#[ ◉¯] ✧˖° → VERSE: TBA

[marshalforgotten]

@cosmicxblossoms continued from {x}

The fight was something eyes witnessed on accident, as she was merely traveling across nations via In-between. The thought of leaving it be crossed her mind, as what right did she have to intrude upon another's territory? Those thoughts were changed however, once soul sight beheld this so-called "Bone King"; seeing his wretched state of the spirit.

She may know very little of the individual personally, but watching one's own kind be reduced to such a deplorable condition felt unnerving if not downright insulting. No, she would not stand for this. Thus did concealed primate inform Maya that she would be out of town for an indefinite amount of time. Keeping up her human appearance happened to be important, but this felt more so.

MK's words temporarily gave her pause, making a frown appear on countenance. She supposed him taking notice eventually would be inevitable, but changing tactics did present challenges at times.

"...And so does the pot call the kettle black," she muttered, before promptly turning to face him with a faux grin and hands akimbo to sides. "Requesting help, from a thief? You and that famous warrior truly are in a real pickle, huh? I suppose I can help, since you asked so nicely." Strangely enough, hidden baboon felt that this would be needed, so she endeavored to drain plenty of medical herbs dry beforehand.

[quantumstarpaths]

@hoovedrycal said: " It is called morphing, it is an ability that we Cervids have."

Blue eyes widened as he looked at the other, a small smile pulling at his lips. He knew he shouldn't treat the other as though he were a science experiment, but there was certainly something fascinating about this ability, and Paul was unable to help himself when there was something fascinating.

"Morphing..." He turned the word over in his mind. It certainly made enough sense, and was easy enough to figure out. "How does it work?"

[thusaliar]

@asternovi: [ inspection ] Carlo inspects P for injuries after they fought a carcass together. "You have to be more careful..." ｡･ﾟﾟ･🦋 - from 🐝  *  ―  𝑵𝑶𝑵-𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑻 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺.

✧ ˚ · .

Turning back the time without Sophia wasn't a possibility for him anymore; if he got destroyed, it would be the end for him. Still, even knowing that, he was reckless in a fight. P could take a lot of damage and still get fixed, he was a puppet after all. His brother, on the other hand, was not. Perhaps he wasn't as human as he used to be, with everything that had happened to him, but Carlo's body was still much more fragile.

P huffed softly, letting Carlo check on the damage. One of the carcasses got too close, and P jumped between it and his brother. He defeated it in a matter of seconds, but it managed to hit just before that. With one eye closed due to some of the scratches landing uncomfortably close to it, P looked at his brother. The wound he was inspecting was much deeper than the scratches on his face.

"I'm fine." he said shortly, coming off a bit rougher than he intended. After all, he wasn't used to being taken care of like this. Up until Carlo woke up him, P always fought alone and took care of his damage alone. Having Carlo fuss over it was new and not unwelcome either. P simply didn't know how to react.

The damage the carcass managed to do luckily wasn't anything serious, but would still require taking care of. The equivalent of bleeding to death for a puppet would be the loss of oil that kept his body on and moving. He could shut down if he lost too much of it and that could be an issue. P reached for his belt but sighed when his hand landed on a discharged pulse cell. Well, that's unfortunate.

"I'm out of pulse cells." he admitted to his brother, looking away. Perhaps the odd feeling in his chest was shame or guilt. Requiring getting fixed and the lack of pulse cells would clearly slow them down now.

"Are you alright?" P finally asked, raising his hand to rest in on Carlo's shoulder, trying to draw his attention.

[abyssinicn]

@dragvnsovl / continued from this.

It wasn't expected to rain today.

He hated rain as it reminded him of the night so long ago. Having not brought an umbrella, Ran brought the collar of his coat up higher as he quickly made for a place to get out of the rain. When he was finally under cover the assassin held his coat closed over himself still, violets gazing up at the sky. Movement had caught the man's attention as his head slowly turned to see a dark haired stranger seeking cover from the pouring downfall of rain. Brows furrowed a moment, his gazing taking the other in.

He hadn't seemed like he was going to attack him. But then, that could always change. ".....It is." Ran answered softly, his attention going back to the rainfall.

[feiiizhu]

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⟡⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅|| @bolinity - liked!

