#Kallisto Shroud

[cyanide-latte]

Get to know my TWST OCs pt. 1

"What Are They Twisted From?"

💫💫💫

Figured maybe doing a series of posts like this would help friends and mutuals get to know my OCs better!

(I'll also throw in some of the other characters aside from my main boys, given they're also important, even though I've not mentioned them much!)

Copper Benoit: Though this wasn't originally my intention, Copper wound up being a double twist! Initially he was a twist of Penny from The Rescuers and this remains set in his backstory and aspects of his appearance and design, as well as how he interacts with others early on. But during a lot of the brainstorming process with my wanting to incorporate elements of Penny continually finding so much pirate treasure during her captivity, I realized that a lot of his development took a totally different turn, and ultimately he becomes a twist of Captain Barbossa from the PotC movies.

Mr. Gorgania Stone: Copper's abusive captor, twisted from Madame Medusa from The Rescuers

Mr. Hiram Lurk: Stone's lackey, twisted from Mr. Snoops from The Rescuers

Augustus & Octavian: Stone's pet alligators (nicknamed Gusty and Tavie by Copper,) twisted from Brutus & Nero from The Rescuers

Old Flynn: an elderly cat beastman who worked at the orphanage where Copper spent his early years of his life, twisted from Rufus from The Rescuers

Wei Renqiao: while some details will be subject to adjustment and fine-tuning as I continue to do research and study appropriately, WRQ is twisted from Shan Yu from Mulan!

Wei Xinyi: the bigender/genderfluid older cousin of WRQ and fellow community leader, Xinyi accidentally wound up being a twist of Fa Mulan from Mulan! Happened before I realized it and honestly I like it too much to not just embrace it.

Wei Gang: the uncle of both Wei Renqiao and Wei Xinyi and fellow community leader with them, he has aspects twisted both from The Emperor of China and the First Fa Ancestor from Mulan

Hé: a young dragon secretly being raised by the Wei family, Hé is inspired by the Great Stone Dragon that was accidentally broken by Mushu with personality elements from Cri-kee (though they can shift to travel size for convenience~) from Mulan

Chrysanthos Shroud: while I think it's safe to say that all born members of the Shroud family have aspects of Hades in them (which is such a huge part of why I love them and I wouldn't have them any other way,) a great deal of the snappier aspects of Chrys's personality and his vulnerability issues are twisted from Meg from Hercules. Chrysanthos; his friends call him "Chrys", at least they would if he had any friends.

Ilias Shroud: Chrys's father, twisted from The Fates from Hercules

Kallisto Shroud: Chrys's mother who married into the family, twisted loosely from The Muses from Hercules

Debating whether to do OC nicknames from Floyd and Rook and the reasons behind them next, or whether to go over Signature Spells/Unique Magic for each character next.

The Anatole Siblings: more recent OCs, these three are twisted from the kittens from The Aristocats

Taglist: @tixdixl @ramshacklerumble @inmateofthemind @changeofheart69 (I know y'all already know the majority of this but still) @blithesharem @thehollowwriter @theleechyskrunkly @snailsrneat

[wonderlandcrown]

Well That's a Big Cat

Hello everyone I'm very much alive, just been extra busy w/ school lately and been getting too much sleep

There's been a lot of chimera/overblot Grim on my dash lately so I'd like to contribute : Chimera Grim's Design

So starting off, Grim has a ring of blue fire surrounding his neck, much like a lion and its mane, this could either reference the chimera, or it could be referencing the King of Beasts - Scar.

Also it's interesting how the Shroudbros and Grim both have blue fire, with the Shroud family curse being that they burn away blot and how Grim has an addiction? to eating the left over Overblot stones (and seems fine after eating it) I remember seeing a theory about how Grim might've been the monster that killed Ortho, (given how Grim doesn't remember much about his childhood) Forgetting about your childhood is a actually also a sign for childhood trauma, no idea if it applies to cat-monsters though. .u.

Also, see those tentacles behind the mane? Does it remind you of someone? Our favourite octo-capitalist perphaps?

Ah yes, the snake tail. Again, this could either be referencing the chimera or the snake in the Scarabia icon. (both maybe?)

Dragon wings!!! The chimera doesn't reference dragon wings so this is definitely referencing Malleus' dragon-fae lineage. Interestingly, I don't see any references to OB! Riddle or Vil, those two could be harder to reference since they don't have a clear "animal" motif, I would appreciate it if anyone notices anything lol.

But we're still missing the goat, the chimera has a "goat protruding from it's back" but I don't see it anywhere on Grim (again, if you notice something or know someone who is better than analysing stuff pls tag me ToT)

@prince-kallisto has posted about how Twst has LOADS of religious symbolism(specifically Christian symbolism), so check them out for a clearer analysis on the stuff I'm abt to say. Goats are a symbol of Satan/The Devil in Christian mythology, and given how Maleficent(a dragon) herself has demonic symbolism the dragon wings on Grim's back could symbolise the "goat protruding from it's back".

[keepmeinmind-01]

wip wednesday—“and the hound”

thank you for requesting this file! I was having fun writing this, especially because if Theseus is immortal and Newt lives to 1947 and makes the registry…yes, juicy angst 😌

thank you to @kalira @wizisbored @oriharaizayadividesintoslytherin @whimsicalmeerkat @auburnlaughter @violet-prism-creatively @twyrewolf @stonemaskedtaliesin @kallisto-k! here are my lines:

The snapping branches mean Newt knows something is wrong. Theseus never makes sound moving through the forest anymore.

Uncurling from the sprouting grass as if alive, night-black flowers and bone-white blooms with needle-sharp thorns grow and wither in rapid succession where each of Theseus's footfalls lands. The grass shoots up to knee-height, wild and glowing, before blackening and falling away.

Rot and renewal, to the time of a heartbeat.

Newt swallows.

Theseus staggers to the nearest tree and slumps against it, sliding down until he sits heavily at its base. Breathing hard, he scratches the back of his hands against the bark, rubbing away the dried blood in flakes that turn to single butterfly wings. A shroud of white fungus bubbles up from the oak, splitting the trunk, and Theseus flinches even as he sinks back into it.

His older brother groans, blood still oozing from the cut on his temple, and covers his face in his hands.

Between Theseus's trembling fingers, Newt catches glimpses of his brother's face shifting like water. One moment, those familiar wild eyes blaze through the gaps; the next, they are human again, bloodshot and glazed with pain. The transformation ripples across his features: sharp teeth blunting, then lengthening again; cheekbones softening then growing knife-edge sharp; skin flushing with color before draining.

"Thee?" Newt asks, creeping closer.

Theseus lowers his hands. His face is almost entirely human now: younger, softer, exhausted and scared. The gash at his temple still bleeds freely, but the blood runs red now instead of the strange dark ichor it has become in recent weeks. When he opens his mouth to speak, his teeth are flat and normal.

"The villagers," he manages, voice cracking. "They had cold iron. Old wards." He presses a hand to his side where his shirt is torn and darkened. "They knew what I was."

"And now you're hurt," Newt says, reaching for the wound. Theseus catches his wrist with fingers that are almost normal now—no claws, no impossible length.

Dead leaves stir around them without wind, rising and falling like breathing. The white fungus consuming the tree bark spreads faster, creating patterns like ancient runes before dissolving into powder. Nature itself seems to be speaking in a language Newt cannot quite understand, but one that makes his skin prickle with recognition of something vast and other.

"I remember right after it happened," Theseus says quietly. "When the spirit first came. I remember...everything. Being normal. Being young. Having dreams that didn't taste like blood and moonlight."

He laughs. "I used to want to work at the Ministry, can you believe that? Wear smart robes and push papers around a desk all day."

"You'd have hated it," Newt says, but he doesn’t know if that’s true. "Even before. Even when you were perfect. Remember how you used to climb trees with me? How you'd run through the woods shouting just to hear your voice echo?"

