#I'm litteraly about to crash out

[witch-craft-works]

This is officaly a Luka Hate page cause what the FUCK was that

[jynxheartlake]

My [NEW AND UPDATED] Ninjago Serpentine Headcanons!! [PART 1]

This time im starting off with my fav, SKALES <333

1. Slithraa was his father / somewhat of a father figure to him. However not exactly a healthy one

2. Skales is not only the newest general but also the youngest in my eyes, being born (hatching technically) in the tomb, I headcanon him to be around his mid-twenties

3. Bisexual. No elaboration. I'm right

4. After Pythor "disappeared", Skales continued to be haunted by him mentally, because Pythor achieved what he wanted so much easier and better than he had (even if it didn't last)

5. Due to being raised in the Glacier Barrens he took some time getting used to the warm weather of Ouroboros.

6. In his youth he was exposed to alot of physical violence, either from fights in the slither pit, teasing from fellow serpentine or from Slithraa which resulted in his habit of flinching

7. He wasn't too fond of children until he had a son of his own

8. Despite his confident appearing personality, he definitely is a bit insecure underneath. Often feeling the need to brag about his achievements and disliking when people belittle or underestimate his abilities.

9. He does NOT know how to drive and he's lucky he's only crashed once (as far as we know)

10. He had a stutter when he was small

11. He has a tendency of getting jealous easily

12. Somewhat of a control freak (litteraly)

13. squeamish, does not like getting ANY even slightly filthy substance on him

14. When it comes to how well he gets along with every general (best to worst), Fangtom, Pythor, Acidicus, Skalidor, (+plus honourable mention Slithraa in last)

15. Would curse a lot if the writers had allowed him to

16. Has a tendency of pinching himself when he's upset with himself

17. hates crying in front of others and in general as well as he feels it is embarassing. (also has a tendency to supress a lot of his emotions)

18. Was raised under a lot of toxic masculine standards

19. during s1-2 era, coffee person, s3 and beyond, tea person

20. Had a horrid sleep schedule up to season 3. Very often sleep deprived

21. Leaves out a lot of details regarding his past when telling stories of it to Junior

22. Feared parenthood for a long while due to his own childhood

23. He barely knew his mother as she starved in the tomb when he was really young

24. Despite always claiming to view survival as the only essential goal, he does care a lot about his vanity and appearance

25. Is really close with Fangtom because he was one of the few serpents Skales could confide in

[popawritter12]

That Hwei fic was so good, I litteraly can't get yandere Hwei out of my mind now 😭😭 Mind doing some more, whether it be headcanons or one shot? 🥹🙏

Author's note: Since you asked me based on Hwei's one-shot, I'm going to make its "sequel."

Also, I want to clarify that; To the other two anons who requested their respective things, give me some time, I'm a little "slowed down" due to certain personal issues <3

Love y'all

Yandere! Hwei x Fem! Reader

Yandere Character: Hwei

From the videogame/serie/movie/manga/anime: League Of Legends

Case: kidnapping, restraints, drugs, very light NSFW, allusion to deaths

Part: 2 of 2

Part 1 here!

Finished: Yes

-

This wasn't supposed to happen, she wasn't supposed to have found out about all this…, he wasn't supposed to have talked about it, in fact, she shouldn't have even gone through all this.

However, it ended up happening, and now she was there, tied to a chair and babbling cries and pleas that at this point only made my heart ache.

Do you know what was the worst? That it was my fault, I was the only one to blame for this situation, the fact that she was now trying to get out of it, but he refused to listen to her, he refused to even accept her pleas.

And then she resorted to talking to me, she tried to convince me that this is wrong, that all this was just a rotten desire, something so horrendous that it consumed me, and that it was going to consume her, that it was all a simple manipulation of Jhin, and that she could free me from these chains, that she could free me from this sick love.

And it hurt me, it hurt me to think that she thought so badly of me, that she thought of me as lovesick, as someone who was being consumed by some kind of vortex, it wasn't until I came to myself that I realized. that, in fact, there was no other way out of this situation

The vegetables stirring in the clay plate, and the spoon permanently crashing against the clay, the sound of the collision between both materials made me remember in great detail the first time I saw her, the feeling that seeing someone so eccentric caused me when she passed through the door of the temple, and the nerves that the mere fact of seeing her in the eyes provoked in me.

I still have the vivid image of her on the first day; A smile adorned her face, her fingers played with each other constantly, and the old cloth bag with the sounds of metals colliding together was an image that was always in my mind. Every time she returned to that memory, I completely forgot the horror in her eyes, the fear she shows me now.

For a long time, I thought there might be a comeback, I thought that if I untied her and let her go, she would forgive me, she would show me that she was going to lead me down the same path.

But I no longer see a return, now I did not see a return; This path that I had taken, all this… all this love, absolutely everything that torments my mind, I could not eliminate it, not even if I expressed it in so many paintings, not even if I vent it in Jhin or in someone else, I did not find any place for me that received with the same love with which she received every smile she gave me. Now she just had to find a way to accept that fate, to accept the love I have for her.

I knew that sooner or later all this was going to end like this, more so due to the fact that I had never known this feeling in my life.

But seeing her I was certain that we were destined for each other.

This is why I do this, this is all the reason why I still want to be with her.

But everything had to be a little crooked.

I placed the clay plate on the silver tray, and then I noticed it. A crystal glass sits next to the bowl, and I stare at it for countless seconds, trying to figure out whose hand it was that had placed it.

—I'm glad to see you haven't freed her yet —Jhin mentions —, it's just a matter of time before she gets used to it.

He settled down against the counter, and noticed the strange color in the water; small bubbles emerge from the bottom, but there was nothing there. I thought, for a moment, that it was carbonated water, however, it didn't fit how Jhin is, it didn't fit the idea that… he didn't care about her.

—Tell me, have you already thrown away the dried paint? —He questioned me.

I let out a sigh.

—What did you put in the water?

It was a simple question, but one that presented a danger to me. It was obvious that she wasn't going to notice this, it was obvious that he could poison her, drug her, harm her… How I supposed trust Jhin? or obviously doubt on someone like him?

—You did not answer my question.

—I'm not interested in throwing away the dried paint —I responded, huffing —, now, what did you put in the water?"

Jhin kept his cynicism in that smile plastered on his face.

—One thing.

—What thing? —I ask again, more angry.

