#Metalsea ships

[tryingtimi]

5✨

Waiting Game

Well, what a mix of prompts. I just remembered one of my goal this year was to clear out my drafts. So I guess I’m at it and my brainworms help me plenty recently. Also, I’m sorry for the length again. Spotify prompt was Waiting Game by Kalandra.

Context: Cronyl teaches Avelyn how to ride a cougar, after they arrive at Yaran. It’s probably after he had some injury or a low moment Avelyn witnessed since she’s pretty worried about him. She’s already figured out she has feelings for him btw. They’re still pre-relationship here.

DYNAMIC EXPLORATION | FLUFF FLUFF AND FLUFF | BIG CATS | WC: 1,764

“Easy, gently,” Cronyl whispered beside Avelyn’s ear. “There. Good. Very good.”

A pearl of sweat ran down her spine alongside the cold shiver his low voice caused. The desert’s heat was nowhere near what she felt from Cronyl’s chest. He couldn’t have been farther from her back than some inches.

Their all-covering, yet thin Yarish clothing rustled as the cougar gracefully sauntered underneath them, its movements rocking them evenly.

Her grip tightened over the leather rein again when she lost the rhythm of the beast. The cougar growled quietly.

“Easy.”

Another soft advice, another all-body shiver. Avelyn wasn’t sure how long they were out in the open, but she was very aware of where her feverish state of mind came from. Her composure barely, held the last threads of her will keeping her spikes at bay. The reason wasn’t the desert’s burning hotness or the seemingly infinite sand. Nor the blazing sun over them.

She slowly breathed in the warm air like water.

“Is this alright?” Her tongue felt like parchment in her mouth, her palm sweating over the rein. Yet, she was determined to learn. That was why she came anyway.

“It’s great. Keep going, let her guide you,” Cronyl said, his breath hitting her shoulder. “Don’t think. You’ll follow her movements naturally if you let her lead.”

Avelyn almost closed her eyes for a second. His breath was like a wisp of fresh air in the burning heat. She nearly became used to the constant shivering of her body when he spoke.

The cougar’s fur poked her bare legs under the thin clothing, but she could easily forget about that.

She tried to do as he told her.

With eyes losing focus on the sparkling dunes under the midnight sun, Avelyn shepherded her concentration towards the feline’s motions. To the sensation of the legs elegantly counting every step, the moving muscles pressing to her tighs with it. The cougar did not make any sound, yet her paws sank into the sand, crunching softly. There was nothing before them, only the waving heat’s brushstrokes over the meeting of the desert and the horizon.

She tried to do as he told her, yet her mind couldn’t ignore his presence. Nor could her body.

Cronyl’s legs only touched her clothing, when the beast strayed to one side. Still, she couldn’t be less aware of him sitting behind her.

Avelyn stopped herself from pulling on the rein. There was a lingering force in her hand that never stopped.

“She’s stubborn.”

Cronyl remained silent for a moment. Then, she could feel him lean even closer.

“Don’t try to control her. You can’t. She’s a feline, and a wild one no less. They’re not one to control, they’re our equals.”

“What should I do then?” Avelyn murmured, her lungs burning, her back aching from the closeness of Cronyl.

“Breathe,” he said.

With that, she realized she was holding back her breath. She slowly emptied her lungs, the cougar nervously meowing some gibberish, while wiggling slightly.

“Breathe, slowly. You need to control yourself, so you can partner up with her.” There was another pause, then, his hand scooped before Avelyn’s stomach, not touching it, but hovering over it. “Keep the air down here, and let it out evenly. Yes, like that. You’re doing great.”

Was she? Her chest seemed to be full of swirling sandstorms, blazing warmness flaming inside like wildfire. It threatened to turn uncontrollable. Avelyn continued to breathe, but she had the rawest urge to lean back into his arms.

However, she couldn’t move.

Her body was rigid as if frozen. She needed to clear her mind, so she closed her eyes for a second. Her embarrassment took over her nerves in the meantime.

Then, the cougar let out a bestial, high-pitched prow.

The world suddenly turned and blurred, the beast coming on full speed to run towards the sun. She trashed under them, her grace fading into wild cries and quick, fast hops. Sand whirled around as her enormous paws kicked up fine dust, making it hard to see anything. Panic surged through Avelyn’s body, her lungs slowly filling up with all the desert within.

When it seemed certain she’ll end up in the glistening sand or under her paws, a firm arm closed over her waist, and another reached for the rein.

“You’re hurting her,” Cronyl said softly, his voice still low and calm. He pulled her closer, touching her hands, and gently pushing on her palms from under to let go.

How could I…

Avelyn pulled back her hands, fast.

She stared at her slightly sharpened nails, the tiniest specks of blood staining the edges. Her heart sank into her stomach, and her eyes couldn’t wander from the animal sprinting under them. She…

“It’s okay. Breathe. Slowly.”

Cronyl’s voice made her sigh heavily, letting out the damned held-down breath. His arm kept her secure, in place, and she could feel the heat of his palm over her clothed skin. His other hand held the rein proficiently, and somehow made the cougar stop her sharp turns. Stop her trying to throw them down.

