#Hydrus my beloved

[comedyl0ser]

Meeting a Miserable Demonic Jester backstage [M4A]

i did a thing no way The template ↓

[pycth]

REDACTED OC ‼️

Y’ALL MET MICHAEL, NOW ITS TIME TO MEET MY OTHER BEST BOY, MY BELOVED , MY WET NAPKIN

I’ve been wanting to make a d(a)emon character for so long, but couldn’t decide between which branch—the recent Redacted 101 video though with the 5 new types 👀👀 ya got me

A few headcanons~

- Hydrus is the 3rd demon to ever be created by the Sovereigns, first-formed of Misery.

- Originally known as the Hydra constellation, “Hydrus” was self-created in the wake of his change after the cacophony. He no longer goes by the former. (Due to this change, some of the newer d(a)emons now believed the original Hydra may have died at some point during the war or even simply disappeared.)

- Most of his time is spent hidden away in Aria. Even The Chorushas a hard time getting a hold of him.

- General anxiety. Doesn’t really like interacting with humans or even other d(a)emons in some cases. He’s blunt and can very harsh when pushed.

- The only reason he tends to stay on Elegy for longer than he prefers after feeding is to go swimming.

- He likes the ocean. Or any body of water he can manage to get in. He also LOVES the rain.

- His eyes are sensitive to natural lighting, but doesn’t see (lol) the effort in trying to help it.

- His white spots are bioluminescent!

- Hydrus likes doing origami. He’s practiced and mastered a few complex pieces—but his favorites are flowers because they remind him of a certain Soft Sadism Demon by the name of Cebalrai 👀 ( @sincerelywhistler ‘s oc<3)

- He has a odd fascination with the DMV.

- Isn’t very fond of most clothes. He prefers loose fitting or none at all.

Voice Claim bonus :>

[sincerelywhistler]

ocean eyes

Hydrus (top panel, Misery Demon OC belonging to beloved @pycth) and Cebalrai (bottom panel, my soft Sadism Demon OC) are so down bad for one another it makes them look stupid <3

[dreamyshifts]

family tree | thiarus empire

The Rheagi family is also well-known to be loving, supportive, and affectionate with one another, as well as protective and just a bit overbearing, but with good intentions, and the same for those who are in-laws. They do know when they’ve crossed the line, overstepped boundaries, etc., and apologize/make amends when necessary.

I am closest to Preciosa and Phineas, enough so that there is a running joke in the family that we’re “the triplets,” as well as very close to our first cousin, Lady Annaleigh Rheagi (21), and my younger siblings are adorably overprotective as are my other siblings. Overall, I am a cherished and beloved daughter, and therefore, sheltered.

Thus, I have very romantic and dreamy thoughts/beliefs about life, society as a whole, and romance. Considering my parents and married siblings have been love matches, I expect no less for myself

Heir of the Family

Lord Isaac Rheagi (29)

Other Children

First Countess Dyonisia Cottia nee Rheagi (27), having married Countess Odelina Cottia & Count Ludovic Cottia nee Katorth) two years ago.

Master Hydrus Rheagi (25)

Currently, a Secretary to the Third Princess Sedehana de Thiarus (the Minister of Culture & Artisan Endeavors; 28), and is in courtship with Lady Lavender Futthar (27), of the Futthar Barony and the 4th Cavalry Captain of the Templars of the Divine (Holy Knights, basically)

Master Phineas Rheagi (22) & Lady Preciousa Rheagi (22 — Frat. Twins)

Myself: Lady Serafina Rheagi (21)

Master Daedric Rheagi (18)

Master Blaise Rheagi (14)

Both Daedric and Blaise are enrolled in Kogore Academy of Magics, Arts, and Mundane—an established and renowned academy for noble-born aristocrats, wealthy merchants, foreign nobles and high-ranking citizens, from ages 14 to 19.

Master Dracomir Rheagi & Master Perseus Rheagi (10 — Twins)

Technically, orphan cousins from an extended line that my mothers adopted in a blood adoption ritual when they were 4-5.

[wol-blackthorne]

Heavensward

"And so they came, at a friend's behest. Heroes once celebrated as saviors of Eorzea, brought low through treachery, their names blackened with royal blood..."

— "Heavensward" by Count Edmont de Fortemps

Driven north by betrayal and wrongly accused of murdering the Ul'dahn Sultana, Fiona and the remaining Scions, Tataru and Alphinaud, fled to Ishgard. A friend Fiona met in Coerthas moons before—Haurchefant—invited them to his home as wards of House Fortemps.

Ishgard also had need of Fiona's strength. During her time in Coerthas she had claimed the title of Azure Dragoon working alongside the current holder of the title, Estinien "Wyrmblood" Varlineau. He sought her aid in defeating Nidhogg, the leader of the Dravanian Horde.

However, Fiona found herself drawn to the woman known as Iceheart—Ysayle Dangoulain. Fiona and Ysayle, in the form of the primal Shiva, had battled before, and Ysayle had little trust for the Warrior. Nevertheless, Ysayle's passionate pleas for peace convinced Fiona to accompany her to the heart of Dravania.