—A wonderful thing.

—Why the fuck are you playing this shit now? —I ask, my frown clashing against his playful gaze

—Why don't you ask the color?

I sighed heavily, setting the water down on the table.

—What color?

—White. —he responded to me.

My hand tightened on the glass.

—And…? —He asked, playfully.

Roughly, I threw the water on the floor. I sighed heavily, wishing I could throw away the dried paint again. Even if he had already thrown it away.

—What texture? —I questioned him, raising an eyebrow.

—Dusty.

His smile spread, almost looking like a jester.

—Seriously, you are an idiot.

I had to go out to get more water, and as I progressed, more dried paint crossed the wooden box, escaping from the lock and through small poorly carved edges of the wood, denoting on the carpenter's poor work.

Apparently, the paint cans want to get out of the drawer.

-

It was obvious that, far from what he expected, the glass of water still looked strange. I thought it was just me, so I just gasped, before knocking on the door three times.

—Sweetheart? I can pass?

I tried not to sound so sweet, but damn, it was complicated. It was extremely difficult not to be nice to someone like her; someone so sweet, so beautiful, so….

—Yeah.

Her voice sounded so soft, like the breath of a panting cat.

I grabbed the doorknob, before gently turning it to open the door. The mechanism inside the knob let me through, and I was able to open the door.

I Maneuver to enter. Seeing her, I only allowed myself to smile. As if the heaviness under my eyes finally disappeared, and energy returned to my hunched body.

—How are you, sweetheart? Did you like the painting I did for you?

I arrange the tray on the nightstand, the double bed squeaking softly as she sits on the mattress; her back nestled between large pillows and stuffed animals.

—It's… cute. —She responds, before arranging her wrists against the pillow she placed on her lap.

She was wearing a white dress, which covered her shoulders and reached her knees. The soft fabric rested against her delicate skin, and I could tell that, in her eyes that she was about to fall asleep.

—I'm glad you liked it—My smile spread, before leaving the tray on the pillow located in her lap.

She didn't respond, just staring at the plate of food. I hear her stomach make a sound, almost in protest.

—Do you want me to let go of the rope? —I asked, before moving my hands away from her.

—Yes. —she replied, her tone vaguely her own.

I couldn't stop thinking about how pretty she was in my eyes; Her eyes, tired and longing for sleep, only awakened that desire to take her in my arms, snuggle her against me and sleep next to her for countless days.

—Now I will release the ties, let me know if I hurt you too much, okay?

She nodded, her vacant gaze meeting my eyes. Just touching her arm made me feel that same nervousness that I had that day, that day when all this started, and what marked the beginning of our path together.

When I released the rope, I noticed the purple color that was present on her skin; Imagining the pain in her wrist, I just wanted to heal her, but now she needed to eat.

—Is Jhin still outside? —She asked me.

As I finished releasing her other arm, I just looked at her again.

—H-He just came to look for some materials for the temple… nothing special. —I responded, babbling for no reason.

—Oh, well… —She responds, before placing her hands on the pillow.

She sighs, as if her body is seeking a relaxation of the ropes.

While the spoon settled in her fingers, she looked at the steam emanating from the bowl. She was silent for a few seconds, and as she sat me next to her, I could feel uneasy.

—Lately I've seen you very… sick, so today you have soup and tomorrow I'll serve you your favorite food, do you agree? —I offer, tilting my head a little so she can see me.

At this, she simply nodded.

—How are my parents? —She asks me.

I blink a couple of times before I remember it.

They sobbed a lot that day; Her mother came to the temple threatening that she would kill anyone who refused to tell her where her little girl was.

Although her husband stopped her, she treated everyone in the temple badly, in her desperate look there were only hints of hatred and hope, hope of knowing that she was going to find her little girl safe and sound.

It was obvious that, when she approached me, I would think that she was going to treat me badly, or even try to strangle me.

But, that did not happen; She barely approached me, she just took my hand.

“Oh, you're Hwei, right?” she began “My daughter always spoke well of you to me, she said you were one of the few she called a friend these months.”

And she…she hugged me.

She collapsed into my arms, as if she were seeking comfort—or if she wanted to share her grief with me—to which I only responded by returning the hug.

“She always said that she felt that you understood her, and she greatly admired the paintings you made,” she sobbed, tears staining my shoulder and my clothes, “she loved you so much…, she even said that she considered inviting you to come to our house to paint together…”

A weight added to my heart, suppressing all that lack of emotion that I put up as a façade, and I felt like I was going to collapse too.

I never felt so foolishly humiliated as that day, and for my part, I only cried with her, but for different reasons…

—They… aren't feeling very well, but they told me a lot of things when they entered the temple… —I sighed, as if I hadn't come back to myself.

But a hand against mine stopped me from continuing to think, a hand that could have brought me back to this earthly plane.

—Hwei… What was in the water? —She asked, panting rapidly.

I almost immediately looked at her again, and noticed that she had taken the tray out of her lap, and was now on her knees, on the bed, exchanging glances with me.

— (Name), darling… —I whispered, taking her face in my hands.

I felt my heart pound against my chest, and the weight of my chest grew stronger.

—Forgive me, my love, forgive me… —I begged, pressing my face against his, —.., what hurts you? Are you okay? Do you feel dizzy? Can you see well?"

I couldn't even continue asking, why she took my hands, before roughly pushing me against the wood that separated the bed from the wall.

—I feel different. —She mentioned, before resting her forehead against mine.

—D-don't worry, just lie down and I'll take care of…

And her lips pressed against mine. Her kiss drowned me, and even more so when her hands met my wrists, pushing roughly against the wood.

I stammered uselessly at this, but she only responded by tightening her grip on my wrists.

At one point I just left myself, the taste of her lips and the domination and power that she had over me only caused my heart to move wildly in my chest, and generated heat in my body.

—No, stop… I-I can't do this when you're this bad… —I complained, trying to fight her.

But she never let herself to being weak, deepening her kiss in such a way that I could only accept it, that I couldn't fight someone who could manipulate my mind in such a way that my body weakened, and that I couldn't allow myself to fight her.

I REALLY LIKED HOW THIS ONE LOOKED OUT.