Avelyn grabbed Cronyl’s arm to hold onto something, and he tightened his brace, pulling her closer to himself.

The animal did not slow.

“It’s okay,” he repeated into her ear, “you’re okay. She’s not mad, just upset. Surprised. You need to assure her of your intent. You can do it. If someone, you can do it.”

That in itself nearly calmed her down to the point of contentment. Why would he be so sure about her? It was madness. Yet, it helped. Helped so much, after some more minutes of staring at the cougar’s rushing form, she reached over carefully. She continued to breathe, and when her unsureness threatened to take over, she leaned into the touch of Cronyl’s hand. Her hand touched the animal, earning a growl and some bearly bared fangs she could see from the side. Her breath shook, but she did not let go.

Fingers pushed into fur softly, and she felt every hair brushing her skin. She did not sweat as them, but she was warm, nearly burning. And she was soft, softer than Avelyn have thought, considering the poking in her legs. Golden light swirled inside her, a tiny speck leaking somewhere. Avelyn brushed her own golden light over it, healing the small wound she caused.

Then, she cautiously moved her hand further, caressing the beast. She could feel its tensed muscles and could hear its panting. Her head sometimes twisted to one side, as if she was trying to wriggle out of Avelyn, while strange chuffing, then hissing left her mouth. As if she’s been fighting with herself.

Avelyn realized she was just as frightened and uncertain as she was.

Hot air snaked under her clothes as she continued, her other hand joining in. She matched her breathing to the cougar’s, and let her body relax enough so it could completely take up her rhythmic movements. The speed still sent chills to her bones, but she kept her focus more on the animal. She watched her and felt her. She understood her.

Slowly, the hissing was replaced by silence or some quiet, raw meowing. Her hand slid higher carefully, and reached the head, scratching it lightly.

A low, rumbling purr resonated from her through Avelyn’s whole body.

“See? You don’t even need the rein.”

Cronyl’s voice almost startled Avelyn. The cougar huffed under them.

“Unbelievable,” Avelyn breathed, a smile creeping onto her lips. “How did you know? How could you be so sure in me?”

Wind-touched dust cloud ran over them, forcing their eyes closed for a moment. Then, as Avelyn opened them again, she could catch a glimpse of the first thick plants. With that, the earth changed, perhaps trembled slightly, and she could hear something else than the strong breeze.

Paws stomped on the sand.

Avelyn’s mouth fell open under the niqab. One, two, then four and five cougars appeared on both sides, soaring beside them. They exchanged roars and purred with the one under Avelyn and Cronyl.

“You stripped away the walls I built, Avel. An animal’s is nothing in comparison.”

Avelyn’s hands stopped in the caressing. Only so an unstoppable giggle could climb up on her throat, warmness still building in her chest by hearing that name.

When did Cronyl start jesting with her?

“Well, it’s still you, you know. It’s always been you who let me in. So if it was about how long it lasts, you should have built them higher, then.”

He scoffed, shards of jest still lingering in the sound. The awareness of his closeness returned, as the cougar slowed her speed. Avelyn felt their hips move in sync with the beast’s back, his chest warming her back, legs closely tucked under her thighs. His hand stayed around her waist, firmly keeping her in place, the other reaching over to barely but still touching the rein. That made him stay so close to her, she could feel his breath on her neck.

The cougar meowed in an unsatisfied tone and pushed her head into Avelyn’s hand which stopped scratching her head for a while now. She startled up from her daze, a chuckle leaving her and Cronyl’s mouths as well. The other cougars echoed her, shifting closer, and stirring up the desert more to reveal the rest of what it hid under. Strange-looking plants reached for the sky, tiny creatures scattering around. The felines crept close enough to gently poke Avelyn’s and Cronyl’s legs, their head softly brushing them.

Cronyl reached for the closest scratch behind its ear, his other hand still holding Avelyn. It wasn’t something that needed anymore, there was no danger or a situation that would require it. Yet he did not let go. And she wouldn’t want it either. It was a secret they both shared, an aspect they wouldn’t mention. She wondered if he was as afraid for his words to run free as she was. Because she had a lot to say, yet she feared if she spoke, the moment would wither away. Perhaps forever.

So, they wrapped themselves around a thick silence, many unspoken words hovering under the blazing sun.

[tryingtimi]

Wow, I love all of these (already knew them but still), Void you have impeccable taste! ❤️

Who Wants to Live Forever

The most Darmon song you can ever find around here. Literally the whole song is him and his whole life lol.

Skyfall

Pff, Darmon and Syon ship song for some reason? Yeah, most of the songs are goes for them recently, eh. Honestly the lyrics is kinda fits, but the vibe is just really them.

Dreamer

Okay, this one is one of my all time favorite, especially from Ozzy. I listen to this every winter lol. ANYWAY, this a great song for Cronyl and Bra'aka's bromance maybe. "After all, there's only just the two of us And here we are, still fighting for our lives Watching all of history repeat itself Time after time" This is definitely them as they both stand on the edge of their own societies, seeing them crumble. They both feel like the only ones whom can see through the stupid argument over differences and how little that actually matters in life.

