Conversion therapy mandated for trans inmates in federal prisons
Mar. 9th, 2026 09:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
petra posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
thisfinecrewA friend let me know about a new Bureau of Prisons guideline for treatment of inmates with gender dysphoria, which you can read in its entirety here. The short form is that they're denying trans inmates gender-affirming care despite medical consensus, and substituting conversion therapy, which has been proven to be harmful and does not in any way "cure" gender dysphoria.
( My friend's letter, posted with permission )
( My friend's letter, posted with permission )
TikTok allowed to keep business in Canada under new rules
Mar. 9th, 2026 09:08 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
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The federal government said on Monday that it will let TikTok continue to operate in Canada and allow an investment by the tech platform to proceed, after a national security review reversed the conclusion of a previous one.
FIFA World Cup COO says tournament 'too big' to be postponed amid global turmoil
Mar. 9th, 2026 09:01 pmcbc_topnews_feed
FIFA's World Cup chief operating officer says the tournament is "too big" to be postponed because of global turmoil caused by the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran.
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If passed, the new legislation would allow places of worship to post signs establishing an access zone within 20 metres of their property line, within which actions that block access, disrupt, or "could reasonably be expected to cause concern for a person's mental or physical safety" are not allowed.
Crash Fever: Fanart: in the digital rain
Mar. 9th, 2026 09:24 pmx95 posting in fan_flashworksTitle: in the digital rain
Fandom: Crash Fever
Rating: G / General Audiences
Content notes: Embedded images.
Artist notes: Drawn with Krita, page/canvas templates via Electric Zine Maker.
Summary: Foucault and Helmholtz wait for the rain to stop.
Challenge: 508 - Anticipation
( in the digital rain )
Fandom: Crash Fever
Rating: G / General Audiences
Content notes: Embedded images.
Artist notes: Drawn with Krita, page/canvas templates via Electric Zine Maker.
Summary: Foucault and Helmholtz wait for the rain to stop.
Challenge: 508 - Anticipation
( in the digital rain )
everything I know about The Pitt, I don't actually know about The Pitt
Mar. 9th, 2026 08:26 pmlannamichaelsI guess I cannot do the necessary suspension of disbelief/price of admission be in Workplace Fandoms anymore because what I've osmosised of The Pitt Season 2 is a lot of "should characters X, Y, and Z forgive Character A who was abusive and also stole patient medications and -- this part I'm unclear on but it sounds likely -- also practiced medicine in an ER while under the influence? It's very important question on if his apologies were good enough or if people should forgive him or be his friend again" and I'm like "that person should be fired from the hospital, this is not a buddy sitcom where they're all over at each other's apartments and dating each other and their warm opinions of each other matter, this is an emergency room, they are coworkers in a high-pressure high-stakes environment, not friends, he should be fired and they should never see him again and get to decide if they want to invite him to their bookclubs or poker nights or whatever, but the question of 'should they forgive him, has he done enough' is irrelevant because he should lose his medical license."
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"We can do some real good right now for survivors, and that's what's driving this settlement at this time," said Joe Fiorante, lawyer for the plaintiffs, in response to the settlement for students who suffered sexual, physical and psychological abuse.
cbc_topnews_feed
The B.C. NDP has promised a mental health counsellor in every school but gaps, particularly in rural regions, persist.
Divining Destiny: Chapters 4 and 5
Mar. 9th, 2026 07:28 pmsenmutAO3 Link | Divining Destiny (11814 words) by Merfilly
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Ensemble
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Typical Violence, Fratricide, Murder, flashfic, Cross-Posted from Archive Of Our Own (AO3), Time Travel
Summary:
Eilistraee rested in the meadow, laying on Her back, listening to the night and Her sparring partner as he got his own breathing back under control. She almost wished to keep him here, to have his company where it was safer for Her to exist, but he was mortal, and deserved a chance to truly live free.
"Father manipulated time in setting you back to save the Lore Keeper," She admitted, once She was cooler and he seemed calm.
"I decided that had to have happened given His surety in the circumstances. I know it is one avenue of magic, considered among the riskiest."
"It's only a few decades, but time has to resettle… and I mean to offer you a chance to be part of that resettling, Drizzt." Eilistraee let Her fingertips touch his. "Like it or not, when She touched your life string at birth, with My Brother touching your sister's so young, it has put you closer to Destiny than many mortals can bear.
"Would you like to use that to protect other drow like you, to be there for My Chosen as a protector?"
Drizzt considered, letting the night sounds take over around them, and then turned his head to look at Her. "I would be with ones like me, to keep learning, and helping them survive in a world that fears and hates us?
"I can do this, as it will let me continue forming as who I wish to be in something closer to safety rather than wandering with only Guen."
"And possibly Szann from time to time," She said, eyes dancing with the mirth of how besotted the cath sidhe was with Her young friend. He did not pray to her; he prayed to none, so far. But She continued to hope that in time he would be willing to ask boons of Her, to further his ability to help others.
"I think I can handle having visits from a fey cat," he agreed to that, smiling brightly. "Yes, Eilistraee. Choose the point for me, and let me go be of aid to others. I have seen enough here to believe that You do truly mean nothing but aid to those like me."
Despite that most of Her fellow deities would be stung by the continued doubting and measuring against a mortal's — a child at best! — ideas of right and wrong, Eilistraee was touched by being allowed that much belief from him.
"I have those calling to Me," She said as She reluctantly stood. "But I will see to it soon, Drizzt. Enjoy the night."
"I shall."
The small group of drow that traveled at present with Qilué Veladorn were some of her most adept, fiercest priestesses and fighters. An impression of being watched ghosted over their senses for several nights, but in a world that would rather see them dead, that was not so unusual.
What was, just after the sun had cleared the horizon and they were considering rest, was the appearance of a lone drow male.
