A little pain.

A little hope.

Dedicated to all who need magic, comfort, and hope.

To overcome depression you need persistence and a little patience.

And possibly a little of magic.

chapters are released on saturdays 💜

Jayce's sacrifice was planned.

The blacksmith could not turn back for the sake of his community.

He could only surrender to his God.

Invitations to the game could only be seen by those who were invited and those who had once participated in it.

Other persons around, however, see nothing in place of the "invitation". Mostly not understanding what exactly is happening.

Mumbo, who has not yet received an invitation, looks in surprise at Scar, who is frozen in place, and then at the invitation to Mr. Goodtimes himself to the game. Jumbo himself does not yet understand whether he is happy or not about the fact that he has not yet received an invitation

Xisuma does not understand why Bdubs makes a loud surprise next to him. Not that such "sounds" were something unusual from his co-server, but at the same time, staring at one point and freezing in place was not the most usual state for him.

Zedaph does not understand why Tango suddenly fell silent. Tango stopped making his specific sounds, and his tail froze in the air like a question mark. Even the fire rods around his head dimmed for a couple of moments.

False does not let the surprised Gem, who noticed the invitation under her feet, stumble. The blonde does not understand why her friend blinks in surprise and picks up something from the ground, apparently only for her.

Doc just exhales slowly watching Ren stare at one point on the windowsill. His tail suddenly stopped wagging, and his ears pressed against his head. A slight alarm hung for a good couple of seconds, and then a dog's laughter was heard.

For a couple of minutes, the server hung in half-minute silence due to the appearance of invitations. They, of course, could refuse. But why?

Mumbo is sure that he will not receive an invitation and does not see anything for himself for the rest of the day.

Hot Drink / Cold Drink &

Peculiarity / Demonization

Vampire AU and queer awakening for these gentlemen in today's issue. Double Strike topics for two days.

"Do you know what Peculiarity and Demonization have in common?" Smajor said calmly, sitting down at the table with Avid and placing cups of hot tea between them. Avid's shoulders involuntarily shuddered, looking first at the clay cup with the steaming drink, and then up at the vampire sitting across from him.

"Not sure?" Avid answered honestly, reaching out for the cup and warming his cold fingertips on the heated clay. "Is there such a thing?"

"Oh, Avid. My beloved, innocent child of summer," Smajor looked contentedly at the flush that had appeared on Avid's cheeks. He was pleased that he had evoked such a reaction from the vampire hunter. "Six hundred years ago, the world was different. But we, as people call us now, queers? Queers have always existed. Perhaps we weren't mentioned, but that doesn't mean we didn't exist. And instead of recognizing that we were simply special, people preferred to demonize us."

Scott cleared his throat, running his fingertips along the rim of his cup, smiling warmly, his gaze fixed on one spot, recalling something good.

"Unfortunately, even among ordinary mortals, there's a disease called 'homophobia,' which is unique to humanoids, or rather, more socially human individuals. I don't know if scientists have figured out why only this species has this disease. I'll have to ask Legundo." He laughed a little louder, and Avid looked up at him like a scared puppy who'd done something wrong. "And the strangest thing is, this disease exists even among queer people. Internalized homophobia and the fear of admitting who you really are."

Scott rises from the table and reaches across, nudging Avid's chin with his fingertips and smirking slightly in response.

"Don't let stupid humans, vampires, whoever they are, and especially not your inner self, get this disease," Smajor whispers. His voice is like maple leaves being driven away by autumn. His voice is just as cozy, cool, and enticing. Scott looks into those dark eyes of the vampire hunter and sees the hope and the extinguished desires he's hiding there. Scott laughs softly, tracing Avid's lips with the pad of his thumb. "You're special, Avid. And don't let anyone, you hear me, don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Otherwise, they'll meet me on their way and regret ever touching my vampire hunter..."

Avid only manages to swallow loudly. He wants to say something, and Scott moves closer, wanting to kiss the hunter's cheekbone, but his plan is thwarted by the overturned cups of iced tea that stood between them. The hunter and the vampire glance back at the cold tea, surprised at how long their conversation lasted, then at each other. And then they both laugh at the absurdity and stupidity of the situation.

Vampires smp

— Avid, your path is yours alone. And you're unlikely to win a battle with me. Let's make a deal. — The man's weightless hand landed on the vampire hunter's shoulder, causing Avid to reluctantly flinch. He doesn't know why. Because it was so unexpected? Because the vampire's voice was so sweet, tinged with melancholy? Or because of the strange knot in his stomach that Avid feels when he looks at Smajor's angelic face.

— You become one of us, and I'll flip a few switches with Owen and he'll forget about his disastrous speech about 'sprinkling the land of Oakhurst with blood'? — Scott says coquettishly, eyeing Avid closely. — Because, really, it's no good to anyone if mortals don't remain on this earth.

Avid starts to protest, but Scott's cold finger lands over the boy's lips. Scarlet eyes stare at violet ones, and damn, the vampire hunter never suspected such cold-blooded killers could smile so warmly and sweetly.

— Let me finish, dear, — Scott practically purrs. — Path - that's a very multifaceted word. About as multifaceted as a well-cut diamond. Path means not only physical movement, but also the direction of your values in life, your inner development. — The vampire lifts one shoulder flirtatiously, still smiling. — Think about it carefully, with your sweet head. By becoming one of us, you can embark on the path of self-development. Overcoming the obstacle of mortality. Transform your inner path. You will find balance in this life. And I will be by your side.

Smajor's voice dropped to a gentle whisper, and Avid felt like he might collapse on the spot, just from the sound of his voice. He gripped the aspen stake tighter, wanting to feel the wood dig into his skin and keep him from falling into the half-slumber this vampire was inducing.

— I'll give you a day to think about it. Tomorrow, we'll meet at this same crossroads, and don't tell anyone about this meeting, — Scott whispered tenderly, his lips lightly pressing against the vampire hunter's temple. — In a day, I want to know your answer: which path will you choose?

Demiurge's Note

Vampires smp.

Possible spoilers (ep. 2)

Whoever didn't hide from them, it's not my fault.

— Do you know what a Demiurge is? — Scott says, deliberately sweetly, looking intently at Shelby.

The girl's pale red eyes watch Smajor closely through her glasses. She knew a lot, could tell a lot. She inhales loudly and exhales just as loudly. More out of habit than desire.

When you've lived for twenty years and breathing is important to you, after death, or a new life, it's hard to break the habit of such nonsense as breathing.

Shelby nods in agreement to the question. Something came to mind. But then she immediately shook her head, denying her knowledge and seeming to brush it aside.

After her transformation, her brain still couldn't properly form thoughts. It was as if a flock of bats were rustling in their cave, the rustling of their wings and the squeak of their tongues echoing against the grotto walls. She had trouble hearing her own thoughts. It was somehow easier to focus on other people's voices. It was a relief from the noise in her mind.

Smajor smiled warmly as he watched Shabble's confusion. Her uncertainty was amusing and interesting for a six-hundred-year-old vampire. Finally, he had a more permanent friend. He chuckled to himself at the phrase "permanent friend." It was certainly better than the fleeting mortal slaves who surrounded him in the last years of his life. Life had been so fleeting, albeit sometimes vibrant, but more often than not, he couldn't even remember the names of his mortal subjects.

— Anyone can be a Demiurge, if you think about it. Any creator, on whom the existence of someone or something depends. A sort of architect of this life, — the vampire said, drawing out his words as if they were the resin of some tree. Equally aesthetic, viscous, and comfortingly scented, yet dangerous to small mortal creatures.

Smajor, with a satisfied smile, approaches Shabble and surprises her by wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing her forehead. The kiss isn't cold, but warm and friendly. So unexpected that Shelby first flinches slightly, then freezes in place. However, she calms down when she hears her friend's laughter.

