#Ephemer Week 2024

[corishadowfang]

Ephemer Week Day 5

Prompt: Dream | Nightmare | An alternate form or outfit you’d love to see

...Chirithy did say that the line between death and sleep is pretty slim. Or something along those lines.

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            Tap.  Tap.  Tap.

            This place was very…quiet.  Not too unlike the remains of Daybreak Town, if Ephemer thought about it.  The only sound was his footsteps—too loud in the silence, splashing across the shallow water.

            Tap.  Tap.  Tap.

            It was empty, too.  In that, it differed from the remains of his home.  Daybreak Town still looked like it had been something, once; the houses were broken and half-submerged, the Clock Tower was in pieces, the streets rose like bones from the water, but everything was still there.  This place had…nothing.  Just sea and sky, stretching on and on for eternity.

            Tap.  Tap.  Tap.

            “What is this place?”  His voice came out more hushed than he intended; it felt like he was intruding, even if he hadn’t planned on being here at all.  Wherever here was.

            Tap.  Tap.  Ta—

            Wait.  What’s that?

            It was so hazy he almost missed it at first—the faintest glimmers of starlight, glittering just above the water.  There was—a shape there, if he squinted.  What’s…?

            The familiarity hit him with all the force of a Keyblade to his chest, and suddenly, he found that he couldn’t breathe.

            (For a moment, he was standing back in the basement of the Clock Tower, the world rumbling overhead and the crack of Keyblades ringing in his ears.)

            The starry shape turned, and he thought for one painful moment, he saw his friend smile.  “Hi, Ephemer.”

[cq-studios]

Ephemer Week 2024 || Day 1

Light | Leadership | Favourite Canon Line/Scene

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“Me? A Master? A Union leader?”

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Page and Art below done by @thetwilightroadtonightfall! Thank you for hosting (I hope you don’t mind the @)

[thetwilightroadtonightfall]

Ephemer Week 2024 🧣

Thank you to everyone who helped choose the date! This event will officially take place from December 19th to 25th, but feel free to post entries even after the week has passed. You also do not have to participate in the entire week. Basically, just do what you can/want and have fun!!

If you have any questions, please reply to this post or send me an ask here. I’m looking forward to seeing what you all make! 😊💜

PROMPTS

Feel free to use any of the following prompts, or not! Whatever floats your lifeboat.

Day 1: Light | Leadership | Favourite canon line/scene?

Day 2: Curiosity | Adventure | Something you wish had happened, or something you wish had been shown in canon, or an AU you like

Day 3: Heart | Home | Do you have any headcanons for him?

Day 4: Promise | Love | A relationship/dynamic you enjoy

Day 5: Dream | Nightmare | An alternate form or outfit you’d love to see

Day 6: Prophecy | Legacy | What do you think his future looks like?

Day 7: Hope | Resilience | Free day

More single word prompts:

Teamwork | Hobbies | Combat | Mystery | Nostalgia

Nervous | Mishaps | Miracles | Help | Family |

Grief | Rainbow | Freedom | Glory | Fame

Community | Merriment | Care | Stars | Final

RULES

Please tag your posts with #ephemerweek2024

(Yes, you can call him Ephemera but please stick to the tag!)

ALLOWED

Any form of creative media (you do not have to use the same one all throughout)

Personal written responses

Coming up with your own prompts / tweaking existing prompts

Shipping/Romantic content

OC content

Furry / Anthro / Creature-related content

BANNED

NSFW / Mature Content. Suggestive content and light gore/violence is allowed, but please tag responsibly.

Criticizing other people’s work. This is meant to be a lighthearted event celebrating Ephemer and fans’ creativity! Please be kind to each other.

AI / Generative art

Minor x adult ships

* (header image from here)

May your heart be your guiding key! 🫡

[psianabel-writes]

Ephemer Week 2024 Day 3 - Home

(I need to write at least Something for this!!!!! whacks myself)

Post Khux, maybe ... a decade into the future ... ? Hmmm.

~ 600 words

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Home.

A fleeting thought caught Ephemer as he strolled across this recently built street, a sense of pride filling him as yet another goal had been reached. The new housing district was finally finished and connected to the one nearby, giving them all much needed space to live and prosper further.

Unsurprisingly many people enjoyed this sunny day out, children playing at every corner of the street - with each other or their parents - noises of laughter and delight all around. A ball flew in his direction, which a child yelled after him to watch out, but it landed way further away from him than initially thought, rolling up to his feet.

He had to stop to pick it up for them and threw it back, waving after the children as the ball landed safely there again, receiving much thanks in the process.

… This was home. He was here, those were his people. He woke up every day now looking over new projects, trying to aid where he can, listening to people's wants and needs.

A bit over a decade ago he would have been one of these same children, playing with a toy sword fending off made-up enemies with his friends.

Those made-up imaginations quickly became too real, the toy sword replaced by real keyblades, play dates becoming missions and scouts to new worlds, the street abandoned to a meeting room. Connections twindled. His comrades becoming his closest friends he would - … he left his life for. 

Home.

After a few more paces, a bit away from eyes that might have followed him, he stopped again. The grey street with its white buildings and the people with it - no, purple roofings, trees neatly lined up with the market nearby, the walls reflecting a nice eggshell tone from the sun shining on it. A handful of children stood in front of the Moogle's shop, another one came running towards them and they quickly exchanged words before they all ran in the same direction. On the other side of the street was a boy getting loudly scolded by his Chirithy, to stop letting himself get into danger.

He looked up further ahead, over the roofs, and his gaze fell onto the Tower gracing the skies above the city - the clockwork mechanism visible to even where he stood, swinging left and right. Over and over.

Over … and over.

Until it stopped and crashed, the roofs turning into a deep black, the color running down the walls swallowing them up whole - the trees bent from the heavy storm, someone was screaming from behind a destroyed wall to another, but no answer ever came. 

