#( verse: path of hope )

[oceanicxeyes]

Closed starter for: @theweredrifter

It was very late at night. The moon up above in the dark sky casting its silvery glow over the calm surface of the water – making everything that lingered underneath appear far more mysterious and dangerous than they actually were. The depths concealed many mysteries. Humankind had barely scratched the surface when it came to what existed underneath but rather than exploring and learning of all things nature had provide them with… they chose to destroy it. To pollute the once perfectly blue and clear waters with their oils, their plastic and trash – their radioactive components. It was so criminal to see what was once beautiful walls of colorful corals dry up and crack until they were lifeless. To see all those colored fish schools that swam together move away or simply die out because their sustenance had been destroyed. How could humans do something so CRUEL? Did they not understand what they were doing? How their actions would impact the very world they lived on? How many had died because of their hubris? And so Walter swam. He moved deeper, welcoming the darkness, the cold and the pressure of the world around him as he moved his tail side to side – his arms stretched in front of his face. It helped him focus. To leave the resentment and possible hate behind so that he could embrace that small sliver of hope that resided in his heart. Not all humans were monsters. Not all were determined in destroying the oceans. And once his fingertips touched the sea bed – algae and sand and rock – Walter swam back to the surface, feeling the difference in temperature on his scales, the pressure no longing threatening to crush his body like twigs. Warm, clean salt water flowed through the gills on his neck. There wasn’t contamination in that area. Not a single taste of trash or chemicals or other dangerous products. It…reminded him of home. Of a home long forgotten and abandoned. Walter looked up – the silvery light of the moon barely breaking the surface, specs of light dancing before his eyes as he allowed his body to finally stop and feel the movement of the currents. Left and right. Left and right. The siren closed his eyes, his scaled arms wrapping around his bare torso – now much lighter than the usual skin tone with several dark blue scales adorning his body in intricate patterns. It was time to go up. Time to return to land now that he had a moment for himself back home. There was no sounds there. Not even those belonging to the occasional fishing boat that would go on an excursion. Not even the creaking of dead wood and loud shouts from men urging others to keep it up. There was no vibration belonging to the mechanical engines that propelled the boats ahead. Just – SILENCE. Complete, absolute, all-encompassing… SILENCE.

[aspirant1598]

[quietlyblooms]

going insane bc of lore's reply, and it's also made me think about how after the explosion in her lads verse, that " hand of fate " chiyo used to feel throughout her life is suddenly gone. she doesn't feel it trying to guide her anymore. why? bc chiyo isn't struggling against it anymore. her dreams and passion for art are the furthest things from her mind -- the life she thinks she should be leading and the desire to break free from her circumstances are the furthest things from her mind.

she's consumed by grief and her need for answers, so chiyo does what she always does in response to major stressors. she throws herself into her work. she fully commits to hunting wanderers and then to getting into the n109 zone, and that's exactly what fate wants. those actions will lead her to where she needs to be and the people she needs to meet. fate no longer pushes her along because chiyo is already pushing herself plenty and likely will not stop until she figures out what happened to josephine and caleb.

[kuratm]

confused? yes, but that'd be an understatement. while sayu isn't exactly sure what happened, she knew one thing that might help cheer the trailblazer.

❛ um...hey, caelus... ❜ the dark-winged halovian speaks up, fidgeting hands gently pressing to the taller male's shoulder as amethyst eyes keep a close eye on him - not wanting to anger him more than he already was. ❛ would you like to get a meal...? erm, my treat...maybe that'll help calm your mind down, even if a bit. ❜

@astrxlfinale / continued from this

[ouraniatm]

if you asked cora frankly, these missions and highly specific biddings for someone else were bunch of crazy talk. elio this, elio that... the green haired criminal grew tired of those lines being thrown around, over and over again, like a mantra. she didn't think much of it in the beginning - back when the world seemed to truly turn it's back on her - and even played along in order to survive, but now only annoyed her. perhaps it's the arrogance of their leader to believe destiny could be predicted and planned through, like he's playing a strategic role-play game, or just the fact cora does not like being told what to do ... it didn't matter. her opinion wouldn't make a change, nor would her situation get any better should she do the foolish act and oppose elio, himself. better survive on your own than to get in more danger than she's ever been in her life.

then again...who would give a damn should their underdog hunter get caught by IPC? nobody knew anything about her, not even the highest authorities had much information on her...she was just a black sheep.

well, not that she'd just up and say these thoughts out loud...especially not to spider lady, over here. hollow, icy eyes roll at kafka's comments while back is turned to her, mostly preoccupied with fixing her ice launchers before scoffing. ❛ heh...you were definitely the spoiled rich kid in previous life. ❜ she pauses to reload said launchers with ice-cased rockets, clicking her tongue and moving the goggles on top of her head. ❛ sure, bashing skulls is fun and all...only after i've taken everything i needed and made them watch it all, so they know they got duped on. ❜ cora grins devilishly as jaded eyes look back to kafka. ❛ but, eh... it's not like i give too much thought into my methods...i just find an opening. least i'm not a petty loser like our resident hacker. ❜

cora moves one hand to hip while other swings her weapon across the shoulder, finally having the decency to fully turn to kafka. ❛ so, you here to brag 'bout your criminal record or to fix your shit, again? you know i don't do chit-chat. ❜

@crownshattered ... continued from here!