Happy Tunesday 🎶

Rules: Describe what WIP daydreams or character stuff these songs remind you of

Today we’re going with some songs from my Jason and Will playlist because it’s a somber kind of morning right now

Tagging: @bloodlessheirbyjacques @magefaery @kashacreates @sergeantnarwhalwrites @whimsyqueen @tryingtimi and whoever wants to join ☺️

[tryingtimi]

Ash and Rot PART III.

Side title: I would

PART I. | PART II. | PART III.

Poll babies' request, tho it's still not the first one. However, here's the Cronyl and Avelyn fluff, because my mind couldn't leave them alone and my writer's block just crashed under the inspo of this. The inspo song were Panic Attack by Liza Anne.

Context: Avelyn visits Cronyl after the ritual. She confessed him before, but he basically rejected her, saying he's too broken to have a relationship. Now he might have came to another conclusion.

BOOK III EXPLORATION | VERY TINY ANGST | MOSTLY FLUFF | DYNAMIC AND CHARACTER EXPLORATION | WC: 1,179

A knot like a stone weighed down Avelyn’s stomach as she fidgeted with her hands.

She raised her palm over the hut’s door, letting it hang there until her fingers felt numb from the cold. Then, she pulled them back again, for the who-knows-how-many-times.

Her head seemed light and ridiculously empty, while it was as if something tried to cave inside her chest, pulling her inside around itself. It shrank with every heavy-lidded blink until her chest seemed no bigger than a needlepoint. She wasn’t as tired, yet she felt exhausted, her eyes barely staying open.

Her heart skipped a beat when she realized she couldn’t see her breath.

One deep inhale, and a slow exhale. One in, one out. Repeat it. Nice and calm. And again.

She forced herself to do it constantly, never again missing a visible breath as she exhaled into the freezing atarqian air.

Calm down, you fool.

She swallowed a big bite of air, right into her belly and pushed the door open.

Gentle warmth attacked her face, her nostrils filling up immediately, making it hard to breathe for a second.

Playful fire blazed on the hearth, giving just enough light to give the room a welcoming atmosphere. With the puffs in the corner, right beside the leather pieces, and the table with three chairs that stood on a furry rug, she found the room just enough stuffed to feel comforting.

And comfort she needed as she turned to the bed under the window, opposite the fireplace.

Cronyl’s been already sitting, fur cover blanketing only his injured leg, his bare chest, and the scars scattered on his skin radiating under the aurora’s light. He was quiet, not noticing her arrival as he stared outside the window. Those always stiff shoulders now hung low and relaxed, his back comfortably leaning against the bedhead, his hands resting in his lap. His forehead seemed even, without any sign of a frown or wrinkle, his eye slowly following whatever he watched outside.

Avelyn saw him like this many times now; raw and true as one could be when no one is around. However, this was the first time she found splinters of calmness in him.

She finally found herself breathing evenly.

“Hey,” she offered quietly, taking a seat on the chair beside his bed.

Cronyl’s shoulders tensed ever so slightly, only to relax back as his eye trailed at her.

His figure seemed to brighten even more as the morning light seeped inside. She could see the faint golden glow in his body; the magic that pulsed inside him and concentrated in his eyes. No matter his bandana, she was now able to see both of his eyes outlined as two glowing golden orbs, thanks to Nareethi’s teachings. And both were watching her.

“Hey.”

Avelyn’s heart sank from the hoarseness of his voice. She held herself back from scraping her skin beside her thumb with her nail.

“How are you feeling?”

“Not dead,” he said with the tiniest smile on the corner of his lips.

She did the same, warmth spreading inside her chest. The fire crackled silently as she was watching him, respectfully stealing a glance at his bare upper body. He had no new scars, luckily.

Avelyn looked down at her hands when she realized she was scarping her skin beside her thumb. She scolded herself inside her head before she turned back to him.

“I, well, heard everything. I don’t know what you saw, but it sounded… dreadful. So, I was worried. Still am. Those screams and the way Bra’aka could barely hold you down…”

“You were inside?” he held her the question. His voice remained calm and quiet, not sounding upset or angry. Yet, she couldn’t be sure what he thought about the whole situation.

Avelyn stopped biting the inside of her lower lip.

“I arrived at the end, but yes, I was, I’m sorry. I couldn’t stand to stay somewhere else and just listen. Bra’aka, well, he didn’t approve of my decision either. But, I had to come.” She exhaled deeply, feeling the heat of the flames on her back. Avelyn wanted to look away from those intense golden orbs; that unreadable gaze that’s intensity always made her stomach flip. But she didn’t. She held his eyes, the same way she held his hands when he raged in delirium.

“Did you call my name?” Cronyl asked after a moment of silence.

Avelyn blinked, feeling a tender warmth spreading across her cheeks.

“I did. I was hoping it would help if you know someone there. That, well, I am there.”

Cronly smiled.

A smile, a visible, gentle, modest smile. A simple gesture that’s been the most telling among everything. Avelyn might not be able to see colors, but she somehow felt as if the room would have brightened. Remembering those heartwrenching cries Cronyl let out from time to time during the procedure, and as his face wrinkled into a different kind of agony she never saw on anyone before, this small thing made her eyes sting.