Accompanied by Estinien and Alphinaud, Fiona and Ysayle climbed Sohm Al and learned the truth of the Dragonsong War.

In attempting to share the truth, they lost a beloved friend—Haurchefant.

"Oh, do not look at me so. A smile better suits a hero..." — Haurchefant Greystone

Fiona pursued Archbishop Thordan to Azys Lla, but hers was not the only ship seeking the floating archipelago. The VIth Imperial Legion, led by Regula van Hydrus, intercepted the Scions.

To their surprise, Ysayle appeared on dragonback, transformed into the primal Shiva, and halted the Legion's advance. The battle consumed all her aether and, in a shower of diamond dust, she plummeted from the sickly yellow skies.

Fiona watched in horror as the woman she had grown to love disappeared.

Although she defeated the Archbishop—and later Nidhogg—the events of the Dragonsong War left scars that would not heal for moons to come.

"Listen to my voice. Listen to our heartbeat." — Fray

With two dear friends lost, Fiona threw herself into whatever work she could find. While helping rebuild the Brume, she found the body of a dark knight bearing a soul crystal. As she reached out, Fiona collapsed. When Fiona opened her eyes, the fallen dark knight stood before her—apparently alive and well—and introduced herself as Fray.

Fray joined Fiona as she hunted resummoned primals. Together they fell primal after primal. Ifrit. Bismark. Garuda. Ravana. Each time the primal came back stronger, but so did the warriors.

Until they caught word of heretics summoning Shiva again.

Fiona and Fray traveled to the Akh Afah Ampitheatre to battle Shiva—no longer Ysayle's transformation, but a primal born purely of aether and prayer. The warriors defeated the primal, only to see her instantly resummoned again, and again, and again, and again.

Finally, Fiona succumbed to her injuries and collapsed on the icy amphitheatre floor. Shiva loomed over her and, instead of dealing a killing blow, said, "You're mistaken, Warrior. The one summoning me is you."

In blind grief, Fiona slashed at the primal. Ice from Shiva's heart flashed up Fiona's blade, coating it permanently in ice.

Fiona lost consciousness and awakened bound in chains. Lord Drillemont's soldiers found and brought her back to Whitebrim Front, where she would face accusations of necromancy. Alphinaud, ever the diplomat, had come to help, and witnessed Fray—in truth, a corpse animated by Fiona's grief and anger—breaking Fiona from her bonds. Fiona refused Fray's help, causing them to clash in battle.

Fiona eventually overcame Fray and accepted the darkness as her own. She had been used as a weapon and betrayed. Her friends were missing or dead, and no one seemed to care. Despite the pain, all she could do was be their Weapon of Light. Serve. Save. Slave. Slay.

But she had to be, because—despite everything—she still had those she loved and wanted to protect.

Alphinaud, calling in all the favors he had accrued in Coerthas, asked for Fiona to be cleared of all charges. Drillemont, all too aware of how problematic Ishgard's legal system could be, acquiesced.

Fiona and Alphinaud would never again speak of the matter. They each held a secret about the other, and their shared secrets and experiences would bind them in deepest friendship.

"...If this is how it must be, then so be it. But know that when you tire of this charade, I shall be here...waiting to take the reins..." — Fray

As the Dragonsong War wound to a close, the Scions proved their innocence in the alleged (and failed) assassination of the Sultana, Nanamo Ul Namo, and found all but three of their missing companions.

Alisaie suddenly arrived in Ishgard on death's door, having been attacked by a group claiming to be "Warriors of Darkness". The Scions sought the Warriors of Darkness and eventually clashed with them in the Ixali homeland of Xelphatol.

The Warriors of Darkness, led by "Arbert", were working with Elidibus to save their world—a parallel dimension known as the First Shard. The First was being swallowed by a Flood of Light that they, in their resounding success against the dark-aligned Ascians, had caused. Only by causing a Calamity of Light on the Source, Fiona's home, would their world be "saved"—absorbed into the Source like seven other Shards had before.

Through the Scion Urianger's machinations, the Warriors of Light and Darkness were brought into an audience with Hydaelyn Herself, with Minfilia as Her avatar. Minfilia would go to the First to stay the Flood of Light and be lost to the Scions forever.

"For those we have lost. For those we can yet save." — Various

Although they lost Minfilia, they soon found Yda and Papalymo assisting the Ala Mhigan Resistance. Tracing the path of illegal crystal trades, primal summonings, and former allies turned traitors, the Scions crossed Baelsar's Wall and joined Ala Mhigo in its fight for independence against Garlemald.

And, for the first time in twenty-six years, Fiona returned to Gyr Abania.

