#I am so normal about Volo guys

[eev583]

Yes hello

I’m still very normal about this. I just keep thinking about when he comes, I’m gonna throw all the gems I’ve got at him. I have literally been saving them for MONTHS! Just so I can have him as a sync pair. Since the other legends Arceus pairs got here.

[nemesis-is-my-middle-name]

also re: ingo being The most powerful warden, like, thinking about it. to start with, just in terms of numbers, does anyone besides the protag ever match him? nobody among the wardens can even beat his initial fight number of 3, let alone the full team of the training grounds fights.

hang on i just double checked and yeah. even among the galaxy team members, the max anyone there reaches is 5—the protag counterpart and kamado in postgame fights, and then also beni and zisu in the highest-tier path of tenacity battles. everyone else has 4 or fewer. the only person in hisui who matches ingo for numbers is fucking volo, the final story battle, the last time you ever fight him.

and then you've got levels. on account of the variant horde-type battles the clans use, all the "accessory" pokemon there tend to be significantly weaker than their main. now in the final-stage, people do sometimes break past the max level of 77 w/ 5 efforts in ingo's tougher team—the clan leader's main eeveelution are at 75 and will have effort 7, as will zisu and kamado's teams in the galaxy team path of tencity. kamado makes it to 79 and is, as far as i can tell, the only person to beat that lvl 77 number. so there do exist battles that are tougher than ingo's—though i think it's probably worth keep in mind that in-universe, this is you fighting these guys for the like 5th+ time while they've been aggressively training to beat you. ingo will break out his "tougher" team the like, 3rd time you fight him.

BUT WAIT!! THERE'S MORE!!

ingo doesn't participate in path of tenacity battles with his clan, but his 3 regular battle teams (normal, tougher, and alphas) are not the only ways you can fight him! that's right i'm talking about the PATH OF SOLITUDE. if you fight ingo in path of solitude with certain nobles, starters, and also "baby" or very weak pokemon because fuck you i guess, he will break out pokemon in the range of 80-84. i am fairly certain this is the highest level of any pokemon battle you can have in this game. please look at this fucking matchup:

oh you want to path of solitude with your cute little bnuuy?? lol. lmao. dusknoir also knows a recovery move fwiw. and has completely maxed efforts. in case you weren't having a bad enough time already.

but wait!! we're not done!!

ok so ingo doesn't use that variant horde battle format that the rest of the clans use, right? excepting the alpha battle. well that's not quite true. if you do path of solitude with any of the pla box legendaries—i.e. palkia, dialga, giratina, arceus—he'll also use 3 at once against you in that battle, each one being either a hisui or a modern sinnoh (if it's giratina) starter line. with palkia and dialga, these guys are lvl 50 each. for giratina they're 60.

would you like to guess what he uses to fight you if you're using arceus?

level fucking 87. all at the same time. with max evs. they also have ideal natures for their attacks, y'know, just. in case you were wondering. in case you thought he was going to show you any kind of mercy whatsoever.

i can only assume this is his way of venting some frustration about the whole spacetime kidnapping thing.

[reshiram]

what are some of your favorite headcanons? can be about any series/media/fandom :)

ohhhh good question!!! ;__; i have a lot of headcanons for like... every series i get into ........ i'll list a few that are particularly near and dear to my heart....

immortal volo....... i had this hc since the game came out. maybe even before then. it's hard to remember. but it's probably because i'm influenced by the blanket of characters he's similar to in my mind....... it's a really cool hc and i've seen So many interpretations of it over the years. it's one i sincerely hope is true.

grima's sweet tooth which Isn't a headcanon anymore because feh confirmed it... thanks feh. but yeah he's very gap moe i stand by this forever and ever.

kieran has a shiny dusk lycanroc that he raised from a rockruff - it was his first pokemon. + he got to keep terapagos. these are the laws of the land. you just have to trust me...

astrals from gbf all have slightly pointy ears. one of those hcs that i always have to remember isn't real. Unfortunately.

merlin from fgo is blind. this one is simply because i am Blind and i love to throw that hc on my faves but this one is Very Special. i did write up some words on how it manifests here. :}

i'm a strong believer of manakete robin but that's because i have Extensive thoughts on robin equating grima but regardless i will forever say robin has Vague manakete traits.

Way Too Long to Put In One Post but my entire forneus backstory... which i honestly need to refine a bit more since it's Old (4 years. By The Gods)... tl;dr Guy who wanted his alchemy to save people got taken advantage of and he fell into depravity. also his hair was originally brown but it turned white due to stress + transmutation shenanigans....... and that Stuck with the fellblood lineage... if you had white in your hair Congrats you are a likely vessel... oh and this one is fun. he transmuted his own emotions to gain more knowledge. This guy is so normal but fire emblem will not tell you that. 👍

kind of a headcanon but kind of more of an allusion? but jr. + albedo xenosaga feel system-coded to me. with the way they were Once One and refer to each other as halves of the same self... Yeah. i wouldn't say they're a system canonically but i definitely feel it's easy to see that they can be a stand-in for dissociative stuff.

n pokemon's chosen Beast of Choice is reshiram. seeker of truth real. you heard it here first. but if i had to live in a perfect world he'd get both dragons... those are his Puppies

klaus xenoblade is from long island. is this one a joke? no one knows... but in all seriousness, i do believe morytha is somewhere in the northeast us. likely boston. route 90 you haunt me forever...

thank you for asking... this one was very fun to answer even if it's a bit personal. i am headcanonman666666

[leggerefiore]

sorry to bother you but did some fics you had written vanish? i thought i had read a hurt/comfort fic where some characters (cyrus, larry, kabu, nanu) argue with the reader and later apologize and some bring gifts too. i might be wrong so ignore this if i am 😅

Here you are, anon! (I'll reblog it, too.)

See, Tumblr's search function sucks, and I struggled to find this... Literally, Kabu x reader brought up nothing. Sometimes, you just have to click tags to search. Granted, I do have an easier view.

I've also been trying (and maybe failing a bit) to archive my posts on AO3 when I can. This particular post can also be found here in this compilation.

I'm behind on my Ingo and Emmet posts, but that compilation is so big already that I feel nervous messing with it, haha... Though, I do have my villain requests and normal character requests separated. Granted... Cyrus and Volo are in the general characters, but that was started in 2022 before I started formally doing just specific villain requests.

If you guys want anything in particular put in the ao3 comp, send an ask that has the link or like describe the post a bit (and check to make sure it already isn't in one or the other.)

I try to only update them in large quantities because I feel bad about spamming tags, so it might be a minute between when you send a request to add it and when it actually is...

[cryptids-lobelia-garden]

Lol sorry this is a day late I was honoring the April 1 strike for Palestine and then yesterday my internet was really slow and Tumblr draft edit wouldn’t work

Anyway.

Warnings: idk how these work please lemme know if I need to tag anything else but uh. Manipulative/kinda creepy whumper, a conditioned whumpee and his self destructive/self sacrificial tendencies, caretaker was hurt by whumpee in the past (not in a whump way just in a whumpee tried to destroy the world and caretaker had to stop him way) but he’s grown over the time they’ve been apart and come to understand the whumpee’s actions, uh. This is Pokémon and I’m going with a nuanced take of some of them are sapient and some aren’t and caretaker is very much a Pokémon, also whumpee is a canon character and might act OOC for. Reasons that will hopefully be revealed over the course of this month if I can get this challenge done :D oh also I follow canon VERY loosely bc there’s like three different canons and I’m here to have fun not to police my story writing so uh. Ye

Anyway, there’s also some mind control in there, some frostbite, some.. It’s like a chemical burn sort of, some dissociative panic attack flavored stuff, uh. Animal attack? Oh yeah and dismemberment lol- this one is. A little. Uh. Yeah

Oh and if you see these characters on another account ask that account if it’s me before getting upset bc uh. I have posted abt them on my main before

Anyway. Yeah. Enjoy this, uh. Please don’t judge me I can’t get these freaks out of my head hsjdjdjd