He looked down as he noticed his shoes were getting wet, another second later the street was flooded up to his knees. Debris came floating towards him, slowly building up right in front of him.

Ephemer held his breath. 

Home, right.

He blinked and returned was the sight of bright sunshine and laughter from kids. 

A decade - more than a decade, and yet -

He was trying his best to make this right here a home for a new generation. A place to find joy and happiness like he experienced in his … home.

From the rubble it rose, blooming into something so much greater. 

… Was this home?

Ephemer shook his head with an exhausted smile and closed eyes. This question wasn't necessary to him. There was nothing he could do about it here, where he stood was his home, even if it was different now.

Even if he wished he could share this home with his friends again. 

… One day perhaps he could answer this question for himself better, but for now, this had to do. 

[crystaltikal]

Ephemer Week 2024: Day 2: Something You Wish Had Happened/AU

...or you can do so in despair, having lost a friend before your very eyes.

His eyes widened as his closest friend's brilliant Stroke of Midnight Keyblade rose up, as if to strike the unconscious Skuld lying on the ground.

"If only you had used the Lifeboats."

He instinctively lifted his shining Starlight Keyblade and pointed it at her, ready to defend Skuld. But then he stopped. There was something odd with what the Darkness controlling her had said. Almost as if...

She hesitated when he made no further move to stop her. "Well," he said, trying to keep his voice calm, "What are you waiting for? Do it."

"What?" came her surprised reply, as Ephemer got back on his feet, letting his Keyblade fade away, praying his gut feeling was right.

"It's clear I can't stop you," he responded, "So just get it over with."

One of the dark silhouettes observing them chucked. "My my, how callous."

Another spoke up. "What he says is true. We cannot be stopped. But whether the girl lives or dies is of no consequence to us." It seems to turn towards his friend. "All that matters is that our Gate is opened. Do it now while they are weak and cannot interfere, and let us be off."

"I--" She started to say, her mind racing. Sure, it may not have been the best of plans, if you can call a spur-of-the-moment idea that, but she thought she knew Ephemer, how he would react. This wasn't an outcome she anticipated.

It was in that moment that Ephemer rushed forwards, and grabbed her wrists. "Please, stop. You don't have to protect us. If you won't save yourself, then we'll take them on together. Just like old times."

[recusant-s-sigil]

Ephemer Week 2024: Day 1!

Light | Leadership | Favorite canon scene/line

(Side note, I probably won't be doing drawings or even creative writing for this lmao)

Ephemer explaining his absolutely bonkers-sounding theory about the worlds and the Book immediately after meeting Player for the first time makes me guffaw every time I think about it (and Player backing away from him getting all up in their space is extremely funny) NOT TO MENTION that Player basically immediately agrees to join him in his exploits??? Like come on that is peak intro and instant besties energy

[cosmosnout]

KH OC WEEK 2024

Day 2: Past

Shiro

Though Shiro themselves no longer remembers much about their past, they had quite an adventurous childhood. Shiro’s life has been rough and tumble from the very beginning as a young keybearer and they’re no stranger to finding themselves on an adventure.

The most important memories for Shiro are, of course, those spent with their friends in Twilight Town. Ephemer and Skuld were definitely considered Shiro’s best friends during that time, and the trio would spend countless hours running around trying to chase down the mysteries of the fortellers.

Shiro was also very close with their party members (the little weirdos from KHUX( /lovingly)) and would go on many adventures with them to grow stronger, and mostly to just have fun.

Chirithy and their dream eater companion where also very important people(creatures?)in Shiro’s life.

Shiro met the of the other dandelion leaders later on but didn’t have too much time with them due to the world kinda ending.

Usually during the time of fairytales, when someone discovers they were a keyblade weilder, they’d find themselves wondering into Twilight town one way or another. Shiro, however, was actually born there and doesn’t ever recall having a family or living outside of the town.

But yeah, otherwise, their childhood/pre-teen years were spent following the plot of KHUX, with the exception that they got to spend more time with Ephemer and Skype before being forced to part ways.

As children, Aiko and Viktor had a dream of building a spaceship to explore the stars with. They however, quickly realised that building a spaceship is a lot harder than storybooks made it out to be, so they instead settled on just looking at the stars.

It is still a memory they think fondly of years later. Not necessarily because of the absurdity of two children managing to build a functioning space ship, but because it was something they promised to do together. A promise of staying together.

(They immediately get separated, once they leave their world LMAO)

Viktor and Aiko both grew up pretty secluded from the rest of the world and had very little interactions with others.

Doing pretty much everything together was kind of a given, so having become separated from each other in the future neither of them took it very well.

Codependent idiots (lovingly) but they learn to exist outside of each other once they become older I swear.

I imagine their childhood home being a bit out of town near a beautiful meadow and forest that they’d play in.

(Oh, and they totally build that spaceship in the future once they realise that magic exists. It is extremely awesome, and I’d like to think Ansem’s apprentices will help them out with it once they finally get acquainted somewhere post kh3.)

Similar to Aiko and Viktor Merin and Tähti have been together since quite literally their birth. (Coming into existence together with no idea what you are is quite the bonding experience.)

Their creation happened under quite the confusing circumstances that naturally just had to involve old man Xehanort in it. Having had some unexplained part in their previous person's destruction, Xehanorts took the two under his wing for a short while. However, once he discovers the cause of the extraction failing (having both light and darkness extracted from the heart at the same time), he is quick to leave the two to fend for themselves as he continued on to advance his own goals.

(His goals were to create Vanitas. He just needed to know if extracting darkness from people was possible.) also, I say “unexplained part” in their creation, bc there’s no way that cryptic mummy gave them any sort of clear explanation for anything.

Vanitas was at least born with some sort of purpose and understanding of what he is, while these two were left to figure it out on their own.