"Maybe. I was so young, then. I wasn't what I needed to be." Theseus's smile is sharper now, his teeth fully fanged again. "Or maybe I just tell myself that, to make this easier to bear."

[inmateofthemind]

Have Some TWST Fan Lore Part 2: Corlux Key Seminary

Quite literally the largest of the arcane academies, acting as an "all are welcome" paramilitary institution for mages of all sorts. It is revered for its music program, particularly its marching band. - the description that would be on Corlux's in-game info card if it were canon

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

A Very Brief Background

According to legend, Corlux Key Seminary was originally opened by a collective of special forces mages led by a wizard of power so fantastic that he could supposedly create living worlds out of paint and paper. These mages guarded their kingdom of light with such ferocity that they were referred to as 'living locks', which was fairly ironic considering their weapons were shaped to resemble keys.

With that said, however, the lead mage truly believed that people of all talents and backgrounds were welcome to their land if their hearts were 'pure'; after all, unconventional talents had been proved to win the day over and over in the long lens of history. As such, Corlux Key Seminary was created in honor of that wizard and his friends by offering a variety of programs for students to harness their skills.

-------------------- Current Staff {pronouns} (Twisted From)

Headmistress: Evangeline Lighthaven {she/her} (twisted from the Blue Fairy of Pinocchio)

Deputy Headmaster: Sir Shy {he/they} (twisted from Mad Madam Mim of The Sword & the Stone)

Literature and Drama: Godehard Norris {he/him} (twisted from Mother Gothel of Tangled)

Science: Maureen Desrosiers {she/her} (twisted from Maurice of Beauty and the Beast)

Social Studies: Saylor Anker {she/her} (twisted from Captain Hook of Peter Pan)

Mathematics: Jóna Quasar {they/them} (twisted from Dr. Delbert Doppler of Treasure Planet)

Foreign Languages: Augustus Scholaris {he/him} (twisted from Dr. Milo Thatch of Atlantis: the Lost Empire)

Physical Education: Babur Shah {he/him} (twisted from Shere Khan of Jungle Book)

Music/Band: Inti & Wayna {genderfluid & he/him respectively} (twisted from Yzma & Kronk of The Emperor's New Groove)

Teacher's Assistant: Solfilius Bellflower {he/him} (twisted from Rapunzel of Tangled)

'Jacks of All Trades' Grunts: Carnelian & Saul {both he/him} (twisted from Jasper & Horace of 101 Dalmatians)

all staff members created by @inmateofthemind

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

Students of Note, sorted by school year at time of 1st Arcane Exchange

FRESHMAN

Orpheus Fairbairn {he/him}* (twisted from King Stephen of Sleeping Beauty) created by @inmateofthemind

Helena Jupiter {she/her} (twisted from Hercules of Hercules) created by @ramshacklerumble

Caelum 'Cal' Sokół {he/him}* (twisted from Jim Hawkins of Treasure Planet) created by @inmateofthemind

SOPHOMORE

Klaus Hasencamp {he/him} (twisted from The White Rabbit of Alice in Wonderland) created by @simons-twsted-children

Puck Pratt {he/him, trans}* (twisted from Peter Pan of Peter Pan) created by @inmateofthemind

Fiamma Trein {she/her} (twisted from Cinderella of Cinderella) created by @inmateofthemind

JUNIOR

Penny Chase {she/her} (twisted from Copper of The Fox and the Hound) created by @inmateofthemind

Ruby Del Zorro {she/her} (twisted from Tod of The Fox and the Hound) created by @inmateofthemind

Kentigern Vaughan {he/him} (twisted from Wart of The Sword in the Stone) created by @inmateofthemind

*= does not participate in the 1st Arcane Exchange

---------BONUS---------------

GRADUATES/ALUMNUS

Kallisto Shroud {she/her} (twisted from the Muses of Hercules) created by @cyanide-latte

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

Tidbits & Trivia

Night Raven College and Royal Sword Academy can bicker about having the power; Corlux Key Seminary is content to boast about having the numbers. There are a grand total of twenty dormitories across the entire campus, though the joke among students is that there are actually twenty-three. This is due to some of the dorms having gotten a rebranding of name some years back, but people will use the new and old names interchangeably. It isn't uncommon for freshmen to be deliberately told to retrieve something from one of the dorms using the old name for it so that they will wander around for hours trying to find it.

Corlux Key Seminary is located in the far north of the Shaftlands; not exactly neighbors with Harveston, but close enough that the more troublesome youth of the town are threatened with being sent there if they don't shape up.

Corlux's inclusivity even goes as far as the dress code; as long as the students are wearing academy-issued attire and it's properly clean, they're golden as far as the rules go. This is actually a selling point for students who are exploring their gender identity, or even just for people who want to wear quote-unquote 'gender-specific attire' just for the sake of comfort. Rather recently, one student even turned down their invite to Royal Sword Academy specifically because 'they don't allow guys to wear skorts/skirts there; hard pass'.

As Corlux is currently under the reign of a fae, all students are granted protection from minor cantrips and spells by what is referred to as a 'pulchra osculum' ('beautiful kiss'). This is a TWST-fan!verse term created by myself which I will explain at a later date, but the basic idea is that it's a minor protection spell.

Corlux is officially listed as paramilitary due to their structure not being fully comparable to a traditional military school, though there is a kind of 'honors program' sponsored by official military institutes from across the nations to help those with serious aspirations for the armed forces. The way to distinguish those students from the general populace is an armband emblazed with a specific crown modeled after a symbol worn by a legendary 'Keywielder', as the military-aspiring students are called.

Even if students do not choose to enlist into any kind of military service upon graduation, they will receive top-of-the-line training for a variety of careers. As mentioned previously, one of the school's most famed aspects is their marching band that has seen several of its former members go on to be professional musicians of some kind.

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

Author's Notes

As previously mentioned, Corlux Key Seminary is an arcane academy created by yours truly to serve...well, a lot of purposes, actually;

Play around with the idea of what a TWST military school would look like while also having a bit of flexibility for fun

Give the girlies/girlie-identifying folks of TWST a place to be educated since there don't seem to be a whole lot of those in canon (at least from what I've seen)

Place a few extra Kingdom Hearts references into TWST (you mean to tell me that four of the Great Seven are the villains of the Princesses of Hearts, with one of those Seven even being Maleficent herself, because of sheer coincidence? I think NOT, friend!)

Because this is a fanverse for a piece of media, which means we live by the credence 'I did it because I could' xD

This is all in good fun between a small group of friends who are doing something fun with a game we all enjoy. Just let us have our thing and feel free to engage if you like it :)

Taglist: @cyanide-latte @simons-twsted-children @tixdixl @ramshacklerumble (let me know if you also want to be tagged)

[orginllazyblog]

Twst Theory

Book 7, Chapter 6

*HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD, I RECOMMEND TO WATCH THIS VIDEO HERE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND ->

@prince-kallisto @ventique18 @rayroseu

Meleanor overblot theory (?)

From my understanding, when the group left to go catch up with Lilia and Baul. They notice the same thorns that Malleus use when he began to overblot. Thinking that she might have overblot, but will never know as they run to help Lilia and Baul. Other theorists believe that Meleanor might have overblot. If that were the case, then wouldn't we get to see a difference?

For example, the OB boy's phantoms have ink bottle heads, but with Meleanor's dragon form does not. maybe it's because the group can't see it or wasn't presented (tho we can't be separate from the person dream or else will fall to the "darkness"). Even during the battle, the difference was the smoke coming out. So perhaps she did overblot it's just that neither Lilia nor any one of the group knew if she did or not. Then again, this was way back then, so the overblot might have a different look compared to the OB gang.

