#Kirin Lake

[irisslove]

Travelogue: Yufuin to Saga - Exploring Kyushu

[mamamittens]

Room for Messes

This work was lovingly commissioned by @cebwrites

Feat Koby/OC(Takashi) with background Law/OC(Kirin)

Warnings: Pining, deep denial, envy/jealously, child abandonment, implied child abuse in past tense, emotional breakdowns, hurt/comfort, and college courses.

Word Count: 5,443

Under much protest, Koby would grudgingly admit that he… didn’t always make the best judgment calls.

Whether that’s seven years old and calling his foster mom ‘hideous’ after she tried a new makeup trend that did not flatter her in the least or at twelve begging his best friend’s grandfather to teach him how to fight. He was grounded for the former and as to the latter…

He doesn’t like to think about it.

But more to the point he kept going back, so yeah.

Koby could not ever claim with full honesty that he never makes bad decisions. At least Garp strong armed him into going to college. Luffy certainly wouldn’t, and Ace would just set the place on fire…

Koby strongly suspected that Sabo did an advanced degree and never told anyone, but that’s besides the point.

So, with all this in mind, Koby was doing their best to get through college. Even if he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. What he’d even use the degree for. He wanted to go military, or baring that, police force. And neither required a degree so he was left to the wind a little. Law enforcement?

Eh, he’d figure it out. First semester or so was a pretty good time to feel it out while taking their basic requirements.

And despite their difficulties, he’d been making friends! Friends that weren’t likely to implicate him in crimes by association—coughLuffycoughcough—so that was a bonus!

Honestly, he was a damn miracle worker. Koby wouldn’t say he necessarily excelled in any particular subject matter, but biology was a whole other monster for him to face. All the different bones, muscle groups, and the finer workings of the human body eluded them in a way few other things outside of calculus could. Technically, he could just fail out of this one and take a different science altogether, but as their first shot, Koby wasn’t sure they’d be able to face the embarrassment of losing so hard.

That’s where Takashi came in like he’d been personally delivered to Koby’s doorstep with an angelic choir. He was so patient with them despite being well on his way through pre-med classes. Joked that it was ‘a good brush up’, and ‘could never go wrong remembering the basics’. And that ‘teaching was the best way to master something’. All wise, objectively correct things to say while he was singlehandedly saving Koby’s GPA.

Tall and tan, with handsomely silvered brown hair like a man many years either of their senior, Takashi was objectively hot.

And that wasn’t just Koby saying it to be weird!

Koby had ears. He could hear the things whispered as Takashi and them walked to and from the library.

They also had eyes, thank you very much. So it wasn’t hard to agree with most of their statements.

Koby… tried not to think of the more inappropriate ones. Takashi was their friend! Not someone to ogle at! A friend with a wide, charming smile and laugh that captured a whole room. Soft freckles over nearly every inch of tanned skin. Loved by the sun with eyes to match. Koby felt a little pale and washed out next to their friend many times, but the feeling was always fleeting.

Takashi also had an older brother who was often around.

Tall and broad with little shame and startlingly white hair. None of the freckles Takashi had but still utterly captivating. Looking at Kirin felt a little like learning a nice stripper did magic on the side. Kirin thrived in the spotlight in a way few could without shriveling up. Hardly caring of how older people tutted his piercings or crop tops beyond vague amusement. Koby half expected to come over to Takashi’s house one day to find Kirin lounging on the couch in nothing but a speedo with a cartoon hand flipping them off over the crotch.

It just… seemed like something Kirin would do. Vulgar for amusement but with no heat to it. Koby didn’t feel unsafe with Kirin around, even if they were flustered by the unfairly pretty sibling duo.

Was it really any wonder Koby had… developed a bit of a crush on Kirin?

Not that they’d ever act on it! Good lord, no! Kirin would eat them alive if they showed even a hint of embarrassment or hesitation—something that was well and truly beyond Koby at this stage of their life. That and it would be so awkward to have study sessions with Takashi while actively mooning over his brother!

Well… more than they already were. But if Takashi knew, he didn’t say anything. And if there was mercy left in this universe for Koby, Kirin wouldn’t have noticed either. Not that Koby expected Kirin to notice with that—that—that hooligan hanging off him all the time!

That’s right, the unexpected, constant guest in the household.

Trafalgar Law.

Dark. That’s how Koby would describe them. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark tattoos, and a dark aura about them. They smirked constantly in a way Koby reluctantly recognized as handsome if it wasn’t so damn smug. Even their voice was low and deep. Words picked with a purpose to fluster or irritate them. Why Kirin tolerated them, Koby didn’t know. And it wasn’t their business besides but--!

Ugh!

Koby just might die happy if Kirin was unaccompanied by Law just once!

But no! Every time Kirin was there—Law wasn’t far behind. It almost seemed planned sometimes, Law just out of sight until Koby had seen Kirin reclined on the couch for just a moment before sliding into view. Crushing Koby’s hope—for what, they didn’t know!—in an instant.

“Ready for another study session, Koobs? I think you’re just about ready to ace this next test!” Takashi’s voice rolled across their skin and Koby felt their muscles relax instantly.

“Of course, couldn’t have done it without you, though!” Koby was a little surprised at the positive lilt to their words, registering the wide smile as the last syllable left their lips.

At least Takashi didn’t plague their thoughts.

Takashi looked pleasantly rumpled, sweats and a worn band shirt emphasizing how cozy he looked. Like he’d rolled out of bed just to see Koby on the path of academic success. Koby felt a little bad—like they’d actually interrupted Takashi’s sleep. It was on the tip of their tongue to beg off the study session just to let him sleep in more.

Takashi had to be awfully busy with pre-med classes, after all.

“Let’s head over to my place then. I think Law is making something to eat.” Takashi mused, missing Koby’s pout.

They were being useful, but Koby’s sentiment over them remained.

Actually, it was more infuriating than if Law had just smoozed all over Kirin’s space and whispered something into the man’s ear, eliciting a giggle. Eyes on Koby, watching for a reaction. It was… it was… premeditated irritation or something. A ‘look at me kindly making you food, am I such a bastard now?’ kind of irritation.

And the answer was yes. Yes, they were. Good food didn’t change how cocky that smug bastard looked cuddling up to Kirin.

If Koby was as self-absorbed as their foster mom, they’d assume this was all part of a calculated effort on Law’s part against them specifically.

Luckily they weren’t, but the end result wasn’t that much different than if it had been.

“Got your books with you?” Takashi asked, dragging Koby’s attention away from their one-sided beef with Law.

“Yeah, and a few of those guides from the internet you recommended. They’ve been helpful so far, but I’m not sure if they’ll cover everything I need for the final.” Koby admitted, fretting a little as their steps fell in line with Takashi’s to his apartment. Takashi waved his hand like it would remove all of Koby’s worries and frustration. And honestly, seeing him so confident kind of did something for Koby. A light feeling settled in their chest.

Koby was so used to being around reckless but confident people—it was a nice change of pace to be with someone who wasn’t so casually sure no one would notice them if they tried dine and dashing or something equally petty and criminal.

“That’s good! Those really saved my ass when I was taking that class, honestly. There wasn’t much else they missed, so I think a quick brush up and a few more things will have you set.” Takashi laughed with an easy smile that Koby reflexively mirrored.

How could he argue with that smile?

The smell as they got into Takashi’s apartment was mouthwatering. Spicy and hearty, like it had fatty meat simmering in a pot for hours.

Despite themselves, Koby admitted it smelled good.

“What’s the special occasion, anyway?” Koby couldn’t help but ask. “Usually Law kinda… hangs around.” Koby found themselves asking Takashi.

“I think it’s a recipe from their dad—some fancy dinner Cora could never manage to not burn so Law took over cooking it. It’s for their anni—”

“There you are! I was worried you’d miss dinner at this rate. Oh. And Koby’s with you too—joining us for dinner, sweetie?” Kirin asked, leaning against the kitchen doorway in tight, dark jeans and a crop top torn down the middle with laces barely holding it together over his chest. Smooth muscles on display—which Koby respectfully did not stare at.

“Y-Yeah—if that’s alright with you.” Koby managed to stammer out, looking at Takashi despite addressing them both, more or less. At least it wasn’t so flustering to look at their friend.

“Sure! I was hoping you wou—”

“So glad you could join us~” Kirin said with a beaming smile before a low voice called out from behind him.

“Shouldn’t he be studying right now? Got another half hour before it’s done. Be a shame to waste all of Takashi’s efforts just to chat.” Law called out, their voice teased in a low, roll.

Koby’s face twitched.

“Of course not!” Takashi gently steered Koby to his room with an amused chuckle.

“Simmer down, you know he’s teasing. You’ve been a very diligent student for me—you’ll ace this class no problem.” Takashi sighed as they both retreated from the main area to the private space of Takashi’s room. It was clean and cute. Soft shades emphasizing the neat space with no harsh lines to be found. Even the shadows under Takashi’s bed seemed pillowed and airbrushed. An idea of darkness rather than any true dwelling of it.

A far cry from the somewhat chaotic mess of Koby’s own room. Desk spilling over with notes that Takashi himself had neatly tucked away in labelled folders. An array of tools for note taking where Koby made do with nervous scrawls. Its was a ridiculous contrast—Koby really should take the time to tidy up their room this week.

It was little wonder Takashi’s schooling was going so smoothly and put together.