— Oh, I have a large bottle collection, — Sausage says excitedly, opening a large, antique cabinet. Scott sees a pile of bottles lined up on the shelves. Of various sizes, colors, and shapes. They are also clearly filled with completely different potions and liquids. — I really enjoy collecting bottles, like a kind of collecting. That's basically what it is. — Sausage smiles coquettishly, pulling out one of the deep brown bottles containing some kind of viscous liquid, which swirls lazily as Mystic stirs it.

— I've lived near Outhurst for quite some time, and you know, it's hard to surprise me, — Smajor answers calmly, trying to look at the bottles without too much curiosity.

— Naturally. But I am, after all, something of a traveling writer, and so I'd like to treat you to something special, — Sausage smiles, reaching into the next crate. — You know, an old saying goes, 'Wine isn't born until the cork has sinned with the corkscrew.'"

The Mystic places the bottle on the table in front of Scott, and Smajor can only think that if his victims were served to him as aesthetically as M is now opening the bottle, he would definitely make the immortals his special subjects.

— It's recommended to insert the corkscrew into the center of the cork, — Sausage says, humming under his breath and mimicking his words as he inserts the corkscrew into the cork. — It's also recommended not to pierce the cork all the way through with the corkscrew, so that bits of it don't end up in the drink. And the drink itself, oh...

Scott hears the pop of the open bottle, a lovely aromatic bouquet of fruit and molasses escaping. The liquid carefully pours through the glass, slightly surprising Smajor.

— You know you're bright as the morning. As soft as the rain, pretty as a vine, as sweet as a grape. If you can sit in a barrel, maybe I'll wait until that day,— Mystic sings quietly as she pours the drink and carefully places it in front of Scott.

Smajor watches carefully. Even if it's poison, he won't die from it. It's not like it was an aspen stake.

— What song is that? — Scott asks cautiously, sipping the drink.

— Ah, so a song from one of the many wor.. places. Places I've been, — Mystic says calmly, smiling warmly and clinking their glasses as Scott takes a sip. — To the meeting, Mr. Smajor.

The vampire doesn't particularly like this action, but he forgives it. Because the drink truly does remind him so much of distant and pleasant places, not so much of those countries as of the times when he lived his peaceful and most perfect life.

Scott smiles and holds out three cubes towards his partners. Yellow, like a wheat field, sunlit on a hot summer afternoon for Jimmy. Orange, like a cozy home fire in the hearth for Tango. And green, the color of the summer evening forest for Martyn.

- It's a puzzle. - Smajor says tenderly, looking at his partners in turn and seeing puzzled looks in his direction. - The recipient goes through a small maze to get his gift. It won't be easy, but the main thing is not to give up.

- Oh... - the redstoner made a loud sound and actively wagged his tail, Tango tries to disassemble his intriguing mechanism, which does not give in from the first seconds.

- No! I want to be the first! - Jimmy groans and begins to twist the cube in his hands, trying to understand how to work with it.

Martyn, smiling contentedly, silently begins to twist his green cube, wanting to find out before all his partners what the wily Smajor hid in their gifts.

Smajor only grinned, enjoying watching the emotions on the faces of his future fiancees. How nice to see Tango's almost aggressively wagging tail, who was already a quarter of the way through the puzzle. Snorting Jimmy, who fluffed his wings in frustration and looked at the cube, which did not move from its place in his hands. And a contentedly smiling Martyn, who had just begun his journey.

- You know, something important for all of us is locked there. - the elf says coquettishly, catching a few second glances and enjoying the enthusiasm with which his partners continued. - Perhaps it will not work on the first try, but do not give up.

A couple of minutes later, the click of an open puzzle was heard. Martyn winced quietly, watching in amazement as the ring with yellow, orange, green and turquoise colors came into being. Tango and Jimmy, standing nearby, gasped in surprise.

- Will you be my fiance? - Scott says coquettishly and tenderly, winking at Martin, who immediately and agreeably nods.

- But.. I.. - Jimmy's voice was heard, causing Scott to smile tenderly in response.