IT TOOK A LONG BUT HERE IT IS. AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

ALSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,

If this thing get like 100 notes, I do the part 3 but with the NSFW ;)

[jims-h]

there is actually sooo much to say about him he is sooooooooooooo

uurgh anyway you might have had time to go read things and all but you said you wanted people to talk about him so i'm about to do just that and i'm sorry anyone has to suffer the consequences-

His power is language, as in commmunication more than speech, because it also extend to "unconscious level".

His power is underused, underestimated and disregarded a LOT, as is his whole character in general (he's often not pictured on the covers of his team.s, in spite of supposedly less relevant characters of the run, for exemple).

His powers have been explored and exploited in some occasions, later abandonned, but still very much relevant :

He can read body language to the extent it's almost impossible to lie to him! This also leads to him being able to translate his opponents' moves in combat - though it is only used once as far as i'm aware

(New Mutants [2009] - issue #6)

He's immune to psychic reading, due to his mind having its own overcomplex language. He's also seen being able to counter psychic attack by channeling his thoughts into commands - it is also only used once for what i know

(New Mutants [2009] - issue #6)

One of his teammates, the very more famous Magik, teaches him how to cast a spell, as it is apparently a matter of words. He never uses it or another one again, and it is said spell-casting is a language that confuse the mind, enough that Cypher mispell (haha) one word and fucks it up

(New Mutants [2009] - issue #29)

When faced with Trista (Inferno Babies) who can "speak a mutated language which compels the behavior of others", Cypher understands what is happening to him and is able to somewhat counter it by playing a magical piano, which seals her lips. That hint to a couple of thing, first music is considered a type of language, second, and this is purely a theory on my part, he could potentially use Trista's power, as it is a language, and he has heard her enough to have learn it. It is never used, which is a shame a little!

(New Mutants [2009] - #15-21)

He's seen being able to make machines sentient by talking to them in binary! Only used once as well I think, still pretty cool.

(New Mutants [2009] - issue #14)

Another important part of Cypher is his soulmate (litteraly!) Warlock.

Warlock is an alien from the Technarch specie, which has its own storyline that I won't spoil here. What we need to remember is that they are robotic sentient beings, they can shapeshift, pass through matters on a molecule level, mind-read each others (technopathy), and absorbs energy and data both to feed and evolve. This last part is done by injecting the "Techno-organic Virus" in/onto matter, generally leaving said matter without energy or lifeless (depending on the nature of the matter).

Now, this is important because Warlock crashes on Earth and is almost killed by the New Mutants - who thinks he is a threat - before Cypher is called in.

At this point, Cypher wasn't Cypher, he was just Douglas, and he had NO idea he was a mutant (Professor X wasn't interested in him apparently, but Emma Frost did show interest in him, and apparently keeps liking him as she's always kind to him when they interact - which does not happen often though). So he's pulled into the mutant world one night out of nowhere by his friends who he doesn't know are mutants, and they just announce to him he's one and they really really really need him, and bring him to their school to talk to an alien. Very much a rough beginning for him!

He does establish communication with Warlock, help him get better, Warlock and him are taken in the team, and they become best friends.

Which leads to them merging together a couple of times, a life-threatening process Cypher willingly go through in order to save their friends, but also save Warlock itself at some point.

Warlcok refers to himself as "self" and to his friends as "selffriends". He starts calling Cypher "selfsoulfriend" when Cypher asks him to merge with him and takes some of his own energy to survive. Cypher is the only one getting that title! We'll get back to that later on!

(New Mutants Annual #2 ;

X-Men Annual #9-10-)

All this merging eventually does infect Cypher with the virus. He has nightmares about it, but is unaware it's real.

(The New Mutants - issue #53)

Saddly the matter is never explored as-in, because he dies, due to the authors receiving complaining letters about Cypher being too boring.

He sacrificies himself by getting in-between his teammate Wolfbane (who he has a crush on in the moment I think?) and a bullet.

The commotion of the fight makes it that none of his friends realize it before the end of the confrontation. Warlock is highly affected by his death.

(The New Mutants - issue #60)

Ironicaly, the authors then started receiving letters from readers sharing their pain and grief... which might have encouraged his comeback ~10 years later?

Moving on!

His resurection takes place in the X Necrosha run, which leads to the previously shown events of New Mutants - issue #6.

To summarize, Selene raises a small army of dead characters, and has a special lace for Cypher in her plan as she brings him back with the help of the techno-virus.

He gets her into the head quarters where the New Mutants and other x-teams are living... But he's infected by the virus, right, and we mentionned before technarcs can use technopathy through it! So he starts hearing Warlock.

He fights with his former friends, who almost kill him again, until Warlock shows up very upset they hurt Cypher.

There is a battle of codes happening, with lots of angst between Cypher and Warlock, which eventually leads to Cypher winning back his senses and getting free from Selene.

I highly recommand reading X-Necrosha and New Mutants (2009) starting issue 6, as it revolves around Cypher a lot, is from his perspective, and has a lot of amazing quotes from him which help having a better idea of his mind.

Among them you'll find how he doesn't want to die and Warlock is breaking his heart. Or another one where he talks about being dead and alive, machine and human, being a language.

I won't show any pages because I think it's really worth discovering when read.

But basically what saves Cypher is that Warlock and him are soulmates!

This whole part is important to his character because it's where his powers where the most exploited, unveiling most of the capacities I've listed.

But it's also important for one major plot hole in his character : he is technicaly both alive and dead, and both human and machine (we'll call that his Binary condition, for the plot-related pun).

In All New X-Factors, a run that has been discontinued due to poor sells (lots of readers online, though, if I recall correctly), Cypher is introduced having extreme night terrors due to a future his team has visited (New Mutants (2009) - issue #45), where he had become a world wide dictator using (his?) technarch technologies.

His night terrors are visibly more than that :

(All New X-Factor - issue #6)

The whole glowing going-on makes it obvious that it's more than just nightmares, and that his binary condition is also a factor (pun still intended yes).

As I said, the run never had a real end, but it did open some exploration for Cypher:

He has strong suicidal tendencies (and no one ever helps him, poor him)

warlock knew and left a part of him on Cypher's heart (to be notified if Cypher tried to kill himself, yes, but one could argue Warlock was also afraid Cypher dying would led to the virus reacting badly, maybe the same way it did when Selene used it?)

the robot Danger takes mentioned Warlock's part out of Cypher's body, but Cypher does not bleed from the metal intrusion (he can't bleed because he isn't alive?)