“Alright, let’s do a quick review before we get into it. Maybe we’ll have time to organize our notes before dinner’s ready. We have until Friday, right?” Takashi asked.

“Yeah, that’s my final.” Koby confirmed with a sigh, pulling out their books and notes.

It occurred to them then that their sessions would be over very soon.

And then what? Would Takashi really be alright having Koby over once this semester was finished? It wasn’t like they intended to take any more science classes that Takashi could help with. Koby was hardly going to insist just to see Kirin, either—not that it would go anywhere if they did—the idea left a foul taste in their mouth. Just… using Takashi’s good will to ogle his brother.

Gross.

Koby would rather fail and face remedial physical training from Garp than do that. They’d deserve it at that point, too.

Koby… wanted to stick around Takashi longer, actually. Not that they had any right to—having taken up so much time already.

But Takashi made Koby feel… settled. In a way they’d never experienced before.

Luffy inspired a passion for life in that wild, reckless way of his that was further tempered by his brother Ace and Sabo. Pushed forward beyond their wildest dreams by Garp to do better. Challenged by his foster mom in her… unique way. If he could defend their stance against her earnest worry for their future.

But Takashi… Koby didn’t know how to describe it.

All their life, Koby had been pushed and pulled by fierce winds. Roaring fires. The weight of mountains asking if he was made of diamonds or coal. Soft and brittle or flexible and unyielding.

Takashi… he was like cool waters on their skin. A soft, gentle balm. Eternity passing like quiet rain. Koby didn’t need to run with Takashi. Could just…

Sit.

And breathe.

Koby had been reaching for a future their whole life, but Takashi made them feel comfortable enough to ask what he really wanted. Beyond just… forward. Which had been a whole other struggle to manage so many years ago when Luffy trampled into their life with a bright smile and reckless ambition, asking ‘why not?’ when Koby admitted he’d never amount to anything.

At the time, it felt like a revelation to that they could even be anything.

They’d make a good soldier. A dedicated cop.

‘But was that enough?’

Takashi’s gentle smile seemed to ask Koby this in the quiet contemplation of their thoughts.

‘Was that what you really wanted?’

Koby… didn’t know.

What they did know though, was that they needed to pass biology.

Questions about the future could wait after Friday.

So, with a deep sigh, Koby pushed those thoughts aside and gave their undivided attention to Takashi where it truthfully should have been the entire time. Once again, if Takashi noticed their lapse in attention, he never mentioned it.

Basic structure of the body was dutifully reviewed. Bones and the ligaments that connected them. Vascular nervous system. Parts of the brain and their connections between each other. Where hard lines met the unexpectedly resilient tissue.

“—this professor is a little squirrelly, so I can’t say for sure which area he’ll focus on, but everything flows together pretty well so it won’t be too bad. I promise.” Takashi swore, looking at Koby from the diagrams of the human body.

His hands… Koby watched as they smoothed over the words gently. Like he was soothing them into thoughtful contemplation.

Koby knew Takashi’s hands were calloused but not overly rough like their own. Firm grasp from kneading bread in his spare time, knuckles intimately familiar with kisses of flour and dough. Regardless of the end result. Koby tended to train for stress relief, the results evident in the thick muscles of their arms. They felt oddly gangly and lumpy next to Takashi at times.

Slender, elegant limbs next to their own corded muscles compacted with hours of practice.

Hard lines meeting unexpected resilience.

Even in the domestic, downright boring light of college studying, Takashi managed to look… capable. Whereas Koby was fumbling through as always.

A strangely familiar taste lingered in Koby’s tongue. Thin and watery. Almost delicate.

Wasn’t this what yearning felt like?

Knock-knock!

“Oi, dinner’s ready. Come eat.” Law’s voice managed to cut through the door with ease, making Koby’s hackles rise instantly.

“Ah, well, we made good progress. You barely had to think about your answers this whole time, Koby. Congrats!” Takashi cheered with a wide, proud grin. Koby smiled back, flushing softly under the praise.

“A-Ah! W-Well, I have a good teacher.” Koby excused sheepishly, almost stumbling as he stood from the desk, shocked at how close they’d gotten over the course of half an hour. “Pick back up after dinner?” he asked softly.

“Of course!” Takashi grinned, his expression faltering slightly with a grimace. “If Law doesn’t scare you off before then.”

“Law doesn’t scare me.” Koby muttered petulantly, opening the door to find Law towering over them with a predatory grin, like they’d been waiting to spook Koby in particular. “Can I help you?!” Koby hissed, jerking when Takashi’s warm, reassuring hands pressed against their shoulders.

“Yeah. You can come eat already instead of mooning over each other.” Law teased, Koby’s mind instantly freezing between shock and denial.

They had not--!

Then what was all that earlier? How often do you think about someone else’s hands, Koby?

Luffy didn’t count. They were young and easily impressed back then!

Neither did Ace…

And for that matter, Sabo doesn’t either because he deliberately crafts his persona to haunt people’s dreams in a way Luffy and Ace do on accident in vaguely different manners.

Usually with horror and the way one would regard an avalanche bearing down on them. With a sense of helpless awe at the oncoming destruction.

Somehow, while Koby was defending their own poor taste in their head like a maniac, Takashi steered them to the kitchen table. Woodenly, Koby took a seat and admired the gumbo soup.

Odd to think the clumsy, gangly older man had tried to make this dish so valiantly Law, the utter asshole, mastered it. Likely to save their house from burning down but still.

Perfectly cooked shrimp and sausage served with a side of white rice, the broth thick and rich as it pooled in the bowl with a palpable, inviting scent. How Koby had forgotten about it for even a moment spoke of how hard they’d been fixated on their studies.

And it tasted just as good as it looked, too. Law seemed particularly smug about that but it was well and truly beneath Koby to lie just because the chef was an ass most of the time.

“…You know, not that I don’t appreciate having you both here today, but why…?” Takashi asked quietly between bites, eyeing his brother pointedly.

Kirin smiled, eyes narrowed in amusement.

“Oh, you know how important family is to me. Besides, we planned to go out to the movies afterwards and it’s closer from here. Why, am I not allowed to see my sweet baby brother~?” Kirin grinned.

Having witnessed some truly baffling sibling arguments, Koby chocked the undercurrent at the dinner table to some hidden tease they couldn’t fathom at the moment. Made just as much sense as any other explanation.

If this had been at Luffy’s house, Koby would be elbowing their way to one bowl of gumbo before even sitting down, the brothers were so competitive about their food.

“Of course not. I just thought the date was odd is all.” Takashi sighed, voice heavy with discontent.

Koby made the mistake of looking at Law to see if they were the only one lost only to be met with a deeply amused gaze.

Yeah.

They were the only one at the table utterly lost to the context of the admittedly mild disagreement.

And Koby would be damned before they asked for one either.

“Couldn’t make more sense to me. Saturday traffic is nothing to sneeze at, you know. I’d hate to be late to the movies.” Kirin commented breezily.

“Yeah. I’m sure that’s the only reason for you two being here.” Takashi replied dryly.

“It was Law’s idea, you know. They wanted to do something nice for you two since we’ve been around so much while you’re trying to study.” Kirin explained with a smile to Law.

A… very loving smile.

Wait.

Wait…

Koby froze, nose wrinkling in thought.

All those times they cuddled up on the couch… maybe it really hadn’t been to tease them?

Not that Koby thought they occupied that much of Law’s thoughts, let alone Kirin’s, but still…

Hadn’t Takashi been interrupted earlier saying something?

“It’s for their anni—”

Anniversary.

Anniversary…

Anniversary?!?

Suddenly, Koby was so grateful they’d never made any move before. Not even the hint of one.

“So. How long has it been for you two now?” Koby found themselves asking, Law and Kirin looking surprised. “It’s your anniversary, right?”

Takashi looked oddly relieved but conflicted.

“We’ve… been dating for four years now.” Law admitted, blush evident on their face.

The first time Koby had seen them sheepish before. It was kind of nice to be on the other side for once… and weirdly cute.

Maybe… Kirin didn’t have that questionable of taste after all.

Kirin reached out and held Law’s hand, the look they both shared familiar now that Koby wasn’t being a ridiculous shit.

Oh, they were crazy about each other, weren’t they?

Faintly, Koby wondered how much of their ill-advised crush was envy.

Hard to say in hindsight, let alone so soon after realizing such a key detail.

It wouldn’t surprise them to realize now that they were jealous of how… comfortable they were together.

Wasn’t that most of Kirin’s appeal to Koby anyway?

Just how at home in his skin the man was where Koby could barely muster pride at how much effort they put into their body?

Koby felt…

Small and silly now.

Like a child lashing out at Alvida, so sure the self-centered woman would kick them out instead of dealing with their shit. But when she decided on something, she stuck to it.

‘You’re going to make something of yourself one day—I don’t give a shit about statistics, I know what I see. And you, you brat, have potential. And it’s my job to make sure you use it!’

Just goes to show that sometimes, you never really grow out of being small and lost.

You just grow a little taller.

If there was anything else of note said, it went in one ear and right out the other for Koby. Their heart and head a mess of resurfaced pain.

No one’s fault, really.

Koby’s always been a mess. It was only a matter of time before he dragged it out into Takashi’s tidy room and spilled it all over the floor.

“Hey. Koby, are you alright?”

Koby blinked, suddenly aware he’d been staring at a diagram of the heart for a solid minute. Gumbo still faint on his tongue with regret and unspoken words.

Takashi was looking at them with worry, expression so open and sincere.