Day 1: Limp

Reunited Arc Part 1

~~~~~

It was supposed to just be a normal day off.

Cheri was headed to Celestic City to meet with a historian, to answer questions about Dialga and the Diamond Clan.

He’s taking the train, since he didn’t feel like walking all that way or making any of his Pokémon carry him.

It was supposed to be a normal day, but he sees a familiar face, and he has to do a double take.

Long blond hair, one eye covered, tied in its usual messy bun in the back. A shining silver eye, which is currently focused on a watch on their own wrist. Cheri would’ve guessed that was Cynthia, but he’s a guy, and he’s wearing a form-fitting black turtleneck tank top, a denim jacket over it.

The modern clothes on him are such a foreign sight.

But there’s no mistaking it.

Volo.

Cheri feels his blood freeze near instantly. A few people step away as the space around him begins to grow cold, a breeze of malice brushing through the air.

Volo hasn’t noticed him yet, and Cheri’s debating between just leaving and confronting the man.

Celestic Town is pretty close to Mount Coronet, but Cheri has prior arrangements. If he decides to go after Volo, he might not make it to the city on time, if at all. And someone guards the mountain now after Cyrus, right? So it’s not like Volo will be able to actually get there.

Unless he takes a path that isn’t through the caves. But even then, Arceus will be fine, they’re a god, it’s fine.

Maybe Cheri should just avoid all this and ride a bike to town. He left himself enough time to, after all.

But the train doors close, making Cheri’s choice for him. He can’t just say nothing.

So he steps forward.

“Hey.”

Volo looks up from his watch, eyes wide. “Hello- I’m sorry, am I in your way?” Who is this? He looks familiar..

Cheri shakes no. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Volo stops, staring at the stranger(?) for a moment. He knows me. Who is this? Usually, when people are angry at me in this time, it’s because they’ve mistaken me for Cynthia. But it seems like this one’s here for ME, not her-

His eyes widen. He goes pale. Takes a step back, his voice quiet enough that only the man in front of him hears it. “Cheri.” The one of the siblings I ESPECIALLY did NOT want to run into.

I don’t have time for this! Not now- of all the times I could have run into him, it had to be this last mission?

He pushes his thoughts aside, putting on a grin and trying to act like everything’s fine.

“Haha, it’s fancy seeing you here! What a coincidence!” I can’t do this right now! I’m on a time limit- this is THE WORST possible timing for this to happen, so of course it does.

“What a coincidence indeed,” Cheri says, voice low, taking another step forward as Volo takes a step back.

Volo’s smiling, that same pleasant grin Cheri remembers from all those years ago. But Cheri knows it’s a lie, can sense the fear coming off the man.

“Why are you headed to Mount Coronet? You and I both know you shouldn’t be there.”

“Listen, I can explain, but I don’t have much time- but I am not here for Arceus.” Cheri doesn’t seem convinced, so he keeps talking. “I’m here to protect Arceus, actually, from someone much worse than I am.”

“Hm. A likely story.” Cheri starts reading his emotions a little more.

“I swear on my life, that’s behind me.” Please, please, please please PLEASE believe me. I know you have every reason not to, after what I’ve done, but please just listen.

Cheri hums, thinking this over for a moment.

He doesn’t sense any lies from the man, strangely enough. He lets his magic push forward a little further, sensing for Volo’s intentions.

He doesn’t sense anything to do with Arceus at all, actually. No lies, no deceit.

Interesting..

Volo shivers as he feels a cold chill brushing through him, though the pleasant mask of a smile stays firmly in place. They reach their stop. I need to get away. He turns on his heel. “Well, I’ll be seeing you around-” Cheri’s hand is on his shoulder, and he tenses, breath catching in his throat. Please have mercy. Whatever you’re about to do, just don’t hurt me too badly.

Cheri’s voice is quiet, his expression grim. “You’re on a suicide mission, aren’t you.”

Shock, surprise. He shakes his head, smile growing strained. “Wh- how did you-” Volo clears his throat, turning back to smile at Cheri. “It doesn’t matter. No matter what happens, whether it’s him who dies or me, the problem will be over. And I’m probably not going to die anyway. Why?”

Cheri frowns, thinking that over for a few moments. Him? I’m assuming that’s who he’s saying he’s protecting Arceus from? If Volo dies, doesn’t that mean the problem isn’t technically over? Because we still have someone out there who’s willing to attack Arceus to further a goal. And if Volo, of all people, thinks this guy could KILL him, with Pokémon as powerful as his.. “..I’m coming with you.”

Why? What does he want out of this? “He is dangerous. You shouldn’t come with, he could kill you, and I am not worth it.” How much does he know? How did he know?

“Well, that’s all the more reason for me to come with.” If this guy really is as much of a threat as Volo says he is, I need to make sure this guy doesn’t get anywhere near the creation quartet. The two step off the train, and Cheri crosses his arms, head tilting to the side. “If you’re telling the truth, it sounds like this guy needs to be taken out.”

Volo looks up at Cheri for a second, opening his mouth to argue, and Cheri ignores his own annoyance, interrupting before Volo starts.

“I’ve fought gods. I’ve fought you. I’m sure I can take this guy out just fine.”

Volo frowns. “You should want me dead, you know-”

“No. Nope.” Cheri pinches the bridge of his nose. “Shut up with that, I’m not gonna listen to you talk about yourself like that.” Because as angry as I am at him for everything..

I can’t bring myself to hate him. Can’t bring myself to hate anyone, really, but ESPECIALLY not him.

We’re the same, after all.

Volo shuts his mouth, keeping the surprise off his face. I betrayed him and his siblings. Am I not just speaking truth? “..okay. ..I’ll explain while we walk, but we need to hurry.” I really am not worth it. But.. I doubt I’ll be able to talk him out of this. He always was stubborn, even more so than his sister at times..

What does he want, coming with me on this? Perhaps he’s just making sure I’m telling the truth about not being after Arceus, but then if he knows how dangerous this mission is..

..What should I tell him? What should I leave out? He needs to know at least some of the situation. Maybe if he knows it’s no real threat to anyone except me, he’ll leave the situation be? He knows I deserve this, after all, was on the receiving end of my worst mistake..

Cheri follows the man, who seems to be lost in thought, and he soon gets lost in his own. Who is “he”..? I could look into his fears and see.. no, that’s too invasive. Even for Volo.

..I really don't know much about him, Hisui was so long ago.. And even back then, he tried to avoid being around me as much as he could. He could tell I didn’t trust him. He hung out with Ana and Keyo much more often. But..

He looks up at Volo. Volo looks back, smiling that pleasant smile again. But it’s tense. Almost strained. Cheri gives as reassuring of a smile as he can, but it only seems to make the guy more tense, so Cheri looks away.

I’m pretty sure that this isn’t like him. He manipulated my siblings and I into helping him collect the Plates, avoiding the dangerous work for himself; it isn’t like him to do something so dangerous like this.

Cheri carefully looks at Volo out of the corner of his eye, studying Volo’s face for a moment. His eyes glow as he looks into Volo’s emotions, grimacing when he feels a wave of anxiety and self hatred and quickly stopping, pulling his magic away.

Whoa..

..He doesn’t feel the same. I don’t feel the sense of untrustworthiness I did back then.

I wish I had a hold on my powers then, because I don’t have any idea how different he truly is, I have no clue if that self hatred was there before, but I know for a FACT the anxiety wasn’t. I can see it even without my abilities.

Volo’s looking around at every face as they walk. It’s hard to notice the nerves behind the pleasant smile, but Cheri can tell from how tense he’s holding his shoulders, a tenseness that didn’t exist back in Hisui.

And his eyes are.. darker, somehow, and his breath hitches every so often as people look at him.

And he looks sick. He has eyebags dark enough they almost look like bruises. He’s pale- even more so than he was back then.

He’s still smiling, but something about the smile is even more fake than it used to be; at least in Hisui, the confidence was real.

What happened to take his confidence?

They’re around less people now, and Volo takes a breath, turning to look at the trail. “So!” Volo claps his hands together with a fake chipper attitude. “The man we’re going after.. His name is Eclipse.”

With the name, Cheri notices fear.

Memories.

He doesn’t look into them, that’s invasive, but he can tell they’re there. That’s not good.

“He’s..” Volo thinks for a moment. “..Not a good man.” Then he points into the air, finger wagging as he talks. “And he’s leading me straight into a trap! And he likely knows that I know that it’s a trap. And he also knows that I’m going to come anyway, whether I know it’s a trap or not. But!” Volo turns to Cheri suddenly, pointing at him with a smile. “If I walk into the trap, he’ll stop everything he’s doing. He only wants me. I mean, he also wants to take revenge on- well, that doesn’t matter, but he’ll stop if I give myself to him.”

“If you what?” Cheri’s staring to get genuinely worried, eyebrows furrowing. “Volo, who is this guy?”

“Someone who gave me what I deserve,” Volo says quickly, then he shakes his head. “It really doesn’t matter. Go home, this doesn’t concern you.”

“Arceus is part of it, and you are too, so uh. Yeah. It does concern me, actually.” Damnit, that wasn’t supposed to sound so pointed. I’m WORRIED, about HIM, not about Arceus.

Volo shakes his head. “Really, it’s fine. I’m not here to do anything to Arceus. No plates, no flute, you can check my bag if you want. I’m just here for Eclipse. I’m here to try to take him down, and if that doesn’t work, well.. The problem will be gone either way!”

There’s a sour taste in Cheri’s mouth. Something’s very, very wrong here. “So, what, you’re just gonna let this guy take you and do Arceus knows what?”

“It’s deserved.” Volo smiles at him again, though it’s more strained and looks much more like he’s pleading. “Please, just leave, this is not worth your safety.”

“Nope. No, not happening. I’m coming with you whether you like it or not, you’re not gonna talk me out of it now.” This whole situation.. Whatever’s going on, it really seems like it’s MUCH worse than he deserved. Prison maybe, I could see that. Maybe getting grabbed by a time traveler who could teach him about exactly why what he did was dangerous.

But something tells me someone went way too far.

Volo’s smile grows more strained. “..I was afraid of that,” he murmurs, then he shakes his head. “Well. Hm. ..okay. I.. suppose this might be a good thing. He probably thinks that I’m not coming with backup- I wasn’t planning to, so.” Volo shakes his head, smile fading entirely as he turns back to the trail up Mount Coronet. “Anyway.. He has been collecting legendary and mythical Pokémon from different times and places. We’re not sure what all he has- we know for sure he has Regiice, Azelf, and possibly the other two lake spirits, as well as the Red Chain.”

Who is “we”?? Wait. SHIT. Cheri’s neck snaps he turns to Volo so fast. “He has the red chain?”

Volo, fairly used to ghost-type shenanigans, barely bats an eye. He just nods, a grim look on his face. “And he’s going after Arceus with it.”

“That’s.. not good.” Cheri turns back to the trail, frowning down at it and kicking a few pebbles forward. “But if he takes you, the problem’s over? Why?”

Volo thinks for a moment. “He’s.. very angry with me, and it’s me specifically that he’s after, despite the situation,” he says. Cheri can tell Volo’s verbally stepping around details, so he stays quiet, waiting for Volo to explain. “..I caused him to lose everything he had.”

“..with the rift, or..?”

“Oh, no, not like that.” Volo quickly shakes his head, hands waving. “No, he just..” Volo grimaces, looking away, what Cheri would have been able to see of his face hidden behind his hair. “He.. Well. He did some pretty bad things to me. Which! That was deserved, really, you know I deserved them.” Cheri grimaces. He keeps saying that it’s deserved.. it’s putting a bad taste in my mouth. Before Cheri can say anything, Volo keeps talking. “But when Management saw what he did, they kicked him from-” He shakes his head. “You know, I actually don’t think I’m supposed to talk about that. Forget I said anything about Management.”