Inside their sentry line.
That he was not close enough to harm a single person was the only saving grace in their eyes, as a full alert went through all of them.
"Peace," the lone male said, using the variant of that word they had made for themselves in their language that knew it not at all. "I seek the First Sister, to offer my arms and service for a time."
"What makes you think you have the right?"
"I claim no right," he said back to the one who had spoken, one of the priestesses. "But I have skills I am willing to offer… and showed by evading your sentries. I have a willingness to learn more, as I have only learned the elven language, and I am told there is one called 'Common' I should know.
"Most of all, I wish to learn the surface as it calls to me in my heart, as the Dark Maiden calls to you."
"Is he touched by madness?" one of the fighters asked then, before the First Sister rose from her pallet, towering over all of those with her, and came forward.
"No. He is touched by our Lady Herself… and another?" As she spoke, she approached the male with no fear.
He inclined his head slightly to her. "A deal was made to remove me from the Underdark, between She and Her Twin. In divining why neither of Them could truly perceive me, She invited Her Father to look into matters.
"So I no doubt bear at least some of His touch, given my armor, pack, and weapons were gifts from Him to perform a task with."
"Truth," the first cleric said, both grudgingly and with some trepidation. Even though the First Sister regularly dealt with Eilistraee, and some human goddess, none of them knew of one who had been touched by an elven god not their Lady.
"So I know," the First Sister said, smiling as she came close enough to offer her hands in greeting. "You have given my Lady joy; welcome, cousin."
"Drizzt Do'Urden." He gave her his hands, squeezing hers without fear.
"Qilué Veladorn. I look forward to seeing your dance, and my hunters will aid you in learning the surface as it is here in the Material Plane."
"I am glad to be able to give aid for a good cause," he assured her, before walking with her into the camp to meet those present in this band.
Elkantar cheered young Rylla on from where he was sprawled on the ground. The half-human was possibly the only one of the fighters that would, someday, match their new fighter in any way. He rolled to his butt, keeping eyes on this grand melee… and the one that had become the center of it all.
Drizzt Do'Urden was an enigma. He'd spent an unknown amount of time in the Dark Maiden's realm, personally handled a quest for Corellon, been shrouded by Lolth Herself at his birth, and been raised by a priestess of Vhaeraun.
None of those deities held the fighter's heart, and Elkantar had been surprised to learn his escape from the Underdark had come before he even turned thirty-one years of age, making his skill simply impossible. That he embraced these free-for-all skill contests, or the one-on-one spars with a true smile of joy never stopped pulling Elkantar's heart strings.
Every other fighter in their band had already lost their weapons or been tripped out of the designated area. Elkantar slowly recognized that Drizzt had worked to insure Rylla was the last fighter, handling the few fighters — like Elkantar himself — that had the experience and skill needed to put her out of it.
"Too much anger," he heard Drizzt say, when the double scimitars trapped the short sword, pulling it out of Rylla's grasp. She refocused her stance a moment, then took the step back, and saluted with her dagger across her chest to surrender.
"How can I not be angry?" she retorted.
"By remembering that holding your anger at the people behind you? Still gives them power."
Those calm, quiet words held empathy and knowing alike… and were just what Rylla needed to hear, to help move one more step forward on her own path of healing.
"Make me better," Rylla said, half a demand, half a plea.
"I will give you every bit of training my father gave me… though maybe with fewer unexpected naps."
Corellon considered the actions of His Daughter, and ultimately decided He was amused. He had, after all, opened the door with His own manipulation. Giving the Chosen a man who had the technique, if not the experience, to increase her people's ability to carve out a space for themselves even earlier could only be a good foil against the drow of both Lolth and Vhaeraun.
He tried to see ahead, to make out the possibilities more clearly… and found the mists of time past the point when Drizzt had originally been taken from the Underdark still opaque.
"At least none of Us should be bored for a time," He mused, going back to listen to His own followers for a time. His Lore Keeper was being a force of nature in his own way, keeping new ideas fresh alongside the ancient ways. It might prove interesting, when the drow struck out on his own, to see about a meeting for them…
Dinin had proven to have a good hand for how to keep their outpost incognito, on top of the politics of the moment, and out of strife with either Vhaeraunite faction. It helped that both of those groups wanted to end each other's influence, but were constrained by some strange religious tenet from just killing one another.
At least openly, as Dinin learned when a priest was murdered in the night market, supposedly by ruffians.
What he did not appreciate was having to be schooled by Jarlaxle's people on a third drow vector, a bunch of idiots that thought peace and living in harmony was the better way of life. He decided they could be ignored as they only came once a quarter to trade —
— until he heard that a band of six drow from the mercantile company faction had been sent running with minor injuries… and none of their weapons.
"I thought they weren't a threat," Dinin muttered.
Karolz shook his head, a much older fighter, one that had been recruited in this city long before. He hated leading, didn't have a head for it, but had accepted Dinin in that role.
"Those Dancers usually avoid a fight. But once every hand of years or so, some braggart decides to test either their Sword Mistress, or Purple Eyes. And this time, it's Purple Eyes with the caravan."
Purple Eyes. Dinin made a gesture against ill-luck, still remembering the one time he'd seen his younger brother in a true temper. He had no idea what had happened to Drizzt, only that whatever it had been had not broken the peace between Zaknafein and Vierna. Dinin knew that meant Drizzt had not been killed; he wasn't as stupid as some people thought he was, and Zak had been odd about the boy.
"Make sure none of ours pick a fight, or cross paths with the mercantiles, hmm? They're going to be more apt to rise to the bait for this."
That got a chuckle and nod… before Karolz watched Dinin secure his cloak over his armor and head out to see for himself.