“Yeah… I’m alright. Just… Just overthinking again. You know how it is.” Koby laughed it off. But Takashi closed the book anyway, giving Koby his full, undivided attention.

“Why don’t you tell me how it is. I want to help. You’ve been pretty lost in your head for a while now. All day, in fact. What’s wrong?” Takashi asked, voice soft and inviting. Practically begging for Koby to unload everything onto his shoulders.

The stupid, messy crush on his brother.

The ridiculous, conspiratorial rivalry with Law.

The tangled expectations of a future Koby didn’t even know about anymore.

“I-It’s nothing—”

“No. It’s not nothing. It’s clearly really bothering you, Koby.” Takashi said, soft voice holding an edge of firm, sharp concern to it.

It was heavy on Koby’s tongue to lash out at Takashi, even though the mere thought made their heart ache.

‘You wouldn’t understand!’

Why would he, when Koby never said anything?

‘You’ve got it all figured out and I haven’t done shit!’

As though Koby knew how long it took for Takashi to come to his ultimate decision to become a doctor. To take pre-med. When Koby was nearly finished with their first semester and still didn’t know what to do beside spin their wheels in the dirt.

Koby already felt like shit. Throwing a fit wouldn’t help matters.

‘I can’t even like the right person!’

And how was that his problem?

“I…” Koby felt their face burn, vision smearing and blurring with bubbly tears. Takashi’s shocked and worried face consumed by their weakness. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Koby’s breath hitched, lungs shuddering as a weight lifted off of them all at once as emotion crashed down around their ears.

It felt like relief was a knife in their gut that begged to sink between their ribs a second time.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

It was the truth.

Had been the truth for so long Koby didn’t remember the last time they’d had a single clue what they were doing.

Warm, gentle fingertips slipped over their cheeks, brushing through the streams of tears and pulled them close into a soft fabric. Hands carding through their hair and over their shoulders.

A cool lake on a warm, summer day.

Let it all out. Spill your troubles into the sweet waters, you’ve no end to safety on these shores.

Koby clutched Takashi close and did so.

It would have been less messy to just slit their belly onto the floor. But the pain was about the same until it twisted into relief.

Luffy wouldn’t have understood.

Ace perhaps understood too much in all the ways that almost mattered, the same as Sabo.

If Garp ever did, or would, Koby couldn’t imagine he’d admit it.

Alvida… their mom would have held them too, but after hours of crying she’d still struggle to find the words to say.

“—and it’s so stupid but I liked your brother too but not really? Like, I liked how comfortable he always is, no matter what he wears—not that I’d ever wear what he does but if I did I’d want to look as confident as that? I feel so stupid, Takashi. You all look so put together a-and I-I’m crying and it isn’t even over my final?!” Koby sobbed somewhat pissed at himself now. “A-And more than any of that, I’m upset I won’t have an excuse to visit you anymore!”

The gentle, soothing hands paused as Koby took sniffled, trying to clear their nose enough to take in the scent of baked bread that lingered on Takashi’s skin before every big test he took.

“Why would you need an excuse?” Takashi asked softly, confusion clear in his voice.

“Well…” Koby shrugged helplessly. “I just… you’re pre-med. You’ve got a lot riding on these tests and how well you do. You’re already so busy and you’re not even in your doctorate courses. I can’t distract you from that and I only need one science course for my basics—not that I even know what major I’ll be in but still, it definitely won’t be pre-med too.” Koby babbled, having given up any remaining vestige of dignity they might have had before tonight.

Koby felt themselves be squeezed tightly, chest shuddering with an abrupt chuckle from Takashi.

“Koby… you don’t need an excuse to come over. I’m going to get busier, that’s true, but… I’d be happy if you just hung out with me. We could both do homework and eat takeout between cramming sessions. I don’t care.” Takashi sighed, finally pulling away, his hand cupping Koby’s face. “I just want to see you.”

They were so close together.

The gentle heat of Takashi’s shy face evident even with the burning of Koby’s cheeks from their impromptu crying session.

Koby’s eyes were wide, mind sluggishly racing to make sense of what they’d just heard.

It sounded like…

It really sounded like…

“…Takashi?” Koby asked, their voice trailing off, too scared to make another dumb mistake by assuming. “…as like, a friend?” they finally asked.

Takashi snorted.

“No.” He looked almost rueful, like he expected Koby to lash out.

“Oh…”

Koby’s mind reeled, connections snapping into place.

“I-I mean, if that’s all you want, yes! But…”

“If I wanted more?” Koby asked leadingly, face burning for a whole new reason.

Takashi’s expression lit up with cautious hope.

“I want more too—but I thought you liked…?” Koby grimaced, already regretting that they never had time to quietly bury that with the dignity of an unmarked grave.

“Well, it’s was way easier to justify a crush on him than my friend and tutor…” Koby sighed, reluctantly making peace with the embarrassing way this was all unfolding. “I’m such a mess, are you sure you want to deal with me?”

Koby sputtered as Takashi leaned in and kissed their cheek with a soft laugh.

“Well, as you can see, I specifically made room for a little bit of a mess.” Takashi gestured to his very tidy room.

“I’m more than just a little bit of a mess, Takashi.” Koby sighed, utterly floored at the sudden, emotional turn of events.

“Then I guess we’ll just have to get used to being close.” Takashi smiled, Koby snorting at how cheesy it sounded.

“You’re such a dork.” Koby wheezed, wiping their face with stuttering laughs.

“Is this news?” Takashi whipped around to see Kirin’s head tucked into the cracked door.

“Would you get out?!? Leave! Begone, thot!” Takashi yelped, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at the door where it landed with a soft thud.

“So proud of you two! You’re so cute together~” Kirin called through the door. “Anyway, we’re leaving now, so just make sure to be safe. If you need me to pick something up, just send me a text before ten thirty~”

“LEAVE!” Takashi screamed, face just as flushed as Koby’s with the innuendo hanging over their heads.

“…Takashi.” Koby quietly called as Kirin’s laugh echoed through the apartment before the door slammed shut. “If we ever have to text Kirin for that, just ask for a gun to shoot me.”

“We’ll go together.” Takashi promised solemnly, pressing his forehead to Koby’s shoulder with a soft whine of embarrassment.

…it could have gone worse?

“Takashi?”

He made a soft noise of question.

“Hmm?”

“… do you mean it?” he asked, feeling compelled to make sure he wasn’t being small and lost—stupid and unobservant again.

“Completely.” Takashi responded instantly. “And Koby?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s okay to need time to figure out what you want to do.” Takashi said softly, pressing another kiss to Koby’s face. “I’m here to talk anytime you need me.”

“Yeah? Even if I’m being stupid?” Koby asked thickly, tears spilling over their lashes again.

“It’s not stupid to be unsure of something. Not for anything.”

And because Koby continues to make questionable decisions, he felt compelled to ask further.

“Even when I thought I like your brother?”

Takashi made a twisted, conflicted noise of discontent.

“He’s got… some good qualities. Somewhere. At least you never stared at his ass—which is more than I can say for Law. They’re so gross and shameless, I swear.” Takashi complained. “So… I remember you said law enforcement. Why’s that? Maybe you can get into something adjacent if it’s not what you want to do.”

“Well… remember how I’m a foster kid?” Koby sighed, sitting back in their seat but their hand remained lingering over Takashi’s arms. Finding comfort in the steady warmth.

“Yeah, with Alvida… she’s… interesting?” Takashi said awkwardly, to which Koby laughed in agreement.

“Yeah… I was abandoned in a fishing shack as a kid. Took almost a month for anyone to notice. And that’s only because Luffy was on summer vacation in the area and wondered to his gramps—that’s Garp—why I lived in a ‘shit hole’.” Koby chuckled dryly. “The police were really nice when they came by and asked me questions about my parents. The social worker sat with me in that rickety shack for hours as the cops settled the investigation. Held my hand the whole time and made sure I was okay… I stayed with Garp for a while until they figured some stuff out. I want… I want to help other kids feel safe too. Even when they don’t know what safe really means anymore.” Koby admitted.

Takashi looked at Koby with a gentle, proud expression.

“Well, you could definitely make a difference. There’s a lot of good options besides law enforcement. That social worker did a pretty good job after all.” Takashi pointed out, “Didn’t need a badge for that.”

Koby felt a spark of something in their chest at those words.

“No… He really didn’t need a badge to make me feel safe.”

Koby’s mind was everywhere in that moment.

Back in that creaking, dilapidated shack. Dirty, scrapped knees and hunger pains three days deep. A large, calloused hand holding their small, bony fingers. Towering, intimidating police officers milling about, taking notes and pictures.

Down by cool, sweet waters offering a kind of peace that settles in their chest for a lifetime.

Pride and expectations in dozens of faces.

Total confidence that Koby, awkward and stumbling kid-not-quite-a-man would make it. Bruised but never totally beaten.

Never once truly defeated.

“Sounds like you know what you want.”

Koby smiled.

“Yeah… I think I do.”

[madelinedragonkin]

OUGH I'm not a human tho. I had past lives as other being, multiple. My soul has retained those and tbh even beyond that I am just,, a creature stuck in a human body.

[sunshine-sparkle]

Luna's attendants in the past. These are just concepts in Meena's case, still not pleased with the design.