“Okay.” So, he was in some secret club or something, and this Eclipse guy hurt him and got kicked out over it. “..the hell you mean ‘it’s deserved’? What did he do?”

Volo’s lips press into a thin line for a moment, then he glances at his watch. “Oh, look at the time!” Volo grimaces as he looks at the cave through the mountain. “We should hurry, let’s leave the path and just climb it, this cave system must be new; I am unfamiliar with it.”

Okay, he’s avoiding the question. Cheri frowns, ignoring the annoyance stewing in his gut and following Volo off the path. Then Eclipse must have done something pretty bad.

Or maybe he’s just a very private person. He avoided questions a lot back in Hisui.

Then again, in Hisui, he had a lot of things to hide.

..What is this club he was in? Some sort of evil team? But if it is, why would they have sent him to PROTECT Arceus from this Eclipse guy?

Given our past, I’d think he was lying if I couldn’t tell. He is so incredibly lucky I have the ability to tell.

“..so. He’s got a bunch of legendaries. Why are they with him?”

“They’re not with him willingly,” Volo explains, finding a good spot on a cliffside to start climbing. “He has this device, it’s from the future- Ah! Did I mention he’s from the future? Anyway, he has this device, which is controlling them through technologically created psychic power. They don’t want this, so we need to try to avoid hurting them, so the hoppers can bring them home- they’re from different times, he’s been jumping through time to take them.”

Cheri blinks a few times, head tilting to the side in confusion. “Hoppers?? Jumping through time???” Holy shit, wait, was I accidentally right about a time traveler grabbing him?

I guess it makes sense how he’s here then.

“It’s a very long story.” One I am probably not allowed to tell you. Well.. I might be able to, considering the fact that technically, you’re a time traveler. One chosen by Arceus, no less. But.. I don’t want to drag you into this mess. Not any more than I already have, anyway. Volo shakes his head. “Anyway, we’re not sure what exactly he’s controlling them through, but we believe it’s his bracelet.”

“Gotcha.” Cheri frowns. “So, don’t hurt the legendaries, break his bracelet.”

“Exactly.” Getting to the top of the cliffside, Volo turns around to pull Cheri up, though Cheri waves him off, he doesn’t need the help. “And try not to get hurt yourself.”

Cheri nods, smirking. “Thanks, Sherlock.”

Volo blinks a few times in confusion. “..Sherlock..?”

“It’s a reference- there’s this book-” Cheri shakes his head. “Nevermind.” Noticing a sneasel sneaking up on him, he snarls at it, letting an illusion lash towards it. It squeaks in fear, running off. “Sorry, can’t risk it with dark types.”

“No, that’s fine.” I already knew he wasn’t human anyway, though it’s interesting to see him actually use his abilities.

However, it IS a little frightening.

Was that meant to be a show of power, or was he genuinely just scaring it off?

What exactly does he want with me?

Volo turns, and they keep walking, an uncomfortable silence falling between the two.

“..you know.. I have time.”

Volo looks over at him in confusion.

“For a long story I mean.”

“This isn’t one you want to hear,” Volo quickly says. Please don’t ask again.

Luckily for Volo, Cheri just looks at him for a moment, almost seeming to study him. Volo shudders at the way Cheri seems to be staring straight into his soul.

Then Cheri nods, turning to the next cliffside to climb in silence.

Volo watches him for a moment longer before turning back to climb. ..He doesn’t trust me. I can tell. He might never trust me again, and honestly, that would be warranted.

It’s really unfortunate timing, that this has happened now, of all times. Right now, when I’m doing something important. One last thing before there’s nothing left for me to do, nothing left that I can fix.

..I suppose if I survive this, I can let him and his siblings decide my fate afterwards. Those three were the ones most directly affected by my actions.. Then they’ll get the final decision, if it isn’t made here.

..for now, though.. I can, at the very least, try to give him closure.

“..I.. want to apologize,” Volo mutters.

Cheri turns to look at him, subconsciously checking his intentions, and oh, this is a genuine apology. “Hm?”

“For.. Not only the rift, and pulling you and your siblings from your home, but also for betraying the three of you. ..I hope you know it wasn’t just.. It wasn’t all just manipulation. You three were some of the few people I could genuinely consider friends, had I not been holding you all at arms length.” I might as well be genuine. Maybe in return, he’ll do the same..

No. I shouldn’t hope, I don’t get to hope, but..

It would be nice, if it was something I deserved.

Cheri blinks a few times as he feels the sincerity. Interesting.. “..They’re going to want apologies too, you know. ..thanks, by the way, that.. actually means a lot.” He looks up the mountain, thinking for a moment. “..You really have changed, haven’t you.”

Volo hums, making a so-so gesture. “I’d like to think so.”

“..I forgive you, you know.” Cheri shakes his head. “Honestly, I did a long time ago. What you did was fucked up, don’t get me wrong, and a LOT of people got hurt that shouldn’t have. But.. I dunno.” He shakes his head. “..I can understand your reasoning.” What I learned about him, about his people..

Volo stops, looking over at Cheri with confusion. He forgives me..? Why? It doesn’t make sense to me. What does he have to gain? I don’t know if I should trust this, that might be exactly what he’s aiming for. “Really?” Volo looks up to meet Cheri’s eyes.

Confusion, a hint of fear, and Cheri realizes he should explain. “I wouldn’t ever do the same thing you did, don’t get me wrong. But the world really is full of unnecessary suffering.” Cheri shakes his head. “And.. if I’m right about where you came from, you’ve dealt with a lot of it, right?”

How much does he know about me? And how does he know it? Why does he know it?

Volo doesn’t let his uneasiness show on his face, humming noncommittally. “It doesn’t excuse my actions. I ended up bringing harm to a lot of people.” I don’t deserve forgiveness. “..Thank you, though,” he murmurs.

Cheri studies him for a moment. So, the self loathing is probably from the rift and everything surrounding it, at least partially.. Not sure what the uneasiness is about, but he doesn’t like something about me. It might just be the whole zoroark thing, but it’s been growing, so maybe it’s something I’ve been saying or something? “Don’t mention it.” He looks up, getting to the top of the cliff they’re climbing and offering a hand to pull Volo up, which Volo takes.

They’re about halfway up the mountain now. The air’s growing colder- though Cheri can’t really feel the cold himself, Volo’s pulling his clothes a little tighter around himself.

..conversation topic.. Oh, the plan. “So.. About this Eclipse guy..”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Volo says quickly.

“No, I wasn’t asking what he did, don’t worry.” I don’t want to push him too much, he’s wary. “I just want to know, he’s trying to kill you, right? Do you want him alive, or? If you’re, uh.. taking him out, what’re we doing with him after? What’s the plan?”

“You don’t have to worry about that, he’ll be taken care of either way, and.. alive would be preferred, but if he dies, I.. don’t really care.” Maybe that’s a little harsh.. Well. Maybe I’m allowed to be a little harsh. Volo shakes his head. “However, I would like to be able to capture him and bring him in. I.. have some questions that I want to ask him, with prison bars separating him from me, of course.”

Cheri hums, studying Volo’s expression for a moment, sensing the emotions behind it. Is that.. Pain? Exhaustion?

Concern? ..Overthinking, maybe..?

“..What sorts of questions?”

Volo shakes his head. “..I just.. hm.”

I don’t know how to word this. I want to know why he did it. I want to know why, out of EVERYONE he could have chosen, every timespace criminal he had access to, he chose ME to hurt.

“..I want closure.”

Cheri hums, looking away. “..He might not give you that. Talking to him might make it worse, you know.”

Volo turns to Cheri with a glare, hissing “You know nothing about him, or my situation.”

Cheri’s a little surprised by the sudden anger in the air, though it’s understandable, he doesn’t blame Volo for it. After a moment of thought, trying to figure out what to say, he shrugs. “I might know next to nothing about the situation, but I know trauma when I see it.” He glances over at Volo, letting his eyes flash, a subtle reminder of his abilities. “He hurt you, yeah? On purpose, I’m guessing.”

..Just how much does he know..? And what is he trying to get out of knowing this about me?

He’s right, and it scares me. Does he know because of an ability? Did he look into my fears? Or did he figure it out on his own?

Volo turns away, the silence giving Cheri all the answer he needs.

Shit. It seems like trying to bridge the gap is just making things worse.. Honestly, I should’ve expected this, got too personal too fast.

Well. There’s no point in dropping the conversation at this point. He can try to make me leave, but it’s not gonna work, I need to make sure this Eclipse guy doesn’t fuck with Arceus. And besides..

I’m worried. About Volo, of all people. That’s saying something. “..And he’s trying to kill you even now.. I doubt he’ll give you closure.” Cheri turns away, frowning. “If anything, talking to him might make things worse.” It made it worse when I talked to Keyo’s bio parents, after all. Dickheads will be dickheads, it’ll always hurt to talk to em.

“Perhaps.” Volo shakes his head. My pain shouldn’t matter to you. You can’t actually care, especially not with everything I’ve done to you, so..

It must matter to you because you want me hurt.

“..Let’s talk about something else, shall we?” And if you do somehow care, you shouldn’t get attached to me anyway, you shouldn’t get attached to someone who deserves a bad fate. It’ll only hurt you.

“Hm.” ..yeah. He’s probably done talking now. Cheri looks up the mountain, squinting as the sun hits his eyes. “..Not much further now.”

Volo nods, checking his watch. “The readings said he will appear in the cave that leads to Cloudcap Pass.”

“Alright. So we get to the pass, then go to the cave from there?”

Volo nods. “And then we’ll wait until he arrives.”

“Right.”

They climb in silence until they reach the top, coming out near the destroyed temple. Cheri takes a deep breath, taking in the air.

This place feels as holy as it always did, the presence of the gods closer here than it is anywhere else in the region, and he feels the power of Arceus’s blessing within him shift.

They’re watching.

Volo glances over at the spear pillar, an unreadable expression on his face, and Cheri senses a spike of guilt. Then he turns away from it, wordlessly heading to the cave, a grim determination filling his gut as he lets his Pokémon out.

Cheri lets his own Pokémon out too. He hadn’t been expecting a battle today, but most of his Pokémon are pretty strong anyway, so it should be fine. He’s got Sprigs with him, and Sprigs doesn’t fight, so he was left in his ball. But Cheri has a few with him that do fight, some of the ones that he hasn’t spent much time with recently. Hydra, Eelectra, Zigzag, Tiktok, and Sylvie- his hydreigon, eelektross, linoone, galvantula, and sylveon, respectively- all can fight. And in the worst case scenario, he can fight too.

Recognition. Feeling a pulse of emotional energy towards him, he turns to look at Volo’s Lucario, who’s staring at him with confusion and a little bit of fear. Cheri takes a breath, summoning up feelings of forgiveness, knowing the other Pokémon can read them. After a moment, the Lucario nods, pushing another feeling towards him. Friendliness, a gesture of goodwill. That is SO much better than what I got from his trainer. Cheri smiles, letting the feeling rise in his chest and sending it back, then he looks over at Volo.

Volo looks normal on the outside, but Cheri can tell he’s terrified, can feel the feeling seeping off him even without reaching towards him with his abilities.

“Hey,” Cheri says, resting a hand on Volo’s shoulder.

He nearly pulls away when Volo flinches, but then Volo leans slightly into the kind touch, looking up at him with wide eyes.

He’s touching me. Why is he touching me. I..

Why am I.. not all that scared of it..?

“I’ve got your back. You’re gonna be okay,” Cheri mutters. If you’re gonna die, he’s gotta get through me first.

Volo stares at him for a moment, then nods, his smile becoming a bit more genuine, though there’s sadness in his eyes. Oh. This is genuine kindness?

