#GHGGH

[dellamortethelesser]

it is naoise's maker-given right to be bisexual, cross his arms a lot, and sulk

[thatweirdanchpvy]

Hey question, is there a character you really simp to/like in @nia1sworld series the ink chronicles or any other series? Cause she's doing more, and if you want you can ask one of her characters in the inbox

im not the type of person to simp over other people's OCs

bUT

I LIKE THE DESIGN

@nia1sworld (whoopsies)

[sleepymushrxxm]

oh my goooddd I want mommy ddimitrescu to hold me in her tall sexywoman arms hollyyy shiittt I am so down bad uuwwaauuooghhh okay girlie contain yourself relax take your meds ouuuughhhh godd

[silly-stings]

i have two rlly good drawings that are in progress that i do not think will be finished so should i just post those as they are or like idk😭

[sunnydayaoe]

Saw a reallly cute fresh!fell design by @k4ppasta and just Had to draw some art of it.

[yuriyuruandyuraart]

Yuyu, will all the love and affection in le world...

🫂💙💛

Simp↓

well maybe i AM. but have you considered that you're perhaps part of the simp jail gang? >;]

[vvillowenna]

Want to draw but getting a worklflow setup that doesn't quickly end in shoulder neck pain so difficult

[laiosbun]

͙͘͡★ just some nasty chucklefuck ghggh he makes me gnaw on my finger . . I LOVE HIMB

⸝⸝ smut ahead !! cw , shoe riding , slight degradation .

aaah im thinking about riding on chilchuck’s shoe… it’s so nasty but idc!!!

at this point you all were frustrated from laios’ shenanigans once more, so you guys decided to find a place to rest and eat before everyone continues to explore the dungeon..

chilchuck on the other hand couldn’t keep his hands to himself. he was especially very touchy today for some reason, clinging on to you like a puppy. after everyone had their meals, you left to go clean yourself up, and that’s when chilchuck followed you and has you all to himself

that’s how you find yourself in this position, panting and sweating from just rutting onto his shoe

“you’re so fucking dirty.. looking like a dirty mutt all desperate for release on my damn shoe.. you should see yourself” he chuckles at the sight of you, eyeing your hips enamored by the way you move yourself to grind against his shoe, just hoping to get off already—

and that’s when he pressed down against your crotch hard and pulls away, leaving you writhing and whining for more

“chil.. w-why’d you pull away..?”

you sobbed onto his chest, holding his shirt tightly. your eyes were tearing up from the loss of stimulation. he only laughed before pulling your head back to look at him “you really think i’d let you cum now..? how cute” his lips then found your cheek, kissing your tears away

that’s when he pushes you down and gets ontop of you. despite being bigger and taller than him you couldn’t help but feel excited when he’s taking control over you like this, with that look on his face all you want is for him to just take you right here right now!

it’s like as if chilchuck could listen to your thoughts, his hands founds itself on your body, his touch lingering across your skin, every trace of his fingers makes your breath hitch inside your throat. his hand then meets your thighs, pushing them apart giving himself more access to you

“relax sweetheart, let me take care of you, yeah? don’t worry about the others, i’ll think of some excuse to give them when we’re done”

you really hoped that the others were already asleep that time..

[sayiurin]

Ghggh Im normal Im Normal IM NORMAL-

[amoirsetpacis]

★ --;; Because of him.

Failure. Sinner. Murderer. Monster.

All his fault. Again and again and again, it's his fault.

And the barrel is under his successor's chin, pressed into the soft flesh, and Vash is there, again. Livio hanging in the balance and talons sinking into his windpipe and the roar of blood in Vash's ears and the current rules that dictate them are flung so far from his possible thought that their existence may as well have been void.

( Would that have made it any better? His conscious less marred? No, he knows. Knows that even allowing this little half-death carries the same stain of his failure. )

"Stop!"

It's wrenched out of him, voice mangled and desperate because between the fire lacing up his arms and the static in his vision and being so viscerally thrown back in that place and time Vash doesn't know what else to do. He's slow, impossible reflexes neutered beneath electric currents singeing his nerves, and the ringmaster's hands aren't viable targets with their placement, and--

Nothing happens.