She wanted to reach for his hand, to squeeze as hard as before. She almost did, but then she restrained herself.

Cronyl, however, thought better.

“I was in a place I never wanted to be,” he said, taking her hand in his. “This ritual showed me everything I never wanted to face. What I saw there, what I… did there… It’s been more than I could bear. But I had no choice. And that led me to realize more than one thing about my past and my present.” Cronyl slowly scooped closer to her on the bed, a soundless grunt leaving his throat. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Ever. Not because it was told to me, but because I love you.”

Avelyn remained silent. She focused on blinking and breathing evenly, yet she couldn’t hide her slight inner shaking completely. Cronyl’s touch felt warm, genuine, and right. He didn’t flinch anymore when she slid closer to him.

“You said…”

“I know. I am still as broken as before, my scars will remain forever, and I will always be capable of hurting you or anyone. But I don’t want to, therefore I will do everything in my power not to do that. To control what I do, to know what I am. Among you, not alone. I will learn to be around you without causing pain. Because I want to stay beside you, Avel, I want to love you. If you would still let me.”

A chuckle bubbled up in her throat that she wasn’t strong enough to stop. It came out along with a breathless whimper, which she didn’t mind anymore. She slowly leaned onto his forehead and closed her eyes when her lips turned upward from the fact she didn’t feel him tense anywhere.

“I would. Always,” Avelyn whispered, squeezing his hand.

[tryingtimi]

🧁 OC dessert game 🍰

Thank you for the tag @bloodlessheirbyjacques and @the-void-writes <3

Rules: using this piccrew, make a little dessert(?) that represents your character! go wild! there is a lot of room to play around with symbolism in this one, though you can also just fall back on aesthetics or make one that they would be inclined to eat!

Some desserts for the Metalsea main ships.

Cronyl and Avelyn

Darmon and Syonehlia

Tagging: @aninkwellofnectar, @muddshadow, @italiangothicwriteblr, @aschlindartroom, @approximately20blorbos, @friendlyneighborhood-writer, @jessica-writes22, @cherrybombfangirlwrites, @magefaery, @circa-specturgia

[tryingtimi]

happy tunes tuesday!!! what's the latest song you've heard that makes you think about one of your wips/characters, and why does it do that?

Heyo, this is so sweet! Happy Tunes Tuesday! <3

The latest one was this:

And if I'm gonna be honest, I'm obsessed with this song recently. Mostly because it reminds me of Darmon and Syonehlia's relationship from Metalsea. The lyrics is such Darmon vibes and the singers voice is what I kinda imagine for Syon. I was listening to this while writing this piece. I'm not sure if I want to made a lot of Darmon content now because of this song, or I love this song because the lovely friends around her became very interested in Darmon and this happened to be the best song for him.

Either way, give it a try if you don't know it already! It's a blast! <3

Thank you for the ask! <3

[tryingtimi]

Ship Song Inspiration

Rules: tag the song you associate most with your ship

I was tagged by @aninkwellofnectar! Thank you and sorry, it comes a little late haha <3

I already did for the couples here, so I'll go with friendship and/or "siblingship" since I have at least two of that.

Avelyn and Syonehlia "sistership" in Metalsea. I love their dynamic.

Adran and Dane brothership in IQRUS. There's a part in a lyrics that literally describes one scene between them lol.

Drehan and Syonehlia's competitive, but strong friendship. Drehana literally teaches Syon fight so.

Cronyl and Darmon's friendship in Metalsea. The sad boy bunch.

Tagging: @bloodlessheirbyjacques, @jess-p-edits, @writingonesdreams, @approximately20blorbos, @friendlyneighborhood-writer, @aschlindartroom

If you guys already did it, then just tag someone else maybe. <3

[tryingtimi]

Kiss me then | Aka #FridayKiss Tag Game

Thank you for the tag @aninkwellofnectar! ❤️ This seemed like a fun game, so I'll join with a Cronyl and Avelyn first kiss scene, which I wrote quite a long time ago and I'm kind of cringing over it, but oh well. I have only this one and I insist on joining lol. Prepare for the softest, mushiest, victiorian-era couple vibes. I'm not exaggerating.

Rules are that you post a smooch between your OCs for Friday. It can be as light as a peck or intense as a makeout. It can be romantic or platonic or familial. As long as a smooch takes place it’s free reign! Tagging: @writingonesdreams, @bloodlessheirbyjacques, @jess-p-edits (I crave that Krieve x Jaisse moment), @aschlindartroom, @moonscribbler, @friendlyneighborhood-writer, @the-void-writes, @circa-specturgia and everyone who wants to join.

“Well, I’m not sure how to do this right.”

Avelyn thought she was used to Cronyl’s straightforwardness, but she could feel her blush appearing on her face. Her feelings were known and requited. They confessed. Yet, she had not thought through how things would continue on.