There is also Hunt for Wolverine: Weapon Lost, with only 4 issues, where he teams up with Daredevil, Misty Knight to find Logan, while he's dealing with an "internet addiction". It ends with him asking Daredevil for help with said addiction. I didn't find this part of his storyline interesting at all, it made no sense to me whatsoever; but it does highlight his mental state and issues, which I think is good!

Now, the best for the end : let's get to everybody's favorite part, Krakoa

Professor X takes Cypher on a little plane trip to Krakoa, the mutant Island. Cypher is the first and only mutant to establish communication with Krakoa. Xavier asks him to stay on the island to build up the bases of the mutant nation. Cypher accepts, and spends a year alone there, creating an alphabet and language for mutant kind; but also coming up with "an interface system on Krakoa to allow the mutants to inhabit the island" and "creating four different systems, involving transit, monitoring, defense and observation" (quoting the wikia, which summarize better than I can, and who cites Power of X as a source).

Krakoa has a place to resurect mutants, at least 3 unic flowers species (one can create portals, another cures all diseases, the last one can expends human lifespan by 1 year), several different architectures types, etc. It's safe to say Cypher has been involved in most, if not all of their creation and expension! Pretty neat

(Little image break from House of X - issue #6 & Inferno Vol 2 - issue #4)

When people come live on the island, Cypher is sitting in the Council, though his role tends to be reduced to being Krakoa's translator to the other members (so much potential watsed, really).

He develops a relationship with Krakoa close to the one he has with Warlock (and here it is again, his binarity, him reveling in both nature and technology).

During events of the Krakoa era, he namely gets dragged into a tornament, where he has to fight deadly opponents alongside other mutants, against other mutants. The story takes place in X of Swords (where a LOT of different comics line regroup, the one relevent for Cypher are mainly "Excalibur Vol 4 issue #14-15" and "X of Swords: Destruction"), and it brings the danger of final death to mutants, who are now used not to fear death as they can be brought back relatively easily on the island. Cypher gets a new special bond, kind of, with Warlock, who is to be his Sword in the tornament. He is sure to die, as he has never been a fighter before and is against foes who have only ever lived to battle and kill... It also confirms that Warlock being with him all this time on the island is supposedly a secret and forbidden (only mutants are allowed on the island, so it might be why).

Cypher doesn't die and even gets a romance with Bei, a very much taller and stronger woman, who Cypher cannot understand at all as her mutation is to speak without language, in direct opposition to Cypher.

The Krakoa era introduces Cypher's very first own personal agenda!! He goes behind the back of Professor X and later the entire Council : his connection to Krakoa allows him to get in contact with Krakoa's sentenced outlaws (who are puts in a form of stasis inside Krakoa's core), but also to access every part, even private and secret, of the island. Therefore, he spies on people as he see fits, and it could be argue he's capable of seeing everything happening everywhere with his link to Krakoa and Warlock.

It allows him to weight on the overall scenario and big finale of the Krakoa era (though I think it could and should have been more).

Said finale also brings up angst (with massive potential) in his relationships with Krakoa and Warlock; with something something soulmate bound something something broken something great pain something something

(another image break, Immortal X-men - issue #13 's cover)

With all that said and done, Heir of Apocalypse's last issue went out recently, where Apocalypse makes several mutants go through trials (against their will) for his title. Cypher stars in it with

Mirage (Dani Moonstar, leader of the New Mutants team he's part of),

the White Queen (Emma Frost),

Mister Sinister (who has usurped Cypher's identity during the fall of Krakoa),

Armaggedon Girl (who he has secretly set free from Krakoa's "jail") and 7 others (Rictor, Gorgon, Penance, Cable, Exodus, Wolverine [Laura Kinney], Forge).

I won't spoil, because it is definitely worth reading (only 4 issues!).

To summarize it all: Cypher is critically underrated and underexploited, the comic artists don't often give him justice in his portrayals; during the entirety of the Krakoa era, the fact he is supposedly half-dead and partially technarch is completely ignored and forgotten (pretty sure it won't ever be mentionned again saddly), which could have gone very well with his storyline in Swords of X as well as his position and shenanigans in the council.

But he is worth it~

I SAW THIS MAN ON A TIKTOK AND I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM

DEAR GOD??? WHY IS HE SO??? like I've hear Cypher's name thrown around but I had no clue he was so???? DAYMN.

[anthemxix]

I'm playing through skyward sword rn and realized this dude has litteraly zero hesitation when it comes to diving off cliffs and such, like he grew up doing it to get around skyloft so to him its just completely normal to dive headfirst off cliffs to get somewhere. Imagine how the other heros reacted the first time Sky just throws himself off a cliff like it's nothing lol

lol, you're so right! the boys' first time on skyloft, sky just yeets himself over the edge~

most of them: O_O !?!?!?

wind and wild: :D !!! -start to get out their deku leaf and paraglider, respectively-

twilight: -smacks both of their hands- i can't believe i have to say this, but no one else will be jumping off the floating sky island!

*later*

time: -clamps his hands on sky's shoulders- sky. please don't ever do that again.

legend: at least give us some warning first.

time: no, no. look at me, sky. never. never. do that again. you just shaved a decade off my life.

(but sky keeps doing it, of course. he can't help it. time just accepts it with the weariest of sighs, gaining new grey hair every time.)

- - -

ehhhh, i also used this as an excuse to write a liddol sky & wars drabble. hope you enjoy~ :3

Warriors stands squarely in the middle of the tiny floating landmass, peering dubiously at the clouds far below. "I take it this is your Hyrule, then?"

"Yes!"

Balancing on his toes, Sky shades his eyes as he searches for something in the distance. He teeters right on the edge of the island. Warriors refrains from grabbing his sailcloth and dragging him further inland. (Not that there’s much "inland" to speak of. He could cross this puny hunk of rock in three strides, tops.)

Sky breaks into a grin and points to the silhouette of another floating island. "Skyloft is right over there!"

"Great. So what's the plan for getting there, exactly?"

Even though Sky's responding laugh is an airy, jubilant sound with no hint of mischief, it unnerves Warriors.

He suddenly has a terrible feeling about what's to come.

"With my loftwing, of course!"

"Your…pet bird?"

Everyone on Skyloft has a feathered companion gifted to them by the goddess Hylia herself, according to Sky, but Warriors fails to see how that connects to their present situation.

"He’s more than just a pet!" Sky grabs Warriors' hand. "I can't wait for you to meet him! Let’s go!"

"Go wh—?"

But the Captain's question is cut off as Sky hurls himself over the precipice and, with unanticipated strength, yanks Warriors along with him.

They fall. Warriors' stomach swoops, detached from gravity. He opens his mouth (maybe to say What the hell, Sky? or maybe to scream. He's not sure.), but his voice catches in his throat like a fly in a skulltula's web. Over the rush of wind assailing his ears, he hears Sky unleash a shrill, sharp whistle, and glances over to see his friend looking positively euphoric.

That does nothing to allay his anxiety.

Then, without warning, a blur of bright red overtakes Warriors' vision, and he collides with something hard. Before he can register what's happening, Sky draws him up into a sitting position and yells, "Hold on to me!"

The instruction is unnecessary. Warriors has already firmly vised his arms around Sky's waist, and he has absolutely no intention of letting go any time soon.

Dazed, he gazes down at red feathers, at giant flapping wings, at a gangly neck and a massive, blunt bill, and oh my gods. This is Sky's loftwing. Sky's pet is a gargantuan monster bird, and they are riding it like a horse.

The loftwing flies much more swiftly than Warriors expects of such a large creature, and he closes his eyes to avoid becoming nauseated from the cream-colored clouds zooming by at high speed. Admittedly, he also wants to avoid looking down. He's never had trouble with heights before, but he's also never rocketed through the literal stratosphere before, either, so he thinks his fear here is justified.

By far, though, the scariest thing about this experience is Sky. Sky is laughing. Laughing like he's having the time of his life.

That laugh will never sound sweet and spirited to Warriors again. Oh, no. That is the laugh of a lunatic.

"Okay, get ready to jump!" Sky calls.

"Wha—?"

But once again, his question goes unfinished as Warriors is dragged off the back of the monstrous bird. He braces himself for the unsettling sensation of weightlessness, but it doesn't come. Instead, he promptly crashes into the ground, as graceless as a fledgling on its first venture from the nest.

"Oh! Sorry, Captain!" Sky says cheerily as he pulls Warriors to his feet. Heart hammering, Warriors sways, appreciative of Sky's steadying grip on his elbow as he tries to catch his breath. "Wasn't that amazing? I've missed flying so much!"

Blinking away the beginnings of vertigo, Warriors opens his eyes to see the loftwing is already a streak in the distance, a vibrant brushstroke of red paint against a colorless sky. And Sky, of course, is still grinning like a maniac.

"Amazing," Warriors huffs, raking a hand through his wind-tousled hair. "Sure. That's one word for it."

[bitchfitch]

Lavi art fight resource

hrrrg. cat boy. causes problems on purpose and loves his wizard. is sometimes a lion

an excerpt bc i pulled one for the others and id feel weird not doing it for him (its fjord in the pictures, not anta)

The second to last match ended in a draw as the gathered crowds cheered the two young mages and their familiars on. 

Team one, comprised of the superstar evocationist, Anta, and his lion familiar Lavi, had broken through the conjured hoards of beasts with sheer and near unimaginable brute strength. They cleared the hoard the fastest, though points were deducted for their near complete lack of teamwork and frequent communication failures. 

Team Two, the summonor Fjord and his crow familiar Rook, took only a few moments longer, but worked in near perfect tandem, as was the goal of this competition. 

In the small waiting room between matches Lavi's deep amethyst mane caught gold streaks from the sunlight that dripped through the window he was dosing beneath. He stretched splaying his massive paws as he cracked a glimmering red eye open to watch his master pace about like a caged animal. 

Lavi knew Anta could probably use a hug, but they were trying to conserve magic between matches so Lavi had to stay a lion. It did hurt to watch Anta tie himself up in knots like this, both in the sense that Anta was his friend so Of course Lavi didn't like seeing him in distress, and in the much more physical sense that Anta was accidentally letting so much negative energy seep through their connection that Lavi was starting to get a headache from it.

"They're cheating," Anta declared, his shaggy black hair a mess from the wind and him running his fingers through it as he pulled his thoughts together, "That's the only reason Fjord could have ever made it this far. They Are Cheating," 

"A little more elaboration would be nice, darling," Lavi sighed as he stood plodding over to Anta and plopping down in his path. If Anta didn't chill out Lavi was going to have to break out the big guns.

"Fjord is No where near as good of a caster as me, and Rook is nowhere near as powerful as you. They shouldn't be winning!" Anta huffed tapping his foot as one hand strayed to pet the massive feline before him. his fingers brushing over the smooth golden fur on Lavi's snout then forehead before tangling with the hair at the base of his mane, 

"They're winning because they work better together," Lavi sighed,leaning into the touch for a moment before headbutting Anta's hip just enough to knock him back a step "Litteraly the only critique we ever get is that we don't communicate well," 

"But we do! We do, we always get what ever need done, done. We've never failed an assignment, We're the better duo, Lavi" Anta took the hint and sat down on the old wood floor, pulling his show jacket off and tossing it up onto one of the tables before lying down,

"I'm not denying that we're better, we are, but… We work well together despite each other. I never know what you're planning before it happens and I just have to roll with it. You don't know what I'm doing, so you just keep pushing power through. It works, but Barely,"  Lavi settled down on top of him with a sigh, careful to make sure he wasn't putting too much weight on Anta, 

"I still think they're cheating," Anta says after a moment, his hands going to braid a section of Lavi's mane. 

"Then look for evidence during the last match. but do you really think Rook would let Fjord cheat?" Lavi closed his eyes again, ready to get a little more nap time in before they had to be on the field.

"Rook can't tell Fjord no anymore than you can tell me no. And I absolutely believe Fjord would cheat," Anta said with the up most conviction.

Round three began with the announcement of the trial, a simple test of connection.

Lavi and Rook would be facing off in a game of capture the flag, completely separated from their casters and unable to hear or see them. Fjord and Anta would however be able to see the entire field and could pass spells to their familiars as needed.

This should be easy, Anta reasoned with himself, he and Lavi were used to this lack of direct communication while Fjord and Rook weren't. They could win this and take the competition. 

The countdown began and Fjord was already starting to try and focus, his spell book open on his lap with one of his own sigils already prepped. 