[flagwars]

Video Game Flag Wars: Round 2

1. Salmon Run Flag (Splatoon) vs. Homestead Banner (Palia)

2. Bilge Rat Adventures Flag (Sea of Thieves) vs. Arstotzka (Papers, Please)

3. Kirin Tor Offensive Banner (World of Warcraft) vs. Aquileian Republic (Supremacy) (Equestria at War)

4. Commune of Revachol (Disco Elysium) vs. Calchaqui (Europa Universalis 4)

5. Flag of the Crown (Cult of the Lamb) vs. Communist Australia (Victoria II)

6. Patagonian Worker’s Front (Kaiserreich) vs. Livonia (Arma)

7. Gaul Úr (Red Flood) vs. Alam Melayu (Rise of Nations (Roblox))

8. Principality of Kemerovo (The New Order: Last Days of Europe) vs. Shadow Isles Clash Banner (League of Legends)

9. Zhu Xi's Legacy (Age of Empires 4) vs. Watchers (Overwatch)

10. Grey Warden Heraldry (Dragon Age: Inquisition) vs. Outer Wilds Ventures (Outer Wilds)

11. Sickle Moon Flag (Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) vs. The Rebellion (Just Cause 3)

12. Great Lake Revolutionary Council (Extremis Ultimis) vs. Pontiac Province (Judgement Day: Aftermath of the Red Flood)

13. New California Republic (Fallout) vs. Golden Deer Banner (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)

14. American Collective (Twilight of the Anthropocene) vs. Niflheim (Final Fantasy XV)

15. Corvus (Dead Ahead (Roblox)) vs. Federation of Anrakan Isles (Suzerain)

16. Hurons (American Conquest) vs. Falkreath Hold (Skyrim)

[kaidacresto]

Queen Sterling and Queen Gold Lily: The Lovers

Princess Sterling and Gold Lily ruled in tandem for hundreds of years. However, their shared rule ended sooner than they had hoped, as a terrible drought affected their homeland. At first they thought it would settle itself out, drought are natural! but after 2 years with no sign of letting up or cause… things had to be done.

Princess Gold Lily volunteered her vigil for the cause. Sterling refused to allow it, but she eventually came to agree, albeit begrudgingly. She flew away to a desert, chose a Plateau, and rested for eternity. That became the peaks of peril, a flourishing mountaintop forest with rivers that connect all throughout Equis, Where she lays is now the center of deep deep lake. Local Kirin avoid it

It was said Princess Sterling never shined as brightly as she used to. Isolating herself in their lovers arms, while having the royal council take lead in her absence until she returned. She ruled alone for hundreds more moons until she too felt the desire the call to rest. Her apprentice, Cirrus, took over after her leave.

And what became of her?

Who knows…

———————

Do not re-upload, sell, or trace my art without my permission. You can use it as reference but you gotta credit me

[lithi]

The unspoken importance given to Farosh is driving me insane lol

The Hyrule compendium says Farosh is the “spirit of lightning” and that it “serves the Spring of Courage since ancient times”, it’s body being able to “cause lightning storms”.

Farosh can be found in both the surface and the depths, circling the Faron grasslands and the Gerudo desert.

There is the Dracozu lake, that gives into the spring of Courage and where you can find a piece of the charged outfit, that Rauru wears and that gives lightning powers to its wearer during thunderstorms, being obviously inspired by Farosh and “used in ancient rituals”. Link can also get the two other dragon outfits, but the charged outfit is the only that is given that much importance, through the quest with Tauro.

In the depths, behind the Wellspring of Courage’s waterfall, there is the Dracozu altar (the other two wellsprings don’t have altars), and just above, in the skies, you can find the Dragonhead island, which was hidden by a huge thunderstorm.

Then, there is the courage island, also shaped like a dragon, right above the Thundra plateau, where there is almost always a thunderstorm.

The two other challenge islands are the valor island and the bravery island, still dragon shaped and not wisdom and power themed at all (?).

The Zonai seemed to have their own equivalent of the triforce, kinda, with the imagery of the boar (power), the owl (wisdom), and the dragon (courage), and they seemed to give Farosh/courage/the figure of the dragon a great deal of importance as well (in the Typhlo ruins, the Thundra plateau etc etc).

The Zonai are also very obviously dragon people (most likely inspired by the Kirin, a chimerical creature from Chinese and Japanese mythology), and they’re the bearers of the secret stones, that can transform their wearers into, well, legit dragons.

So a part of me wonders if there is a link between Urbosa and Riju’s lightning powers and Farosh’s… And well, maybe the low-key Gerudo looking Ancient hero (eight heroine?) has something to do with it.

The south-west corner of the map, in the Gerudo desert, is also called the “dragon’s exile”, and right underneath, in the depths, you can find the huge dark skeleton.

[soul-eater-novel]

Suikoden I Soul Eater Light Novel Translation - Chapter 20!

For your reading pleasure and enjoyment, below the cut is the full rough English translation of chapter 20 of the official 1998 Suikoden I Soul Eater novel (volume 2 of 3). Individual page translations and original Japanese text can be found in the chapter 20 tag. As always, feedback on translations is welcome. Eventually I want to run a Kickstarter to officially license and print these books!

Chapter 20: Tear-stained Victory

Once they made it back to the castle, Tir immediately called a meeting of the most prominent members of the Liberation Army. Everyone made their way into the meeting hall, looking worried. Mathiu located Tai Ho and Yam Koo, sworn brothers, in the crowd and went to speak to them. “Tai Ho, I’ve heard you’ve fished the waters of Lake Toran for a very long time.”

“Sure, this place is like my backyard,” he replied. 

“Then you must also know of the lake pirates?”

“Yeah, I know their leader, Anji. So what?”

Mathiu explained his plan to borrow the pirate’s forces to stop Sonya’s navy. Tai Ho’s face split into a grin. “Now that’s what I call fun. Big sis Sonya’s been so quiet lately, the pirate’s have been sleeping on the job, too. Hey, Yam Koo!” He turned to his brother behind him. 

“What’s up, bro?”

“Go over to Anji’s place and drag those guys out here.”

“Huh?! Bro, you ain’t comin’ along?” Yam Koo exclaimed, shocked. 

“I’m staying put. Got the feeling something interesting’s gonna go down here. Fine by you, right, Mathiu?”

“Certainly,” the tactician replied, his expression bemused. “Well then, Yam Koo, we are all counting on you.”

“Tsk. Yeesh, big bro’s as fickle as the sea...” Grumbling, Yam Koo disappeared down the stairs. 

The others had gathered in the hall in the meantime. Mathiu quieted down the crowd and began the war council meeting. The main topic of discussion was, of course, the issue of how to defend themselves against the armored cavalry. 

“What if we dug pitfalls on the battlefield?” threw out the thief Kirin, smirking. 

“What kind of fool are you?” scoffed Lepant. “The gulhorse posses incredible jumping capabilities. Even if they did fall in the pit, they would just as soon jump out.” 

“Gulhorse are animals. There must be a predator that preys on them.” Put in Kuromimi. “If we catch that creature, I bet we could unleash them on the gulhorse!”

“There is some merit to that idea...” Kwanda rumbled. “All information related to gulhorses is a classified military secret because of Teo’s unit. And even if there is a natural predator, it would take us time to track it down."

Whatever ideas they might come up with, they were still up against the armored cavalry that no one had ever managed to defeat. They all racked their brains, but couldn’t come up with any plans that seemed feasible. Mathiu let out the breath he had been holding in a giant sigh.

At that very same moment, someone shouted loudly. “Wait, I’ve got it!” 

Tir raised his head. Flik pushed aside the other members to stand beside him and Mathiu. “I’ve just remembered! There is one way!”

Everyone broke into excited chatter. Flik continued. “This goes back to Lenankamp, at the hideout, before we were being pursued by the Imperial Army… At Odessa’s request, I had gone to the secret factory in the north to deliver the plans for a certain weapon.” 

“A weapon?” murmured Tir in wonder. 

Viktor joined the fray, also pushing past the others aside to join them. “Ya don’t mean... that, do you?”

“That’s right. The fire spears!”

“Fire spears...” Mathiu repeated softly. “What kind of weapon is that?” 

“I am not very knowledgeable on the subject, but it seems that dwarves somehow use a secret technique to harness the power of fire rune fragments to create a powerful spear that shoots out flames.” 

“With a weapon like that, we could...” 

Tir couldn’t help but recall the other weapons the dwarves had built.  The burning mirror Kwanda Rosman had used to destroy the village of the elves and the fire arrows they had used in turn to destroy the burning mirror. The sheer strength of both weapons was beyond his ken. The fire spears just might be able to destroy Teo’s cavalry units. 

“One moment, Flik...” Sanchez said, flustered. “I heard that when our old hideout got attacked, all of our other secret bases were closed up. Will this secret factory still even be there?”

“We will just have to take a gamble,” replied Mathiu. “Flik, do you know the way to the factory?”

“Round trip, I think it would take about twenty days.”

“We shall send our fastest. Now to decide who our envoys will be...”

Flik, Viktor, and Humphrey all volunteered to go and it was decided that Tai Ho would be in charge of the boat. 

Tai Ho guffawed. “I knew something interesting was gonna go down. I’ll go get the boat ready!”

The four of them left the room, ending the meeting.  Tir stayed behind and watched everyone leave. Suddenly, he called out to one man. “Master...”

Kai turned in response. He had taught Tir bojitsu—how to fight with a staff—when Tir was just a boy. “What is it, Tir?” 

