Brambonius
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brambonius.bsky.social
Brambonius
@brambonius.bsky.social
1.8K followers 930 following 3.7K posts
Officially an Earthling, creative in several ways and possibly out of the box (is there even one?), might use English, Dutch and other languages. Beware!
Human rights and the golden rule are a minimum!
All social constructs might need deconstruction...
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brambonius.bsky.social
For the #WIPsnips
The word 'vibes' isn't used much in most of my stories, so I go with atmosphere.
The vibes are rather bad in this scene, at least for Dassan, but he might be misunderstanding the princess...
The princess watched Lia as she disappeared with Dari and Ashta. “Ah, Borlo and the princess, did everything go well in the rose garden?” The princess turned to Dassan. “I thought it was forbidden to speak first to a member of the imperial family, Prince-candidate Lissim?” “Ah, er, forgive me, imperial princess.” “I get the impression that the presence of both Lord Kior and the foreigners with their loose cultural habits is having a rather strange influence on the atmosphere here… But…” Dassan swallowed and waited. The princess had put her mask back on. It was difficult to know what she was thinking at such a moment. “Even so, that rule still exists, and especially for commoners it usually carries a severe punishment. According to protocol regulations and such…” “I’m sorry, princess.” His knees began to tremble and he felt his whole body grow cold. “But we can easily do something about that, can’t we?” She snapped her fingers and Spenaz rose. “The sword, Spenaz!” Spenaz looked somewhat strangely at his mistress. “The ceremonial one, with the ruby of Angazza. This can just as well happen here.” “Yes, imperial princess.” Dassan stared at her and it felt as though time had stopped. Everyone suddenly looked at the princess and at him. “Anyone who would object?” the princess asked.
February 11, 2026 at 9:07 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
So there are people in the US who think that Jesus wrote the bible in English?

Tell me that that is just a nasty dumb caricature!
February 10, 2026 at 8:56 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
In the department of sentences you'd never think you'd see.

The species is Mnemiopsis leidyi btw.
Picture of weird jellyfish-like creature and the text 'CANNIBAL JELLYFISH WITH A DISAPPEARING ANUS ARE TERRORISING VENICE.' (all caps, no exclamation mark)
February 10, 2026 at 5:58 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Most of them, actually.
Few books are about Flanders or the places I've been...
lizzieblackwood.bsky.social Lizzie Blackwood @lizzieblackwood.bsky.social · 1d
#TBRuary Day 10: New Horizons

Today, choose a book that was written or set in a place you've never been to. This could be a real world setting, or a fictional one!

Quick note that replies are disabled, so share your pick with a quote post!

#booksky #readingcommunity
#writesky #writingcommunity
#TBRuary: A Collaborative Reading List Building Challenge Hosted by @lizzieblackwood.bsky.social Day 10: A book written or set in a place you've never been to
February 10, 2026 at 5:51 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
For the #WIPsnips
Dassan doesn't know all the secrets of the palace (like how liquids are cooled), and doesn't really care after the strategy test. He's not going to win the selections and become the crown prince anyway, but the test was weird...
He was so deep in thought that he barely noticed arriving at the pavilion. At the bar he found Borlo, who offered him a cold beer. He still had not discovered the secret of how drinks were cooled in the palace, but he suspected the existence of specially insulated ice cellars where ice was stored to chill liquids. “So,” Borlo asked casually, “did you win the Battle of Az?” “It couldn’t be won. And that wasn’t only because of General Holopha’s impatience and impulsiveness. The Alzalians’ new weapons and techniques caught them off guard, especially during the second assault.” “Ah… That’s historically true, but I don’t know whether they’ll be happy with that answer. So you didn’t even try?” “I’m not going to be chosen as crown prince anyway. What difference does it make what I did? The princess even laughed at me.” Borlo looked up. “Crown Princess Hanada laughed at you? The imperial family never shows emotion. Not in public at least.” “It was only a small smile. But I saw it.” “Hmm. She’s still human beneath that mask of make-up. Are you sure it was meant negatively?” “What else could it have been? Everyone knows I don’t belong here. I could replay the entire battle in detail, but if you know the reality, you know the amazone lines with their little swords never stood a chance against Alzalia’s armoured spear formations. Holopha could have handled it better and spared countless lives if she had surrendered once she faced the Alzalian reinforcements. She couldn’t win. Even Sophira, who chronicled the battle, says so. I had no better answer.” “And you said that?” Borlo replied. “Well, that’s not ridiculous. Uncomfortable and brave, maybe even dangerous if it’s not what they want to hear. But ridiculous? No. And certainly not foolish. More sensible than any attempt to force a victory with the pieces that were on the board.”
February 10, 2026 at 9:00 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
Goodnight.
May the True, the Good and the Beautiful be with all of you!
February 9, 2026 at 10:11 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Usually I find American too obsessed with sports, but with all the obsession with what seems someting important I have not seen anything about the games of their bowl thingy evenement and who won, only a lot of weird big feelings about the little shows in-between?
February 9, 2026 at 7:20 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
From the bridge of ‘naive’, a bit of social/religious/political commentary about things that really creep me out sometimes.