ㅤㅤ❝𝓗as anyone ever told you how cute your turtle-duck-butt hair is?❞

[muttakutagawa]

its going to be a long walk home

[telndas]

jason’s steps were heavy, each one sinking deep into the damp forest floor as he made his way through the woods. the weight of the bodies slung over his shoulders barely registered anymore, their blood slicking his skin and dripping in a slow, rhythmic pattern. the trees were familiar and forever silent to the violence that unfolded beneath them. he had been out since dawn, hunting intruders who dared to step foot on his land. now, as the sky darkened, tinged with the dying light of day, jason’s focus shifted to one thing—returning to suhani.

the blood was thick and sticky as it pooled down his arms, soaking him. he could feel its tacky pull with every movement, the smell of iron clinging to him like a second skin. the bodies, broken and limp, swayed with his strides, their faces unrecognisable. he paid them no mind now.

the abandoned buildings came into view as he cleared the last line of trees, their crumbling facades a familiar sight. they marked the border of his world and hers, a meeting place where he would always find her waiting. his pace quickened slightly, the tension of the day still clinging to him, not fully shed despite the slaughter.

as jason neared the edge of the clearing, he paused. his eyes scanned the perimeter, searching through the fading light for the familiar figure he always expected to see.

A lithe hand reaches forth, pinching a bright red strawberry between fingertips, before giving a slight tug. The stem rips gently and the strawberry breaks free to be brought up towards the glint of the dying evening sun. Suhani smiles then, before she bites down upon the red flesh and feels the ripened juice fill her mouth. It is sweet with only a little bit of tang to it—something perfect, delectably so. She flicks the empty stem away, over her shoulder, before she begins to pluck more, filling up her hands with the rest.

The air has grown still all the while, carrying no hint of screams upon the wind as it does every so often on bleak days like these. Suhani takes her treasured bundle as she stands to move out from behind the house, away from where the garden sits. It is only then that she spies Jason in the clearing. Hardly a thought is given to what he carries. Often they are all the same to her: those who hardly respect the nature that give them life in the first place. But she sees him, and only him, her smile is a permanent fixture even now.

❛ They have ripened quite beautifully, see? ❜ Suhani says, holding up a strawberry once close enough for him to look for himself. ❛ Here, have a taste. ❜ Held by the stem, she lifts the strawberry up higher, towards his mouth and awaiting the mask to be lifted.

@moonstalk !

[epitaffia]

if there was one thing that'd take some getting used to it was the climate of this place. gone are the days of hot sunny weather for months on end ; say hello to drab cloud & cold rain ! ( ugh, maybe it wasn't such a great idea to move all the way out here ). doppio huffs a sigh at the sad loss of warmer weather while hunching a little more in on themselves, thankful for the small fire they'd thrown together, its warmth a comfort along with the toasted marshmallows it provided.

it was quiet away from civilization, & peaceful, & most of all ... private. yet not secluded away from the locals enough, it would seem ... hazel eyes watch the flickering flames, through which a part of them observe- ( wait, what was her name again ? )

" uh- " doppio sits up a little, bringing the long stick topped with steaming marshmallow to their mouth & blowing on it to cool down, " i don't think i caught your name the other day ... " ( was it taylor, or tammy ... tabby ?? ) whatever name her mother had screamed as they made their escape, they can't quite remember. a look of perplexion crosses freckles features warmed by the orange glow of the fire. the sweet glob of sugary goodness promptly shoved into their mouth, " well, if you don't remember mine ; my name's doppio. you won't see any trouble from me unless you break into my house, " a pause, their lighthearted tone shifting into one of concern, a sudden thoughts crossing their mind, " hey, i have a question ... do you get bears up here ? it'd be good to know if i should, i don't know, install bear-proofing or something. " ( although seeing a bear would be pretty neat ... ) @scarletcursed

[marshalforgotten]

Four monks, four primates. Who do YOU think would represent each celestial monkey well?

[truly-quirkless]

[@mxndjxcker || Because we are both filthy enablers (/lh).]

First day of school...Fin hadn't really been thinking too much about it, to be honest. Outside of hiding from the kids who went to do their first round of Hero course training, they'd mostly stayed away...until the final bell had rung, and they were all but sure a grand majority of the students had gone home. That was when they'd been wandering the halls of U. A.,...

And spotted a student, still in the halls. Their head tilted slightly, letting their pace increase from its moderately-slow walk to a more average speed.

