#d.a.w.'s things

[dark-academian-witch]

I never perform rituals.

But I always think of Them.

Zeus is there when I decide to step up and lead the way, even with the smallest of ideas, and when the thunder roars above my head and lightnings cross the sky.

Hera is in my every thought of marrying and creating a family of my own; in every word that comes out of my mouth when I explain to my sister or my niece why they shouldn't do something or talk them into eating all their food or tidying their toys up.

Poseidon is in every wave ofthe lake I live near. He's in every time I walk on the beach and when smelling the water, I feel at home; and every time I bathe under the sun and let the water cradle my body, totally abandoning myself to its gentleness.

Hades is present everytime I walk around the house (or in the streets in winter) either at night or in the early morning and feel safe in the shadows.

Persephone and her mother Demeter are in every word I whisper to my plants when I am moving them to water or admire them, carefully touching every leaf or turning the pot or checking the soil by pressing my fingers in it.

Athena is there when I sew something or when I am learning about something or planning my next steps towards a goal of mine or educating myself.

Aphrodite is there when, after a shower, I take some time to relax and take care of myself; She's also there when I am wearing something that makes me feel confident.

Ares is in every inch of my anger, in every fight that makes my blood boil through my veins and makes me want to give it all I am.

Hephaestus is in everything I build, repurpose or break down, using my desk as a worktop.

Apollon is in every note of the songs I listen to, in every line of the art I make, in every line I write.

Artemis is the one to whom I look up to in the morning, when I am heading out and about to start my day and the last one I look to at night before going to sleep; I find Her in every animal I befriend.

Dionysus is with me everytime my friends and I do something that we'll remember by shooking our heads and saying "we were so young and careless" while smiling.

Hermes is my wanderlust, He's in every roadtrip and in every word I learn in a different language and in every new place I visit or learn about and in every adventure I go on, however small.

Hestia is there everytime I get cozy with a sweater or a blanket, and everytime I smell some freshly-out-of-the-oven goods, and each sandwich I make to eat while studying or just because I got a little hungry.

Hecate is in every choice I make and in all the multiple outcomes that stem from them. She's the ink of every word I write down for my craft and every sigil I make.

I don't even feel like I have to pray to Them, most of the time. I keep Them close to me and honor them with every thing I do, offering Them every second of my day.

[Inspired by @blest-paean]

[dark-academian-witch]

Reading a book at dawn while commuting to school on the bus really hits different.

It's as though I'm in an entirely different time, space, dimension. As though I am no one, and everyone. As though I am, and I am not.

But I will always exist, with that book, in the soft light of the rising sun.

[dark-academian-witch]

WIP Introduction

Title: A match made in both worlds

Why this title? Because one of the two main characters is from a family that is considered quite influential in both the living's world and in the various afterlives, and his chosen family, which is made of ghosts and other supernatural entities who looked at his family and thought "They seem interesting. I'm going to stick with them for the rest of eternity.", find a person he would be an amazing couple and. You know the "-Would you like to stay for dinner? -WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY FOREVER?" thing? That's essentially what they did. And the other person thought "I like these ones. I'm going to let them adopt me in the family". So... It's literally a match made in both worlds.

Plot: Adam Pleding lives in his family's mansion with his chosen family. One day, as the government requires, someone from the Ministry of Paranormal Activity Control comes to the mansion to check how things are going. He gets startled by the fact that Adam's mansion is the most haunted place ever. They start talking and soon, they fall in love, and work against quite literally both humans and the Powers That Be to achieve their family and theirs happiness, sticking together through it all.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, I guess. I mean, the world is exactly the same as it right now, except: gay people still don't have rights, humans and supernatural entities coexist peacefully and COVID-19 never happened.

Lenght: for now, ignoring some parts I already wrote because I literally couldn't get them out of my mind, 12 chapters (they're all around 2/3k words. Hopefully).

Main Characters (this is going to be fun):

Adam Pleding, 26 years old. He is the last of an ancient bloodline of people that are gifted with not only being able to see entities at all times, but also, in the case of ghosts, being able to touch them and see their memories on certain days of the year. He is outgoing and friendly, and also really curious and reckless. Sometimes, he falls into depressive episodes because of some rather unpleasant things (read "traumatic experiences"). He lives off music (if it isn't metal, then he most likely has listened to it), ignoring James's dubious advice, Italian cuisine and helping the people he loves. Gender? Cis male. Sexuality? Homosexual.

Percy Longham, 27 years old. He's an officer in the Checkup department of the Ministry of Paranormal Activity Control. He's a little more reserved than Adam and definitely not as reckless as him, but other than that, they're pretty similar. He also went through some bad things, which led him to overworking himself to escape from it. He lives off making sure Adam doesn't die, books, exploring secret passages and making sure the people he loves know that. Gender? Cis male. Sexuality? Gay.

James, several centuries old. He's a demon and, to Adam, an older sibling. He's the textbook definition of a punk person: loud, obnoxious, doesn't really care about anything (except he does). He also is really sarcastic, and reacts to things that hurt him by holding a grudge against it and being bitter. He lives off giving dubious advice to everyone, music (included metal) and chaos. Also making sure the people he cares about are happy, but he'll always deny it. Gender? He presents male because he's too lazy to even just think about being anything else and he likes that form. Sexuality? Pansexual.

Valerian Schackleberg, (1)32 years old. He is the heir of an adequately rich London family. He's caring, overprotective at times and poised. He had some trauma, related to his death, that resulted in him losing his voice, so he created his own sign language. He lives off lounging in the library while Oscar reads for him, reading and glaring at James. Gender? Cis male. Sexuality? Bisexual.