Kai had aged, of course, but he was still a spry old man with a courageous gleam in his eye. Tir looked his old master right in the eye and said, “Will you spar with me once again, master Kai?”

Everyone still in the room turned to look at Tir in surprise. Kai’s eyes also widened in surprise. “Tir... so you mean to join this battle?”

Tir nodded wordlessly. 

I made up my mind on that battlefield. I will fight my father. I can’t just sit around twiddling my thumbs in the castle for twenty whole days. I have to immerse myself in something to drive away this pain in my heart… 

“Please train me, master Kai.”

“All right. Let’s go to the roof.”

Kai left the hall, carrying his staff in hand. Gripping his own staff tightly, Tir followed him. 

---

From that moment on, Tir devoted himself to studying bōjutsu under Kai’s tutelage. His body was bruised all over, his hands blistered. 

He did learn a number of secret techniques anew from Kai, but he was simply glad to be so bone-weary exhausted that he collapsed into bed and slept like the dead. 

While Tir spent his days training, Pahn crossed Toran Lake alone and made his way back to the castle. His arrival was met with cheers. 

He was covered in cuts and wounds. Cleo wrapped him in bandages. Laying in bed, Pahn sighed as he recounted his one-on-one battle with Teo. “Didn’t think there was any way I was comin’ out of that fight alive. Lord Teo must have let me get away...”

But Tir wasn’t so certain. After all, Teo had told Tir he would strike them with his full strength. 

Three days after Pahn came back, Yam Koo returned from his visit to the pirates with a guest in tow. It was Anji, the leader of the lake pirates. He sported a blue headband and wore a long, azure haori coat. He said he had originally been a Lake Toran merchant but, unable to stand the violence of the Empire, had gathered together like-minded comrades. This was how the lake pirates started. 

“Let’s blow those dirty Imperial bastards outta the water!” declared Anji, pledging two thousand of his men to the Liberation Army’s cause. Before returning to the pirate stronghold, he explained how he would attack Sonya’s fortress alongside his crew; Kanak, a fearsomely strong man, and Leonardo, who wielded a sickle and chain.  

After twenty days, Flik and the others returned. Together with Mose, the head of the secret factory, and his assistant Ronnie Bell, who was a female martial artist, they came bearing six hundred fire spears and safely transported them to the castle. 

The spears were long and silver, one size larger than Tir’s staff. There was a small globe on one end, apparently embedded with a rune fragment. The shaft of the spear contained a switch. When flipped, flames would spew out of a small opening in the tip of the spear. 

According to Flik, this ability was limited. Once the rune fragment’s power was used up, the spears would no longer be able to shoot flames.  

In addition to the fire spears, they also brought new volunteers with them from the north. These new recruits included Sarah, an expert laundress from the town of Kirov. Georges, whose skill lay in card games. Lester the chef. Melodye, a young woman who loved music, as well as Kun To, an acquaintance of Tai Ho and fellow sailor. 

From the ruins of Kalekka came the renowned tactician Leon Silverberg, who also happened to be Mathiu’s uncle, and Blackman, a farmer. They were joined by Mose and Ronnie Bell from the secret factory. 

At the factory, they also befriended the bandits Kessler and Ledon as well as the ninja Kage. Moreover, the sailor Kun To of Kirov brought with him two thousand men and women skilled with ships and added their numbers to the Liberation Army’s ranks.  

Having successfully driven off Milich, two thousand additional troops from the Kunan region also joined them. They were able to replace the soldiers they had lost in the previous battle, which boosted everyone’s morale considerably. Whenever he met one of their new comrades busily coming and going inside the castle, Tir was always amazed at their energy. 

ーーー

Strong winds raged over Toran Lake when Tir and the others launched their boats bound for the Goran region. Tai Ho explained that this was typical of the winds in winter, born as the drastically different temperatures from the north and south met over the lake. 

The waves were rough, but the wind gave their ships a strong tailwind, and the Liberation Army approached the Goran region at a brisk pace. While the wind whipped around the bow of the boat, Tir suddenly thought—We don’t need to be in that much of a hurry... 

At that moment, a sharp pain shot through his right arm. He lost all feeling from the back of his hand up to his shoulder, then he felt a wrenching pain in his shoulder as if his arm had just been twisted. 

Tir grunted in pain and clapped his other hand to his shoulder, hunched doubled over down on the floor of the boat. 

“Lord Tir!” cried Cleo and rushed to his side. “What’s wrong?” 

Tir’s breathing grew ragged as he fought the pain, but it gradually began to subside. Taking a deep breath, he stood back up. “It’s nothing,” he murmured. “Probably just overdid it a little with the training.”

Worry still creased Cleo’s features. “Is that what it was? Don’t push yourself so hard you ruin your health, Lord Tir.”

“I know. Thank you, Cleo.”

But a deep unease still rooted itself in his heart. It was the same sense of dread and foreboding he had felt in Kaku. Only one element differed. This time, the searing pain in his right hand still remained, as if his hand were aflame. 

Though it was hidden by the glove he wore, that was the hand that bore the Soul Eater rune he had inherited from Ted. 

Tai Ho turned to Tir from the stern of the ship and shouted as the boat ran up against the sandy shore. “Lord Tir, we’ve arrived!”

The pain in the Tir’s hand still bothered him, but their preparations to disembark pushed it from his thoughts. The boats carrying the soldiers arrived one by one. Some unloaded the horses while others began offloading the fire spears. 

The dense forest between the sandy shore and the fields blocked their view, so they couldn’t see what state Teo’s forces were in just yet. However, according to the scouts Mathiu had sent ahead, Teo had deployed his men at the far end of the field, waiting for the Liberation Army to come ashore. 

“There’s a saying that goes, ‘attack when the army is in the middle of a crossing’,” said Cleo. “In other words, if you attack your opponent while he’s part way through crossing a river or a lake, with only half his forces available, you have the highest chance of victory.”

Stowing her throwing daggers in her belt, she continued. “Seeing as how Lord Teo is waiting for us to disembark, he must be very confident in his armored cavalry.”

“I guess so.” Grasping his staff with both hands, Tir jumped down from the boat. Tir did not yet know the power of the fire spears, but in his heart he had only one wish. 

Please, Father, just run away.

ーーー

Mathiu sent the troops prepared for battle out onto the plains. From his position five hundred paces away, Teo awaited them, his armored cavalry units lined up in a neat row. 

Crowding behind those troops were the main cavalry units led by Alen, his red cape fluttering, and Grenseal, clad in green, his silver armor shining. 

The armored cavalry numbered about three thousand, and the main force roughly eleven thousand. On the other side was the Liberation Army. Viktor, Flik, and Humphrey led three fire spear units at the front, flanked by Lepant on the left and Valeria on the right.  

In the middle were the foot soldiers led by Kai and Varkas. At the rear were Kirkis, Lorelai, and Ruby’s archery units. Furthermore, though their military strength was limited, Luc also led a unit of mages. All in all, they numbered about twelve thousand. 

Teo’s army and the Liberation Army were on the verge of war. The soldiers were ready to fight. Tir and Mathiu stood together at the head of the army, a little ways away from the fighting units.

Teo rode out from among the armored cavalry units.

“Listen well, traitors!” he roared, drawing his sword. “Try as many times as you might, the result will be the same! None can win against my armored cavalry! You are spilling blood pointlessly!”

“I have no ear to lend to common thieves who put the name of the Empire to shame!” came a return shout from the unit on the left side. It was Lepant. “You are the ones who will be left in the dust of our gale! Listen to the voices of the oppressed and suffering people of this country!”

Their exchange made Tir’s heart ache, but there was no time or room left for sadness or suffering. 

Teo gave the order to his armored cavalry. “All units, advance!”

The gulhorses, well rested after their ten minute break, stampeded across the earth, leaping and surging like waves. 

Mathiu motioned to his subordinate to wave the flag and Viktor’s unit at the front advanced. “Witness the might of our fire spears!”

Three armored cavalry units lined up side-by-side awaited them.  The distance between the two armies narrowed to three hundred paces. 

Viktor’s forces stayed put. Soon the two forces were only two hundred paces apart. The three leaders raised their hands. On cue, the soldiers readied their fire spears. 

Only one hundred paces remained.

Flik, Viktor, and Humphrey shouted in unison. “Attack!”

In response, the soldiers used their fire spears. Tir gasped involuntarily. So did Mathiu beside him and the soldiers in the other units.

Flames shot out from the fire spears right before their eyes. The bright red flames gushed out, easily covering perhaps two hundred paces, the flickering tongues of fire eagerly reaching out to embrace the approaching armored cavalry units. 

The mounted soldiers were instantly engulfed in flames. The Imperial soldiers tried to veer to the side to escape, but were impeded by the three units led by Viktors and the others, which had fanned out in a straight line.

Others panicked and tried to retreat, but were unable to escape the flames and perished. The enemy soldiers who leapt into the Liberation Army’s ranks in a desperate attempt to avoid the fire fell prey to their swords. 

Unable to bear the sight of the fallen soldiers burning to death, Tir shut his eyes without meaning to. But even with his eyes shut tight, the stink of burnt metal and flesh assaulted his nostrils. 

Realizing it was the stench of burning human and gulhorse, Tir gagged and nearly threw up. 

“I never imagined the fire spears would be this powerful...” Even Mathiu was forced to turn his face away from the appalling carnage in front of them. 

The units continued emitting flames. Even when nothing no longer moved among the flames, they didn’t stop. The enemy had been completely overwhelmed by the fire. 