What we know is Lilia and baul can't sense Meleanor's magic anymore, meaning she's gone. (NOOOOo!!!!)

The Senate

I thought they were some sort of faes, turns out there just a...idk voices? One thing I do know is that I hate them. They remind me so much like the most evil government. They trash talk of how Lilia wasn't strong enough to protect Meleanor, and worse, ungrateful. It was Lilia who managed to hatch Malleus once he knew parental love, and yet they still hate him because?!?!?!

This is might come to the future chapter, the senate are the real villians, the masterminds. Which if this is true, if Crowley turned out to be Levan is real, Malleus missing father, then that's his whole reason he is in his villain arc and still in line at a grocery store to get the milk (jk)

Revolution

If Crowley/Levan wanted to "destroy" the senate's, then he would need alleys. That would explain why his connections with some of the student's family background:

Reasonable:

Rosehearts family

Kingscholar family

Leech family

Shroud family (Styx company)

Draconia family (Definitely)

Asims family

Maybe:

Trappola family (Ace traitor theory)

Schoenheit family

Rook Hunt's family (Given they have villas and access to travel other countries)

Levan wanting for faes and humans to live in harmony, but someone didn't wanted to happen so they might of separated Levan from Briar Valley, where he can't return if he wanted to or not (referancing to the lion king movie, where Simba ran away from home and couldn't return back). If Meleanor is somehow alive and part of her is still in the dark mirror, Crowley/Levan would need overblot crystals for to bring her back. If he did, why did he let Grim eat the blot crystals?

Simple, a powerful weapon that not even magic or technology could stop it.

Its similar to other's theories where Levan is Meleanor's eyes and wings. Referencing to the Maleficent movie where King Stephen locked away her wings in a cage. If this theory is somehow correct, perhaps Levan is still alive, just hidding away, waiting for the right moment to strike back.

What's next in the upcoming Book 7, chapter 7?

Silver, Sebek, Grim, and Yuu manage to wake up Lilia at last. Lilia buying some time, so the group left and meet up with telegram Ortho saying they'll meet up later as they landed in Idia's dream.

Finally, the shroud brothers doing their part as they were the recent overblot and need to defeat the current overblot, which is none other than the Malleus Draconia. So Ortho managed to break in Malleus dream barrier and it seems he also waked up Idia, too. Come to think of it, it might of been sad that Idia realized his brother is a humanoid cyborg and not a fully human.

So in the next chapter, Ortho might go to the other's dreams and tried to wake them up. With the previous theory that we all thought that Idia and Leona might team up together was because of the art where the housewardens in their coffins, the only ones who are out are Idia and Leona and Malleus as well being in the center. We might get close as Ortho might bring not only the regular students or the teachers, but the OB gang, or maybe the ones who are smarter to think this was an illusion. Which is why I think Leona might help out as well as the students who overblot too. In order for Malleus not let his overblot info be know to the world, but it will be different and will be consequences of his actions.

And lastly, when is the next chapter coming? I've been keeping on track on the dates, so maybe February or March. Perhaps more later in 2024 as I been watching Gasmask translate video saying the next chapter might come way later than the regular two/three months. A hiatus break? Who knows?

What I'm sad about is we didn't even get a glimpse of grandma Maleficia. not even a shadow figure. There probably will be a twst event where we get to go to Brair Valley. Will just have to wait and see.

Check out the other's as they also explain more of chapter 6

[rayroseu]

EVENT: TWST CHARITY DRIVE (@twst-charity)

I am a Contributor here !

[updated: 03_03_2024] i figured it would be more easy if i just made a carrd, please read for info and rules ^-^ sideblog/reblogs: @rayroseu-reblogs

PENDING ARTREQUEST: - cyno with malleus! by anon 💖💐

[ #lian arts -> art tag ]

[ #lian inbox -> asks and answers ]

[ #lian notes -> commentaries, memes, and theories ]

[ ko-fi -> for support and future commissions ]

masterlist under the cut~ (please let me know if youre searchinh for any works of mine!)

my art summary of 2023 ❣️❣️❣️🌌🌌🌌

: ART MASTERLIST !

☆ twistedwonderland

╰┈➤silver vanrouge

bunny guard silver (for the white rabbit festival event)

knight of dreams (silver)

tsum lilia with silver

this is the blessing i put upon you

╰┈➤lilia vanrouge

cradle seeker (for the theory that lilia kidnapped baby silver)

shadow of the past (lilia vanrouge)

from nightmares to dreams (lilia vanrouge)

awaken (lilia vanrouge)

wounds soaked on hot springs (lilia vanrouge)

Bloodshed (Lilia Vanrouge)

Lilia with Stitch! (+ Malleus' fathers way of keeping his social life intact!)

if only i could've burned to death in that fire too

Temptations (Playful Land Lilia)

╰┈➤sebek zigvolt

strike through the darkness (sebek zigvolt)

portrait of sebek

╰┈➤malleus draconia

you're not scary at all, malleus

flowers for malleus (humbuns) entry

malleus with my melody hat

pinching malleus' cheeks

deathly loneliness attacks(malleus)

chocolatier malleus

happy invitation (malleus draconia)

Malleus with Halo-halo (Filipino cold dessert)

Happy 100th Anniversary! (+Grim) (In celebration of Grim-Malleus DUO!✨)

masquerade malleus

╰┈➤book 7-related artworks

mothers day for queen maleficia (with little malleus)

subdued (queen maleficia and malleus)

you have a lot to learn with (Lilia and Malleus)

unhatched eggcellency (fanmade SSR Card of Tamago Malleus! w/ GROOVY)

mallevan/levanoa headcanon 1: draconias showers their mate with flowers 💐

mallevan/levanoa headcanon 2: mallenoa is levan and lilia's guide in practicing their magic 🪄

mallevan/levanoa headcanon 3: Malleus inherited his love of gargoyles from Levan for Levan studied Architecture in hopes of building a castle that can withstand Malenoa's destructive tantrums. 🏰

my design for Malenoa Draconia and Levan!

everytime you kissed me (Meleanor and Levan)

Lightning of Judgement (Meleanor)

Look-Alikes...? (Meleanor/Levan and Knight of Dawn/Leia)

Dreams of What Could've Been (Knight of Dawn and Meleanor with their sons)

Meleanor Draconia is the Dark Mirror Theory

the ordeal of finding a friend (meleanor x crowley (levan))

if only true love was enough (meleanor x lilia)

meleanor draconia reacting to malleus hatching

╰┈➤malleyuu stuffs ♡

malleus with barbie!yuu

meet me at midnight (malleyuu)

malleus x citrine (my oc) doodle

in comparison to me, you are just a baby (malleyuu but yuu is older to him in years)

i want to convey words more meaningful than goodbyes

mistletoe kiss but no one is allowed to kiss

╰┈➤comics

(theory comic) "I hate you beastie" where Lilia blames baby Silver for the death of his friends but really the one who he genuinely blames is himself.

(AU comic) Silver is the older brother of Malleus but he's aging at human lifespan

my most precious treasure (meleanor and malleus)

saved by diasomnia

my favourite scenes in book 7.6 doodles

╰┈➤doodles

not spared from fatherhood (crowley and lilia vanrouge)

i dont exist in other ppl's lives meme (gn yuu)

lilia and stitch as malleus new beastie! / lilia and crowley looks out for malleus' friends

All is Found (feat. TWST Mothers)

I missed seeing OB!Malleus... (Malleus with my Yuu (Citrine))

malleus with frieren

halloween gift for @/hanafubukki (malleus)

halloween gift for @/insideous-beez (grim)

crowley sketch for @/prince-kallisto

╰┈➤idia shroud

idia shroud as merryweather

☆ mysticmessenger

╰┈➤saeran choi

im the one who is in control (unknown)

lilac, the first feeling of love and spring (suit saeran)

begonia, beware (ray)

in the first blossoms of spring (saeran)

a night of just the two of us (saeran)

caressed heart (ray)

sweet dreams from saeran

happy valentines ray!

happy birthday saeran 2023

╰┈➤hyun ryu

happy birthday zen!

a date in cherry blossom spring for quirky-and-kind

☆ obeyme

╰┈➤leviathan

happy birthday leviathan

☆ genshin impact

╰┈➤hu tao

hutao fanart for a friend~

☆ gift arts

roxanna vanrouge for roxannavanrouge2400

a date in cherry blossom spring for quirky-and-kind

malleus doodle for ventiquemr

: WRITING RECS !

the love of a family - hanafubukki

overblot silver request - serenescribe

《divider credit to @/firefly-graphics》

[cyanide-latte]

TWSTfic: little grave flower

Summary: How Chrysanthos Shroud got his name

Word count: 1881

Warnings: just family fluff (don't let the title fool you)

I referenced this character detail in this post and I'd already had this ficlet written last week so I thought I'd deliver. Also yes, if enough people are curious I'll make a post just about Ilias and Kallisto to explain them a bit and their relationship.

—————

The baby was awake.

Ilias sat up in bed at once, blearily trying to rub his eyes. He hadn't heard crying or fussing, just sounds he knew were coming from the basinet and indicated his son wasn't asleep any more. Taking a second to collect himself, he glanced at his wife and was relieved to see that though she was starting to stir, she wasn't awake yet.

A smile stole over his face in the low light of their room. Reaching over, he brushed flyaway strands of hair from Kallisto’s face as gently as he could. Maybe she could get a little more sleep if he was able to quiet the kid. Whispering a soft “I love you”, he drew away and slid out of bed to make his way to the basinet. And despite his tiredness, despite adjusting to being a first-time dad, Ilias felt wrapped in a peaceful sense of bliss. Perhaps when people talked about “treasuring the little moments”, they were referring to things like this, where the world was at rest as he soothed the two people in his life he loved more than anything.

As he drew nearer, he spied the gentle blue glow coming from the basinet, the telltale sign of the Shroud family hair his child had inherited. At times, Ilias felt wretched when he looked at the baby; he'd hoped and prayed that perhaps his son would be spared the family curse, that maybe the burden and the generational trauma would pass by for once. Kallisto deserved it for all the joy she'd brought him, and their son deserved it as well, because he was innocent. But fate could be cruel. Few knew that better than Ilias.

All the same, in this moment, he was happy and he continued to smile as he bent down over the basinet to look at the baby. They still hadn't figured out a name for him—Kallisto’s grandmother, Thalia, had actually encouraged them letting the right name come in its own time instead of rushing to name the baby—but that was alright by Ilias. They had plenty of time to figure it out and they never ran out of terms of endearment to refer to him with in the meantime. And given that Kallisto had put him in one of those outfits for bed that more closely resembled a pillowcase—according to Thalia, the sense of having his limbs safely contained in a small space would be familiar and comforting and make it easier for the little guy to sleep through the night—Ilias knew exactly which term of endearment it brought to mind.

“Hey, little starfish,” he whispered.

The baby had been glancing all around while he'd cooed, taking in everything he could see, but when he heard his father speak to him, he immediately looked to him. He blinked dark blue eyes so perfectly like his mother's as recognition dawned, and then, to Ilias’s astonishment and delight, there was a smile. The first smile, followed immediately by a delighted babble.

And without warning, the baby’s hair changed.

By default, all Shroud family members had hair like blue flames. It was vaguely translucent at the ends and warm to the touch, and usually had already manifested at birth. When angry, the hair would turn a vibrant, alarming red-orange and give off waves of heat, looking and acting more like true fire and just as capable of burning anyone who got too close. And, when bashful or expressing feelings of love and adoration, the strands of hair began to glow a gentle, beautiful pink color from the ends inward to the roots.

That his son’s hair would change colors was something Ilias had expected and wasn't bothered by.

But what hit him and left him gaping in shock was that the baby’s hair turned a bright yellow-gold.

For a second, the infant made another happy babble, smile growing bigger as he kicked and flailed his limbs. Then he seemed to realize that his father was no longer smiling but making an odd, open-mouthed expression, and he blinked again, his own smile dropping into a look of puzzlement as his hair turned back to a normal blue.

Ilias, who had only been a father for roughly two months but had spent most of his life well-read, was given to having long philosophical debates, and had his own special magic the family suspected was passed along that once had originated with the oracles of the Age of the Gods, expressed in all his wisdom the single sentiment that came to mind.

“Huh??”

His son, evidently as baffled by his behavior, echoed the sentiment in his own way with a small but emphatic sound. Ilias struggled to get the gears in his head turning again, frowned ponderously, then held up a single finger at the baby.

“One sec, kiddo,” he said, before straightening up and half-twisting as he looked back to the bed, raising his voice to just slightly above normal volume. “Honey…?”

Kallisto let out a groan, turned over, and managed to croak a drowsy, “Mmwhatizzit…?”

“Well, uh…” he paused for a second, looking back down into the basinet at the curious blue eyes watching him. The baby let out another coo at getting some attention back, and Ilias went on, “Something, er, happened? With our little butterball here?”

“Don't call him a butterball, I was called butterball my entire childhood going into middle school,” she said, still sounding foggy and out of it.

“Our little pumpkin then, our peach dumpling, the tater-tot, whatever you wanna call him,” he amended quickly, waving his hand as if it could dissipate the issue. “Something happened just now, something very…not normal.”

There was a rustle behind him as Kallisto sat up in bed and when she spoke again, she sounded more alert, a young mother worried for her child. “Is he alright? What is it? Bring him to me.”

Reaching down, Ilias scooped up their baby. His newfound confusion wasn't improving, but the utter and total trust in those huge blue eyes spurred a need to be worthy of such trust.

“Come on buddy,” he murmured, bringing his son up to rest against his shoulder. “Let's go see Mom.”

Arms wrapped carefully around the squirming, precious bundle he carried, Ilias crossed back to the bed, catching his wife's gaze as she watched them. She was sitting up straighter, and lifted her arms as he reached the edge of the bed and propped up one of his knees on it.

“Hey,” he said to the baby, gently adjusting his grip so he could turn him to see Kallisto. “Look. You see Mom? You wanna go to Mom?”

“Hi, sweetie,” Kallisto spoke in her “baby” voice, smiling as she picked up the vibe. “Come to Mommy?”

The baby turned at the sound of her voice, but Ilias didn't need to see his face; the sudden shriek of delight and the flailing arms was enough. He watched as Kallisto’s face lit up with sudden wonder and joy, and knew this was the second smile.

And then that little head of hair immediately turned yellow-gold again as he squirmed to try to reach his mother, letting out another excited little shriek.

To her credit, Kallisto readily took their son in her arms, though she did let out a very stunned “oh”. The baby didn't seem bothered; he nuzzled against her shoulder and neck, hair still glowing like a small midmorning sun.

“You got him?” Ilias asked, sliding back into the bed next to her.

Kallisto nodded, looking dazed, one of her hands absently stroking their son’s bright hair. “It's- it's yellow.” She stared at Ilias, mouth working soundlessly for a moment, before she finally asked, “This isn't…normal? For a Shroud?”

He shook his head. “I've never heard of our hair turning that color before. Didn't even know it could.”

For a long time, neither of them spoke. Kallisto continued to hold the baby like she was trying to soothe him, until he turned in her arms and spotted Ilias again. Immediately he began swinging his arms and straining to get to his father, and Ilias took him almost automatically, tucking him against his shoulder again. That small head nestled close and there was a tiny, contented little sigh as he settled.

“Guess we'll figure this out as we go along,” he said, to reassure himself as much as anything.