Oscar Schackleberg, (1)34 years old. When he was a young boy, he befriended Valerian. Then, they fell in love and when Oscar's family disowned him, he took Valerian's last name. He is serious, down to earth and unbothered. He also has trauma related to his death, but ignores it in favour of taking care of Valerian. He lives off reading for Valerian, tidying the library and painting. Gender? Cis male... Maybe. He doesn't really care, though, as long as he's with his family. Sexuality? Asexual homoromantic.

Laurie, 35 years old. They're Percy's neighbor, and own an Italian restaurant (of the accurate kind). They're partly a witch, but don't really care about practicing. They're just how you imagine an Italian is: outgoing, passionate and rather stubborn. They're actually fine. They live off cooking, being a graceful host and telling Percy to act on his feelings for Adam. Gender? Genderqueer (they/them). Sexuality? It's confusing, but they would label themself Moronsexual (they have feelings for James, after all).

That's it! I hope you liked getting to know more about my WIP! I'll start publishing it on here in a few days, so if this interested you, stay tuned!

[dark-academian-witch]

Antonio and Giacomo's Pet names

Antonio, about Giacomo

Amore mio: this is a basic one, and in English it's "my love"

Mio poeta: also kinda basic, but really sweet. In English, it's "my poet", because we're talking about Giacomo Leopardi, one of the most famous Italian poets, here!

My dear Giacomo: really, really basic, I know. This, like the next ones (which are also rather basic), doesn't need translation.

My love

My life

Sweet poet: Giacomo was a poet, and this sounded nice. Idk about you, but if a boy called me "sweet poet", I"d melt right there and then.

Giacomo about Antonio

My life: indirectly, right after Antonio tells Giacomo "you are my life".

Anima mia: This is accurate to what remains of their letters, or at least, of those that Giacomo wrote to Antonio, which is why I wanted to include it and keep the pet names to a minimum, from Giacomo's perspective!

[dark-academian-witch]

Blessed be the mystery of love

Part 1

There's a hidden side of history, one of loves lived cautiously behind closed doors...

We shall explore one, today. The love of a young count and his closest friend, who met in sweet Florence, and sought refuge in chaotic, open Naples.

But we won't be seeing anything sweet, today. We're going to watch one of their saddest memories: a death. Let us speak no more, though. Death is sacred, and even more so when it happens under a lover's tearful gaze...

Antonio walked into Giacomo's room, and looked at the stars shining out the window above the Mount Vesuvius, silent guardian of the city. "Amore mio, how are you feeling tonight?"

Giacomo smiled sadly. "Antonio, lay here with me, will you?"

"Of... Of course, mio poeta, but... Why? Are you alright?" His eyes scanned the other's pale face with a frantic worry.

"Yes, and no. But I have to ask something of you."

Antonio laid there, close to his lover, and kissed one of now frail hands. "Anything for you, my dear Giacomo. Anything."

"Then... Go away, when I pass. And take our letters with you. But please, burn them. No one has to know of us..."

Antonio looked at Giacomo as if he suddenly grew another head. "But... I cannot leave you here! I cannot forget you, my love..."

Giacomo shook his head. "I cannot protect you once I leave this earth..."

Antonio took both the poet's hands in his and held them to his chest. "Patroclus did not leave Achilles, and Alexander did not leave Hephaestion, nor did Adrian leave Antinous. Like them, I won't leave you. You are my life, Giacomo, please, don't ask this of me." His voice cracked on the last words.

Giacomo smiled. "And it's the same for me, anima mia, but they were free to feel their love, unlike us... That's why I ask this of you. Please, keep yourself safe... I won't be able to do that for much longer..." It was clear that soeaking was hard for him.

"No... No! Giacomo, please, don't talk like this... You'll live a thousand more days, and I'll stay by your side for a thousand and one. For all of eternity." Antonio cried.

Giacomo put a hand on Antonio's cheek, and smiled when he put his over it, as if to make sure it stayed there."I'm sorry for leaving you, Antonio... Forgive me..." Antonio leant down, and they kissed for the last time.

When he pulled away, Giacomo's eyes were closed, the phantom of a smile on them. Tears rolled down Antonio's cheeks, as he held Giacomo's body in his arms for the last time. "Wait for me, sweet poet, I'll reach you soon..."

[dark-academian-witch]

Spring in December

December,

and nonetheless daisies

are blooming

in a shy smile.

December,

but the puddles say

"March!" as I

jump around and giggle.

And so,

my quartz sky

is rippled.

[dark-academian-witch]

The ideal dark academian setting in early September? Me, my computer, my maths textbook and notebooks, an autumn-themed playlist playing on spotify, a cup of black tea with 10 drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of chestnut honey, a slice of bread covered in chestnut honey and an apricot-flavored yogurt to snack on while I study. Bonus points for wearing a t-shirt or shirt that looks a little oversized and flowy on you (and is white) and black trousers. Comfy, but elegant.

[dark-academian-witch]

The ideal dark academian setting in early September? Me, my computer, my maths textbook and notebooks, an autumn-themed playlist playing on spotify, a cup of black tea with 10 drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of chestnut honey, a slice of bread covered in chestnut honey and an apricot-flavored yogurt to snack on while I study. Bonus points for wearing a t-shirt or shirt that looks a little oversized and flowy on you (and is white) and black trousers. Comfy, but elegant.