have to do is set the magic in motion. You should not need to appear before Ugo and Aladdin’s group at all.
David: ….
Alibaba: ?
Page 11
Sinbad: Nevertheless, you came all the way here… is it because you felt uneasy if you didn’t confine them?
TN: Is it because you felt anxious unless you confined them? (he uses a word that means like house arresting/keeping indoors, so it’s like David wants to keep them inside the sacred palace)
Alibaba: Confine?
Arba: Eh? You are not David-sama, right?
Alibaba: Arba-san?
Arba: As one would expect from my *creator. Such methods are the same, but there’s not a chance that this is the *real body of David-sama.
TN1: Biological parent/creator (David made Arba)
TN2: She talks about that body not being his “whole/complete body”
Alibaba: ?
Hakuryuu: ….
Hakuryuu: ha!?
Page 12
Ugo: Ah!?
Judar: ¡?
Judar: No way, what do you mean?
Hakuryuu: Is the same as when she was Gyokuen?…
Hakuryuu: In other words, this means that our real enemy is outside the Sacred Palce?
Alibaba: I see, therefore he didn’t want to let Aladdin use “Solomon’s wisdom”
*Jump-Netabare text: Alibaba reminds his own thoughts from some time ago.
Alibaba: David is aiming for Aladdin’s “Solomon’s wisdom” isn’t him? But “Solomon’s wisdom” is the key to getting in and out the Sacred Palace.
TN: He doesn’t want then to get out!
*Jump-Netabare text: In that moment, Aladdin starts to emit light with a “kaaa” sound.
David: ¡!
Page 13
*Jump-Netabare text: The rematch with David.
Aladdin: *Good bye Grandfather. We are leaving this place.
TN: He called him “my grandfather”
David: I won’t let you.
Alibaba: That’s our line! *We were about to obtain our “Luxurious future”, and yet….
TN: or “Although It seems that we will obtain our “Luxurious future” at great pains ….” Not sure right now which one i should use, but they sort of have a similar meaning haha.
Page 14
*Jump-Netabare text: Alibaba recalls their previous conversation.
*Alibaba’s Memories
Alibaba: I will defeat you!
Sinbad: Let’s try it, shouldn’t we? Let’s materialize the impossible great business.
Hakuryuu: Despite the conflicts between us, we will keep on living forward, together to endless time!
*End of Alibaba’s Memories.
Aladdin: It’s not possible to end this by staying trapped this way inside the Sacred Palace!
David: Do you think i’ll let you?
TN: *Will i let you get out?
Page 15
*Jump-Netabare text: David sweeps his right Arm towards Aladdin.But immediately, David’s right arm is destroyed by black lightning.
David: !?
*Jump-Netabare text: immediately, David lowers his left arm towards Aladdin. But, black lightning falls down on David’s head and back.
Aladdin: Ah!
Page 16
Aladdin: Judar!!
Judar: You owe me one, Aladdin!
Page 17
*Jump Netabare text: Hakuryuu and Alibaba clutch their swords and fire up, attacking David.
Ugo: Go to the world, Aladdin!!
*Jump-Netabare text: from the insides of the destroyed body, black rukh leaps out and dances in the air.
Page 18
*Jump-Netabare text: In the end, Aladdin casts Solomon’s Wisdom
Aladdin: “Solomon’s wisdom”!!!!
...
Narration:
David, Solomon, Aladdin… The never-ending story of the magicians will change it’s setting to the world?
.
You must not miss the next issue!
..
Thanks for reading ^^
#Magi 352#Magi#Magi Spoilers#Magi the Labyrinth of Magic#david jehoahaz abraham#aladdin jehoahaz abraham#Alibaba Saluja#ren Hakuryuu#Judar#Judal#Sinbad#my magi translation
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State of the fic, Week 5
So, this week, I did work on these projects. (Word count here indicates number of words written)
Dockside Edits and additions: 4,789 words (ish, it’s really hard to tell) complete
A Tree Grows in Williamsburg, a side story about Dockside Bucky and his tree (it makes sense once you’ve read Dockside) - 2,315 complete
Big City Blues - side story about Dockside Tony and his father, 851
Off the Menu - vampire story - 1,082
Breakfast Club, RBB - 3,259 (some of those words got deleted later, but they were still written, so it counts)
Bucky in Space (NOT my project, but me and another one of the writers were both having problems with our RBBs, so we did this swap thing where I wrote words in her story and she wrote in mine, and then we did some voice-altering and whatnot, really helpful AND a lot of fun...) 542
Total words: 12,838 words for the week
Projects in the works that I did NOT work on this week but are still active and on my to-do list
Winter in Iron Valley (winteriron) – Old West AU. Tony’s life is disrupted when a deputy marshal with no memory shows up on his property.
Surface Tension (peggy carter/Angela Martinelli) – film noir AU.
Holiday Spending - gotta do May’s fic for that
Where the light enters (drarry) – Draco asks Harry to help him with his Dark Mark
Next Thursday Night – (winteriron) AU with teacher!Bucky and Moping!Tony get together for a series of one night stands
Captain and the Consequences – (winter soldier & Tony Stark) deaged Tony and the Winter Soldier team up to teach the rest of the Avengers just how bad they fucked up
The 5th Element is Vibranium – (winteriron) retelling of the 5th Element, Marvel style, still in planning stages
Legend of the Seven Seas, aka First I Commit a Crime and Then You Get To Blame Me For It – (OT3, starksbuck) an AU retelling of Sinbad (the 2003 Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta Jones cartoon) planning stages…
This Endless Moonlight – (stucky) retelling of the Snow Queen, if I can ever get the FUCKING THING TO GO. Swear, I’ve tried writing this shit like 4 times now
and my prompts list for IT&B and ICC have 7 and 3 things on them respectively… and my inbox has 6 prompts now. There are SEVERAL smut fic requests in there, so I’m going to try to get to some of them…
It’s 8:25pm Friday night. We’ve been having some bad storms and tomorrow is my husband’s birthday (yes, really) and we’re having friends down, so I don’t know how much work I’ll get done this weekend, but I’m still really happy.
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For many years, I have been intrigued by the designations troubadour and storyteller. There is a very long tradition of both throughout history. What’s the difference? The word troubadour is from the French and was used to refer to medieval lyric poets, often concentrating on the theme of courtly love, with verses written to music. A poet musician is how I think of it. In more modern times, troubadours have been folk singers in particular.
Scheherazade spins tales about Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad the Sailor over One Thousand and One Nights, enthralling her murderous husband King Shahryar, who postpones her execution night after night in order to hear another story. Stories are that powerful.
Storytelling goes much further back, when histories were passed down in the oral tradition rather than the written. Oral storytelling remains central in some cultures today.
Still from the documentary Al-Halqa–In the Storyteller’s Circle (2010, Thomas Ladenburger).
The storyteller figures above were made by Cochiti Pueblo potter Helen Cordero (1915-1994), who based some of her work on the “singing mother” motif and others on memories of her grandfather. Her figures are storytellers and she herself became a storyteller through their creation.
Storytelling clearly doesn’t have to involve words, as seen by Helen Cordero’s work. Images tell wonderful stories. Think of ancient cave paintings, some over 35,000 years old. In the January 2016 issue of Smithsonian, Jo Marchant and Justin Mott explored the cave paintings on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, thought to be the oldest cave paintings thus far discovered.
Scattered on the walls are stencils, human hands outlined against a background of red paint. Though faded, they are stark and evocative, a thrilling message from the distant past. My companion, Maxime Aubert, directs me to a narrow semicircular alcove, like the apse of a cathedral, and I crane my neck to a spot near the ceiling a few feet above my head. Just visible on darkened grayish rock is a seemingly abstract pattern of red lines.
Then my eyes focus and the lines coalesce into a figure, an animal with a large, bulbous body, stick legs and a diminutive head: a babirusa, or pig-deer, once common in these valleys. Aubert points out its neatly sketched features in admiration. “Look, there’s a line to represent the ground,” he says. “There are no tusks—it’s female. And there’s a curly tail at the back.”
Humans making figurative art, using imagination and symbolism–truly a remarkable development. Previous to the discovery of the paintings on Sulawesi, the oldest cave paintings were thought to be the famous Chauvet Cave paintings in France, made a World Heritage site in 2014. You can see an online exhibition of them through the Bradshaw Foundation.
I come to write about this through my love of singer/songwriters. Preferably menlacholy ones. Or romantic. Or romantically melancholy. As I have written about before, I have really weird and vivid dreams. Last week, I had several dreams in which Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot (as a young man, not the close to 80-year old he is now) was wandering through the action, playing his guitar and singing.
As I have also written, I am highly susceptible to ear worms. So for days now, Lightfoot’s song “If You Could Read My Mind” has been on an endless loop in my head. The song is about the breakup of his first marriage. Hauntingly beautiful but unbearably sad.
Sigh. Of course, there are many wonderful examples of troubadours: Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, David Wilcox, Kelly Joe Phelps. I heard Kelly Joe Phelps describe how when he’s performing a song, he sees it as a movie playing in his mind. Storytelling, yes indeed.
Pete Seeger (1919-2014)
Woody Guthrie (1912-1967) and his son Arlo Guthrie (b. 1947)
This is an undated photograph of folk singer Woody Guthrie, singing a song and playing his guitar. Guthrie has written hundreds of songs, celebrating migrant workers, pacifists, and underdogs. Two of his well-known songs are “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You,” and “This Land is Your Land.” (AP Photo)
Bob Dylan (b. 1941)
Leonard Cohen (1934-2016)
David Wilcox (left), Kelly Joe Phelps (right)
Lest I leave out women, I’ll add Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Emmylou Harris. I consider Natalie Merchant to be in this group of female troubadours and storytellers. I could go on and on.
And this is only a very narrow sampling from North American, white culture. There is such an array to choose from; the African American blues tradition, for example, with Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter…
Writers are, by nature, storytellers, but I consider some to be more in THE storyteller tradition than others. For example, Irish writer Frank Delaney (1942-2017), a novelist, journalist, and broadcaster, is best known in the United States for his book Ireland, a many-layered and rich story of storytellers. Here is the synopsis from Amazon:
In the winter of 1951, a storyteller, the last practitioner of an honored, centuries-old tradition, arrives at the home of nine-year-old Ronan O’Mara in the Irish countryside. For three wonderful evenings, the old gentleman enthralls his assembled local audience with narratives of foolish kings, fabled saints, and Ireland’s enduring accomplishments before moving on. But these nights change young Ronan forever, setting him on a years-long pursuit of the elusive, itinerant storyteller and the glorious tales that are no less than the saga of his tenacious and extraordinary isle.
It’s probably not okay to bring up now-disgraced storyteller Garrison Keillor, but for many years, before the sexual misconduct allegations, he created a wonderful world of characters and stories with his radio program and books about the fictional Lake Wobegon. There, I brought him up anyway.
One of my personal favorites is Eudora Welty, author of one of my all-time favorite short stories, Why I Live at the P.O.
Eudora Welty.
Following in her footsteps and the tradition of female Southern writers is my mother’s favorite, Fannie Flagg.
Mom made a point of making sure each of her children had a copy of A Redbird Christmas, which I’ve reread over several holiday seasons, and also listened to the audiobook, read by Ms. Flagg herself.
You might be more familiar with her work from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, based on her book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
Filmmakers are certainly storytellers, whether it is in telling a hardhitting true story through documentaries, like Michael Moore, or whimsical fictional stories along the line of Tim Burton or Wes Anderson.
There’s a novel I am going to write someday. I know what it’s about, but it’s a long way off, and will require much research on my part. (I think I’ll complete the Ph.D. first.) I already have a vision for what the film version will look like, and Wes Anderson is my first choice for director. I see something in the spirit of his The Grand Budapest Hotel. I hope your curiosity is piqued so that you will read my novel. When I write it. When it’s published. By then, I’ll be old enough for the large print edition myself.
