Latest Posts by moremysteries - Page 8

Btw, I am in the process of making a more detailed survey for this.

Speaking of, tempted to make a community myself, but since I have a variety of unconnected works, I have no idea what that would be a community for. Kind of reminds me of the idea I had to try and get myself posting again, mainly making like, a sort of dating sim kind of group of characters to play around with.

Y'all want me to make object head people for you to kiss? SFUIHSFU

Writing update 5/1/2025

I am continuing to write Sleep Laughing slowly but surely. I'm getting caught up in making the logs detailed, and trying to get myself to realize, "you need to write the skeleton of this idea before you can go into the depths of this character's suffering". And also, during the first logs he's so weak/in so much pain he's barely concious or thinking straight, so it makes sense why they're not as detailed.

Still, I managed to get extremely good progress for logs 7 and 8. Here's my favorite snippet (tw body horror and agony):

I've come to a conclusion. Even if I am in Hell, it really isn't such a bad thing. It just means I'm being punished, and, if I'm being punished, that means there's a chance to redeem myself, right? Every single agony I experience is a debt being paid, a sin washed away. This pain isn't a curse. No… …this pain is a blessing! It's giving me a chance to repent for everything. Oh God I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'll never do it again. So please, just let the light take me!

Also, I am looking for beta readers for my stories The Diary of Spinel Bramford and The Breeding Grounds. You can find their descriptions here. If that'd interest you, please let me know!

Taglist: @aweirdshipp

Speaking of, tempted to make a community myself, but since I have a variety of unconnected works, I have no idea what that would be a community for. Kind of reminds me of the idea I had to try and get myself posting again, mainly making like, a sort of dating sim kind of group of characters to play around with.

Y'all want me to make object head people for you to kiss? SFUIHSFU

Fair enough! I'm the same way. Mainly in most of my worlds I just modified already existing creatures a little. And no problem!

I'm late, but happy worldbuilding wednesday! Any favorite animals who've created or modified for your story?

Not really. Even in my fantasy stories, I stay rather realistic in a way. Don't really use fantastical creatures or what-have-you. Thanks for asking.

Ooo that sounds so cool! What cybernatic implants are you thinking?

I'm late, but happy worldbuilding wednesday! Any favorite animals who've created or modified for your story?

None so far, but I do plan on having some squirrels shown in a future chapter with cybernetic implants!

so this European clothing retailer decided to advertise their jean cuts on youtube and it's unintentionally the funniest shit I've seen today. why? well.

now important context here: in German, die (pronounced 'dee') is just a feminine article, it literally means "the".

but if an ad gets placed in the middle of an English video and doesn't use a single explicitly German word for most of the ad, even a native speaker is gonna think "they want me to die how?" it keeps getting funnier.

I mean, holy shit

i will use these as reaction images until i die

you may think you're a poser for spending your life struggling to imitate cool people you knew once in the hopes that the amalgamation of every funny quip and slice of good taste you've ever picked up from someone else will make you a millionth as cool and likeable as them, but really they're doing the same, and the people they're imitating are too. this chain goes on and on until it eventually ends at shadow the hedgehog

I'm planning to go through with this, but your answers to some survey questions will help:

Do you play dating games or have you watched others play dating games?

If so, what options did the game not have that you wanted (personality wise)? (If not, just imagine the type of options you'd want in a dating game.)

If you were satisified with the options, which types did you gravitate towards?

Finally, your favorite object?

Speaking of, tempted to make a community myself, but since I have a variety of unconnected works, I have no idea what that would be a community for. Kind of reminds me of the idea I had to try and get myself posting again, mainly making like, a sort of dating sim kind of group of characters to play around with.