At last, the rune fragments were used up and one by one the fire spears’ flames winked out across the field. When all the fires had gone out, not even the field itself remained. There was only scorched earth, littered with fallen, blackened corpses. 

For a moment, the two armies stood frozen in shocked silence. Then the flags of the Imperial Army’s three central units waved, and Teo’s unit began to advance. 

“Shall we proceed, my Lord?” inquired Mathiu.  

Even as he nodded his assent, Tir’s heart screamed out—Run, Father! Please, just run!

But Teo’s unit was going to fight to the bitter end. With Alen’s unit on his left flank and Grenseal’s on his right, Teo himself in the middle led the charge against them.  

Mathiu quickly ordered their own units into position. Teo’s units and their three advance guard units collided. Alen and Lepant, Grenseal and Valeria, went head-to-head. Atop the still smoking earth, the clash began. 

As one would expect of Teo’s army, the soldiers maintained their composure and did not waver even when faced with the loss of the armored cavalry units. Even when hit by the three units led by Viktor and the others, Teo’s forces did not break. Instead of folding, they actually began to push back the Liberation Army’s units. 

“Now the real battle begins...” Mathiu murmured, closing his eyes. 

Tir remembered when he had first met Mathiu in the village of Seika. His eyes filled with sorrow, he had said... 

“I do not want to see any more people lose their lives under my command, whether they are enemies or allies.”

With an effort, Mathiu opened his eyes again and scowled at Teo’s army. He shouted his orders to his subordinates to raise the flag and transmit his commands. “Kai take the left, Varkas the right! Lorelai and Ruby’s units act as backup to each!”

The units received the signal and began to move accordingly. Kai and Varkas’ foot soldiers broke into a charge. Kai’s attacked Alen’s unit, while Varkas’ circled around to the side of Grenseal’s unit. Behind them, Lorelai and Ruby’s units filled the smoky skies with a rain of arrows. 

In rapid succession, a pillar of flames erupted amid the raging waves of soldiers. At the same instant, dark clouds gathered above them and unleashed a torrent of lightning down on the Liberation Army’s forces. Both units flanking Alen and Grenseal had begun to use magic. 

For the moment the wave of the Liberation Army’s forces begins to recede. Mathiu turned to Luc, who was watching the proceedings beside him with Tir and the others, and nodded. 

Luc stared at the fire and lightning plaguing the Liberation Army and snorted. “My turn at last, hm? I was beginning to wonder if I should just go home.”

Luc charged alongside the magic unit atop his horse. They placed themselves behind the three units led by Flik and the others. The magic users linked arms, forming a circle. Luc stood in the middle of the circle and raised his right hand to the heavens. “I’ll show you the power of the wind rune that dwells in my body!”

No sooner did Luc’s voice ring out then a terrible whirlwind formed and swept through the battlefield. The wind scattered the dark clouds and extinguished the flames. Luc blocked the magic of Alen and Grenseal’s units in one fell swoop. 

“All units, advance!” cried Mathiu, and once again the Liberation Army moved forward. Arrows danced through the air amid the screams of the Imperial soldiers. Kai and Varkas’ units attacked from both sides and at last began to gain some dominion over the Imperial forces. Valeria and Lepant’s units each began to move forward as well. 

The Imperial army’s flanks were collapsing under the incessant rain of arrows from both sides. 

“Father...” murmured Tir, averting his eyes from the battlefield. 

I thought I was prepared to fight against my father... I thought I was ready to face his defeat or my own, but... 

As Tir gripped his reins in his hands so tightly it hurt, Flik, Viktor and Humphrey’s units also began to move. Tir raised his face, his eyes wet with tears that would not fall, and advanced together with the three units. 

Little by little, the three units approached Teo’s main force.  “Father…” cried Tir. “Father!!!” He could no longer think. Gripping his reins, heedless of Mathiu’s cries to stop, he leapt into the fray of battle. *** Table of Contents

★ Chapters 0-1 ★ Chapters 2-3  ★ Chapters 4-5  ★ Chapters 6-7  ★ Chapters 8-9 ★ Chapters 10-11  ★ Chapters 12-13  ★ Chapters 14-15 ★ Chapters 16-17 ★ Chapters 18-19

«-first // archive // Ramsus-kun Scanslations

[cebwrites]

Merm AU

a/n: some thoughts i needed to put down or explode i love these little idiots sm 🥺💖

oc x canon/they them law word count: 1.6k

Merms used to be a lot more common, at least in Kirin's hometown, up until about 70 years ago when humans hunted them into hiding - most of them have headed out to the sea through the cave system underneath the town's lake but a few stick around for convenience or through sheer stubbornness - for the most part mermaids and such are just considered legend in [insert town name]

Kirin and Law first met when Kirin found them washed up on the shore one hot summer day as children - their breathing was wheezy and shallow and Law was definitely too far away from the lake, Kirin did what he could to wet their gills with handfuls of water but eventually he had to drag them back in with his elbows under their armpits

He sat with them in the water, holding their shoulders so the waves wouldn't sweep them away, until Law opened their eyes - and promptly swiped at him with their claws in the middle of trying to struggle away - maybe it was the adrenaline, the relief at seeing this stranger well enough to fight back, or the awe that struck him to see something so beautiful in motion, but even as red dripped down his arm and into the lake, all Kirin could do was stare as Law bared their teeth at him then disappeared under the waves

Kirin knew his grandmother was going to throw a fit when he came home muddy and drenched from the waist-down in his white church dress, but frankly she was in more hysterics over the bloody wound that stained it; having confirmation that she did worry about him instead of what The Lord saw, for once, was nice

The gash wasn't life-threatening but they were far enough away from town for it to be a problem - Kirin's grandfather was the one to patch it up until they could sort out a doctor's visit and when he did, he asked how he got cut up so bad; Kirin lied and said he fell, but his grandfather saw his soaked clothes in the bathroom and warned him not to go too close to the lake again - he was fine in the end, no infections or complications, but it left a nasty scar on the underside of his right forearm

Kirin followed his grandfather's advice for a little while, but he was also nine and all it took was another argument for him to run into the woods the following year and wander to the lake where he'd meet that gorgeous stranger again (by accidentally hitting the back of their head with a rock while skipping stones)

Apologies and introductions out of the way, where Law finds out their princess backlit by the sun that day was actually a knight in shining armor, they get along well the more they talk, the more they joke around and interact - though Kirin can't set foot in the water or he'd tip off his grandfather to his whereabouts - just two gangly, awkward boys smaller than their typical age group playing along the coastline with nothing to lose

They only meet up sparsely at first, Kirin's careful to keep his best friend a secret from the town given its leanings and Law doesn't want the other two merboys catching on to where they've been spending their time every Sunday - and it was every Sunday during Kirin's summer break, his grandparents knew he'd be upset having to dress up for church so they'd give him the next couple days off to cool down, to avoid another argument, so Kirin took that opportunity as an excuse to meet up with Law

At some point, Law convinces Kirin to race them - an attempt to get his mind off things when he comes to the lake one day clearly in a bad mood - Kirin reminds them that his grandparents forbade him from going in the lake, but Law's solution is to just take off his clothes; Kirin's even more put off by the idea but Law doesn't understand what's the big deal since they're technically always "naked" around Kirin - this seems to be a convincing enough argument for him to strip down into his skivvies and dive right in

As the boys grow up together, promising to meet every summer holiday, their bond only grows stronger - they can't meet every milestone, it's only natural, but they still spend a whole lot of them with one another; Law's there for him when Kirin cries about not being able to join them in the water because his blood cycle officially started, Kirin watches Law's tail get so much longer, their complexion getting much healthier, Law gets to see the various successful and very much unsuccessful phases of Kirin's hairstyles as he tries to figure himself out

The boys even open up to one another, Kirin about his huge, dysfunctional family and Law about losing theirs in a storm a long time ago - all while they try to outswim each other and even if Kirin never wins, there's never a day spent in each other's company where they're not having fun

Eventually, Kirin's spending every other free day he has at the lake - going so far as to turn down offers to go on "better" holiday trips with his family elsewhere just so he could spend time with Law, though there was once where his grandparents hosted a church trip to a mountain resort near the town so he was brought along; Kirin was bored out of his mind while the other kids played around the campfire until he spotted a familiar set of eyes honing in on him from the water

After excusing himself from the group, Kirin never stripped so fast in his life

As they got older, teenage romances coming and going - Law hating the guy Kirin said he had a crush on back in the city "for unknown reasons" even though they'd never even met him, Kirin seeing the way Law's scales caught the light one day and having to leave their swim session early, how hugs between them were seemingly awkward and never lasted as long as they did when they were kids anymore - Kirin also began to resent how he felt in this quiet little church town, how it made him feel

The straw that broke the camel's back was an argument with his grandparents about how his "rebellious phase" was starting to affect their standing at the church, how him showing up to Sunday service in a suit with eyeliner and that stupid stud under his lip was way out of line, and if he intended to make a mockery of them as their granddaughter with his hair cropped shorter than the scarecrow they kept out back

Kirin packed whatever he could fit in a duffel back and skipped town in the middle of the night; well, not immediately

He spent hours by the lake in pitch darkness looking for Law, calling out to them for one last time, maybe even a goodbye kiss, but they never came; Kirin blamed himself, he wasn't exactly shouting, he had to keep his voice down so the dogs wouldn't come after him, but surely they had better things to do than hang around by the shore at his beck and call