“Isn't that what we've been doing~?” Kallisto asked, her tone lightly teasing as she flashed him that coy smile that even now still made his heart thud hard against his ribcage. She inched a little closer and her expression softened to one of loving amazement as she reached out and stroked the baby's hair again. “He's beautiful,” she said, not for the first time and definitely not for the last. “Look at him, Ilias. Our boy.” She hummed in thought for a moment, then remarked, “He almost looks like chrysanthemums.”

Her fingers stilled in the baby's hair almost the moment the words left her mouth and Ilias went rigid. At once they looked at each other and a single shared thought shot between them like a bolt of lightning striking home, the same thing coming out of both their mouths.

“Chrysanthos!”

The baby squirmed a little, likely a bit startled by the dual exclamation, his hair briefly flickering with wisps of blue.

“Ilias, that's it!” Kallisto said breathlessly, her eyes bright, not even a hint of tiredness showing. “That's his name!”

Ilias lifted his son off his shoulder and slightly up above his head. He craned his neck back so he could look up and he smiled. “How ‘bout it, buddy?” he crooned. “Are you Chrys? Our little flower boy?”

The baby smiled again and this time managed to get one of his chubby, swaddled fists up to his mouth, kicking his legs. His mother reached up, standing on her knees, and tenderly gathered him into her arms from behind, holding him close.

“Chrysanthos,” she said, as if somehow she could make up for weeks of him not being named by saying it with all the love and intent she held now. “It feels fitting, doesn't it?”

Ilias fought back a sudden urge to shed tears of gratitude and happiness. He knew what she meant, that their son should be named for a flower associated with death and funerary customs, a respectful deference to being born into the Shroud family. How many people would see the beauty in it from the start? He wasn't sure, but he doubted if he would ever have found another partner like her. Watching her hold their child—Chrysanthos—he felt another overwhelming surge of love for them both, for this little moment he might have missed had he not woken and checked on Chrys when he did. It was so overwhelming it was a wonder he didn't drown in the feeling, though he knew he would do so happily. They were his entire world. What better thing could there be to lose himself in?

He leaned over, wrapping his arms around them both despite Chrys's immediate tiny grumble at being caught in the middle, and pressed his lips against his wife’s forehead in a slow kiss, closing his eyes.

“It's perfect,” he answered. “So is he.”

———————

Taglist: @ramshacklerumble @simons-twsted-children @tixdixl @inmateofthemind @blithesharem @rainesol @theleechyskrunkly @thehollowwriter (if you want to be added to my taglist lmk!)

[cyanide-latte]

OC ASKS POUNDS FISTS

For my favorite kitties and anyone else who wants to speak up!

What would your OC say their greatest strengths/flaws are? Do you agree with them?

What's your OCs favourite flower? Would it be realistic for them to grow it in their room/on the dorm somewhere?

Can they be trusted in the kitchen? What's their favourite food?

What DnD class would your OC be? (or fantasy trope character if you aren't familiar with DND classes)

Aaahhh, thank you~! This should prove interesting!

What would your OC say their greatest strengths / flaws are? Do you agree with them?

Marianne: "Strengths? Hm. My compassion and my zest for life, darling. As for my flaws, I've hardly grown enough into being a proper lady. I still have plenty to learn and more growing to do." (I don't necessarily disagree with these, though I would add she continues to baffle me and that qualifies as both. Also that feels like a weird humblebrag.)

Toussaint: "Well, I don't know if you'd call it a strength necessarily, but I do try to keep an open mind about things. Oh, and I've been told I've got a gift for reassuring others, and for networking people together! Perhaps those are strengths? As for flaws, I am a bit more sure about those. Is that sad? I know I second-guess my choices a lot, and I struggle to reconcile in my mind when someone I care about hurts me and I never expected them to. I mean, how do you move forward with confidence then? It's difficult, and I tend to get discouraged very easily by that." (I'd personally say that one of Tea's strengths is his kindness and his willingness to see the good in others as much as possible. A big flaw of his is that he can be too trusting and often naive. He definitely does have an open-minded nature among his strengths as well.)

Bertrand: *loud shrugs* "The major flaw is that I am an asshole. The strength is that I'll readily admit it." (...ugh. Rand's greatest strength is probably his loyalty and devotion to the very few people he lets in. His flaws are numerous, and I'd say a big one, if not the biggest, is that he's in denial that he needs therapy.)

What's your OC's favourite flower? Would it be realistic for them to grow it in their room/on the dorm somewhere?

Mari: Apple blossoms. She answered that so immediately and I don't even know why. Not exactly realistic to grow in her room at home or her room at Dame Rose University though.

Tea: Water lilies! Also not realistic to grow in his rooms, though he likely takes the time to tend any he sees growing at school or near their home in Fleur City!

Rand: Not a flower exactly, but he does grow aloe plants, especially aloe vera! He was given one to tend when he was younger and while he initially didn't see the point, learning that most aloe plants have a lot of practical uses for medicine and various sorts of healthcare kept him interested. Since their great-grandmother often uses homemade soaps containing aloe extract, a big secondary reason he grows them is for her.

Can they be trusted in the kitchen? What's their favorite food?

None of the Anatole siblings should be left in a kitchen unsupervised. The least disastrous is Toussaint, as he actually wants to learn how to cook and prepare food himself, but even then he's best kept monitored as he learns. Mari loves strawberry shortcake, Tea loves freshly baked cookies, and Rand is partial to fancy dessert pies. Sweet tooths, all three of them.

BONUS FROM THE NEXTGEN: also do not let Talesin in a kitchen unsupervised. He won't burn it down or anything but he will commit food crimes on purpose. He loves any food made by Uncle Jamil.

What D&D class would your OC be?

Oh, you're getting a lot of them for this one, I think about this constantly!

Marianne Anatole: bard

Toussaint Anatole: paladin

Bertrand Anatole: multi-class sorcerer/fighter

Copper Benoit: multi-class gunslinger/rogue

Wei Renqiao: multi-class artificer/monk

Wei Xinyi: multi-class monk/fighter

Chrysanthos Shroud: multi-class artificer/cleric

BONUS- Ilias Shroud: warlock

BONUS- Kallisto Shroud: multi-class cleric/ranger

BONUS- Wei Gang: multi-class monk/paladin

The list of questions

Taglist: @blithesharem @tixdixl @inmateofthemind @ramshacklerumble @elenauaurs

@rainesol @distant-velleity @thehollowwriter @theleechyskrunkly (message me if you want to be added to the taglist for stuff with my TWST OCs!)

[cyanide-latte]

Strawberries, cherries, and an angel's kiss in spring~

Apparently I can't focus on writing and for whatever reason, my accursed hands are only letting me draw in chibi right now but I'm still not totally satisfied with how this turned out because I'm so out of practice. But here we are, so just- just take them.

Yes I left in the original pencil lines I drew, what of it.

[cyanide-latte]

I don't go to TWST but I'm loving watching you get into the community. As an outsider, I just wanna ask, how do you come up with character names? Is there any relation to the character you're twisting from?

Aaahhh Jay dear, you know I love this kind of question because diving into this kind of thing is my delight!

And as for the answer...

✨✨✨

Regarding Copper and the characters attached to him, each of them is a fairly unimaginative nod to the characters they're twisted from, save for perhaps Old Flynn (twisted from Rufus the cat, I went for the meanings of both names and how similar they were.) As for Copper and the fact he's a double twist, his chosen name wasn't too hard to take from "Penny", (speaking in the Doylist sense,) and his deadname is actually the reference to Captain Barbossa (currently. He might later adjust his form of address in the future in ways that reflect that as well.)

✨✨✨

The Wei family is somewhat trickier. I initially had mostly developed just Wei Renqiao, with his uncle Wei Gang and cousin Wei Xinyi as afterthoughts. And since Wei Renqiao is an expy of Shan Yu while also being very much his own person, that set the stage for how I chose to name him.