Y'all want me to make object head people for you to kiss? SFUIHSFU

New WIP Posted On AO3

Teenage Wasteland (3711 words) by afrostedlemoncoward Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Original Work Rating: Mature (For bad language, drug usage, and mild sexual scenes) Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Tegan Raines, Samantha Corino Additional Tags: Original Fiction, Young Love, Teenagers, 1990s, Original Character(s), Original Story - Freeform Summary: In the spring of 1997 close to summer break, fourteen-year-old Tegan Raines. A former orphan and foster child, now living with her grandparents. Meets the new girl across the street who, unbeknownst to both, have their lives changed for both the better and the worse.

Tag List:

@fablesandfragments @seastarblue @vesanal @theink-stainedfolk @leahnardo-da-veggie

@aalinaaaaaa @an-indecisive-nerd @write-with-will @the-ellia-west @carb0n-m0n0xide

@inadequatecowboy @kitkins13 @watermeezer @shepardstales @bardic-tales

@dyrewrites

Want to join my tag list? Click here and interact with the post, or send me a message!

writers are creatures that feed on comments by the way. if you want more of your blorbo from them, give them lovely comments. they love that and will most likely give you more fics about your blorbo

I am going to make the villain so plural and no one can stop me.

Why am I about to make a side blog and potentially community for this LOL.

Speaking of, tempted to make a community myself, but since I have a variety of unconnected works, I have no idea what that would be a community for. Kind of reminds me of the idea I had to try and get myself posting again, mainly making like, a sort of dating sim kind of group of characters to play around with.

Y'all want me to make object head people for you to kiss? SFUIHSFU

Speaking of, tempted to make a community myself, but since I have a variety of unconnected works, I have no idea what that would be a community for. Kind of reminds me of the idea I had to try and get myself posting again, mainly making like, a sort of dating sim kind of group of characters to play around with.

Y'all want me to make object head people for you to kiss? SFUIHSFU

Ooo intriguing!

Persistence in Research isn't always the Key

A dozen letters were found lying unoccupied on the Head researcher's desk by an intern looking for their supervisors, the letters were sprawled out across the desk, like leaves on the sidewalk after a strong breeze. The intern had no intention to read them but their curiosity got the best of them and they started to read...

Dear Head Researcher Pliffnur of Crystalarian Magic,

It would be greatly appreciated if I could use a small piece of the sample that your research team has collected from your latest experiment. I've read your empirical paper on the sample in your latest scientific journal and the samples properties sound absolutely brilliant! It's crystalline properties makes the sample brittle yet the shards from its breakage have a unique property which makes plants grow almost immediately! It would be a great honor if you were to provide me with some of the sample for further research in its catalytic properties.

Eagerly awaiting your response,

Planterian Magic Researcher,

Lion Fernspore

Just a fun little story I'm coming up with to write this is just the first bit. I really want to introduce a lot more characterization of these characters and their world effects them so I decided to write it as a series of letter between 2 previously mentioned characters! I want to flesh them out more and see where it goes.

Also Sorry for being away this long, so much had happened in my life and I fear I couldn't keep up with this so I decided to stop as I have more time now I will continue to update this blog as much as I can as I'm still constantly expanding this world in my spare time and I want to share this joy with all of you!

Happy Reading!

-K

This world sounds super interesting so far!

Lumoria - Nation of Light

Capital: Lumoria City

General Overview

Lumoria is a society based heavily on intellectualism which thrives on reason and research, many of which are interested in the studying magic or magical studies. Lumoria believes in the power of research and study, ignoring their military and artillery. Lumoria retains strong relations with other nations and makes its large sum of the wealth from trade and selling inventions. Lumoria has the highest amount of magical technological advancement and often share their advancements for a hefty price tag.

Government System

Lumoria is run by a council made up of the 4 core research principles, titled the "4 Pillars" these are :

Imagitrix - Humanities & Literature

Lumina - Magic & Alchemy

Illumidemic - Mechanics & Arithmetic

Glivant - Politics & Economics

The council is made up of the respected higher ranks of the 4 Pillars and members voted in by the public.