"Kid? Whatcha still doin' on school grounds? Didn't th' bells ring...I'unno, an hour ago?" They slipped their phone out of their pocket- eyes sliding over the time before finding the teen's visage again. Their phone was once more pocketed, head tilting slightly to the side. "Y'waitin' on someone?" Although this didn't seem like 'waiting for someone'...

More like 'getting the courage to leave'. But- Fin had never been that good at reading people unless they were actively threatening them, so...who were they to judge?

"...or do y'need a minute...?" They stopped short of the edge of a safe distance, far enough away to quickly leave if it was wanted- or walk closer if they thought it was needed.

[il-mostrc]

For once, Hannibal wasn’t the object of interest in the room. It was an invite he had agreed upon, for social circles overlapped, and he properly declined a hosting for this month. There was a reason for this: to scope out the room without being accosted by others in favor of offering their delighted, sugary words of doting admiration of the meal that he had tediously constructed with his proper flair. The ethic butcher could properly put down the knife and gaze upon the market of his guests.

He wore a dark blazer, buttoned up with his merlot vest and equally deep shade of a Balthus knot patterned tie. It was a move to allow him to blend in with the backdrop of the low-lit estate for aesthetic preferences. A red wine, nearly matching the color he chose tonight on his person, swirled within his glass as he let his eyes do most of the talking in the room.

Hors d'oeuvres of delicate delights made their rounds on silver platters; even here, he eyed their construction. Muted conversations took the frontal lobe section of his mind, dissembling some entrees and reworking them to what he would showcase.

A familiar scent took his gaze from the event and fictitious smiles; he knew this aroma well enough by now. Her (@stingslikeabee) face materialized in his mind before he even placed his eyes upon her. She was what a few called ‘new money’ at least; she was ‘fresh’ in a sense to the area. While most of the people who invested in these parties had their fair share of years upon years of promoting their brand, Melissa was reasonably new.

He could also detect the expensive, nourishing skincare lotion she used. It wasn’t from the United States, a scent he was all too keen to detect on the streets of Paris in his youth.

He deduced that she blended in wonderfully. How her smile outshone even those who were known to reach theirs to their eyes. She was well aware of the company that others kept, and with a passing gaze and a light brush of their mingling, he caught her words—whispered but clear.

“He’s waiting for my first mistake.”

He matches it, though his gaze is a full sweep of the room, a head leaning in as he brings the wine glass nearer to his lips. The words echo within the shell of it, directing preciously in her range of hearing. “I believe a full room is awaiting it.” Rising as she was in the social constraints of this tier, there were still people out there who whispered of her past. Even he had his ears pricked when her name was on the tongue of others.

It intrigued him.

The wine cascaded across his tastebuds, and he closed his eyes to soak in the flavors before speaking. “No matter what the platter looks like, swallow it all.” A common mistake those who were newly introduced to this circle endured. Anyone who graced their expression with disapproving lines was met with a cold shoulder and a curling lip.

“At the very least.. the wine is exquisite.” He lifted the glass, offering her a small toast.

[amberedcorpse]

DUKE | OPEN

Deucalion couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a good drink. Days of traveling had run his reserves pretty dry, and he’d had to penny pinch just to keep himself fed long enough to reach town. One would think a man like himself, busy as he was, would have more in his coat than a knife and a concealed holster. But money left marks, trailed, just like the motes of black smoke he blew out of his mouth. Better safe than sorry. Besides, there was always more money to make, more people to send across the bridge…

In fact, he’d spied one such person a few times in his periphery, slipping in and out of view, but ever present. Duke didn’t bother to wonder why he was being stalked so soon and merely took it in stride. This far in the game, who cared if a few stragglers tagged along? 

Again, he had a glimpse of the shadow covering his rear, having drawn closer as the streets turned dark and lonely. After a few draws of his cigar, he paused as if deliberating on what to do, until he very abruptly turned around. 

“Hey!” He flicked the ashes off his cigar, and caught the haunting shade before it slipped back into an alley. 

“The least you could do is give me directions! I’m fucking lost over here!”

[thusaliar]

continued. @ervaurem

P knew all too well that it didn't hurt. He experienced it himself before, and although unpleasant, it didn't hurt. One could think of it as a blessing, but was it really? To him, it felt more like a curse.

Especially now, when he was holding his friend close, watching him die in his arms. Die, or shut down? Many would call it that, but P couldn't. Romeo was a puppet, there was no denying it, but at the same time, he was so much more. He could be so much more... Romeo wasn't hurting, but P was. It was all his fault, he knew how everything would have played out, yet, he still brought his dear friend here. Why? Was he seriously hoping that Geppetto wouldn't try to take his heart this time around? Idiot.

