SAY AMEN. SAY AMEND.

test muses ...  glorfindel of tolkien’s ‘ silmarillion ’, abel gideon of NBC’s ‘hannibal’, the man with the skull cup of ‘how to survive camping’, charlotte ‘chuck’ charles of ‘pushing daisies’ 

HERE YOU  ARE : bathed in shadows , half suffused with the black hole of the dreaming , a windless wind, but we are not dreaming now. eyeless thing smiles with sharp teeth , with jagged bone, with a cutting amusement at the endless before him. he has fallen into this skin, this meat, this pale figure who has cut his eyeteeth on longing. eyes trace the person before him and a hunger as gentle as the sinking of venice makes itself known in the linings of his bones. tense, muscles locked and he thinks:  you have fallen like ripe fruit from god’s mouth. he thinks:  i have been told to fast, i have been told to abstain but there is a feast and he swallows the urge to bite, bruises like a rotted night, cut on his porcelain teeth like the flesh of a plum. INSTINCT  /  RED  /  SCREAMING: i am myself, and i am another. i long to pry the secrets from you, like yanking a tooth. a brow lifts behind lenses , fish hook pulls the edge of his mouth, he is a creature made of selfishness.

❝ did something change? the forest feels different. ❞   ❝ it’s…it’s still alive. ❞   ❝ i heard you. it’s not up for discussion. ❞   ❝ space your shots. speed costs accuracy. ❞   ❝ we do what we must to survive. ❞   ❝ it’s not like you don’t get angry in a fight. ❞   ❝ do not speak again. ❞   ❝ didn’t you hear that? voices. it felt…evil. ❞   ❝ close your heart to their desperation. close your heart to their suffering. ❞   ❝ people… they’re trying to survive too. ❞   ❝ we are not men. we are more than that. ❞   ❝ and i thought my family was fucked up. ❞   ❝ finish what you started. ❞   ❝ smells like rotten eggs. is it still good? ❞   ❝ kill for survival, not for indulgance. ❞   ❝ there is one unavoidable truth you will never escape: you cannot change. ❞   ❝ we all gotta take responsibility sometime, huh? ❞   ❝ slow down. your haste will cost us. ❞   ❝ i need to know if you can survive the journey. ❞   ❝ everything is different. try not to dwell on it. ❞   ❝ find your way home. you are free. ❞   ❝ put as much distance between you and the truth as you want, it changes nothing. ❞ ❝ i will do what i must. leave me be. ❞   ❝ that doesn’t mean you should lie to your friends or family. ❞ ❝ do not concern yourself with what might be. focus on what is. ❞ ❝ you do not want this fight. ❞   ❝ i will rain down agony, every possible violation, upon you. ❞   ❝ um, alright…that hurt a little. ❞   ❝ you see through the eyes of a child. ❞ ❝ you are stronger than you know. ❞   ❝ we fight…until i say stop or we are dead. understand? ❞   ❝ you are right…i do not believe you. ❞   ❝ you think you understand, but you don’t. ❞   ❝ i know who you are…most importantly, i know what you are. ❞   ❝ your anger…you can get lost in it. ❞   ❝ it happens again, you tell me. understand? ❞   ❝ oh, you already know the answer to that. ❞   ❝ i’m strong. i’m smart. i’m not what you think i am. ❞   ❝ your memory was a comfort in dark times. ❞   ❝ whatever it is you seek i do not have it. you should move on. ❞   ❝ long way from home, aren’t you? ❞   ❝ i have no desire to help you. ❞   ❝ i used to dream about getting eaten. ❞   ❝ it is wise to be discreet. ❞   ❝ you are not yourself. ❞   ❝ fight until we stop or we are dead. ❞   ❝ have you ever heard the term ‘tempting fate’? ❞   ❝ as far as i’m concerned, death suits you better. ❞   ❝ would you pardon me please? i need to collect myself. ❞   ❝ this fight is pointless. your struggle is pointless. ❞   ❝ struck a nerve, did i? ❞   ❝ no, wait…i’m not giving up. i just…have to catch my breath. ❞   ❝ a dangerous beast. we’ll take him down together. ❞   ❝ it is so good to see you again. ❞   ❝ can’t believe you’ve lasted this long. ❞   ❝ hurry! i’m slipping. ❞   ❝ only time you talk to me is when you need something. ❞   ❝ you’re more concerned with their safety than our goal. ❞   ❝ i’d bow if i could, your majesty. ❞   ❝ try to find forgiveness, and we can start something new. ❞   ❝ i cannot undo your mistakes. ❞   ❝ it is a delicate balance. expect the worst. assume nothing. ❞   ❝ it sounds like they needed help. ❞   ❝ she meant more to me than you anyway. ❞   ❝ you’ve seen it with your own eyes; you can’t hurt me. ❞   ❝ i just needed answers…but you had to act all proud. ❞   ❝ you only know half the story. ❞   ❝ i’m…sorry for your loss. ❞   ❝ anything you’d like to get off your chest? ❞   ❝ throw whatever you have at me…i’ll keep coming. ❞   ❝ slow and old. you should never have come here. ❞   ❝ think i’m afraid of you? you’re nothing to me. ❞   ❝ we’re going to fight that? ❞   ❝ the fault is mine…and my responsibility to make it right. ❞   ❝ dead things…they have no needs. only wants. ❞   ❝ i am known for my attention to detail. ❞   ❝ i see you’ve been busy. ❞   ❝ ;et me take this moment to tell you what you are about to do is absolutely insane. ❞   ❝ i’ll be keeping my eyes on you. ❞   ❝ i am your monster no longer. ❞   ❝ until our journey is over, one of us must remain focused. ❞ ❝ you know, i really hoped i’d never see this place again. ❞ ❝ i warned you. you would not listen. ❞   ❝ no…you’re bleeding. ❞   ❝ with power comes a big choice. you serve yourself or you serve others. ❞   ❝ be careful where you’re going. there’s no one nice out here anymore. ❞   ❝ you talk too much. ❞   ❝ we will fight it. because you are frightened of it. ❞   ❝ why are there two beds in there? ❞   ❝ will we see people on the road? friendly? will they try to rob us? ❞   ❝ tell me what i want, pain stops. real simple. ❞   ❝ you are going to have to kill me for that to happen. ❞   ❝ just tell me what i want to know! no need for this to get bloody. ❞ ❝ relax. do not think of it as an animal. it is simply a target. ❞   ❝ we do what we please. no excuses. ❞   ❝ you’ve had to kill people before, haven’t you? you’re used to it. ❞   ❝ how did they find me…after all this time? ❞   ❝ i’m not allowed there anymore on account of the, uh, incident. ❞   ❝ hm…thought you’d be bigger. ❞   ❝ you’re sounding more like your father by the minute. ❞   ❝ well, this is it. it’s been an honor. ❞   ❝ do you have any idea, any idea at all, what you have cost me? ❞   ❝ for someone so strong you sure worry a lot. ❞   ❝ uhh…this is a lot of bodies. ❞ ❝ you must be better than me. understand? ❞ ❝ we win because we are determined. disciplined. not because we feel ourselves superior.)❞   ❝ i’m fine. just lost my balance for a moment. ❞   ❝ do not drop your guard. ❞   ❝ you’ve only killed those deserving, right? ❞   ❝ can you kill something that big? ❞   ❝ worry serves me well…and how i keep us alive. ❞   ❝ earlier you said people might kill us. i’ll kill them if they try. ❞   ❝ so we’re going towards the scary singing? ❞   ❝ uh… do you hear that? what is it? ❞ ❝ will i see you again? ❞ ❝ you know my door is always open to you. ❞   ❝ but nobody’s killed a dragon for hundreds of years. ❞   ❝ the road ahead is long and unforgiving… no place for a child. you must be a warrior. ❞ ❝ to be effective in combat, a warrior must not feel for his enemy. ❞   ❝ you’re kinda scary sometimes. ❞   ❝ do not call me that. ❞   ❝ i feel like we can beat anything now. ❞   ❝ to give up this easily, so close to the start… ❞   ❝ you are in your head. let it go. ❞   ❝ unless i’m mistaken, you did all that…for me. ❞   ❝ i’ll kill them if they try. i’m not afraid. ❞   ❝ if seeing me dead will make things right, i won’t stop you. ❞   ❝ never thought i’d see one up close… ❞   ❝ stay by me. touch nothing. ❞     ❝ you are wise for one so young. ❞   ❝ are they dead? …not dead! not dead! ❞   ❝ do not mistake my silence for lack of grief.  ❞   ❝ never leave me alone again. all right? ❞   ❝ i did what had to be done. ❞   ❝ i know you hate gods but you really can’t stay away from them, can you? ❞   ❝ something’s breaking through the wall! ❞   ❝ it does not matter if you fire only once. show me control. ❞   ❝ do not allow yourself to feel for them. they do not feel for you. ❞   ❝ i do not know how to do this without you. ❞   ❝ i’d hoped that you, of everyone, would finally make me feel something. ❞   ❝ steady your aim and breathe in. exhale and release. ❞   ❝ are we lost? should we be in here? ❞   ❝ the path you walk. vengeance. you will find no peace. ❞   ❝ you know i love you. you just can be better. i know you can be. ❞   ❝ you think it’s safer in here?  ❞   ❝ listen to me. i can help. ❞   ❝ why wait to warn me? ❞   ❝ know any good stories to pass the time? ❞   ❝ you know what’s adequate? that footwork. you step in shit?   ❞   ❝ uh…you didnt mean to do that, did you?  ❞ ❝ why do you even care? you could have just walked away. ❞   ❝ if i wanted your opinion, i’d ask for it. ❞   ❝ you left me here. again. why don’t you care? ❞   ❝ that bow’s a little big for you, isn’t it? ❞ ❝ the last of his kind in all the realm and you shoot him. ❞   ❝ and here i thought your kind was supposed to be so enlightened. so much better than us. so much smarter.   ❞   ❝ you will always me a monster. ❞   ❝ what, you want a hug? ❞   ❝ in war, a soldier sees beauty in the blood of his enemy. ❞   ❝ follow down this path and head for daylight. ❞   ❝ finish what you started. ❞   ❝ it would serve you to stop talking. ❞   ❝ you did not think it was important to tell me? ❞   ❝ not a something for nothing type, are you? ❞   ❝ why should a deadly curse stop you? ❞ ❝ something feels strange…we’re heading into danger. ❞   ❝ the gods care nothing for you. (men should not pray to monsters.)   ❞   ❝ the fates…no good comes from them. ❞   ❝ it is important for a warrior to keep his skills sharp. ❞   ❝ trust i will not let us die. ❞   ❝ war was simply no fun anymore, but a rather senseless waste of precious life. ❞   ❝ when i require your counsel, i will ask. ❞   ❝ what i did, i did for you. ❞   ❝ you are too quick to temper. you a rash, insubordinate and out of control. ❞     ❝ i don’t think we’re supposed to be in here. ❞   ❝ you think i’m weak, because i’m not like you. ❞   ❝ maybe i’m just seeing things… ❞   ❝ mourn how you wish. leave me to my own. ❞   ❝ your father can kill. are you going to be able to do that? ❞   ❝ the path ahead is difficult and you are clearly not ready. ❞   ❝ anger can be a weapon if you control it — use it. ❞   ❝ i proved myself. how am i not ready? ❞   ❝ if you’d given me what i wanted, it wouldn’t have ended this way. ❞   ❝ you are hunting deer — not chasing it. ❞   ❝ i don’t believe it. are you…alive? ❞   ❝ are you really going to lecture me about that? ❞   ❝ keep your expectations low, and you will never be disappointed. ❞   ❝ are you the last of your family too? ❞ ❝ you got a real sentimental streak, know that? ❞   ❝ now is not the time for that. ❞     ❝ you were gone for so long i thought that you… ❞     ❝ are you jealous? want me all to yourself, do you? ❞      ❝ hey, do you mind? trying to concentrate here. ❞   ❝ your mother taught you well. ❞   ❝ i can tell you a thing or two about family matters. ❞   ❝ i’ve been to many strange places…but this is a new one. ❞   ❝ you left me alone to fight. ❞   ❝ look at me! look at me! ❞   ❝ don’t you see? they never gave up hope. and neither should we. ❞   ❝ my mother made it for me. ❞   ❝ you killed against my wishes. ❞   ❝ come. no looking back now. ❞   ❝ love and hate are more closely intertwined than you might imagine. ❞   ❝ there is much about me i would not have you know. ❞   ❝ today the winds of fate have kicked up a strange vortex of coincidence. ❞   ❝ okay, there are a few gaps in my knowledge. ❞   ❝ they’re gonna be sorry they picked this fight. ❞   ❝ you can change your path. it’s not too late. ❞   ❝ let me guess…you’re gonna be smug and say we shouldn’t have got involved. ❞   ❝ i defended us. nothing more. ❞   ❝ no. you’ve been gone a long, long time! ❞   ❝ you are right to distrust the word of a god. ❞   ❝ you’ve got some father. i almost feel bad for you. ❞   ❝ so your plan involves a whole bunch of luck? ❞   ❝ well, that was a waste of a perfectly good apple. ❞   ❝ our home is no longer safe. but it will be again. ❞   ❝ well, even a blind pig farts up a truffle. ❞   ❝ when they find you - and they will - they’ll make things difficult. ❞   ❝ there’s only one person alive who can get you where you need to go…and luckily for you, my schedule’s wide open. ❞   ❝ they were just hungry, the wolves. they weren’t mean. they were starving. ❞   ❝ only fire when i tell you to fire. ❞   ❝ no need to explain. not to me. not for that. ❞   ❝ i was just having a little fun, you big grump. ❞   ❝ you deserve better than what you’ve got. ❞   ❝ wow…that was something, that fight. ❞   ❝ you help me, i help you. ❞   ❝ let them go. take me instead. ❞   ❝ you’ve taught me so much. let me teach you something. ❞   ❝ alright. say it. ‘i told you so’. ❞   ❝ truth is seldom as pretty as myth and legend. ❞   ❝ hope is blinding your instincts. ❞   ❝ we are here because of you. never forget that. ❞   ❝ you are avoiding the question. ❞   ❝ you have a talent for destroying things. ❞   ❝ i can smell your grief. ❞   ❝ but…you told me to never go down there. ❞   ❝ i’ve never felt more alive. ❞   ❝ it’s not my blood. ❞   ❝ i’m going to cut off your head now. ❞   ❝ you’ve got a knack for ominous statements. ❞   ❝ this place…it feels like a prison. ❞   ❝ don’t you know when to give up? ❞   ❝ we will handle it. we have come this far. ❞   ❝ i’m fine…nothing to worry about. ❞   ❝ is it dishonorable to grow old? ❞   ❝ the power of any weapon comes from your heart…but only when tempered by your head. ❞   ❝ so unclean. so, so unclean. ❞   ❝ oh, cut it out, princess. you’re gonna get me all weepy. ❞   ❝ do not take your disappointment out on me. ❞   ❝ your anger…you can get lost in it. ❞   ❝ it’s all you talk about, over and over. do something about it or shut up. ❞   ❝ i have a favor to ask. just a small favor. ❞   ❝ check the path and make sure we are alone. ❞   ❝ pain we endure. faulty weaponry we do not. ❞   ❝ that’s it? the adventure is over? ❞   ❝ if you try, i’ll try. ❞   ❝ wow, you’re so stupid. that your father’s doing? or your mother’s? ❞   ❝ behind you, watch out! ❞   ❝ deny it all you want, but you saved me. ❞ ❝ only use this as a last resort. ❞ ❝  truth is more important than kindness.  ❞ ❝ i know every corner of these lands, every language spoken, every war waged, every deal struck. ❞ ❝ it should have been you. you hear me? you. not her. ❞ ❝ you don’t want me and you never will. ❞ ❝ don’t know, don’t care. ❞   ❝ time has a way of changing things ❞   ❝ betrayal begets betrayal. ❞   ❝ bit of a softy, eh? you’ll grow out of it. ❞   ❝ what do you mean ‘it’s your fault’? ❞   ❝ when we last spoke…i was… ❞   ❝ i regret my actions, and am filled with remorse. ❞   ❝ i wish i was strong enough to do that. ❞   ❝ they do not stop us, so they do not concern us. ❞ ❝ this used to be a challenge. ❞   ❝ sorry. i’m just trying to help. ❞   ❝ i’ve always thought this place as desolate and cursed. ❞   ❝ inspiration is a fickle mistress. ❞   ❝ we’ve come so far. there has to be a way. ❞   ❝ on our journey we will be attacked by all manner of creature. ❞ ❝ woah. what happened here? ❞   ❝ you don’t have to be the smartest man in the world to see that. ❞   ❝ no one deserves to be held captive like this. ❞   ❝ did you hear that? it sounds like something screaming. ❞   ❝ stay quiet. make no movement. ❞   ❝ don’t be sorry. be better. ❞   ❝ you won’t stop me. ❞   ❝ they caught you off guard. ❞   ❝ carelessness will only delay us. ❞   ❝ pull your weight or we go home. ❞  

❝ courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten. ❞ ❝ you’ve met with a terrible fate, haven’t you? ❞  ❝ am i so beautiful that you’ve got no words left? ❞  ❝ forgive me. i’m a coward at heart. ❞  ❝ you and i aren’t as different as we thought. ❞  ❝ this time, we fight together. ❞  ❝ if all else fails, use fire. ❞  ❝ the history of light and shadow will be written in blood. ❞ ❝ what makes you happy… does it make others happy, too? ❞  ❝ it’s a secret to everybody. ❞  ❝ do you ever feel a strange sadness as dusk falls? ❞  ❝ tell them the war has ended. ❞  ❝ many years ago, i felt so free… ❞  ❝ we all deserve a happy ending, don’t we? ❞  ❝ they were all good people…my people. ❞  ❝ be careful about going around judging people by their appearance. ❞  ❝ may the winds of fortune be at your back. ❞  ❝ you have great eyes. they’re proud and wild…like a feral beast. ❞ ❝ no matter what, a fake is a fake, and no matter how much you try to dress it up, the real thing always wins . ❞  ❝ guess what? you got it for free. are you proud of yourself? ❞  ❝ your true face… what kind of face is it? i wonder… the face under the mask… is that your true face? ❞  ❝ you’re the bad guy. and when you’re bad, you just run. ❞  ❝ you’ll come with me, won’t you? ❞ ❝ this is your fate. don’t feel discouraged, even in the darkest of times. ❞  ❝ may we meet again in another life. ❞ ❝ you don’t have to look so sad. ❞ ❝ everything. everything i’ve done up until now…it was all for nothing.. ❞  ❝ i wonder, if you do the right thing, does it really make everyone happy? ❞  ❝ whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. ❞  ❝ those who do not know the danger of wielding power will, before long, be ruled by it. ❞ ❝ your friends… what kind of people are they? do these people think of you as a friend? ❞ ❝ the flow of time is always cruel. ❞ ❝ my bloodline endures the ravages of all the years. it survives. ❞  ❝ the sight of your appalling hair makes my gorge rise. ❞  ❝ we are fine here. we will greet the morning together. ❞  ❝ i really am just a failure. ❞  ❝ it’s dangerous to go alone. take me. ❞  ❝ conquer yourself. ❞  ❝ even though it was only a short time, i feel like i’ve known you forever. ❞ ❝ it’s time for me to make up for my mistakes. ❞  ❝ people are disgusting. my own father and mother are disgusting. you must be disgusting too. ❞  ❝ there are some things in life you can’t change no matter how hard you try. ❞ ❝ thought i chose the thief’s life, but it really chose me. ❞  ❝ i’m not doing anything suspicious. really! ❞ ❝ forgive your friend. ❞  ❝ a man is an animal, too. ❞ ❝ oceans…oceans…oceans as far as the eye can see. ❞ ❝ heroes fade eventually but legends never die. ❞ ❝ please…heal my sorrows. ❞ ❝ i grant my eternal love to you. ❞ ❝ he who wields such power would make a suitable king for this world, don’t you think? ❞ ❝ i always believed you would come…because i know you. ❞ ❝ it is destiny that you and i can’t live in the same world. ❞ ❝ shadow and light are two sides of the same coin. one cannot exist without the other. ❞ ❝ your slumber these past moons must have been restless and full of nightmares. ❞ ❝ your gods have destroyed you. ❞ ❝ your words are kind and your heart is true. ❞ ❝ i believe this is what you call…happiness. ❞  ❝ the mortal blow puts your life on the line. ❞  ❝ your ears will bleed from the sounds of your own screams. ❞ ❝ i consider the time spent with you some of the most special memories i have. ❞ ❝ a sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. ❞ ❝ you fight like no man or demon i have ever known. ❞ ❝ the thousand years of raindrops are my tears. ❞ ❝ time passes, people move…like a river’s flow, it never ends. ❞  ❝ it seems shadow has been moved by light. ❞ ❝ the thunder that strikes the earth is my anger. ❞ ❝ to tell you the truth, I’m feeling a bit frustrated, and right now I just need someone to vent to. ❞ ❝ isn’t it petty? little battles like this? ❞  ❝ wait! do not be so hasty. ❞  ❝ a thing that does not change with time is a memory of younger days. ❞ ❝ don’t ever forget me. if you do, i’ll never forgive you. ❞ ❝ if it is something that can be stopped, then just try to stop it. ❞ ❝ my hate never perishes. it is born anew in a cycle with no end . ❞  ❝ we’ll be friends forever, won’t we? ❞ ❝ do you have any idea how that made me feel inside? Furious. Outraged. ❞ ❝ i’ve taken all that you had to give… though I did not want it . ❞ ❝ i follow the strongest side. that is all i have ever known. ❞ ❝ he wasn’t talking about strength, like lifting stuff. he was talking about being brave. ❞  ❝ believe in your strengths. ❞

“It’s not so bad.” Still, her arm reaches toward him, her palms open, whether she’s talking about the cut, or Jack, himself, she’s unsure. Thrumming like the sound of lapping waves, beneath it all, you’re not so bad. “You’ve grown on me,” a sly curve of her lips, laughter in her eyes, “there’s worse company I could have had for a deserted island.” 

handsome jack brain rot strikes again