This system has been in place for around 200 years making it fairly recent. Before the 4 Pillars Lumoria was once ruled over by a monarchy. Due to growing tensions between the citizens of Lumoria and the royal family, the royal family were over thrown in favour for the 4 Pillars and the council.

Due to this fact, any building referring to royalty or the old royal family, now refer to the status and ability of the researcher or scholar. Lumoria now use royalty to refer to those who achieve a high distinction of intelligence. For example, the Royal institute of Magic and Alchemic studies is a highly regarded institution which is extremely hard to get into for work and study, People who go there may be seen as "intellectual royalty" and are viewed with great respect.

Many scholars argue, that putting these people on a pedestal and treating them like "royalty" is no better then what was done with the actual royal family over 2 centuries ago.

Diplomatic Relations - Simplified

Calei - Relatively Neutral, though in constant positive trade relations.

Leineen - Estranged but Peaceful

Fetta - Ally

Lunora - Ally

Brovano - Ally

Froshhelm - Neutral, constant positive trade interactions.

Mewl - Neutral

Sten Vallter - Neutral

Lattice Archipelago - Neutral, distant relations

Currency - Brilli

Types of magic used

Every magic type is used all over Lumoria, Luligh magic is used the most.

Main Exports

Lumoria mainly exports the following:-

Buckwheat

Wheat

Seafood products (Fish, muscles, clams, etc.)

Magical machinery

Magical devices

Religious Beliefs

Many citizens of Lumoria do not follow any sort of God or deity, a large population, however, do follow 'Mi' and the late* God of order 'Null'.

*The death of Null is a highly debated topic within historical institutions as no historical evidence from the time period specifically states Null's demise mere stating that Null just stopped appearing, historians believe that Null just not appearing anymore is a primitive way of indicating Null's death. While many historians believe that Null, dissatisfied with his people, had abandoned them and is now waiting for the time when is people will become "ideal" and then he shall appear himself to them.

Character Residing in Lumoria

Lion Fernspore

Ariana Pliffnur

Rita Lalm

Visiting Characters

Rye Fleign

Omg I hope you guys enjoy these short breakdowns with tiny pieces of history and lore sprinkled in. I'm kinda busy so I might release one for each nation once every other week then in that same week I'll add in some fun character interactions. How about that? - K

That ending has me so intrigued. I also love Atlas and Rosalyn's dynamic.

On one particularly memorable night, Rosalyn commissioned me to dive into their jewellery box in search of a twin for the singular of a stunning, silver sapphire earring they had found discarded within a desk drawer. The jewels were moulded into a shape of a lily flower- By hand, if Atlas was to be believed. They were a gift, that which he had donated upon Rosalyn's thirtieth birthday.

Since such an event, Rosalyn had worn them to one gala and then, subsequently, allowed the existence of the pair to slip their mind. Why this pair demanded attention on this particular night, I do not know, nor do I particularly think it is of consequence.

Atlas lay upon the bed. To me, he advised, "Make them do it themself. Teach them a little responsibility for their actions."

Rosalyn, stood before an ornamental mirror in the room's centre, scoffed, "My love, nothing could teach me that. Not now. Who learns new things at thirty-seven? What a waste."

Grinning, I produced the earring from the very depths of the heavy, wooden box. Before I could inform either of the pair, Atlas sighed, "Oh, don't know it." He crept up to stand at their side. Elevated upon a footstool, Rosalyn towered over him. Atlas looked up with nothing less than pure adoration in his gaze, "Do you really want those earrings?" He asked, "Because you don't need them by any stretch of the imagination."

Rosalyn's lips parted. For the briefest instant, I feared they intended to submit to rage. My concerns were, thankfully, utterly unfounded. Their voice was light as they replied, "No," They allowed him to lay his hands upon their waist and lift them to the floor, "No, I think I'm alright without them."