Cronyl clearly never had any romantic relationships in the past, however experienced he was in life in general. Even though Avelyn was sure he knew how to, well, do things in it. Still, this was the first time they were completely together since they officially became a couple and he only looked at her patiently with those intense, yet somehow soft eyes…

Oh, Veilnieve. He wants me to tell him specifics?

Avelyn let her feelings soften her gaze and a gentle, genuine smile find her lips.

“A hug is a good start, I think,” she said.

“Right.”

He nodded absent mindedly while he looked around. Searching for something? Avelyn felt confused washing over her as he took her hand, but she let herself be pulled over to the wall anyway. When only a small distance stayed between them and the wall, Cronyl stopped and turned to her. His eyes were piercing with their uniqueness as always, but now hesitance reflected in a ray of light that hit them.

“Could you sit down then?”

She cocked her head to the side. Is a hug not as simple as she thought? Nevertheless, she did as she was asked and sat down, back facing the wall.

Maybe he was frustrated because she didn’t move?

Cronyl walked behind her, so she couldn’t see what he was doing, but a second later two pulled up legs cornered her on each side. Two gentle arms followed them, embracing her carefully while Cronyl’s body pressed to her softly from behind.

Avelyn’s blush deepened into a rich crimson. So this is why he was reluctant. She didn’t understand his intention. Oh, well.

A chuckle bubbled up in her throat when she felt his chin resting on the top of her head. What a strange and still reserved way to hug her? By the sights, Cronyl felt like a different person entirely. She could never imagine him being this gentle with only a hug. She misunderstood him so very much, didn’t she?

Before he could have gotten the wrong idea, she rested her hands on his, caressing the skin softly and leaned more into the embrace. He held her a little tighter, arms interlocking on her stomach. So appropriate.

It felt unreal.

Avelyn imagined something like this, but never this intimate. This idyllic. This natural. She wanted to be closer to him, but there was no chance for that. She could already feel his heartbeat from his chest that pressed to her back. It was calm and content; just like her’s.

“This is nice.”

He pulled his legs higher and somehow Avelyn closer. She could feel him putting his head on her shoulder, the skin of their faces touching.

Avelyn hummed a response because that was the only thing she could squeeze out of herself. Her blush burnt into her cheeks as she realized she wanted more.

Cronyl obviously wanted to do everything at her pace, and that just made Avelyn fell harder. Her heart overflowed with such an intense love that she never imagined. He trusted her so deeply, he gave her the ultimate control over this.

No-one ever trusted her this much.

Silent minutes passed, when she felt him grow tense a bit for some reason she didn’t know. However, when she turned her head to face him, Cronyl hesitantly looked away.

“You told me before that, if I can’t tell, then show you how I feel…” He paused for a moment. “And I never did.”

She turned a little with her body, forcing him to separate his hands around her. It already felt wrong not to be fully embraced by him.

“You’re showing me now.”

She wanted to look into his eyes – those magnificent eyes –, but he did not lift his gaze at her yet. His face did not show embarrassment or nervousness. He seemed only someone who is deep in thought.

“I’m not sure I do. It’s an unspeakable feeling to hold you in my arms. Yet… Somehow what I feel for you is so much more.”

Avelyn was sure she would have cried already if she heard this months ago. Her chest felt full of a myriad of feathered winged butterflies, her mind carved this moment into her memory.

She knew now he felt the exact same as her. He told her.

Oh, how things changed in the matter of time?

“Kiss me then.” she breathed quitely, a tiny, gentle smile finding her lips.

Cronyl looked at her. Intense gaze never leaving her eyes again. His face loosened up, tenderness conquering his whole body. There was no hesitation anymore.

He leaned in, and Avelyn’s breath caught up in her throat while she did the same. When their lips met, everything just fell into place. Cronyl brought up a hand to place on her cheek, gently, lovingly. Their kiss wasn’t particularly short and as much as it was full of passion, Avelyn couldn’t hold back a little smile how reserved he was the whole time. Yes, it wasn’t a short kiss, but she felt it that way, even though she was a little out of breath when they parted.

As her eyelids opened, she could see Cronyl’s always serious eyes watching her. With a still strangely calm, yet full heart, she leaned in the touch of his hand.

And Cronyl smiled then. A tiny, half-smile, that showed everything.

[tryingtimi]

❝  before i met you,  i used to understand where i stood on everything.  now it’s all…mixed up.  ❞

👀👀👀

@bloodlessheirbyjacques ✨❤️

For Now

My love ✨❤️ Here's a juicy, heavy angst, because I can't write anything else. I also know the aesthetic board can indicate that they're gonna make out, but don't get your hopes up (for now). Also, you knew which couple is the only one that fits perfectly for this one, so here it is! Prompt from this list.

DARMON AND SYONEHLIA | HEAVY ANGST | MENTION OF DEATH AND SELF-LOATHING | WC: 1,708

Darmon floated. Black, lightless darkness surrounded him. His eyes blind, his ears deaf, his body feather light. Was he injured? Was he dead?

He wasn’t sure. But something was missing. Something that always stayed with him. Something he knew in his core, that was so familiar he didn’t know how to exist without it. Something terrible.

Screams. Shouts. Helpless cries. Mothers, fathers, children. People. Blood. Souls.

Taken. Ripped out. Butchered.

They found their way back to him. The horror of innocents, the trembling of the weak… No, no. They weren’t weak. Not in the least. They never bent, never broke; they were strong, stronger than Darmon ever was. Than he ever will be.

They were heroes, perished for nothing.

A familiar aching in the scattered ruins of a soul made Darmon realize — he wasn’t dead. Oh, no, he wasn’t. He couldn’t die with a burden this heavy. He’d been doomed to live.

He…

His body hurt. Eventually, the heaviness of a body came back to him. It was as if a mountain had grown on his chest, he couldn’t move. Even breathing seemed hard to manage.

He could feel a presence beside him, however. Slowly, with painful effort, he opened his eyes to see a clearly royal room’s intricately decorated ceiling. Ivory marble and silver lines stretched along the walls. It was a place he did not recognise, so his gaze stumbled towards the only figure he knew.

Syonehlia was reading a sheet of paper right beside him, so focused she did not notice Darmon’s awakening. Her clothes seemed fresh, hair brushed, freely flowing onto her shoulders, and not counting the bruises on her face that made Darmon grimace, she did not seem tired or ragged. He closed his eyes for a second, letting the worry towards her easing up in his chest.

When he opened his eyes again, he decided not to disturb her, so he quietly checked on his body functions. He attempted to move his right leg. Nothing. Then his left. Nothing. All the following attempts resulted in the same failure with his toes and arms. Slightly flustered, he looked towards his fingers and concentrated.

They moved.

Great. Continue. Darmon tried to lift his head up, but as soon as it moved, a deep groan burst out from the depth of his throat. Heaviness and pain pushed him back into the pillow.

And it caught Syonehlia’s attention immediately. She quickly dropped the paper beside her, one hand finding Darmon’s, the other carefully keeping his shoulder down on the bed.

“Easy,” she said softly. “You’ve been unconscious for more than a week, so your body won’t thank you if you try to move just now.”

A touch. Darmon did not feel another person’s touch so, so long, he completely forgot how warm it can be. How comforting. How… undeserved. Nearly as much as the tender care in Syonehlia’s eyes.

“The… Vessels…”

He could finally utter some words in a sickly hoarse, low voice. His throat felt dry and it burned, he needed all his strength not to choke up on violent coughing.

Syonehlia scooted closer, still keeping her hand on his.

“Gone. You made sure of that. Everyone’s safe now. We put Urien into prison and worked on restoring the city order. We formed a temporary council to help people reorient, but we still couldn’t decide on the next leader yet. The priests and priestesses opposed my suggestion of letting all the citizens vote for the new ruler, but father and some former nobles supported it. So it’s still under debate. Either way, things are getting better, people are calming down.” She reached over his forehead and took off a wet cloth Darmon did not even notice before. He might have had a fever.

Hearing about the situation sent a grotesque mix of relief and regret into his heart. All the life he took before, he took it again to let these people live. Different cause, same results. The screams and shouts became louder in his ears, nearly reaching the point he used to.

He slowly turned his head to see Syonehlia better.

“Am I… wounded?”

“The doctor found some bruises and cuts, but other than that, not really. However, you apparently collected and used up more power than your body could bear. Some kind of miracle saved you. You almost died, Strotagor. But you’re fine now.” The corner of her lips twitched, then she brushed a lock of his hair out of his face. “Well, almost. Your crystal’s cracked.”

Every touch made him shiver. So unfamiliar. He felt his strength steadily creep back, his pain not piercing as much anymore. He could lift his hand to touch his eye-crystal as if he cared.

Which he didn’t, actually.

He only wanted to see Syonehlia’s eyes follow his motion. They changed. The lilac base deepened into a rich purple, while the red ring around her pupil turned from coral to almost crimson.

His eyes did not see beauty in this world before. He could gaze into the lands, at the people and he saw bizarre wrongness, aberration even. Yet, now, he just stared at Syonehlia; her platinum locks, her longer, sharp-edged ears, her high cheeks and into those purple-red eyes. At her confident face, her calm thoughtfulness, her strict tenderness.

His weary eyes looked at her and the only thing they saw was beauty and pure rightness. Something he noticed too late, when he could no longer earn to revere it. The cries wouldn’t let him, for a reason Darmon sincerely understood and agreed on.

“How are the others?” He needed to rip himself out of the daze he fell in. Perhaps he was still feverish.

Syonehlia let a smile find her lips.

“Good. The crew replaced the Ivory Guard. They patrol in the city until people get used to the new situation. Eldnar took every morning shift with Drehana to smooth out any small disturbance, and because they usually like to switch each other at night beside your bed. Eldnar complains a lot about being friends with a bastard who couldn’t even get himself together in a day after his big speech on how powerful his crystals are. But I every time needed to drag him out of your bed in the morning to take his place. He always fell asleep talking to you.”

Friends. Care. Love.

Darmon was well aware of what he felt right now. He knew why he would have sacrificed his life. He knew he would do it again. And he knew he did not want them to be thankful for that. It wasn’t something cherishable, it was something he needed to do. He was expandable. He should have died.