[necra-loid]

I'm gonna say FF14, but let's make it funky and say, only Heavensward ?

ooooooo zesty!

blorbo: I will give y'all three guesses based on my name and url- and the first two don't count (estiniken it's estinkien)

skrunkly: I would say this is tough but like it's not <3 haurchefant my fucking beloved, he's so fucking cute and nice and AAAAA

scrimblo bimblo: literally Hilda I love her and she like got forgotten by the narrative and like, everything. she's so cool tho!!

glup shitto: literally I don't think he's even in msq but stephanivien!!! love a man with his tits out in that fucking weather

poor little meow meow: ummmmmm lol I'm like not a fan of like every antag from hw. the only character I would consider pathetic besides the entirety of the heavens ward would be emmanellain, and good god that boy is Not My Fav

horse plinko: regula van hydrus, shouldn't have been an imperial idiot lmao!

eeby deeby: FARE THEE WELL, SER THE POPE, HAVE A NICE TRIP SEE YA NEXT FALL

[myeongchokrp]

Classical music, long ball gowns and freshly ironed suits— Yeongi’s very own Daengom, a stunning venue for only the richest of weddings and social events, is full to the brim with guests. Invite-only and the event of the year, shopping tycoon Lee Yeonseok’s winter ball has started only a mere hour ago. Despite the weather, much of the tables and dance ( ballroom only, please! ) areas are outside, under a faux sky of twinkling lights. Untouched until dinner, each table is dressed in a crisp white cloth, bouquets upon bouquets of beautiful white and cream flowers and if one didn’t know of the Winter Wonderland theme, it’d be easy to mistake the scene for a late night wedding reception. The only difference is the money. 

Inside where his guests currently mingle, the walls are covered with loaned paintings from the art gallery within the Museum of Myeongcho, as well as some of Lee’s private collection. Guards stand in each corridor, in the corner of each room. But what lurks doesn’t mingle amongst the guests— not in numbers, anyway. 

TW DEATH, BOMBING

As the night gets under way, champagne sipped gingerly from tall glasses, Hydrus lingers below ground, coordinating via a sophisticated, impenetrable communication system, in-ears invisible to anyone not directly looking for them. They’re in position, waiting for the clock to strike nine. Lee takes the ‘stage’ just before the hour, clinking his spoon gently against his glass to gather the attention of his star studded guests. Celebrities from the mainland, local heroes, CEOs, even known gang members— anyone who’s anyone on Myeongcho is stood together in a crowd before him. Lee smiles at all the people he will sometime soon use for his own benefit and begins his speech. 

“Thank you all for coming tonight.” He draws in a deep breath. “Welcome to my annual Winter Ball, which the Daengom is kindly hosting for us tonight.” His audience claps quietly. “Thank you, thank you. Now, I’m sure you all know this has been a long, difficult year for our dear island. Riots, public executions, growing crime rates across the board, attacks to our very own...” He offers a sympathetic smile to MPD Lieutenant Yoo Sihyun who dips his head in return. “In the coming year, we will work together to—” As he raises his glass to propose a toast with his magnificent act of selflessness, the lights cut out. Plunged into the darkness, feet rushing across the floor— some to protect Lee, some in an attempt to restore power, some knowing what is coming next— no one feels the rumble of the floor until it’s too late. 

First, the exits fill with rubble. Then, the ceiling cracks. Smoke fills the room. It’s a bomb! They shout. No! It’s more! Two, three, four, maybe. It’s hard to tell amongst the screams of pain, agony, fear. Will you make it out alive? 

WELCOME TO MI’S NEWEST EVENT, MI:BLACKOUT !

This post marks the beginning of our newest event — we hope you’re as excited as we are! 

IC, Lee’s Annual Winter Ball begins at 8 PM on Saturday, December 21st, 2019. The power cuts out just before 9 PM, and a minute or so later, the first bomb of five goes off below the venue. Due to the power cut, Hydrus members coordinating the attack under the event could not communicate and the bomb was set off with Hydrus members still above ground and in the tunnels. 

OOC, this event lasts until midnight at the end of Saturday, January 18th, 2020.

HYDRUS, consider this a mission at the very least derailed. Your own members are caught in the crossfire and whilst the serpents don’t usually concern themselves over friendly fire, this complication runs much deeper than a few lost teammates. Your attempt to kill the shopping tycoon and various other high profile names in a continued effort to rebuild your reputation has been turned on its head. Your targets are trapped as you wanted, but can you finish the job? 

LYNX, congratulations on unknowingly making life that little bit harder for Hydrus. You’ve successfully cut out all communications and power across the island — at least for a little while. Unlike Hydrus, however, your targets aren’t living. How much easier is it to steal something with no security alarms? In teams, members of Lynx will advance on various goldmines for valuables — the temporarily closed Museum of Myeongcho, Sunrise Star Hotel, the MPD’s various armouries, confidential files in Myeongcho’s largest organisations. Take what you can, but don’t forget to stay alive. Security officers don’t go home just because the power is out! If you’re on the inside, however… Bad luck on missing out on all the fun! Or are you? 

Those on the inside from COLUMBA, PHOENIX and CORVUS, what’s more important: your loyalty or your life? Do you save your fellow members? Or all citizens to keep your allegiance hidden? Do you try to find a way out and leave everyone behind? Can you get to the bottom of this? Or do you take advantage of this opportunity? There’s so much wealth in this room, after all…

MPD, how fast can you really react to something you don’t know about? No calls can come in or out, you’re scrambling to find the source of the island-wide blackout… Unless you’re at the event, it’s likely your attention is elsewhere. Those guests will be fine by themselves, anyway… Right?