The realization that his trigger finger hadn't moved is both belated and horrifying in the same breath, with that wire wrapped so tightly around it and the not knowing if he would have been able to make it move, anyway. Doesn't even flinch when another Bluesummers- the one he knew now, the one that had so easily placed that veil of anxiety over the peace he'd carved for himself here- skids to a halt beside him.

If this Bluesummers too has come to hurt him- well, it's what he deserves, isn't it? This endlessly looping reflection of what he'd done. So be it.

But he can't lie down just yet. He can't, not even with the terrible feeling of his ribs caving in. Someone else's life, their pain, for his own, is easy. So now, now, he's got to move.

Click. Click. Click. Clickclickclickclick.

Move.

A deep breath in the lull, iron sights settling. Once upon a time even Vash's decaying self still had so much left in its well; he'd burst himself free of these same restraints, had fought his brother, even had managed to launch them into their abscondence. Now, even pulling just one finger free sends agony screaming up his arm, flashing bright white behind his eyes.

Teeth bared and grit too tight, blood spurts forth in a splattering arc from the bend of Vash's index as it curls, tightens, pulls, and recoil vibrates more violently up his arm than it has in his entire life in the millisecond before the contraption strapped to that walking corpse's shoulder shatters.

Four bullets in the chamber.

Legato's eye is locked on the older, decaying Stampede, watching his eyes widen as he absorbs what's standing in front of him, what horrific nightmare fuel has crawled out of Hell to haunt him in the physical realm. The smile that stretches across his face is unhinged and manic, delighting in the horror he inspires.

It's not that far off from the grin the living Legato had given him, nearly two months ago in the flower shop.

"I don't know what better you could be referring to," he hums to the younger without taking his eye off the older, watching the barrel of the Colt sway with the shaking of his hand. "The dead don't change, they're dead after all. If Master Knives has changed well... I'll be sorely disappointed to find out." His grip shifts again from the younger Stampede's hair to his shoulder as Legato circles around behind him, leaning over him in a way that can only be described as predatory, even as his gaze never once leaves the slowly rotting form before them.

"You did bring me here, brought all of us here. All the people you failed to save and one you didn't even try to. How does it feel, knowing that every single person who suffers today suffers because of you alone?" He chuckles, low and grating, as blood continues to drip from what's left of his face and now lands on the blonde's shoulder, overlayed on top of the brighter red of his jacket.

"It took so much just to make you grant me my rest, what will it take this time? Is your little doppelganger's life worth more then my own? Will you let him die while you tremble there, too horror-struck to move?" That bulky gun aimed at the elder Vash is twirled around, tucked under the younger's chin while Legato remains leaning over him, unmoving but for his smile growing, his threads coiling to hold the elder's trigger finger perfectly still. Just in case. "Ah, but I think I just want to see the look in your eyes as you watch him die~"

The younger pulls the trigger.

It clicks empty at the same time as another voice rings out from the same direction the elder Vash had come, the same voice as the revenant before them but raised in sharp denial rather then a low, malicious purr.

"VASH!!" Another Legato, the exact spitting image of the one before them only lacking the mortal wound, staggers a little when the chamber of the blonde's gun clicks uselessly. It doesn't help that he's breathing hard, disheveled from running from the hordes of dead he has no way of dealing with. He'd headed for this pocket of calm without thought, only to feel his own threads spread out over the area. Dread had called him to investigate when the pocket didn't move and he's been vindicated in that feeling.

If only the vindication wasn't washed away in the tide of horror he feels, face to face with what he knows in his bones is his future. That creature, cracked into so many pieces it's a miracle the thing is still human shaped, is going to be him one day. He stands frozen where he'd stopped, the revenant giving him a lazily curious look past the irritation at the interruption and the lack of a bullet in the chamber.

"Now, what sort of gunman leaves himself with no bullets?" The revenant asks slowly. "And what pathetic version of myself calls out for Vash the Stampede? Are you truly so wretched that you'll find attention in our sworn enemy?"

The living, breathing Legato knows he should be doing something, acting, making some sort of move but all he can manage is staring, wide-eyed at the monster he'll become and a rough, half strangled "Don't touch him."

