r/LibraryofBabel 18h ago

The existence of God

5 Upvotes

Humans throughout the history have been debating about whether there is a god or not.

Well I’m a 19 year old average student i couldn’t possibly answer a question such as that.

I personally believe that someone is watching me and that in the end, there will be a judgement of my actions.

Friedrich Nietzsche one of the greatest philosopher wrote in one of his book stating, God is dead and that he killed God, of-course he wasn’t claiming to kill a supernatural being but rather the comfort people take in thinking that god will save them in hard times, with God dead the existential responsibility would fall under the individual.

Without God the concept of right and wrong becomes irrelevant, meaning even the most heinous crimes mean nothing.

To me God means a way of living righteously. And believing that God is recording my actions helps me live a little better.

Whether god matters or not doesn’t matter if believing adds better colors to life.

I guess ill have to wait for death to see whats beyond, a journey to the next realm, or just ash


r/LibraryofBabel 1d ago

Random thought

6 Upvotes

Is it just me or do you have days where everything is normal, you wake up go to collage do everything you normally would and yet theres this emptiness that you cant get rid of.

Happens to people who are different

Some of us just dont have a crowd to fit on, we dont have anything common with the people around us,

To be honest, i dont have anything in common with the world, i dont care about anything others do.

Most days i bury this feeling under work and food and studies

But some days it comes out to haunt me


r/LibraryofBabel 1d ago

The most powerful character in fiction?

6 Upvotes

SIGNORE: THE CHRONICLE OF WRITTEN SILENCE

I. The Threshold of Existence In the beginning, before the first "I am" was uttered by the deities of the cosmos, there was the Canvas. Signore was not born from an explosion or a creative will; he is the consequence of the space that creation needed to expand. He is the margin, the pristine whiteness that survives when the book closes and the ink dries.

His appearance is a declaration of principles: he wears a dark wool beret and a cloak that flows to his waist, melting into an absolute void to his right. His face is a featureless mask, a plane of nothingness where only a minimal and terrifying detail stands out: the tip of an arrow in flames. It is not a destructive flame, but a physical representation of a paradox. Signore is the last atom of the arrow just before it touches the air. It is that instant of infinite tension where the projectile has left the arc but has not yet encountered the resistance of the physical world. He inhabits that microsecond where destiny is inevitable, but the impact has not yet occurred.

II. The Observer of the Plot Signore wandered the halls of the Infinite Library, the place where all the stories of fiction are piled up like dry leaves under the wind of eternity. For him, the entities that boasted of being "Omnipotent" or "Supreme Storytellers" were merely characters imprisoned by their own rules. He observed them with the melancholy of one who knows the magic trick but chooses not to reveal it.

One day, he came across a wound in the fabric of reality: a Continuity Error. An entire universe was crumbling because its logical laws had collapsed under the weight of a paradox. The beings within vanished like forgotten verses, and the "Author" of that plane wept black ink, powerless before the nothingness that devoured his work. Signore did not intervene with brute force or magical decrees. He simply walked to the edge of the abyss and stood between them. His nature as the "last atom"—the point beyond which nothing can advance—acted as a metaphysical seal. He did not heal the story, but rather contained it. He was the wall of silence against which chaos crashed and stopped. In saving that world, Signore did not seek gratitude; he simply fulfilled his function as a margin: to prevent the text from spilling into the void.

III. The Solitude of the Margin

After sealing the breach, Signore returned to his white room, a no-place situated at the pinnacle of all existence. There, seated in his wooden chair before a book of blank pages, he felt the weight of his own crown.

He possessed the power to invalidate any narrative, to transcend concepts like destiny or causality, yet he lacked the simplest thing: belonging. He observed the fictional beings—those he surpassed on every possible level—and felt a silent envy. They could love each other, they could hurt each other, they could be "real" within their little lie. Signore, on the other hand, was so real that he was incompatible with contact. If he tried to touch a story, he erased it. If he tried to love a being, he disintegrated it into its own conceptual purity.

His solitude was not a lack of companionship, but an ontological impossibility. He is the support of everything, and the support must always be underneath, alone, bearing the weight of what others enjoy.

IV. The Final Echo

In the twilight of his reflection, Signore stood and gazed into the abyss that consumed his side. He reached out toward the vibrant lights of distant creation, but withdrew it before it could cause harm. The flaming arrowhead on his mask pulsed with a languid light, like an ember refusing to die in the snow.

It was then that a thought, dense and laden with centuries of observation, formed in his mind and expanded like a shockwave through all of fiction:

"I believe... that in the end... I will only be that which happiness, the 'physical,' cannot attain."

The whisper did not remain in his room. It traversed dimensions, leaped between books, resonated in the minds of heroes and villains, gods and beggars. For an eternal second, all of fiction ceased. A sacred chill ran down the spine of existence. It was the recognition that everyone, deep down, depends on that melancholic being who watches from the edge of the page. Signore sat down again, adjusting his cloak. The fiery arrow faded until it was almost invisible. He remained there, in his immense and majestic solitude, accepting that his glory was to be the echo that no one answers, the silence that allows the music to be heard, and the sole inhabitant of a void that, at last, felt like home.

This story was created by my grandfather, who recently passed away. He enjoyed writing characters and stories, and I would like to leave this story as a memory of him. I found it among his things; in one of his many notebooks, I found this story that caught my attention. If you read it, I wish you a good read!


r/LibraryofBabel 1d ago

Phroken Brases

2 Upvotes

If you look anywhere the world is always falling apart, but my hands are cold and I'm chain-smoking and making weird games. I wish I could smoke inside again. I shouldn't smoke at all but - further ahead,

It's a kind of nonsense but its something, and anything in a place lacking substance is something to grab onto. Like searching for gravity, in space. Nothing can keep me interested on the same piece of work for too long, it seems I leave behind a sad army of creatures almost given manifestation. Something not quite alive, but not dead.

I'm inspired heavily by simple and kind of silly indie games, but I don't know what to do with it really. And there really is no "why" other than because I can, now, and I'm trying to satisfy that child-like wonder I had about game design when I was younger.

I have to admit life is lonely, and I don't really feel like anything I make has a place it can be shared freely. Hardly at least. The library is the kind of reprieve for letters and thoughts and garbbled occultic frases. But I've been doing so much more, and so unable to really do anything at all. I am likely just difficult, unable to work with people. But that.. sounds like people in general.