To summarise, Lynx and Hydrus have unknowingly planned separate attacks on the same night. Lynx just slightly beating out Hydrus has derailed the latter’s bombing of shopping business tycoon Lee Yeonseok’s Annual Winter Ball, leaving many wealthy names, as well as many of our beloved muses, trapped inside fighting for their lives. The blackout took out all power across the island, including phone reception towers and internet access, meaning there’ll be no way to contact one another for at least twenty minutes whilst teams work to restore power to, at the very least, phone towers. After forty minutes, power will come back on. The Daengom will remain in darkness thanks to the destruction caused by the bombs but mobile phones will regain signal when phone towers are restored regardless. 

The above descriptions for each gang are just guidelines! Whether or not your muse is at the Winter Ball or working on the outside in some way is completely up to you! 

Muses may have gained access to the Winter Ball through invite, being someone’s plus one, hacking the guest list, etc. If you can’t think of a realistic reason for your muse to be present but would like one, feel free to message us!

To earn +5 points, write a four-post thread or 200+ solo about any part of the event. Any thread about the ball, blackout, bombings, actions elsewhere as a result of the attacks or any aftermath will count! 

To earn +5 points, write a four-post thread with a muse you have never written with before about any part of the event. If you’re not sure where to start with ideas for plots, keep reading below this OOC information…!

As always, for threads and solos to count for points, they must be posted before the deadline. You can write as many threads and solos as you’d like, but you can only claim points for one thread/solo for each set of points. 

Don’t forget to tag all your event-related posts with this event’s tag mi:blackout and most importantly, have fun! If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to message the main or Admins Gyu & Woo directly. We hope you enjoy this event! 

CLAIMABLE PLOTS

The following are set plots and roles within the event for you to claim for your muses should you choose! These are all optional; you do not need to claim any of these to participate in the event. These plots and positions are for helping guide the event’s progression and offer ideas for development and plots if needed. To claim a plot, simply message us with the letter code and the muse you’d like to have that role within the event and we’ll update the post as soon as we see it! We hope this will connect you to new muns you may not have otherwise gotten the chance to plot with, and give you unique development for your muses! Please let us know if you like this idea for events. Your feedback will help us plot and structure future events! 

You, SONG SEOAH, have been assisting with first aiders such as LEE HYUNWOO since the explosions stopped. Paramedics are on their way, but for many present, that may be too late. Your bravery and intuition hasn’t gone unnoticed by others and following the release of all those trapped inside, you’re recruited for Columba by KIM TAEHYUNG for your tenacity. They won’t be the only ones watching, though, local hero. NOTE: This is an opportunity to get your muse recruited by Columba and requires no further point cost or reward solo to change your muse’s affiliation. 

Hydrus member Muse D had been mingling amongst the guests listening to Lee’s speech when the power went out. Alarmed, they’d tried desperately to get in touch with other members but with no signal and no power, it’s impossible. You connect eyes with Muse E ( Hydrus ) across the crowd and gravitate to one another for safety. After all, you were only supposed to keep an eye out and give the signal before making your escape. You weren’t supposed to get caught in the crossfire. 

JEON JEONGGUK is fascinated by this power outage and the moment you regain signal, you begin to delve into finding the source. Along the way, you find SON HYEJOO a fellow hacker who may or may not be part of the team that took the island down… 

Muse H ( Lynx ) is one of the coordinators or seniors on the attack against the Museum of Myeongcho. Muse I ( Lynx ) is one of the most inexperienced on the job. Eager to impress as they may be, this is a rather large first step. Can you work together to get the job done? 

KIM MINJI and PARK SUNGKI are trapped inside the Daengom with no power, no first aid kits and PARK SUNGKI unable to walk on their injured ankle. They won’t die from the injury, of course, but it’s not like they can get out by themselves before the rest of the building collapses. Will KIM MINJI help them, or does their loyalty not extend to outside of their gang? 

Muse L is out in the streets when everything descends into darkness. Luckily, a reporter is there to ask them a hundred questions! Buckle in, Muse L, because you’re not going anywhere until they get all the answers they’re looking for. NOTE: This prompt is in the format of a submit from the main and will likely take a couple days to get to you due to the holiday season.

[mixbulletin]

BREAKING: MPD TO FUND PROFESSOR’S FUNERAL

Over two weeks since Myeongcho University was rocked by the murder of beloved Professor Bae of Natural Sciences, the MPD have spoken up on their findings and, better yet, their subsequent arrest. 

In a small press conference, MPD’s Detective Song Hajoon reveals the killer to have been a former Hydrus member, who, in believing he would be covering his tracks, killed the man he betrayed his gang to. After details of one of his hits reached another Hydrus member, the killer felt he could only save himself by ‘shooting the messenger’. Believing he had little left to live for, the killer also gave MPD the alias of the Hydrus member and MPD are reportedly making every effort to connect the name to a real identity. When asked about the graphic nature of his murder, the killer, with no remorse, only stated he ‘wanted to be sure he was done’. 