@blankticket @amoirsetpacis

[mirikitakato]

[TRANSLATION] Owen SSR Card Story: Elegy for the Grand Guignol.

Owen absolutely goes batshit in the event and he continues to poke Shino in a terrible way lol.

Characters: Owen, Shino.

Special thanks to @ninenseiace on Twitter for the RAWS!

Episode 1: A way to start mending fences

The flamboyant performer: Come and witness the miracle!

The world's most amazing finger-amputation magic is about to begin! First, point the knife at your finger like this and…Here we go, your finger breaks off with a "snap"!

Akira/Shino: …Uwah!?

The flamboyant performer: Ahhhh! So painful! Now I can’t even hold a spoon!

Audiences: Hahaha! Of course you can’t!

Akira: B-but, it’s just a performance so their finger isn’t actually cut off, right…?

Shino: Well, it's a magic show after all.

But finding humor in someone else's pain feels off-putting. Both the performer and the audience have poor taste.

Owen: Hey, you two. Interested in the show?

Shino: Are you here to see the show too?

Owen: Nope. Just come here to give this to the Sage.

Akira: What is…ehh??

(What is it? It feels like human skin, all wrinkled and stuff…)

Shino: Isn’t that a finger?

Akira: Eh?! Finger!?

Shino: ….No, wait, it’s not. It looks like a human finger at first glance, but it's actually a cookie.

Owen: Yup. I found it in the back warehouse just now.

I heard that the magic tricks they're performing over there also use these fake props.

Akira: Oh, I see...Now that you mention it, it does have that prank product vibe. It's good it's not a real finger...

Shino: That being said, don't you think the performance here is a bit excessive?

While there were many entertaining performances, the magic trick just now was hard to take as a joke.

Owen: Is that so? Both the performers and the guests are like licking each other's wounds, isn't that both ridiculous and amusing? After all, this is a place where the unfortunate gather.

Shino. Haven’t you realized yet? There are many children here who are in a similar situation to you.

Shino:…What do you mean?

Owen: You will understand soon enough.

Look. The next show is about to start. You will surely be entertained watching this.

The new performer enters the stage. Dressed in fur and a collar, he is led by a person resembling a handler with a chain...

Shino: Is it that kind of performance again? The one Nero likes.

Owen: This time, they're planning to use humans to play the roles of wild beasts and their tamers.

Look, the guy playing the wild beast is starting to move. 

With each step he takes, the chain connected to his neck makes a rattling sound. Then, he lets out a menacing roar towards the audience.

Beast performer: Ghggh!

Beast tamer: Shut the hell up and do what I say!

A sudden tug on the chain by the trainer sends the audience into fits of laughter, transforming the atmosphere below the stage into one of pure joy and exhilaration.

Witnessing this scene, Owen too couldn't help but join in the mockery, his face brimming with delight.

Owen: Heh. Perhaps one day, your master will also appear on stage like that person.

Shino: Hah?

Episode 2

Owen: I'm talking about the “Miracle Wound”, Shino. Your master sometimes transforms into a beast, doesn't he?

If he repeatedly turns into a beast and is unable to return to his human form one day, what will happen to him if he's left without a place to stay?

Shino: ……

Owen: It won't be long before he finds himself in a place like this, wouldn't you say? Degraded, howling in frustration on the ground, whipped into submission. 

Akira: Owen, even if we were to hypothetically assume, there would never be such a thing...

Shino: ......Heath is indeed rather timid, but he is also incredibly brave, worthy of being my lord. No matter how many times he transforms into that, he will surely return to his human form. And besides, I'm here. I won't let him come to a place like this.

Owen: That's your weakness, Shino.

Wizards are solitary creatures. You could clearly survive on your own, yet you depend on him and fawn over him.

The people here are the same. They can't live on their own, so they shut themselves up in spaces like this.

Every one of them is a fool. They won't live long like this anyway.

Owen snorted with utter contempt. A sardonic smile twisted his handsome features.

It was the smile of a solitary strongman, one who had emerged victorious from countless life-and-death struggles throughout a long and arduous journey.