I should have expected it from Arceus’s chosen.

..I really don’t deserve this. You shouldn’t get attached to me. He opens his mouth to speak, but then his watch starts to blare, an alarm that he quickly moves to silence, expression hardening. “He’s coming,” Volo says, pressing a button on his watch. A hologram pops up, indicating a specific location, and Volo turns it off and takes a step away from there, staring at it, getting low to the ground, ready to dodge at a moment’s notice. Okay. I can do this. All I need is to last long enough to break that bracelet. His Pokémon quickly surround him, protective. Cheri motions for his own to do the same, and they quickly get into battle-ready stances.

The group stands in silence, staring at the spot, waiting with bated breath.

And then a portal opens, and Volo’s garchomp snarls, dashing forward.

“Ah- Shark, wait-!”

But it’s too late. Shark is thrown into the nearest wall, a Mewtwo holding him there. He snarls, kicking at the walls, the ground, trying to escape the psychic grasp, but it’s no use. Should I recall him and let him back out? I don’t know if that would work, don’t know if I could move quickly enough-

“Well, hello there,” someone says.

The voice is unfamiliar to Cheri.

But Volo stiffens even further.

Goosebumps rise on his arms.

Cheri can feel the fear seeping off him as he turns to stare into the portal.

The strange man steps forwards, grinning. “That’s not the friendliest welcome.”

“Eclipse,” Volo mutters, shrinking back. Shrinking back.

What the hell did he do, to make Volo react like that? Cheri looks over to Eclipse, taking in the high-tech bracelets on his arms, the look in his eyes.

He’s immediately hit with the man’s aura as he reaches his powers out, a sense of complete malice washing over him, and his eyes narrow as he braces himself against it, subconsciously baring his teeth.

“I can’t let you near Arceus,” Volo says, taking a step forward despite his fear, his Pokémon moving with him.

Eclipse waves his right hand, and a few more legendaries appear.

Volo stops moving forward. The whole cave is at a standstill.

Cheri notices strange yellow wires around the legendaries’ forms, feels psychic energy coming off of them, and then his eyes narrow as he notices a small yellow bracelet on Eclipse’s wrist. It’s barely noticeable, but it matches the wires. That must be the one.

“You know what I want,” Eclipse says. Volo’s Pokémon growl, protectively moving between the two. “All you need to do is come quietly, and all this can end. You know you deserve what’ll happen to you. It’ll save the world, even; it’ll finally redeem you, to prevent the same thing you did from happening again.”

And his grin widens, the malice surrounding im grows stronger.

“Don’t you want that?”

The manipulation leaves a bad taste in Cheri’s mouth, but he looks over at Volo, waiting to see how the interaction plays out.

“..I..” I do deserve it, but I still have my Pokémon to take care of. I don’t want to leave them behind, but if this doesn’t work, if I attack him and it ends up being for nothing, will he hurt them as retaliation for my actions?

..If I just go with, I won’t have to worry. They will be at least a little safer. The land may be different in this time, but it’s still their home region, and I trust they’ll be able to take care of themselves if needed, but..

“Are you going to return the legendaries to where you got them if I do?”

Volo’s pokemon make sounds of protests, but he holds up a hand to keep them quiet.

“Of course. I only needed them for this, after all.”

Okay. Fuck this. Cheri steps forward suddenly. “He isn’t going anywhere with you,” Cheri spits, moving between the two himself.

“And who are you? His new toy?” Eclipse sneers. “He’ll only betray you, you know; he’s betrayed everyone he’s ever gotten close to. He’ll manipulate you and then throw you aside, like he always has.”

Cheri feels the way Volo shrinks back, feels the guilt pooling off the man, and he snarls. Gods. Why does every powerful man I meet have to be SUCH a DICK? “Shut the fuck up. You think I don’t know the risks? I’m one of the guys he betrayed, and you’re still wrong for treating him like this.”

Eclipse raises an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity in his eye. “Oh really?” He tilts his head to the side. “Haven’t you noticed he’s better now? Haven’t you noticed he’s not going to try anything anymore? That change is because of me. Really, the world is better off with him in my hands-”

Cheri rushes forward. He’s reaching for the bracelet on Eclipse’s wrist, aiming to break it, and the other Pokémon in the cave rush forwards with him.

Within seconds, Mewtwo flings a bunch of their Pokémon out of the cave. Zigzag, Hydra, and Volo’s Spiritomb are frozen in a huge block of ice that Cheri narrowly avoids himself. Galarian Moltres flies past him as he dodges another blast of ice. There’s something glowing electric blue over there, but Cherry doesn’t see what it is before another ice blast blocks his vision.

Cheri can’t see Volo, but he knows Volo has Sylvie and his lucario with him, so he focuses on dodging Regiice’s attacks. With an angry scream, fire blasts from his throat, knocking Regiice out cold. One last blast of ice manages to catch his arm, and Cheri yelps as frostbite sets in-

Volo screams, a sound that reeks of agony, a bloodcurdling sound that makes Cheri’s heart drop, and he turns to Eclipse, letting his true form show, ten feet of pure protective rage aiming for Eclipse’s wrist-

Mesprit. Blast of emotion. Panic.

Frenzy.

Magic rushing in his ears. Time blurring together. Screaming, sounds so far away.

Blood flying through the air. An arm, mangled human arm, on the ground, blood pooling, blood in his mouth, between his teeth, on his hands, broken bracelet, mutilated flesh.

He tries to breathe. Everything sounds underwater, the world spinning, spinning, out of his control.

Out of control.

Out of control.

Out of control, he’s out of control-

Ribbon around his arm. A sense of calm pushes the panic away. He’s left on the ground, gasping, catching his breath, residual shakes leaving him exhausted, shifting back to his human form on instinct.

He looks up after a few moments, looking up at Sylvie, who’s staring at him with wide, terrified eyes.

“h.. Hey, buddy,” Cheri murmurs, gently scratching the top of Sylvie’s head. “You okay?”

Sylvie makes a sound, butting his head against Cheri’s chest before pulling away and dashing around the chunk of ice.

Cheri recalls the Pokémon who are still stuck in the ice, then stands on shaky legs, hurrying after Sylvie- Oh no.

Volo’s on the ground.

Cheri can’t tell if he’s conscious or not.

He rushes to Volo’s side, his uninjured hand hovering over the man, trying to figure out what’s wrong-

“Cheri,” a weak voice, and Cheri looks up at Volo’s face.

Contorted with agony. He reaches out with his magic to see where the pain is, burning blasts through his side. He pulls back.

“Is- is he gone?” Volo asks.

“Yeah, I- I think I got him, I think he’s gone,” Cheri mutters, rolling Volo over despite Volo’s cry of pain.

His shirt’s stained black in a large spot on his side. Cherry pulls it up to see a huge burn. It’s.. odd, though, it’s not a normal burn. The area around is stained black, but it isn’t charred, nothing is charred. It almost looks more like a poison than anything.

Cheri can feel the dark-type energy coming off it, sapping his own energy, and he takes a shaking breath through his mouth, trying to will away the feeling as he scoops Volo up. Volo lets out a pained sound at being moved. “Sorry,” Cheri mutters with a grimace, trying to ignore how hard it is to move his hand, how numb his arm is. Once he’s sure Volo is securely in his arms despite that, he gets Volo’s Spiritomb in its ball, then runs out of the cave.

“‘S fine, deserved,” Volo mutters, eyes slipping shut as he leans into Cheri. Cheri takes Volo’s pokeballs and recalls the injured Pokémon he finds scattered around the outside of the cave. “Can.. can you take care of them for me..?”

It’s all Cheri can do to not scream, shakes running through his entire body. “Shut up. Don’t do this shit, you’re not dying on me.” I came here to protect you, and by Arceus, I’m gonna do it.

Volo laughs, an exhausted, mirthless sound, even as a tear slips down his cheek. “It’s okay,” he whispers. “It’s okay. I deserve this. It’s okay.”

“Shut up!” Shit, I’m being a little harsh. Gods. Fuck. “Sorry, actually, don’t shut up. But stop that. You don’t deserve it.” As he talks, Cheri quickly recalls the rest of their pokemon, then he gets back to running down the mountain, not even bothering going through the caves, he knows where he’s going. He shifts back to his true form so he can jump down cliffs and land it, jumping over tree roots and fallen logs, trying his best not to jostle Volo too much.

Volo’s taking shuddering breaths, silent tears slipping down his cheeks, but he doesn’t complain at all. Self hatred, agony, and a sense of utter hopelessness is coming off of him, all of it is mixed with acceptance.

He genuinely believes he deserves this, Cheri realizes, a sick feeling building in his gut. Fucking hell.

“Why’re you doing this?” Volo murmurs, looking up into Cheri’s eyes. “You can’t seriously want to help me. What’s your motive? ”

“Is it so hard to believe I could genuinely like helping people?” Cheri spits.

He was aware of the way his voice echoes in this form, but Volo flinches at the sound.

And it reminds him that, yes, it is.

He isn’t human, after all. He isn’t even living.

He’s a vengeful spirit.

And sure, he chooses not to indulge that side of himself.

But how is Volo supposed to know that?

“Sorry, sorry,” Volo murmurs, breath hitching slightly as Cheri jumps down a cliff. Blood starts to drip down his side, and Cheri internally curses.

“It’s fine,” Cheri says, setting Volo down and tearing off pieces of his own shirt to start packing the wound and make a quick makeshift bandage. “Talk about something, anything, just.. Just keep talking.”

Volo winces in pain. “..You know the Pokémon that got me? Galarian Moltres?” He looks away, eyes unfocused. “Some say it burns your very spirit away.” He laughs, though the laugh turns into coughs. “I must be very lucky that mine’s still intact, ahaha- Ow!”

“Sorry.” Having tied the makeshift bandage tight, he quickly scoops Volo back up. “What else about galarian Moltres do you know? Any interesting legends? Anything?”

“G-galar was never really my focus,” he mutters, taking a few steadying breaths- they’re shallow, it hurts him to breathe. “I’m just..” He lets out a quiet wheeze, resting his head against Cheri’s shoulder.

There’s exhaustion radiating off him, Cheri realizes, and Cheri gets running again.

“Don’t go to sleep, I don’t know what happens if you do,” he mutters.

“Mmh..” Volo shakes his head. “Trying..”

“Good. Keep talking.” Cheri takes a shaky breath. “What about normal Moltres? Any cool legends?”

“..they’ll dive into volcanoes to heal themselves,” Volo mumbles. “And they.. bring an early spring, to cold places..” His eyes slip closed.

Cheri nods. “You know the Indigo League Flame is said to have been lit with their flames?”

“Oh yeah.. I.. I remember that.. s.. Sorry, I can’t..” Volo goes limp in his arms.

“Hey, Volo, keep talking! Volo!!” Not sensing anything from the guy at all, Cheri grimaces. “SHIT!!!” Cheri moves faster, shifting back as they get to the bottom of the mountain, not wanting to be seen by anyone who doesn’t already know in any form outside of a human one.

shit shit Shit SHIT SHIT!!! Cheri bursts out of the trees, running into Eterna City, dodging around people as he heads to the nearest hospital.

He rushes into the emergency room. “We need a doctor, now!” It comes out louder than he meant it, almost echoing, though for some reason, it’s hard to hear himself anyway.

Everything feels so far away as the emergency room suddenly turns into a rush, a stretcher coming out to take Volo away. People ask what happened, and he explains as best as he can, telling them Volo got hit with a powerful dark-type attack that sapped his energy, leaving out the legendaries and the reason for the blood staining his hands and teeth.

He.. doesn’t entirely know why that’s there. He has a faint idea, but he blocks that out on purpose.

He can process that later, he can process that he probably killed a man another day.

The doctors are concerned about it, though, so he tells them it’s from the one who attacked the two of them, and they accept that answer, bringing him back soon after for his frostbitten arm.

Time seems to stretch to forever as his injury is treated, but when he’s finally left alone, allowed to leave, it feels like no time’s passed at all. He leaves the hospital, heading straight for the Pokémon center to drop off his and Volo’s Pokémon.