Originally more guitar-based, here as a b-side on the 'Seven Mountains' single in an electronic arrangement: bramcools.bandcamp.com/track/naive-...

#musicsky #newrelease
February 9, 2026 at 10:27 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
For the #WIPsnips
If he's honest Dassan's story is about not being selected as the first husband of the Imperial princess.. But he probably shouldn't say that out loud to anyone who isn't Borlo.
“I was claimed,” Dassan murmured, “Lord… I mean, Borlo. I no longer have a family. I'm the toll boy.” That immediately drew Borlo’s full attention. “Wow. What? Selling the eldest son to pay taxes? I didn’t know that still happened. And here I was thinking I’d be sharing a room with yet another bored son of some castle lady, just sitting out the procedure like I am.” I’ll explain everything later,” Dassan said quickly. “You are from House Kior? Trained for years to become the first consort of the new empress?” Borlo shrugged. “Eh… no. As a third child, and a son at that, they sent me here because there isn’t much of a future planned for me anyway. A sort of lottery ticket, for the unlikely chance that it might work out. My older brothers already have careers and marriage arrangements and all that. It’s my younger sister who will, of course, inherit and run the castle.” “Ah. I see… So not trained for this, then?” “Well, I practiced a bit and did some reading. It seems extremely unlikely that the princess will choose me, but I can’t disgrace my family, so I have to do my best. And then, if I’m not chosen, I mostly need to make sure I get home without being kept here as the princess’s plaything… And also to survive the selection, preferably.” “Ah…” Dassan’s thoughts drifted. He had trained for five months to understand the world of the nobility, to be prepared for the imperial prince-selection, yet he realised he still did not truly grasp what it meant to live in that world, to be born into it. It remained a different universe from that of a serf boy from the village, a universe he could no longer return to now that he had been sold to settle his mother’s unpaid debts. He was cut off from his past, and had no clear future either. Borlo seemed to notice his doubt. “Don’t give up. It does happen that a claimed candidate wins the selection. Emperor Kambish was claimed, for example.” “Yes,” Dassan replied, “that was more than two hundred years ago, and he wasn’t the only h…
February 9, 2026 at 9:59 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
Reading Astrid Lindgren again. We definitely need more books like Saltkråkan in this day and age, for all ages.
February 8, 2026 at 9:30 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
For the #Sundaysnips
Nobody is yearning for anyone at all. The princess doesn't want to get married, and neither Borlo nor Dassan wants to be chosen as her first husband in the selections...
Well, at least there is Erior too. (And Elza who is off-screen for now, and not really happy with everything)
“What you don’t know yet is that Erior actually had another girl in mind, not the princess. But his family didn’t know that.” “Shet up! That was always hopeless anyway. And now it’s completely in the past,” Erior muttered, but Borlo stared into his beer and continued. “What Erior doesn’t know is that Elza herself was worried too. She came to see me when she heard about the selections, but she spoke more about you than about me, Erior.” “Why was she with you?” Erior looked a little uneasy. "They live nearby. Castle Mandalon is only a short ride from Castle Kior. And we’ve been friends since we were small, you know that. But she mainly came because she was worried about you, not about me.” “About me? Then why did she come to you?” “You know her. She’s shy… But I had to promise to look after you and make sure they wouldn’t keep you here. No idea why she thought I would have any influence over that, though. People sometimes place strange trust in me.” “Ah…” Erior stared into nothingness again. Borlo patted his shoulders. “You’ll still get the chance to talk everything through with Elza and all that. This whole selection business won’t last forever, and I see no reason why Imperial Princess Hanada would keep you here. There are other winners projected than the three of us sitting here.” “Elza Mandalon? Is she beautiful?” Dassan asked. “The deepest brown eyes you’ve ever seen, and cute curls. She’ll also inherit a territory about the size of half a setrapate, and she’s a bit shy,” Borlo said before Erior could reply. “I don’t need half a setrapate. I would just have liked to… Never mind. As long as I’m here, I’m only allowed to think about the princess.” “Sometimes you’re a little too obedient and submissive, Erior.”
February 8, 2026 at 7:13 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
For #Febchantment
The source of 'magic' according to the Nummerfa is the same source as matter and ideas, it's part of our world like everything else, one aspect of creation; ultimately it all comes from the Creator Al-Elyehdinn, who sustains everything and in whose energy we all live.
professoremily.bsky.social Prof Emily @professoremily.bsky.social · 3d
#Febchantment Day 8