I could go on and on, but I will end with an art exhibition here where I am now at the Saybrook University Residential Conference, being held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey. Photographer and filmmaker Randy Bacon has compiled a work entitled The Road I Call Home, featuring portraits and films of people who are homeless telling their stories. The project is presented by Gathering Friends for the Homeless in conjunction with 7 Billion Ones. I have been gazing at the portraits as I travel the conference center today, but only just started reading the stories they tell. Everyone has a story to tell, and deserves the chance to tell it. Here are a few of the portraits.
It’s late now and time for me to sleep, perchance to dream. And perhaps hear a little Gordon Lightfoot.
Sweet dreams to all.
Troubadours and Storytellers For many years, I have been intrigued by the designations troubadour and storyteller. There is a very long tradition of both throughout history.
#7 Billion Ones#A Redbird Christmas#Al-Halqa--In the Storyteller&039;s Tradition#Alberta Hunter#Arlo Guthrie#B.B. King#Bessie Smith#Bob Dylan#Buddy Guy#Carole King#cave paintings#Chauvet Cave paintings#David Wilcox#Emmylou Harris#Eudora Welty#Fannie Flagg#Frank Delaney#Fried Green Tomatoes#Garrison Keillor#Gathering Friends for the Homeless#Gordon Lightfoot#Grand Budapest Hotel#Helen Cordero#If You Could Read My Mind#Janis Joplin#Joan Baez#John Lee Hooker#Joni Mitchell#Kelly Joe Phelps#Lake Wobegon
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MAGI 349 Full Spoiler Translation.
Disclaimer: i only to this for fun, to share it with you guys, and to practice my japanese :) which is very basic so keep in mind that i could be completely mistaken in some parts. This is just a fan translation of incomplete spoilers so: Don’t forget to support the official releases of Magi!
Source: From Tieba Baidu’s Japanese scans and from Jump.Netabare’s texts ^^
@maumauxmau @sayakakat2012
UPDATE: I added the jump-Netabare info that was missing. I checked it while looking at the korean scans so i would be able order it as if the texts were the in word balloons ( you can read it that way if you want to, while you look at the pics on the korean scans) ^^
Page 1
Narration:
The Battle to decide the fate of the world... There is something abnormal in Alibaba’s bright idea?
* On the left side of the page it says: volume 33 now on sale! ( i already have my copy, i love the vepar!sin back cover)
Sinbad’s Thoughts: What’s your plan, Alibaba-kun?
Alibaba: With my “great magic that connect dimensions” I will take down both the vertical and horizontal walls of the world.
Arba: In other words, will that be the abolition of God’s multilayered structure and the complete integration of the Rukh?
Aladdin: Doing both never came to my mind.
Alibaba: really?
Sinbad: ….
Night 349 “Involved Human Beings”
Page 2
Sinbad’s thoughts: This fight on the sacred palace, it’s a fight that decides who is truly suitable to be god.
Sinbad’s thoughts: Only one side will win
Sinbad’s thoughts: The one chosen by “destiny” is it me? Or is it them?
Sinbad: Although I though the way was only one of those two possibilities….
Jump-Netabare text: Looking at Alibaba who is explaining his own idea to Aladdin and Arba, Makes Sinbad think
Sinbad: Alibaba-kun has come up with such an incomplete compromise plan, what will happen from now on?
Sinbad: it has also become unpredictable to me.
Sinbad: *smile*
Jump-Netabare text: Sinbad smiles.
Jump-Netabare text: In that moment, Ugo arrives to the place where Aladdin and the others are.
Ugo: You can’t! You can’t! You can’t!
Alibaba: W… What!?
Page 3
Ugo: it’s absolutely impossible to make the “Magic that connect dimensions” with less magoi!
Jump-Netabare text: Ugo’s eyes are going around in circles and he has an expression of anger.
Jump-Netabare text: Alibaba is startled.
Aladdin: U… Ugo-kun?
Page 4
Ugo: Because Solomon and I mobilized Ill Ilah’s Magoi and only succeded in interfering with one hierarchical dimension.
Ugo: yes, I thought about magic that connect dimensions since long ago! But for that, the magoi from one god* is necessary!! That’s why at the present time, in order to connect more dimensions…
It’s necessary to return all of the world created by Solomon to the rukh!
TN: one god’s body ( not in the literal sence but in the “all the magoi from that god” sense)
Alibaba and Aladdin: ….
Alibaba: But, hey Ugo-kun.
Page 5
Alibaba: is it okay for King Solomon’s world to return to the Rukh and become nothing?
Ugo: …
Ugo: …?
Ugo: Ah? Thta’s really sad… what should we do, Aladdin?
Aladdin: Ugo-kun?
Sinbad: Ugo’s consciousness is clouded by David’s magic.
Aladdin: It can’t be!
Sinbad: But that makes no difference to the magician from Alma Torran who has a more outstanding intellect that anyone else.
Ugo: What should I do, Aladdin?
Jump-Netabare text: Aladdin rushes to Ugo.
Page 6
Aladdin: Ugo-Kun hasn’t completely broken down, you are confused, but you still are Ugo-kun!
Ugo: Hey Aladdin, will you please listen to me?
Aladdin: yes.
Ugo: To begin with, we shouldn’t break the vertical walls of the world so easily! Because there is a world beyond* this world…
TN: On the other side.
Ugo: If we invade by these circumstances, wouldn’t that bother the people from the opposite side of the Wall?
Aladdin, Alibaba, Sinbad: !
Arba: ¿haa?
Page 7:
Arba: You replaced the order, looked down upon “that person*”, and yet... How dare you say such a thing?!
TN: Ill ilah
Ugo: Don’t get angry, Arba!
Aladdin: What?
Alibaba: That being said, that’s....?
Aladdin: That is so, we thought that Ill Illah was a horrible bad guy but, if we think about it carefully, it might be that we have the wrong impression.
Alibaba: I never said anything.
TN: Arba is still trying to hit Ugo omg haha
Aladdin: I wonder if that’s why King Solomon dispersed “destiny”?
Alibaba: eh?
Page 8
Jump-Netabare text: Sinbad looks at Aladdin
Aladdin: We must not oppose god, by separating from God, we become independent.
Alibaba: But Aladdin, Complete Independence is impossible! Didn’t King Solomon failed by being independent? A small hole occasionally opens in the ceiling of our world. That is surely a “dark spot”, isn’t it? Gods are in the outsides of our world! I can’t pretend not to see it!
Alibaba: Tha’s why, as Sinbad-san says, I agree to destroy the vertical wall!
Arba, Ugo, Aladdin: err….
Netabare text: Everyone starts discussing.
Page 9:
Sinbad: …
Aladdin: If we destroy it, how long will we keep destroying it !?
What is above ill illah? what kind of people are the people from above? Are they same as us with endless war?
Arba: That’s right! You guys are arrogant! It seems that you think that "that person" is just an energy body or something like that , but that’s wrong. I could hear his voice…
He has a will, just like us!
Ugo: No, we are not the same. The people from the superior worlds have the ability to twist our “destiny” … that’s why I agree with Alibaba-kun and Sinbad’s will. We must destroy the vertical wall of the world…
We must grasp destiny with our own hands.
Page 10
Arba: I oppose!! If we do that we will still deprive the gods of different dimensions and continue to look forward to the new world? The same way as Solomon…
I will keep destroying them forever!
Alibaba: what a sticky business!
Ugo: We must grasp “destiny”!! we must destroy the vertical wall of the world!
Aladdin: Noo! “Destiny” should be independent!! We better thicken the vertical wall of the world and we should just protect our own world!
Sinbad: ….
Page 11
Jump-Netabare text: After that, Sinbad is still silently watching the quarrel between the 4 of them
Sinbad’s Thoughts: They have become chaotic.
Sinbad’s Thoughts: However, *these four people will be debating about “destiny”
TN: The sentence uses a grammatical form that can be interpreted as “it’s decided” but since it’s in implied future tense, I accommodated it in a way that lets you now that it’s something that is taking place in that moment, like “it’s being this way (they are discussing/will be discussing)”
Sinbad’s Thoughts: Although until now nobody payed attention to it, they are talking about a distant future.
