#I think the Homunculus is a better name

[elfboyeros]

I GONNA FUCKING SAY IT: The Homunculus has always made me uncomfortable

[doubleedgemode]

@followers/whoever reads this: Please feel free to metaphorically wallop me if I say an absurd badly-reasoned take about the series, and also correct me. Thank you

[whispereons]

Oracle!Reader Part 23

Masterlist - Part 1, Part 22, Part 24

Warning! This is a SAGAU imposter au so this is pretty gory and not happy all the time. Plus yandere but that's the expected for SAGAU.

Xingqiu and Chongyun both showed muddled emotions at your words of leaving Liyue.

“That may be best for you…” Chongyun says first as he keeps his gaze on the floorboards.

“Yes, I agree. Although I never expected that you would have to leave Liyue so soon, it's clear that you aren't safe here.” 

Xingqiu’s words that were full of understanding still had disappointment sprinkled in.

“We can't do much to help you when it comes to Ningguang, but Mondstadt is a different story. Do you have the talisman on you right now?”

Chongyun takes a few steps closer as you lift the amulet for him to see. He rubs one finger on it, examining the symbol that appears at the action.

“It's still at full charge, good. The road to Mondstadt can either be empty or full of demons depending on the day. But once you get to Wangshu Inn, it becomes much safer.”

“Because of Xiao, right? Despite how the situation looked when I first met the Adepti, I'm on relatively good terms with them now.”

It was a bit risky telling them this, but they both deserved to know at this point.

“When are you planning on leaving? Is your meeting with Ningguang today?” Switching the topic, Xingqiu brings the focus back to the most pressing issue.

Nodding, you answer. “My meeting is with her today, but I'll probably have to leave either at midnight or early tomorrow morning. The sooner, the better.”

“Then I can offer you some help that should make staying in Mondstadt a bit easier.” Xingqiu grins as he takes out paper and some ink. “I happen to know someone-”

“Albedo, right?” Cutting off Xingqiu as you think back to his connection, you continue. “Together you made the book, uh what was the name again? A Legend of a Sword? It got pretty popular in Inazuma. I remember there was a whole festival on light novels that you both attended too.”

Once you stop, you notice Xingqiu squinting his eyes at you before replying. “That's really creepy, you know? If I didn't know you were the Oracle, then I would have believed you to be some stalker.”

“If I was, then I wouldn't be stalking you of all people.” You snapped back as he grins while shaking his head.

“But yes, I'll send Albedo a letter in advance so that he can arrange for you to be settled nicely over there. I won't mention the Oracle situation as the Creator didn't want you to be known widely like that.”

It's been so long since you last heard the title ‘Creator’ be mentioned despite the fact that all of your problems come from their supposed existence.

Only goes to show just how ingrained the Creator is in this world.

“Thanks Xingqiu. Albedo is the chief alchemist and well respected among the community, so I should be in safe hands.”

Xingqiu merely hums in response as Chongyun tugs the amulet closer to him.

“Just trying to apply a better talisman on it.” He mumbles in accordance with your stare as he settles himself closer to you.

He's basically pressed against your side, but you strangely don't feel uncomfortable to have him close.

As the pair focus on their own activities, your mind wanders off to Albedo.

Albedo, the chief alchemist and homunculus created by Gold, the famous Khaenri'an scientist. Khaenri'ah, which also held so much information that could be connected to Celestia…

It was a long shot, but you could try digging for information about Celestia from him. The deal that Celestia made with Teyvat still bothers you to no end. With the age of this deal unknown, you might even have to look into the primordial dragons if it's even older than the Archon war.

A light shining brought you back to the present and your eyes flickered down to where the amulet shined in Chongyun’s hands.

Once it died down to reveal a more intricate symbol than before, Chongyun nodded, satisfied with the final product.

“This one is a lot stronger and should last longer now. I know you can fight well, but the demonic energy in Bishui Plain and Qiongji Estuary has shown to rise around this time of the year.”

Carefully taking the amulet from him, you thumbed the symbol with curious eyes. “I get it, thank you. Does it activate on its own, or do I have to activate it with something?”

“It'll work on its own. Depending on the amount and degree of demonic energy around it, the workings will change.”

Motioning with his hands, Chongyun’s calm voice explains the working to you. At the end of the rather lengthy explanation, you nod and condense the information in your mind.

“And now that Instructor Chongyun is done teaching you, I'm happy to say that I'm done with the letter. Have been for a while, but I saw no need to interrupt the oh so fascinating lecture.”

Raising the letter, Xingqiu lazily waved it as Chongyun bristled but ultimately said nothing.

“I can send this once I get home. Unfortunately, neither me nor Chongyun will be available to accompany you through your journey.”

Xingqiu tsk’d at his own words while Chongyun turned his head away, visibly sulking.

“My family was just hired to check out Wuwang Hill and my attendance for this is mandatory. Xingqiu’s father is forcing him to stay and attend meetings with his brother for the week as well.”

All you could do was smile sadly in response.

Before long they were both forced to leave by Baizhu who insisted on total privacy for the reviewing of your medication and discharge.

Watching them climb down the stairs from the window in your room, you listen absentmindedly to Baizhu.

Changsheng still refused to see you. Something Tevyat was clearly displeased with, as the once sunny weather quickly turned cloudy. The cold-blooded creature must be huffing in annoyance by now.

“And this is the overview of medication and supplements to take, with the doses and dates to take them.”

Casually looking over the paper received from the shady snake bastard, you hummed for a moment before stuffing it into your bag.

“All of it is paid for by your special benefactor. And the drug you requested has already been paid with by your body, as we both know.”

‘Must he phrase it like that?’ You internally questioned as you snatch the medication and shove it into your bag.

“I'm glad for it. Maybe even more so if she didn't pin so many babysitters onto me.”

At your grumble, Baizhu’s smile wavered at the edges. Either he truly hadn't known why there was extra ‘security’ or he was a great liar. You suspect it's a bit of both.

“Then if everything has been covered, I’m happy to say that you're officially discharged as of-” He merely glanced at the sun still high in the sky before finishing. “1300. I sincerely hope that the next time we meet you'll be in a better physical state.”

“And I sincerely wish we never have to meet again.” The words you utter are full of sarcasm, something Baizhu simply chuckles at.

“Now what could I have possibly done to deserve your ire, dear Oracle?”

“It's what you haven't done. A little heads up about all the guards would have been nice.”

“Oh, but I did!” His smile seems a little sharper as he leans toward you, his glasses sliding down to the bridge of his nose. “Didn't I let you know early on that there were quite a lot of guards?”

With an annoyed scoff, you snap back. “You said it was due to the two temples nearby, not cause Ningguang wanted to keep an eye on me.”

Raising his hands with wide eyes, Baizhu tried to placate you. “I'm not part of the Millelith, how on earth could a physician like me know the true reasoning?”

Holding his gaze, you tried to discern what he was truly thinking at this moment. Malice? Amusement? Mocking kindness?

But at that moment, all you could see was genuine surprise in his eyes. It only served to confuse you further.

Was Baizhu truly innocent in this? Your instincts in situations like these were usually correct. Besides, what would Baizhu even gain from deceiving you?

Still, that didn't explain why Baizhu was always so damn shady, but maybe you should chalk it up to an unfortunate side effect of being contracted with a snake.

“Well, then let me reiterate my earlier words. While I still hope we won't have to meet again. I do wish for us to want to meet again.”

Baizhu lowers his arms while fixing his glasses to laugh, the sound is surprisingly tender. “And how do you expect me to tell when that would be? I’m no mind reader.”

Standing up, you stay silent as you slip your bag over your shoulders and move past him. The door opens with a creak as you tilt your head slightly to meet his eyes.

“To put it simply, I’ll want to see you when you discover whatever is hidden in my culture sample.”

The door clicks shut as you leave Bubu’s Pharmacy for good.

----------------------------

After a brief but firm pat to Qiqi’s head, you walk down the stairs casually. The slight rustling of the leaves, the fabric of curtains drawn, and the quieting of chatter are all brought to your attention.

Ningguang’s spies and the Millelith guards are all watching you like rabid dogs, waiting for you to slip up and give them an excuse to arrest you right now. 

Smiling without hesitation, you get to the last step and pretend that the forced conversations around you aren't scripted, and that the eyes locked on you are of a curious bystander and not the ones of detectives.

Bringing your attention back to the list you have clenched in your hand, you read the first errand on the list.

Return books to library.

Easy enough, and it's even easier when people seem to automatically avoid being in your path.

Is this what a day in Xinyan's life feels like? It's honestly not that bad.

At least you thought so until you got to the counter and waited for the receptionist to return.

Five minutes pass. Then ten minutes, which quickly turn into fifteen in a blink of an eye. You can feel your mood worsening.

Deciding to test something, you walk away from the library and turn the corner. Peeking around the corner, you watch as the ‘customer’ that was standing in the corner all those minutes gets to the counter. Almost immediately, a swarm of people return to it.

Sighing heavily, you ignore the weight of suspicious stares and turn the corner back into the library. Getting back into line feels humiliating, but it's just a quick errand, you tell yourself.

No one moves out of the way, but the quick glances they send you make them pale with each minute.

Not a soul dares to stand behind you.

It's finally your turn, and you place your books on the table with the last bit of patience you had. She doesn't meet your eyes and mumbles something.

“I'm sorry, what did you say?” Leaning closer, you try to catch her words, only for her to yell.

“It's lunchtime now so I can't accept any more returns or purchases. H-Have a good-d da-ay!”

Flabbergasted at the sheer audacity, you watch her flip a sign on the table and flee the area.

“Fuck this shit.” Colorful curses leave you as you drop all the books haphazardly on the table and storm away.

Crossing it off the list, you follow the main path to the next errand.