Finally, they addressed me, "God, I've got you doing that for nothing, haven't I?" Without pause, they spoke their solution, "Tell you what, there's cash in my office. Use it and buy yourself a takeaway. Anything at all. Menus in the kitchen cupboard."

Closing my fist around the recovered earring, I forced a smile.

"Sounds good."

Beautiful!!!

DOVES ON OUR ASHES

It was very simple,

you held my hand

when I was smeared in dread,

but I had to let go of you

and the world was at peace.

Now that I held them,

when I was strong enough to admit,

soft hands over my rapid pulse,

I still had to let you go,

AND THE WORLD WAS AT PEACE.

Kinsbane

(Where you can find my Aelarias story in order, will be updated as the story is! This will eventually be replaced by an actual intro and master post)

Prologue-https://www.tumblr.com/paleoartt/781755173952487424/this-is-the-prologue-to-a-story-i-need-to-write?source=share

Chapter 1-https://www.tumblr.com/paleoartt/781840106421157888/chapter-1?source=share

Chapter 2-https://www.tumblr.com/paleoartt/782117864389885952/chapter-2?source=share

Chapter 3-https://www.tumblr.com/paleoartt/782199363887841280/chapter-3?source=share

I don't know the context but aw, they have such a sweet relationship. /gen

Chapter 3

363 words

Caellon was lying on his bed on his back, hanging off the edge of it with Aelarias politely sitting next to him.

“You need not worry so much over such things, Aelarias, it's not even your job.” “Oh but I must, you're such an optimistic dolt that you would never consider such worldly things and your siblings just baby you so.” 

Aelarias poked Cael’s side at ‘dolt’ to add some form of emphasis before his smile drifted. “You wouldn’t have ordered me here if you weren’t in need of counsel.” He added in a more severe tone. Cael had flinched away at the harsh contact but didn’t argue against his claim instead Cael nodded solemnly and sat up. “It's an awful lot to do, Osiian doesn't hate it, but she’s the oldest, mum's right hand, it just feels like an average Tuesday for her. Eirion doesn't like that it cuts in on his sparing time with the knights but he doesn't kick up too much of a fuss about it.” He paused for a moment.

 “Rhydes has always enjoyed the diplomatic aspect of her role, she likes chatting with our ladies and lords as well as the common folk, gives us a ‘grander perspective of the goings on’ she says. Of course Taliesin is taking it in stride as per usual, and I'm doing alright I suppose, it's definitely more work than I'm used to though…” Cael trailed off at the end of his sentence, turning his gaze and attention to his hands.

“Well I’m here for one  reason or another aren't I? I’ll help with the workload for a bit, till you get your legs back under you eh?” Aelarias gave him a fairly gentle nudge with his elbow and the pensive frown on Cael’s face finally flickered back to a smile. 

“Yeah, I suppose you are.” He grabbed his friend into a fairly tight hug. “There we go.. good on you.” Aelarias murmured as he returned the gesture and slowly pulled the two of them to standing. “Your mother isn’t set to be gone all that long a while anyhow, you’ll be used to this in no time at all Cael.”

if you're trying to get into the head of your story's antagonist, try writing an "Am I the Asshole" reddit post from their perspective, explaining their problems and their plans for solving them. Let the voice and logic come through.

"You don't know me. I'm not the same person anymore."

"That's okay. I'll get to know you again."

Intro Post

About Me

My name is Eric. I'm 39. I don't have much to say about me. I am working on an unnamed WIP right now.

Stories

My AO3 account for anyone curious.

An Unnamed Western WIP

Set in the late 1880s where the Union lost the American Civil War, where the Confederacy crumbled within five years and now North America is covered with a bunch of feuding warring states. A 24-year-old woman, unusual in many ways, works as a bounty hunter until a chance encounter with a slightly older woman and with the notorious James Rogers Gang.