Relax. Just breathe, Cheri. Just relax.

Breathe.

He takes deep breaths as he walks, wrapping his arms around himself and closing his eyes, sensing people’s feelings to determine where they are so he can avoid them.

Thankfully, he makes it to the Pokémon center without an issue, setting down the pokeballs on the nurse’s desk.

“Those six are unregistered, he- he made their balls himself,” he explains, trying to ignore the shake in his voice.

The nurse scans the pokeballs. “They look registered to me..”

Sure enough, they are registered, under a Volo Discere.

“Huh.. interesting,” Cheri mutters. Did he always have a last name? I know Volo means to want. What’s Discere..? “Okay, nevermind, then. Um- I’ve gotta go, he’s hurt. Can you take care of them while I’m gone?”

“Of course, but- Wait-!” She looks up in worry as he leaves, but he doesn’t have time to chat, making his way back to the hospital.

I need to see if he’s okay.

He heads to the nearest waiting room. Someone passes by in the hall, he recognizes her as the nurse who treated him.

“Hey!” He rushes over, catching her attention. “Volo, uh, Discere- is he okay?”

“Huh? Are.. you asking about the one you came in with?” She gives a weirdly strained smile. “They’re still fixing him up, but it’s looking like he’ll pull through.”

“Okay.. okay.” Cheri lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

She nods, rushing off, and he finally lets himself relax.

Okay.

Okay, we’re okay.

Not sure what she was freaking out about, but it should be fine..

..they’ll come to me if anything happens with him, right..? I’m probably not on his emergency contacts- he probably doesn’t have those, actually- but I AM the one who brought him here..

WOULD he have emergency contacts?? His Pokémon are registered, so maybe???

Cheri sighs, sitting in one of the chairs, leaning back with his hands clasped together behind his head. He lets his eyes slip closed, taking a few deep breaths.

Whatever the case, if he needs me, if he asks for me, I’ll be here.

After a few moments, the exhaustion of the day catches up to him.

And finally, he slips into sleep, all his day’s plans forgotten.

[lethalitisms]

It had whispered to him things about himself which he did not know . . . and the whisper had proved irresistibly fascinating. It echoed loudly within him because he was hollow at the core. It was written that I should be loyal to the nightmare of my choice.

Isola affiliated Eddie Brock & Venom Symbiote as seen in Marvel Earth-616. Indie friendly. 18+ only. Canon-typical violence may be present. Spawned by Kriss ( he/him, 21 ). Please read rules prior to interaction, thank you!

This is a love story.

PERM STARTER CALL + APP + STATS + READING LIST + RULES . . .

CURRENT GROUP EVENT + SYMBIOTE LORE

This is an Isola Radiale affiliated blog, but I am open to writing with indies. I will interact with those not within the group, but the group will take priority. You may also find me on my ( super low activity ) multimuse! All group threads are tagged #phenethylamine ᯓ threads and non-group threads will be #non isola

On that note, I will write only from the canon point I'm writing in ( or before it ). This helps me to maintain an overall mental flow, because jumping back and forth between verses can be a bit much. To check the current canon point, check the app or reading list! Anything from before the current canon point is fine for indies, but for group members ( for obvious reasons ) I usually drop all group threads once I update my canon point

I typically respond in paragraph / novella length and format my replies with small text, 65x65px icons, and bold dialogue. If you need me to change this to make it easier to read, you can DM me if it’s not listed anywhere in your page.

I use stylized brackets to indicate who is talking and whether or not other muses can hear them. These 「 squared brackets 」 indicate that the symbiote is speaking exclusively to Eddie within his mind, these ╭ half-brackets ╮ indicate that Eddie is speaking to the symbiote exclusively within his mind, and these ⸨ doubled brackets ⸩ indicate them speaking as Venom out loud. Usual "quotation marks" are when Eddie is speaking normally out loud.

Random starters are epic, please don’t be afraid to spontaneously interact with me- especially if we’ve never written together before. I’m here to have fun with all of you guys. If I follow you, then that means I want to interact!

If you’re unfamiliar with the source lore but want to know more, you are absolutely free to ask me about it! The Marvel 616 comics has a very long history and I am very much a yapper at heart over these two.

If you’re interested in shipping with Eddie and/or the symbiote (romantic / platonic / familial / rival / etc) then please let me know. Let’s build connnections n stuff :] I always love a bit of networking between the muses. The symbiote has no real sexuality ( as the species knows it, at least ) and Eddie is . . . in love with an alien already. But who knows! Could get interesting with the right chemistry. . .

My timezone is GMT+8 and my sleep schedule is fucked. So basically, I’m just online whenever.

I prefer to queue most of my things. Replies, starters, etc. I like to respond really fast but also not worry if I’m clogging everything up on the dash with it. 

Hi, I'm Kriss! He/him, 21, Muslim Malaysian. You might recognize this url from, geez, five years ago? Yeah, I dropped muse after First Host but now I'm back because I got that brainrot in me. I have a bunch of other ( also affiliated ) blogs but this is the only one that's indie friendly . . . you're free to check them out too ! I write Silverhand, Wick, Volo, and Nate when I'm not gooping it up in here.

[hey-doobnnoob]

i just saw your post about your tiefling and i love him, for starters. he's pretty. but since no one else has said it: i wanna hear about him and gale.

oh no you've opened floodgates you're gonna regret opening

I'm just as bad about these two as I am about Michael and Astarion, but that's for another day if anyone opens the floodgates on my Mike playthrough of BG3 (or if anyone wants to look at his admittedly still incomplete page on his TH profile for my BG3 stuff on him)

also yes, thank you. Verrik IS very pretty, he needs to be told that more often

more about Verrik and Gale under the cut tho. this isn't all of my ramblings.. but I'll stop myself here before I have a novel's worth of it

fun fact: Tiefling tails are described as being cat-like. so more just for balance and not prehensile or anything

why is that relevant? well just like cats, when Verrik feels as if he's not getting enough attention, he will absolutely "accidentally" start to knock Gale's cup of tea over with his tail

unlike a cat, Verrik's tail wags furiously at the smallest amount of praise Gale gives him. he never knew his tail could do that before

Verrik is actually super mild-mannered and level headed. he's normally extremely quiet and more likely to try and talk things out before he resorts to any sort of violence. that being said, Lorroakan was the first person to ever make Verrik unleash the fury of the Hells all in one Tiefling after how he spoke about Gale to his face

Verrik and Gale have this mutual feeling of gods I don't deserve you. Gale because of his history of having to constantly prove himself to everyone around him in order to earn their love and because of how patient Verrik is with him working through all of his trauma, and Verrik because he genuinely doesn't know why a guy like Gale would give some regular dime-a-dozen Tiefling like him the time of day. they deserve each other

Verrik is constantly impressed with everything magic related Gale does, no matter how small. he's always in awe over how well he can just control the Weave so effortlessly, as if he can't just turn into a massive fucking Owlbear on command as a Druid and also can perform spells on a whim

everyone who loves Gale (which should just be everyone but for whatever reason there's a lot of people out there who just insist on being wrong) always complains about his asking for a kiss animation when romancing him. which fair. but also I play into the headcanon that both Gale and Verrik are just the exact opposite of Michael and Astarion (bc I bounce back and forth between combining their playthroughs) and are just so flustered at the idea of PDA. alone, they'd happily be all over each other. if there's even one other living thing nearby, it's small touches bc public affection just ain't their thing. like hand holding or leaning on each other or whatever

upon first meeting Tara, Verrik panicked to Gale after she flew off because he wanted to know if Gale thought she liked him. did she approve? does she hate me?? GALE PLEASE I DON'T WANT HER TO HATE ME WHAT DO I DO?!?! Gale had to spend the next several minutes patting his back and reassuring him Tara doesn't hate him

Gale's favorite thing to do after they move into his tower together and get married is to conjure up a little red dot and watch Verrik and Tara chase it around the room. Verrik is essentially a cat in a Tiefling's body, it's no wonder Gale fell in love with him

Verrik has a hard time reading after he allowed Volo to pluck out his eye and give him a false one. so instead he just cuddles up to Gale and has him read to him. neither of them mind, Gale likes talking and Verrik could listen to him all day

Gale teaches Verrik how to cook so after he becomes a professor, he doesn't have to worry about his husband starving at home without him. Verrik uses this as an excuse to bring Gale a freshly made, home cooked lunch every day and join his classes for a bit

[donuts4evry1]

🙏🙏🥺 ty naut!! tbh i don’t know any of these songs but I bet they are a bop :)

My music tastes haven’t changed (they tend to be more stable than my um, other phases lol) so just prepare for more JPOP

1. DOGLAND by PEOPLE 1 (A friend recommended it to me and I love it so much. I’m learning the lyrics because it’s so good)

2. YELLOW by Yoh Kamiyama (Did I tell you I was extremely normal about this song?)

3. CUTLERY by Yoh Kamiyama (I am in love with these two songs from Yoh Kamiyama in particular lmaooo.)

4. PAMELA by Balloon (GOD his voice sounds so good. This song in particular just makes me so incredibly happy for some reason tho)

5. Roi Toi Luon by NAL (this one is actually a Vietnamese song and it’s incredibly, incredibly silly. Something about a guy wanting to marry a girl or something lol, but it is a bop and fun to sing :>)

Behold Donut’s ongoing aversion to songs with English lyrics. If I have the option to, I will always sing in a different language lol

Alrighty, time to harass my moots (affectionate)

@tinybeeps (AHHAHAHAHAHA) @iskeletoncloset (pspspsppss you can fill it out at my house while I am looking over your shoulder) @tomnookishot (wrong answers will get you judged /j) @i-am-literally-deranged (what kind of music do you listen to, anyway?) @volos-wish​ (drop the music tastes bestie <3) @imgayforjimbotnik​ (drop the music tastes worstie <3) @lup-laguz​ (im going to be honest I had to search the yuuya tag just to find the spelling for your name bC I ALWAYS FORGET. anyways i wanna see what you’re listening to now) @sh1nypumpkaboo​ (*GRABBY HANDS* GIMME YOUR MUSIC I WANT TO CONSUME IT)

Tagged by @miseryannie TARA HIII !!! thank you for tagging me love 🥰☺️💖💞

rules: 🎧🎵 when you get this, you have to put in 5 songs you actually listen to at the moment. Then tag 5-10 followers to do the same 🎵🎧

1. Mi sombra en la pared by Miguel Mateos

2. Obsesión by Miguel Mateos

3. All for Leyna by Billy Joel

4. Qué Ironía by Rodrigo

5. Running On Ice by Billy Joel

Tagging @superhell @two-hands-toward-the-sun @bimessi3 @mayoketchup @herlocksholmes1888 and anyone else who wants to do it :)

[onestepbackwards]

You need to get a life.