The family name "Wei" has a variety of different meanings based on the characters it's written with. I went for the characters meaning "dangerous" or "towering", partially as a nod to Shan Yu in Wei Renqiao's character, but also because it fit the way my muse was unfolding and determining that the Wei family are often the fierce protectors and leaders of their people.

Wei Renqiao's name is written with "Ren" for "trust" or "rely on" and Qiao for "artful, skillful, clever". Clearly this is where some deviation from Shan Yu occurs and we see he's his own character. It should also be noted his name at birth was actually Wei Feng, written with "Feng" as "phoenix", which is both a nod back to Shan Yu in a way, as well as an hint at his Signature Spell/Unique Magic. He doesn't care to be called this though.

His uncle's name, Wei Gang, has the characters for "rigid" or "strong", both meant to prove a few things about his character but it was ultimately landing on that name that made me realize he was indeed twisted from The Emperor (I'd been suspicious but not certain up to that point.)

Wei Xinyi is the one that especially delights me as a bit of serendipity! I hadn't intended them to be a Mulan expy, not initially, but I must have been leaning in that direction anyhow because their SS/UM allows them to switch between genders, and I knew that about them first. From there I went hunting for a name and stumbled across "Xinyi", which I've noticed can be written with m. or f. characters. (It's the "Xin" that can be written differently but the "Yi" is the same.) That name jumped out at me when trying to pick something, not necessarily for its meaning so much as the fact I noticed it can be written either way and still largely mean the same thing, and Xinyi themself immediately decided that was their name, so it stuck!

✨✨✨

THEN WE GET TO CHRYS AND HIS PARENTS AND BOY OH BOY.

I picked his mother's name, Kallisto, out of a list of possible names. I already had a pre-existing bias towards the name, yeah, though I must say its meaning ("most beautiful") wasn't necessarily the deciding factor or even tied to what she's twisted from. It was only a couple of days ago I even realized I had drawn on aspects of the Muses for her character!

Ilias was a little more deliberate, as one of the meanings of it is "prophet" or "oracle" or "diviner". Again a hint-hint, wink-wink about Ilias's SS/UM, but in this case it's also because a lot of aspects of him I drew from the Fates.

CHRYSANTHOS. OH CHRYSANTHOS. I WAS DOING SOME 5D CHESS WITH HIM.

The Shroud family in canon is twisted from Hades, they've all got characteristics of him, noticeably the hair. And I do love a good surname that's a point towards Hades being the Lord of the Dead.

I've got a running joke that Chrys is my little flower boy. I'll explain some of that in future posts, but his parents chose his name because at one point his hair reminded them of chrysanthemums when he was a baby. And while that may be considered chuckle-worthy, chrysanthemums are funerary flowers in most parts of the world. (Most of America doesn't attribute them as such, but New Orleans actually keeps to this. This has nothing to do with the character, I just find that interesting.) And you know me; the second I saw that was a Greek name based on chrysanthemums, that part of me that goes nuts for the language of flowers latched on and went feral for the layers of symbolism there.

As for that tying to the fact has a lot of character traits from Meg, well...take that as you will.

Taglist: @ramshacklerumble @simons-twsted-children @tixdixl @inmateofthemind @blithesharem @theleechyskrunkly @thehollowwriter

[cyanide-latte]

24) What kind of sleeper is your OC? Light or heavy? What side do they sleep on? Do they like to sleep over or under the covers?

for all your ocs :)

I'm so sorry this took so long to answer! ; ; I've had a lot going on but I'm happy you sent this and that I finally got to answer it!

Copper Benoit- for most of his life, Copper is a fairly light sleeper (he needed to be, in order to stay safe when he was with Mr. Stone.) He typically sleeps on his left side, and whether or not he sleeps under or over the covers depends on how hot it is at any given time.

Wei Renqiao- a pretty heavy sleeper but he's also relatively easy to wake if he's needed. He usually sleeps on his back, and under the covers.

Wei Xinyi- an extremely heavy sleeper. They roll a lot in their sleep and they sleep under the covers.

Chrysanthos Shroud- Depends. Sometimes he's a light sleeper, sometimes heavy. Tends to either sleep on his right side or his stomach. Either sleeps with very lightweight covers or no covers because he tends to run hot.

Wei Gang- Light sleeper, left side or flat on his back, under the covers.

Ilias Shroud- Semi-heavy sleeper, stomach and left side, under lightweight covers since he runs hot. Finds it difficult to sleep if he can't reach out and put an arm around Kallisto.

Kallisto Shroud- very heavy sleeper. Also prefers to sleep on her left side, covers are dependent on what she feels most comfortable with at any point in time. Sleeps easier if Ilias is nearby and she can feel his warmth.

BONUS!

I wasn't necessarily planning on mentioning them until I made a post about Wei Renqiao's eventual Overblot, but he has three little half-sisters, Jingyi, Yaling and Lian. They tend to sleep together in a little huddle, very deep sleepers. They roll a lot and they steal the covers from each other all the time. (I don't know what, if much, I'll end up doing with them, but they exist!)

Here's the post with the prompts this came from! Thanks again for the ask, Elena!

Taglist: @blithesharem @ramshacklerumble @simons-twsted-children @tixdixl @inmateofthemind @elenauaurs @distant-velleity @theleechyskrunkly @thehollowwriter @rainesol (let me know if you would like to be added to the taglist for info about my TWST OCs!)

[cyanide-latte]

💍🔺🐷 for Chrys, Illias and Kallisto pls 👀🙏🏻

OH WHY THANK YOU, BLITHE~

💍 — does your oc have any piercings? do they want any (more) piercings?

OH BOY THIS FAMILY. DO THEY EVER HAVE PIERCINGS.

Chrysanthos: eyebrow piercings, two studs in each ear, snakebites, and hip piercings. He's undecided if he wants more or not.

Kallisto: ears pierced, bellybutton piercing, and a nose stud she got to match Ilias. She's content with what she's got.

Ilias: THIS MAN IS THE BELOATHED ENEMY OF METAL DETECTORS. Ears pierced all the way up, single piercing in each eyebrow, lip ring, tongue piercing, nose stud to match with Kallisto, clavicle piercings, hip piercings, and a good few others I shan't name here because they're definitely spicy. When he was younger he'd go around with all the piercings in because he could, but after becoming a dad and learning just how grabby baby Chrys could be when he saw something (especially when held at face level,) Ilias stopped wearing the majority of them as regularly as he used to. He has to gradually get back to it by the time Chrys is older. He still wears a lot of his jewelry around at work and the poor newbies of the S.T.Y.X. security and containment branch have to just get used to it.

🔺— does your oc know how to use any weapons?

Oh yes they do, all three of them. Will they tell me anything about which weapons those are? No, nothing other than that Ilias has too many of them that are of questionable legality. If there isn't a familiar weapon at hand and they need one, will they pick a new one up and figure it out? Yes. Their mileage may vary when it comes to success with an unfamiliar weapon but none of them are afraid to figure it out. If there's no weapons around? Chrys is frighteningly good at improvising. (Chrys and his dad are also very skilled combat mages. Kallisto less so, but she doesn't mind. She can fire a weapon quite well to help support her husband and son as needed. Besides, some days magic just doesn't finish the job.)

🐷— what is your oc's favorite animal?

Chrysanthos: Cats! He's not quite as feral about his love for cats as little cousin Idia though.

Kallisto: Pangolins! She thinks they're absolutely adorable and she loves collecting little pangolin-themed knickknacks.

Ilias doesn't really have one but have you listened to his wife gush about pangolins, she makes them sound interesting, and if she likes them then they must be the best animal in the world because you see she is the best person in the world, and on that note has he talked to you about his wife?