[talesofourworlds]

@unborderedreflection liked for a Xillia anniversary starter!

She wasn't his Milla, but... she was still a Milla. No matter how odd it was to be around her, he had seen Jude spending time with her. Surely Ivar could do the same. It helped that she seemed to be on her own that day, as was he. With Spirius having no orders for him and no reason to go anywhere else, Ivar had chosen to linger around Marksburg for a time. Doing so seemed to have benefited him, as she was there too. Doing what? Well, Ivar didn't know. Maybe Marksburg being something of a middle ground between Rieze Maxia and Elympios made it appealing somehow?

Cautious, careful steps were taken closer to join the 'fractured' Milla. He didn't like thinking of her that way, he decided. Would she even want him around, though? Surely she had had her own Ivar back in her world before...

Don't think about it, he decided. When he got close enough to her, to see what she was doing, Ivar prepared himself. All he had to do was give her a chance.

"Lady Milla...?"

[kotaerukoto]

You guys have no idea how annoying I am going to become about Id once I finish it and put down all of my thoughts of which I have Many

[flamepledge]

❝ i must admit, i'm somewhat envious that you are so well travelled. ❞ there's a playful lilt when she speaks to @trailstrike. gloved fingers idly stroke the handle of her tea mug. edelgard tilts her head curiously at the other. ❝ is there anything from any of the worlds you visited that you miss? ❞ / sc!

[pepperpixel]

2 more aberration odium character playlists!!!! Finally!!!!! This time for Tetack and Somnix! Two angsty trolls struggling to be true to themselves and each other, while under the pressure of forces beyond their understanding..

“Lemon Boy” - Tetack Whyoul’s Playlist

“Like A Dog” - Somnix Avyurn’s Playlist

Just like with all the other playlists these 2 have songs that are in both of them! … considerably more this time then there were on the other mixes.. the songs shared in these 2 are generally indicative of when both Tetack and Somnix are feeling the same thing about there relationship!

You might have noticed there’s also more songs in general in these mixes!!! That’s cuz… I had a lot of songs for Somnix and Tetack ghghgh- idk man! turns out a lot of songs fit w edgy relationship drama and being seduced by dark and terrible forces!!! Idk what to tell u!!

Once again the mixes are in chronological order! The songs progress in the same way the characters progress! Most of these I feel like. Paint a pretty clear picture? Like. Obviously we haven’t told you exactly what happens w these two yet but you can get the vibes here! The edgy edgy angsty vibes…. But! Neither of them end edgy and angsty! They sort themselves out eventually! That’s what matters lol

[oceanicxeyes]

Closed starter for: @cxncordia Pairing: Walter && Amir It was dark once more. The sun had disappeared and in its place, the moon stood silent on the sky, accompanied only by a few stars. It appeared to the cloudy. Perhaps it would rain within the next day or so. Regardless of how volatile the weather presented itself to be, Walter sat on the sandy beach, his bare feet casually digging the sand as he kept his arms wrapped tightly over his legs, knees pressed against his chest as he contemplated how quickly things had change within mere weeks. If there were any deities in a different plane, any Gods – were they mocking him now? Did his own hubris proved to be his downfall? But was it really hubris to come to the sea every now and then, to be home once more? Those thoughts met no answer – divine or not. Only the casual sound of the waves caressing the sand bore witness to Walter’s internal turmoil as a chilly breeze brushed away his hair from his face. He had been amidst the land dwellers for a century. Ever since his own kind realized that they were on the path to extinction and decided to seek protection in the deepest corners of the sea. Walter never wanted that. To just… HIDE. It was the equivalent of admitting defeat. Was there really no hope to save his home? Back in the day, they didn’t have a word to what was happening. All they believed was that humans were the harbingers of their destruction. But with more and more incursions to land – watching humans build something that they called factories and make little care of the damage they caused to nature, it was clear that the paradigm was shifting. The seas were becoming hotter. The water level was slowly rising. Nowadays, people called that phenomena global warming. Humans in their pride and greed and need to evolve, had destroyed what had been there for longer than any of them dared to contemplate. And for a century, he had been careful. Walter had learned from humans how to behave and how to be one of them. The goal was easy – find some way – any way - to prevent the extinction of his kind. To save the oceans which were also the birth of life. And he had been so careful… for a century, he had successfully remained hidden and invisible to other beings of the night. Walter had heard about them: vampires and werewolves and witches and the likes. He wanted no part on their issues. He had his own mission and quite frankly – he was scared of all those other things concealed in the night. He was scared of humans too. What would they do if they found out what he really ways? Knowing how others viewed individuals with potential… he would either be locked in a lab and studied or turned into a weapon. Kept away from the sea – from his own true home.