First of all, starting with the first paragraph. If Ace Anon has a problem with my writing, they can talk to me themselves. Sending you to talk to me makes me more upset than if they had reached out to me in DMs. Which they already had before. Sending you to me, and writing this, shows just how little either of you respect me. Next paragraph. As far as I am aware, I haven’t written any yandere character actually killing anyone, except with Warden Ingo one time. And it was an abusive ex who had stalked the Reader, and was threatening the Reader. The only other times I can think of would have been hypotheticals. Usually over people who would have hurt the reader, such as when there was the peeping tom incident. Stalking someone and peeping through windows is a choice. Not someone having a ‘bad day.’ However, in a lot of these scenarios, what little there are, the reader is unaware that anyone is being killed in the first place. Unaware their partner is a yandere. You also seemed to forget in the yandere warden Ingo series, the Reader actively tries to keep Ingo from murdering Volo. They don’t like him, but they don’t want him dead. So they appeal to Ingo’s sense of logic, claiming it could destroy the games code if he kills Volo. Even then, this is fiction. People requested this more than half the time. It is tagged, and in the cases where the Reader is into it, I have that tagged as well as the Reader enabling obsessive yandere behavior. Again, specific fiction that people are into, and specifically requested. And about the ‘how good that dick is’ comment. This is a blog where I write nsfw over pokemon characters. Of course dick is going to be a big factor, or did you forget what this blog is about? Third Paragraph. Not even sure how this is related AT ALL to the whole message, other than to try and make a dig at me, but fine, let’s address it. Yeah. In a dream, I pushed James from Silent Hill into a monster and ran. In a literal fever dream when I had been sick. “James did some shit, but really?” Yeah. He killed his sick wife. He killed her from being frustrated with not being able to have sex, and kept her body in the trunk of his car. Pyramid Head is literally his desire for punishment for these crimes. “What the fuck kind of good person does that?” I hate to be the barer of bad news, if you genuinely think that a person’s fever dream determines their status as a person, then you need to do some actual research on how dreams work. Not to mention how hypocritical this thinking is. You can give a pass to a guy who murdered his sick wife due to sexual frustration and anger, but you draw the line at a yandere character killing the Reader’s abusive ex? Okay. I see your priorities. Fourth paragraph. My Reader is selfish? How so? In at least half the things for Warden Ingo, it’s mentioned how the Reader desires to help him get his memories back, and make his brother aware like him. In another fic, with self aware Emmet, who ends up small, the Reader genuinely wants to help him reach his normal size. In another, the Reader desires to protect the Hero of Hisui, putting it over their desire for a relationship. They wish to protect the hero, and protect them as their own. Funny how you fail to bring these instances up. Is my Reader a flat character? Maybe. But again, this is a blog with primarily nsfw with the silly train men from pokemon. Fifth paragraph: “This is not hate. This is criticism.” No it’s not. You know damn well it’s hate. You insulted my writing, you insulted my reader inserts, and insulted me. “Your Reader has no empathy.” “Your Reader is selfish and has no redeeming qualities.” “What good person does that?” Those are not critiques. You call my writing bad, and say it has ‘all these problems’, but not once do you offer any advice for improvement. You just call it bad, and moved on. And again, insulted me over a dream. You don’t just get to insult me and my writing like this, then go “This isn’t hate, it’s a critique, tee hee!” That’s not how this works. Another thing. You acknowledge this is a fantasy land, and people here want to be adored. You acknowledge this is ‘fiction’. Yet you get so upset with the above points, when I’m specifically writing in a fictional set. You can’t have your cake and eat it. “It could be better.” Yeah! As a writer, I always aim to be better. But I don’t see you taking your ass off anon and writing your own shit, since you seem to have problems with mine so much. Only bitching about mine and then not offering any advice for improvement. And another thing. “It’s critique.” I never asked for critique. I do this shit for free. I write fanfiction as a hobby for free. I don’t have to share this. I do this because I enjoy sharing it with everyone here. I take time out of my day to share stuff I write, because other people do enjoy it, despite how bad of a writer you seem to think I am. It’s my blog, and I post what I want. It’s also considered rude to give unwanted ‘advice.’ Finally, the final paragraph: I didn’t answer your last entitled, manipulative, creepy message because I didn’t want to start drama, and I originally didn’t want to suck Ace Anon into whatever obsessive nonsense you were spewing. It was rude, entitled, narcissistic, manipulative, and weird. Just like this ask you sent.. “Hope you aren't gone again for months or something. You stressed her out really bad the last time.” Gee. Really feeling the concern for me, the one who disappeared. There are multiple reasons why I closed asks for a bit, primarily for my own mental health. Way to make it about you two. Funny. In the last ask, you mentioned how much you hate suicide baiting. What you are doing here isn’t too different. You just aren’t threatening a life over this. However, you are still trying to emotionally manipulate me, bringing up how Ace Anon is scared of upsetting me, and how stressed they were when I last disappeared. Lemme tell you something. Someone else’s stress isn’t my responsibility. If Ace Anon’s health and stress is heavily reliant on me, a stranger on the internet, someone who doesn’t even know Ace Anon’s name, that isn’t healthy. I understand being concerned for a creator to a degree, but if they are freaking out and getting stressed like this, especially over sending me these “problems” they have with my work, that is not my problem. If you two really are that easily affected by strangers on the internet, and get this upset over fanfiction written about silly train men from pokemon, neither of you should be on the internet. You two are not my responsibility, and I don’t have to cater to a rude anon with nothing better to do than send hateful asks. Harsh? Yes. But I’m not going to bend over backwards like this for someone like you. Neither you or Ace Anon are welcome back on this blog. Don’t message me again, and leave me alone.

[imfluentinfangirlandgay]

Traitors in Our Midst - Ch 6

[SPOILERS FOR POKEMON: LEGENDS ARCEUS AHEAD. DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS]

Summary: This was the last straw. That damned man had gone too far this time, and everyone knew it. Ingo was pissed. He wasn't going to let this go easily, for Akari's sake or his.

Word Count: 2020 (exact count)

This is all just Kamado hate. Sorry. Personally, I just despise the guy. Nothing personal.

Wyrdeer made it to Jubilife Village first, as Ingo watched from atop his ride. It thundered into the village, scaring away villagers and screeching to a halt quickly. The two dismounted, helping each other. Ingo’s vision was obstructed as the Braviary approached close enough to go into a direct nose-dive. Ingo shouted in surprise, grabbing his hat with one hand and looping an arm around the Pokemon’s neck with the other. He heard yelling to his side. Emmet must be in the same position. The entire ride here, he had noticed Emmet clinging to the large bird as if his life was about to end. It was only then that he remembered that Emmet was scared of heights.

By the time they landed and Ingo had gotten down from his Braviary, commotion had started in the village. The three Nobles sat in the middle of the empty part of the strip, the four riders standing a distance away. (Ingo held up Emmet as his legs adjusted to the ground and stopped wobbling so much.) Rei and Laventon had run up and smothered Dawn, “Akari! We were so worried about you! You just left so suddenly and then we heard that you were banished but Kamado wouldn’t let us leave the village!” Rei said excitedly.

“And then the sky returned to normal yesterday, but the search parties we sent out couldn’t find you, either. Adaman and Irida went out looking for both of you everywhere. Cyllene even left her office to help. We had no idea if you’d…” he trailed off, but the effect of his words were still evident.

“I’m okay, guys, really! And so is Ingo! We figured out the problem and caught them so it’s all okay now!” Dawn motioned to Ingo, who tipped his cap at them. Emmet had managed to catch his footing by now, but still stuck close to Ingo. Emmet tipped his own cap, too, his smile wide. Barry had stayed back by the twins, too.

Laventon cheerily waved at them, not at all concerned about the new people with them. Cyllene emerged from the HQ, Adaman and Irida following her. Upon catching sight of all of them, Adaman and Irida ran forward, passing by Cyllene and approaching the group. “Akari! Ingo! You’re okay!” As they approached, Ingo could see Irida’s face was stained with tears and both of the Clan Leader’s eyes were surrounded by deep circles and sported eye bags. They must not have slept at all since they left two days prior. Ingo immediately felt guilt settle into him at the sight of his Leader, so distraught.

They stopped at Akari first, looking her over intently. Irida’s eyes flashed over to Ingo as he walked forward to meet Akari, the other two behind him in tow. She looked surprised to see his twin next to him and her eyes kept flicking between them. “Are you guys okay? Did you guys solve the rift? We tried looking everywhere, but we couldn’t find you or Sneasler and the Nobles wouldn’t tell us where you were. Volo just disappeared yesterday in the middle of searching and he never came back. We were so worried after the rift left and there was still no sign of you that something horrible had happened.” Irida let the words flow out of her in a rush, Adaman nodding vehemently with her.

“We looked all over Hisui. Where were you guys? And who is with you guys?” Adaman asked curiously.

“This is my friend Barry, he’s been my best friend since I was little, before I came to Hisui. And that’s Ingo’s twin brother, Emmet. After we fixed the rift, they both came through.”

“Hi!”

“I am Emmet!”

“I am glad to see you two in one piece,” Cyllene made her way over to them finally. “After the… events of the other day, things did not go well here. Mass panic took over and Kamado has since locked himself in his office. He has refused to come out since-”

The door busted open, revealing a certain bushy-haired man wearing a gi and a jacket. He looked murderous. Ingo and Akari tensed up, readying themselves to flee if need be. The others all formed a protective ring round them, even the Nobles. Barry cried out, “Professor Rowan?!”

“What is the meaning of this! Simply letting them back into the village, despite the fact that they are still banished! Cyllene, I thought you knew your job better than that. And they brought more outsiders into the village, right into our home! What would possess any of you to allow this!”

“Kamado, the sky is back to normal. The rift is gone. Is that not what you wanted?” Irida asked, shooting him a glare that could kill.

“That may be true, but it could likely come back at any moment. Is it not suspicious that the rift disappeared only after I sent these two away? They likely needed to cover their tracks! They have tricked you into believing they are trustworthy!”

“Kamado, you are being paranoid. Look at them. They look battered and bruised. You are the only one who even remotely thinks that they are to be blamed.”

“And I’m the only one with sense! These two traitors should have been left out there to die in the first place!”

Emmet strode forward. Ingo tried grabbing his collar, but it was difficult to do when Emmet got into these moods. “Emmet, don’t-”

“So you’re the one who threatened to imprison my brother.” He swung his arms wildly at the shoulders, his elbows straight, looking like a toy soldier. “I am Emmet. And I do not like people who hurt my brother.” Kamado reached to his belt, pulling out the first Pokeball he could find-

And then he was on the ground, a very angry Emmet over him, fist still pulled back and ready to strike again. Ingo’s feet were moving, his hand on Emmet’s collar, pulling him back, quite literally dragging him backwards. “Emmet, that’s not very nice.” Everyone’s eyebrows were raised, except Cyllene, of course. “I apologize for his rashness-”

“Oh, don’t! He deserved it,” Adaman smirked. “I’m a little surprised it didn’t happen sooner actually.” Irida nodded, a small grin playing along her lips. Kamado had hopped up, running and grabbing Emmet by the arm, just like how he had to Ingo. He started saying something, but Ingo, again, reacted without thinking. He smacked Kamado in the cheek. Hard. Kamado pulled on Emmet, shouting incoherently about this or that. Boiling-hot rage pumped into Ingo’s veins. He got between them, shoving Kamado back and away from his brother. Then he punched Kamado himself. He felt bone crush under his knuckles, a warm fluid leak out amongst his fingers. He recoiled. The blood felt sticky. He hated the feeling.

Kamado grabbed at his face, his eyes still not showing any sign of backing down. Ingo yanked Emmet away, partly holding him back, partly trying to protect him from Kamado. “You absolute-”