Holding his friend's mechanical body close, he leaned in to keep him closer, as if that would keep him around longer. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest, and the springs synchronized with it in a consistent rhythm. He was as human as he could be, and the recent events had left him feeling flooded with emotions.

"I shouldn't have brought you here. It's all my fault." P wasn't angry about Romeo attacking him; after all, he was merely forced to follow the orders, bound by loyalty to his friend and the past. The fight lasted long and for a long time, P tried to stop Romeo without hurting him - only to finally realize that there was no other way.

So the fight ended just like the first one, except for P holding Romeo in his arms, watching his body slowly shut down. This hurt, hurt so badly.

"I'm sorry." he said quietly, watching as Romeo's eyes looked at him, and yet somewhere past him. And just like that, just seconds later, he was gone. It wasn't the first time he saw him pass, but this time it felt like his own springs were about to stop.

A clicking noise followed through the chamber, and P knew what was about to happen; it wasn't his last fight today. But there was something he had to do. 'I'll always be by your side.' Romeo's words echoed in his head. P knew what to do.

Gently, he lays Romeo's body down, taking one last look at his friend's face. Maybe it was good he couldn't feel any of it, for once. Reaching with a hand, he gently lays it on top of the puppet's chest - this time, it wasn't the legion arm he was using. He was gentler.

P could feel it right under his fingers, the gentle warmth and pulse, soon enough followed by a bright blue right emerging from the body. Romeo's Ergo was right at his fingertips, but he wasn't about to use it. Instead, just like with Sophia, he lets it rest within his own body, close to his mechanical heart. For a moment, he felt lightheaded, but then he felt a familiar sense of warmth.

Romeo was safe with him.

[deathinfeathers]

@metaladam said: "We just need to come up with a way to get her onboard!"

"There is nothing more compelling than a well structured powerpoint presentation! I suggest we bring it up during our next admin meeting."

[unitleada]

 Pen tapped absently against the edge of the clipboard. Fifth interview of the morning and well, she'd been off to an interesting start. References from everyone from the Queen of Denmark to the, what was that again? Oh right, the new Princess of Padrivole Regency nine. She wasn't entirely sure if that last one was an alien or just completely mad. Either way, she'd never be able to verify that contact, so it wasn't a terribly urgent concern. Kate sighed, flicking over to the next page on the clipboard. On to the next one.

❝ Let's see, ❞ Ushered him in with the wave of a hand, scanning the first page with a slight frown. She'd seen this file before. Application sent in before he'd even been discharged from a hospital bed. At the time she'd received it, she'd been slightly impressed at the initiative.Staring at the man before her now, she was more concerned than anything. Terrible incident. She'd read the file. Seemed he was still recovering from the worst of it. Nevertheless, tenacity she appreciated. A brief smile, setting down the clipboard to offer him a hand.

. ❝ Lieutenant Southgate, was it? Kate Stewart.chief scientific officer. ❞

@strtravels

[telndas]

❝ sometimes there is no happy choice, only one less grievous than the others. ❞

It is as if her thoughts were read. Dredging up from the deepest recesses of her mind, only to bring them out to be shown under the light of day. For once. For all. But mostly, just for her to realize. To no longer hide from the truth that has screamed at her from the day she left the forest, away from the others who begged for her to remain. ( Regret tastes like bile and feels like fire. Swallowing it is the only way to combat it. )

Suhani's lips twist some at the idea regardless. A thought crawls alongside, unburying itself quick and quietly: a desire to take the words out from the air and smother them until they have all but disappeared. But they are no physical things. They are more like the spirits themselves, having been released and given flight from curling lips whispering into the blazing flame of the starless night.

❛ But one may still find happiness within such choices. ❜ Like a child trying to grasp for the impossible, Suhani tries to argue. It falters. She is not so sure of her own position. But there is a certain kind of stubbornness in her that will never let it go. ❛ A life saved, or a life still able to be lived … once everything has been said and done. ❜ But for who? Whose life? It is a gamble. She may still live, but another may not. What is then, the deciding for a quality of life after plans have been made for you?

❛ Sill, one should never settle. There is always time enough to make sure there truly is no happier choice to be had. It is the only thing we can do. ❜ It is the only thing that assures one of their power, as flighty as words or not.

@ofsoul !