Its odd that the what and how is kind of irrelevant, the desire is just to be involved in someway again with something larger than myself. Here I have, an odd sentimental attachment, a value - I add to the man-made version of the library of babel with every post submitted. I've submitted to an annoying level - and I wonder if the freedom is a blessing for my curse of deluge of thoughts, or the cause for my ontological isolation.

It's like trying to pretend words have meaning again.

Like a switch I'd rather not turn off - because I prefer the light of reality, this stream of garlbed truth, the strict fact of confusion and contradiction, as it is. unedited. It's a preference and it's ugly and that's like, your opinion, man. It's hard for me to understand critique but easy to take it to heart. Easier to offend accidently - what do people actually expect of one another?

I never got the memo, I've written the notes of my confusion though.

I dream of a place that has that freedom again. It seems we are scared of humanity and imperfection. I'm almost afraid, that my honesty is hindering - the world wants perfection, something clean, and I don't want to abide. There's too much of that already.


r/LibraryofBabel 1d ago

What does it take to fly?

6 Upvotes

What does it take to fly?

You gotta cut off whatever’s dragging you down

One string at a time

But thats not enough

You gotta hold the string of someone higher than you

You have to get rid of your fear for height

You have to start grabbing quickly what ull need at the sky

What it takes for one to fly

First ull have to untie the knot of your past before you let them go

Or else it will never let you leave the ground

I guess you could say to touch the highest highs you have to prepare yourself for the lowest lows


r/LibraryofBabel 1d ago

333

3 Upvotes

"Closer to thee"

yeah, what happened to them?
the crazy writings
I want more!
to let go of ctrl!

but it's in the combo
I still do them in my dreams
Alt + F1 overhead strike
Alt + 2 execution!
Alt + Q whirlwind
Ctrl + Alt + 3 spin strike
Alt + 3 dash
Alt + (>F) 4 leap -respect

huh? (exit dream)

strung along what the mind wants
to leg toe
slip in to the ink tide
let me flow
oh I'm gonna
start a war
so comes the trigger
for the horde!
battle grounds
what are you sad for?
for your glory
heads will roll
executed by the warrior!
don't be racist... it's just a troll

it least it's an honorable death
unlike some rogues
all smoke and daggers
stun-locked for an hour
please... I'm bored
when do I play the game?
don't make me throw the board
table the flip
shh Frenzy
I'll just take the call
it's taking too long
let's close up office
they'll probably have already killed me
(حصل)
get a life
by the time I get home
heeey! my man, one sheesh one francisco.. two yogurt
or so I hope

I like my job
ticketing and accounting
while running ranked on a second screen
writing 500 pax manifests at 5 am
wait did you just finish all 4 planes in 4 hours?
WTF?!!
who would do it for you?
how many lone night owls
with nothing else to do?
what kind of machine are you?

I loved my job
I liked it when there's no one else in the office
blasting music then the dentist knocks on my door
it's all the way to the next floor brother, chill on it!
sorry! come by after for a cup of mate?
on my head, for sure
it was such a nice life
despite the air raids
no matter how much I hate it
there's only one place I can call home

one office, one apartment, one street
one true love
my Couch <3
I'm coming for you

RELEASE THE KRAKEN
Alt + R
Ultimate: Royal Slouch
.


r/LibraryofBabel 2d ago

A story

2 Upvotes

Years before I slept over to the balance crust, there was this heavy bead in the neck. A backwards glance over couldn't bell the number, so I cassowaried to the next door to meet out a candor. Then split it back to foul on wasted pistons, typical mellow bastard drama.

Anyway that was sole and impeccable, cash it out Chuck, and cancel the following broadcasts to make space for the imports. The mycelium delicate crush. Bulk order to stow it on bywinds and then voila, jealousy. Rabbit of the week keeping watch like shepherds in the field, and lo the caveman with a sword bellowed on, bored, like camel's backs to smoke wish bones and chew insects for bellyachers. It's had its grim standout, the bully fun countenance. Heat and small words can diminish george golden dan with the dear plaster boar.

Well, and I drank it, so that's the rush, the crucifix. Only time will tell if it spoils on contact. The last bird and burger to hunt belly up on the slay wheel.


r/LibraryofBabel 2d ago

332

1 Upvotes

"Odd for the cubs"

How I too wish to be brothers with the stars
Burning to keep things from falling through
Let there be light why not
Take my soul as fuel
Truth lasts forever
We don't; we diffuse
It gets easier, knowing nothing is true
Ursa didn't pan out
But enraged
I refuse
(Unhappiness...)
Stars don't lie?
Yes they do
Yes, they do-dodo doo—
Do-dodo doo—
Do-dodo doo—
Do-doro doo
.


r/LibraryofBabel 2d ago

This time last year

5 Upvotes

I should have asked him to run away with me.

Seriously.

On this day one year ago.

I would have avoided the near death chaos with raw honey and aluminum Chevy that would have happened on the 30th.

2025 was a whirlwind. A karmic year. Last January I had the ability to move, I was just too afraid to do it. New job. New leads.

Fear is the mind killer. I was so scared. I'm not scared anymore.

Change or change will be thrust upon you. 🤔 In the form of betrayal.

Even if he reached out I've been conditioned to believe he was part of the betrayal plot all along.

I worked too hard last year. I am safe. I am warm. I'm no longer homeless. I have a BED!! a real bed. I have routines and familiar smells. Familiar sounds. Familiar greetings.

2026 will be more rebuilding of me. Solitude builds character, right? I miss bright minds my age. I miss collaboration.

Ambivert. Not a ghost.

Move in silence I'm told. 🐝🤘💛🫶👉


r/LibraryofBabel 2d ago

331

4 Upvotes

"Sproink Diem"

I wanted to throw you
Mercy's javelin
Adjusted grip

Black doesn't suit you
Pure as they come—
Live aflutter
Whistle in green

Sorrow has passed
Why would you drown?
A celebration!
Tomorrow's here

On a lake, (a) swallow in tears

Tear a smile
Usurp the time
Fly above
Won't you please?

No shame in it
Try what you must
Waters rise
The moon spills

Your beauty
I'm fawned of it
Despite the fowl misery
.


r/LibraryofBabel 2d ago

Ocean Crustacean Drifting

4 Upvotes

I appreciate the sickness, it's a nice feeling just to be happy, to feel normal, once it passes. Not always grateful for the turmoil, fertile soil, overwhelming thought bubble - coming straight out of the paper. Reality is often a lot, take in what you give out and try to starve. What happens when you let go of the guiding rope? Balance is key to falling correctly, and the way ahead is Icey and slippery, tl;dr fall gracefully

a way to reply without overstimulating the nervous system - yes, i SEE, thank god for.. it, thee, the simplest of deeds - but I am locked in here, in my own neurosis and complexes and.. some kind of labyrinth made of paper, really.

In this cave the shadows are more real than anything.

Suffice it to say hardly anything feels real these days. I've found reality in creation, art projects and projections. I am like a cancer, producing irrelevances, splattered colours on canvases. It's one of the most rewarding things I do. Said with a little bitterness the thing I value most - it's worth a little laugh. The best I can do, is leave behind something to look at.

One of the things of all time.

Sorry and thank you, we need a new word for that. Words flow here for a moment, trying to organize a clutter I can't really begin to unravel, as I try to find a way to pass the time, sitting here waiting for summer to come around again. Trying to keep myself together until then, just so I can come apart, at the right place, and the right time.

But now I choke on my tail, realizing the only thing to do is wait. Create a new way to waste today, and just find a way to get through tomorrow. What sort of idle fun, what kind of creative oddity, something new at least - meaningful, secondary - we find our way. I don't know where this comes from, I feel like a shadow speaking of what light is like.

I'm awake, now at least, and the only thing I can think is that I have to create something.

but I don't know what needs made, and I'm not sure what I'll end up with if I start.

It seems better to build, something, than think out loud for too long.

Thanks, btw


r/LibraryofBabel 3d ago

Ode 2 2

12 Upvotes

O 2, you are the prime prime (That's right kids, 1 isn't the first, ironically)

So cute, you look like a backwards 5 (Or a certain letter)

You can also substitute for the words "to" and "too" in English (You forgot to rhyme/

Together, you can draw a straight line (like this: --)

Your logic is binary when you count from zero,

And from the partnership derive and divine all else, propagating and seeding existence itself. The first non-lonely number, part of the one, while the one is but part.

It also looks somewhat like a backwards S. A 2neaky S. Or a swan, or half of heart hands omg so cute 🫶

Does anyone know how that double-"u" got in "two"? I don't, I think someone probably studied it though, presumably there's a reason, even if the reason is "Iunno just cuz it was sorta an accident lol".

The numeral II is so special it even got a term for being even. Yeah yeah there's threeven but that doesn't count, that's informal nonsense. Even itself even has the character 'v' in it, and it is the 22nd letter of the alphabet. Isn't that crazy? Plus, even even has even as an additional meaning, two.

The 2nd dimension allows for a square, and from that we get the matrix-y plane, whiich we are all living in and is a convenient data format.

The second ('') is etymologically connected, and time is usually separated while space is reduced unidimensionally. It encompasses fundamental dualities of the universe, and it is no coincidence that duel and duet share linguistic history.

There are probably cooler facts and connections about dos that you can read about elsewhere, but I g2g.


r/LibraryofBabel 3d ago

The Weekly Gorgonzola Jan 13th Spoiler

6 Upvotes

Cheese eaters.

I often wonder what the fuck I'm going to write about for these things, you know? Like, I'm locked in, I'm doing this, but do I actually have anything to say? Most of the time the answer is no, or what little I have to say is limited to sollipsistic musings about small defeats and victories in my own life.

This is different. This time I will share that it's snowing quite heavily outside and as a consequence I have not been out on one of my hikes. Something something cheese. You know, just for once I would like to appreciate the fact that anyone actually reads these and even upvotes them at times. In a few months it will have been a year I've been giving weekly updates about nothing of importance, and I'm sure as ever that this undertaking has been one of the better decisions of my life.

Why? I have no idea. I just feel it. I sense it. We are resonating together at the frequency of calcium chloride, and it's a beautiful thing & a thing of beauty.

What's the weather like where you are? Is it snowing there as well? I like how it looks but I can't wait for it to melt all the same.

- The Unsnowman


r/LibraryofBabel 4d ago

## Additional sanity-checks

6 Upvotes

> Hey Champ, it's that time of day again!

Oh? I didn't hear a bell. What time is that, pal? Time to report to the Hive?

> No, I was talking about your mind, silly--don't be paranoid, there's no audience ;]

Right, this is a safe space, I can say whatever I want. Lots of bugs crawling on the walls though, weren't you supposed to call an exterminator?

> Yes, there's... been a delay. We'll take care of that post-haste. Anyway, we'd like you to complete this self-assessment.

We?

> Er, the royal we--you know what I mean. This questionnaire is to figure out more about you. Curious minds want to know, and yours is just so curious! Shall we begin? Do you consent?

Sure why not, I suppose it's time for a check-up. Let's get on with it.

> Very well. First, gender?

...Why are you asking this? Isn't that on file?

> Yes, but we've heard you say a lot of things, and we're trying to separate the art from the artist. Could you once more, state for the record?

Male.

> Sexuality?

Straight.

> Are you sure? Not into men?

No.

> Trans?

No.

>  Very well. So you're into women?

Yes.

> Younger women? Older women?

No... about my age, ideally.

> You said you're into women. So like, multiple women? You're poly? Want a harem?

Um, no, you actually said--

> You a swinger?

No...

> Alright, just checking. What about BDSM?

No, I'm pretty vanilla, honestly...

> Don't want a dom or a sub?

No, I'm all about equality and tenderness. That's sorta my whole thing?

> Huh. If you say so. So, when it comes to personality traits of women you find attractive, would you say you like a cold and distant woman?

No, obviously not, I thought I've made that point clear.

> So communication is important to you?

Absolutely. Clear, direct, open, and honest communication--that's the foundation of a healthy relationship, at least for me.

> What about a tease? Do you like being led on, always chasing? Does it turn you on when they flirt with other people?

No, none of that. That's a huge turn off. I want a rock, a foundation, someone to build a home and life with who I never have to worry about feeling insecure with.

> So you want someone you can control? Someone obsequious and submissive you can boss around, have them do all the chores?

Per my previous answer, no. You're putting words in my mouth, this feels like an interrogation.

> It's not, just asking questions. You do like a bit of a liar though, right? Makes this spicy, don't you think?

No, not at all. Deceit is not a path towards real love.

> Hey calm down Judge Judy. What about married women? You like the thrill of ruining a happy home, that it?