In the end Kirin left without ever seeing them, but in a desperate, last ditch attempt to convey his feelings to Law - he carved their initials into the old dried out log where the boys spent most of their summers, then falls together for all these years, biting back the tears like some cheesy romcom the popular girls at his high school would giggle about starring in one day and Kirin's friend group would mock

Law's understandably upset when they realized he'd left without a goodbye, but with time the anger and sadness bubbles over until they're just left with longing - for the friend that they made despite each other's circumstances, for the love that didn't quite have the space to thrive yet, for a companion for life

Merfolk don't mate for life, although this varied wildly from species to species, but after Kirin left Law's interest in anything of the sort drastically decreased, finding other things to fill their time with while Kirin struggled to carve a life for himself in the city halfway across the country; they paid no mind to Penguin and Shachi's teasing, if Law didn't feel right about it they wouldn't do it

Their good natured teasing turned to worry the older they got, but Law always shrugged his friends off - they befriended another human boy with a love for polar bears a few years after Kirin left even the insinuation that their relationship with Bepo was the same bond (though still equally as important) Law had with their childhood love had them snapping and in an awful mood for the rest of the day

Law knew Pen and Shach were only looking out for them but they were stubborn, stubborn enough not to tell them about the few, brief dalliances they had with other mermen, and not to admit that no matter who it was, those folk never made them feel even half as happy as those sweltering summer days with him

And yet, Kirin blew back into their life just as easily as he left, now in his thirties and just as antsy to see them

Bonus:

By the time "Race You to the Finish Line" takes place, Penguin and Shachi have already had three kids over the years and may or may not have more this mating season

Orcas aren't monogamous but the males stick with their mother and siblings for life - Shachi was separated from his pod very young so when he met Pen and Law, they became his family - plus Bepo and eventually Kirin too, after Law finally introduces the latter

Pen and Shach having so many children is 100% healing for Shachi; Penguin doesn't necessarily mind, he loves all their troublemaking little guppies, but he's putting a cap on five since they're getting older

[foxyfrolic]

// random lore / background creatures —this lake dwelling kirin???

She’s got no names yet

[ask-healthy-light]

With a quiet yet immense sigh, Shining tied the belt of his sword's sheath around his waist, before he solemnly nodded to Nox, and slowly returned to the rock on which she had been sitting for, while she laid her head on her paws, and closed her eyes; and to her own relief, she fell asleep not long thereafter, and swiftly found herself in a grassy meadow, standing in the light of the setting Sun.

Even though the awe-inspiring sight of the Sun shining through the grass and across the lake in the distance felt familiar, Nox could not recall where she had seen it before, if she had ever laid her eyes upon it at all; but as a small smile grew upon her face, she sank through her legs to lay down on the cool ground, and she took in the view over the entire area as the night steadily approached.

Back in the Waking Realm, even in the flickering light of the diminishing campfire in front of him, Shining was still wearing a warm smile, which brightened when he glanced at Nox, to whom he quietly whispered his sincerest gratitude before he looked away; and he took out a whetstone to sharpen his sword, both in preparation for the fight ahead of them, and to keep himself occupied for some time.

Eventually, after he put away the whetstone, he swung around his sword using his magic, then in his hoof, and nodded proudly when he found he was still able to wield it as he was used to; but a final test to gauge its sharpness, he took out a hoofheld mirror, which he held in place with one hoof as he moved his sword to the thick fur on his face with the other, until he gently brushed against it.

Despite using close to no effort nor strength, Shining noticed that even the slightest touch of his sharpened blade was enough to perfectly cut off a chunk of his fur, which landed on the rock before him; and after he briefly gasped in shock and amazement, he took a deep breath to calm himself down and to steady his arms, whereafter he repeated the same movement, and cut off even more of his fur.

A few moments later, after he carefully shifted his sword around his entire face, Shining looked at himself in the mirror, and he smirked when he realised that he had trimmed his coat far more evenly and precisely than many of the razors he had used before; and after he blew the few remaining hairs off the blade, he put his sword in its sheath, and chuckled to himself over how good he now looked.

Fortunately, not only were the others not woken up by his laughter, but also, not long after he put away his mirror, he gazed into the distance, and realised that the dark night sky overhead appeared to be slightly brighter than before; and after he hopped off the rock and climbed out of the creek, he saw that more of the dark sky was being driven away by the Sun that was rising over the horizon.

Although he had often seen the Sun rise over the Mountains from the spire of the Crystal Castle, he could not help but feel awestruck at the colourful sight of the Sun rising before his very eyes, as it had been far too long since he had spent an entire night outside the Empire; and he just sat and watched the darkness give way for hues of blue and red, as he had not done in a terribly long time.

As the Sun rose and became brighter, Shining was starting to struggle increasingly more to keep his eyes open without squinting, until the moment he was forced to shield his eyes as he looked away to avoid hurting himself; and as he walked down the shallow incline back to their camp, he argued with himself about who to wake up first, harshly refusing his instinct as a Captain to shout them awake.

When he made it to the camp, he decided to let Nox sleep at least a little more, and instead, chose to wake up their two Kirin friends, politely asking both Light and Summer if they could help him to wake up the rest of their company; and after they both stretched and yawned, Light wandered over to the two Dragonesses, while Ty woke up Courage, and Shining woke up Boom with one hoof on his sword.

With only a soft nudge, the others quickly woke up in nigh utter silence, before Shining said:

"The Sun has risen, so we must hasten ourselves."

(Thanks for reading! And if you enjoyed, please reblog! Thanks in advance!)

Send an ask or request! | Start at the beginning! | Next part!

Featuring: Nox Lunarwing and Summer Typhoon from @nox-lunarwing Boomlord from @thedumbguywithaheart43

(Finally back from Summer Camp, and I took the time to write this episode and this post scriptum on the evening before now. Tuesday will be a terribly long day for me, so I doubt I'll have time to write for the following Wednesday, but I'll do my best to be back with an episode after then, on Thursday, and I'll see where my schedule leads me from there ^^)

[allthelittlecreepycrawlies]

More MDZS MLP because I can.

Cutie Marks (or "Fate Signs") are still common. If a member of a cultivation sect gets their Sign before their golden core/secondary state, then when their bodies change, the Sign becomes bigger and more elaborate, spreading all the way down the hind leg. If they get the core first, the Sign forms already in the elaborate state.

Generally, Signs are considered private (family and partners only) among cultivators, who cover them with clothing bearing the sect symbol.

Only one sect, the Wen, directly uses the Fate Sign of their founder as their sect symbol. The other founders (even the first Jin) were less shameless about choosing a symbol.

Aside from the Nie, who all become Kirin due to their differing cultivation method, the sect one is in doesn't *always* direct what the cultivator will be. Pegasi are more common in the Lan because of the height of their mountain and seapony shifters are more common in the Jiang because of their lakes and rivers, but, for example, Wei Wuxian becomes a standard unicorn with no ability to change into a seapony.

(This is actually lucky for him, because it lessens *some* of the rumors that he's Jiang Fengmian's bastard. Not all, though, because bloodline doesn't entirely direct the golden core change either. Remember Pumpkin and Pound Cake from the cartoon.)

The only thing bloodline tends to influence cultivation-wise is colors of magic. The inner families usually have magic that matches to their sect colors, with some variation (for example, Jiang Cheng's magic is dark purple with some blue tinting, in between the lavender his father and sister have and the indigo his mother has, and Nie Huaisang's magic is much paler than Nie Mingjue's pthalo-ish green).

All ponies are omnivorous out of necessity, but cultivator ponies can eat things normal ponies can't, like certain monsters. The Jin and the Wen tend to flaunt it, fixing up fancy plates only they can eat to lord power over non-cultivator guests, while the Nie and the Jiang treat it in a more utilitarian manner. The Lan, of course, are still herbivores by choice.

[mamamittens]

There's a chill on the wind, the scent of a lake thick in the air.

Strangely, along with it, is a clipped section of a story...

Far from the gangly youth Kirin had last seen, Law had grown into themselves considerably. Muscles rippling under the water with lean promise, skin darker from their time apart with faint scars dotted around inky black tattoos that sprawled over their skin in tantalizing curls and whorls. Begging for Kirin’s curious hands to inspect more closely.

“It’s been a long time, Kiri-ya.” Law spoke, their voice as dark and smooth as the waters below.

Definitely all grown up now.

[quibbs126]

In that case, how about a fankid for Cream Unicorn Cookie and Whipped Cream Cookie? if that's alright. ^^

I don’t remember when I last talked about my struggles with her, but she’s finally here, this is Chantilly Cream Cookie

With her design, I kind of just went with what I already had instead of trying to come up with something new

Anyways, so chantilly cream is basically just whipped cream, but with sweetening and vanilla from what I can tell. I just liked the name of it, it’s pretty simple. Also “chantilly” sounds almost fairy tale like, which I think is fitting for them

Chantilly cream:

If I’m being honest, I’m not sure about the colors. In my head, she was supposed to be almost entirely purple, but I thought given her water thing, she should have some blue, so I made her cape and other things blue. I made the dress white because it kind of looked like a nightgown, and added the ribbon to it. It was originally longer, but I wanted to give her boots, so I had to shorten it a bit so you can see them. Also I made her horn like that because I was thinking of Suicune with her, and also sort of kirins, hence why I made the norm like that. Also it looks sort of like one of Millennial Tree’s branches, and I just sort of wanted to reference the possible connection Whipped Cream has to him

Anyways, so let’s get into her. So like I said, she has some influence from Suicune. The thing I’m most familiar with when it comes to Suicune is the Pokémon 4ever movie, specifically the thing about them being able to purify water when they touch it

So basically she can do that, only instead of jumping, it’s more like skating. She basically skates on top of the water and the water is purified wherever she touches, while she meanwhile does a performance on the water

With the nightgown, maybe she only shows up at night? Like how in Swan Lake (so I’m told), the dancers only appear at night, being swans during the day. Not sure if she turns into something during the day, I haven’t really decided, that idea literally only just came to me. But she also comes off as someone generally very spacey and quiet, as if she’s asleep. I imagine her having a very soft and high voice, though she doesn’t talk much. Also I’m not sure she’s capable of getting mad

Anyways yeah, I think that’s about it for her. The big thing is her water purifying skating thing. But regardless, I hope you like her!