Collect reward from Guild

That commission should have given you one hell of a paycheck the last time you checked. Primogems may be worthless now, but you could use the Mora the commission provides.

Plus, you needed to let them know to change it to the Mondstadt region.

Lost in thought of all the technicalities and paperwork you would have to fill out, you weren't focusing on the fleeting whispers around you.

“Is that them?”

“Who else could it be?”

“What a monster…”

“-as long as we get paid.”

“Who cares about-”

“It's me or them.”

“As long as it's them and not me.”

Your experience at the guild was a much kinder one. Katheryne was the epitome of professionalism, just as you remembered her to be. Not that you expected much else from a robot.

After handing all the written work to her, you finally noticed the absence of a certain person.

“Where’s that grouchy Lan? She's usually here, isn't she?” Checking the vicinity, you try to spot the brown recognizable bob.

“The Branch Master Lan is currently undertaking a commission at this time.”

“About the unseen razor, right?”

“That can not be disclosed to unauthorized-”

“It's fine. I’ll see you later, Katheryne.” Turning around, you leave without another thought. Lan wasn't anywhere near the ‘threatening’ list you've created since you last saw her.

Pick up plushie

Crossing out the previous task, you look at the present one with mixed emotions. On one hand, you were happy to get a chance to see something related to Earth, to your world. But at the same time, you couldn't help but wonder if it would serve more as a distraction than anything else. The memories it brought up never failed to leave your heart troubled…

Remembering the money you spent commissioning it ultimately tipped the scales, and so you dragged your feet to the little old lady’s toy shop.

It was empty just as the first time you were there as she hummed. If she was a vision holder you'd guess Hydro judging by the tranquility she radiated.

Her eyes meet yours and a happy smile slips onto your face without much thought.

“Here to pick up the toy, dearie?”

“Yup.” Popping the ‘p’, you watched as she gathered a delicately wrapped box from under the other boxes and presented it to you.

“Enjoy the nostalgic memories a toy can bring.”

You politely thank her before taking the present and walking away. The weight of the box is heavy with dread, and you can only find solace in the fact she didn't refer to it as ‘happy’ memories.

Once sufficiently out of sight, you take to grasping the lid. But you couldn't bring yourself to remove it.

Too many memories. All of them are rushing in and filled with conflicting feelings that would surely crush you. The fear and selfishness of the broken promises and unfulfilled desires would throw you off your game.

With a little too much enthusiasm, you stuff the box of the cat plushie into your bag.

Most likely to stay forgotten and distant from the present you're facing.

Scratching it off harder than the rest, you get to the last errand.

Refill supplies

A smart and mature move considering how you used the whole Medkit during the chase. The soggy bandages and washed away ointment really hurt your heart and wallet.

Revisiting the same shops you went to the first time proved to be ineffective. Either they were completely sold out or no longer supplying them.

Forced to visit more stores, you had to walk around the city a lot more than you cared to. Each store had one of the two situations, and the skittish actions of everyone around you were just the cherry on top.

At one point you even tried to buy the individual items separately, and even that failed.

It's not like you could just wait till next week for the first shipment. You weren't even sure you would live till then.

Eventually, you found yourself sulking on the lower docks, turning the situation around in your head.

If only you lived in Liyue for a little longer, maybe you could have found some of the hidden shops. Befriend a store owner and get a hidden one.

Just who the hell would even go out of their way to get every medical first aid part when it's such a crucial item for so many people in this era?

A name finally comes to mind and your expression sours at the thought. Not that you’d let it show, Celestia knows how many guards are watching you at this moment-

A sudden, rapid series of taps on your shoulder has you spinning around in surprise.

A young boy stands before you. The clothes he wears has visible wear and tear as the fabric frays from the edges. Yet you can't help but think you might have seen him before.

Placing a finger on his lips, he uses his other hand to grab hold of your elbow and tug you along.

Surprised but not suspicious of the kid, you let him lead you deeper into the docks. The dark red of his eyes seem to glow within the shadows as his dirty blond hair acts as your beacon of light.

The smell of fresh fish turns rotten, and the dirt caked under his fingernails stains your clothes. The complete and straight planks become jagged and creaky as you follow him farther.

But you stayed silent.

You recognized a path to the seedy part of the city when you see it.

Instead, you examine the younger boy with a critical eye and finally connect the dots. He must be one of the kids you saved with Yiran.

A smirk creeps up your face. It seems you managed to use your time wisely in making connections after all.

Following along the twists and turns, you don't worry too much about the Millelith. Most of the guards probably couldn't even get this far. If you had to guess, it would only be the detectives who could keep up.

It's not like the hidden underworld of cities as popular as Liyue Harbor are any big secret to them.

Stalls and various shops fill the area as flickering lanterns and other extra lighting give you a wider view.

Multiple people call out to the boy as he silently waves to them. The gaze of the homeless and shady people around aren't warm, but aren't hostile either.

Not that you were exactly expecting a warm welcome, but at least you didn't have to worry about sudden personality changes.

Money could buy you information, but it wouldn't buy you trust in these parts.

He finally stops at a little nook in the corner of the area. The door is worn down with scratches and marks yet the light you can see under it is warm.

Silent as before, he points at you, then to the rows of shops in a sweeping motion before stopping at the door.

Pinching your brows in slight confusion, you chew on the gestures to understand it. High-pitched laughter that suspiciously sounds like children eases into your ears as the boy squirms in place.

“Did you want me to knock on the door when I'm done shopping? That you'll lead me back to the surface?”

It was the only thing that you can think of. And despite your hesitation, the boy nods, clearly relieved that you understood the message.

He must truly be mute, no doubt from whatever horrors he must have faced that lead to the scars poorly hidden by mud on his arms.

You were thankful either way. Just leading you here was great but getting an exit too was even better. Now you could avoid getting mugged and/or murdered on your way back.

“Thanks man, I'll be quick.” With that, you walk away, already following the invisible path to the shops that caught your eye.

As much as you would have liked to explore the various items and weapons they had, you didn't want to keep the kid waiting.

After having to buy a rather expensive medical kit, a minor downside to finding the first medical anything since you left Bubu’s pharmacy, you pick up a minor stitching case.

You could have really used one during your latest and probably not last chase. Stuffing it into your bag, as people eye the magical item with desire, you quickly find the home.

Getting to the door, you step closer than before and take note of the older voice. A woman that's chuckling, and a lingering sense of guilt invades your mind.

Quickly rapping your knuckles on the wood, you step away as the home goes dead quiet.

Multiple little eyes peer at you from windows below you as you lazily grin and wave. They all scatter as giggling resumes and the sound of playing returns.

But not the woman’s voice. You didn't expect it to. It's hard to face the only person you've poured your raw wounds from a child's death to.

The kid finally steps out with multiple clicks of locks echoing around the small space. Smiling, you take no offense to the action. You weren't here for trust, and they weren't helping you out of it either.

His crimson eyes glisten with interest at your bag. He wants his pay, and you're more than happy to oblige.

Stuffing your hand into the bag, you feel the familiar clink of Mora gathering in your hand. Pulling it out, you place an appropriate amount into the pouch he already has prepared.

When you drop it all, he takes it closer to him and picks up a piece. The first thing he does is try to bite it, and the familiar memory of you testing coins the same way makes you smile sadly.

Counting the Mora, he frowns, clearly displeased with the amount. He holds his hand out, and you can feel the other children’s stares digging into you.

“I'm going to give you two things that aren't Mora, okay? But you have to keep it a secret.”

He narrows his eyes, no doubt suspecting you of being a shady person. That's probably why he brought you here first and demanded payment before returning you.

Like this, he has back up and cornered you further into payment of his choosing.

“Do you have a cooking pot?”

He frowns in confusion before nodding slowly. Lifting one finger in a pause motion, before heading back inside his home.

He returns while holding a clean cooking pot. It doesn’t take long before he places it over the open fire you already started.

Small eyes follow your every step as you dig out ingredients from your bag. Mentally going over the ingredients you had originally prepared for your celebration feast if you survived tonight, you drop them into the pot.

4 ham, 3 crabs, 3 shrimp meat, and 3 matsutake potatoes are dropped in.

Turning around, you count to five as the boy gives you a confused stare. But you only wink at him before turning around to look at the pot, as his eyes widen at the sight.

Adeptus’ Temptation sits innocently in the pot as the rich aroma wafts around the area, drawing curious hungry eyes.

Leaning down, you whisper to the boy.

“Get your friends and bring the pot back into your house quickly. This food is blessed and safe as you watched the whole process. I suggest you let the sickly and injured children eat first.”

He looks between you and the pot with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he can't trust you too much, but even the smell of the food was clearly tempting him.

It's the shuffling of feet getting closer that makes him bang on the door, signalling for the other children to come out and help him bring it inside.

By the time the shabby adults come into view, it's just you and the boy ‘talking’ as they grumble and turn around.

The kid still looks displeased. You don't blame him completely, since how can he trust that the food you cook isn't spiked with anything nefarious.

You're not even sure if it can heal people that aren't acolytes. It doesn't work on you after all.

At least they'll all enjoy a hot meal, even if it doesn't work.

Sighing, you take out your last resort from your bag, sadly selecting it and pulling it out. The secret weapon you've been saving since your time in Inazuma.

The colorful assortment of candy wrappers makes the kid’s eyes sparkle with the childlike glee that was absent since you met him. Probably long before you met him.

“It's not just Liyue candy, some are even from Inazuma.” The thought of giving up your hard-earned candy hurt you, but you let it go. 

The candy you squirreled away during the Inazuma festival, and the discount ones you bought at cheap prices at Liyue’s markets, were both never going to be eaten anyway.

His hands reach out to snatch the candy greedily from you but you raise it out of reach at the last second. He stomps his foot in childish indignation as you chuckle.

“Sorry, but I need you to bring me back to the outside before you scam me out of any more goodies.”