[cyanide-latte]

Get To Know My TWST OCs pt. 4

Ilias & Kallisto, Chrysanthos's Parents (an infodump)

💫💫💫

Figured maybe doing a series of posts like this would help friends and mutuals get to know my OCs better!

Part 1: What Are They Twisted From? | Part 2: What Nicknames Do They Have? | Part 3: Copper's Backstory

This one got a little bit lengthy so I made it all bullet points

Kallisto Shroud, -nee Euphemia

Gorgeous. Plus-sized from a young age, often leading to her being bullied by peers. Even when she tried everything she could to lose weight and slim down, she was still plus-sized compared to other girls.

To try to overcome this, she became a party girl in middle school

You want someone to throw a party? Kallisto will do it and she'll make it so cool and memorable!

Despite her hopes however, while this did make her somewhat popular, she didn't actually gain any true friendships from it

She developed her Signature Spell/Unique Magic to try to help with this. It's called "Life of the Party", and it allows her to push feelings of positivity, euphoria and excitement into other people around her within a certain radius

Again however, this only served to bolster her popularity and reputation as the girl you want at parties, but she still found herself bullied and rejected by the people she most wanted to be friends with

This followed with her as she entered a co-ed arcane academy

Lost what few friendships she did have because she kept chasing superficial acceptance

Eventually the "party girl" reputation caught up with her in her junior year, and at a harsh disciplinary meeting with the headmistress and her parents, Kallisto was told to shape up her act or she would be expelled

She agreed and spent the majority of the year focused on her studies and coursework

Developed an interest in the complex relations between humans and the fae people and made that her focus of study

Started dressing as unflatteringly as she could, hoping that if she looked mousy and blended into the background she would be left alone

Saw a counselor who helped her through that lonely senior year and told her she had no self-confidence and a self-image she needed to work on healing

Kallisto wanted to pursue the studies of human-and-fae interactions and relations into higher education but has to do so on a more casual level, as she was needed to assist with her family's small business after she graduated

But word still got out about the fact she used to be great at throwing parties and has a SS/UM that can ensure guests at a party or event leave happy

She was approached to work as an event planner and would have turned it down if it weren't for all the money she was being offered. She accepted because she wanted to help her family

This led to her taking additional workshops and classes on party planning and event organizing on a professional level

It was during one of these events hosted by the Jupiter family where she was hired to help with the moods of the guests that she met Ilias Shroud

She spotted Ilias about to become the victim of a nasty prank and stepped in to help him out

Upon realizing Ilias was hot, Kallisto became a stammering, tongue-tied mess

The two ditched the party to go have a long conversation where Ilias pointed out some truths about her that made Kallisto uncomfortable but he did so in a gentle way and she realized he was confused about why she tried to hide who she was and was attempting to coax her into being genuine with him

They decided after that conversation to have a long-distance friendship. (This was easier on Kallisto's nerves as she could more confidently chat with Ilias through emails and IMs and on the phone instead of in-person)

Ilias was one of the only people to take a genuine interest in Kallisto's desire to study fae society, and encouraged her to keep pursuing it as a career path

He also made it a point to consistently remind her not to be ashamed of her body and to try to dress and carry herself in a way that was more confident and flattering to her natural figure

Kallisto began falling for him as a result of all of this (he was already hot but somehow he just got even more hot the more she spent time being his friend and falling in love with him)

The day she found out her feelings were reciprocated was the happiest day of her life, at least until the day they got engaged, and even that day wasn't as happy as their wedding day

She learned of S.T.Y.X. gradually during her friendship and romance with Ilias and though he told her several times what she would be getting into, she still chose him

She continues to work in both career paths as best as she can, both the event organizing and the fae liaison, even as she eventually helps Ilias to raise their son, Chrysanthos

Outgoing, happy personality. She's bursting with life and creativity, it practically comes off her in waves, and she's so infectious with positivity, the people around her can't help but smile

(her eyes are delphinium blue and Chrysanthos actually inherits her eye color!)

Ilias Shroud

Middle son of three brothers, easily the most pessimistic of them

A lot of this stems from his Signature Spell/Unique Magic, "Harbinger".

Harbinger developed early, when Ilias was still a child (around 9 years old.) It allows him to divine some insight on other people's fates, but also their suffering, their darkest thoughts and secrets, their soul, and other things.

The Shroud family takes this to mean the blood of the oracles from the Age of the Gods runs in their family line but Ilias is miserable. Harbinger is a huge weight on his shoulders and he cannot control how much information he gets from a person when he tries to divine their fate. He always gets more than he wanted to know or bargained for. Harbinger exacerbates blot accumulation and so the family learns quickly they shouldn't push him to constantly use the spell.

Ilias grows up very gloomy and desperate to find any kind of beauty in even the darkest things. (Yes he grows up goth, he's got the piercings, the wardrobe and all the angsty poetry he writes to prove it.)

Attended Night Raven College and hated every minute of it

Classmates constantly mispronounced his name as "eh-LIE-as", and trying to correct them (his name is pronounced "IL-lee-uhs", thank you,) only led to the nastier classmates nicknaming him "Mentally Ill-ias."

Never really fit in, was constantly ditching club activities, and when it came time for the senior year work-study he practically flew out of there. Anything to get away. Crowley all but had to drag him back by the ankles for formal events.

Ilias gets on track to join the Security, Control and Containment branch of S.T.Y.X. Security specifically is his preference and he's particularly good at monitoring various situations.

Not so much when it always comes to himself though, which is how an old tormentor of his from their school days (an RSA alumnus named Adonias) nearly succeeded in a nasty prank where he spiked Ilias's drink at an event hosted by the Jupiter family

His savior in that instance was Kallisto, who got flustered around him but also promptly offered to buy him a drink to replace it

The two spent hours conversing, during which he asked questions about why she presented herself the way she did, and she also asked questions about why he sees the world the way he does and what kind of sorrows and hurts he carries with him

He admits to wearing anti-magic accessories (they look like chains he wears around his neck) when she tells him that he was the only person not affected by her UM, and he in turn divulges a little about the nature of his own UM to her

Agreeing to be long-distance friends, Ilias leaves the encounter feeling perhaps a little lighter and more hopeful than he has in years

Over time he starts to divulge more about his life and what he can safely share about S.T.Y.X. with Kallisto without violating limitations from his job or putting her in danger

He continues to support her dreams and hopes, and watches from a distance as she grows confident in herself and her body, and he falls head-over-heels during the course of time

This leads to Ilias allowing more of his poetic side to show as he talks with her, often in an attempt to either cheer her up or because he's trying to woo her without directly saying so

Eventually Kallisto confesses her feelings for him (it slips out on accident) and he immediately confesses his own feelings back to her

They start going on dates whenever possible, but they've been friends long enough and are comfortable enough that a proposal and engagement soon follow

During the time of their engagement, Ilias starts to worry and tries to reiterate to Kallisto what it means to marry him, how much she might be giving up in the process and what his family curse might mean for them and any children they have. He wants her to know and be absolutely sure of what she'll be getting into, and that if she wants to back out and call it off, she can.

Kallisto is undaunted and tells him that she chooses him, and that she's going to marry him because she chose him and everything that comes with him. Ilias weeps, feeling for the first time in his life that he can see a happier future.

He goes absolutely all-out to make sure their wedding and honeymoon are everything she wants and more. No expense should be spared for his bride.

Kallisto and, when he's born, their son Chrysanthos are Ilias's entire world. He would kill for them, he would die for them, he would live for them, he would thrive for them

He tends to come across as very eerie, unsettling and humorless in stark contrast to his wife, but he's largely gentle in nature and very thoughtful and aware of the people around him. Very loving and doting on his son and on his nephews, Idia and Ortho. Although he has a vicious temper if you even think about insulting or mocking his wife.