Akira: (Though I could understand what Owen was trying to say…) (But even so, I can't help but wish they would rely on me more as a companion. I guess that's just my selfishness...)

However, Shino, who was standing beside me, didn't seem to be shaken by Owen's words at all.

He looked straight at Owen and declared in a firm tone.

Shino: Speaking of relying on others, aren't you the same? You're always clinging to others, stirring up trouble, and enjoying it. The childlike you that sometimes appears also always sticks to others. You really crave other people's attention, don't you?

Owen: Oh...You really know how to talk. If you want to play like that, then I'll play along. Cur Memi…

Akira: W-wait!

Episode 3

I abruptly stepped between the two of them, and Owen looked at me in surprise.

Owen: Great Sage, what are you doing? Are you saying that you want to play with me too?

Akira: No, not exactly... It's just that I can understand the feelings of the people gathered here, and I can also understand what Owen was trying to say earlier...

Owen:.........

Akira: Human interaction can sometimes be hurtful, but there are also times when it can bring salvation. That's what I believe. So, whether something done by someone you trust is a good deed or an evil act cannot be simply defined with a single word. I think neither Owen nor Shino is wrong. So, I hope you two won't argue anymore...

Shino: ...It's not like I want to argue either. Owen, since the Sage has said so much, why don't you apologize to the Sage quickly...

Owen: Who wants to listen? Quare Morito.

Akira: Uwah!?

The moment Owen chanted his spell, we were surrounded by a dazzling light.

Akira: ...? Owen, what are you... Eh? Where is Shino?

Owen: Ah, right. Just now, both the Sage and I disappeared before his eyes. He's probably still panicking.

Akira: How could this be... Is it because of what I just said...?

Owen: That's right. It's all your fault. With your ambiguous attitude, you want to greedily stand on both sides, don't you?

Akira: ...You’re right, I might have said some arrogant things to you just now. But I also really want to talk to you properly...

Owen: Then you can play with me now.

Akira: ... Eh? Alright, let's play! Even if it takes a long time, if it can help me understand your feelings better...

Owen: But I'm in a really bad mood right now. First, you have to make me happy.

With a faint smile, Owen snapped his fingers.

Suddenly, a collar appeared in his hand.

Akira: !? Why did you make a collar appear...

Owen: First, let's see how you look as my dog.

Akira: Dog...!? Why!?

Owen: Didn't you just say you'd play with me? Or was your word just a lie?

Akira: No, not at all, that's...

Owen: It's not good to lie. As your master, I have to discipline you properly.

Ignoring my growing anxiety, Owen seemed to shrug his shoulders happily.

Owen: Then let's get started.

Come on, Sage, let out a good bark like a dog.

Card Episode: Keep the truth to yourself

Owen: (Munching)

Akira: Owen, what are you eating...? Uwahh!? A h-human finger!?

Owen: (Munching, cracking) Crunch, crunch, crunch...

Akira: Ugh, that's a horrible sound... And now, it looks like something red is spilling out...?

(Since he's hiding it well while eating, I can't see his mouth at all...)

Owen: Are you so curious that you're staring a hole through me?

Akira: Well, I guess... but thinking about what it might actually be, it might be better not to know...

Ah, could it be some kind of joke candy, like the ones I saw in the Garden of Illusions!

Owen: …..

Akira: W-why are you silent...?

Owen: Hehe, what do you think?

Is this a sweet and delicious cookie filled with red jam, or is it a still-warm, freshly plucked human finger...?

Akira: I'm praying it's a cookie! Sorry for interrupting your snack time, but...see ya!

Owen: Haha, boring.

Voiceline:

"Since it's a special night, I'll dance a little for you. You'll sing along to Rustica's music. Don't be nervous, just sing however you like. But if I don't like it even a little bit, I'll crush your frail throat."

[kfkr1ze]

Vividly Colored Imagination - Chapter 5

Characters — ✈︎ Akuta, Kiroku, Nanaki, Muneuji, Ushio, Sakujiro

Location: Crafts Teahouse in Kanazawa

Sakujiro: Well then everyone, this afternoon we will be painting our very own Hachiman okiagari dolls. It will be an exciting experience.