Anta couldn't say he knew what it did, Fjord's sigils were always such a jumbled mess that trying to parse them out was fools errand. 

The game began with a thunder clap. Lavi didn't wait for Anta, and was already storming through the maze that filled the field. the low shield overtop the whole thing kept Lavi from jumping the hedges, but an admittedly over powered blast of fire sent through him by Anta was more than enough to deal with the lush greenery standing between them and their goal. 

Cloaked in flame Lavi ran on, as Rook began laying the protection wards Fjord was sending his way, before darting down the path that Lavi was coming up. 

Anta grit his teeth as the pool cracked open across the path right before Lavi made the final turn. Unable to stop in time Lavi skidded into the water, firmly putting out the fire. He launched up after Rook, his jaws snapping at thin air as the bird darted out of his grasp and back towards his own flag. 

Anta tried a different approach, Lavi was going to go at this head first like he did everything, and Rook was going to stay on the defensive until the last moment, so a quick invisibility spell cast over Lavi should be more than enough to let him stalk closer. 

One of the wards Fjord had passed through earlier cracked that plan open a second later. Lavi stood from where he had been stalking, a second away from launching up to grab Rook. There was a moment between the two familiars before Lavi shrugged, shaking out his mane before turning and heading back into the maze. 

A new strategy. Anta loaded a ventriloquist spell, if it worked it should fill the maze with duplicated sounds, making it impossible to tell which way Lavi was coming from. Then another spell to silence Lavi's footsteps, and a final one to amplify his speed. Lavi could probably see Rook's flag, this would be more than enough to give him the cover and boost he needed to grab it.

It wasn't. 

Before Lavi had even made it around the corner Rook was laying another trap in his path. 

Anta watched as Lavi was caught up in the snare, his massive body crashing down as his legs were pulled out from under him.

His chest ached with a sympathy pain, but his heart thundered with excitement. There. That was it. There was no Possible way for Rook to have been able to guess with that much certainty which path Lavi would be coming down. Fjord had already used his illusion dispell, and they could both still hear the rumblings of a hundred phantom lions.

Fjord and Rook were cheating, they had to be, some communication relay if Anta had to guess. 

And there was a very easy way to prove it.

Lavi was going to Eat That Stupid Fucking Bird. Screw the flag! This was personal now. First off, the water had been So Uncalled for, what type of fairy dunked their friend like that? and now all the damned snares that kept catching Lavi off guard were driving him Mad. 

Anta was also to blame for this, he needed to chill out on the high power spells, because while Lavi could handle them, channeling all that power was starting to make him feel fuzzy around the edges. He wasn't reacting as fast as he should be and it would only take one good hit to dematerialize him if he had to guess. 

He felt a spell well up in his chest, something burning and offensive that he didn't fully recognize. Whatever, this felt strong. He crouched and watched the air for the black soot stain the was Rook. Anta didn't hand out spells earlier than was 100 percent necessary, so Lavi didn't have to wait long.

As soon as Rook was in sight Lavi lunged as hard and fast as he could, the trigger on the spell was tripped as his fangs clacked together around air, Rook having managed to dodge just out of his grasp.

A blast, of pure hot magic tore out of Lavi, nailing Rook dead on and knocking them both back down to earth with a heady thump from Lavi and a fluttering crash from Rook. 

Lavi stood first, his legs shaky and his vision blurred as a sickness racked him. A deep ache in his very blood that even he could recognize as magic poisoning. Anta had pushed everything he had through Lavi, and if Lavi had been any weaker it wouldn't have just banished him back to the fae relm, it would have killed him.

The realization hit Lavi like a letter alerting a newly made widow to the tragic news, and the competition was forgotten as he sought out Rook.

He was still, a mass of scorched black feathers that shuddered and cracked with too much magic.

Rook would have been banished if it actually was as bad as it looked. Lavi told himslef that as he gently picked up his friend betwen his teeth and ran for the emergency exit he and Rook had been queued into before the match started.

The school's healer was already there, taking Rook from Lavi with steady hands even as Lavi stumbled. The crowd that had been watching murmured as Fjord ran onto the field to follow after the healer as she hurried away. Worry clear on his young face as he demanded to know what was happening. Lavi couldn't hear the answer.

Anta was at his side a moment later, a bruise already starting to darken over his left eye.

"Lavi?" Anta knelt down to look his woozy friend in the eye, "Hey, Lavi?" he sounded so scared, his voice tight as tears welled in his grey eyes,

Lavi didn't have the capacity to answer, instead he just rested his heavy head on Anta's shoulder, leaning into his master as he let himself drift off. 

Lavi woke back in their dorm room, with Anta sat at his desk accross from Lavi's bed. His eyes were red and puffy, his thin face pale and stricken and he poured over text books, 

"Anta?" Lavi asked as he stretched, still woozy but feeling much better than he had imeaditly after the game, "You don't look to hot," 

Anta jolted at the sound of Lavi's voice, turning before throwing himself at the lion, wrapping his thin arms around Lavi's neck and burying his face in the thick hair of his mane. 

"I'm so Sorry," he sobbed, "I- I thought I had proof. but I was wrong and-" 

"Shh, sh, Hey, it's ok, we all make mistakes, Darling,"  Lavi tried to comfort him as best he could, but he never knew what to do when humans cried, "What happened though?" 

"I thought- I thought they were using a communication relay of some kind, and I thought I had proof. So I- I overloaded a spell and told Fjord what I was doing. If they had been using the spell Fjord would have been able to warn Rook, but I was wrong and- Lavi I'm So Fucking Sorry," 

"Is Rook ok?" Lavi asked quietly, Anta shakimg his head and sobbing harder was all Lavi needed for an answer, 

"The Healer said I broke his connection back to his real body, but since his mind was here, when his vessle died He-" 

"Oh," What was there left to say? Rook was gone, not banished temporarily, but dead. Fully and truly, and it was Anta's fault.

Anta sobbed, "I was so scared you weren't going to wake up, I didn't mean to hurt either of you-" 

"I know, Anta," 

Anta never really calmed, but the tears stopped eventually as he threw himself back into his research. Necromancy wasn't Anta's specialty, and Lavi knew that even if it was, there was no other to bring Rook back from. The energy that made up his soul would have been returned to the fey world the moment he died to allow it to dissipate back into their home lands.

Lavi was pretty certain Anta knew how this worked. But it was an admirable show of denial that he still he searched for a solution to his mistake. 