[the-service-weapon]

Honestly, Canon!Saga will hightail it the fuck out of Bright Falls first chance she gets. She may end up working for the FBC but will always be wary of Bright Falls. She will never like Alan for endangering her daughter and putting her through hell.

But I am a fan of transformative works—so this is me focusing on a different version of the characters.

In my version, Saga joins the FBC and, unfortunately, ends up joining the ExSpouse club along side Casey and Kirin as a result.

By this point, 5 years has elapsed and her daughter has started college (maybe even at a west coast school?). So, when the FBC asks her and Casey to relocate to Bright Falls to help resettle The Lake House—whose main mission is to explore/research the Dark Place, but now also potentially recover Doctor Darling—she agrees.

Casey agrees because Saga agrees.

He is technically semi-retired and only works for the FBC on a part-time basis, so he doesn’t go out on field missions a ton—but I like to think being possessed by the Dark Presence gave him some mild but handy parautilitarian abilities.

The one that makes him most valuable to the FBC, however, is his interesting bond with Alan—who seems to have become a figure who can pop in and out of different versions of reality at will via his writing.

The FBC would very much like to have Alan as a permanent member of their team—I’m not convinced they didn’t try to capture him for interrogation after the event of Alan Wake 2 but lost him after he used his own blood to write his way out of their cell someone got fired over that—but he’s keenly eluding them.

Alan has very little interest in helping the FBC, his primary goal is finding Alice and he’s pretty pissed at them for tossing him in a cell right after he escaped 13 years of imprisonment.

However, he does feel guilty about what he put Saga and Casey through, so he’s willing to help them (with them kind of acting as liaisons between Alan and the FBC, when they really need info).

Anyway, due to the metaphysical bond between him and Casey, Casey can sort of…summon Alan into their reality.

It’s similar but not as direct a method of communication as Saga’s Mind Place technique (which is still spotty if she and Alan aren’t on the same plane of reality) but functions by Casey essentially focusing on Alan psychically and appearing as one of Alan’s “echoes”—which Alan sees while feeling an overwhelming compulsion to appear before Casey.

The visions will become more and more intrusive and the pull stronger and stronger the longer Alan attempts to ignore the “call.”

While Alan has discovered he can shut out Saga if he really wants to, he simply can’t manage it with Casey—who delights in discovering he now has a certain level of control over Alan.

If Alan ignores the call for too long, the visions become an overwhelming cacophony and the pull so great—he’ll be ripped out of whatever reality he is in involuntarily and deposited right at Casey’s feet.

(Again, Casey loves getting to do this. He��s almost disappointed now when Alan comes without much of a fight.)

However, Alan also discover the easiest way to voluntarily hop between any reality is find an Agent Alex Casey (real or fictional, such as worlds where Alex Casey is played by certain Finnish actors) and simply write the words “Time to visit my old friend, Casey.”

Alan will then immediately appear within a certain physical proximity to whatever version of Casey he focuses on.

It takes him a while to figure out the physical distance directly correlates to how close emotionally he is to that version of Casey.

He doesn’t have to travel realities by that method—it’s just the simplest way to do it.)

So, anyway, the whole gang ends up operating out of Bright Falls.

And—even better—Ilmo wiggles his way into being the guy who supplies their headquarters coffee supply.

Maybe he gets Saga to vouch for him—and is actually on the FBC’s payroll as a look out for paranatural shit on top of providing them excellent coffee—but either way he’s regularly in their office.

Hijinks ensue.

[flagwars]

Video Game Flag Wars: Round 1

Now that the National Pride Fusion Flag Wars has ended, we can return to the Video Game Flag Wars! The prelims decided which flag would represent each series, so now the tournament contains one flag per series. This does not include mods and fangames, as there are multiple flags from Hearts of Iron mods and Roblox games in the tournament. As there are so many flags even after the prelims, there will be 32 polls in the first round rather than the usual 16. Let me know what flag you want to win! See the brackets below.

Round 1:

1. Crimson Cult Banner (Thaumcraft) vs. Flag (Roblox BedWars) vs. Salmon Run Flag (Splatoon)

2. Unnamed Flag (Lego City Undercover) vs. Atlantic Federation (Valkyria Chronicles) vs. Homestead Banner (Palia)

3. Middle Eastern Alliance (Squad) vs. Shadowkin (Raid: Shadow Legends) vs Bilge Rat Adventures Flag (Sea of Thieves)

4. Saker’s Flag (Fable) vs. Novistrana (Republic: The Revolution) vs. Arstotzka (Papers, Please)

5. San Andreas (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas) vs. Kirin Tor Offensive Banner (World of Warcraft) vs. Alliance of Galactic Travelers (No Man’s Sky)

6. Black Revolt (Kaiserredux) vs. Aquileian Republic (Supremacy) (Equestria at War) vs. Rescue Corps Flag (Pikmin 4)

7. Tropico (Tropico) vs. Sons of Liberty (Metal Gear Solid 2) vs. Commune of Revachol (Disco Elysium)

8. Mawkin Flag (Metroid: Dread) vs. Calchaqui (Europa Universalis 4) vs. Kazan Military Okrug (Thousand-Week Reich)

9. King Dedede’s Flag (Kirby: Triple Deluxe) vs. Meat Flag (Slime Rancher) vs. Flag of the Crown (Cult of the Lamb)

10. Communist Australia (Victoria II) vs. Delian League (Imperator: Rome) vs. Ominous Banner/Illager Banner (Minecraft)

11. Patagonian Worker’s Front (Kaiserreich) vs. Castle Siege (Super Smash Bros.) vs. Yara (Far Cry 6)

12. Stag Beetle Flag (Animal Crossing: New Leaf) vs. Fortnite (Fortnite) vs. Livonia (Arma)

13. Gaul Úr (Red Flood) vs. Strong Badia (Homestar Runner) vs. Super Earth (Helldivers)

14. Alam Melayu (Rise of Nations (Roblox)) vs. Tiki Tak Tribe (Donkey Kong Country Returns) vs. Sea Slide Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy)

15. Great Lakes Government (Kalterkrieg: Shadow of the Weltkrieg) vs. Principality of Kemerovo (The New Order: Last Days of Europe) vs. Joker Banner (Balatro)

16. Shadow Isles Clash Banner (League of Legends) vs. Rebel Corps, Phantom Thieves Version (Persona 5 Tactica) vs. Antarctica (3D Atlas (1996))

17. Generic Flag (Roblox) vs. Standing Flag (Dragon Blade RPG (Roblox)) vs. Zhu Xi's Legacy (Age of Empires 4)

18. Kitakami (Pokémon Scarlet and Violet) vs. South California (Cyberpunk 2077) vs. Watchers (Overwatch)

19. Avalar (Spyro the Dragon) vs. Union of American People's Republics (Red World) vs. Grey Warden Heraldry (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

20. Eusan Nation (Signalis) vs. Aurelia (Ace Combat) vs. Outer Wilds Ventures (Outer Wilds)

21. Columbia (Bioshock Infinite) vs. Sickle Moon Flag (Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) vs. Eggmanland (Sonic Unleashed)

22. The Allied Nations (Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3) vs. The Rebellion (Just Cause 3) vs. Federation of the Americas (Call of Duty: Ghosts)

23. Great Lake Revolutionary Council (Extremis Ultimis) vs. Courland (Empire: Total War) vs. Columbia (Crimson Skies)

24. Pontiac Province (Judgement Day: Aftermath of the Red Flood) vs. Communist Iberia (Hearts of Iron IV) vs. International Workers' Armed Forces (Krasnacht: Twilight of the Gods)

25. New California Republic (Fallout) vs. Deep Hollow Valley (Night in the Woods) vs. Victory Flag (Fall Guys)

26. Zheng Fa (Ace Attorney) vs. Golden Deer Banner (Fire Emblem: Three Houses) vs. Warbanner (Risk of Rain 2)

27. Blue Flag (Halo: Combat Evolved) vs. Wario’s House (WarioWare) vs. American Collective (Twilight of the Anthropocene)

28. Niflheim (Final Fantasy XV) vs. Republic of America (Dustborn) vs. American Empire (Pax Britannica)

29. Corvus (Dead Ahead (Roblox)) vs. Banner of the First Fleet (Monster Hunter)

30. Fillydelphia Contingent (Balefire Blues) vs. Federation of Anrakan Isles (Suzerain)

31. Yartar (Baldur’s Gate 3) vs. Hurons (American Conquest)

32. Falkreath Hold (Skyrim) vs. Assassin Jolly Roger (Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag)