vallo

So that is what kind of Monday it is going to be like, eh? Dragon friend, do not worry, they are all very dangerous and remarkable.

[FILTERED TO ESSEK]

Is there ah- something you wanted to tell me?

So by now ah- most of you are aware we had a situation at the Library. We still don't have all of the details - I don't know if we ever will, but what we do know is this:

Ashurbanipal, King of Assyria, approached the library this morning, and challenged King Noctis in an attempt to rule Vallo? Unaware that Noctis is not the King of Vallo.

He threatened Nancy, and the Library wards went defensive, one of the skeletons was killed in the mess, and the King took that as a challenge.

The library went into lockdown mode, and there was a fight. I do believe they underestimated a whole group of librarians.

Nancy was able to knock the amulet off of the King's neck, and that was when the skeletons all disappeared? We have it now, but the amulet is damaged, and the king is gone. I put it in a protected vault for the moment but we'd feel more comfortable if one of the covens takes it, so we're going to reach out to them later for that.

We do have some casualties and people are being taken to the clinic now, but I don't think anything was fatal. Mike, Darlington took Nancy there just a few minutes ago and you may want to visit.

Full disclosure that I am also on my way there now, but I was told by triage that it "should be an easy heal". I didn't even realize I just had a

If anyone has any other information to share, we'd love to hear it at the library, since we'll be documenting this in its entirety.

Tags: !: network post, alex stern series: alex stern, alex stern series: darlington, critical role: orym, final fantasy: joshua rosfield, final fantasy: noctis lucis caelum, final fantasy: prompto argentum, grishaverse: nikolai lantsov, overwatch: brigitte lindholm, stranger things: mike wheeler, the last binding: edwin courcey, the raven cycle: blue sargent, the raven cycle: matthew lynch, the raven cycle: richard campbell gansey, the raven cycle: ronan lynch, voltron: keith kogane, voltron: tex kogane

In war, I'd prefer a dishonest man to a man who was unreliably honest. Predictability goes a long way in tactics: you can't control the players, but you could rely on what you believe them most likely to do in the situation they're in. Which is one reason why Vallo is so maddening to me: the arrivals and departures don't make sense. They aren't predictable. No amount of logic, big brain, cunning or forethought can predict what will happen in the day-to-day, which makes for lousy endings. Heartbreak. Broken relationships. But Vallo gives you just enough to keep you hopeful. Because for some, there is hope. The waiting, the not knowing - it makes everything sharper. Brighter.

Which is all to say: I was gone for four months, taken to some strange world where I worked in a bar called the Mos Eisley Cantina. Luckily, I was the prettiest one there (save Earl, Earl had these gorgeous magenta fronds you would not believe), and I learned how to fly a spaceship and things were mostly fine, save how very much I missed the lot of you. And then one day, right when I was beginning to think I might never make my way back, I came back to this place just in time to see more departures.

See? Maddening.




But I am very glad to be back.

You know, Vallo, you're doing a great job of pushing me into having a damn villain era.

I said it last year, but apparently I have to say it again this year, since people keep asking: there are no oysters in the summer. This is oyster spawning season. If you got oysters now, they would be soupy and disgusting, and you would be preventing future generations of oysters. This also goes for mussels. Get some damned shrimp and scallops and wait for the Month of Harvest September.

While I'm making announcements: Do not waste your time reading The Outlander's Lady by Belladonna Seward. It's clearly written by someone who never stopped to talk to any of us, and the "plot" is just a thin excuse for increasingly dramatic sex.

[Filtered to Thor]
I just spent forty more dollars on plants. This is your fault.

If anyone needs activities for children today, the Great Library will be holding Epic Story Time at 2 p.m. in the main stacks. Our tale of choice this afternoon is the Old English story of Beowulf, as told by Miss Heliotrope Undersea. It does have some scary moments, so today's story time is not recommended for children who don't want to hear about monsters being beaten to death.

[Filtered to Edwin and Nikolai]
Are you two doing well enough with your unexpected child? I don't know the first thing about children, but I can send dinner over this evening.
[/filter]

I awakened this morning to discover that my husband is thirteen years older and has no recollection of Vallo. Is anyone experiencing similar difficulties?

( Read more... )

[Filtered to Nikolai]

Good morning, Nikolai. I hope your morning's going well.

Tell me, do you have geese in Ravka?

Who: Edwin and Nikolai
What: Edwin decides to try cooking for Nikolai. Nikolai decides to help. It goes poorly.
When: Last month
Where: Sutton Cottage
Rating: PG

( I think it’s very sweet that you nearly did a war crime trying to make my favorite dish. )

This aurora is truly spectacular. I've never seen anything like it. My world has auroras, though rarely in England, but I don't believe they typically last for long, and to have them caused by magic such as this would truly be unheard of.