This week we're digging more into the nuts & bolts of your magic system! So let's start with the source.

Where exactly does magic "come from" in your world? Where/when does it originate? Does anyone know for sure, or are there only theories?

#writingcommunity #writesky
February 8, 2026 at 11:12 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
2 books I'll reread for certain:
'the first men in the moon' by HG Wells
'out of the silent planet' by CS Lewis

Early scifi has a completely other feeling than later examples (although the Lewis book here has a strong fantasy vibe too)
lizzieblackwood.bsky.social Lizzie Blackwood @lizzieblackwood.bsky.social · 3d
#TBRuary Day 8: Long Ago

Wrapping up this first week, choose a book from your TBR that's written or set in a time before you were alive. This could be a chance to pick up a classic, go for something historical, or get fanciful!

#booksky #readingcommunity
#writesky #writingcommunity
#TBRuary: A Collaborative Reading List Building Challenge Hosted by @lizzieblackwood.bsky.social Day 8: A book written or set in a time before you were alive
February 8, 2026 at 11:09 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
For the #WIPsnips I needed to go back to a world with airports, so here are Pyra and Ronan in Héva, the land without women, trying to get home.
Pyra likes to be precise with words...
‘They told me there was a couple of Ghost Town kids that I had to take back.’ Pyra looked at the newcomer. The man was dressed in a suit in grey blue, wearing a rainbow shawl and a shiny uniform cap. He looked more relaxed and chill than anyone they’d seen in Héva. Plus he was a man; and it was rather strange to see one after spending several days in Héva. ‘Eh, we’re not a couple, but yes, they don’t seem to want us here for too long. The country of only women doesn’t like boys for some reason to start with. They seem to think his maleness is contagious or something like that. Are they treating you differently too?’ The man started laughing and looked at the badges on their chest. ‘Couple just means an amount of two in Afropea. But I never have problems as an outsider in héva when I stay in the airport. I’m not allowed in the actual country, only in the international zone.’ ‘Still, after all that violent rhetoric… Them allowing you here is a bit of an anticlimax.’ ‘Economics still trump their hate of men it seems… And don’t you know you’re not supposed to say stuff like that out loud while on this Island, little outlaw lady?’ ‘You can make the outlaw communities officially recognied territories, but you can’t tame us!’ She stuck out her tongue. ‘I’m starting to see why the Sisterhood would want you to leave as soon as possible. So you two arrived here as stowaways? How did that even happen?’
February 8, 2026 at 11:03 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
A Saturday #Snippetshare

Dassan and Borlo are part of the selection procedure for the first husband of the Imperial Princess Hanada, and Borlo was probably not meant to meet her here at this point. Or her cat...