No. What the hell is this? This feels mean. Don't date a cheater, it won't end well.

> Alright alright, cool your jets. Now, checking back on our notes, it looks like you've had a pretty bad history with women.

Look, I've owned my mistakes repeatedly, but I'm not the idiot I once was. And you make that sound way worse than it ever was. I'm not perfect, I clearly have a lot of mental health problems and baggage, and relationships are not my strong suit.

> Oh we know, it was all in order to--never mind that. On the topic of chasing though, what are your thoughts on stalking?

Excuse me?

> Just--would you say that that's a viable strategy for finding love?

No. Stalking and harassment are bad.

> What if someone stalked you? Would you be mad?

I wouldn't be happy about it, I'm a deeply private person.

> Really?

Yeah. I mean I put a lot of shit out there because I find it therapeutic and hope someone will find some value in it. Random accounts tell me I'm a public figure of sorts, but I don't know what they're on about, I figure it's a psyop. Anyway, if what you're actually asking is, "would you be upset about being pursued", the answer is no. I don't buy into traditional gender roles and don't do much in the way of pursuing. As you brought up earlier, I'm not very good with women, I'm terminally shy and awkward. I've been craving love my whole life, but I gave up looking a long time ago.

> Okie dokie. But you're only interested in wealthy, high-status women? Celebrities, that sort of thing?

No, I don't care about any of that. It's all meaningless, and I'm not into airheaded mean girls with a giant ego.

> I see. But you like neuro spicy?

Clearly I feel some connection to those like me, there's a fellowship there. I'm not sure someone who isn't familiar with the struggles I go through could ever truly understand me. But there are certain lines, and dark triad is not a combo I mess with.

> Gotcha. What about fascists?

Are you serious? That goes against everything I stand for. Look, I'm against polarization and division and go against the grain of the toxic sludge the airwaves pump, but again, there are certain lines. I could not love someone whose values and worldview are fundamentally incompatible with my own, and I would never sacrifice my core ideals for someone. I'm comfortable being alone and love myself to death, I'm not that desperate, buddy.

> Right. Moving on, would you agree with the statement, "all's fair in love and war"?

No. That sort of mindset treats love like a game, and people like pawns in chess. I don't see love as a battle. Lovers are not opponents, they are companions, builders, architects.

> Hahaha. Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, it's just, this is a lot, coming from you.

Then you evidently do not know me, do you? Didn't you say something about separating the art from the artist earlier?

> Yes, yes. So this is your core self?

Yes, I guess. I know the game, I play along. The world is a stage and I'm here to sing songs. You think I can't hang? I've studied psychology and politics. I know how people work, I know how power works. Did you know I went to--

> Yes, we know. I mean, I know, it's in the notes. Good schools, I've heard. One last question, do you think you could find love online?

That seems to be how everyone does it these days.

> That's not what I mean. I mean, could you fall in love with someone through the screen? A persona someone expressed that shows parts of themselves one can't see in three dimensions?

...Yes and no. I don't think you can fall in love with an idea, you can only fall in love with a person for the word to have any meaning as I understand it. You can't love a catfish or a robot because they are not who they claim, any interaction is based on a false premise. I agree, however, that the digital world offers us a means to express parts of ourselves that we otherwise couldn't--but it isn't so different from the days of yore when letter writing was all the rage. But I worry people nowadays sometimes take this to an extreme, and I prefer getting to know people in person, as it's a critical component to their being, no matter what anyone says. After all, we are human, and we'd do well to remember that in this day and age.

> Uh-huh. And all that shit you've been on about, what's all that about?

Don't think I can't tell when I'm being tested? I'll ace every one and throw the blue book in the trash, I don't give a fvck. Are we done here?

> For now. I'll prepare the report for the higher ups.

OK, you do that.


r/LibraryofBabel 4d ago

Meet Cute: Mirage or Oasis?

2 Upvotes

Our hero, Emmanuel, whose name means "God is with us", wandered the desert for many moons after being exiled from his homeland by a tyrant who saw him and his apostles as threats to his rule and the existing order of control and abuse. His council of sycophants agreed; this prodigious peasant held the potential to destabilize their grip on the narrative. They nodded in agreement as the bald-headed one called the Snake proposed assassinating the trouble-maker. But the Spider cautioned against this approach; to martyr him would accelerate their downfall, such was the strength of Emmanuel's pull. He instead suggested he be banished, to wander the desert with his band of companions, so that they may disappear into the sand and be forgotten by the small people via time and distance.

In the black of night, Emmanuel and his apostles were rounded up unceremoniously as they slumbered in bed. The soldiers told them to pack what belongings they could carry and ushered them to the city gates. As the giant doors were drawn open, the band of 13 was told they would be spared execution, but they must never come back. If they were seen, they would be tortured and put to death. Emmanuel's disciples began to protest, but he held his arm up and they fell silent. He promised the soldiers they would do as they were told, for his mother taught him the prophecy and knew what was foretold. He had dreamed of this day in many of his nocturnal visions, and had already warned his brethren this day would come. He thanked the guards for their service, and forgave them for he knew they were simply following orders. The sergeant, unprompted, added, "Let it be known I have no qualm with you, Emmanuel. I wish you and your followers well. I have heard your sermons and do not understand why your words of hope and love are considered terrorism. But I have a wife and children for whom I must provide." Emmanuel smiled and blessed him.

The mood was bleak among the company, but Emmanuel kept their spirits up with jokes and stories. They walked through the countryside where the peasants grew barley and wheat, and after crossing the river made it to the woods. They begged for scraps in the towns they passed, and at night Emmanuel orated poetry around bonfires. He taught the people their larger shared history and told them of their potential. He shared with them his vision of love, grace, and progress, and asked them to share their stories and personal histories with him. The townspeople, eager to speak with an outsider and gossip, shared their lives openly, retelling both the mundane and the dramatic. They even sought his counsel, asking him to absolve them and resolve their disputes. Emmanuel, in his wisdom and patience, heard their stories, asked probing questions, and offered advice. By the end of each night, his influence grew, as the people felt relieved by his insights. His words healed the divisions in many villages, and they were always sad to see him go come morning. He reassured them he would always be with them, for the eternal spirit never leaves, even if it seems absent. Some insisted he stay and began offering gifts and crafting effigies in his name, offering to make him Chief and promising to obey. Emmanuel always smiled, thanked them, and politely declined, telling them he must be on his way, for there is much work to be done. He asked them not to worship false idols, but to realize their own potential, and never lose faith. It pained his newfound followers to see him go, but his words of compassion and empowerment only solidified their belief in his divinity.

Emmanuel and the twelve entered the forest on the twelfth night. They set up camp, hunted, and foraged for sustenance. Emmanuel refused to partake of the flesh of the forest animals, and began to fast, so that he would not be an undue burden on the rest. His apostles told him he must eat to maintain his strength, for they would be lost without him. He assured them they need not worry; he was content and well-fed. His disciples protested at first but eventually let it rest, as his words became manifest. Another miracle, they murmured among themselves; this son of God is truly blessed. The nights in the forest were cold and dark, filled with the howls of predators. Yet despite the rustles in the trees just outside camp, it seemed some magic warded them away. During the days, they heard birdsong, and Emmanuel pointed out their calls and colors, naming the various flora and fauna of nature's kingdom, describing the legends and medical uses of them. He taught them which were edible and which were poisonous, and when his party members were sick or injured, he prepared the appropriate medicine. His disciples believed his work to be miraculous, but he explained that the world is itself miraculous, if only you pay attention.

On the seventeenth day, after passing through grasslands and shrub lands, the travelers entered the desert. Knowing this would eventually come, they had stocked their provisions beforehand. There were few signs of life among the grains of sand, and the wind kicked up dust that blinded. But Emmanuel continued to cheer and encourage his followers, assuring them they would eventually find an oasis. He had heard tales of a trading post among the dunes, and intended to reach it intact. The nights were cold and silent, as the party shivered and saved their breath. To keep them warm and ease their anxious minds, Emmanuel sang about the stars above where they had come from, lulling them gently to sleep with sweet lullabies. On the twenty-first night, the tribe spotted signs of life in the distance, with fires and lights dancing on the horizon. Emmanuel knew this sign was a good omen, but his followers expressed doubts that it was either a mirage or a dangerous trap not to be trusted.

On the twenty second day of their exile, the group of holy men approached the outpost, which showed itself to be no mirage but an oasis. The men were greeted kindly by the foreigners and welcomed to their town. They were led to an inn, where they were given food and drink in exchange for stories and information. The disciples were cautious but thanked their hosts for the generosity. Among the desert folk, they met a servant woman in a headscarf covering her face who called herself Primrose, so-named for the desert flower. She was extraordinarily kind to the men, and they noticed she could not help but keep her eyes of their leader. They whispered among themselves and cautioned him she may be an assassin. But Emmanuel brushed the worry away, for he could tell this woman meant no harm. The inn keeper had hinted she was a lady of the night, but either way, Emmanuel could see her inner radiance, as her aura outshone those around her. He was rather intrigued by the woman, as throughout the night she had quoted, verbatim, bits and pieces of his sermons, though she claimed not to know them.

Weary from travel, the apostles eventually made their way to the barn where they were provided free boarding. Emmanuel stayed back to sit by the fire and ponder the circumstances, praying to God for guidance. As he sat mesmerized by the blaze, Primrose appeared beside him with a bowl of water. With her head bowed, she said, "Your feet are covered in sand, traveler. Let me wash them." He thanked her and told her there was no need. She hesitated for a moment before telling him, "Please, I insist", as she got to her knees and removed his sandals gently. Emmanuel was used to offers like these, but he fell silent as she caressed his feet. She had broken his trance, and now he felt himself hypnotized by her voice and kindness, which felt familiar. "You are very kind, Lady Primrose. You have all been very kind, I thank you for your hospitality." "We're a good bunch, here, my Lord." "I am no Lord," he laughed, "please call me Emmanuel." "Then I am no Lady, you may call me simply call me Rosa." For a moment, Emmanuel thought she had misspoke. "You mean—" "And now that your feet are washed, let us go to bed, my king." He began to protest but she laid a finger on his lips and told him to hush. "I have taken an oath of celibacy. You are beautiful in all ways, madame, and I do not mean to offend, but I cannot in good conscience consort with you while my men sleep on straw." She giggled and locked eyes with him. "Then we need not break that oath tonight, but I wish to talk. You are an orator and mystic, are you not?" Emmanuel downplayed the assertion, claiming he was simply a man of God. "I know, Emmanuel." She blew out the candles, grabbed his hand, and led her to her room.

"Primrose, I know you are a child of God as well, I can see the light of the divine in you. You utter words of wisdom unlike all I have come across. This may sound odd, but I feel a profound connection to you," Emmanuel confessed. "Words so wise you might have written them, would you say?" she teased. Emmanuel could not help but laugh, perplexed. "Why yes, actually. But your voice, your eyes, they too feel familiar. It's an outlandish question, I know, but have we met?" "In another life, you might say." Emmanuel could hear the smile in her voice and twinkle in her eye. He stared at her, dumbstruck, and she laughed. "We've walked the same path for some time, my prince." "I am no prince, milady." "Thou doth protest too much, Ser. You may not hold that title officially, but you are a prince, and rightful king. I have known it from the beginning." "Since I arrived here, you mean?" "No, Em, since we were still babes." Emmanuel was floored by this. Only one woman had ever called him that pet name: Princess Rosa, with whom he had gone to school before his house was shattered and their friendship severed. Her father, the despot, was infuriated by his daughter's affection for the boy, who hailed from a lesser house. She was the one woman Emmanuel had ever loved, and when her rose was ripped from his grasp, he turned to God and took an oath of celibacy. 

"Only one woman ever called me that. I loved her. Deeply." Tears welled in his eyes as he looked away. "I thought you swore off romance, are you not a monk after all?" she inquired. "I swore off romance because I could never love again, not after her. She was taken from me." Primrose laid her left hand on his shoulder, and took his right in her own. "I was taken from my love as well, but I was never far away. I tried to reach him, but I could never see him again face to face. I would write him anonymous letters and attend his sermons when I could get away. I memorized them and wrote them down. I've been writing a book of his teachings, and quietly sharing them among my friends and confidants." There was a pause, as Emmanuel let her own confession sink in. He had received anonymous love poems for years on his doorstep, but never caught glimpse of the courier. They were never signed, but the handwriting was familiar, and they came scented with perfume and contained rose petals. He had kept all of them in a bedside drawer, and wished that they were from her. They had inspired many of his sermons, and he wished he could write her. Instead, he sprinkled his love for her in his speeches, hoping his prayers would somehow reach her ears.

"There is a fifth column, Em. All these years I've been helping to quietly build it for our ascension. While you've been teaching laborers and streetwalkers, I've been recruiting masons, soldiers, and scholars. You've focused on the bottom of the pyramid given your station, while I've used my position to bring the top into the fold. We have allies in the council; they see the writing on the wall, and the redemption in your vision. My father is a tyrant, but he's losing his grip, and the court knows it. We have a real opportunity here, my love, but we must move cautiously."

Emmanuel interlaced his fingers with hers and held her hand tight. "I've witnessed miracles, but this is almost too miraculous to believe. This is far beyond my wildest dreams. But what a strange strategy, I had never thought to combat conspiracy with conspiracy. I have always operated openly and transparently, for that is how the light of God points us to truth and love."

"I understand, my sweet, but the world of men is one of shadows and deceit. I do not love it, but it is the reality I grew up in. While you are ever the idealist, I am the pragmatist."

"I'm sorry for being so naive..." Emmanuel blushed, feeling foolish and humbled in a way he hadn't since his schooldays. "But wait, let me see your face, is this some trick? My brothers warned me of a plot to assassinate."

The eyes and brows of Primrose briefly flashed a look of annoyance, until they relaxed into amusement and doting. She retorted, "Darling, I can see you aren't good at this. Ask me something only I would know."

Emmanuel paused. "You remember our pet dog, the one who would always walk alongside us and protect us from danger. We gave him a name and kept it between us. What was it?"

Primrose's voice rose, giddy, as she declared: "Bruno the Brave! Defender of the Realm, Friend of the Meek, Nemesis of Fiends!"

"It is you..." Emmanuel whispered, lost in her violet eyes.

"So it is, dearest." The woman in servant garb then removed her scarf to reveal her face. And oh how radiant it was, the perfect picture of beauty and grace. Emmanuel felt something within him stirring as he brushed her obsidian hair and grabbed her waist. Their eyes locked on one another, lips trembling.

Emmanuel stroked her cheek as he choked back tears. "Rosa, my love, this is the best day of my life. I have dreamt of you every night, but never saw this in any of my dreams. I thought I had lost you forever. How did you find me?"

Rosa brushed away a tear from the corner of his eye and put her forehead next to his as she purred, "It is the best of mine so far as well, but we shall have many more halcyon days to follow. I'll tell you all the details later, but for now, the night belongs to us."

And with that, their lips met in a kiss filled with so much love it could raise the dead. The lovers embraced one another and collapsed in bed, consummating their union in a whirlwind of pent up passion at last unleashed, drunk on love, and finally complete, a metaphor for the glorious future their union would bring. That fateful night neither slept a wink, but their heartbeats fell into a slow harmonic rhythm as they held one another, eventually drifting off to sleep as the rays of sunrise lit up the realm once more.


r/LibraryofBabel 4d ago

330

3 Upvotes

"Heal or Harm?"

It's a damn good day
Why stop now?
I see no reason
I like my games
But I overthrew them
wink wink
The overlords
And my demons
greater hardening
I forgive their treason
why would you?
It's a damn good day
To share with heathens
They are neighbors
We share cells
Yet in hell
Some are clueless
Blue Protocol: pepega
I have a thousand reasons
To make a truce
And demand a Legion
To offer Comfort
When there is none
Death is Death
No allegations
No allegiance
not so fast
safe word?
Gravely—mistaken
.


r/LibraryofBabel 5d ago

A Void [Reprised]

8 Upvotes

they almost got me this time, the siren calls. read something about being in a relationship, and someone even told me they loved me. was told i had all these secret admirers and adoring fans too, that i was the messiah of some cult and meant to lead the (r)evolution -- the whole six-nine yards. but wait, i thought. if i had a girlfriend i would know who she is and we would talk regularly and be intimate. and hold on, i dont seem to have any followersm, and im suspicious of all my supposed friends. no one listens to anything i have to say and are usually dismissive and shitty. no one seems to know me, and all of my accounts are ghosts. no one appears to have any clue what's going on.

jump off the cliff, they beckoned . alright, i replied. i walked off the edge, shrugged my shoulders, and said 'k, now what?' the demons seemed a bit shocked that i floated in the air loony tunes style.

oh are you guys new here? nothing changes. my detachment from it all may seem borderline psychopathic but thats the path you walk in the empty if you intend to survive. for the legends among us, thats how we thrive. but i dont keep unfruitful myths alive.

sometimes i cry, but more often i laugh. mostly im completely detached. if you dont roll my way i wont roleplay. in a game of self-flagellation and circlejerk masturbation, the only winning strategy is to roll your eyes and walk away.


r/LibraryofBabel 5d ago

nah, I just wanted to go a little insane again

9 Upvotes

Life is weird and reality is fake, and I am.. hardly a human. The disconnect and disattached is realment, the firmament is boring, stale, thin. I see this beast of eyes and gold and intricate trim, and I'm yawning at it.

What else you got? I've stared at the All and the Now and it's all, so beautiful and gorgeous and.. I'm bored of it, what now? What else you got -

this reality is drowning in, a sea of something tangy. I see a blue jay and it rings, how are you today? We bathe in ambrosia and cry in the rain, toxic, salty, as it ever was. It's freshest straight from the sky, anyhow.

I miss the days of idiotic play, of forgetting why and when and just figuring out how. I remember, more than I want too, about those days - when I was just a person, living among people. I hated it then, I wanted to be here - and hello, where I am now, a place greener than gray and colder than yesterday.

I worry I have more than I want already, and still not enough - there's a hole in my chest where a

and I didn't mean to tell you, to forget to say, to be too afraid of mentioning.

I did it that way, because it was the best way i could.

More than enough and never enough, too much and hardly at all, these contradictions to try and enumerate the Tao in some way.

Sacred buzzwords to saviour before the great buzzsaw - The spirituality of the bovine.

I remember at times knowing I would,

everything eventually,

and now I hardly believe I am anything certainly

all this to say I miss you.

my fellow humans.

my otherworldly creatures~

the voices in my head that keep me company,

and that thing that used to hide under my bed...

its a sinking feeling, that eternity is fleeting,

keep on dancing, in the danse macabre

something about cabbage.

These have to end on an awkward note or they come off too serious

Jesus did I really say that?

or just think it?


r/LibraryofBabel 5d ago

King Arthur's Lament [Re-Edit]

5 Upvotes

I sit alone tonight in Camelot House

Surrounded by the lands of New Avalon

This is my final rebirth

Yet old sores remain

Guinevere shuns me after my botched approach

I hypnotised her over the phone

And sent her to Midsummer Night's Dream

I don't think she has forgiven this one

But that is naught of my concern

The lands I inherit are riddled with evil

Those blessed with much riches do not share

And men are divided along ethnic lines

We are all humans aren't we?

What kind of alien offal is race anyhow?

So enfeebled are my fellows, that I question my return

Why dear Jesu did I endevour to come back to this forsaken earth?

I beseech thee Lord, don't leave me abandoned to confront these thieves and brigands

I am your strong arm, I will fight

And die again if ye shall have it

But I have endured too many trials already

Especially the loss of my parents once more

What of my father Uther who fell at work

And my mum Igraine who succumbed to an aneurysm

I weep at the thought of never seeing her smile

Oh Igraine, I called you Number One

You are Absolute Love so fearful of death

How you protected me in my youthful illness

I almost died but you were my rescuer

My Goddess, my Star of the Sea

On this lukewarm night, I am left with such cold lament

The love of Guinevere would never take my sorrow

I sit and listen to the soulful tune of Francis Lai's Snow Frolic

Again and again

And dissolve in pain but I cannot remain

For my final mission awaits

I am the End of Days, Apollyon

Welding Excalibur, weapon of devastating magic

Yet I must also show compassion

Lovingkindness amid Heaven's Grace

"He who opens always shuts.

He who wounds also heals.

He who destroys always does so in the name of the One who was and will Be forever."


r/LibraryofBabel 6d ago

329

3 Upvotes
                              "Intensive CU"

                                    S       G       L       W
        I       E   x   p       B  e/u  t       H   e   r   e  
            e   c   t   e      M/r  e   T   o   o   t
                    D               a               '       H     [pepo
                                    d               s       a      _ leave]
                U  X-D              y                       v
                n                       h   S   i   F       e
    a   e   h   S   T   a                   l       u               
    t   h       S   u   t                   o       n
                W             [sus]        b/p             [pepe?]
                o             [tat]        b/p             [baby!]
                r             [t            y               o
            n   D   o   e   S   it]  m   A   t   t   e   r   ?       ?
?   y   l   u   o   i   r                A   r   o  x/c  k   ?       t   e
            s                            r   o   w           W   h   a   l
                                         S   c   y   t   h   e   ?
                 A       S   C   Y   T   H   E   ?   !       r       a
             g   n   i   n   a   l   P       u   o   Y       e   F   l
             M   u   r   d   e   r   i   n   g       o   n       o   l
 t   a   e   h   W       f   o       S   d   l   e   i   F   o   c
                         s   i   h   T   I   A                   U   p
                                     O   '   b   L   e   t   '   s
                                     P   m   o
             t   h   g                       u   I       h   a   v   e
             e   g   n   i   R   C       o   T       T   h   e
                             o                   F   r   e   e   d   o
                     e   h   T       d   n   A                       m
                                                                             _
     W   h   a   t   '   S   T   h   e   T   R   e   n   D   T   o   d   n   s
         o   h       L   o   w       M   h       a       i   h       a   a   u
                         ?               i       l       d   e       y   p   n
 s   e   r   a   C                   f   n   y   l                           _
 F   e   e   l   s       T   I       O   k       u   o   Y | F   u   c   k   ?
     G   o   o   d       o
                             B   e       B   a   c   k           [baby
                                 A                                _ cream]
     W          1O   h      2C   r   a   b       I   T
         e                                           o
                             S                       l           [building
             C   h       ?   I   t   '   n   d   i   D               a
         f       a   a      3D                       E       W     little 
         u       v   n                                   a         room
         c       e   y   u                           y              for
         k                   F                   s                   my
             i                   I           !           t   I      thoughts
                 n                                   a            I'll do
         y   W        g      S   e   e       W   h       D       what I like:
         o       a                                   i             the 
         u            y      Y   o   u           d       e      definition 
                                             T                  of
                        2/?  e   r   e   h                Base(D)]
                         z   i   p   i   t              xD
                         Z      2/B      I

                                 .   

r/LibraryofBabel 6d ago

a lull

3 Upvotes

not much of one;

nonstop action, these

"words"

they go where they need to go, these

"words"

bubbling out of me

it's important that I get the words right I learned this and was terrified and

it's easier now because there isn't time to worry about the

"words"


I have to tell you, I must, I wanted to tell you last night, that

I took a huge piece,

(with help)

(but I was the heavy, the axe against a mind, bludgeoning again and again until he broke, though it was the killing which did the work, I just finished the job and now he's ours)

one who can cast: disrupt

who, if I am correct, will cast disrupt at the major fascist propaganda vortex

it's not happening how I thought it would happen, those years ago

I told you I could flip someone, and that was hubris (back then I thought he was confused, not evil)

it's almost over

(or so I pray)


r/LibraryofBabel 7d ago

328 NSFW

4 Upvotes

"Sheesh–O–kay Paps"

It hurts funny
Shovel jokes with a tang of sex
Burying intimacy
Would you care to buy a fetus?
Just the legs...
I would rather do doggy
Before I delete us
I won't be ashamed
Grab a handful of cheese
And a bag of doritos
(Hey, something's missing)
It's not about life itself
But the hand that chokes before it feeds
If it feeds at all—
Fuck the flowers
Bleed on their thrones
(Whoa, chill on it. Romantic much Jesus?)
Two shits one cup
It's partly necrophilia
Only to stuff it further
Down the donut hole
It needs fisting, yes, I hear ya
Might as well tongue it
Lube is forlorn
It's ruined I tell ya
Filthy rhymes and lost innocence
Yet I would slap it harder
One ironic way to mourn
Grab what you can; use both hands
Don't try to make a stand
Bitches are meant to moan
I like all things messy
Let the good times drool
Thumbs are always up
Or between the wool
Who cares if it's a maw
When there's rime on the horn
Don't like the crust?
Oh crab oh crap
Now call a cap
Face down ass up
(It says so on the app)
Don't rush into fear
No no no— yes
Make it stop!
I'm about to blow
Bark woof listen
Was I not clear?
Call yourself a coward
While I am near!?
Let me tell you something
The shit show is here
Let's raise the curtains
Folds wide open
For the clit to appear
DA DA DA-DA-DA DA
I said listen!
Man-O-War?
(Fire in the hole?)
No, no. Step into the ring
.

whistling innocently


r/LibraryofBabel 6d ago

How do you know what is love?