Jump-Netabare text: Aladdin and Alibaba are arguing intensely
Aladdin: Winning means to beat the enemy, right? If you are okay with that, you don’t care about the other worlds?
Alibaba: it’s not like that at all! I tried to tell you! Poor Ill illah!
Arba: These guys are not being clear! Still, everyone else except “that person” should be destroyed!
Ugo: What should I do? Help me Solomon!
TN: OMG Ugo!! :< haha
Page 12
Sinbad: I have been listening since some time ago, and i wonder… Why are guys talking from the premise that can’t you grasp communication with the outside world?
Arba and Ugo: Communication?
Sinbad: Try comparing the world to a country.
Aladdin: I don’t understand uncle, explain.
Sinbad: The vertical wall of the world is a “National Border”
Sinbad: Thereupon, what Aladdin and Arba say is “National Isolation”, and what Alibaba-kun and Ugo say, isn’t that “Invasion”?
Everyone else: ….
Page 13:
Aladdin: ?
Alibaba: …
Ugo: …
Aladdin: That’s ceirtanly right.
TN: The square above Aladdin’s head says: “National isolation faction” and the square above Alibaba’s head says: “Invasion faction”.
Sinbad: But the lifeforms from those worlds might, just like us…
Sinbad: Have a will, stablish a society, and might just be frightened about the existence of a different world?. Just because we can’t understand their language.... Just like the different races from the Alma Torran era.
Sinbad: In that case, what action should we take?
Aladdin:…
Alibaba: …
Alibaba: !?
Page 14:
Jump-Netabare text: In that moment, Alibaba gets surprised.
Alibaba: An “Alliance”?
Jump-Netabare text: Aladdin and Ugo watch Alibaba with a relieved facial expression.
Sinbad: That’s right. It’s not like secluding yourself, nor is like invading…
Sinbad: Just, Manage the borders properly, and then best thing you can do is *exchange.
TN: Exchange/ interact/ making cultural Exchange etc.
Sinbad: export/ spread out to the unknown world and first try not *exchanging/ mixing wills with the unknown lifeforms
TN: * don’t let them mix your will with theirs ( something like that)
Page 15:
Sinbad: Perhaps, we can exchange resources that don’t exist in each other’s worlds and might even be possible to make meaningful business?
Why don’t you realize that?
Alibaba: that’s right!
Aladdin: that’s true!
Arba: I guess you can do it, communication, right?
Alibaba: As expected from Sinbad!
Aladdin: But uncle, we must also destroy the vertical wall of the world! Among other things, isn’t that what you said at the beginning?
Page 16
Sinbad: Yes, but it’s because you guys are arguing so excessively…
Arba: That you came up with another plan? Although you said “I need a huge power to overthrow everything”?
TN: Okay she has a point…
Sinbad: I was ignorant and I spited out that immature answer.
Arba: I tell you… This man…
Isn’t it frightening that this god guy changes his opinion so easily?
Jump-Netabare text: After saying that, Arba turns her back to Sinbad.
Ugo: really. ah?!, but… how did things became like this?
Sinbad: ….
Jump-Netabare text: Sinbad watches Alibaba noisily talk to Aladdin.
Sinbad: ….
Jump-Netabare text: In that moment, Sinbad’s expression becomes surprised. Sinbad remembers the worlds that Alibaba said in the sacred palace.
Page 17
(Flashback)
Alibaba: If I do it with people, I think I can do much greater things!
Alibaba: Certainly, by myself I’m not more capable that Sinbad-san…
(End of Flashback)
Alibaba: well… as expected from Sinbad-san! I don’t think that I could have thought of that by myself!
(Flashback)
Alibaba: And unfortunately, * Sindbad is also a person that I have dragged with me into this.
TN: 1 Unfortunately for you (Sinbad)
(End of Flashback)
Alibaba: *Smiles*
Page 18
Narration:
An immeasurable vessel. In the next issue, will destiny change?
...
Thank you so much for reading ^^
#Magi 349#Magi#Magi spoilers#Magi the Labyrinth of Magic#Sinbad#Alibaba saluja#aladdin jehoahaz abraham#uraltugo noi nueph#Arba#my magi translation#our translation
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