You know those videos of otters holding hands while they float on top of water? Yeah, that’s what I think of when I think of Merin and Tähti.

They were pretty much in the same emotional state of ‘head empty’ as Roxas was when he first awakened.

They’ve come a long way from then tho

Also, I think for the two of them, having no idea who their previous person was is kinda like just having a whole piece of their being and self be missing. Just waking up someday to be told that you used to be somebody else, or more precisely, a part of somebody else, and now you need to exist outside of that person while also having no idea who that person was or if you’re really even your own person or just a part of somebody else.

Since I’m definitely more of an artist than a writer, I thought I’d add some other older drawings that I thought would fit the prompt. (TW old art /j)

@khoc-week

[memorystormsanctuary]

KHOC Week 2024

Day 4~ Dreams

Today's prompt for @khoc-week is Dreams. The first note I made to myself is one that still holds true, and that is Annora avoids the realm of dreams. After all she's been through she struggles to find dreams to be peaceful, especially following the possession at the end of union cross. And without Chirithy around, her dreams easily turn to nightmares.

And in a less literal sense, she can't really picture a future she wants. It's all wound up and confusing. All she knows is she doesn't want anyone to suffer like she and her friends did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was cold. So cold it was starting to burn in her arms and fingers. She couldn’t feel where she gripped onto her keyblade. Was it her keyblade anymore? Or was it his? The one he had pointed at her. She wasn’t angry at him. She knew that though the cold was making it hard to think. It was her keyblade. She was still fighting him. And her. Her friends. And their friends too. She could see their faces, through the darkness that smoked in front of her eyes. Flashes of color so she knew. The silver stars. The red scarf. The feather. She could see it.

It was cold. She didn’t feel the strike that pushed her back. She couldn’t breathe, the crowding darkness freezing her lungs as she stumbled back. The last thing she could see was the look on his face, the sadness and resolve. The pain.

Then it was just darkness, shadows rushing around her. Flashes of all the things she wanted to forget. The sounds of the war. The thunder and rain. Her friends and all the blood. The hearts filling the sky as she sat back and did nothing. She could do nothing. All she could do was watch their pain. Play a role that she didn’t want. Change nothing. Change nothing.

Annora awoke with a start, gasping for breath as she gripped her sheets. The darkness that greeted her didn’t comfort her. Her heartrate jumped even more, pounding against her chest with a force that she thought might break her ribcage.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light streaming through her window, she slowly managed to bring herself back to the moment. To her home in the new city. In Scala as Caelum. His city. She ushed herself up, first to sit with her legs over the side of the bed and then to her feet as she crossed to the balcony.

There was more light outside. With all the stars filling the sky and the city lights beneath her. She could see plenty of the city, though not all of it. From here, it almost looked like Daybreak Town. She could convince herself she wasn’t in a new city. That all her nightmares were just that. That the war had never happened and she would be able to meet with her party in the morning. That they would be able to talk and laugh and it would all be the same. They could dream of a future together.

“Chirithy?” Annora said softly, the words echoing into the air. There was no answer. There never was. She sighed, looking back over the city. It was beautiful. At least it looked it. With no way to seem the shadows that filled the world.

Calling for her Chirithy had become habit, from the moment she had regained her bearings and remembered Chirithy. This all seemed so much like a dream it was all she could do. It would only be right for a Chirithy to be here. At least one. Something to protect the dreams that made this place. A world built on dreams with no protectors was bound to turn into a nightmare.

Many days had been spent once, dreaming of the future with the Dandelions. They had all had so many ideas for the world they would rebuild. Ephemer and Brain had debated for hours about the best way to do things. And Annora had gladly listened then. Though she often had pulled them back down to reality, forcing them to take things more seriously. Great minds like theirs always ran wild.

It never came close to this. To the societies that might as well have been unions. They were at each others throats just the same. To the obsession with a book a prophecy that was yet to come. They had dreamed and dreamed and dreamed. And all that they saw was history bound to repeat.

Annora gripped the balcony railing, leaning forward. It all looked the same. Her dreams once again turning to nightmares even in her waking moments. There was the same choice she had been offered before.

There were dreams to protect, and no Chirithy’s to protect them any more.

She couldn’t protect her own dreams.

Maybe she could protect the dreams of others.

She could go off script for a moment.

[karla-the-elemental-dreamer]

🪢 KH-OC Week 2024 🪢 - Day 2 Package

Prompt: Design keyblades for Natasha and Erika.

In Day 1, you were introduced to two new teddies:

Miss Natasha Avalenka

Miss Erika Tapalados

Who are special guests for KH-OC Week 2024 under Dinh-Yu.

Here are their keyblades if they were to traverse / reside in the Kingdom Hearts realm.

Natasha: Aura of Enigma

The ? graphics are inspired by how Sora or any other KH player gets confused by an enemy. When she swings, ?s will come off the keyblade. The N in the background does not stand for Neo-Cortex, it stands for Natasha, though she seems to adopt a similar if not identical style/taste, in terms of science slash robotics/mechanics, or even archaeology. Hence some nicely shaped bones for the outer handle, with an 'Alice In Wonderland'/'Dr. Seuss' bush over the top. I believe in Kingdom Hearts, she'd fit in to being a researcher or may teeter on the edge of darkness at times.

The main reason Natasha gets this keyblade is because despite me being her creator (obviously), I don't even know the true facets of her personality. Like she is so hard to flesh out, hence she's an 'Enigma' waiting to be discovered, if anyone can work it out. That's what the E at the end of the keyblade stands for... Unless she had dealings with Ephemer or Eraqus that I know nothing about...?

---

Erika: Flower Garden

Erika would be teaming up with the guardians of light, and may even get involved in the company/surroundings of her sister. Erika would get Riku to 'like' her / get used to her quicker than both Selvian and Sierra combined. Consuls (ESFJs) have a knack for that.