(he's also one of my only OCs I've picked a voice claim for, at least so far! Most people may not be into my favorite band ever, but that's okay, here's a cover of a song that features Ilias's VC, Ville Valo.)

He will not, in fact, turn down an opportunity to gush about Kallisto and tell anyone who is unfortunate enough to be nearby just how much he loves her and how perfect she is and that she's a goddess among women

Very reluctant to use his UM ever but can be persuaded to do so (you just need to sign all of these forms in triplicate first.) Refuses to use his UM on family members.

Anyway thank you for indulging my ramble about Chrys's parents, I love them to bits and pieces. I plan on posting more of the oneshots I've been working on for them.

Taglist: @blithesharem @elenauaurs @tixdixl @ramshacklerumble @inmateofthemind @simons-twsted-children @thehollowwriter @theleechyskrunkly @rainesol (let me know if you want to be added to the taglist for posts about my OCs!)

[cyanide-latte]

TWST fic: they meet

Summary: (this one pretty much is what it says on the tin)

Word count: 1,165 words

Warnings: references to spiked drinks and ableism

Cleaned it up a tiny bit for posting. @inmateofthemind 's headcanon co-ed mage school (Corlux) is referenced here. Also featuring Kallisto's maiden name! I have so many feels about Chrysanthos's parents I need to just write the two of them together as much as possible, this is just the first one, and no, I am not apologizing, you can't make me.

—————

“Don't drink that.”

“Huh?”

The stranger didn't offer any further explanation until they'd made it out to the terrace, and even then she didn't say a word until she'd plucked the glass from Ilias’s hand and tossed the entire thing over the railing and into the hedges down below. Ilias stared down, openmouthed and flabbergasted for perhaps the first time in his adult life, as she spoke again.

“Sorry if I made a scene or put you on the spot back there,” she began.

“You just—” he stammered, his voice very, very small and full of shock and awe. “That was crystal— a Jupiter family g— and you— threw—”

“If they want to get their chitons in a twist over one little glass, let them,” she said, letting out a small huff and adjusting the large glasses on her face. “They don't scare me. Besides, I didn't see any of them trying to call out Adonias for harassing you, or his buddies for spiking your drink when he did. And my jaw would've hit the floor if any of them actually stepped in to stop you from drinking it.”

A chill raced up his spine, a chill that quickly morphed into an icy anger. So that was it. He should have suspected that there was more to the mocking and harassment than simply trying to make him lose face in front of literally everyone. Inhaling deeply, Ilias breathed out, trying to release some of the immediate tension and regain his usual cool composure. Well, Adonias had lost on both fronts today, and while they were small victories, they were still victories.

He turned to regard his strange savior, who was also turning to look him over.

“To whom do I owe my thanks?” he asked, the words tumbling out of his mouth fast before he could worry about seeming rude.

The woman jolted, her eyes going huge behind the glasses and her face turning a bit pink.

“I- I'm Kallisto. Kallisto Euphemia,” she answered, all the rock-solid confidence from a moment before now gone from her voice. “And, I'm guessing you are…” She trailed off, abruptly looking down at her shoes.

“Adonias thinks he's funny, using the same nickname he teased me with in middle school,” Ilias muttered. “I appreciate you not laughing.”

“A-anyone who thinks calling someone else ‘mentally ill-ias’ is funny,” she said, her voice just a touch steadier this time, “can sit on a cactus.” Clearing her throat, she asked, “Your name is Ilias?”

“Of the Shroud family,” he confirmed tiredly, resting his elbows on the balustrade. “The guests none of the ‘great’ families want at their parties. I'm sure you saw my brothers inside at some point.”

Kallisto walked a little closer, linking her hands in front of her in a demure way that appeared very practiced. “You think nobody wants you at their parties? Why?”

He let out a soft snort. “That's just a fact of life for us,” he said, without animosity or condescension. “The twelve great houses and all the lesser houses never are happy about needing to invite the Shroud family to anything, even the strictly necessary stuff. It's always been that way, and that's not counting if the Jupiter family gets a patriarch who finds it more convenient to just forget to invite us.”

Kallisto let out a grumpy hum of consideration.

“Anyway, thanks for the save. I owe you one. Sorry for spoiling the fun.”

“Y-you didn't spoil—”

Ilias turned and looked at her, smiling ruefully, and her mouth shut with a click. He nodded, having expected as much. “Yeah, I did, I know,” he said, sighing and standing up straight again as he looked at her. Neither notably short or tall, with hair the color of dishwater up in a messy bun, dark blue eyes and deeply tan skin. The glasses and her nondescript, unflattering clothes made it difficult to tell at first, but she seemed to have a round face that balanced out a full mouth and somewhat chubby figure. She stood very poised and rigid—maybe she was a Corlux alumnus?—and looked like she was trying very hard to embody plainness enough to blend in with whatever wallpaper she stood near.

Something about it felt forced or false, or both.

Ilias slid his hands into his pockets and turned to walk away. It was the safer bet.

Still, he couldn't act like a total asshole.

“Have fun at the party or whatever,” he said over his shoulder.

“Wait, you're leaving?!”

She sounded genuinely shocked.

“Yeah, this scene blows,” he answered. No point in not being honest. “Not worth my time. Besides, my brothers will find me later, so it's no big deal if the middle child goes AWOL for a while.”

He continued towards the stairs that led down from the terrace, ready to make a fast escape, but apparently Kallisto wasn't easily deterred.

“Wait a sec!”

He paused and looked back over his shoulder. What was up with her anyway? If she truly was anything like how she tried to appear, then this stupid party wasn't something she gelled with either.

“What?” he asked, withholding a sense of irritation.

“Do you—” she started, then stopped, incoherent noises coming out of her mouth and growing increasingly higher in pitch until, haltingly, she managed to speak. “Would you- like to, er- go? Get a be-v’rage? At a place??”

Ilias blinked rapidly, baffled. “Huh?”

Kallisto helplessly pointed at herself, him, the hedges where she'd tossed his glass, back to him, and then between him and herself, her face going redder and redder by the second.

“I-I-I uh, I um. I owe you? A drink?” she finally said.

He blinked again, slower this time.

He had…

No clue what to make of this woman.

Still, she was being a hell of a lot nicer to him than anyone from any of the other houses had ever been. Euphemia…the name tickled at the back of his mind but he couldn't place what family that was or where they ranked among the others.

He looked her over again, and maintained in his own mind that the image she was presenting was almost totally at odds with whatever she was trying to hide. And yet, he felt a small spark of intrigue. Besides, crafted mousy appearance and all, she was—he had to admit it—cute.

“Yeah, okay,” he answered at last. “Sure.”

A look of utterly stunned surprise came over her. “Uh?”

“Let's go,” he said. “Get a beverage at a place.”

He turned back and started down the stairs, hearing her follow a moment later.

“You're buying,” he added, feeling like she probably needed a reminder. Whatever confusion he'd dealt her probably had temporarily fried her brain.

“If I do,” she said carefully, “will you answer some questions for me?”

He shrugged. “Depends on the questions, I guess.” After a beat, he added, “Might also depend on the drink.”

“I'll- I'll be s-sure to er, indulge you, then.”

—————

Taglist: @elenauaurs @blithesharem @tixdixl @inmateofthemind @simons-twsted-children @ramshacklerumble @rainesol @theleechyskrunkly @thehollowwriter (let me know if you want to be added to the taglist for my writing and posts about my OCs!)

[cyanide-latte]

High-key tempted to post a little write-up about Ilias and Kallisto, but also equally high-key tempted to post some of the writing I've done for them.

[cyanide-latte]

The boops definitely distracted me but I at least have started the fluff. Have to attend to chores atm and cook supper later but maybe I'll be able to get back to writing afterward~.

The plan was to write a piece of domestic fluff with Ilias and Kallisto today. And it still is. But the boops. The boops might distract me.