Dinin found the Dancers easily enough, and decided they looked very tame. He didn't see anyone that really looked like they could give him trouble in a fight, but he also didn't see anyone with purple eyes. Maybe Karolz was wrong and one of the women wearing a sword was this so-called Sword Mistress.
He decided it had been a waste of time to come down and see, turned down a different path to begin his way back —
— and then he did see purple, a moment before he saw all of his brother. The small signs of maturity were settled in around the eyes and ears, while Drizzt stood straight with those curved swords of his still in their scabbards. Fine mithral chain glinted under the over tunic, and a metal face-guard held the mane of hair back, in the same fashion Zaknafein wore his.
"Hello, brother," Drizzt said, actually quirking a half-smile on his lips. "I never expected to see you this far from the city."
"Umm, you… Abyss, I never thought to see you again at all!" Dinin said. "I don't want a fight; I came to see if the rumor of Purple Eyes had anything to do with you, yes, but… I really am just evaluating the threats to my own situation."
Drizzt laughed. "You must be the new one watching Bregan D'Aerthe, then. I'd heard there were several new people since my last visit here." He must have read the confusion in Dinin's face, because he shrugged. "I got caught up in time magic. I've lived in the area above for a few decades now.
"Will you tell me of our sister, and the Weapon Master?"
Dinin nodded. "Trust me enough to come back to the warehouse we keep? Or should we take a meal at the Dimmed Lantern?"
"I won't go so far as to say trust," Drizzt said slyly, "but I prefer to be out of the public eye to discuss this, and I am well known at the Dimmed Lantern."
"Does everyone call you Purple Eyes?"
"Mostly," Drizzt agreed. He fell in step with Dinin, and Dinin noted his brother already knew the path. What had his experiences been that Drizzt actually seemed cognizant of power structures? Did he really want to know?
Ultimately, Dinin decided he did not.
Drizzt relaxed in the deep tub across from the one Laeral Silverhand was in. As the Silverhand that most paid attention to the treacheries in Skullport, Drizzt had come to her to talk about what he had learned this time. Their friendship went back almost to the beginning of his time above with Qilué, as the sisters were very close.
"So my elder brother manages the in-theory Lolthite faction over there. Honestly, the mercenary company he belongs to worships chaos, money, and power, I believe, from what I have seen of them in the past. Through him, I know that our House in Menzoberranzan fell within the last few years.
"But, through his own sources, he knows that my father and sister have established themselves in a a place called Rilauven."
"As best I can remember, that is a minor city somewhere under the Neverwinter," Laeral offered, lounging as nonchalantly as her friend. Dual tubs were almost as good as a large bathing pool.
"I planned to see what the Marauders could tell me of it," Drizzt said, his voice having that note of seeking adventure.
"Planning to go see for yourself? I remind you that your nature is antithetical in all ways to what you would find."
Drizzt chuckled. "I can charm a lizard or a bat to carry a note inside, if I choose to go that way. And your amulet very nicely masks me, when I choose to wear it."
Laeral looked over. "You miss your father, even your sister, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Then I will just say, 'be careful', and I will definitely reach out and knock on your skull in half a year, to be sure you are breathing. If not, the Marauders will be hired to find your body so Qi can bring you back to us."
He shook his head at her, but he had no intention of dying. He just needed to know if his sister was as aware as he was, of the threads of destiny they had unknowingly wrapped themselves in.
Vierna was not unaccustomed to bats bringing her messages. What she was unaccustomed to, was not feeling the touch of her Lord's spellwork on them, instead brushing something unknown when she tried to determine who the sender had been. She also did not see any message to take from it. When she focused fully on it, the bat fluttered just out of reach and roosted.
"If you or father would come, I am awaiting outside the gate your people use to go Above for trade."
The bat, having spoken with her brother's voice, did a small shake of itself and fluttered back out of Vierna's very surprised presence.
Needing to have time to wrap her head around that, the ability to blank her emotions, she sent her messenger spider to her father. The pirate spiders she had brought with her were thriving, especially as they killed any other spiders that dared cross the wards, protecting them from Lolthite spies.
Several minutes later, Zak strode in, an eyebrow raised. "Sometimes I worry your spiders fetching me could be omens, daughter."
She laughed, a little bit more brittle than she meant to. "Something odd, but not… bad? Maybe?
"A bat came and delivered a spoken message in Drizzt's voice, saying he was outside the trade gate to the Surface, asking if one of us would come meet with him. The magic on the bat was unlike any I have felt, and the accent was correct."
Zak frowned, then considered a long moment. "Are you still unable — yes, you are. Of course you already tried to reach him that way." He hitched a shoulder. "I suppose I am taking a walk. Put the undead into defensive positions, just in case."
"Of course, Father. If it is… and he will come… please bring him in. I can explain it as an intelligence seeking."
That got a laugh, but Zak nodded. "If that boy knows anything of use, I will be shocked."
Zak moved out of the gate uncontested, as he was known to sometimes forage for his daughter's wild needs. In the years since arriving here, they had made a solid reputation as fair but powerful. The only true trouble they'd had was from Lolthites seeking to undo the Masked Traitor's prominence, but Vierna remained high in the favor of her Lord.
Once he cleared the perimeter of the city's awareness, he knew he was not alone, and had to look sharply… before his son melted out of a shadow.
"Hello, Father," Drizzt called, breaking into a genuine smile. Even as jaded as Zak was, everything matched… except the age. This man was too mature to his eyes, and he remained poised, ready to engage the trap so his daughter stayed safe.
"Hmm, not so certain of that."
Drizzt threw his head back and laughed, before spreading his hands wide from his body. "Blame your daughter, then, as she put me in the hands of a goddess and set me on a strange path that had time magic in it."
Zak let an eyebrow rise at those words.