With Erika's design, she just screams flowers and pretty petals, and other pretty things as well. In a sense she's like Kairi, but only in tastes. She's not as rambunctious as Kairi. Just for comparison, think of Erika as a Princess Peach type; only not getting kidnapped.

I think of Erika as a 'delicate flower', whereas Kairi is a 'Wild Flower'.

Kairi likes a sharp pink, Erika likes pastel pink and pastel green as a secondary.

---

As Day 2 here is on the topic of more/additional keyblades:

As I was setting up some things for this event, I was psychically gifted a keyblade for my inventory by Dinh-Yu and his crowd!

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Day 2 edit: Dinh-Yu subsequently caught me out for not putting keychains on the back of the handles. I always forget those 🥲

'Aura of Enigma' would have a bright red N OR a ? of some sort.

Not sure about Erika's.

'Warioware Inc.' would have a garlic OR a mini console thing like what they use in Game&Wario.

---

Subsequent Day 2 edit: Am doing the week mostly blind due to Dinh-Yu's challenge, advice and instructions, but when scrolling through ppl's work, I saw a prompt.

I realise I have hilariously coincidentally addressed Natasha's ABSENCE OF past or at least knowledge of it 😁

So here's something else about the past. Where does Selvian come from? IRL, I have had what happened to be my favourite coloured trddy bear for a few years, until it was no longer useable for some reason. The ears were blue, but the fur was rainbow. Since the base colour was green, that's the digital skin colour because I'd spend forever with rainbow. Selvian is the unaltered version of how the teddy looks like IRL, without clothes obvs, and also therefore consequentially bald. The rest are altered to give them hair and different personalities.

The bear may have been tossed in the trash, but the spirit lived on, for that many years, and has transformed into an interdimensional entity/carryable character in the name of Selvian who appears to be the leader of everything but has a specific bridge to Kingdom Hearts. And oop! I was also calling him Selviana as a child, hence I've now taken the last A off.

---

Sierra and Erika being sisters is a fairly new concept after Erika was rolled in for Dinh-Yu. May try to address tidbits of the sisters (or just Sierra because she's KH) in future days IF I can flesh them out more. These teddies sometimes start their jobs before we even get to know them 😅

Sierra was always intended to have a sister, we just didn't know who it was.

[mark-seins]

✿ The Taste of Home | Ephemer Week 2024: Day 2

prompt: Alternate Universe ; Sea of Stars

pairing: Kazuki Makabe (Keymaster!Kazuki) & Ephemer (Guardian!Ephemer)

rating: G

word count: 1258

Note: I just think Kazuki and Ephemer would get along well especially in the context of the AU ;w; two of my f/os bonding.

“What are you cooking?”

Kazuki lifted her head up upon hearing a curious voice from behind her and she turned to look over her shoulder. Ephemer, standing nearby the kitchen counter was tiptoeing to spectate what the other was cooking. She could tell his stomach was growling by how shyly he wrapped one arm around his stomach.

Smiling, Kazuki turned back to the pot as she continued stirring and answered to the white haired Guardian, “Curry. Would you like to be my taste test?”

“Er..” Ephemer stalled, which prompted Kazuki to turn back again from his hesitation. The boy tilted his head,

“What’s.. curry?”

Kazuki blinks. The boy hasn’t tried curry before? Interesting. “Do you not have curry in your world?”

Ephemer sheepishly scratched his chin with his finger, chuckling nervously. Kazuki could understand the overall nervousness of approaching her as a person no matter how soft she sounded, but she also wouldn’t be surprised if Keyblade Masters are just overall unapproachable due to the nature of ... well being a Keyblade Master. She then hears Ephemer answer,

“I mean... I probably did back in my birthworld... but Earth itself? Well it’s a bit of a desolate state as far as I can explain it easily, so food is usually scarce and Golden Age recipes are but a rarity.”

She watched him fiddle with the loose ends of his scarf. Whenever he speaks to people, he has to fiddle with something to have his brain focus and speak coherently. Mostly his scarf. This she was not unfamiliar of, but she makes her posture all but relaxed to signal him through her body language that he was no bother to her,

“Would you like to learn then?”

“Huh?” The kid perks up, stunned over the question. This perplexes Kazuki but she didn’t address it. In fact, his surprised look could only make the Keyblade Master giggle,

“Assuming this ‘Golden Age’ in your world is the same era as my world’s, I don’t think it would be a problem to learn some recipes now than never no? Besides, it could be something to boast to your fathers about.” Kazuki gave a playful wink, indulging in the chaos that was Ephemer’s personality. She saw the stars in his eyes twinkle in anticipation. Yes... Ephemera Agraeus, master chef of curry! Immediately, she saw a change of his shy demeanor than that of a goofy big grin as he rolled up the sleeves of his white turtleneck.

“Well what are we waiting for?! Let me at the stove!” He said, enthusiastically warping to the stove before Kazuki predicted where he would land and stand between him and the stove.

“Woah there, little man!” She giggled, “One step at a time. I don’t want you burning a place that isn’t yours... but I also don’t encourage burning your place up either. You can help me with the little things of the main course.” Says Kazuki, “I should’ve asked earlier... do you know how to cook at all?”

Ephemer pouted. He wanted to touch the fire machine! “My uncle and auntie taught me, but my memory isn’t good enough to retain much of it unless I do it multiple times! Which..” He sulked, “I don’t ... unfortunately. I don’t have time to do much mundane -.. human stuff.”

Kazuki listened and nodded. She wouldn’t say she couldn’t relate when she was around his age. The moment she piloted the Fafner, the world’s life was under her disposal. She only had certain amount of times to be human - herself, but slowly her own humanity faded the more she integrated herself to the Festum. Cursed to be an eternal, her heart and humanity had been gradually fading away. She wasn’t sure if she could taste her curry anymore.