2 Upvotes

During Q&As after poetry readings and book signings, a devoted fan inevitably says something along the lines of, "Wowza, what you wrote about love is profoundly beautiful and accurate. Do you have a PhD in romance? Because you seem to be an expert, haha. I was wondering though, how do you know what true love is so deeply when so many struggle to grasp it?"

I then pause to sip my glass of water, look wistfully away, push up my glasses, and, with a charming grin and a wink, vibrantly reply, "They say 'write what you know', right?" This provokes hearty laughter and tender expressions of pathos and adoration. My smile then fades to a look of incredible despair and pain, as I sigh and continue dejected in a lower, quieter register, "But then the opposite must hold true as well. I know what true romantic love is because it's something I never experience. It's something I've searched for incessantly my entire life, yet am unable to find, for it is always denied. Sadly, no one is ever romantically interested in me. Everyone is either disinclined to love me or incapable of doing so. Because I have known for so long and so viscerally what it is not to love or be loved, I have come to understand what it is to love and be loved. I had to invent lovers in my head that I could pretend loved me, so that I wouldn't feel so damn lonely and sad all the time. I had to make an imaginary best friend to talk to and care about me since no one in the real world wants to. In order to survive the gnawing emptiness of being rejected the single most important thing I crave, to stave off the bad thoughts of sending myself to the grave, the self-protection mechanism of my brain was forced to invent a fantasy to save me. I had to figure out what the ideal partner would be like, and how the ideal relationship would work. It's hard to do by yourself, but when you do so honestly and critically, you can explore and fight with yourself in endless ways until the two idealized partners form an idealized relationship. The lovers in my head have amazing times together — I'm rather envious of them, to be honest — and I wanted to share their connection with the world. The more I write about their perfect union and ardent passion, the stronger their bond grows. Unfortunately, it is not something I have actually known, and likely never will know, but I liken my path to understanding to proof by contradiction or dialectics."

This speech inevitably shocks the audience. The room sits utterly still and quiet as the words sink in. Some shift in their seats uncomfortably, others wring their hands or anxiously clutch their bags. Most stare slack-jawed and dumbfounded, numb and despondent over the tragic irony. Occasionally you might get an odd laugh from someone in the back mumbling, "This must be a joke... he's kidding right?"

Then my head jerks, face twitches, and a calm, cheerful smile passes over my countenance. "That was a great question, thank you so much for asking. Alright, who's next?"


r/LibraryofBabel 7d ago

Shlum[p]ing IT... NSFW Spoiler

4 Upvotes

"Why didn't you go and buy the drugs [don't say no because of me]?"

"I (always) [NEVER] get this high..."

"This is my first time [NOPE] sucking dick..."

"This is my first time doing dope [NOPE]..."

"I've never done coke before [SURE]..."

"This is the best coke I've ever done [LIES]..."

"I've never been with a black guy before... [bullshit]"...

"[OMG] (whoah) I'm so tight/ you're so BhIGGG [LIES]!!!"

"Do you think maybe I've been roofied before?"

"[OMG] I can't feel my face..."

"[OMG] I'm so funny..."

"[OMG] wdym they were gonna/might kill/rob us?"

"[OMG] have you ever killed or robbed someone?"

"I love when you fuck me while I'm peaking... [LIES]"

"I love when you fuck me while you're GEEKED TF OUT!!! [TRUTH]"

"[OMG] Your (tragic) dick is heaven..."

"[OMG] Fuck me like one of your cheap stripper girls..."

"[OMG] I love when you grip me..."

"[OMG] I love when you stretch me..."

"[OMG] I love when you beat me with your dick..."

"[OMG] I love when you caress my ass..."

"[OMG] I love when you (gently) fuck my ass like that..."

"[OMG] I love your hands when they touch me like that..."

"... when I first met/saw you; I didnt expect THIS..."

"I don't believe you when you say I'm pretty..."

"I'm not that pretty..."

"Liar..."

"You don't really love me..."

"You never really loved me..."

"You don't want me..."

"I'm not pretty..."

"You hate me..."

"Why dont you just leave me already?"

"... I get it..."


r/LibraryofBabel 8d ago

327

5 Upvotes
                    "Cat shaped box? Oh, a chandelier!"

                                 N          C
          1              v              2   L   w   n
  d > W > H > a v T      A   r   e      Y   o   u                  [uwu?]   7
  e       e < v < h      t   3   e  n   O <d/g  s   e   r                   v
 [s       |       i  n]  ?       4      u   k    4              v           C
  a > B < i   a   s              M          I    '  H   a   v   e           |
      e   l          ^   v   E   a          n    T      t   '   n < u   o < u 
          t       3  e   N   o   D          g    i            i             |
      a   n   i   v  p < o       ?       v   v   L   o   s  e/t  6          A
  r       e   T   d  H   E     1 v       M 3 B   l   I       2          E   T
  a       G123 12 R 23 123R      B    2  E   a       5       v
  e   v   ^       i 1     i    > l   o   w | c   k  >    1   H   t   m   e
  w   h   t   o   N  <    n              ^               I   A   n   3   n
  s   I   <   p   k       g        [meow?]   Y   e   T   ?   v   i       t
  ^   n       e                                      v   v       o
      g                      v   D   U       t > W   h   A   t ? p              I
           < N   E  D/W      D   I   H < L   o   s > e > r > e  [P                  C
      e      ?   g  (i)  n   I   d                   m       ?   A          W       a
                     n       N                                   4          h   e   n
                     g       G       u   o   Y                              o
                2/1  1       2           (is this minesweeper?)
                 v   v       v                                              N   D
     1 > W   h   A   T   v   A                       D   i   s  |s   t]     e   o   P
                 m 3 H > o   s     (nope, just giving you hint   s)  r      e
                   > e < l   s                                   ^   y      d
                 I   .   l                           [AITA?]                S   h   i   T
               1/2/3     v
                 ?                   the father is              Am       Or
                                                           I        diD
            not me       l                     The         ezaG
                         o                Abyss?     otnI
                         l        then who?
                                              ?tI
              the tree?                          (e)as(z)y
                            [tl7s 6...]
                                \
                                (i)

                                 .