Finally giving up, he grabs your elbow again and leads you back through the streets. You enjoy the sights as he leads you zigzagging through the stalls.

You can't help but wonder if any detectives are still watching your boring little interactions. Admittedly, you played into the kid's desires more then you had to.

But you couldn't stop yourself from doing so when all you could see in him was yourself when you were that height.

The sun comes into light as the dim lanterns fade away. Like this, you can see his features once more as the stomping of soldiers return.

His eyes scan the area at the sound, but he keeps his hands open for the sweet treats. Smiling, you drop the candy into his open palms before he rushes off with a beaming boyish grin.

Stretching as you walk up the planks to the surface, you finally cross off the last item and drop it into the nearby trash can.

You try to ignore how it disappears when you turn the corner.

------------------------------------

Time ticks down slowly, and you aren't looking forward to seeing Madam Ping just yet. Besides, you made a long-overdue promise to someone else beforehand.

Starting up at the somewhat hidden Funeral Parlor, you push the door open with a casual; “Hey, I'm here to meet up with the Director of this fine and totally not macabre establishment.”

The receptionist blinks at your sudden words before a cheery voice responds from behind her.

“You sure took your time, Y/N. I almost wondered if you up and died before I got a chance to have you purchase one of our very convenient and practical deals!”

Yet again, Hu Tao was right on the money about you being close to death. Idly, you wonder if you look half as dead as you feel.

The receptionist is more than happy to slip away as her boss bounds up to you with that elemental ghost hovering around her.

Flower pupils stare into your eyes, giving you a vague sense of unease as Hu Tao examines you from various angles. 

“Yup, yup! Just as I suspected. You are in desperate need of escape, and it seems the only way you'll be getting it is in death. My honest suggestion is that you buy a coffin from us and lead a hedonist lifestyle to enjoy the few years you have left.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” You dryly respond as she nods approvingly. 

“A business needs to be honest for it to succeed in the long-term. Trust of the customers is one of the biggest key factors.”

Not willing to argue on a topic you were admittedly clueless on, you follow her deeper into the Parlor.

“Then you got any good deals for a traveling adventurer like me who could be dead halfway across the world?”

She sighs, exaggerating it to the utmost while circling you. “I thought deeply on the topic and while the Wangshsng Funeral Parlor has grown enough to reach all of Liyue and a good amount of Mondstadt and Sumeru, we still haven't grown enough to pair up with each region.”

Passing by multiple doors, your eyes scan for a clue on where she was leading you.

“But considering you're the most eager customer I've had concerning their own death, I decided to present you with a special deal.”

“Wouldn't suicidal people also be enthusiastic in this topic?”

“They're usually more focused on the moment and their own afterlife, instead of the corpse they leave behind. Besides-!”

Whipping around to look at you with a knowing grin, she lays a hand decorated in rings on the handle.

“You aren't that far from being called a suicidal person yourself, Y/N!”

Before you can question her on those words, she swings the door open to show multiple rows of various coffins.

“The special offer I'm giving you is to purchase a coffin and I will personally escort your wandering soul to the border for proper peace.”

Tearing your eyes from the admittedly impressive collection of varying caskets, you have the sense to ask her a question. “So, what's the point in me buying a coffin if my body ends up in the waters of Fontaine? And how could I even trust that you have the ability to escort souls?”

From what you remember, Hu Tao should have no clue about your oracle status, so logically you should act oblivious to her connection with the border. Would you even be able to cross the border? It’s not like you were born on Teyvat like her other customers.

Unless Zhongli told her, but that would require more of an explanation on his behalf that he wouldn't want to do. 

“Very good question, dear customer!” She spins around to face you once more, her long twin tails swinging during the motion.

“Even if your body is irretrievable for whatever reason, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will deem your casket full after I guide your soul.”

The atmosphere visibly shifts after she speaks. The room darkens as the lanterns flicker, her back lowers in a familiar position as a cold phantom touch caresses your hand.

“You of all people should know why and how I'm able to guide souls. After all, I wouldn't expect anything less from an Oracle of the Creator.”

A crooked grin makes its way to your face as goosebumps raise on your skin. Hu Tao’s ‘threatening’ words of knowing your identity were like the sweetest song to your ears.

Finally, all your hard work in creating connections and stabilizing your identity has paid off. Acolytes you've barely begun conversing with already see you as an Oracle.

“Should I applaud you or something, Director? Or should I just accept the deal and make us both happy?”

Hu Tao laughs at your words as you take confident strides to stand by her side.

“I would appreciate the second option much more!” Signature flower pupils drink your smiling visage in with delight before her hand grasps yours in a tight hold.

“Now, if you will, I'll introduce all these amazing coffin and casket types for you to ask about and choose between.”

There's no time to protest, not that you would as she pulls you along excitedly as butterflies made of Pyro brush against your cheek.

------------------------------

Somehow you and Hu Tao had managed to look at every single coffin type in existence. A style, color and even additional design to it has already been decided.

You're just left with choosing the best wood for it.

Hu Tao wanted to stay with you throughout the whole process, but an important matter came up again, making her complain loudly as she left.

But before she did, she insisted on sending one of her employees to help you in choosing, as ‘the wood is a vital part of the process!’. 

So now you're left waiting in the absolutely quiet room, with only the sound of your own breathing accompanying you.

Looking down at the two coffins made of different wood, you waited for this employee. A small smirk played on your lips as you heard the door audibly click shut.

The thumping of shoes coming closer was silent, but the slight hitch of breath gave away how close your new consultant was.

“White cedar wood and Teck wood are both very fine choices. Though I would consider the Catalpa wood two rows down to be the best choices considering your position.”

Hot air fans your skin as the knowledgeable words spoken in that low timber light your nerves aflame.

Turning around, you look into amber eyes that remain steadfast on your face. His outfit is pristine and there's not a single evidence of the battle he was left to fight on him.

“If that answers your last question for the coffin customization, then would you mind stepping outside with me?”

Waving your hand, you dismiss his words without hesitation. “We can do so after I check out the Catalpa wood you recommended.”

Your head angles to the side to look at him with a teasing grin. “I know it's your retirement, but you of all people should know that rushing a job is never good.”

A long-suffering sigh leaves Zhongli as you walk away to the Catalpa coffin, before he follows you. 

More than happy to kill time like this, you feel the wood under your fingertips in a smooth stripe.

“Catalpa wood was and is still often used as an outer coffin for the jade inner coffin that Liyue officials were buried in. Not only can it be carved fluidly, but it is also very resistant to decay, unlike other ornamental wood. Its stability is quite underrated, with only the drying to be a tad problematic. And even that will be for us to deal with.”

Vaguely you wonder if this information was inserted into the game based off China’s own history or if Teyvat really did age throughout many years to build its own history.

“That’s why I recommended this type of wood to you. While you’re not officially a member of the Qixing or other affairs, your position of oracle is enough to warrant such a valued coffin.”

“Are you trying to convince me to buy it for your job, or are you trying to flatter me for your proposal?”

“You may see it as both, neither, or one of the two. I'm simply here as the consultant. I am to assist you with all of your decision-making inside this building.”

A huff of laughter leaves you before you tap on the casket. “Then I'll go along with what you want and take this wood.”

Zhongli nods, not bothering to write it down as his memory must be far greater than you care to imagine. 

His gloved hand is displayed to you in a silent question, but before you can move, he removes the glove.

Quizzically, you raise an eyebrow before placing your hand on his now bare one. Peering at his face from your place you note the slightest blush on his otherwise composed expression.

Smiling to yourself, you allow his fingers to intertwine with your own as he guides you out of the side door. Following him blindly up the staircase, past a set of rooms, another staircase till you finally arrive at the roof.

Zhongli squeezes your hand one last time, clearly relishing in the touch of your calloused fingertips before letting you go.

“I've waited patiently for you, Y/N. What is your answer to my marriage proposal?”

His eyes stare at yours with unshakable firmness. In a sense, it's endearing, and you make it clear by smiling widely.

“It's a no from me.” That resolute expression cracks and his mouth drops open before it's slammed shut at your bright laughter.

But even his poorly concealed embarrassed expression can't smother the blood rushing to his cheeks as his ears hang onto every addictive note that leaves your lips.

This has taken a long time. Like super long. I haven't dropped this series, just have lots of school work to complete and exams to study for. Like I literally have one tomorrow. My editor did me a solid and highlighted the parts that I had to fill in after I gave the mostly completed document for editing. When I have to write the next chapter, it'll take a bit as I gotta reread for recalibration. Taglist is open as always!