Aside from herself, there were still humans that could taste and feel the warmth of food. She was just afraid to ask, or - well.. could she feel fear at this point? She couldn’t tell. She looked back to the pot before she adjusted the flame of the stove, stirring before scooping a portion of curry before she turned to Ephemer.

“Now’s your time, yes?”

Ephemer blinked as he looked up to Kazuki again. She begins to explain,

“As much as I look human, I can no longer taste food or feel emotions.. I don’t think.”

Ephemer stayed near Kazuki, listening. Cannot taste food or feel anything..? Is she diseased?! “So then,” Ephemer began, “Why do you still cook? Why do all of that when you can no longer taste or feel? I feel like if you can’t be some bit of human, humane things are less enjoyable.”

Kazuki smiled softly at Ephemer’s questions. That was something she found endearing to the younger humans and those around Mimi’s age. No matter the circumstances, they were always so curious of the unknown - braving to seek knowledge and understanding those around them. Hearing, feeling, connecting. It was because of them that there was still hope for a future where humanity still exists within those of mortal and eternal lives.

Though one of his questions stood out to her. Why does she cook? She could think of many reasons, but in the context of what Ephemer had said, if she was no longer human then why does she still cook if she cannot taste the curry or feel the warmth of a freshly cooked meal? To Ephemer, it was the ability to taste and the sensation of warmth that was part of humanity. One could say Ephemer sounded dehumanizing, but Ephemer was eternal wasnt’t he? Guardians lived another life forgetting about their previous life to live their second chance eternally as long as their Ghosts weren’t shattered. To Kazuki, Ghosts to her are the hearts of all Guardians. They cannot live without them, and Ghosts cannot live without their Guardians either.

Kazuki had nothing of sorts. Though she felt that doing the simplest things, like cooking...

“...Cooking was the best I could do when I was human alongside many other things. Even if I cannot taste anything, or feel anything anymore... just doing it still makes me feel human.” She answered, rather slowly as her thoughts for a well thought answer were piecing together as coherently as possible, “I still enjoy it, even if I lose a bit of humanity. Because if I stop, what left of humanity would I have?”

Then followed silence. She did say a lot, so she gave Ephemer time to process what she had just said.

Ephemer meanwhile, was glued to where he was as she spoke. He could feel it in her voice that she was saddened for most things she couldn’t do anymore. He felt it in her voice this gentle self resentment... guilt? That poisoned her words. He’ll have to admit, there was something about Kazuki that was familiar to her, but he didn’t know what. He looked to the curry and the plates of settled rice she had prepped for the group, reflecting. Despite every part of humanity stripped away from Kazuki, she still continues to do these things to keep whatever could be possibly left of her humanity. One day, her heart could no longer be there - and he would still see her in a kitchen cooking for him - her companions - for people that can taste and feel the warmth of what can feel like home.

He clenched his fists briefly, Ephemer closing his eyes before he asked,

“...Miss Kazuki?”

“Hm?” She hummed, looking to Ephemer curiously.

“...May I taste the curry for you?”

[authorscarlettstclair]

Hello !

I liked your "Persephades" series very much (I've read the five books in a week, at first in my native French then in English since I couldn't wait) but besides Hermès, one of my favorite Character and Greek God altogether is Hephaestus. I too am disabled and limping and hardworking so...

I was delighted by the glimpses of his mindset and romance thrown in the books! I already know that you plan to write a novella about him and Aphrodite, I can't WAIT.

Will Héphaistos find happiness ???

I know that in the mythology, he has several children (with Aphrodite and Aglaea). One of my ancestors is actually named Euphémie (aka Epheme) after one of his supposed daughters.

Please do not be too cruel to my favorite guy, you made him so great and dignified... Will he keep his wife? Even have a few children, perhaps?

Thank you for your writing and imagination!

Hello! 

I love Hephaestus, too. I just think he’s so intelligent and strong and he’s never really made to look like that in myth aside from what he can make for the gods. 

I plan to write a book about him and Aphrodite. The title is Temptress of Fire and Fury. I’m thinking late 2024 for this one! 

[corishadowfang]

Ephemer Week Day 4

Prompt: Promise | Love | A relationship/dynamic you enjoy

There was an obvious answer for this one, haha. Written from Player's POV for the sake of my sanity.

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            “I have an idea.”

            You’ve come to realize that those words are never a good sign—especially when they’re coming out of Ephemer’s mouth, and he’s got a grin on his face that says this ‘idea’ is closer to mischief than Union Leader-related duties.  It’s even less encouraging when it’s roughly five in the morning, and he had invited himself over for a visit, a bewildered Skuld in tow.

            You look at her now, and she shrugs and smiles helplessly.  That does nothing to soothe your worries.

            “You know how there are rumors that the town’s haunted, right?”

            You…had heard some of those rumors, actually.  People would talk about how the air would suddenly feel dead, sound dropping away except for a strange, static-y noise.  Their skin would prickle, and their hair would rise, and they’d be overcome with this strange, sudden feeling of dread.  And then they’d see—someone.  Not always someone they knew—but they’d always be this hazy, almost glitchy thing, going about their day as if no one else was there.

            …That’s what you’d heard, at any rate.

            “Do you think they’re Heartless?” Skuld asks, and you wince; you suppose that would make the most sense.

            But then, Ephemer is already shaking his head.  “That’s the thing—they always say they’re actual people.  I think Brain said he saw one the other day.”

            “He’s probably just trying to mess with you.”

            “But what if he’s not?”

            There is a light in his eyes that tells you exactly where his mind is going.  “You want to go looking for them, don’t you?” you sign, and try to convey as much exasperation in your expression as you can.

            Ephemer grins and points at you.  “Yes!”

            “Ghost hunting?” Skuld asks, incredulous.