I'll be making a study of them for the next couple of weeks, I think, and will be happy for any resources anyone might have on the phenomena, especially if anyone has any experience with such a thing in their own worlds.

I've been here in Vallo over a year now - I've fought your monsters, I've befriended my own, I've made new friends, I've lost old ones, I've received new memories, and sold a truly impressive amount of smut (you're welcome, Caleb), and I think - maybe - I might have half a chance to actually stay here. Oh, optimism - I'll admit it's a fun hat to wear, but difficult to truly rally behind, isn't it? We've all lost loved ones, here. It's a cut that stings, week in and week out. We've little power here. No control.

And yet I think the alternative - to have no hope, to live without aim - it may be the most intelligent option, but certainly not the most satisfying. I could never deny myself a light to sail home to once I've found one, foolish though it might be (yes, Edwin, that's you. Very poetic, yes? I hope you're properly besotted). We find ourselves in a strange, cruel, beautiful world, don't we friends?

And so, a year later, both heavier and lighter than before - to many more, and many more.

[ Filtered to Edwin ]

All that said: how do you feel about my potentially risking my neck from time to time? I'm considering doing the part-time Defense Squad, now that I'm certain that my monster will cause us no harm. I promise to be extremely dashing.

Alright Vallo, back me up here. When you're twins, there's no such thing as an older sibling or a younger sibling because you're twins. The whole point is that you're the same age, right?

[ Filtered to Chastity's Nook employees ]

Are we planning on doing that mystery book promotion this year again for the love holiday? "Blind date with a book"? I can get started on that; I've done a fair bit of reading in the last year. Funny what not running about for your life and country at all hours can engender.

[ Filtered to Edwin ]

That kinky series with all the ropes you pretend you don't pour over has a new one out next week.

[ /Filter ]

Sorry to those of you who literally went to hell his past week. Rather glad this bout passed me over, to be honest. Do I, like many of you, feel crushing guilt for something that has come to pass in my life? Yes. Do I wish to relieve it in a perpetual cycle? I do not. May I recommend a cup of tea and a visit to Chastity's Nook for some high quality literary distraction recommended by extremely handsome and charming book seller? Caleb, never say I don't put in an effort.

Living away from Ravka as long as I have has made me weak. Quite ready for spring, all things said and done.

Who: Edwin and Nikolai
When: December (backdated)
Where: Edwin's apartment
What: It turns out critical thinking about one's future is kind of important in a relationship!

( I think I would have liked to have met you when you were a child. )

[ Filtered to Caleb ]

If, by chance, we had a customer absolutely determined to sell off their-- one moment, let me count -- twenty-three book set and counting of incredibly unlikely self-published erotica that has not been proofread to anyone's sexual satisfaction in your store, what would you suggest for a kind, yet firm dismissal that holds the dual boundaries of "no thanks" and "yikes" effectively?

Thanks boss! (Saints, I love not being the boss.)

[ /Filter ]

My first winter in Vallo! What do I need to know? Feel free to embellish; I'm not going to know the difference and I'm not going to research to check.

Anybody know anything about trains and train tracks? Thinking about making a big Polar Express across the barns and I can dream that shit but I don't want to fuck up my farm.

( FRIENDS AND FAMILY FILTER (MAJOR GREYWAREN SPOILERS) )

So little "gifts" are a thing here? I hope that's the case, otherwise this thing followed me here.

( SFW Image under Cut )

This whole situation is giving me flashbacks to situations in my world that I never thought I'd see again, and I'm not having a good time.

The salon will, obviously, be staying closed until we see daylight again.

Filter: Nikolai and David

It would be really great if Alina Starkov decided to show up in this universe right about now. Nikolai, how goes that beacon for the forest?

I have spent the last seventy-two hours¹ refining additional elements² on the car³, and I am now comfortable in saying this: Viktor⁴, I trash talk you⁵.


1. This exceeds my usual limits of going without sleep. I find I'm uncertain where I live now⁶
2. Finding a balance of burst speed and sustained speed is exciting work. I've done similar before, but only for extremely utilitarian reasons and life-or-death stakes. Playing with it, knowing that even should I fail, the only lasting consequence will be to my pride⁷, is fun I've not gotten to have previously. I like it.
3. For the Great Vallo Race
4. Others may also consider themselves trash-talked if they wish. My confidence in my work is absolute.
5. I have read about the trash talk and I understand it is meant to be a good-natured sort of adversarial communication between friends. If I am doing it incorrectly, please advise so I may adjust my approach accordingly. These things do not come easily for me, but I do find that with study and occasional corrections from those who understand people, I can improve.
6. Genya, my love, if you would be so kind as to give me a hand at the shop, I would appreciate it.
7. Everyone should applaud my wife for being as brave and gracious as she is beautiful, because after considering the matter she has elected to withhold any objection to my taking the passenger seat while Nikolai drives our creation.