He should have been dead a long time ago.

Still, he stayed alive. Then received such fondness, he could feel his pain turning into a bearable inconvenience. It did not ease or fade, it only became less in focus. Confusion and unknown warmness lurked under his skin. He wronged these people. Yet, they cared for him. As much as he learned to care for them. It was unrealistic, madness even.

Especially as he recognised the undisturbed calmness on Syonehlia’s face, while she reached for a glass of water on the desk beside the bed.

“You weren’t worried,” he stated. There was something very intimate in this one sentence.

“No, of course not. You wouldn’t let yourself die as a hero and find peace in the grace of mercy,” she leaned closer, lips curving into a half, humorless smile. “You’re too stubborn for that.”

He felt a similar smile tugging on his lips. Strange, otherworldly. When has he smiled the last time? He couldn’t remember. There was no reason to do that. But here he was, letting Syonehlia help him to sit up to drink through clenched teeth. The pain was there, it just did not matter.

When he finished drinking, he put the glass away and stayed sitting however much his back wanted to pull him back into bed.

He couldn’t tear away his gaze from Syonehlia’s through the whole time. She was sitting directly beside him, her waist softly pushed into his side. She held his eyes the same way.

“I know what you’re thinking, Strotagor. It’s written on your face, very clearly. And you’re right. You shouldn’t have used that power again. But, without you using the crystals, Evalon would have been destroyed. Completely. With every person in it. The Vessels would be still wandering around, not letting their bodies rest and give them the respect they deserve. You have taken away lives before, yet, this time, you chose to save them instead. You were a hero for those people out there. You did good, as you did change. Maybe you couldn’t win salvation, but you’ve taken a very important step towards it. Probably the most important one. Therefore, you should let yourself feel relieved, at least for a bit.”

The screams wanted to crawl out, being louder than ever. They already scratched the edge of the pit of Darmon’s mind. Then, suddenly, their screeching became more quiet.

She made them quiet. She, who could make his solid guilt tremble and unstable. Who could make him wish again; wish he could be better. She, who could awaken things inside him he thought to be long forgotten.

Caring, wishing, longing.

He lifted his hand up, so he could carefully touch her face for the first time.

“Before I met you, I used to knew where I stood with everything. Now it’s all… mixed up,” he uttered, voice still low. He sighed, when she leaned into his touch and smiled at him.

“Well, it must be confusing to fight beside us.”

“I’m not talking about that.” He slowly caressed her skin, revering every inch of it.

With a deep humming of acknowledgement, and a loving sparkle in her eyes, Syonehlia lingered in one place for a second before she leaned forward until her lips met his. All the confusing chaos rushed through Darmon when her hand found its place on his neck, tangled in his hair.

Her kiss felt unknown, soft, but not tender. It was a kiss of someone who can make you do better, who loved passionately. A kiss Darmon did not deserve.

Yet, he let himself accept it for now.

[tryingtimi]

Happy STS! I don’t know if anyone’s thrown this question back your way (if they have I’m sorry 😅)

What kind of fanfiction do you think people would write about your WIPs?

You too, even if it's late haha! ❤️ Thank you for the question!

Well, huh, as I know the fanfic community, they'll definitely would go write some Cronyl and Darmon (Project Metalsea OCs) ship fics and maybe some Bra'aka x Cronyl one too, but I just don't want to face this fact lmao. That's how bromances usually end if a story gets famous. But, since I don't think I'll include direct smut in the story (which could change in the future) I can imagine that there would be a lot of smutty stuff with the couples floating around on the internet.

Also probably a lot of self-insert stuff :D I would be very curious to read them btw, but at the same time it would feel strange too.

[tryingtimi]

Happy Blorbo Blursday!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ I've been catching up on some of your posts, and you mentioned that Darmon eventually gets a love interest, one of the POV characters that he frees from prison. Can we hear more about that? :3c What are their first impressions of each other? What are their interactions like?

Happy Blorbo Blursday sweetest!!! ❤️❤️❤️

Of course you can!!! (ngl I'm unspeakably happy you guys love Darmon and his romance)

His love interest is Syonehlia Dione who I originally planned to be another POV character's (Avelyn Dione, Cronyl's love interest) twin, but as I go with the story and everything she gives off a big sis vibe, so I think I'll stick to simple siblings. ANYWAY, she's the daughter of a noble house that has a very good and close relationship with the royal family, since her father is the Highscribe of the Palace. Her parents want her to marry well, since Avelyn joined the pristesses and can't get married, which means they get very happy, when the prince proposes Syon. Now, Syonehlia is a very powerful personality, who might act as the perfect noble woman, but very much want to learn fighting, staying free from the responsibility of leading people and not necessarily becoming a bodygruard, but she wouldn't turn down an offer from The Ivory Guard to join them. She also turned down some suitor already and to the rest she made it clear that if they try something similar, she will not be kind anymore. So man either see her as a competition or just too intimidating/demanding to get close to and she's very much okay with that. Except the prince of course, because he sees her as a challenge and since she can't really say no to him because of their statuses and the houses' relationships, he makes a move. (yes the prince won't be a likable character hehe)

However, Syon won't let herself forced into anything, so she uses a cultural tradition to get away. Big spoiler, but that cultural tradition is a trap that Darmon and Troghrun figured out and get spread among the driadlin long ago to get people come to them voluntarily. That's how he captures Syon and a bunch of other driadlin.