Akuta: An okiagari doll? Are you talking about those things that look like daruma dolls?

Kaede: Yes. It’s a pretty famous activity to do in Kanazawa. It’s used to pray for the growth and overall happiness of children.

The Yasue Hachiman Shrine near the station is said to be the origin of the “Kaga Hachiman Okiagari” ritual. There are a lot of Hachiman okiagari dolls lined up there. Fun fact, it’s said that this shrine was entrusted to the Maeda clan, who would come here to pray for the removal of black ships!

Sakujiro: We sincerely hope that this experience of learning about Kanazawa’s traditions and culture will help you deepen your learning for the tour.

Nanaki: That’s fine and all, but…

Ushio: Just what the hell are you wearing, Sensei?

Sakujiro: As for me, I am supposed to be a substitute animal feeding instructor for today. For that purpose, I am wearing this apron.

Akuta: You can do something like that Kari-sen!?

Sakujiro: Indeed I can. I am also a certified ceramics manufacturing technician

Kaede: (What an incredible certification…)

Sakujiro: Traditionally, one would paint pine, bamboo, and plum flowers on the body of a Hachiman okiagari doll, but please feel free to decorate it however you like.

Akuta: Then I’ll get started right awa… Uh, there’s something called a “designation tag” on it,

Muneuji: It’s something akin to what Nanamegi did with Kinugawa earlier.

Nanaki: So we do the same with the Hachiman okiagari doll?

Kiroku: There’s a… boom… like that…

Akuta: We can draw a pic of the person we’re making them for then! Or you can just draw something inspired by them!

Kaede: Designated tags huh. Sounds interesting. I’ll join in with you guys so there’ll be 6 people. We’d have enough to pair everyone together, so let’s do that.

Ushio: In that case, I won’t pair with anyone who isn’t Muu-chan.

Muneuji: Then that’s decided.

Kaede: Then let’s pair the two tour hosts, Kiroku-kun and Nanaki-kun, if possible…

Kiroku: O…kay…

Nanaki: ‘Kay, I’ll be in your care then Kiroku.

Kaede: That leaves me and Akuta-kun as the last pair. You could also do it by yourself if you don’t wanna be paired with an adult.

Akuta: What are you talking about? I wanna be Sensei’s partner whether you're an adult or not! I’d be happy to be together with you.

Kaede: Uuu…

Akuta: Eh, why’re you suddenly crying? What’s wrong? 

Kaede: (At one point, it felt like the age difference between us was as deep as the Mariana Trench, but for Akuta-kun, it doesn’t matter now… I’m so glad to be a teacher… Well I’m a chief, not a teacher, but…)

Some dust just got in my eye is all! Then I’ll be in your care, Akuta-kun!

Akuta: Yup!

Nanaki: (I’m a little… No, a LOT, jealous…)

Ushio: Gh… Ghggh…

Muneuji: Uu-chan, what’s wrong?

Ushio: I don’t have enough artistic talent to draw Muu-chan’s face well enough…

Sakujiro: What… long and winged eyelashes, paired with that sharp face shape…! This is a very excellent expression, Kurama-kun.

Ushio: Wh– Don’t peek at my drawing…!

Muneuji: You drew a celestial body on the drawing as well. I feel as if this is a very joyous occasion.

Sakujiro: As for Kaguya’s artwork, Kurama-kun is depicted with a radiant smile.

Muneuji: Indeed. I painted him while imagining his face when he is reading one of his “godly” books.

Ushio: I-I don’t remember making a face like that at all, though.

Akuta: Staaaaaare…

Akuta: Staaaare… Stare staaaaaaare……

Kaede: (It’s almost refreshing to be stared at this much…)

Akuta-kun. How’s my designated piece going? 

Akuta: Like this!

Kaede: Waah. Thank you for making it look so nice!

(Ah, he wrote “Sensei” on the tag… hehe)

Akuta: Sensei, y’know…

Kaede: Yeah?

Akuta: When I’m looking closely, your face is really pretty.

Kaede: Eh!

Nanaki: Ehh!?

Akuta: Ah, my bad for staring so hard?

Nanaki: (Of course it’s “your bad,” that’s extremely rude…!)