            “Yeah!  Come on, it’ll be fun.  We can go with full gear and everything.”

            “From where?”

            “Steal it from Brain.”

            “Does…he have ghost-hunting gear?” you sign, giving your friends a baffled look.

            Ephemer shrugs.  “He has a lot of weird stuff, so—probably.”

            Skuld worries her lip, looking hesitant.  “I don’t know…”

            “Come on.  Please?”  Ephemer’s expression softens a bit, and he adds, “We haven’t done much together recently, you know?  And if there is something, it’d be good to know—right?”

            Something crosses Skuld’s face, and she relaxes, just a little.  “I guess.”

            Ephemer’s grin broadens, and he swings to you.  “You in?”

            You sigh, but the answer’s obvious: of course you’re going along.  You think Ephemer’s schemes are ridiculous, sometimes, but you wouldn’t miss one of them for the world.

            …Besides, you can tease him about it later.

[corishadowfang]

Ephemer Week Day 3

Prompt: Heart | Home | Do you have any headcanons for him?

"Home is where the heart is," or something like that.

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            “Hey.  What was your guys’ lives like?  Before you came here, I mean.”

            Ephemer wasn’t sure what time it was at this point.  After midnight, definitely.  The sky was still dark out, the Foretellers’ Chambers similarly dim, and all of them—even Brain—had drooping eyes, even if most of them had been too stubborn to actually fall asleep.  (Lauriam had been the exception; he had fallen face-first into a pillow and gone to sleep almost immediately.  Ephemer had half-joked that they should draw something on his face; only Ven’s puppy-dog eyes had saved him.)

            Skuld hummed, blinking sleepily at Ven’s question.  She was still sitting up, a blanket around her shoulders, but was wobbly enough that it looked like she could fall asleep at any moment.  Still, her answer was clear enough: “Busy.  I had a big family—we were always doing something.”

            “Lucky,” Ephemer said.  “I wish I had a big family.  It was always just me and my Dad.”

            “It’s not as exciting as you’d think.”  She folded her arms across her knees, pillowing her head against them.  “Mostly we just got into trouble.”

            Brain snorted.  “Never would’ve guessed.”

            “What about you, then?” Skuld countered.

            “Doesn’t matter.”

            Skuld threw a pillow at him, eliciting a noise of protest.

            Ephemer snorted, but turned to Ven, who was watching the growing ‘conflict’ with a bemused expression.  “Why d’you ask?”

            “Oh, uh—no reason.  Just thinking.”

            A pillow flew by Ephemer’s face.  He blinked, then scooted back a little, closer to Ven and out of range.  Sitting next to him, he could see the almost melancholy look on the younger Union Leader’s face.

            Ven squirmed, like he was aware he was being studied, and wasn’t sure how he felt about it.  “It’s just—everybody came from somewhere.  Before Daybreak Town, I mean.  It’s just—I wondered.”

            It felt like there was something more that he wasn’t saying, and it prompted Ephemer to ask, “Do you miss it?”

            Ven started.

            “I—don’t think I miss it as much as I should.”  It was an admission that bothered him a bit, but it was true; even when he’d been little, he’d always been ready to jump into the next adventure.  Never sitting still, never willing to stay home for longer than it took to go out again.  His dad had lamented that he was ‘going to disappear into the woods chasing fairies.’  He guessed, in a way, he’d been right.  “I always wanted to see what else was out there.  There’s a lot we don’t know, and I wanted to figure out everything.  When I found out about Daybreak Town, I didn’t even really hesitate.  ‘Head toward the rising sun, and you’ll find a town made for children on the edge of the world.’  Who could ignore that?”

            He remembered when Daybreak Town had been nothing more than another mystery to solve.  It had offered so much more than anything he’d ever known—the Keyblades and the Heartless and the Foretellers and Daybreak Town’s existence itself.  He’d gone off with barely a goodbye, and poked and prodded at Daybreak Town’s mysteries until—

            Until.

            (He wondered, sometimes, on his darkest nights, what had happened to them—the people outside of Daybreak Town.  Were they still alive out there?  Was his dad?

            …Did he have any idea of what had become of his son?)

            “…I don’t miss it, either.”

            Ephemer started, drawn out of his thoughts by Ven’s quiet admission.  The younger Union Leader looked almost guilty, but he didn’t take the words back.

            “Hey!”

            That wasn’t a voice Ephemer had expected to hear, and he and Ven both turned to see Lauriam very suddenly awake, glaring at a nervous-looking Brain and Skuld, pillow gripped in both hands.

            “Ephemer?” Skuld asked, tentative.  “Ven?”

            “Good luck!” Ephemer chirped, and got a brief look of betrayal before it disappeared behind a pillow.

            Ven laughed, and Ephemer laughed with him, something lightening in his chest, despite the late hours.  This is…probably closer to home than my old one was, he thought, but didn’t say.  His chest ached at the thought, but it was true; he couldn’t imagine leaving Daybreak Town anymore, or losing any of the people here.  They meant more to him than anything.

            (And maybe—maybe he did still wish that he hadn’t been so quick to leave his old home and family behind.  But he couldn’t go back; not now.

            He’d just have to do better by this one.)

[corishadowfang]

Ephemer Week Day 2

Prompt: Curiosity | Adventure | Something you wish had happened, or something you wish had been shown in canon, or an AU you like

My favorite AU is the one where all the Union Leaders get to stay together after the fall of Daybreak Town and get to just be happy. ...Eventually.

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            “You look busy, Leader.”

            The stack of papers wobbled, and Ephemer had to shuffle around a bit to try and keep them from falling.  A glance around them showed Brain, arms folded, a distinctly unimpressed look on his face.

            Ephemer gave him a wobbly sort of smile.  “Someone’s gotta do it, right?  The town’s not going to run itself.”