Syon's first impression is pretty much that Darmon can go to hell with his psychopathic ideals. She is the kind of person who will harshly, but calmly tell the other one her opinion, especially if it's about immorality. She's fierce, but in a way that she still seems put together or unshakable (which may or may not be the truth). She despises Darmon and his actions, so every time he tries to talk to her and/or the other prisoners, she will just straight out question him. As much as she wants him to die a terrible, cruel death for what he does, some sick part of her wants to understand at least a little bit how can someone do horrible things like that. (Because she also never met a human before, only heared about them in legends, and that her entire culture were built upon a lie because of them actually tickles her curiousity.) While she also wants to get their grand plans out of him, so maybe she can use it to get free.

This honestly amuses Darmon. His first impression is that she's a very selfish one, but also commendably persistent. He've met driadlin like her before, rich lot who think they can outsmart him with their questions and lectures. And yes, maybe Syon seems less frightened and lost than the rest at first, but every similar prisoner like her have broken at the end. Breaking them always leaves a sour taste in his mouth, but sometimes you need to get a little harsher to help someone who’s too lost to know they need help, right? He sees right through her and tells her some truth she probably don’t want to hear. He also pities her a bit. She doesn't know she shouldn't exist, she doesn't belong to this world, that she needs help, so of course she resits. However, he answers her questions about some things. He doesn’t realises it at first, but as soon as she starts to ask about the process of their magic, the system they work in etc. he started to act like she is a person too, not a creature from some alien place. And that’s why she can be one of those who shake him when they first see the product and the process of Troghrun's plans. They also don't get any romantic feelings for a long time, because this is a slooow burn and I also don't want to step into Stockholm Syndrome fields.

Their interactions mostly goes by Darmon being a creepily calm smartass (at the beginning) when it’s about strategic stuff and where they put danger in the world they should avoid, then Syon reminding him, the reason he knows these things isn’t something he can just get rid of so easily.

“You might have helped us, but you haven't changed yet. You only made a less horrible decision than anytime in the last, what? Thousand years? It's a start, but it won't matter if, at the end, you'll still share the idea of being any better than us. Problems are not nesting only in actions. They're born in the mind.”

They basically just help each other see some situation from another perspective. She helps him get his whole mindset change, because she's not sensitive for things like that and (usually) won't get offended by things Darmon might do or say unconsciously, she understands the hardship of the whole thing. While Darmon will help her realise that she was selfish the whole time, when she just ran away from every responsibility, basically left her family to deal with an angry royal family alone, also that even if she wants to avoid being a leader she naturally becomes one around people. And she enjoys it too.

She also comforts Darmon in the most non-gentle way that he appreciates the most, because it's the kind of raw honesty that he wants to recieve.

“Don’t turn down the credit of saving that child. By doing that, you're just making her think she wasn’t worth saving. You saved her, now deal with it.”

“You've handled that "thank you" as a man. Congratulations, Strotagor.”

(Yes, Darmon will have some issues taking compliments and gratitude for what he've done after starting to save people. And Syon won't let it slide, because why would she?) But she also won't always be sarcastic, so the last line as much as it sounds like that, she would say that seriously. And he will be very thankful for it.

OKAY I WROTE ALREADY A LOT OMG AND I STILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY, BUT I'LL STOP HERE FOR NOW LMAOOO

I don't know if I could show what kind of dynamic I imagined for them, but I've tried! Thank you for the ask!!! ❤️❤️❤️ [tagging @bloodlessheirbyjacques because you liked the Darmon contents too ❤️]

[tryingtimi]

MY LOVVEEEEEEEEE

Hello my lovely music muse (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ (Happy STS ❤️❤️✨✨🔥)

SO WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR INSPO SONGS FOR MY FAVOURITE COUPLE?????

Syonehlia and Darmon :3

@bloodlessheirbyjacques

Happy STS for my dearest Music Muse too!!! ❤️✨❤️

Oho, well, I have mostly those kind I can write to, so there’s no lyrics in them, but I’ll include some with those too.

edit: I did make them a playlist with a lot more song lol.

[tryingtimi]

So I’ve made some relationship montage for this and will leave here a pinterest link for the the OC’s, worlds too. Also, I’ll include the couple songs because I’m a music freak. Enjoy and thank you again for this @cherrybombfangirlwrites ! ❤️

METALSEA COUPLES

Syonehlia Dione x Darmon Strotagor

Avelyn Dione x Cronyl Eldenwer

IQRUS COUPLE

Auva Knox x Dane Cohren

Happy Blorbo Blursday!

Do you have any aesthetic/moodboards for your OCs or their relationships?

Happy Blorbo Blursday!! <3

I have, but they're a little messy yet, and I like my stuff organised when I share them, so I'll save this post for just a tiny bit later and reblog with the links to them.

Thank you so much for the interest!! <3