@vvyeislazzy, @nikqi, @the-dumber-scaramouche, @etherisy, @yourlocalstranger123, @ra404, @iruiji, @goldenglow149, @haru-tofuu, @lsleepysimpl, @bebobeboben, @yuyuzi-ling, @amidst-the-tempest, @resident-cryptid, @mxd1zzy, @mochicurls21, @nervouseaglelover, @thedevioussmirk, @yumuramma, @kwqsla, @undecidingfate, @ehjane, @game-savvy, @akiramirae, @liansh3ng, @fluffy-koalala, @formacoon, @sxftiebee, @khxii-i, @ursinaw, @chuuya-brainrot, @sweetbills, @kazuchaos, @snowfoxnix, @bluebelony, @shellofthewell, @pencil-of-ashes, @ghostlyintervention, @taiformaifoe, @goaudduck, @carminerin, @maddysflowers, @zenith-of-all-zenith, @crazydreamcat, @leafanonsforest, @grimreapersscythe, @leylanx, @sapphireknown, @help-whatdoimakemyusername

@zhonglisfruityass, @mer0n37, @victoria1676, @mochinessss, @sinnful-darling, @emilymikado, @pix-stuff, @esthelily, @luxie963, @emmbny, @starsofabundance, @kbar1013, @xxblackroses623xx, @chxrlxtteee, @aludicpoet, @yandematic, @atrcclovsxoxo, @0lshadyl0, @esthelily, @t-rex-red, @ck123, @steadybreadbluebird, @118gremlin, @stratonia, @time-shardz, @farelady-fate, @valeriele3, @francisnyx, @byakuren100, @waveto-earth, @flyingpansaurus, @silverstarred, @iamapotatoe, @ghosthii, @beloveddroplet, @uchihaeirin, @ibelieveinsleep, @idk098, @thefirstonetoeverlikemeback, @toramune, @haaaaaades, @horologiumwise, @melovaaaa, @alittletiredcry, @aphxdea, @atsukawolfcat, @desirabletravel, @pinkpainc, @eccedentesiast-sapphic, @yuyuzi-ling, @hyperfixationwhore

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[genderfluid-insomniac]

Hi! I have gi request: can you do headcanons about reader being best friends with some characters? Namely, Wanderer, Nahida, Furina and Albedo. If you don't feel like doing all of them, at least someone is fine! Thank you <3

Being best friends with Wanderer, Nahida, Furina and Albedo

Wanderer

Being the best friend of the wandering reformed puppet includes listening to him bitch and moan about how having friends makes your life better and how it cannot go wrong ever. Note the sarcasm. He does really like having you as a friend since you’ve never done anything to think you’d betray or abandon him and shows it through his actions

Being the best friend of the wandering reformed puppet includes having to explain to others that it took a while for Wanderer to stop trying to ditch you the first few months/a year and assuring others that he’s not an awful person he just has a resting bitch face.

Being the best friend of the wandering reformed puppet includes drinking bitter tea and helping make delicious dishes but being scolded if you don’t help with cleaning the dishes. You also enjoy how annoyed he is at the many people who follow him for being fond of him and incidentally playing hide-and-seek when you can’t find Wanderer.

Nahida

Being the best friend of the Dendro Archon includes hearing the best advice whether it’s being given to you or someone else that you’re around and having a relaxing afternoon in the forest or strolling around the streets of Sumeru city.

Being the best friend of the Dendro Archon includes hanging out with all of the Aranaras who are very happy to have a new friend and play games with. Both you and Nahida love dancing at night with fireflies flying around while the Aranara play songs and joyfully skip around one another.

Being the best friend of the Dendro Archon includes listening to Wanderer bitch about working with Nahida even though he’s glad too and making candied nuts. Making flower crowns out of wildflowers growing around the goddess and using vines to weave intricate designs with the flowers highlighting the crown.

Furina

Being the best friend of Lady Furina includes being overly dramatic with her almost constantly and acting out miniature favorite scenes from plays. She invites you to all the plays she is in and excitedly tells you all the funny behind-the-scenes tales she can without getting in trouble.

Being the best friend of Lady Furina includes trying and eating so many cakes and sweet foods that you both get full instantly. Seriously though both of you will get stomaches but are also welcomed back to the restaurant by the owners.

Being the best friend of Lady Furina includes cuddling with her hydro creations and having many tea parties with them. You both have so much fun popping the bubbles made by them and training gracefully like you’re dancing.

Albedo

Being the best friend of the chief alchemist includes so much hijinx that it’s almost like rolling a wheel every day to see what shit will ensue and you will also have to drag the homunculus out of his office for breaks. There are many times when you won’t see Albedo for days or weeks and then out of nowhere, he’ll show up on your doorstep asking if you want to get breakfast or lunch.

Being the best friend of the chief alchemist includes spending so much time with Klee regardless of whether Albedo is with you and trying your best not to let her get herself into trouble. Of course, it sometimes doesn’t work but Albedo is so fond and grateful that you have such a good relationship with his sister.

Being the best friend of the chief alchemist includes being very concerned that he eats spiders and desperately trying to get him to stop. You’ve tried so many things and all of them failed at one point Albedo tried to get you to eat a spider which ended with you slapping him.

[yestrnight]

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ 3BEDO SANDWICH !  

FROM: albedo, rubedo, fellbedo / reader

SUBJECT: you’re back home in mondstadt, and your three very identical, yet so different, lovers have come to welcome you back. in their own special way, of course ♡

(4some, selfcest, reader is referred to as they/them but has a cóck, overstimulation, overuse of heart lmao, made this sound like a doujinshi, rimming, nipple play, anál séx, humping, anál fingering, 3way kiss, you fuck all three of em) 

You don’t know how normal it is for having a relationship with three boys who look exactly the same. 

You’d like to add that they’re also essentially the same, especially the first two, but you think Rubedo wouldn’t like that. Given his past and the inferiority complex he still displays towards the ‘perfect’ copy, it’d be best for you not to say anything like that at all. And, well, they’re really only the same in genetic makeup and looks… not so much in personality at all.

“I’m back!” You call into the cavern, slinging your backpack onto a nearby chair. It’s the same old books and shelves, potions boiling on the alchemy kit, and the half-done painting on the canvas. A familiar face pops from behind the makeshift bed you set up before, his teal eyes blinking widely at you.

You smile, immediately knowing who else could be behind that sweet and naive look. “Hello, Fell,” you coo, opening your arms wide to invite him. He springs right into them, nuzzling his face into your chest and wrapping his arm around your torso. You laugh slightly, combing his fluff hair.

“[Your Name],” he almost whines. “You were gone for so long… Didn’t think you’d come back at all.”

Ah. Fell’s pout pulls at your heartstrings, and a silent apology is given in the form of a tighter hug. To think you’re now this affectionate towards the Cryo Whooperflower that had posed as Albedo and attacked you and the Traveler before. He did try to kill the two of you and some others, but now that you know better, as he was just fulfilling the orders given to him by his creator. 

“Oh? Look who came back,” a biting voice snarks from behind you. You turn to look and see the other two enter the camp, as well as the glare from the red-tinted one as he crosses his arms at you. Speaking of creators, Rubedo’s eyes hold you in disdain as his scowl deepens. “You think you can just leave one moment and come back just like that, no consequences whatsoever? Who do you think you are?”

“Ru,” you sigh. “I’ve been sending letters to you guys while I was in Liyue. It’s not like I forgot about you guys.” Fell seems to hug you even tighter, so you soothe his pale blonde locks once again.

“Is that so? Then why haven’t I gotten any of them?” 

“Albedo?” You look at the last remaining homunculus, furrowing your brow in confusion. “Did you not give Ru or Fell any of my letters?”

“So you mail him but not me or Fell? This is blatant favoritism.”

“You’re not even a citizen of Mondstadt,” you pointedly state. “You don’t have an address to mail to.”

“I didn’t,” Albedo finally answers your question. He picks up the mentioned letters from his bag and waves it in the air as if nothing happened. “They never asked. You never told me.”

You sigh deeply, already feeling tired even on your first day back in Mondstadt. You know that’s not the case, if the sly smile he hides behind the mail is anything to go by. Calm and collected the Chief Alchemist may always seem, he had always been a tad possessive and jealous. The others are too, but Albedo’s position in life gives him advantages like the one right now.

Rubedo clicks his tongue at his copy. “Fell, let’s go. It’s clear these two don’t want anything to do with us.”

“H-Huh?” Fell cocks his head in confusion. “But I don’t wanna…”

“C’mon now, Ru.” You stretch a hand towards him, inviting him ito your arms too. “What if I make this up to you, hm? All of you.”

He huffs. “You’re sorely mistaken if you think you can just seduce me like that.”

“Ngh— Ah, f-fuck ♡”

The rhythmic slap of skin against skin echoes throughout the cavern as you plunge your thick length into Ru’s warm ass over and over again. Muffled moans flutter from his mouth as he grips onto the sheets for some sort of stability, but it’s hard when you keep pushing his head down so you can fuck even deeper into him.

“Heh,” you snicker, seeing Ru’s dazed eyes while he helplessly moans like a slut. “How’s this for an apology, hm?”

Your words seem to snap him out from his mindless state, as his eyes suddenly focus and narrow back at you. “Y-you think that just ‘cause you’re good at s-sEX” —his voice cracks when you grind ito the part you know he loves so much— “that warrants forgiveness from me?”

“Well, Albedo and Fell seem to think so.”

Behind you, Fell humps his cock on your ass, mindlessly panting as he plays with his nipples. With no thoughts other than sex, he’s heedless of the drool coming from his lips. He flicks the tiny little nubs, puffy from the sessions you would endlessly torture them. Every flick and twist sends electricity through his body, spurting more precum on your ass until you’re absolutely dripping with it. Is this even pre anymore? you think, but your thoughts are cut off when the tip teases your entrance.

“F-Fell…” Your legs stutter, accidentally pushing deep into Ru. Surprised by the sudden change of rhythm, his legs kick the air, his back arching as he tries to welcome every inch you’re giving. “Y-You wanna… heh, you wanna come inside?”

Fell whines, a positively beautiful sound. He embraces you, nodding into your skin and looking up at you with teary eyes. “Wanna fuck you… wanna come inside…”

“Hngh, [Your Name]~ ♡“ The needy little one who’s currently bucking his hips as you finger his ass hasn’t stopped begging and whining for you ever since this fucking session started. “Deeper ♡ Fasterrr ♡ O-Oooh~♡” Albedo shudders when you curl your fingers into that spot and pump them harder. “Th-That’s it, haah, more of that, please!” 

You grin. “Poor thing, you’re absolutely debauched. Missed me that much?” 

Albedo nods while he continues to match the rhythm of your fingers. “Missed you, ah, so, so much ♡ Touched myself while I read your letters… Didn’t want the others to find out, so I hid it from them.” At this revelation, you pull your fingers out, and his eyes go wide at the emptiness. “Wh- What are you doing…? Don’t pull away, please. Need it, need it, need it…”

You slap his ass, the sound so sudden and hard it makes the others flinch. Albedo bites back his sob by stuffing his mouth with his fist. You massage the reddening flesh, looking at him disappointedly. “Bad boy… So you mean to say that you came all over my letters? Letters that I wrote for all three of you? The ones that don’t even have a trace of sex in them? Is sex really all that you can think of?” 