Kaede: No, it’s not that. Thank you.

Nanaki: ( ……Gh…… )

Kaede: Akuta, your eyes are big, and you’re really expressive, so you’re pretty charming.

Akuta: Right〜? You also have a lovely charming face like mine, Sensei. I wanna keep staring.

Kaede: Then, I can move a bit closer. I’ll just move my chair and… there.

Akuta: Uh!

Kaede: What is it?

Akuta: My nose isn’t bleeding, is it?

Kaede: It’s okay, it’s not bleeding at all.

Akuta: Hehe, then there’s not a problem! Kurushuumai[1], you can come a bit closer!

Nanaki: (What kinda nickname is Kurushuumai!? Uuu～～ That kinda closeness is SO unfair…!)

Kiroku: I’m… finished……

Nanaki: Ah, sorry. I’m almost done too.

Kiroku: It’s okay… I’ll wait.

Nanaki: Kiroku, could I see your okiagari doll?

Kiroku: !! Uh.

Nanaki: (He hid it behind his back…)

Kiroku: ………

(I was just concentrating on painting, but…)

Dewawa: And that time, the lanterns just so happened to be called “creepily cute” …

This time, it might not even be cute anymore.

Pinfu: So in other words… Cr・ee・py! Gyaha!

Kiroku: (This… Will Nanamegi hate it…? I’m not sure if… this was what I was supposed to be drawing when… drawing someone else…)

Uh… Umm……

Akuta: WOAAAAHH! That’s Kiroku’s okiagari doll!?

Kiroku: Huh!?

(I forgot Isotake was behind me… He saw it…!?)

Kaede: You’re already done? So fast!

Ushio: Huh? Who is?

Muneuji: I also want to see.

Kiroku: (I’m being… backed into a corner…!)

Sakujiro: Kinugawa-kun, please make your way to this table so you can display it to everyone.

Kiroku: (I can’t… get away… from this……)

Previous — ✈︎ Masterlist — ✈︎ Next

Notes — ✈︎

Kurushuumai is combining the word “苦しい (Kurushii)”meaning painful or distressing with Shuumai who is. Shuumai.

[intertexts]

well it's nothing revolutionary yet but I did promise you sneak peeks for listening to 40 tonight :] ashe getting the patented mac ghostiezone weird about mirrors treatment

OUHHH ASHE MOMENT.......... YEAHHH. YEAHH. YEAH. ghggh. having so many thoughts & emotions abt ashe dream shit tonight..... listened 2 TWENTY WHOLE MINUTES of 40 tonight & feeling insane abt it LMAO.

^tranch trade tranch trade tranch trade

[innocence-wont-save-you]

>Find a safe spot and hide! It's probably going for either the centipede or the lizard.

You duck behind the nearest building to watch the scene unfold. Neither the lizard nor the centipede make any moves to escape, too busy dealing with each other to notice. Rather them than you, you suppose, to receive whatever the Miros vulture will bring.

A few more clanks, each one louder than the last, and you see it: a dark, frilled head, rising up above the memory boxes. You press yourself harder into the side of the building as it gets even closer, a towering figure that casts shadows long enough to rival that of the buildings around you. The Miros quail were big enough, but they're easily dwarfed by this Miros vulture. This thing must be at least twice your height.

The lizard finally notices the mechanical avian looming over it, and it yelps in terror, claws skittering on stone as it turns and runs away. The Miros vulture ignores it, gigantic, flickering eyes impassively fixed on the centipede that is now free to crawl away. It makes no move to eat it, merely staring at the retreating wildlife.

This is a good sign. Miros vultures, particularly the protective variant, weren't designed to be aggressive without cause; after all, your creators would have had to periodically return to their respective memory crypts to upload their memories. They were only supposed to attack if unauthorized intrusion into the memory boxes was detected. Otherwise, they were mostly docile guardians.

You slowly step out into full view. The Miros vulture's gaze instantly snaps toward you, and you flinch, lance clutched tight in both hands. It hisses, lowering its head slightly, frills flared in warning. If it wanted to, it could lunge at you right now and bite your puppet to shreds.