The pounding on the door made them both jump as Fjord's voice cut through the quiet "Anta,  Get Out Here Now,"

Lavi was on his feet before Anta, he already saw where this was going, and he couldn't let it happen.

"Lavi this is a direct command. Lay down in your bed and stay there until I get back," Anta stood like a man going to his execution as Lavi moved to follow his orders without a will driving him, 

The pounding continued.

"Anta, Please, no. Just give him time to calm down," Lavi could feel the panic rising even as he could do nothing about it, "Please just use that big brain of yours to think this through-" 

Anta ignored him as he stepped up to the door, with a final sigh he spoke over his shoulder, "Be good while I'm gone, ok? and thank you, for everything." and with that last statement he left. the door clicking shut behind him as the shouting started. 

Lavi could do nothing as panic turned to grief.

He could do nothing as he felt his connection to Anta sever. 

He could do nothing as he found himself back in his cavernous home. Once again alone.

[bitchfitch]

babylon artfight resource

as you can tell i play it Very fast and loose with this boy, just get the color pallet right and your good.

an excerpt from one of the things ive written with him:

Why isn't he looking? The man there in the very back of this dingy little tavern with his nose in that massive old book. Nobody ever ignores him when he plays, so how is this man Not Looking?

Babylon sings a little louder, bows his violin while forcing a bit more of his natural charm in along side every note. This rest of this little inn was looking, smiling dazedly as they danced and sang along to songs they didnt know they knew, songs they would forget as soon as he stopped playing. It wasn't often he let himself do this, playing in front of people who weren't guarded against him, but he needed the coin, and this town needed someone to come steal away their troubles for just one night.

But why isn't That one paying him any attention? Even when Babylon wasn't trying to charm people, his music still stole wills easier than he took wallets. It was something innate about him that did it. Nobody without some form of protection could resist him.

And yet, even now as his own feet begin to hurt and his voice grew strained, that man hadn't looked at him once. He's not deaf, Babylon saw him turn in response to the waiter talking to him. He doesn't seem to be protected in anyway, usually when his magic brushed against countercharms it felt like dragging his nails down a chalk board, but he felt nothing of the sorts from the man. He just seemed completely and wholly unaffected.

That was… Interesting.

He let the final note taper off as he came to a stand still. The tavern goers clapped, the applause tapering off as they blinked their momentary confusion out of their heads. Some might realize they had been charmed, most don't, and no one caused a fuss about it tonight, that he could be greatful for.

If Babylon was a wise man, he would take his earnings and leave, return to his home in the attic of a different tavern. The glorious one that sat in the center of their bustling capital, that wasnt at all like this one here in the very back of a town litteraly called Dead End.

But he wasnt a wise man, he was a curious one with a stranger to try and figure out.

Babylon decided he didn't quite feel like being tactful, and slid into the booth seat across from the stranger. Before he was even fully settled the man spoke without looking up from his book.

"Your playing was beautiful," He had a strangeness to his voice, his tone was flat and it didn't sound quite right coming from his mouth, too deep, too… Something that Babylon couldn't name,

"Thank you," Babylon smiled, nobody ever remembered what he sounded like after he had finished playing. Which was a shame, he'd spent so long cultivatimg his skills that it always felt like such a waste when he could play as horribly as he wanted to and still have everyone who heard bending to his will. But he was still proud of everything he'd worked to learn, "To be honest I kinda thought you weren't enjoying the performance," He cocked his head, "I'm curious whats in that book that kept your attention,"

The man was quiet for a moment, he was so still, his eyes didn't move in his skull and his skin had a sickly yellow tint to it. Definitely not anything he was trying to be, Babylon concluded. He shouldn't fimd comfort in the fact that he wasnt the only one trying to hide a monstrous face behind that of a half elf's, though he felt he was definitely doing a better job at it.

Finally the man spoke, "I liked it a lot," he said simply, "I didn't want to stare, so I kept my head down,"

something pinged in the back of Babylon's mind. Oh, the man was Lying, he wanted to stare. Of all the boons he got out of his wretched deal, this one was always the most useful, "Is that so? I don't mind being stared at if I'm being honest, I actually like it quite a bit. I don't think I could be a performer otherwise,"

"People do not like it when I look directly at them. The bar keep said it was creepy," The man said truthfully, still apparently giving his full attention to the book in front if him,

"I want you to look at me," Babylon started, if his music couldn't charm this stranger maybe something a little more direct could? and if it couldn't… well the very thought of that made his heart race. "You're… Interesting and I think I want to figure you out," he purred, flirting always worked for him, hopefully it would work here,

The man finally looked up and imeaditly Babylon understood why people didn't like him looking at them. His eyes were just wrong, too still and slightly glazed, not wet enough, and the iris was a strange greenish silver. But, it didn't feel like the stranger was looking at him, more like he had already been looking. How hadn't Babylon noticed that before? How long has this stranger been focused on him, and how was he faking not being focused on him so perfectly?

"Oh, you really should keep your chin up more," Babylon started, "Its a shame to hide such a handsome face," he said, it was true, the stranger was handsome if you didn't count his stranger features, a strong jaw and sharp cheek bones with a nose that had a cute crookedness to it, thick lips that weren't quite red enough to look alive, and long stringy black hair that had a pretty wave to it,

Something loud crashed outside, like a tree falling over behind the tavern. The sound sent everyone besides the stranger jumping half out of their skins as he closed his book and hurriedly stuffed it in his jacket, "I think I need to go,"

Babylon wasn't fully back to himself yet, loud noises always sent him on guard, when he reached a hand out to snag the stranger by the sleeve, "Sorry, sir," he apologized, "Was I coming on too strong? Come on. sit back down and give me another shot" he tried to smirk but that feeling of being watched only grew, like he truly, Finally, had the entirety of the stranger's attention, whatever that might mean.

"No- Uh, Good bye," the stranger said, pulling away without a hint of elaboration as he set a fast pace to the back door of the tavern. Not running, or walking, more lumbering and shuffling. Like maybe he wasn't quite used to have legs under his considerable size, tall and broad shouldered with a deep barrel chest and thick arms and legs.

Babylon watched him go, tapping his nails on the old wood of the table as he did. He'd have to meet that guy again someday. He'd never found someone completely immune to him before. People were always at least tempted to follow along with what he asked, but the stranger, the one with the dead eyes and the desire to look at him, he seemed so unaffected. Or at least he wasn't charmed in the slightest by him.