MPD also stated they are supporting the victim’s family, students and the university as a whole as they grieve and cope with the news and investigation. Chief Choi Jiwoo will personally be paying for both a private funeral and public memorial for Professor Bae, as well as attending both to pay her respects. 

Nam Jaejin, MYC News. Saturday, November 16th, 2019.

COMMENTS

[ +1,982, -23 ] rest in peace. my thoughts are with his family, friends and students. 

[ +1,007, -231 ] the world is a terrifying place. rest in peace.

[ +473, -201 ] well done to the mpd for catching him but... could we have this kind of effort for the little guys, too? not just super publicised professors?

[ +126, -955 ] why did that guy tell the professor all his secrets in the first place? this is fishy... 

[mixgrim]

hello, this is shinobi! some of you might remember me as the mun who played mikanggary and mikangjoon before and now i’ve made my return with a brandnew muse (since i’ve never played a gangmember before lmao)! dohwan is a mix of muses i’ve never managed to play before, so i am very excited to have him here! i’ll see how i’ll be able to keep up with activity and if i’ll be able to manage between university and work, i might even bring back my beloved captain kang!

so without furth ado, i hope to get a few threads rolling, so i’ll put a few fun facts below the read more! for more information please read his pages:

[reflection] [soul] [chronos] [bonds]

ps: if you want to talk to me, pls message me here or on twitter @shitjun (which i will reply to much faster).

- he is pretty stoic, but gets angry really fast - very loyal to Hydrus and never questioned their morals and ethics - follows orders like a machine - if you want to see him mad, poke him, he’ll explode immediately - that’s also the origin of his alias GRIM - isn’t the type to date at all, so he doesn’t have much experience with romantic relationships yet - he still likes to watch the starry night sky - when he is emotionally attached, he becomes very protective - he is specialized on no-weapon kills, so he basically kills his victims with brute force - though he sometimes uses knuckledusters or blades to fight - despite his dulled and reserved personality, he is interested in arts - he likes folding origami paper cranes - has folded 644 so far, is working on reaching the thousand cranes - it’s not easy to make him laugh (or smile), so feel honored if you manage to - knows that he is strong, so even among fellow gang members he tends to look down on them - he can’t really use elaborate language, even though he was born into a wealthy family because it doesn’t feel natural to him - so he can’t really flirt, as he is too blunt for subtletly

[starcunning]

Anabasis

This, on the other hand ...

There might be one more in this wheelhouse before patch. We’ll see.

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground. So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind: Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.

Fray knows what is best for them, so it is Fray that rouses their body from bed, Fray that makes sure they remember to eat and wash and breathe. No one around them is aware of their curious codependency; Urianger had some early inkling of their symbiosis, but Urianger is gone.

So when a Julien de Vedastus is announced as wishing an audience with the Warrior of Light, it is Fray that prepares to meet with him.

The name means nothing to X’shasi, and hardly rouses her from her torpor. Fray expects an Ishgardian nobleman, disdainful of the layer of dust that has settled in the solar. Were there more of them perhaps they might have more concern for keeping up appearances, but the senior Scions are gone beyond the reach of even Eorzea’s greatest champion, and those that remain have other priorities.

Perhaps in time their dormitories will be like Minfilia’s solar, gilded with disuse; sunny rooms that no one visits. Perhaps Shasi’s will too. She thinks it from time to time—she will never take Fray’s offer to run away, but the choice to disappear and become unknown may not always be hers.

For now there is the unseemly quietude of the Rising Stones and a request for audience. Fray expects more requests will follow.

Julien de Vedastus enters the dusty room with a blademaster’s confidence. Fray can tell just from the sound of his footsteps. Something about them rouses Shasi from her living sleep, so that when Fray turns them around to see the man approaching in the garb of a Resistance soldier, she too is looking at him.

He is an Elezen man, with eyes of deepest blue and a Doman blade hung from his belt. The gryphon’s-head cap he wears casts a shadow over his features, but they are familiar to her just the same, as is the expression he wears: not the open worship of a man come to petition a champion, but a quieter awe. Tears prick her eyes. His name is not Julien de Vedastus. It can’t be. It’s something else. It’s—

“Zenos,” she whimpers. Her face is against his chest already, his arms around her, holding her up. They are the only thing that does; her knees are weak and wobbling. She clutches at him, callused hands clinging desperately to khaki canvas. He has a heartbeat. He is alive, somehow. Not himself, but here. “Yes,” he says, dropping to one knee. She can reach his neck now, and buries her face against it. His pale skin is perfect, unmarred. There should be a scar there, from the time he almost died in front of her, and there isn’t. She touches his chest, where another should be—from the time he did die in front of her. “I killed you,” she says. “How are you here?” “By accident,” he says, “and then by choice.”

She cannot make sense of it, and only understands that he has returned to her—an unforeseen boon executed in unforeseen fashion. For a moment she wonders if Myste has stirred, but her crystal is whole, if not her heart. Zenos lives.