“Commander, I believe that is enough.” Cyllene walked forward, her posture straight as always. “It seems that people are deeming you unfit to lead, as you have made too many rash decisions. Now you are becoming violent. I ask you to step down peacefully as Commander of the Galaxy Team.”

Stunned silence. Then Kamado narrowed his eyes at the woman. “Is this a joke? I founded this team with my own two hands. You cannot simply tell me to step down.” The last two words were snarled, not dissimilar to an angry Purugly.

“I believe, with the display you just showed and the blatant lack of regard you showed for human life, that I can. You threw two perfectly innocent people away, forcing them to survive on their own because you had a vague notion that they may somehow be connected, when there was no evidence to suggest this. And then, even after they fixed the problems that they did not cause, you continued to blame them for everything and threatened to sentence them to prison or a death sentence. That is not something a decent leader would do.” She said all this with a cool expression, her eyes not wavering. “It is because of this I ask that you step down and please exit Jubilife. Do not return.” He stood there, still processing. Then set his jaw, wiping his face. His broken nose stood out painfully obviously against the rest of his skin, blood still dripping.

“No. I will not hear any more of this nonsense. Guards, place them all in custody until we can have a conversation over this.” Nobody moved. Realizing this, Kamado turned around, watching his Security Corps. Not a single one stepped forward. He pulled out a Pokeball. “Fine. I’ll finish this myself.”

The battle did not last long. Dawn and Rei took care of him quickly, knocking down each of his Pokemon in one strike or less. Kamado’s eyes began to show a separate emotion other than anger. Fear.

His team was down. He had no support. Kamado looked around. “You’d really throw away everything for these two foreigners?”

“It is merely a change of hands, Kamado. I believe I am capable of handling your job, considering how much of it I was doing already,” Cyllene quipped. Adaman covered his eyes, shocked. Ingo could see his barely-contained laughter from where he stood. Irida gasped.

“Look, Cyllene, I know I wronged you, and you Warden and Akari, in the past, but-”

“Kamado, please leave Jubilife. Or be removed by force.” Cyllene did not waver.

Kamado came forward, trying to reach her, but Abra quickly teleported him away. “Cyllene, please order your Abra to-”

“I will not order it to do anything. Now, leave.” Kamado shot forward, once again trying to reach someone, anyone. He was quickly nailed in the face with a ball of mud, thrown by Rei.

“Just stop! Leave already!” Rei called out. He readied another ball, but Kamado did not take notice. He reached forward blindly, removing the mud from his eyes. His hands grabbed out at Akari-

Barry kicked him in the shins. Hard. Then again. And again. He kept kicking, but Kamado would not let go of her. She squirmed, trying to get away. “You turned them against me! You’re a Zoroark, I know it!” Braviary and Wyrdeer called out in anger. They did not like this display. Dawn was crying now.

“Stop! It hurts! You’re grabbing too hard!” She struggled to pull away, but to no avail. Ingo came forward and began prying the previous Commander’s fingers off her arm, but it didn’t work. His grip was like iron, stubbornly holding on too tight to her arm. Finally, Samurott popped out of its ball. It slashed out at Kamado’s arm with one of its scimitars, making him flinch ever so slightly. Ingo managed to wrench Dawn away from the man, picking her up and physically carrying her away. Ingo heard a scuffle behind him, but he didn’t turn around. He set Dawn down, examining her arm.

It was already beginning to bruise. Massive, blocky lines across her arms in the exact shape of Kamado’s hand laced around her delicate forearm, clearly painful to the touch. She was holding back tears as he prodded and poked her arm. Ingo was pissed. There was a hand on his shoulder, someone handing him something. Emmet was holding pain medication, yes, that was it. And a bandage. The twins worked on treating Dawn while things kept happening behind them.

By the time she was cleaned up, Kamado was on the ground. He looked worse than they had left him, but Ingo didn’t get much of a good look at him. Almost as soon as he had whirled to see the situation before him, Abra teleported the man away, leaving nothing in his wake. There were several people around who had obviously been working at holding him back (or, in Barry’s case, kicking him). As soon as he was gone, there was silence. Then a sigh of relief. He had gotten what he deserved.

[Start] - [Previous] - [Next]

[krikidilly]

unhinged Volo vs dumbass Volo

thoughts?

Oh boy am I totally using this ask just to ramble about my Volo thoughts

Simple answer: both and neither.

Complex answer: Volo is complex. Its why i like him so much. Sure he can act like a dumbass but he is extremely intelligent, how else could he pull everything he did off? He's smart and witty and can be quick to the punch, hell, hes the guy who tells you a way to catch pokemon more efficiently! But that doesn't mean hes perfectly intelligent in all his actions, dude can slip up, be stupid, say dumb shit. Hes not a one trick pony.

And, He can act unhinged but hes still perfectly sane. I see his actions and understand them as a (somewhat) normal reaction to what he's been through. He feels wronged and he wants vengeance! He simply goes about it in a way that pushes himself further and further. He takes risks he shouldn't and begs and screams when things don't work out. But that doesn't say to me hes lost it. He wants answers and the very being he seeks won't look his way, so, he acts out and simply won't stop until he's tired himself out.

Could I have kept this simple? Sure. But I like Volo a lot and I dont talk about him much so, bleh

[shmothman]

My jaw DROPPED reading the latest JF chapter. THE KISS!!!!! THE KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ohhhhhh my goodness after all of the chapters perfectly building up to it, having it actually happen was absolutely fantastic and it will be living in my head for a very long time. I am very in love with the way you’ve written Volo and I think about him normal amount. Thank you for writing such a good fic holy shit!!!!!

Thank YOU so much for reading my fic 🥰🥰 I had that kiss planned out from the very beginning—though quite frankly I didn’t think it would take me so many words to get to it 🤣 I’ve really enjoyed writing his journey though, and after I have the rest written, I think I’ll miss J|F a lot! It makes me very happy to know others have enjoyed it just as much as I have 💕💕

(A couple more anons below the cut)

Thank you guys so much!! I’ve said it before, but confessions of love are one of my very favorite things to write (hence my million fluffy one shot fics about various characters 🤣) I’m glad you guys enjoyed the emotional climax 🥰🥰

[fairymint]

🌈 with my idiot sideblog boys.

To start with the most basic of shit, N and Volo fall squarely into muses who, at their base are ones I'd romantically ship with at default; course considering what we have to work with, we gotta play the game.

Right now, I just figure or have in mind, Felix having a crush and still testing the waters atm IC wise. I will comment that I'd say 'normally' Felix would probably? flirt more with a Volo? After a few threads I've gotten the vibe. I wouldn't say that Felix knows what his orientation is, but it just seems to me that yours wouldn't be giving out the right signals that it is would make him feel 'safe' doing that. Perhaps others I've seen milk the charm factor and use it, idk. Felix hasn't really 'grown out of' the innocent facade around him, so due to that combo'ed with his amnesia he still talks like a fucking PMD protagonist around him, despite having inner, less simpler thoughts.

As for N he is much, much more comfortable, probably just trying to remain palatable to the guy and not overwhelm him. At any rate I am excited to explore dynamics, especially related to the whole truth/ideals thing. Felix has changed a bit from back in-game, though. Talks a lot more than the bare minimum, better with people and more emotive. He used to be practically silent besides the occasional 'haha i'm 18! freedom!' kind of vibe. Quite a bit more friendly.

Truly I am game for anything, even platonic if need be. But like, Felix cares a lot about these guys, he's probably just figuring out How.

[hisuischampion]

Uh miss Cynthia? What do you mean Akari was your friend? 😳

I knew this question was coming. I'll be honest, I didn't know how I would answer it when I said that, and I still don't.

I've said it many times that I'm quite old. I don't know how many of you took that seriously or simply thought it a normal woman's joke about her age. But I always, always meant it completely seriously.

I am old. Old enough to be a grandparent a few times over, in fact.

And I knew Akari a hundred years ago. I'd met her several times, and enjoyed her company most times. I truly did see her as a dear friend.

Even if I wronged her in the end.

I'd always wondered what happened to her. I learned some years later that she'd disappeared as mysteriously as she'd appeared. Since it was no secret that she'd come from the future, I had hope. Hope that one day I would get to meet her again.

It's been such a long time since then. I've seen and done so much. And oddly enough, Akari's whole story somehow fell into legend. I never did learn if she accomplished her greatest goal while she was back in time.

But I did meet her again. I met Dawn one morning in Eterna City. I'd heard about her from Professor Rowan. Her resemblance to my old friend was so, so uncanny. I hoped, but restrained myself. I became her friend naturally, with no ill intent. And she really did remind me of Akari, if a little younger. Then one day, she vanished.

And my hope grew. And I held onto that hope while everyone was scrambling to find her. I held out hope that in three years' time, the amount of time I'd heard she spent in the past, she would come back to us.

And... I believe you know the rest.

Although....... I suppose it does me no good to hide it any longer. The man in the photo with Akari, that Volo guy? That was me.

Volo. Cynthia. They're only two of many names I've gone by now. The rest really don't matter. Although they were important parts of my life, I assure you becoming Sinnoh's champion is the most remarkable thing I've decided to do.

So now you know. That is the biggest secret I have kept my entire life as Cynthia.

And right now? I really don't care who knows about it. I'm just so happy to have Dawn and Akari back.

[lostonehero]

also: lore? YES

I love hearing everything about this au so I’m excited for the new chapter!

Well here it is enjoy it my guy

Roark is purposely and accidently not saying hjs siblings names

Emmet is really only in the beginning

It's been a week of Cyrus staying here, Volo has been in charge of keeping Cynthia away. Cyrus is frustrated with himself, he doesn't know how to deal with his new body parts, he barely has any control over using moves, his pokemon are helping him stay positive, but he wasn't born like this. He frowns, Emmet was doing his best to help him however he could only do so much since they present in such a different way.

"Cyrus, you seem distracted." Emmet hums quietly. "Did you hear what I said?"

Cyrus shakes his head looking down. "My apologies, I was lost in my thoughts." He sighs and pulls his tail up to hold it, it's a new habit he picked up to get himself used to his new form.

Emmet nods appreciating the honesty. "I've been discussing this issue with others like me, one one who has a dragon tail lives nearby, so he will be coming on request of his brother to help you." He pauses. "I would rather his brother since he has both the wings and tail but he is unable to travel out of Hoenn at the moment."

Cyrus furrows his brows, he only assumed that pokemon who could disguise themselves as human could reproduce with humans, like a Zoroark. "Other pokemon can breed with humans."

"Yes but they must be alpha pokemon, usually one per species, the one who is coming to help is part flygon." Emmet hums and offers a cup of water and watches Cyrus take it. "Many more of us exist, Cyrus. We blend in to hide from poachers."

Cyrus nods and sips his water sitting across from Emmet. "So he knows how to hide the extra parts, even if they are many?"

"That is the case it seems. Have you seen pictures of Ariana?"

"The woman who married Giovanni, correct?"

"Yes that is correct, she is related to the person coming to help. She has massive wings and clawed hands and feet that are quite inhuman, and even antennae."