Albedo nods again, teary eyes silently pleading you for mercy. The slap that comes next burns even more, but a trickle of cum spurts from his hard cock anyway, and a muffled squeal comes from behind his fist.

Rubedo pins the huffing mess beside him with a judging look. “Did you really come all over their letters?” He pathetically nods, and Ru sighs. “Well, then I guess it’s a good thing you never showed it to Fell and I, then.” 

Fell peeks out from over your shoulder, pouting a bit. “I… I still would’ve liked to have read [Your Name]’s letters.”

“Don’t worry.” You kiss Fell on the cheek. “You’ve got plenty of time to read it later. For now,” you smile innocently at Albedo and Ru, but the dark look sends shivers up their spine. “I think you’re talking too coherently for my liking. Fell,” you look over and bend, opening up your slick entrance for him. “Would you like to fuck me?” 

“Y-Yes! Haha, m-more, fucK! Give it to me!” Fell, obedient and docile as ever, follows your request thrusting faster and deeper into you. Albedo rides on your dick, his cock wagging back and forth as he desperately plunges himself over and over again on your length. Ru’s asshole puckers temptingly over your head while you lazily finger him. 

You swirl a tongue over his dick, kissing and only sucking only the tip while he licks and kisses yours everytime Albedo raises his ass. Your cum oozes out of Albedo’s hungry hole, giving him more to feed on as his lips hungrily search your cock for more.

“Haah…” Albedo looks down at his lookalike, blush all over his face. He can see the bulge protruding from his belly at this angle, as well as the erotic expression Rubedo has as he laps up your cum. “I–I can see your tongue… ♡” 

“What about it?” Ru raises a brow, looking up at him. “Want it on yours too?” 

Thoughts rush through Albedo’s mind, but he can barely process any of them as his mind only screams for more of that sweet, sinful sex. He nods, biting his lip as he stretches his asshole even wider. He leans back and looks at his ‘older brother’ pleadingly.

“Fuuck,” Ru groans. He licks a stripe up your dick and then dives right into the fluttering asshole. The blood rushes to his head as he tongue fucks Albedo together with your cock. He grips Albedo’s thighs tightly, spreading them out even more so he can have better access, and hungrily slurps everything right up.

“[Your Name]...” Cute little Fell whines from beneath you, his hands groping your chest as he continues to thrust right into you. Attention-seeking and needy, he guides your face to look at him. He plants a sweet kiss, one that doesn’t quite fix the messy sex you’re having now, and looks up at you lovingly. “M-Mail me too on your next trip, okay? You– You can mail it to the Dragonspine camp below… I’ll pick it up. Please?”

You giggle, kissing and moaning into his mouth as his length continues to pound away. “I’ll do that next time. Promise.”

His small smile makes your heart flutter, less in the hot and passionate way, but more of the innocent love type of way. “I’ll hold you to that. Ru was really anxious when you were gone… He tried to keep it down so that he wouldn’t worry me, but… but I could tell.”

“Sounds like him.” You plant a kiss, sweeter than the one before, and pull away. “I’ll make it up to you guys while I’m back in town.”

Fell sobs into Ru’s lap, his mind in overdrive as you overstimulate him with his fourth round of orgasm. His toes curl as you press harder into his ass, lost in the stimulation yourself. You know the limits of your lovers, so you press onward anyway. You’re too mindless right now to even care.

“R-Ru!” Fell sobs, staring pleadingly up at his creator. “T-Too much! [Your Name]’s too much! Tell them to slow d-dOWN!” He yelps when Albedo twists his nipples, and he grips Ru’s thighs even harder. “Ngh, ah, s-stop…! C-Can’t think anymore… Mm, ah ♡”

Ru only chuckles, stroking his counterpart’s hair soothingly. Most of the huffiness from you being away is now gone, having been thoroughly fucked by you, and he’s back to his calmer self. Ru usually matched Albedo’s temperament, though he had always been more prone to irritation. Now Ru was back to his calmer self. “You’re gonna be fine,” Ru coos. “It’s not like you need to think much, anyway. Now that [Your Name]’s back in town, we all know that all you’ll be thinking about is hogging their ass to yourself, right?”

“That’s not– ah!– That’s not t-true! I share [Your Name] with you guys too!”

“If I may intrude,” Albedo’s breath whispers on Fell’s sensitive ear, making him jolt in shock. “Last they were back from Sumeru, we had to keep your mouth in a muzzle so you can stop waking [Your Name] up on your tongue every day.”

Fell whines pathetically, blush covering his cheeks in shame. “I couldn’t help myself… I just missed them so much!” He throws a pitiful look at you, begging for your saving. “Y–You understand, right, [Your Name]? I love you that much, that’s why!”

“Mm, I don’t know,” you chuckle, giving your lovers a sly smile. “Don’t remember much of that at all. Care for a reminder?”

Ru shakes his head, but the fond if not mischievous smile is present on his face. “So insatiable,” he tuts, but he nevertheless reaches for your face and pulls you in for a kiss. “Maybe Fell will take you on that offer.”

“Oh, he will. Maybe even more,” Albedo chimes in, joining the mess of tongues as he clutches at your ass. The three of you suck and fuck each other’s tongues, the excess drool and spit dripping onto the red and throbbing cock down below. 

Gosh, he didn’t know that a three-way kiss could make him this turned on. He tacks that on to the list of the things he wants to do with you while you’re still here. 

[rindragon-from-twewy]

Raincode forte swap au character introooooos!!!! Part 3!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the last one as far as I know and I have plenty to ramble about! Seriously major spoilers for the og mdarc below the cut! (I super mean it this time)

Gosh I felt like such a mastermind genius writing the other intros and not name dropping The Chief - cuz I already knew Yakou and his Wife are swapping places too!

Introducing Yvette Furio: The Chief of the Nocturnal Detective Agency! I don't have much to say about her design this time honestly... gave her some simple office wear so she can blend in well with the other Kanai Ward residents, made her a little thicker and gave her the dead anime mum side ponytail cuz... well... technically she's dead in more ways then one- (Canonically, chapter 4, homonculi etc etc-). She took over from the previous chief to fulfil a debt she was unable to pay back before he died and keeps a photograph of him on her desk as a reminder to keep pushing forward. Though, it's more like the NDA was living on in spirit, since she doesn't know the first thing about being a detective and The Peacekeepers make it so nobody seeks out detectives anyways. The WDO themselves were never notified of this though, sending their Master Detectives to Kanai Ward thinking they're being put in good hands. Instead... they get a new wine aunt figure in their lives who'll be sobbing about being broke one minute and happily throwing them 20 shien and telling them to "buy yourself something nice, sweetie" the next.

Makoto is by far the most canon inkeeping of all. He's still Number One's homunculus and thus his original personality and demeanour remain more or less unchanged. The one exception being that he definitely asks Desuhiko about his opinions on the ethics of clone fucking at least once! His body and face are of course now carbon copies of Desuhiko's now instead of Yuma but I found that keeping his long hair a shade of blonde worked much better then the dark browns I was initially considering. His outfit is kinda a combination of Dazai and Chuuya's from Bungo Stray Dogs. Bolo tie, waist coat, jacket over the shoulders... the resemblance was unintentional but hey! Happy accidents! Made some alterations to his mask too - mainly I gave him red pikachu cheeks as well as a different nose shape. The thing I'm most excited about though are his earrings. They're basically just cattle tags that say "001" because of course the people who'd first created him wouldn't see him as anything more then just an animal - if not less then. Don't fret, though, these aren't stuck on him! He got a custom pair of earrings resembling the tags made as a sort of way to reclaim his origins. After all, earrings are cheaper then therapy!

And that's everyone so far!

For the record, I think it's important to say that I haven't played any of the rain code dlcs yet. I've been holding off on watching them on YouTube for like... 10 months now... cuz I really wanna play them myself. I'm hopefully getting them in a couple weeks time but this is a disclaimer that I know Yakou's wife shows up at one point but I have absolutely no idea what happens with her. All I know is that she doesn't have an official name cuz otherwise, I'd have been able to find that out on Google I think-

I think I'll take a few days break from drawing now since I've posted daily for over a week- I can feel the burn out brewing so I'm stopping while I'm ahead lol- maybe I'll focus on writing instead. :>

[short-for-melancholy]

Hmm. Okay so here's my current thoughts on floating weapons girlie. She was a normal girl, probably an orphan in the slums that nobody would notice missing, and she got abducted by... [someone], who for [reasons] needed an obedient and overwhelmingly powerful soldier, and had spent the last [however many] years experimenting creating Super Soldiers. But this was their first success. They managed to fuse her heart with an earth elemental's core, which granted her the ability to affect magnetic polarity. It was kind of a nightmare at first bc it's very difficult to control that sort of power, but with constant, intense training for a few years, she became serviceable.

In order to eliminate variables like some weapons being more magnetic than others due to different materials used in their creation, she focuses her ability on her own weapons almost exclusively, only ever using it on enemy weapons if she can't dodge an attack otherwise. She uses her ability to align the polarity of her blades so they can be attracted or repelled by simply flipping the polarity of the magnetic fields around them rather than moving the whole thing to attract it in the opposite direction. The blades themselves are crescent-shaped, sharp on the outer edge and the points, and blunt on the inner edge. She can rotate them at high speeds by spinning the magnetic field around them. Currently, she can use 10 blades at once.