            Brain’s eyebrow raised, which Ephemer could admit was…probably fair.  The “town,” so to speak, was still just a couple of restored houses and the few people who had been taken in enough by their stories to move into the…slightly-less-soggy ruins with the gaggle of kids who called them home.  It was a far cry from what Daybreak Town had been, once, even years after its fall.

            Ephemer stumbled back a little as Brain approached, swiping a paper from the top of his pile.  He scrutinized it, if possible, gave him an even less impressed look.  “Ephemer.”

            “…Yeah?”

       ��    “This is just a letter from a kid.”

            “They wanted to send one home!”

            “Are they all letters?”

            “…Some?”

            Brain grumbled something he couldn’t decipher, then promptly took half the pile.  “Come on.  We’re recruiting Skuld and Ven to help us with this.”

            “‘We’?”

            Brain shot him a look and didn’t bother answering.

            Ephemer’s grin turned a little more genuine.  “No Lauriam?”

            “Last I knew, he was already thinking about using a Sleep spell on all of us and trying to lock us in our rooms.  Trust me, it’s better.”

            Ephemer laughed, but trotted after him.  His eyes caught on the window as he did, and he slowed for a moment, pausing to breathe in the fresh morning breeze.

            The sea lapped right up against the edges of some of the buildings, now.  He couldn’t see the remains of buildings sticking up from the waves anymore—all of them had taken care to try and clear them away, for their own sake—and it meant he could see far, far across the waves, to the distant land beyond.  The sun was bright, and it spread across what was still there—the houses they’d been reconstructing, the docks they’d been working to put into place, the monument they’d built, near the edge of the water.  They had a long way to go before it was really done—but one day, maybe.

            “Hey!”

            Ephemer turned, drawn from his reverie by Brain’s shout.

            His friend lifted a paper.  “Didn’t you want to get this done?”

            “Right, coming!”  His thoughts could wait for another time.  For now, there was always more to do.

[corishadowfang]

Ephemer Week Day 1

Prompt: Light | Leadership | Favourite canon line/scene?

Happy first day of Ephemer week! Haha, I saw the prompt list and went, "Oh, I know exactly what I'm doing for this one." So, uh. Basically this picture has a drabble now. Also consider this an apology for not updating The Age of Fairytales in a hot minute.

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            Ephemer could still remember a time when Light and Darkness had only been stories.

            (“Dad, dad, come on, please?”

            “Hahaha, alright, alright.  What one did you want to hear?”

            “The one with the—the light warrior!”

            “Caelum?”

            “Yeah!”)

            It hadn’t been that long ago, even.  When he’d been little, he’d sat and begged his dad for stories that he’d half-believed were true, and then he’d drag him out on journeys to the edges of his own town, play-fighting mud monsters and poking a toy sword under every rock and in every tree, like he could unearth them creatures from the legends with just a little work.  As he’d gotten older, they’d faded into the background a bit—never gone, but pushed to the side in favor of newer, much more tangible mysteries.

            (“Well, alright.  A very, very long time ago, there was a boy who was—oh, a little like you.  Curious, and bright, and always finding his way into trouble.  But he had a heart of gold.  He loved others, deeply and truly, and even when he was small, he would stand up to bullies and take in strays and—”

            “—and he’d even go and fight monsters!”

            “Hang on, Ephemer, I’m getting to that part.”)

            The reality of Darkness was terrifying in how deceptively normal it had seemed, at first.  Just a small, almost humanoid shape, shadows whisping off its shoulders.  No gnashing jaws or sharp claws and bright, glowing eyes—nothing as terrifying as the Heartless.  It had seemed manageable, almost, right up until they’d had to fight it, and the world had started falling apart underneath them.

            (“This boy came from a small village.  They didn’t have many warriors, and only one poor, lonely mage to try and protect them—because you see, all around them lived monsters.  Some were big, hulking things, beady-eyed and covered in shadows; others were small and insect-like, the only signs of their presence the scuttling sounds as they moved; and others almost looked like humans, if you didn’t look at them straight, but everything was just a little bit off.  They preyed on the weak, and the vulnerable, snapping them up when they got too close to the edges of the village.  At night, their weeping, wailing voices rose from the trees, begging for the losts’ loved ones to come out and join them.

            “Now, the village leaders had reached out to the cities around them, asking for aid.  Surely, they said, they would have enough to spare—they had so much more than they had, after all, and they just needed a little help to keep their people safe.  But they were dismissed, or ignored entirely, and as weeks and months passed, the population slowly began to dwindle.

            “They all knew something must be done—but they didn’t know what, because they were all already tired, worn thin by the constant fighting.  And so this boy thought, ‘I will do something.  I will go out, and I will find a way to protect my home from the monsters, so we won’t lose anyone else.’”)

            Light was something else entirely.

            (“And so he traveled, days upon days upon days, crossing treacherous terrain, and—”

            “And eventually he got to the top of the hiiiighest mountain, and that’s where he met Light!”

            “Hahaha, are you telling the story, or am I?”

            “Oops.  Sorry, Dad.”)

            Ephemer wasn’t entirely sure he was breathing right.  He could hear the way it echoed in his ears—loud enough to nearly drown out the sound of water sloshing around his legs, one hesitant step back after another.  His eyes trailed up, and up, and they ached as he stared at the thing that had trailed across the sky.

            (“But yes—the boy reached the very top of the very tallest mountain in the world, and there he collapsed, exhausted from his journey and uncertain where else to look.  He laid there, sleeping, for three days and nights, until finally something warm washed across his shoulders.  And then there came a voice—whisper-quiet and bell-like, fragile enough to break, if he focused too hard.  ‘Little one,’ it said, ‘why do you lie here?’

            “‘I am tired,’ he answered, ‘and I don’t know where else to go.’”)