Cyrus pauses thinking back to the wanted posters he saw of them in the international police archives. "She looks normal, does she remove them?"

Emmet shakes his head. "No, and if she did they would grow back."

Cyrus furrows his brows, grows back? He thinks to himself. He really didn't understand what Emmet was referring to, he needed to do more research but most of half pokemon information is oral and not written down. He just had to be patient and let Emmet tell him what he knows.

……….

Sure Roark doesn't leave Oreburgh often, and sure he doesn't explore sinnoh unless Gardina drags him out of his gym to be social. However that doesn't mean he can't be social, he just prefers digging in caves to conversation. He hated that he owed Maxie favors, but he didn't have a defense to stand on to refuse after what he had done to him by accident.

Lying to Cynthia was the hard part in this situation, he made something up about ores in the forest, and something about doing a study. He didn't enjoy lying but he has gotten good at it over the years by hiding his true self. Poachers freaked him out badly, after seeing Maxie come home half dead missing his wings, tail, and antenna, it scared him into trying to be as normal as possible.

He ducked under another branch trying not to lose his glasses in this forest. The exiled champion made him nervous the first time they battled, he almost found him out, but he did know the truth now. He hung his head low, he hoped he didn't ask for a battle. He wasn't good at fighting himself, he had much rather normal pokemon battles, his sister and brother were much better as a physical battler.

The scent of the air changed as he probably got closer to the camp he was looking for. He stumbled over a branch and fell into the campsite. "Sorry, am I in the right camp?"

A white haired man approaches him on the ground, it was the exiled champion himself. "You are in the correct place."

Roark gets up stretching. "Uh yeah my brother asked me to come by and help uh the former galactic boss." He blinks and looks over to spot Cyrus. "Ah I see why now."

Cyrus frowns, spotting Roark. He was Ariana's brother? He had no idea, granted most didn't know he was related to Cynthia either. "Hello, are you here to help me?"

Roark nods moving into the camp, putting his bag down. "Do you mind if I undress a bit, the binder gets uncomfortable when I don't have to wear it."

"Go ahead." Cyrus didn't know Roark was trans either, nothing wrong with it he just didn't know.

Roark nods, removing his vest then shirt revealing not a chest binder; it went all the way up to his shoulders and below his hips as well. He unzipped it entirely, his tail that wrapped around his entire torso unwinded itself and stretched behind him as he put his shirt back on. "Thank you I try not to have it on while I work, or for more than six hours."

Cyrus is stunned into silence, that was bigger than his own tail, and he couldn't even tell he had it. He didn't have wings like him, maybe it was just how the genetics presented themselves.

Emmet hums. "Thank you Roark, please get comfortable. I can't help as much due to the species I come from."

Roark folding up his binder smiles and waves it off. "Ah don't worry about it, I'm happy to help others deal with their extra parts. I've gotten great lessons from my brother and sister and I'm sure they can help you too, Cyrus."

Cyrus nods and offers a seat next to him on the rug. "You were born like this?"

"Well yes and no. I wasn't born a flygon, I was originally a trapinch and I evolved after enough battling with my siblings and other pokemon growing up." He hums.

Cyrus pauses to mull over his questions. He should probably ask if he could ask basic questions. "Do you mind if I ask basic questions, like do you know any others, and if you guys have different age expectations."

Roark hums and smiles. "Well the grass type gym leader Gardina is actually a roserade, so is her sister, the alpha luxray just had her kits so they are pretty cute little babies, oh one of the challengers Barry just evolved into an empoleon." He rubs at his hair letting his antenna show. "Well for alpha pokemon they normally live to 500 to 600 years we only clock in to 300 to 400 years old but it depends on diet, environment, and health of the individual species." He pauses and does a little oh motion with his mouth. "I'm 42 by the way."

Cyrus looks emotionless as he tries to process the new information he has been given. He mumbles to himself. "You're 42, you look younger than me…" he sighs. "Why do you only have a tail, or Is that a rude question?"

Roark chuckles. "It's not rude to ask, it's just genetics. My sister only has wings, but she has the strongest and sharpest claws out of the three of us." His tail is wagging showing he is content.

"Can you show me how to hide my wings and tail?" Cyrus frowns holding onto his tail.

"I could get you a binder for both, but you have to decide the best way to wrap yourself up, I curl my tail around my body then put my binder over it, my sister folds her wings against her back and bind it quite hard, my brother wraps his wings around his body then his tail on top of that and binds that all together. It really depends on what you feel comfortable with." He makes a soft aha noise. "I'm also wearing colored contacts, so do my siblings. It makes it so we have irises and whites in our eyes."

"Why with the glasses? Is it more for a human look or something else?" Cyrus asks, his tail twitching with curiosity.

"Well uh flygon eyes are built to work well even in the worst of sandstorms with nearly zero visibility, so our sight can get very overwhelming the glasses are thick and help block out the extra input." He pauses. "Granted our sister has mastered her control over it and doesn't use glasses, she is terrifying to others so it makes sense."

"Does it bother you?"

"Well not really, I truly only need the glasses when in my gym or being in public I've had the enhanced sight all my life along with the hearing and antenna, it doesn't really bother me, but it does freak the normal people when I can see things that aren't humanly possible from where I stand."

"Will I get used to my new senses?"

"Eventually you will, but it's just time." He unties his hefty giant boots and takes them off revealing clawed talon like feet covered in scales. "It's like wearing boots for me I guess, I can't exactly go around barefoot in public. My feet are able to handle even the hottest sands, and even broken glass, but normal people can't, nor do their feet look like mine so a boot worker who is friends with my mother made custom shoes for me and my siblings." He frowns. "Still annoying to wear them. I can walk sideways against a cliff face though and hang upside down. I normally just use them to stay stable in any cave I'm in."

Cyrus nods. "Fascinating."

Roark nods. "You're not as scary as I thought you would be, your demeanor reminds me of my brother. He can be very intimidating not on purpose though." His tail slams on the ground. "Ah I know why you're both on the spectrum right, uh is that offensive I'm trying to be better about it. He has been trying to teach me but it can get confusing what is and isn't ok to ask about."

Cyrus smiles softly, now this was something he knew a lot about and was in his comfort zone. "It's ok, I am." He didn't feel comfortable sharing more than that.

"Oh ok cool" He gets up quickly startling Cyrus. "Let me show you how to safely bind your tail and wings. I've watched my siblings do it often enough." He hums. "I brought an extra binder with me because my brother told me to bring one."

Cyrus gets up too and nods. "Ok I'm ready to learn."

Roark smiles and starts the demonstration.

[volot]

seeing u reblog the critique thing at 12 am while im trying to sleep. furiously opening my laptop. first of all let me just say that i never think its a bad thing when character portrayals change over time. i think thats the natural progression of like. Writing a character consistently. if your character didnt like, change, as ur writing them i think itd be kinda boring! i obviously cant speak for you but i dont think youve lost sight of what u were originally trying to do with volo, and if it helps at all, i can speak from the perspective of someone who was here in the pretty early stages of ur volo blog and then disappeared for like 2 months and came back. ur volo feels as real to me as he ever did, and any changes in your portrayal i think are again, just natural progression. ESPECIALLY since like, oh my god, when you start to write a character ur still figuring them out yknow! and ive ALWAYS thought youve had a really good grasp on volo. and youve only continued to prove me right about that. not to disparage any other volo rpers (because i LOVE THEM ALL i love all the different takes) out there but you are genuinely one of my all time faves. i dont rly do like, "mains" or "canons" but when im thinking about my emmet and volo its usually u im thinking of because i just think the way you write him is such a beautiful. god theres a word for it idk but like ur volo??? ur volo is like the goliath to my emmet's david. and i know in my brain theres a better word/analogy for that but i cant think of it. its just that they are so stunningly similar but different in the most interesting ways and your writing. your analysis. your headcanons. everything about u and ur volo make me foam at the mouth like IM the one w rabies and not emmet. your writing and critical analysis inspire and motivate me literally so so much. god what the hell no im not crying youre crying. we're our own worst critics. i worry every day that my emmet Sucks or isnt consistent and you know what? i think its okay if a character isnt consistent ESPECIALLY characters like volo and emmet. theyre unstable n unpredictable. theyre 3 dimensional. in real life, people ARENT consistent. in real life, people dont always react to or think the same way about things one day as they might the next. your volo is so human and so real. ok i think thats the end of my spiel goodnight lucian i look forward to seeing more of ur volo when i awaken.

›   ❝  prompt: concrit.

morty i do not have the image on hand but do you know the stick guy on his hands and knees on the ground but the bg is red... that's me right now.

firstly Thank You this is very nice to hear and i'm flattered by so very much of this and that you think of my volo so much, and that you enjoy him so thoroughly! the analogy is an especially good one, and i definitely see what you mean by it because they are two forces opposing each other. :') also i am shaking you fiercely you are your own worst critic.... your emmet is nothing if not consistent and absolutely top-notch, and you ought to pat yourself on the back more! i always absolutely adore what all you're doing with him. and you!!! you inspire ME!! i can't tell you how much your analysis on emmet keeps Me going.

as for the rest of this, i definitely get what you mean and you are right in saying people aren't normally very consistent people, and that volo is a very inconsistent, unpredictable character... i think for me, my fear with it is as i think? i may have talked about it before on here is losing my original 'sight' of what i wanted to do with him, which is understand his character and explain why the way it is, humanizing him while neither woobifying him nor making him some cruel, heartless villain because i don't believe he's either of those things. he is a very tragic person who, despite his tragedy, is not necessarily a good person: he's by no means the worst, but he isn't by any means perfect. what i wanted to do with volo is highlight why the way he is, where this comes from, and... i guess, in an ironic turn of things, understand him and make sense of him as a person afflicted by his tragedy and how this changed him as a person and how it manifests in what he does while putting it out there that despite what depths he may go he is still very much a person, in an odd sort of parallel to how he wants to understand arceus? muns choose the muse and muses speak to the muns, i guess.

either way, a lot of my hemming and hawing comes from my chewing on the idea of 'am i doing too much of this? am i leaning too much this way? is this contradictory to his earlier characterization in a bad way, where he has lost some of his nuance? has this development dampened the portrayal? is he edging into mustache-twirling villain territory, or losing some of his original spark?' things like that.

so hearing that he hasn't really lost what was originally there is relieving, and i appreciate it! i'll definitely keep it, and everything else here in mind, because what you said is true. thank you morty 😭goodnight, and i look forward to seeing you and more of your emmet when you wake up!