Instead of backing up, which would have been the sensible option, you step closer to it. It hisses again, opening its beak and closing it with a loud clank. But now you're in range to communicate with it, and you send it a quick pulse: "Iterator. Here to inspect memory boxes."

Immediately, it drops its aggression, eyes flashing from a dull yellow to blue, then back to yellow as it processes your message. It then lowers its head until its face is almost level with you, and you find yourself staring down its gigantic beak. You grip your lance tighter. "Inspect?" it questions, eyes blinking green as it pulses back at you. "Iterator inspect?"

You sigh. Of course it's confused, you were never supposed to be able to do this. "Yes, just inspecting the boxes."

Its eyes flash green again, faster this time. "Authorized?"

Typically, the authorization process would be done by sharing citizen data with the Miros vultures. You... do not technically count as a citizen of your own city. You're just its iterator. There was never a need to give you a citizen identification code.

You send your iterator identification codes to it instead. Its eyes flash rapidly as it processes the information, from yellow to blue to red and back to yellow, over and over again. Drumming your fingers on your lance, you wait for it to give you a verdict. You have no idea if this is going to work, but at the very least, this Miros vulture hasn't mutated. It shouldn't attack you even if it doesn't let you enter.

With a final white flash of its eyes, the Miros vulture straightens up. "Authorized." You sigh in relief as it promptly starts ignoring you, ambling back the way it came. You're now free to peruse the memory boxes. As long as you don't alter any data, what you do will still fall under the jurisdiction of 'inspection.'

You wander around for a bit, only partially looking for the access points into the memory boxes. All of these boxes are at least twice your height. Each one is a building in its own right, except instead of storing items, it stores physical replicas of memories. If... if there were any of them still around, somehow, and if they wanted these memories back, they could just upload the data back into their brains. As if nothing had ever changed.

You stop in front of one of the boxes, hand hovering over the small access port jutting out of the otherwise smooth surface of the memory box. Data. All of this is just data now. Data on those who once lived, who once were. Who decided to leave this world behind.

Who decided to leave you all behind.

You unlock the access port. It unfurls, metal pins pulling back to uncover a small, circular access point of cells. They pulsate gently, glistening in the dim light. You stare at them, simultaneously repulsed and fascinated. This was—is—someone. Someone's memories.

Haltingly, hesitantly, you reach in and touch your hand to the cells.

Rage. Rage, you feel rage. Rage at the announcement of your construction, at its commencement, at the inability to save Day. A sacrilege, a shirking of duty to her, abandonment of the parental obligations that are owed to her, in favor of you. A waste of resources and space, of time and dedication, of energy and devotion, of the investment put into her. The ancestors of old, their efforts, their beliefs, dashed and thrown to the dirt for you. How could they let her fall? How could they have given up on her? You should never have been built. You should never have been planned. They should have tried harder, so these memories would never have had to rest here.

Some pleasant memories of Day: communes with her, asking her for advice, for opinions, on the important and on the mundane. Greeting her as a child, as an adult, as an elder. Her, warm and kind and welcoming, always. A constant, until she wasn't. Until you happened. Until you replaced her.

A wretched, pathetic mistake is what you are. If it had been an option, your existence would never have happened.

The connection breaks. Your hand loosens; you pull it back, let it fall, where it shakes. You're shaking all over.

You sink to the ground, trying to remember how to breathe again. Two Clouds, Three Gentle Breezes. You remember that name. Of the few citizens you had the displeasure of dealing with, this one was one of the most vocal about hating life in your city.

Slowly, leaning on the memory box for support, you get to your feet, using the blunt end of your lance as a cane. None of this comes as a surprise. You've heard this all before. But experiencing it this directly was still unpleasant.

Despite that, you did get some of what you came here for. She... Even throughout the process of trying to save her from collapsing, she was kindly and patient as ever. You can't say you could ever do the same.

You lock the access port and move on, glancing around at the other memory boxes. Larger ones store more memories, generally, since there's more space for them, so maybe you should tap into one of those. Many of the memory boxes you can see in the immediate area are considerably large, so any one of these would be a good candidate.