The cat is tame, at least as long as Princess Hanada is with her I suppose.
Dassan entered the room first and fell down onto the bed. The servants were nowhere to be seen; they had probably already gone to sleep. “Wow. That was quite an evening. I really thought we were in serious trouble.” “We were very lucky. Those so-called barbarians seemed perfectly civilized to me, by the way.” “They do have good pastries too, at least. And they kept questioning me about our culture the whole time. Apparently, we’re just as exotic to them as they are to us.” “Well then, we’ve both had an educational evening. I met the Imperial Princess herself… and her cat. Quite interesting.” Dassan froze halfway through a movement. “What was she like? Is she beautiful in real life? Is she terrifying?” “Miu is rather terrifying indeed. Leopardcats aren’t really suitable as pets, but this one seemed fairly tame, actually. And definitely a beautiful animal. She would have attacked me on command, I think.” “Not the cat, you idiot. The Princess!” “The Imperial Princess? Also a bit frightening, but far more human than the portraits. She has emotions and all that, and a face that can actually show expressions. I mean, she could have had me eaten by Miu at any moment, and yet she didn’t. She remained fairly reasonable ecvn. Maybe a little sarcastic here and there, and very interested in cheaters and bullies in the selections I fear. She now knows who the two leaders were.” “That’s going to come back to haunt them, yes, I’m afraid too. So you really had a conversation? With Crown Princess Hanada?” “As long as that eunuch and the maid were out of the room, yes. Spenaz is extremely protective of her. I’d actually spoken several times before I realized who she was, but apparently she didn’t mind much.” Dassan looked at him anxiously. “You spoke first? To Imperial Princess Hanada herself? You addressed a member of the imperial family without permission to speak? And you’re still alive?”
February 7, 2026 at 9:08 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
For #Febchantment
A bomb strong enough to destroy a city is going to explode, and Inaya, one of the strongest 'dimension-folders' among the Nummerfa is unconscious. Which leaves the little human Liana, who has gifts that she doesn't understand, as the only one to bring them back.
On the other side, Lun knelt by Inaya. “She's alive, but not much longer. She needs a healer as soon as possible. And we have to go.” He said, turning back to her and lightly touching her shoulder, questioningly. “You are our dimension-folder now. Bring us back, Liana-dinn!” He picked Inaya up, ready to leave, and looked at her expectantly. Liana was completely confused now. She? Was she supposed to be the rescuer herself in this situation? They had less than a minute before the explosion. Could she really be expected to do this? Yet she'd done it once, and under the threat of a much lighter danger. She might indeed be the only one who could do anything now! And there was less than half a minute left! Everything seemed like a dream now. With her hand she made a movement in the shape of a door, and thought with all her being of the only place she had ever consciously travelled to in this way, the ruins in the in-between world. She gave the bewildered Marah one last look, and said without language “you have to choose now” through thought communication. She grabbed Lun, who was holding Inaya in her arms, with one hand, and Marah grabbed her other hand after a moment's hesitation that seemed like an eternity, throwing her weapon away. And then the four of them stepped in the door. Liana looked back and just saw the clock read 0:17 as the background faded away and the whole world of Kavanderra was suddenly cut off like a stereo that went silent.
February 7, 2026 at 5:59 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
The other app has reached the 'men loving their wife is gay' stage again.