The girl was raised to believe she's not actually human, and she's a tool created to serve the one who made her. She believes her life force is tied to theirs, so she can't disobey or run without dying. As a last resort, in case she finds herself in a situation where all her weapons are broken or missing and she needs to perform her duties, her creator filled several of her bones with metal so she would be able to wrench them out of her body and use them as weapons. Primarily these would be her ribs and both arms' radius and ulna. Since she has significantly less bone marrow to produce blood, she's uncharacteristically anemic for a fighter and often sick. She has a perpetual case of the sniffles and gets fevers frequently. She is physically quite weak. Yknow what? Fuck it, she uses a wheelchair to get around. I think that's her vibes. And now we can put metal in her lower legs too. Win/win!

She was only trained to fight effectively, but with nothing better to do, she spends most of her free time practicing artful patterns with her blades. Her creator doesn't like the individuality, but it improves her control and keeps her from going mad, so they tolerate it. Her bladework is undeniably beautiful now. Was there anything else I need to say? I can't remember. Oh, right, she's got a big scar in the center of her chest like something exploded out of it (release of energy upon merging with elemental core) and several scars along her ribs, forearms, and lower legs. As a result she dresses very conservatively, with long frilly dresses with sleeves. She looks very tired and her voice is kind of raspy.

Anyway her name is Polarizing Earth-Aspected Combat Homunculus, or Peach for short. I imagine her journey starts after her master dies and she doesn't. I'll have to make a picrew soon

[kraken17]

One quote from Enid Sinclair per every chapter of Kooky Spooky in which she has been present.

(Note: She is present in Ch.6 & 7 but in a total wolf out, so she has no dialogue).

"Yeah, yeah... relax. The knife-throwing contest is still on. I already made it clear to Wednesday that she could only use volunteers as living targets. Yoko has offered." (Chapter 1)

"I think she's mine and Wednesday's daughter, but not from around here." (Chapter 2)

"Sigh... as tempting as it is I'd ask you both not to maim her just because of her bad habit of spouting occasional idiocy." (Chapter 3)

"They've captured our Friday. Let's go find her and then you'll teach me what's the most painful way to rip off the head of the person responsible." (Chapter 4)

"Sorry, I just… I don't feel like wasting time with this ceremony right now..." (Chapter 5)

"OMG! Why do I always forget this now when I return to my human form!!??" (Chapter 8)

"Holy shit, I'm a hunk." (Chapter 10)

"Aaaw, I think it's very cute. I'm sure deep down your Bruno appreciated this kind of attention." (Chapter 11)

"Are you very fond of this nightgown?" (Chapter 12)

"And I smell people, and pollution, lots of pollution." (Chapter 13)

"Gosh, you're a year older than us now. This is disconcerting." (Chapter 14)

"Wednesday, don't talk about your parents as if they were rabbits." (Chapter 15)

"I'm sorry... I..." (Chapter 16)

"You threw me against a building and caused me to terrify a family! That's very rude!" (Chapter 17)

"At least you're not a racist nutcase who would use her personal Hyde to gather bits of human remains for resurrection rituals." (Chapter 18)

"Your sister told us a little about you when we met her. Well, she told us that you liked to be thrown with catapults..." (Chapter 19)

"I'm not going to fight you! We don't have the time!" (Chapter 20)

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" (Chapter 21)

"Uh, I should say something, but just for calling Tyler a dime-store Hyde I'll let you have a pass." (Chapter 22)

"Wednesday and I are keeping our names because our dimension was the one originally visited by the others... Pure convenience but it was all by mutual agreement between all parties." (Chapter 23)

"What happened to my local counterpart?" (Chapter 24)

"God, it's a little trippy to think of myself as dead." (Chapter 25)

"Principal Weems! Or maybe I should say director... uh... because of the... Yeah, I'd better shut up." (Chapter 26)

"Uh... yeah, it's something I usually do, Wednesday. You used to love to complain about it." (Chapter 27)

"For your own sake, you'd better..." (Chapter 28)

"They will have no hesitation in killing any of you." (Chapter 29)

"You're going...to pay...for..." (Chapter 30)

"Oh... erm... apology accepted my... err... my lord?" (Chapter 33)

"But wait a minute, if they're a confederation of packs how come there's a princess?" (Chapter 34)

"I'm sorry. There's nothing wrong with your last name. It's just that... well, in my reality a counterpart of you is one of my best friends." (Chapter 35)

"Ok, the doppelgänger thing I can get, but what's with the homunculus?" (Chapter 36)

"And now... now I get this story that I'm some kind of... multiversal warrior who reincarnates, like a cheap copy of Avatar: The Last Airbender!?" (Chapter 37)

"Ah, ah. I already know the electricity trick." (Chapter 38)

"We're going to breach The Bright One's defenses. And we won't use magic to do it. What we need is science. Mad science." (Chapter 39)

"What do you say about finding a way to inter-dimensionally travel to a magically sealed universe to rescue Wednesday and Friday and deal with an army of supernatural monsters?" (Chapter 40)

"Six months, my love. It has taken me six months to be able to come back to you." (Chapter 41)

"It's just that if you leave me stranded in another universe I have a bad habit of trying to find my way back." (Chapter 42)

"Oops, someone's a wee bit cranky." (Chapter 43)

"It's just that… Look at her! We're not even talking about being just a MILF anymore. I'm going to be totes a GILF, for real." (Chapter 44)

“My name… is… Enid Addams.” (Chapter 46)

"Fuck, Weds, getting stabbed by a saber shouldn't feel so good!" (Chapter 47)

"Who are we? Right now and right here, we are the Addams family." (Chapter 48)

"Well...I mean...the truth is...erm...Ireallylikeyourhairandyourloosehairdoesthingstome." (Chapter 49)

"Six months, Weds. I've been six months away from you. The word insatiable doesn't even come close to describing how I feel.” (Chapter 50)

“You know, if you keep calling them that they're going to end up being born with horns and wings.” (Epilogue)

[bloodtwin]

𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐠  。 。 。

             latest grave robbed: literally SO unprompted interactions 。 

anonymous ⸻ ❝ You make me sick to my stomach, Puck. Do you know why? You have no values. There isn't a single thing about you that's real - you reject your birthright but what you put in place of it is a sopping wet, noodle-backed yes-man. You act without thinking and then bitch and moan, moan and bitch when people don't think your ridiculous antics are "cute" or "funny". It would have been a lot better for everyone if you had never been sired, but you were, and we're all stuck with you. Iago especially. My heart weeps for that poor, void-of-destiny homunculus. ❞

             NO   VALUES   .  .  .    There's a whiny, little voice in Puck's head that wants to argue, prove them wrong, but when his lips part, nothing comes out. Another voice tells him he should be angry, ( How dare someone talk to him like this ) but his jaw doesn't clench & his hands don't ball into fists.

Instead, he steps back. He shrinks under their scrutiny. His shoulders bend, body curling in on itself, tail tucked between his legs. Agony mars his pale face, and he curses himself for being unable to stop the way his vision blurs. 

There is another voice in his head, and it sounds like theirs. He gives in to it so easily, far more easily than any other, and it is incessant. Not even the Urge could bring him to his knees so quickly. 

He knows it's true. What they're saying is right. Of course everyone would be better off without him ; do they think he doesn't know that already ？He ruins everything he touches. Destroys every life he comes into contact with, all while pretending he can save them. He can't save them. He can't save anything. He only takes and takes and takes. 

He expects everyone to let him do it, too. He's an egotistical, bloodthirsty freak who obeys nothing but his own selfish whims. Who throws tantrums when he doesn't get what he wants. 

             BUT   HE'S   TRYING   ;   He's trying, he's trying, he's trying . . .   Can no one see it ？Is it only in his head ？He tries so hard to be better. Tries so hard to wind up dead in a ditch.

             ❝ Trust me, ❞ he murmured weakly, unable to speak any louder. ❝ I would not be such a burden if I could help it. I've- I've tried . . .  ❞ 

But then the match is struck. The bomb starts ticking. Iago, void of destiny. Those words hit every nerve in Puck's body. Meekness abandoned, self-pity dead in an instant, he rises to his full height again. Doesn't attempt to conceal the threat that he is. Body tense, hands flexing & eyes flashing, his tail beats the ground as he snarls. 

             ❝ Keep their name out of your mouth. Say what you must about me but don't ever speak of Iago like that again. They have a destiny, and it will be whatever they want it to be because they will live. They are going to live. ❞ 

[moonyasnow]

Okay as promised to feed you headcanons on interactions we had:

Irina and Aiden:

-Given she has a love for warm bread I feel given the HSA harvest event he could have made her a nice treat with it... he is a god in cooking among my ocs so I feel it will hit her like a truck how good it is... and that from a guy who doesn't seem like it at all...

-Her seemingly more stuttery in her language and him being super protective makes me think of a situation where she is just nervous and overwhelmed and he stands before making sure that she is protected and gets a rest. Aiden does have that glare that can scare others away that bother her

-Its winter and they share a scarf, cause it be cute and I can see Aidens ears twitch being slightly red and silent

-Both know about hanging out with the wrong people at times, so I feel it be a time where Aiden invite her to his dorm and from the tree houses looking down they could probably both share trauma and eventually hold anothers hand in assurance as in now they got another really

Victor and Eiji

-The beginning of their meeting be interesting to explore cause... Eiji is a homunculus... neither human neither fae nor beast or mer people... he is just a puppet so probably by default Victor might have not be interested in him untill watching his behaviour and what is off about it likely... Eiji is obviously hiding his true nature... but the accesoires, the rabbit paw in his room and the late night going outs are indicators something

-Victor wouldn't fear his threats and probably dig deeper into what he does and what is his secret but keep his secret... in exchange of being allowed to spend time with him... Eiji is still tired of it but does admit he likes his fascination so he grows softer

-I feel however Victor sadly helps him to get even better at covering up so it might be a danger to others, but them being lovers is just a twisted fascination with morbid things for sure

Veronica and Flynn

-He names people he loves after gems so checking his list he might name her Aquamarine

-I feel in the beginning he slightly egged her on... like they had a sword fight against another and all this man did is dodge instead of attack with so much precision it was hard to keep up with and even if she won she just asked him why he didn't attack and he just answer like "Cause watching you is more beautiful." he is a bastard like that.