It’s been weeks since his secret was exposed. Was it hubris? He had gone to the same beach he did for the past year – he had made sure that there was no one around. His human appearance turned into his real form: a tail, scales and gills. His skin became as bright as a pearl as his scales glistened under the pale moonlight. Then how did those… what was the word he used…? KINDRED? How they found him was not something Walter had planned. If not for someone else to guarantee his safety – to protect him… who knows where he would be now? And after a century, Walter found himself indebted to someone else. To a Kindred. A VAMPIRE. But this particular individual didn’t seem like the stories he read from books or the monsters he saw in the movies. He appeared… kind. Respectful. Walter even dared to conceive the concept of… safety. Maybe not all vampires were bad. Not all humans were monsters too.

“I will repay you for your kindness.” Blue eyes once fixated on the steady motion of the ocean glance over the siren’s shoulder to the man nearby. Amir was… unlike anything Walter had met before. He was a mystery wrapped in a enigma. Kindred or not – vicious or not – he had done nothing to make him fear him. He was still a predator but Walter believed – maybe because he was naïve when it came to other creatures – that this particular man truly wished him no harm. “I was so careful. I never used the same entry point twice.” It didn’t matter. He was spotted and almost captured if not for Amir. And that had been weeks ago. “I don’t understand what use I’d have to your people.” To vampires. Kindred. Not like he had told Amir about his ability to control and manipulate water or the eerie singing that became stuff of legends from days past. As far as the kindred was concerned – he was merely a siren. A man with the ability to transform into a fish hybrid and live underwater. What use would he be to those that could live forever? “But I am grateful to you. And no matter how long it takes – I plan to repay you for keeping me safe. It’s… the least I can do.”

[aspirant1598]

[frozcnhearts]

@rageagaiinst liked for a starter - Sehun & Annaleigh

Nights like this were the cause for the dark circles underneath his eyes. The exhausted medicine student stared at the empty glass, as he idly traced its edge with his index finger. Since hours he hadn’t dared to look at the time. It wasn’t like he feared the time - but he would surely regret that he hadn’t walked home earlier. Hadn’t gone sleep earlier. Just to repeat every day again and again, like an endless circle with no way to escape.

What a frustrating life.

“Could I get another cocktail?”, he asked with clear tiredness in his voice after just doing the same, idly tracing for almost ten minutes - maybe even longer. Amber eyes staring at the female bartender. He didn’t know her, hadn’t talked with most people here anyway if he was being honest. Mostly they were just people of no big importance to him anyway.

[kamipyre]

𝟓 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐎𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄.

i. beyond the boundary – minori chihara. solitude soaks, and soaks my cheeks,but the presence of dawn quietly rises, / inviting me up, into the sky. / hope awaits me in the distance, that's right - i'm on my way! 

ii. souvenir – bump of chicken.  placing a ribbon on each of the scenes my eyes picked out / i continue on my way home, collecting them like souvenirs / the seasons greeted me and i even picked up a few tears / how should I begin to describe this way home you’ve given me?

iii. tsuki to taiyou dake – kiro akiyama. constantly feel the changing seasons / even if you don’t like it, it will flow even though you can’t move yet / today is already blurred with indelible feelings / words that we can’t say show a little bud

iv. hello, world! – bump of chicken. surrounded by a world painted with the colors I chose, / i wonder where the meaning is in the wounds i can’t choose / thinking i’m the only hero, constantly standing on stage / in the center of the world until it’s over / what can i do? i can’t even pretend i’m empty inside / hello, greetings, i’m right here

v. daisy – stereo dive foundation. to overwrite the accumulated sins, / you've got as many times as you need, from the repeating start line. / painting a tomorrow different from the past, / painting hope for just the two of us, there's the start line.

dragged in by: @bloodxhound :'D /  tagging: @rippleofwords @velvetineblue @jeoseungsaja ( hyuk!! or who ever you use music for Inspo for most for :D ) @mythvoiced ( for....odyessus?? ) @uroborosymphony ( I'd say Quinn but choose whoever you use music the most for for inspo &lt;3 ) @eternasci and you!! bc I think cyan probably tagged everyone else I know <3

[quiiscnt]

@freedthedark // ♡'d

☂ ❚❙❘ ❝Oh hello!❞ Juvia spoke her greeting with a bit of surprise and confusion. Head turning to pan the guild hall looking for the rest of his usual companions.❝Juvia heard you guys took on a quest recently. Finished already?❞

[more-than-a-princess]

Continued from here for @causalitylinked!

"If by grating personalities, you mean with a particular proclivity to decline all manner of obedience in favor of independence, cleverness, and tenacity?" She'd replied just before the elevator had opened, flashing him a brilliant smile. "Then yes, those are the manner of friends, particularly female friends, I choose to keep."

She had a feeling that Ishida herself would not rank highly in Ryuto's list of favorite people. Not that he had much of one to begin with, or so she guessed, but as she settled on the sofa and leafed through some of the latest offerings from Dior and Prada, Sonia knew this had been the right decision. A stylist who loved to be at the forefront of gossip was a much better choice than a crowded store or a boutique with pushy salespeople, always trying to bolster the amount of sales they could make off any given client. She wasn't as experienced in shopping alone, most of what she owned was selected for her, sent to her, and adjusted as needed. But in the moments she'd been able to bond with her mother as a little girl in the private rooms of luxury boutiques, Sonia had been able to pick up a little in how to purchase with intent, intelligence, and care.

Not that Ryuto seemed to enjoy being a beneficiary of such things. Her phone vibrated, Sonia setting down the glass of water she'd been sipping in order to read and reply to his WIRE message.

Sonia Nevermind: You can order a pot of every tea the café sells if that pleases you, but yes, they'll have chamomile milk tea. I thought you'd enjoy the privacy here, but if you'd like to experience a department store properly we can do that next time. Maybe try the plum-colored shirt they gave you? I think it would look nice with all the Earthen tones you usually wear.

"He should try the deep green, the burgundy, the navy, and the plum shirts, with all that brown and tan he has in his current outfit," Ms. Ishida quipped, sitting herself at a chair across the low table from Sonia. In return, Sonia smiled: she'd just given him the same advice, she just hadn't been permitted to hear. "He's got Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, and Ermenegildo Zegna in there: surely your Tsukishima-san can find something in that. It would be far more fun to set him up with a full wardrobe, though: you've kept a potential model away from me!"

"I shall reiterate: he is not my Tsukishima-san," Sonia repeated with a smile. The problem wasn't Ms. Ishida's persistence, it was the fact that because she was so persistent and had an eye for society couples in general, she couldn't imagine what her parents would do if they got wind of the fact she had a friend in Ryuto Tsukishima. Probably start planning their Makango Catch as soon as they graduated university. "And not a word to my family, Ms. Ishida. You promised."

She reached for her phone again, to type out a message to Ryuto.

Sonia Nevermind: Both the deep chocolate and British tan trousers should look nice on you, along with the blazer they sent in with the shirts. They're tidy and not flashy. Though if you're interested in something more attention-grabbing, I'm sure Ms. Ishida would be all too pleased to comply: she's planning your runway debut here in the sitting room, though I'm talking her out of such plans.

[enclosedgod]

the choice is a difficult one to make. even now as she makes her approach, veronica can feel hesitation weigh heavy on her body. each step across the barrack halls is as lightning strikes, and her breath hitches unevenly upon every exhale. her thoughts on embla remain divided, even now that it's been months since she saw the goddess last. her anger cannot be denied, but so can the strange softness that twists her heart awful.

and so, in spite of this pain— because of this pain— the emblian heir trudges on. she walks and walks until she stands an arm's length from embla, and stops in front of her with all the grave finality of a funeral bell. veronica faces her with a lifted chin. in part, to assert confidence; in truth, to fight back the tears that traitorously prick at the corners of her eyes.

"embla." veronica's voice starts off evenly, but it soon breaks into pieces— jagged shards of hurt, anger, and bitterness that are sharp enough to pierce.

"we… need to talk. don't try to fight. you can't, now that you're in askr. besides, i…" she squeezes her eyes shut, as though to ward off a migraine, "i know why you're like this… so don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be by running away. let's talk. now."

"You assume I would want to give myself unnecessary attention? Impudent child-" Embla stopped dead in her tracks, her blood... this woman was of her blood. She could feel it. A small smile came to her face, it was easy to assume the shorter woman would have answers to all of her questions. The god just needed to find out how to ask them without giving herself away.

Something about her was... strange, though. There was a disconnect between them that shouldn't be there. Just as quickly as that uneasy smile appeared, it returned to a scowl. "What is there to talk about? I have nothing to say to anyone. If you're going to prod me about things you think you know about me, you are wrong. I won't run, but you better make this worth my time." Her terrifying eyes narrowed, she took a step backwards, attempting to gain more distance between them. Being so close to someone made her uncomfortable.