"Would a fetch know you nearly killed me rather than let me go become a drow in all truth? Or that you broke my jaw to keep me from exposing both of us to the Matron? Or that I almost caused your death the very night Vierna became Matron?"
"It might… but I think I might believe you." Zak beckoned. "Your sister wishes to see you as well, peacefully. The city is not a closed one, and if you're still so strange, she'll shove it off as getting what you know of other places."
"Oh, I am strange, even to those that agree with my views on life," Drizzt said, still smiling so openly, and Zak reached out as he came close, gripping his shoulders.
"I am glad you stayed strange, and alive!"
Drizzt leaned in, resting his forehead on his father's. "Vierna saved me by doing as she did, and now I wish to repay that, with a warning and words of my life."
"Then let us go into the city, my son, and hear what you have to say."
Vierna hugged her little brother fiercely, taking in all the changes as Zak had done. He was dressed sensibly in a piwafwi of fair construction, had adamantine blades in plain scabbards, and everything had the right feel of the Underdark.
"You cannot possibly have been in the Underdark since I set you in safety!" she pointed out.
"No, but we keep such things for movement below the faerzress," Drizzt said. "As I do aid sometimes, I had everything I needed in one of our caches.
"When Dinin told me where you two had gone, I retrieved them for my journey. One that is formerly of House Vaer here aided me in swift travel," he added.
"Dinin's in Skullport, last I knew," Zak said.
"He is, and thriving," Drizzt agreed. "We have an understanding, as I have no wish to be involved heavily in drow things."
"You mentioned a warning," Zak prodded, once they were all comfortable.
Drizzt sobered up and looked at Vierna. "Do you have any idea how tangled in divine events we now are, sister? The choice you made, to save me, prodded the Twins toward aid for one another, when He was attacked. I have been given quests by Her and by others of the pantheon in my time-tossed decades."
She slowly frowned, but his words rang true against some of the dreams that had come since she settled here.
"I can see the shape of that now that you say it," she admitted. "Your thoughts?"
"Something lies ahead. Neither of my patron deities know what, but more and more, I am drawn to larger threats, sharpening all of my skills and the magic I touch as a kind of divine-touched fighter."
Vierna had to rake her eyes over him at that claim, but… she did not know all things of the surface yet.
"Both of my children using divine magic now. There's a strangeness," Zak said in a slow drawl.
That made them all laugh.
"I suppose, little brother, I am going to ask you to stay long enough to get sending stones for you and father to carry, and work out a timing for us to keep in touch," Vierna said. "So we can at least warn one another of things that come to pass."
"I am already looking forward to the spars," Drizzt said, agreeing easily. "Just tell me how to not make trouble here, and I will be a good guest.
"I've kept an open mind toward your god, even if I question some of His idiot followers' ways."
"Well, some of them are idiots, but I think that is true of all religions," Vierna agreed, pleased.
Vhaeraun smiled in His own realm. Allies, when the coming storm arrived, were not to be dismissed out of hand. And, if the siblings forged a bond across alignment, then perhaps…
… well, He knew He was still deeply fond of His own Twin. Perhaps in time, He might yet convince Her to see His way of thinking.
He would keep His defenses up, and all of His craft tuned to the danger ahead for all of the gods.
Chapters: 5/5
Fandom: Forgotten Realms, The Legend of Drizzt Series - R. A. Salvatore
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Major Character Death
Characters: Vierna Do'Urden, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden, Ensemble
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon Typical Violence, Fratricide, Murder, flashfic, Cross-Posted from Archive Of Our Own (AO3), Time Travel
Summary:
Thwarted in escaping with the two males she cares for at Graduation, Vierna sets her goals differently.
Only, Drizzt sets things in motion the wrong way.
Chapter 4: Drizzt's Chosen Path
Eilistraee rested in the meadow, laying on Her back, listening to the night and Her sparring partner as he got his own breathing back under control. She almost wished to keep him here, to have his company where it was safer for Her to exist, but he was mortal, and deserved a chance to truly live free.
"Father manipulated time in setting you back to save the Lore Keeper," She admitted, once She was cooler and he seemed calm.
"I decided that had to have happened given His surety in the circumstances. I know it is one avenue of magic, considered among the riskiest."
"It's only a few decades, but time has to resettle… and I mean to offer you a chance to be part of that resettling, Drizzt." Eilistraee let Her fingertips touch his. "Like it or not, when She touched your life string at birth, with My Brother touching your sister's so young, it has put you closer to Destiny than many mortals can bear.
"Would you like to use that to protect other drow like you, to be there for My Chosen as a protector?"
Drizzt considered, letting the night sounds take over around them, and then turned his head to look at Her. "I would be with ones like me, to keep learning, and helping them survive in a world that fears and hates us?
"I can do this, as it will let me continue forming as who I wish to be in something closer to safety rather than wandering with only Guen."
"And possibly Szann from time to time," She said, eyes dancing with the mirth of how besotted the cath sidhe was with Her young friend. He did not pray to her; he prayed to none, so far. But She continued to hope that in time he would be willing to ask boons of Her, to further his ability to help others.
"I think I can handle having visits from a fey cat," he agreed to that, smiling brightly. "Yes, Eilistraee. Choose the point for me, and let me go be of aid to others. I have seen enough here to believe that You do truly mean nothing but aid to those like me."
Despite that most of Her fellow deities would be stung by the continued doubting and measuring against a mortal's — a child at best! — ideas of right and wrong, Eilistraee was touched by being allowed that much belief from him.
"I have those calling to Me," She said as She reluctantly stood. "But I will see to it soon, Drizzt. Enjoy the night."
"I shall."
The small group of drow that traveled at present with Qilué Veladorn were some of her most adept, fiercest priestesses and fighters. An impression of being watched ghosted over their senses for several nights, but in a world that would rather see them dead, that was not so unusual.
What was, just after the sun had cleared the horizon and they were considering rest, was the appearance of a lone drow male.
Inside their sentry line.
That he was not close enough to harm a single person was the only saving grace in their eyes, as a full alert went through all of them.
"Peace," the lone male said, using the variant of that word they had made for themselves in their language that knew it not at all. "I seek the First Sister, to offer my arms and service for a time."
"What makes you think you have the right?"
"I claim no right," he said back to the one who had spoken, one of the priestesses. "But I have skills I am willing to offer… and showed by evading your sentries. I have a willingness to learn more, as I have only learned the elven language, and I am told there is one called 'Common' I should know.
"Most of all, I wish to learn the surface as it calls to me in my heart, as the Dark Maiden calls to you."
"Is he touched by madness?" one of the fighters asked then, before the First Sister rose from her pallet, towering over all of those with her, and came forward.
"No. He is touched by our Lady Herself… and another?" As she spoke, she approached the male with no fear.
He inclined his head slightly to her. "A deal was made to remove me from the Underdark, between She and Her Twin. In divining why neither of Them could truly perceive me, She invited Her Father to look into matters.
"So I no doubt bear at least some of His touch, given my armor, pack, and weapons were gifts from Him to perform a task with."
"Truth," the first cleric said, both grudgingly and with some trepidation. Even though the First Sister regularly dealt with Eilistraee, and some human goddess, none of them knew of one who had been touched by an elven god not their Lady.
"So I know," the First Sister said, smiling as she came close enough to offer her hands in greeting. "You have given my Lady joy; welcome, cousin."
"Drizzt Do'Urden." He gave her his hands, squeezing hers without fear.
"Qilué Veladorn. I look forward to seeing your dance, and my hunters will aid you in learning the surface as it is here in the Material Plane."
"I am glad to be able to give aid for a good cause," he assured her, before walking with her into the camp to meet those present in this band.
Elkantar cheered young Rylla on from where he was sprawled on the ground. The half-human was possibly the only one of the fighters that would, someday, match their new fighter in any way. He rolled to his butt, keeping eyes on this grand melee… and the one that had become the center of it all.
Drizzt Do'Urden was an enigma. He'd spent an unknown amount of time in the Dark Maiden's realm, personally handled a quest for Corellon, been shrouded by Lolth Herself at his birth, and been raised by a priestess of Vhaeraun.
None of those deities held the fighter's heart, and Elkantar had been surprised to learn his escape from the Underdark had come before he even turned thirty-one years of age, making his skill simply impossible. That he embraced these free-for-all skill contests, or the one-on-one spars with a true smile of joy never stopped pulling Elkantar's heart strings.
Every other fighter in their band had already lost their weapons or been tripped out of the designated area. Elkantar slowly recognized that Drizzt had worked to insure Rylla was the last fighter, handling the few fighters — like Elkantar himself — that had the experience and skill needed to put her out of it.
"Too much anger," he heard Drizzt say, when the double scimitars trapped the short sword, pulling it out of Rylla's grasp. She refocused her stance a moment, then took the step back, and saluted with her dagger across her chest to surrender.
"How can I not be angry?" she retorted.
"By remembering that holding your anger at the people behind you? Still gives them power."
Those calm, quiet words held empathy and knowing alike… and were just what Rylla needed to hear, to help move one more step forward on her own path of healing.
"Make me better," Rylla said, half a demand, half a plea.
"I will give you every bit of training my father gave me… though maybe with fewer unexpected naps."
Corellon considered the actions of His Daughter, and ultimately decided He was amused. He had, after all, opened the door with His own manipulation. Giving the Chosen a man who had the technique, if not the experience, to increase her people's ability to carve out a space for themselves even earlier could only be a good foil against the drow of both Lolth and Vhaeraun.
He tried to see ahead, to make out the possibilities more clearly… and found the mists of time past the point when Drizzt had originally been taken from the Underdark still opaque.
"At least none of Us should be bored for a time," He mused, going back to listen to His own followers for a time. His Lore Keeper was being a force of nature in his own way, keeping new ideas fresh alongside the ancient ways. It might prove interesting, when the drow struck out on his own, to see about a meeting for them…
Chapter 5: Family Reunion
Dinin had proven to have a good hand for how to keep their outpost incognito, on top of the politics of the moment, and out of strife with either Vhaeraunite faction. It helped that both of those groups wanted to end each other's influence, but were constrained by some strange religious tenet from just killing one another.
At least openly, as Dinin learned when a priest was murdered in the night market, supposedly by ruffians.
What he did not appreciate was having to be schooled by Jarlaxle's people on a third drow vector, a bunch of idiots that thought peace and living in harmony was the better way of life. He decided they could be ignored as they only came once a quarter to trade —
— until he heard that a band of six drow from the mercantile company faction had been sent running with minor injuries… and none of their weapons.
"I thought they weren't a threat," Dinin muttered.
Karolz shook his head, a much older fighter, one that had been recruited in this city long before. He hated leading, didn't have a head for it, but had accepted Dinin in that role.
"Those Dancers usually avoid a fight. But once every hand of years or so, some braggart decides to test either their Sword Mistress, or Purple Eyes. And this time, it's Purple Eyes with the caravan."
Purple Eyes. Dinin made a gesture against ill-luck, still remembering the one time he'd seen his younger brother in a true temper. He had no idea what had happened to Drizzt, only that whatever it had been had not broken the peace between Zaknafein and Vierna. Dinin knew that meant Drizzt had not been killed; he wasn't as stupid as some people thought he was, and Zak had been odd about the boy.
"Make sure none of ours pick a fight, or cross paths with the mercantiles, hmm? They're going to be more apt to rise to the bait for this."
That got a chuckle and nod… before Karolz watched Dinin secure his cloak over his armor and head out to see for himself.
Dinin found the Dancers easily enough, and decided they looked very tame. He didn't see anyone that really looked like they could give him trouble in a fight, but he also didn't see anyone with purple eyes. Maybe Karolz was wrong and one of the women wearing a sword was this so-called Sword Mistress.
He decided it had been a waste of time to come down and see, turned down a different path to begin his way back —
— and then he did see purple, a moment before he saw all of his brother. The small signs of maturity were settled in around the eyes and ears, while Drizzt stood straight with those curved swords of his still in their scabbards. Fine mithral chain glinted under the over tunic, and a metal face-guard held the mane of hair back, in the same fashion Zaknafein wore his.
"Hello, brother," Drizzt said, actually quirking a half-smile on his lips. "I never expected to see you this far from the city."
"Umm, you… Abyss, I never thought to see you again at all!" Dinin said. "I don't want a fight; I came to see if the rumor of Purple Eyes had anything to do with you, yes, but… I really am just evaluating the threats to my own situation."
Drizzt laughed. "You must be the new one watching Bregan D'Aerthe, then. I'd heard there were several new people since my last visit here." He must have read the confusion in Dinin's face, because he shrugged. "I got caught up in time magic. I've lived in the area above for a few decades now.
"Will you tell me of our sister, and the Weapon Master?"
Dinin nodded. "Trust me enough to come back to the warehouse we keep? Or should we take a meal at the Dimmed Lantern?"
"I won't go so far as to say trust," Drizzt said slyly, "but I prefer to be out of the public eye to discuss this, and I am well known at the Dimmed Lantern."
"Does everyone call you Purple Eyes?"
"Mostly," Drizzt agreed. He fell in step with Dinin, and Dinin noted his brother already knew the path. What had his experiences been that Drizzt actually seemed cognizant of power structures? Did he really want to know?
Ultimately, Dinin decided he did not.
Drizzt relaxed in the deep tub across from the one Laeral Silverhand was in. As the Silverhand that most paid attention to the treacheries in Skullport, Drizzt had come to her to talk about what he had learned this time. Their friendship went back almost to the beginning of his time above with Qilué, as the sisters were very close.
"So my elder brother manages the in-theory Lolthite faction over there. Honestly, the mercenary company he belongs to worships chaos, money, and power, I believe, from what I have seen of them in the past. Through him, I know that our House in Menzoberranzan fell within the last few years.
"But, through his own sources, he knows that my father and sister have established themselves in a a place called Rilauven."
"As best I can remember, that is a minor city somewhere under the Neverwinter," Laeral offered, lounging as nonchalantly as her friend. Dual tubs were almost as good as a large bathing pool.
"I planned to see what the Marauders could tell me of it," Drizzt said, his voice having that note of seeking adventure.
"Planning to go see for yourself? I remind you that your nature is antithetical in all ways to what you would find."
Drizzt chuckled. "I can charm a lizard or a bat to carry a note inside, if I choose to go that way. And your amulet very nicely masks me, when I choose to wear it."
Laeral looked over. "You miss your father, even your sister, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Then I will just say, 'be careful', and I will definitely reach out and knock on your skull in half a year, to be sure you are breathing. If not, the Marauders will be hired to find your body so Qi can bring you back to us."
He shook his head at her, but he had no intention of dying. He just needed to know if his sister was as aware as he was, of the threads of destiny they had unknowingly wrapped themselves in.
Vierna was not unaccustomed to bats bringing her messages. What she was unaccustomed to, was not feeling the touch of her Lord's spellwork on them, instead brushing something unknown when she tried to determine who the sender had been. She also did not see any message to take from it. When she focused fully on it, the bat fluttered just out of reach and roosted.
"If you or father would come, I am awaiting outside the gate your people use to go Above for trade."
The bat, having spoken with her brother's voice, did a small shake of itself and fluttered back out of Vierna's very surprised presence.
Needing to have time to wrap her head around that, the ability to blank her emotions, she sent her messenger spider to her father. The pirate spiders she had brought with her were thriving, especially as they killed any other spiders that dared cross the wards, protecting them from Lolthite spies.
Several minutes later, Zak strode in, an eyebrow raised. "Sometimes I worry your spiders fetching me could be omens, daughter."
She laughed, a little bit more brittle than she meant to. "Something odd, but not… bad? Maybe?
"A bat came and delivered a spoken message in Drizzt's voice, saying he was outside the trade gate to the Surface, asking if one of us would come meet with him. The magic on the bat was unlike any I have felt, and the accent was correct."
Zak frowned, then considered a long moment. "Are you still unable — yes, you are. Of course you already tried to reach him that way." He hitched a shoulder. "I suppose I am taking a walk. Put the undead into defensive positions, just in case."
"Of course, Father. If it is… and he will come… please bring him in. I can explain it as an intelligence seeking."
That got a laugh, but Zak nodded. "If that boy knows anything of use, I will be shocked."
Zak moved out of the gate uncontested, as he was known to sometimes forage for his daughter's wild needs. In the years since arriving here, they had made a solid reputation as fair but powerful. The only true trouble they'd had was from Lolthites seeking to undo the Masked Traitor's prominence, but Vierna remained high in the favor of her Lord.
Once he cleared the perimeter of the city's awareness, he knew he was not alone, and had to look sharply… before his son melted out of a shadow.
"Hello, Father," Drizzt called, breaking into a genuine smile. Even as jaded as Zak was, everything matched… except the age. This man was too mature to his eyes, and he remained poised, ready to engage the trap so his daughter stayed safe.
"Hmm, not so certain of that."
Drizzt threw his head back and laughed, before spreading his hands wide from his body. "Blame your daughter, then, as she put me in the hands of a goddess and set me on a strange path that had time magic in it."
Zak let an eyebrow rise at those words.
"Would a fetch know you nearly killed me rather than let me go become a drow in all truth? Or that you broke my jaw to keep me from exposing both of us to the Matron? Or that I almost caused your death the very night Vierna became Matron?"
"It might… but I think I might believe you." Zak beckoned. "Your sister wishes to see you as well, peacefully. The city is not a closed one, and if you're still so strange, she'll shove it off as getting what you know of other places."
"Oh, I am strange, even to those that agree with my views on life," Drizzt said, still smiling so openly, and Zak reached out as he came close, gripping his shoulders.
"I am glad you stayed strange, and alive!"
Drizzt leaned in, resting his forehead on his father's. "Vierna saved me by doing as she did, and now I wish to repay that, with a warning and words of my life."
"Then let us go into the city, my son, and hear what you have to say."
Vierna hugged her little brother fiercely, taking in all the changes as Zak had done. He was dressed sensibly in a piwafwi of fair construction, had adamantine blades in plain scabbards, and everything had the right feel of the Underdark.
"You cannot possibly have been in the Underdark since I set you in safety!" she pointed out.
"No, but we keep such things for movement below the faerzress," Drizzt said. "As I do aid sometimes, I had everything I needed in one of our caches.
"When Dinin told me where you two had gone, I retrieved them for my journey. One that is formerly of House Vaer here aided me in swift travel," he added.
"Dinin's in Skullport, last I knew," Zak said.
"He is, and thriving," Drizzt agreed. "We have an understanding, as I have no wish to be involved heavily in drow things."
"You mentioned a warning," Zak prodded, once they were all comfortable.
Drizzt sobered up and looked at Vierna. "Do you have any idea how tangled in divine events we now are, sister? The choice you made, to save me, prodded the Twins toward aid for one another, when He was attacked. I have been given quests by Her and by others of the pantheon in my time-tossed decades."
She slowly frowned, but his words rang true against some of the dreams that had come since she settled here.
"I can see the shape of that now that you say it," she admitted. "Your thoughts?"
"Something lies ahead. Neither of my patron deities know what, but more and more, I am drawn to larger threats, sharpening all of my skills and the magic I touch as a kind of divine-touched fighter."
Vierna had to rake her eyes over him at that claim, but… she did not know all things of the surface yet.
"Both of my children using divine magic now. There's a strangeness," Zak said in a slow drawl.
That made them all laugh.
"I suppose, little brother, I am going to ask you to stay long enough to get sending stones for you and father to carry, and work out a timing for us to keep in touch," Vierna said. "So we can at least warn one another of things that come to pass."
"I am already looking forward to the spars," Drizzt said, agreeing easily. "Just tell me how to not make trouble here, and I will be a good guest.
"I've kept an open mind toward your god, even if I question some of His idiot followers' ways."
"Well, some of them are idiots, but I think that is true of all religions," Vierna agreed, pleased.
Vhaeraun smiled in His own realm. Allies, when the coming storm arrived, were not to be dismissed out of hand. And, if the siblings forged a bond across alignment, then perhaps…
… well, He knew He was still deeply fond of His own Twin. Perhaps in time, He might yet convince Her to see His way of thinking.
He would keep His defenses up, and all of His craft tuned to the danger ahead for all of the gods.
ICE is still here
Mar. 9th, 2026 07:09 pmmellowtiggerICE is still in Minnesota and Minneapolis. If you had any doubt, based on the lack of coverage in national news, just see these Reddit posts showing photographs of trucks delivering loads of new vehicles to the Whipple building. March 9th (#1, I'm not sure where post #2 went, #3, #4, #5, #6, also #6, #7), March 5th (#1 and this video saying there were 3 more), March 2nd (#1 and also #1, I think). ICE is definitely not gone. I don't know if these delivered vehicles were then driven out individually or on trucks, or if they still remain there.
We know that ICE is stealing license plates from cars of observers, making it more difficult for USA citizens to use their cars for anything. It's reasonable to suspect that ICE will use those plates on their own vehicles, as a disguise to hide their true identity. It's not unreasonable, since we know they are doing illegal plate swaps on vehicles, even using duplicated plates. We know that local law enforcement doesn't care when ICE commits crimes, even when it happens right in front of them.
We know that ICE steals children then tries to bureaucratically hide them. Fuck ICE for terrorizing young people. I don't use language like that lightly. I only ever do it when it's important. Like when children keep getting killed in this shithole country where 1/3 of the population worships greed and violence, defending it and voting for it. I still join my patrols, hoping to dissuade ICE from abducting more children, or at least to record the event, so people are not forgotten amongst the lies that ICE and this Republican administration tell.
You can see maps of known ICE abductions at this webpage, below. It's 238 days until the 2026 elections in the USA. Trump will use ICE violently and massively again before that date arrives.
https://iceout.org/
Sadly, Mni Owe Sni will disband this week, due to it being located on a documented Dakota burial site, so they'll remove the prayer camp. This article (MPR News) has good reporting on the tribal discussion about the presence of the camp.
Lake Lewisia #1367
Mar. 9th, 2026 05:08 pmscrubjayspeaksIt seems that some people were inadvertent overachievers on Sunday, and they did not so much "Spring forward" as "launch wildly into the future." Temporal anomalies have been detected at houses that also experienced sudden and mysterious disappearances, so investigators believe the missing people have catapulted into some as of yet undetermined date. While further study will continue, we may have no choice but to wait until we get to the future as well to reunite with our lost neighbors, hoping all the while that they are making it nice for us.
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LL#1367
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LL#1367
Daily Check-In
Mar. 9th, 2026 06:05 pmstarwatcher posting in fandom_checkinThis is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Monday, March 09, to midnight on Tuesday, March 10. (8pm Eastern Time).