For now, I will only share one chapter as I want to try and trad-publish or self-publish it once it is done. :3

Chapter One - Five Dead In Two Minutes

Cara and the Will-o'-the-Wisp - Kind of on Hiatus

A girl the age of 12 moves with her family to Mount Desert Island, Maine from Oregon. Where she meets an odd but friendly girl named Rowan, who declares there's old magic in the woods, and what's with the door underneath the stairs?

Chapter One - A New, Weird Home

Chapter Two - Once Upon A Cat

Chapter Three - A Bully This Way Comes

Chapter Four - An Unfamiliar, Familiar Place

Chapter Five - What's In The Woods?

Short Stories

The Act

WRITING COMMISSIONS from a self-published author:

I am a self-published author, with many more books in the works, and I am now taking original writing commissions!

If you want a prompt fulfilled, any writing about original characters, or anything to do with an original story, I'm the one for you!

I will write original stories that can be adult, but will not have explicit sexual content. I will talk to you through the whole process, to ensure the writing is perfect!

INFO

any genre

no smut

original fiction

regular communication when planning

timeframe: 2-4 weeks

PRICE

£5 per 250 words

MIN: 500 words

MAX: 5000 words

MESSAGE TO ASK & WE CAN MOVE TO DISCORD IF REQUESTED

PAYMENT THROUGH PAYPAL

Beta reading isn't about turning someone's story into your own vision, it's about helping someone make their story into THEIR vision

Chapter 4 - The Protest.

The next morning, Jesse woke with a groan, the dull ache in her shoulder a solemn reminder of the danger she put herself into last night.

She looked over at Lira, who was still sitting with her knees to her chest. A wave of emotions washed over her. Guilt? Sadness? Love? Right now it was all too hard to parse over the pain.

“Hey, you wake yet?” Jesse asked, her voice hoarse from the ragged breaths she took.

“Yeah…” Lira yawned out, her gaze slowly lifting from the single tile on the floor she had been looking at all night, her eyelids drooping.

“…You didn’t sleep, huh?” Jesse’s voice was oozing for concern with her friend.

“Is it that obvious?” Lira whispered, a soft chuckle escaping her lips momentarily.

“Well…normally you look like a flame roaring to life when you wake up, but now you look like a raccoon,” Jesse said, a small smirk playing across her lips as she gestured toward her own eyes.

Suddenly, something on the TV caught their attention.

“Last night in Serath, protests broke out regarding…”

They both tuned out the broadcast, locking eyes.

Jesse spoke first, voice quiet with disbelief. “We… We started something, didn’t we? With our art?”

Lira nodded, her voice a hushed whisper. “Yeah… we did. Wish I’d finished mine, though.” She chuckled softly, her hands sliding from her knees to the floor as she pushed herself upright.

Jesse tried to stand too, wincing with every movement.

Lira laughed and smirked, stepping over to catch her before she could fall. “Careful, soldier. Don’t go hurting yourself now.”

Jesse couldn’t help but giggle, rolling her eyes.

The TV faded back into their awareness. “For those of you looking to stay safe, we recommend avoiding Duskline Avenue…”

“Let me guess… you wanna go there today, huh?” Jesse smiled, stretching out her stiff limbs. “Safety’s never been your thing.”

Lira huffed, smirking. “Guess you can read me like a book.”

“Not hard to do when I’m used to tagging along on all your little missions, Lira.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Lira chuckled, brushing off the tease. “C’mon, let’s get you ready.”

As Lira helped Jesse pull on her jacket from the night before, she couldn’t help but notice something. Jesse was still wearing the gloves from their run-in with Vance.

“You really like those gloves, huh?” Lira teased.

Jesse did her best to hide the blush rising in her cheeks. “So what if I do? They’re comfy!”

Lira chuckled, shaking her head. “Nothing wrong with liking the gloves you used to beat your first debt collector.”

The heat on Jesse’s face grew, and she quickly turned away, tugging the jacket on the rest of the way. For once, she was completely speechless — not from the hollow ache she knew too well, but from the sudden, fragile warmth blooming in her chest.