Why am I on the internet again??
February 7, 2026 at 5:50 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
If you missed it yesterday: the new Bram Cools single is 6:48 long with weird vinyl samples, beats, a guitar solo, and some poetic warnings about dangers in the present world... + 4 B-sides
brambonius.substack.com/p/new-bram-c...
New Bram Cools single 'Seven Mountains'
(or a bunch of old and reworked stuff released for Bandcamp Friday)
brambonius.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:17 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Can someone enlighten me about Kid Rock and American 'conservative' values?
February 7, 2026 at 1:54 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Ta-dah, here is the 'Seven Mountains' single
#bandcampFriday #MusicSky

bramcools.bandcamp.com/album/seven-...
Seven Mountains (single), by Bram Cools
5 track album
bramcools.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:57 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Stay tuned for something new later tonight for #bandcampfriday on bramcools.bandcamp.com #musicsky
Bram Cools
Bram Cools is an eclectic singer-songwriter from Belgium with lo-fi roots, with an own musical universe that moves somewhere in between weird folk, electro-acoustic noise and christian antifolk. He'll never be rich and famous, but that's not really the point.
bramcools.bandcamp.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:48 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Tweet by: Rev. Justin Berkobien @JustinBerkobien If I were the literal devil I would carefully convince Christians that there is something sinister about empathy, that forgiveness is reserved for those who serve my interests, and that love looks like incurious condescension.
February 6, 2026 at 12:58 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
For the #WIPsnips
Dassan being the sixth dance partner during the ball means nothing. Or does it? The new character Elza seems quite unhappy that Erior is part of the prince selections.
“Dassan the Claimed. Borlo had a great deal of good to say about you.” Dassan looked up. “Uh, yes, that’s me. And you must be Lady Mandalon,” Dassan said shyly, bowing deeply. “Just call me Elza.” “All right, Elza. What was the question again? Not a dance again, I hope. I’ve danced quite enough already.” Elza burst out laughing. “I didn’t expect that rejection. But I just want to know what’s going on. I mean, what’s with that barbarian princess? Why did she come to fetch Borlo?” “Ah, Anka doesn’t have a royal house. Lady Ansifer is something like a parliamentary chairwoman. A member of the highest family that holds a seat there, or something like that. She’s here on a trade mission.” “What kind of games is she playing? What does she want with Borlo?” “Uh, I think she’s just a bit bored here. Don’t worry. She’s very much engaged and not on the hunt. More… married without ceremony, as I understand it. But she’s rather relaxed about friendships with the other sex and such. A bit like you and Borlo. Lord Koh’lil is single, if you’re interested. He’s from the most powerful family in Alzalia.” “Uh, no…” Dassan looked at Elza, who seemed rather tense. “Don’t worry about Borlo,” Dassan began. “And what about Erior and the Princess? Borlo always said he didn’t stand a chance.” He shrugged. “He’s ranked twenty-sixth. He’s not going to win. But sthe princess came to fetch me as well, to dance, as the sixth dance partner. She doesn’t follow a logical sequence or strategy. With me, she mostly just wanted to talk. I suspect Borlo mentioned my name, which sparked her interest and gave her something she wanted to discuss.” “Borlo and the Princess?” “Don’t spread it around. Borlo is a sort of accidental secret informant for the Princess, and I think tonight she’s more interested in his friends than in the official rankings. I don’t think she has any particular plans with Erior.” “Do you think he’s in danger? Assassination attempts and the like?” “Erior? I don’t think so. No one sees…
February 6, 2026 at 9:21 AM
brambonius.bsky.social
Some FF wisdom:
Flapper fanny says: trouble is a lot of fun and fun is a lot of trouble.
February 5, 2026 at 7:19 PM
brambonius.bsky.social
Think I irritated a Twitter tradwife with the next comment:

Women should be able to propose as much as men (actually they already are able to, it's just silly 'rules' that keep them from doing that) when they think it's time to marry, and act according to the information they get from his answer.
February 5, 2026 at 7:13 PM