-Some of her lines on her profile makes me think she might really start to care when she knows how less he cares about himself cause man sees his own life not of value and she could smack sense into him that dead he is moreso worth nothing than alive, its all him living to use his life for others not for himself that drove him with his trauma that way

-He wouldn't say anything about her brother at all... he himself did some bad things so he aint one to judge, and him being a bird might even get him and Victor to also be on decent terms

-This man will literally bring her huge bouquets and always be there surprisingly to be kept in her mind... I said he is percistent and that is mostly for once he found someone that fully got his interest he works hard to impress them... even if he would be better dropping his mask and being himself but... old habits die hard

-Either way if they get together or close she would find out about silly things on him like... hiding he likes fastfood to seem fancy and being terrible at cooking

The Irina and Aiden stuff, just cute and wholesome as always

Just know it'd take a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT for her to share her own traumas

She's probably the least willing to out of all my OCs. Even more so than Victor surprisingly?

Partly because she just had it reinforced in her mind so many times over and over growing up that if she didn't always make whoever she was around happy everyone would leave, so she had to just bottle everything up But she wouldn't be as assertive about boundaries as Victor would be, so if she felt like there was any kind of pressure for her to open up that'd just make it harder for her. That 'the more you reassure, the less I trust' kinda vibe

Also partially because she just really doesn't want anyone to make a big deal out of it. Like, she's already been through it, so someone making a big deal out of it and being worried about her would just make her feel worse I think

There are legitimately AUs I've imagined her in where she never tells ANYONE about the stuff she went through as a kid

My first thought about Victor and Eiji is— I feel like Victor would think he was interesting from the word 'go'. Liars can usually spot another liar a mile away, after all.

And the moment he gets even the TINIEST hint that Eiji isn't human, he is LOCKED IN. He is going to figure out this man's secret if it kills him. He wouldn't actually mind if it did kill him actually. That'd just make him even MORE obsessed actually. Freak that he is, he even finds it sorta romantic???

Like 'damn this person really just killed me because I got close to figuring out their secret. They're the one' lol

And yeah...every single ship I've ever imagined Victor in before the OC x Canon-TWST ship I have him in has been him and the other person 100% just making each other worse lol

Oooo and with Flynn and Veronica— first of all, she is a MASSIVE tsundere. STUBBORN about trying to seem like she doesn't care and thinks everything and everyone is stupid.

But if he was actively flirty like that from the get-go she'd more turn her nose up and like cross her arms and go 'hmph!' and like look away like she couldn't care less. She wouldn't be actively flustered by that specific kind of flirting, but that she's not actively like 'get tf out of my sight rn' is as much indication as you're gonna get that she's fine with it.

Mostly just because she doesn't believe he's being sincere.

Oh but she would 100% fall for him egging her on to fight every single time, and when he did nothing but dodge she'd just get even more upset, and if he het her with that line then, oh, she's DONE Like-- face is so red, and she's so flustered she keeps trying to like insult him (bc that's the only way she knows to react to feeling attacked lol, and she definitely feels attacked-- just hasn't figured out it's not in a bad way yet) but she can't even speak

So she's just like screeching and stuttering incoherently like:

"What?! Wh-wha— you— what do you— th-that's not— I never said— you— I— bgaaah!"

And then she's just storming off because she has no idea how to deal with that lol

Oh and she'd have a big thing of like: "Where the hell did you get 'Aquamarine' from?" (even funnier if he just refuses to tell her why lol)

Oh, and an interesting thing about Veronica is that, I don't think she really cares too much for gifts? She likes gifts that she can use— like a tool, or equipment of some kind, or clothing, or food But, though she'd understand the sentiment behind it, I think she'd struggle to know what to do with the roses lol

And a thing I love about Veronica is that when she has her 'oh shit' moment of 'I would care if you died/were gone', like-- she is gonna move literal mountains for you.

You wormed your way under her skin and inside her heart (somehow) so now you have to take responsibility for that! And by 'responsibility' she means taking good enough care of yourself that she won't need to worry about losing you. Because it would absolutely DEVASTATE her. She knows this about herself. That's why she's so cautious with letting people close to her in the first place

She is gonna force you to take care of yourself whether you like it or not

And honestly...I can see her just buying him fast food lol

She sees straight through that and does NOT have the patience to play along with his facade, she does not care how hard he tries to fake it because it does not work on her lol

[pleb-the-original]

Day 2: Tsundere

(Here's a weird one. I figured to run with the fundamental concept of a tsundere: prickly and off-putting at first but kind and caring once you get deeper. Which made me think of animals that were pickly as well as those sour candies with a sweet center. Then I figured, why not both?)

Name: Swoersweep Species: Sour candy/urchin homunculus Personality: Prickly, standoffish, skeptical, lonely, sweet, affectionate, caring, soft Summary: There was once a mad scientist who was in desperate need of a competent and reliable assistant rather than the hordes of interns he was forced to hire to keep up his cover. But right as he got all the ingredients he needed, a surprise inspection was held which caused the scientist to scramble putting everything he needed into the machine he was using to artificially create said assistant. Although he did toss in all the necessary ingredients, he also accidentally threw in a test tube of sea urchin DNA and a box of sour candy one of the interns left behind. Once the inspection was over, the scientist was surprised to find a strange candy creature instead of the assistant he wanted. Named Swoersweep, he forced her into servitude anyways to try and make up for the disaster and mistreated her for her strangeness. That was until she escaped to try and find a better life. However Swoersweep is still hurt by her experience and has trouble trusting others believing they’ll treat her the same which doesn’t help her crippling desire for companionship. Instead she is left to wander the world trying to build up the courage to find someone while the scientist tries tracking her down lest she expose his secrets to the world. 

[hopeymchope]

Dominic in "Rain Code" - As both representation and bizarrely unused potential red herring.

As a follow-up to this post I made weeks ago about Servan from Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, I wanted to note a couple of things in regards to Dominic Fulltank.

Until @gunthatshootsennui (great name btw) said this, I literally didn't realize that Dominic was a black man. Because he looks So heavily artificial and covered in bullshit that I legit thought he was wearing some kind of full-face leather mask instead of having any visible skin???

"Dominic Fulltank" sounds like an early-development WIP name for Dom from Fast & Furious. Dom Fulltank, a criminal street racer being investigated by undercover cop Brian Gaspedal.

Yeah, idk wtf I was smoking there. Maybe the big logo stamped on his head threw me off. But... yeah, he's clearly just a black guy. And @gunthatshootsennui is 100% right that Dominic makes for pretty shitty representation seeing as he's a near-mute big dumb hulk of a man. :( Servan is far better, frankly — yes, even considering his donut lips.

However, there's something ELSE about Dominic that really bothered me: Why the hell didn't Yuma ever look into or even ASK what the hell Dominic's deal was??

I have to get into RAIN CODE STORY SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT to explain what I mean and why it drives me so crazy.

By the time our hero meets Dominic in the game, he's mostly trying to learn more about "homunculi." But by this point, Yuma knows nothing about them EXCEPT:

Homunculi are artificially made people.

Amaterasu Corporation has supposedly/maybe secretly created some of them in Kanai Ward.

And it is in THAT fucking context when suddenly Yuma is introduced to a super-strong cybernetic Darth Vader-lookin' motherfucker who obediently follows the orders of an Amaterasu Corporation peacekeeper.

....do you see what I'm getting at here? Is it obvious enough??

I was absolutely SCREAMING at Yuma at this point. He should 100% be like "Hey wait — is that dude one of the 'homunculi'?! Because like, he's an artificial man? Who works for Amaterasu and seems to be controlled by them?!?!"

Based on the knowledge he has, that is THE MOST LOGICAL CONCLUSION ANYONE WOULD REACH upon seeing this fucking freak for the first time. And I know what you're thinking: Dominic is hardly what one would envision when one things of the mythical concept of a homunculus as WE understand it. WE'D never immediately expect a homunculus to be some kind of part-robot creature, right? But remember: When "homunculi" are first brought up, Yuma acts as though he's never heard the term (or perhaps he just has no memory of it due to his amnesia). He is given a very limited definition at that point. And by that definition, he should ABSOLUTELY mention the possibility here... right?

This is the ONE time I can remember feeling clearly disappointed by the writing in MDA.

Of course, in reality, Dominic's "artificial-ness" wasn't supposed to ever be any kind of hint towards the homunculi, because the writing team had an entirely different vision of what "homunculus" meant to them in this universe. And their definition would ultimately be much more based on our existing mythological meaning of the term. And because of that, maybe it never occurred to them how well our crabby Fulltank-Kun fit the provided clues. But it sure seems like it should've been noticed by some member of the dev team at SOME point. You feel?

[natcatnhanh]

Do you have any OCs?

-🦭

I know exactly who sent me this kek

Anyway I’m happy to answer this! I’m not an artist who cares much for my own original characters since I enjoy drawing fanart more, but I do have a bunch of old ocs that until now have never seen the light of day

for starters I have this cat person, came from doodles I drew back when I was 12 in math class. I have the original sketches for them somewhere but for now here’s old digital art I made of them.

Their name is Nat, their gender is purposely left ambiguous. Before I started this tumblr blog I imagined them being my own little mascot, as seen below in that concept art.

They’re a detective cat and the running gag I had for them was that their face was constantly blank. When they talked their mouth would not open, & when they ate the camera would face somewhere else so you couldn’t see them open their mouth to eat.