“Where have you been?” she asks softly. “Garlemald,” he replies. “Elidibus has your body,” Shasi tells him, trying not to choke on the words. “I know,” Zenos says. “When I awoke, no one knew where you were. And in your absence, it seemed, certain parties were keen to cast your victory in doubt. I chased him across the provinces,” Zenos said. “Always just too late. Always just in time to hear about the miraculous recovery of the beloved Crown Prince. Lies upon lies.” “I believed them,” she confesses, and it shudders out of her like a sob. “For a time. I watched you die, and it broke me, but Brutus was so certain.” “Who?” he asks. “Asahi sas Brutus?” she says, feeling foolish. “Your devoted disciple?” “I believe I would know if I had taken such a person on.”

She can feel the tears roll over her cheeks, hot and unwelcome, falling onto the canvas of his uniform until it too is hot and damp and stifling, and still he does not let go of her. His fingers, familiar and strange, slide through her hair. “I know,” she says, trying not to sob. “I know, now. But I believed it. That somehow you had returned to the Empire, that you had played me for a fool. That this little killer from the capital knew you better—loved you better—” He hushes her, breath hissing from him. One hand strokes her back and the other comes to cup her chin, to lift her head. He will kiss her now, she knows, and she yearns for that without end.

But she cannot allow that, and turns her head. His lips brush the corner of her mouth instead. “We can’t,” she says, head dropping. He nuzzles against the crown of her hair, breathing deeply. Then he sighs—though he does not seem half so disappointed as he does relieved. “Why ever not?” he asks. She lifts her head to look at him. For all that he looks different, so much of him looks the same. She raises a hand and brushes back his hood, and the blond locks she expects come tumbling out over his shoulders, and she cannot bring herself to explain everything. She takes his hand instead, presses his palm to her cheek, his thumb to her scar. The scar he gave her.

It feels like cowardice when she says, “Look.” Like she should bear the pain of explaining, like she should wring herself out for him. Do you trust him with the knowledge of me? Fray asks. She only nods, eyes closing. Both hands clutch his now, the fingers of one locked around his wrist, the others intertwined with his own, pressing his skin to hers. “Don’t ask me to explain,” she says. “Please, please make this easy for me.” Her hands tremble. He nods, and presses his forehead to hers. His breath spills over her skin, evenly at first.

There is a soft yelp of surprise and pain, a trembling of his hand in hers. This is how she knows what he sees with his Resonance; this is how she can know he has drank of her suffering.

“He might still wake up,” she says, opening her eyes to fix the stranger that was once her lover with her pleading gaze. Her voice is quavering, desperate, trying to convince herself as much as explain to Zenos. “There might still be something I can do to save them, and when he does …” “When he does,” says Zenos, hoarse-voiced and closed-eyes, “you cannot have betrayed him.” He lifts his head. “Even if I can explain it to him and he understands,” she says, realizing now the impossibility of the situation, “I don’t know if you should be with me.” “I love you,” he says, as though this is simple. As though anything in her life has been simple in ten years. She closes her eyes on this notion, shaking her head. Her hands fall from his, but his fingers still caress her cheek. “Don’t be foolish, Zenos,” she says softly. “It’s easy to convince yourself you love someone when they’re around you all the time.”

The light is different in Mor Dhona, but the way it slants through the windows is just the same as at the conservatory, and for a moment she allows herself to indulge in the fantasy that it is moons ago, and she has not killed her lover, has not watched Myste die and Thancred fall. Less than a year’s turn and she is so much diminished by it; her responsibilities erode her. As Fray always warned. There will be nothing left of her, soon, and sooner still without him. Still, she cannot ask him to stay.

“Ah,” he says. His eyes are blue, and his insights are grounded in the mundane when he says, “This, then, is what you think happened with me?” “What choice had you but to love me!” she protests. “You were my captive! What choice does anyone have? I am the Warrior of Light! To deny me is to risk the future of this star entire. Is it not better to capitulate? To keep me happy?” Fray bristles in the back of her mind, but Zenos speaks before he gets the chance. “You think this, too, of your rogue, then. That, like me, you wore him down.” “Yes.” “You forget some things in your eagerness to explain this to yourself.” She glances away, unable to bear the weight of his gaze. “Like what?” she asks softly. “We have been apart for moons now,” Zenos says. “I did not forget that at all,” Shasi says, feeling her tone sharpen. He only holds her closer then, her ear to his chest. “But I chose to return. And you love me, despite my absence.”

She stiffens but does not pull away. Unseen, her eyes go wide, and she thinks over every word that has passed between them, and there, in her condemnation of Asahi sas Brutus, is her confession. No wonder he had tried to kiss her after.

Her love is a death sentence, but he has survived his execution, or at the very least haunts her in living flesh. “I love you,” she agrees. “It was around the time I met Lindleya that I realized …” “The Hydrus widow?” he asks, lifting his head from hers. She looks up into his face, finding his brow knitted. “Yes,” Shasi says. “Lindleya rem Aglaophotis. You knew each other?” “Socially,” he says, and she remembers that which she always forgets: that he is a prince, with a prince’s education and a prince’s responsibilities. “She was wed to my father’s … favourite.” He lades the word with meaning, but she already knows all about Regula van Hydrus and Varis zos Galvus—and she knows, too, how it made Lindleya weep. “It was inevitable that we should meet. One pities her lot.” “Then would you be her?” Shasi asks. “In love with one whose loyalties are divided?” Zenos laughs softly. It is a comforting sound. “You have been in love with Thancred Waters longer than you and I have known each other,” he says. “You saw that when you looked?” “No,” Zenos says, “I saw it in the Menagerie, watching you fight. It came off of you so readily. I could read it in the air around you. And around him.” “But only because he and I—” Zenos clutches her to his chest, stroking her back. “You lost them all. For more than a year he was absent your life, and you loved him. He came back then. He’ll come back now.”