Babylon tried to suppress the fluttering feeling in his chest. This was it. his first chance at maybe being able to befriend someone who wasn't being coerced into liking him.

---

The next time he decided he would venture into that little no name tavern, Babylon chose to wear a different face. That wasn't unusual, it was safer for him if no one could ever recognize him. What was unusual was the amount of effort he had had to put into making this one. He wanted to make sure that stranger wouldn't look away from the moment he entered. Normally that wouldn't be hard for him, he had a nack for guessing what others found beautiful, but the stranger was a complete mystery. No inkling of what he may like came drifting to the surface.

Still, Babylon tried and tried until he found something right. Small and dainty like how he'd gone last time hadn't been enough to catch his eye, so maybe tall, with a good amount of muscle. Babylon thought about the men who worked the docks down by the lake, they could be a good example for this. He'd borrow the sandy blond waves of one of them too while he was at it, and the wide puppy dog brown eyes of that little cleric that had started following him and his sisters. A beard came next, a few shades darker than his hair and just long enough to round out his jaw.

He looked in his pocket mirror, this face was handsome, the black stretch fabric he favored for his clothing clung to the broad chest and strong thighs in a way even an eunuch would appreciate. He was good at making handsome faces for others to enjoy, but this one didn't sit right. It wasn't what he needed it to be. Maybe…

He let his curves soften and his chest grow, let the beard dissipate until he looked like the former faces sister, still strong and broad, but feminine and beautiful instead of handsome.

He sighed, this was worse. It wasnt farther from what the stranger would want, but he didn't know What about it was wrong. It wasn't the femininity, that he felt certain of.

He fwumped back onto his mattress with a heavy sigh as he let his disguise drop. He hadn't been able to get that stranger out of his head in the entire three weeks since he saw him. This was the first free afternoon he had had in that entire time, and here he was wasting it by not being able to guess at what that stranger would like.

It was frustrating.

It was infuriating.

but most of all it was invigorating. He Didn't have a little window into this stranger's head like he did with everyone else. He was just as lost as any other man trying to catch the eye of a stranger at the bar.

The trap door that lead up into this shared room was shoved open with a loud clang as Tamm, one of his two sisters, pulled herself up without even bothering with the ladder. She huffed a greeting before pulling that cleric up after her. He yelped and stammered when she set him on the floor beside herself.

"Thought you were going out tonight Babs," Tamm said, she gave him a look that definitely meant she wanted some alone time with the cleric,

"I'll be out in a moment, just having a crisis," He huffed, he sat up and tried to ignore the hurt that always came when the cleric flinched everytime he saw him without a disguise. Babylon didn't think he was That ugly, certainly grotesque, but in a pretty way if he did say so himself,

"Go have a crisis somewhere else please," Tamm said, "I promised to teach nerd lord how to sword fight,"

"And you need to be alone in our room for that? I'm pretty good with a sword, maybe I could help teach him?" Babylon scrunched up his nose at her, he Knew what she really wanted to show him, he'd seen the way they'd been making eyes at each other, but he Really Really wished he didn't,

"Babs-" she started, but he waved a dismissive hand as he got up and grabbed his violin,

"Yeah Yeah, I'm going Tammsy. Make sure shorty wraps up, I'm not ready to be an uncle," He goaded before dropping through the trap door and into the hall below. The door slammed shut above him and he heard the latch lock shut, "Don't Eat Him!" Babylon shouted, and snickered when he heard her groan through the ancient wood.

He straightened out his clothes before taking on the face he'd tried out before, the more masculine one just because he didn't want to have to remember to respond to a different set of pronouns. It still wasn't perfect, but it would do.

[xmusexvarietyxarchive]

"Dee... Okay this is going to get really complicated so you might want to pay attention." Vertoria sighed softly. "But first off, Dee prefers They and Them pronouns unless they present themselves as masculine or feminine. It's a shapeshifter thing that I personally don't indulge in."

"Dee was created by my tormentor my manipulating my psyche into creating a personality he wanted me to be. What he didn't expect was for it to become it's own separate mindset which then could possess me with a trigger phrase or almost whenever it wanted. Well a decade ago I got sick of it and shoved them into a clone of mine and let them loose. Well they crashed and burned epically and have been living with me to learn how being a full time demon works. And they won't admit it but I'm pretty sure they also stay with me to curb their own psycological issues. But I also feel responsible for them, because technically they are both my kid and my younger sibling." She shrugged. Well that was the short version of the story. But Dee probably shouldn't be here either! But as for communication with them...

"You got a mirror? The bigger the better, and I'll need a knife, a cup and a paint brush. I don't have a phone and without my storage space I don't have access to my tome to communicate with Dee either. My best bet is with mirror magic since there is litteraly no force I've been able to find that will keep that magic from working." She hummed.

"Nice to meeeeeee- and you're naked!" Vertoria blushed, looking away out of politeness. Nudity wasn't that big of a problem for her, she preferred to walk around naked herself when it was warm, but she wasn't sure how Erin felt about people looking without permission.

"well, knowing what I do now it's better I stay outside of the circle and just watch. Otherwise I might devour him in your stead." She growled softly, hackles raised and fangs sharpening. Even Hell had rules against pedophilia and manipulating children, and severe consequences for those demons who decided to try anyway.

🔐 (for @daughterofithaqua)

@daughterofithaqua

Vertoria could have sworn she was much more careful when she had gone out that night, keeping her drink choices nice and simple with tea at her favorite cafe. Of course, she should have known better when she felt the presence of conscious shadows, and the feeling of dread as well. But it was a cafe for crying out loud! What was the worst that could happen?

Rose water. That’s what.

It was mere moments before Vertoria passed out, hardly having time to slur out a cry for help before she felt someone helping her up. No, no they were dragging her! By the time she had come to the half-breed had been completely restrained to the point she could hardly breathe, forget move! Or maybe the breathing was because she was on a fucking alter for fucks sake??? Okay, she just needed be calm and gather all the information she could on escaping. Now for the hard part, actually managing to keep calm! It wasn’t nessearily successful as she weighed around, biting down on the gag in her mouth. Most likely to keep her from calling for help. As soon as she found out who did this there was going to be hell!