Poll #34346 Daily Check-in
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 9
How are you doing?
I am OK.
5 (55.6%)
I am not OK, but don't need help right now.
4 (44.4%)
I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans live with you?
I am living single.
4 (44.4%)
One other person.
3 (33.3%)
More than one other person.
2 (22.2%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Sit and watch my TV set
Mar. 9th, 2026 08:00 pmsovayI have been made the unexpected recipient of an unbirthday scarf. It is patterned as if with fossil leaves and irresistibly striped.
The Twilight Zone: The Chaser
Mar. 9th, 2026 07:41 pmkrpalmerAs a title in the list of Twilight Zone episodes “The Chaser” might not have stood out all that much. Rod Serling’s on-set appearance in the next-episode preview for it amused me, but for a reason distinct from what I then understood the episode to be. As it turned out, things were a bit different again.
( Among the stacks )
( Among the stacks )
Shoulda stood in bed
Mar. 9th, 2026 07:38 pmrolanniFirefly and Rook did their best to get me to go back to bed this morning, but I was adamant.
Well. My weather-delayed CookUnity order arrived five minutes ago, and all the meals, of course, are "use by 3/11." So, I'm guessing I'll find out how well a couple of these freeze.
The ice packs were still solid and the meals are cold, so I'm guessing they'll be OK to eat.
Today was not the most productive day ever. I should actually have gone back to bed this morning, but I fixed that by taking a two hour nap. Still not feeling top o'the world, but at least I'm less weepy.
Tomorrow, is Errands, finishing up with needlework.
The ice in the driveway is gone, just in time for the temps to plunge into the high 30sF on Wednesday. Now, I need to figure out what parts of this enormous, but extremely well-insulated, box are recyclable.
On that note -- everybody have a good evening. I'll check in tomorrow.
Glaswegian matters and beyond
Mar. 9th, 2026 09:16 pmmtbcAt the weekend, I happened to be further up the Clyde at the right time to see the bow of a new Naval frigate being transported up the river to the shipyard where the warships are assembled. I didn't know what kind of ship it was for at first, I learned that later online.
Glasgow has a great city center, rather walkable and with the subway for longer hops. Next to Central Station is a fancy building some decades older than the converted Victorian mill that I live in. At least, there was, until a vape store somehow caught fire. Now there are cordoned-off streets, the smell of smoke, and a considerable number of sad, shocked people and even more rather inconvenienced ones.
I have no love for vape stores in the first place, I tend to avoid patronizing establishments that expand their range to vapes. Given vapes' propensity to catch fire in waste processing centers, etc., goodness knows who thought it a good idea to allow a vape shop to locate next to a critical transportation hub in a historic landmark whose construction substantially predates fire safety codes. Perhaps we shall find out, with luck when I am not feeling grumpy and vengeful.
My commute may be quite unaffected: when I pass close to that area, I'm in a subway tunnel on my way to Queen Street, the other main railway station; I hope that tomorrow's train to Edinburgh isn't overly crowded by passengers displaced from Central which won't be open yet.
I refueled our car this evening, I figured that gas prices aren't dropping anytime soon. In probably 2003 I tried holding off filling the car with gas, back when I drove an old Ford Crown Victoria (with around a seventy litre fuel tank), but eventually I had to give in and pay the higher prices. At least, with mostly just driving around the city in our hybrid in the near term, today's gas should last us for a good while.
Glasgow has a great city center, rather walkable and with the subway for longer hops. Next to Central Station is a fancy building some decades older than the converted Victorian mill that I live in. At least, there was, until a vape store somehow caught fire. Now there are cordoned-off streets, the smell of smoke, and a considerable number of sad, shocked people and even more rather inconvenienced ones.
I have no love for vape stores in the first place, I tend to avoid patronizing establishments that expand their range to vapes. Given vapes' propensity to catch fire in waste processing centers, etc., goodness knows who thought it a good idea to allow a vape shop to locate next to a critical transportation hub in a historic landmark whose construction substantially predates fire safety codes. Perhaps we shall find out, with luck when I am not feeling grumpy and vengeful.
My commute may be quite unaffected: when I pass close to that area, I'm in a subway tunnel on my way to Queen Street, the other main railway station; I hope that tomorrow's train to Edinburgh isn't overly crowded by passengers displaced from Central which won't be open yet.
I refueled our car this evening, I figured that gas prices aren't dropping anytime soon. In probably 2003 I tried holding off filling the car with gas, back when I drove an old Ford Crown Victoria (with around a seventy litre fuel tank), but eventually I had to give in and pay the higher prices. At least, with mostly just driving around the city in our hybrid in the near term, today's gas should last us for a good while.
Write every day! - March 2026 - Day 9
Mar. 9th, 2026 11:45 pmzwei_hexen
"No need to force yourself to do something the "right way" if it’s not your right way. Your job is to honor your process." (Andi Cumbo)
The quote was chosen by
sylvanwitch.Tally:
Welcome post
Day 1::
badly_knitted, brithistorian, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, garonne, glinda, luzula, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 2:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, garonne, glinda, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 3:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, glinda, goddess47, luzula, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 4:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, glinda, goddess47, luzula, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 5:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, chanter1944, china_shop, cornerofmadness, glinda, goddess47, luzula, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 6:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 7:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, goddess47, luzula, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeDay 8:
badly_knitted, brithistorian, carenejeans, china_shop, cornerofmadness, goddess47, luzula, sanguinity, sylvanwitch, the_siobhan, trobadora, ysilmeLet us know if we missed you or if you didn't check in for a while, so we can add you. Of course joining the fun is possible at any point.
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ysilme here: 1211 words, new draft for the drawer fic plus some character details and background info for another WIP.