Shasi isn’t sure why Zenos is so keen to create for himself a rival, but she allows herself to relax against him for a moment. “What will you do now, ‘Julien?’” “My hope has ever laid with you,” he says. “And unless I miss my guess, you are in need of support.” “We have some allies yet,” Shasi says. “That is not what I am saying,” he tells her. He draws back far enough so that he can look upon her face, cradling it in his hands—or in the hands he now possesses.

“I needed you, once,” he says. “Whatever I am now, I owe to you. Let me repay that.” Her vision blurs with tears, and she buries her face against his shoulder before they can fall. He holds her as she weeps. For the first time in months she no longer has to be the strongest person in the room.

And Fray lets her relinquish that strength and composure, because this is what is best for her now.

[comedyl0ser]

oOOooooOOOooo OC that has nothing to do with the actual REDACTED canon lets goooooooo

[cj-and-cjs-ocs]

I could ask about my beloved bois Milo, Draco and Petteri, but since the stars are quite a mystery for me but I want to know more, I try to ask a couple of non-spoilery questions. I hope you won't mind I put several chars on the same ask, I'm pretty tired and just want to send this before sleeping. Edasich: 1, 5, 22, 25, 44, 49; Zeta: 2, 11, 15, 21, 28; Epsilon: 9, 26, 36, 43, 50. I might ask more later but this is already a lot.

Hey dude thank you for sending me these! It’s all good, I had a great time working on these anyway and it was a fun to think about the stars and their personalities! (I just hope I answered the right numbers....)Edasich:1. What’s their full name? Why was that chosen? Does it mean anything?Her full name is Edasich Draconis Hydrus. I chose Edasich because it’s the name of a star in the Draco constellation and I thought it worked pretty well. Draconis, because it’s part of the star name, and Hydrus is another name for serpent, which I think I’ve explained before if I can remember correctly.5. Do they have any siblings? What’s their names? What is their relationship with them? Has their relationship changed since they were kids to adults?Yes, pretty much all of the stars that make up the Draco constellation are her siblings (same goes with other stars and their constellations). So, like, I don’t know if I can name ALL of them, but there’s Gamma, Beta, Lambda, etc. (They’re all Greek letters lol. Also I know Thuban is a name in there but it’s a different Thuban.). Edasich always been on the outside with her siblings and never really “fit in” with them, and when she left for planet 889 their bond was almost completely broken.22. What are their favourite insults to use? What do they insult people for? Or do they prefer to bitch behind someone’s back?Eda likes to straight up insult someone to their face, usually with something she knows will cut deep and have meaning for the person being insulted. She’ll insult people in an argument or if they’re not doing something right.25. What do they find funny? Do they have a good sense of humour? Are they funny themselves?Edasich had a good sense of humour and joked with her friends a lot, but over the years she lost it. She used to think she was very funny though.44. What is their favourite season? Type of weather? Are they good in the cold or the heat? What weather do they complain in the most?Edasich loves the warm seasons with sun and a couple of clouds in the sky. She likes the heat, mostly because of her reptile qualities, but also because plants are green in the heat and green is her favourite colour.She hates the rain, and the dark clouds.49. What is their most valued object? Are they sentimental? Is there something they have to take everywhere with them?Eda doesn’t really have a valued possession, her strong soul maybe, but she really did love her family more than anything she owned.Zeta:2. Do they have any titles? How did they get them?Zeta doesn’t really have any titles, he’s always hidden himself quite a bit and hasn’t managed to do anything worthy of a title in human society.11. Do they have any special diet requirements? Are they a vegetarian? Vegan? Have any allergies?He has trouble eating cold food and can’t eat a large meal that’s something frozen or refrigerated. Anything else, he can eat, even the stuff a normal human probably shouldn’t...15. Are they good at cooking? Do they enjoy it? What do others think of their cooking?Zeta is terrible at cooking and lets Vega take over that. (Although if he does cook everyone pretends to like it)21. Do they have a temper? Are they patient? What are they like when they do lose their temper?Zeta has a terrible temper and looses it very VERY easily. He is not patient at all either. Usually his “tantrums” consist of breaking glass, extremely loud shouting and at least one hole punched in the wall.28. What is their biggest fear? What in general scares them? How do they act when they’re scared?His biggest fear is being discovered as a star. He will do anything to hide his true identity because of what he’s seen happen to stars before. (Not even Vega or Lyra know he’s a star) So, in general he fears death. Usually he gets upset and angry when he’s scared.Epsilon:9. Do animals like them? Do they get on well with animals? Mostly just cats. He got along with most animals, but Epsilon got along with cats the most. Dogs, not so much.26. How do they act when they’re happy? Do they sing? Dance? Hum? Or do they hide their emotions? Epsilon went all out when he was super happy like, I’m talking a full on musical number here. (Heh, most of the time it was in his head bc it would weird people out if he just started singing and dancing)36. What are they good at? What hobbies do they like? Can they sing?Epsilon was good at fighting (not that he likes it), shapeshifting, and making friends with the people around him. He liked watching different civilizations as a star, and noting their differences. He could sing fairly well.43. Are they religious? What do they think of religion? What do they think of religious people? What do they think of non religious people?Epsilon was not religious at all, and found it a funny topic. Being a star, he often laughed at peoples interpretations of the night sky, but at the same time found it slightly fascinating that they could come up with these stories and figures. Epsilon was always annoyed by the persistence of religious people though, but he never took it upon himself to argue with them. He just let them be.50. If they could only take one bag of stuff somewhere with them: what would they pack? What do they consider their essentials?He would probably take small food rations, a pocket knife, a water container and purifier, a G.P.S of some sort, and a change of clothes if there’s space. Epsilon didn’t really care much for material possessions since he knew he could easily get what he wants by shapeshifting and traveling to where he needed to be, so for him, just those items would work just fine.