This pony guy. Their name is Carmen, drew them back when that MLP Apocalypse au was a big thing. I actually really liked that trend it spawned a lot of cool art

this Harry Potter oc, she’s an Auror, somewhere in her late 20's to early 30's. I like her a bunch since I think she’s cute.

Had a hard time deciding a name for her though lol

I also have a ton of old art and characters for this thing I was trying to make around 2 years ago

this girl character, she’s basically a horror twist on the typical anime girl archetype. No name for her, I like to keep it vague as she’s more of an amalgamation than a person.

this other girl character. Her name is Charlotte (for now, might change it) and she runs her own little online fashion site. Might’ve gotten doxxed like 2 or 3 times, plays the trombone surprisingly well (?)

OC x Canon, they’re more number one lynchpins, my homunculus, my sacrificial lambs. The girl’s name is Kate, her surname is prone to change. The guy’s name is idk I like Kate better than him

[tanya-shiza]

Mr. Dwight and Derren seem to have made some kind of deal! // Raise a Human

While I was thinking about the names for the characters, I thought: it would be funny if that the main antagonist and the scientist №2 were named with the same first letter. So, there is a joke of: «Villainous DD pair». Isn't this funny? 😄

Meet the antagonist of the story Raise a Human - Mr. Dwight! One of the most successful scientists in Dr. Hex's laboratory. He considers himself better than others, has a good reputation, many respect him, but everyone knows that he is one of the most cruel scientists. The only thing he's not good at yet is creating a homunculus. This, of course, cannot but annoy him.

How fortunate that at this very moment Derren, a member of Mr. Dwight's group of scientists, is on the verge of being fired for his many failures. Mr. Dwight suggests Derren to join the newly created group of talented scientist Falak in order to find out and pass on to him the results of their successful experiments. In return Mr. Dwight will delay Derren's dismissal(?).

Derren doesn't like the idea, but he doesn't like being fired even more, so he agrees. Of course, he carries out the deal carelessly. Mr. Dwight is annoyed but remains silent, untill when SV-59 proves more successful than BB-9. Furious, the doctor decides to change the terms of the deal. Now Derren is obliged to transfer the SV-59 to the Dr. Dwight's group of scientists.

[tobiasdrake]

This is it. The final story of Rain Code: Chapter Yakou.

AND IT'S POST-GAME OKAY LET'S GO. We're not here to tell a story about Yakou. We're here to tell a story about Feral Yakou.

Hold up, is Yakou's wife here?

When was she murdered? Was it before or after the Blank Week? Huesca and Yomi were doing their espionage for five years, and the Blank Week was three years ago. So it could go either way.

Oh man. I hope she's here. Yakou and his wife can form a hunting duo and spend the rest of their feral days (eternity or however long until a cure can be devised) hunting Huesca and murdering him together over and over again.

We get to control his shambling. This is great. Wonder if we'll get to hang out with any of the other ferals?

Yakou's being psychologically attacked by Yuma's recent visit. What is going through his head? Something is happening to him physiologically; You can tell because his body started smoking from this memory.

I hope he's healing. If Yakou can recover from being feral then that will mean there's hope for the others. Most importantly the Theater Girls + Aiko.

A memory from before he went feral! He still has his memories! Which. I suppose. Was obvious from the way he had enough presence of mind to hand that disc off to Yuma. But still!

Also, LOL Desuhiko. You died first.

I mean, you didn't. Nobody died. It was fake. But Makoto ran the numbers with his genius super-brain and the order he came up with for how things would have gone was, "Desuhiko lasts five seconds. Because obviously." And he was right.

Are all of these glimpses from the side stories? Because Fubuki never interacted with Yakou during hers, so she might get snubbed here. We should probably--

--watch where we're going instead of musing about Halara and Fubuki. Look, stairs are hard when you're barely even conscious.

Deeper into Umbrella Labs we go. Now that I think about it, Yakou's wife might not be a homunculus. She could just as easily be a ghost. If she did die before the Blank Week, she would have died in this lab, not the decoy Restricted Area that Makoto tried to pass off as this place.

Of course, if she was a ghost, you'd think she'd seek out the company of the human Yakou's ghost, rather than his homunculus. I dunno.

Aww, there's Bestie. This was from his final moments.

Oh wow, check out that detail on her choker. It's a set of VCR buttons. That's amazing. I never noticed that before.

Yakou. Yakou. You need to return to full sentience. Your best pal needs you. Yakou!

There she is! The woman from the photo! I don't remember if we know her name or not but it's her! The second-most important relationship Yakou has, after Vivia!

...to me, I mean. Important to me. I am invested in exactly two relationships in Yakou's life, and this is one of them.

So what's the verdict, lady? Ghost, homunculus, or feral hallucination?

Not an answer! In what form are you waiting? I want to know!

Man, I don't even know what this chapter is going to be like. How do you wring an entire chapter of story out of this? Is she here to provide Yakou solace in his feral time? To heal him? What is plot?

OH APPARENTLY THAT'S HOW. We're in for a full-on examination of Yakou and his wife's history, I guess.

Oh wow, Yakou does not look good in broad daylight. Bright light brings out the dazed bewilderment in his resting expression.

Is the WDO not writing their checks? This is two years before Kanai Ward became an isolated city-state.

The sad thing is, people actually believe stuff like that. There's this weird trust that some people have for corporations like Disney or Walmart. It's a product of hierarchical ways of thinking.

There is an idea that's been around for the whole of human history, that some people are simply better than us and that a society led by its superior humans will surely prosper. This idea of naturally gifted ubermensch is responsible for the Divine Right of Kings. It's responsible for a lot of gross ethnic philosophies. It thrives in our media through Chosen One narratives and the romanticization of monarchy, both of which date back thousands of years.

It's specifically what the climax of Rain Code centers on, with Makoto insisting that if he, the Greatest Intelligence, can't solve this problem then no one can. And Yuma coming in with, "Maybe you should stop being so infatuated with the idea of being the Savior Ubermensch and realize that other people's opinions and beliefs have value too."

And it emerges in the relationship that some people have with capitalism. There is an idea that the capitalists should rule because their ability to amass wealth is evidence of a superior intelligence. They hustled harder and smarter than us all because they are the Superior Man, and if we simply surrender control to them, they will use their supreme intelligence to lead us into a prosperous future.

What it amounts to in practice is clinging to the surcoat of a billionaire hoping to catch a coin that falls from his overstuffed pockets.

Man, it is wild to see Yakou as the one being talked down to for trying to do detective shit.

I wonder what ever happened to Colleague Detective. Do you think he's the Peacekeeper that Halara drowned in front of the office-sub? I'm gonna imagine he is.

Dammit, Yakou. When you're being shaken down by the mob, don't vocalize things that sound like "I'm physically vulnerable so now would be a good time!"

HEY! Not cool!

Yakou might be a heteronormative tool but he's our heteronormative tool. I was going to make a joke that I hope you were one of the guys Fubuki drowned but actually, no. I hope you used your mob connections to dodge Amaterasu's blood "tests".

The nerve on this man, to politely request a payment extension from a mob boss that is actively beating the shit out of him. Yakou has no self-preservation instinct at all.

This is the face of a man bold enough to put out a hit on himself so no one would know that he poisoned himself to death. The bruised and bloody face of such a man.

[isan0rt]

I previously posted about how Azure Moon is intentionally Hamlet but now I'm gonna put on my little tinfoil hat about another influence I THINK is going on with FE3H but have less clear evidence on.

And that is Fullmetal Alchemist.

(General spoiler warnings for Fullmetal Alchemist in case you're on Tumblr and yet don't know what happens in one of the most influential animangas of the modern age that also ended 13 years ago).

I'm going to start with ...Duscur. The Tragedy of Duscur feels so much like it's supposed to be riffing off the Ishval Massacre but much more clumsily handled. Both involve an ethnic minority in a specific homeland with a different religious tradition than the rest of the country they're in (who happen to be designed in extremely similar ways) getting violently suppressed and the survivors forced from their lands. Both conflicts were instigated by a shadowy, literally underground group who can shapeshift in order to capitalize on existing political tensions to foment bloodshed so they can ultimately destroy god.

Then there's the fact that Faerghus seems to have some REAL SERIOUS Briggs vibes going on.

Briggs is the northern part of the continent, a frozen wasteland and buffer zone whose job is to hold off the country of Drachma from crossing their mountainous borders and invading (Sreng, anyone?).

This is the Ice Queen of Briggs:

Olivier Mira Armstrong, she of three names, who is unnaturally strong thanks to her family lineage, who is always depicted with her right eye obscured, and whose ferocity leads to her regularly being compared to a bear (gee that sure is close to boar, huh).

And here she is with her second in command and personal adjutant:

Major Miles, who is so visibly Ishvalan that Ed is immediately taken aback, and asks how he can stand beside Olivier given what happened in Ishval; his answer is that he is working to change the perception of his people in the eyes of Amestris in the hopes of bettering the standing of the Ishvalan people.

Meanwhile, then there is Claude; the cunning, ruthless, and crafty son of a king from an Eastern country who pretends to be more foolish and lackadaisical than he actually is, competing with at least one half-sibling for the crown of his nation. He dresses in yellow and has travelled to the west to uncover the secrets of the isolationist nation there in order to get a leg up in the running for the throne, and boy, that sure sound like Ling Yao!! Ft., has family friends, one female and one an older male (and friend of the family) who assist him (Lan fan and Fu, vs Judith and Nader).

I'm running out of steam here a little but there's definitely some Jeralt-influenced-by-Hohenheim stuff there, Sitri is literally a homunculus created by someone trying to artificially recreate divinity, again there's All Those Shady Shape-Changing People Living Under the Ground, and...Adrestian?? Sure sounds like Amestrian!! Just saying!! Just saying.