            In all the stories, it’d never fully dawned on him just how much more Light would be.  It seemed vast enough to span the world, if it wanted; it sprawled in ribbons across the night sky, casting the ruins of Daybreak Town in harsh relief, so big that he couldn’t possible take it all in at once.  The colors that flickered through it made his head pulse—there were too many, things that his eyes knew were there but couldn’t see.  It was so bright that it hurt; it was like staring at the sun, except there was something drawing him in, keeping him from blinking or turning away.  A sharp, prickling heat jabbed needles across his skin; it would’ve made him shake, if he’d been able to move much at all.

            (“‘What do you mean?’

            “‘I have been traveling a very long time.  I was looking for a way to protect my home from monsters—but I am small, and weak, and have not been able to find anything anywhere.  I am not sure what to do, but I can’t go home now—not when I don’t have a way to help anyone.’

            “And the voice was quiet a moment, as if in thought—and then it answered, ‘It seems to me that you have already done a great deal.  You have traveled further than any others, in search of salvation for your loved ones—but that is more than any human can handle.  So allow me to provide you with my blessing, so that you may protect your home, just as you have dreamed.’

            “And when the boy opened his eyes, the world burst into colors—reds and greens and blues and colors that we cannot name, so bright they nearly blinded him.  They spread across the sky, and in their depths, he thought he could make out the shape of eyes, staring down at him.”)

            “What—”  His voice cracked, mouth dry, and he broke off, licking his lips.  “What is—”

            He didn’t know what to say.  Was this some—some dream?  A vision of some sort, brought on by restless nights spent in the graveyard that used to be his home?  What was this—this thing doing here, in front of him, of all people?

            Something shifted—eyes, he realized after a moment, the only dark spots in the sky, crinkling as if in amusement.

            (“You will do well, my Champion.”)

            “Hello, Little One.  We have been watching you.”

[corishadowfang]

Ephemer Week Day 6

Prompt: Prophecy | Legacy | What do you think his future looks like?

...Uh. Technically this was supposed to be fluffy?

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            It was a “sad day.”

            That’s what Grandpa called it, anyways.  “It’s like—those days when you just don’t feel quite like yourself,” he’d said, with a small little smile and a crease to his eyes.

            Hikari didn’t know why it was a sad day—but she knew it came at the same time, every year.  Her mom didn’t think she knew, but she was smart, and she liked Grandpa.  Enough to pay attention, and to figure out that close to the start of the new year, Grandpa’s face would get all drawn and crinkly, and he wouldn’t talk to them as much for a while, and he’d spend a lot of time sitting on the fountain, staring at nothing.  Sometimes he’d get this really wistful sort of smile, and it always made Hikari wonder what he was thinking about.

            He was sitting there, now—hands resting in his lap, expression partly hidden by his scarf, pulled up higher than normal.  Hikari squinted at him from her hiding spot; he hadn’t moved in ages.  She didn’t know how he could stay here so long.

            She shifted—if only to make her legs hurt less—and over-balanced.  With a yelp, she toppled out from behind the bush, hands scraping against the street.

            That got Grandpa to move; he’d jumped up, nearly throwing himself into the fountain in the process, voice lifted in a shout: “Wha—Hikari?  Are you alright?”

            Her palms stung.  She sniffed a little, but it wasn’t too bad.  She guessed.  “I’m fine.”

            Grandpa was by her side quickly, anyways.  Her took her hands very gently in his; his palms glowed green, and after a moment, so did hers, the tiny cuts healing over.  “There—all fixed.”

            Hikari couldn’t help staring.  It was always so cool when he did magic; she wanted to learn, too, and be just like him, one day.

            “Does your mom know you’re here?”

            Grandpa’s question was gentle, but she still flinched, drawing her hands in a little.  “Um…yes?”

            He laughed, quiet.  “That sounds like you snuck out.”

            “No!  …Um.  Maybe.”

            Grandpa gave her a rueful smile, then opened his arms.  “Come on.  We’d better go back; she’s probably worried about you.”

            Hikari thought about ignoring him—but then, the whole point to sneaking out was to follow her grandpa, so she sighed and let him pick her up.  She could walk—she was nearly five, and a “big girl,” according to her mom—but she didn’t mind, if it made her grandpa feel better.

            “…Grandpa?”

            “Yeah?”

            “Why is today a ‘sad day’?”

            Grandpa’s face did that weird thing it did whenever she asked, and his laugh didn’t sound quite like it normally did.  “I guess I should’ve known you’d probably ask.”  He went quiet—and then, after a little bit, he answered, “It’s…a day when I lost some people very important to me.”

            “Did they move?”

            He laughed again, and this time it sounded a little more genuine.  “Not exactly.”  He paused, and that bittersweet look fell across his face again.  “It’s a little much for you, probably.”

            “Nu-uh!”  She squirmed in his arms, and Grandpa laughed again, protesting, “Easy, easy!” and trying to keep a grip on her.  “I’m big enough!  Mom said so!”

            “You don’t need to be in such a rush, you know.”  He tapped his forehead gently against hers.  “I’ll tell you about it one day.  Okay?”

            “Promise?”

            “Pinky promise.”  He lifted his pinky, and after a moment of thought Hikari hooked hers around his.

            But if she wasn’t going to find out more, then…  “Can you tell me a different story instead?”

            Maybe she couldn’t get all the answers that she was looking for, but at least her grandpa looked less sad when he said, “Sure.  What do you want to hear?”

            “Something fun!”

            “Hahaha, alright.  Hmm—did I ever tell you about the time my friend Skuld got stuck in a swamp?”

            “No!”

            Grandpa’s voice grew a bit more animated as he talked, and Hikari leaned her head against his shoulder, playing with his scarf.  She’d probably try and get more answers out of him later—sometimes she could do it, when he wasn’t paying attention—but for now, she was just happy to spend time with someone she loved.