Satisfied, Lira smirked and tapped Jesse’s shoulder. “Time to go, soldier.”

Jesse took a deep breath, nodded, and smiled softly before leading the way out.

They wound their way through the maze of backstreets and alleyways, careful to avoid prying eyes. Eventually, they found themselves at the center of an enormous protest—voices bounced off the monolithic buildings towering over Duskline Avenue.

One message cut through the chaos, sharp as a blade: “RELEASE THE FILES. SHOW THE TRUTH.”

The chant thundered across the avenue, a living, breathing thing.

Lira joined in first, shouting with her whole chest. Jesse quickly followed, her voice softer but no less determined. “RELEASE THE FILES. SHOW THE TRUTH.”

Lira climbed onto the roof of a battered car, raising her firsts and leading the chant, fully caught in the moment. Jesse stayed close, feet on the ground, her presence quieter but no less vital.

The sight of it all—the passion, the sheer mass of people—moved Jesse in ways she hadn’t thought possible. Her simple little tag had helped spark this. It felt unreal, overwhelming…but she couldn’t stop herself from chanting alongside the crowd.

Their voices grew hoarse, lost in the sound and the safety of the numbers around them—the unwitting masses never realizing their two ghost leaders stood right there among them.

Eventually, the crowd began to die down—until a single gunshot cracked through the air, slicing past a wall of bodies and slamming into the hood of the car Lira was standing on with a sickening crunch.

Screams erupted in an instant. Panic spread like a wildfire. Lira leapt from the car just as another shot hit the metal frame behind her, sending the crowd into full-blown chaos. People pushed and stumbled, nearly trampling one another in their rush to escape.

“Where the fuck did that come from?” Lira shouted, eyes darting across the windows of the far buildings as she searched for the source.

Then—another shot. This one shattered the side of the car near her landing point.

Before Jesse could react, Lira grabbed her hand and yanked her toward a nearby pillar. She’d seen it: the telltale flash of glass. A scope. They weren’t aiming to kill yet. Just playing with them. But they knew where they were.

A third shot slammed into the pillar with a sharp thud.

Then silence.

Too quiet.

Where had the protestors gone? Were they hiding? Watching? Had they scattered completely?

Questions raced through Lira’s mind, but she pushed them down. No time. Can’t look. That sniper’s still watching.

A soft crack—a new gunshot, muffled this time. Silenced. A warning. Either the sniper had changed tactics, or there were two.

Jesse’s fingers began to tap a quiet rhythm on her thigh, the one she always fell into when the fear crept too close. Her eyes scanned the nearby doors, the pillars, the shadows. Can’t go down the street. Shots were too low. They’ll have it covered. Need an alley. Something tight.

Lira stayed still, her breathing shallow, eyes flicking between possible exits.

Then her thoughts turned, as they always did, toward Jesse.

If I give myself up… would they let her go?

She clenched her jaw. No. No, don’t think like that. We get out. Together.

Jesse tore one glove off and lobbed it around the corner of the pillar. Two shots rang out—simultaneous. The glove shredded mid-air.

Shit. Two of them. Her thoughts raced, calculating.

Bolt action? Maybe. Could give us a second to run for an alley. But I can’t keep tossing things and hoping they reload.

Her rhythm picked up—fingers tapping frantically now—as her eyes met Lira’s.

Without hesitation, Lira pulled Jesse into her chest, shielding her. Every muscle in her body coiled. Then she moved—scooping Jesse up like she weighed nothing and sprinting toward the next concrete cover.

They almost made it.

Two more shots ripped through either side of Jesse’s jacket, far too close for comfort—too precise.

Lira’s instincts screamed. She pivoted sharply, the sunlight catching a puddle in the alley just ahead. She veered toward it, taking a hard turn just as two more bullets slammed into the corner where they’d been just milliseconds before.

Don’t stop. Not yet. Too close. Her legs burned, lungs heaving, but she pushed through it all—darting between shadows, diving behind dumpsters, weaving through tight alleyways.

Only once they broke into a crowded market, loud and alive, did she slow. She set Jesse down in front of her, breath ragged.

“You okay?” she asked, scanning her friend for blood.

Jesse winced, taking a deep breath to calm the adrenaline coursing through her veins. “No more hurt than I was this morning…unless you count sentimental damage.”

Lira let out an exasperated sigh and wrapped her arms around Jesse, holding her tightly, as if sheer force could keep her safe. “Thank god… I don’t know what I’d do if I let you get hurt again.”

Jesse smiled softly at her words, unspoken words and emotion curling at the corners of her lips.

The market buzzed around them—a wash of voices, bartering, footsteps, and laughter. After the gunfire and hollow silence, the sound of normal life was almost surreal. Comforting in its chaos.

“Was it a setup?” Jesse asked, her voice low.

Lira’s stomach tightened. It was the only thing that made sense. “We can’t be sure just yet.” She knew she was lying, but it was better than facing the truth.

Jesse nodded, drawing in a deep, shaky breath. “Yeah…but if it was a setup, they gave us a way out. Almost like they didn’t want us dead. Like it was a test.”

They began moving, weaving through the crowd. Lira leaned in closer, her voice almost drowned in the noise. “And if they wanted us there, who knows how many of those protestors were agents?”

Jesse went quiet, her shoulders tensing slightly beneath the ripped jacket.

Just as they were relaxing slightly, a voice cut through the noise of the merchants behind them.

“You two made quite the mess back there.”

They spun around. A woman stood half-shadowed beneath the canopy of a market stall, fingers tucked into her coat pockets. She looked calm—too calm for someone who’d supposedly just walked out of a sniper ambush.

Jesse instinctively stepped back, her body still wired from adrenaline. Lira moved in front of her without thinking.

“We don’t know you,” Lira said flatly.

“You don’t need to.” The woman glanced up, letting them catch a brief glimpse of her face. She looked vaguely familiar. Maybe someone who’d been part of the protest. Or the building. “But I know you.”

Jesse tensed.

The woman continued, her voice just above the murmur of the crowd. “You weren’t the only ones painting last night. But you were the loudest. Most visible. And now? People are listening.”

She paused, looking at Lira. “They’ll come again. Louder next time. You need to be somewhere safe.”

“And let me guess,” Lira said with a bitter smirk, “you just so happen to know a place?”

“I know the place.”

The woman turned and started walking away without another word. Lira hesitated. Jesse touched her arm.

“I think we should hear her out.” Jesse’s voice was soft and meek, like a mouse.

Lira didn’t move, eyes narrowed. “It could be a trap.”

Jesse exhaled. “Maybe. But we’re running out of alleys and markets to hide in.”

Lira hesitantly nodded, knowing their safety was limited if they stayed on the run.

With that, the two women followed this new anomaly of a woman.

Gorgeous! I loved it. Very vivid imagery.

There is a field in my head that never ends

It's filled with purple, pink, and blue flowers

that cushion me when I lay down to rest

Their petals take all of my weight

and save my skull from the ground

The sky above me is dark

then it's light

the change happens every time I close my eyes

Humans are weird: Tormenting Friends

You know that saying, only I can be mean to my brother/sister. The same thing goes for friends, and I kind of think it's hilarious that the people we trust the most in the world are the kind of people that will torture us the most. I can only imagine what another race would think...

Alien: what are they doing?

Human *looks over to where two girls are giggling as they walk along the edge of the roof, keeping one guy trapped between them*: So, Caiden's afraid of heights.

Alien *nods*: that is a logical reaction to a height that could kill you if you fall. Your body has evolved correctly.

Human *shakes his head*: Well, Wren and Jess found out and now they are torturing him. They won't let him off the edge until he walks the entire side.

Alien: Is this an intimidation tactic?

*both girls giggle loudly*

Human: believe it or not, it's a sign of friendship.

Alien: ...to force one's body to react in a fight or flight response?

Human *shrugs*: to make your friends miserable at your expense.

Alien *takes step away*: we are not friends. To be clear.

---

You can get this scene in my book, Humans Are Weird, available now! The whole series is pinned on my page.

Oooo this was beautiful!

Here is the first lesson we can learn from the wandering druids: every grove is a sacred grove.

It does not matter if it is an ancient copse nestled in the heart of the forest, or a handful of shrubs sprouting anaemic from the oil-clogged veins of a city.

A garden that springs up on the rooftop of a building by mistake is still needful and worthy of our veneration. It will also need a little more help, since its connection to wider nature is much more tenuous.

An ecosystem cannot exist in isolation after all, so it is the work of those mortals who fractured it to kintsugi the fragments together. It is the work of the leafwalker to *show* the grove how to be sacred.

We see this in the roadside orchards planted by the druid Richmond Crabapple. Turning the highways into snaking green creatures, her trees offer shade to travellers and fruit to the needy. It is easy to remember a thing is sacred, after all, when it so obviously gives you life.

Here is the second lesson: everyone and everything is nature.

We are animals. Our towns and cities are animal habitats. The separation of the urban and the rural is as much a mental one as a physical. It is a mind game we play to give us the illusion of mastery, and to excuse the damage we do.

A good earthspeaker will tell you to listen to those who have stayed in conversation with the world. Those people who know the give and take of blood and bough and mulch. Those peoples who, so often, we have called savage. Those who we looked down on from our towers made of bones.

Listen. Listen and follow, if they will have you and if they will teach you.

We see this in the truce the druid Cambridge Ironweed made with the Skullcluster. This spirit takes the form of a pack of skeletal cats, and was thought to be a genus of demon predator. When Ironweed planted his feet in the dirt offered them his throat, he made himself a conversation between two worlds that should always have been one.

Now everyone in its domain lives with a skeletal cat. They know that, one day, they will die and it will eat the flesh from their bones. This is how their flesh and spirit will return to the earth.

Remember Ironwood's dying words: “Oh, you think we are special because we have souls? Here, let me show you how widely the river of the anima flows…”

Here is the third lesson: we tend that which we would see flourish.

If you would see people fed, grow food. If you would see forests thrive, tend trees. If you would see the a community safe from predators, grow thorns.

But never forget that anything that cures can also kill. Crops can choke a landscape and a sick landscape kills its creatures. A forest grown thick is fuel for wildfires. A town that is safe can forget it is part of a wider world and turn thorns into spears.

We see this in the work of the druid and rootweaver Devonport Blackwood.

The many buildings created by Blackwood are things of beauty not because of their aesthetic, but due to their function. In the towns and cities Blackwood traveled, they planted webs of needroot beneath the foundations. Needroot is weed-like in its dormant form, a wispy white root happy to live in pavement cracks and kiss the boots of commuters.

But if you need shelter? If you are desperate and vulnerable and cry your needs out like burnt offerings to the heavens? Well, if the heavens don't need you, the needroot will.

The structures it builds are strange things, bulbous and pale. They use whatever materials are to hand. They claim whatever space is unused (though not necessarily unowned). They look like nests built out of discarded tarmac, copper and mycelial strands - a mix of turnip-pale rubbery organic matter and urban detritus. As if someone had reconstructed the mythic roc from mushrooms and given it a building permit.

Everyone who needs a home in these places has one. This is the need Blackwood sought to tend.

But, because local landlords were rarely happy about this, they also left a twist in the tale.

So the needroot also provides every settlement with a communal poison garden. They are lush, lovely and deadly.

After all, many natural things need teeth to flourish.

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This particular story was inspired by this post about druids, which y'all should read.

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