[starcunning]

18 Priscilla/Valentinus ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

HAPPY FANSERVICE FRIDAY BINCH

Priscilla’smother did not tie the belt around her waist, nor did her brotherstand ready toplace her hand in her beloved’s. It fell instead to her widowedsister-in-law, Lindleya rem Aglaphotis, who was her last remainingfamily.

Tomorrow,Valentinus dus Merula pledged, itwill not be so.

Itwould not be so with or without him—the child’s name would beTacita, it had been decided—but how could anyone look uponPriscilla fae Hydrus and not long to spend their life with her?Perhaps they did, and weredissuaded only by her late brother’s fearsome reputation or thelady’s own sharp wit. It had intimidated Valentinus, to be sure—andhe had thought, too, that perhaps Regula van Hydrus thought no one inthe whole of the Empire fit company for his sister—but he was a sonof Garlemald. He had found his courage.

Asfor Priscilla’s wit, he liked the bite of her humor. Her station,much higher than his own, was no point of shame to him. Instead, herglories were his glories; he took pride in her accomplishments. Hervictories were his to celebrate; her sorrows—and there had beensorrows in plenty—were his to comfort. Valentinus was not anoutwardly sentimental man, but he could do no less than to lay hisheart at her feet; every day to woo her.

And tomorrow,he promised, ityet will be so.

Ifall he could accomplish in his life was to love her half so well asshe deserved, Valentinus dus Merula—Valentinus dus Hydrus—woulddie fulfilled.

Shestood, waiting for him, in her fine-spun cloth, white as snow onmountains. Flame from the candle she held flickered across the filletof gold she wore upon her brow; her earrings; the band of gold he’dmade her, worn upon her left hand, in which she carried an ewer. Thefirst crocus blossoms of spring threaded through her hair, ivory andyellow and violet, and his heart ached for beauty. Lindleya waitedwith her; and with them, all the many faces that had come to see asenator of Garlemald be wed.

Valentinuscame to her—it was all he could do not to sprint—witha roughly shaped loaf of sweet bread in his hands. This, too, he hadmade for her. He was much less practiced with it than jewelry, butshe smiled to see it, as though charmed by its rustic appearance.

“See,”she greeted him, “I bring you water and fire.” She lifted theewer to his lips, and he drank.“See,” he responded, “Ibring you bread from my own hand.” Then he broke a piece from theloaf, and fed it to her. She smiled at him as he did, and he foundhimself dumbstruck, an attendant taking ewer and candle and bread allfrom the pair.

Itwas Lindleya who spoke then. “Priscilla fae Hydrus, do you takethis man for your husband?” she asked.“I do,” Priscillasaid, and Lindleya took her right hand.“Valentinus dusMerula, do you take this woman for your wife?”“I do,”Valentinus said, and Lindleya took his right hand as well.

Thenshe brought the pair together, and they clasped hands—his, roughwith the work of warcraft; hers, which had written a thousandlaws.“Ubi tu Gaius, ego Gaia,” she told him, in the oldtongue, from long before they were an Empire; from long before theywere a Republic.“Ubi tu Gaia, ego Gaius,” he replied.

Thenhe took her in his arms and he kissed her. The gathered crowdcheered, but the sound was distant behind the thundering of blood inhis ears. He could smell the blossoms in her hair; the scent of herperfume, could feel the softness of her skin when he took her face inhis hands. He kissed her gently, reverently, sealing with the motionthe promise he had made to dedicate his life to her happiness. Shewept; he could feel the tears clinging to her lashes, but he wepttoo. Her lips trembled beneath his own, just for a moment, and thenhe withdrew, offering her his hands.

“Come,wife,” he said. “Let me see you home.”“Yes, husband,”she replied, something teasing in her smile. “Let’s go home.”

Valentinuswas glad, then, that Garlean custom was to celebrate the marriage thenext day, for he wanted nothing more than to be alone with her awhile.