You're not even sure how much you want to know. The last one had more about you than Day, and the odds are that many of the rest of these will be the same way. But it's not nothing. You can't pass up that opportunity. You'll go for as long as you can tolerate it.

You stop in front of one of the largest memory boxes, one that's wider than it is tall. Unlocking the access port is fast, gears whirring and bolts clicking to reveal the access point within a matter of seconds. But you still have to wait, however briefly. Did it ever feel like they were losing time when they did this?

It doesn't matter anymore. You brush your fingers against the cells.

Schematics, old ones that feature plans foreign-but-not-quite to you. Old systems, old pipe layouts, old modules, old wiring. All of it for keeping Day running properly. A deep tenderness, deep familiarity for her systems, the essence of what made her, her. Plans on how to navigate through her, how best to serve her, how to work with her. She's eons old, but so is this line of work, passed down from generation to generation.

Until it stopped. Failure. Utter failure, the inability to save her despite so many efforts, despite time spent toiling and weeping and doing anything possible to keep her running, even as she began falling to pieces. All this knowledge, gone to waste, titles stripped and roles replaced. No more need for these ancient skills now, when you are fresh and young and new. When you were designed to uphold your own perpetuity.

Knowing her so closely made losing her hurt worse. Her collapse took part of her memory crypts with her, forcing these memories to be here. Even beyond life, these memories cannot lay with her.

This is your fault.

You pull your hand back and lock the access port, leaning against the wall with a sigh. You know who Seventeen Rings, Resounding Song is. As one of Day's former engineers, none of the knowledge on Day's maintenance could be transferred to your own maintenance, since the two of you are from the first and last generation respectively. When everyone was forced to migrate to your city, this knowledge became obsolete. Seventeen Rings, Resounding Song never stopped being resentful about it. You were glad when they finally ascended.

They talked so much with Day. Working on her systems meant knowing her thoughts and feelings on everything, and she was... so, so incredibly content with this work. Even as the visits got more often, and even as her condition worsened.

She loved them. They loved her.

Where do you even fit into this all?

You sit, leaning against the wall of the memory box, and sigh again. All the better that all of them are gone now, because you could never live up to what Day was anyway. You're just a disappointment.

Scene 9

reiterate main goal being to access the memory boxes; trying to keep an eye out for the miros vultures

The pearl is still in your hands as you power back on again, unharmed and still containing all its data. Relieved, you pocket it. Hopefully you'll find more like it this cycle. You don't know how many pearls around here will still hold information like this, but surely there has to be other ones that do, right?

The blue lizard scrutinizing you late last cycle isn't in its crevice anymore, likely having gone off to hunt already. You heft your lance into your hands with a huff. You should get a move on too, regardless of what you're doing. You're eager to start searching around for more about Day.

The sounds of lizards hissing and screeching immediately comes into full clarity the moment you open the door of the building. A blue lizard is tussling with a pink lizard not far ahead of you, both a writhing mass of muscle and blood as they bite and scratch at each other. To their right is a dead centipede, clearly having been killed by one of the fighting lizards. Another blue lizard is watching the fight while perched on a nearby building—the same one from last cycle, you realize as you give it a glance over. It glares at you with beady eyes as you step out of the building, the door shutting with a quiet hiss behind you, and you return the look, raising your lance in warning. Blue lizards aren't large enough to pose any threat to you, but that doesn't stop them from being an annoyance.

At any rate, your memory crypts seem rather lively. You can hear more activity on either side of you. You are still on the outskirts of your memory crypts though; the memory boxes are situated much deeper inside this facility. You'll be making your way to them gradually no matter what, but... You grip your lance more tightly, sending a test pulse out from your antennae. Hopefully you won't have to get too close to the Miros vultures to communicate with them.

[gildedsaviour7]

Apple of my eye...

apple.. eye... ghggh

(diff. anon)

..........

[hvcrver]

following people with polar opposite takes/feelings towards chrollo (both enjoying him/his character) is hilarious btw because i'll be calling him cringefail and his flirting too FORWARD and GROSS and WE-- oh !! oh em gee he's sooo pretty i wan tto cusp his prebby cheeks in my handss auugh ghggh............. he doesn 't need ot be fixed he just neeads a warm blanket tand some rest..................