#VeluVerse

[rajakaen]

Arlathan Forest Ritual Site [6/...?] Back again, some weeks later.

Neve, wondering if shoving Rook down the waterfall is worth losing the 5 Sovereigns she bet against Harding, saying he'll fall at the first available occasion.

[rajakaen]

I felt like I should provide a screenshot for the scene as this is the angle I have in mind when devouring reading Jukkari's story :>

Shocking to absolutely everyone except for Velu, I actually managed to write something! Just a bit of Alectris and Lucanis fluff about cooking, poisons and absolute lack of self-preservation instinct when hungry.

It is also posted on AO3: <here>.

Alectris found her way back to the Lighthouse at what she'd assumed was early evening. She made her way through the library and realized that the place was eerily quiet. Normally there would be some hushed conversations going on or at least some shuffling coming from either Taash or Emmrich’s rooms. With no one in sight, she made her way towards the hidden entrance in the wall leading to a side room. 

Veryl's things were neatly arranged, but the man himself was conspicuously absent - just like everyone else. She emerged in the courtyard, suddenly feeling alien and unwelcoming with not even Assan in sight and wondered if she’d taken the wrong Eluvian and stumbled into an alternate Lighthouse.

A whiff of antivan cooking coming from the far side had suggested however, that maybe she simply arrived late for dinner. Since Lucanis and Bellara announced taking over the reins of the kitchen, nobody seemed to miss the shared meals anymore. 

She peeked into the kitchen only to find it empty if not for Lucanis who appeared to have yet another argument with Spite.

"No." The Crow sounded a lot more tired than annoyed. He was facing away from the door, by the tension in his shoulder she assumed that whatever dish he was working on was giving him more trouble than he expected. 

"Trust me, no. We can't taste the pasta by putting our hand into the pot with boiling water. " Spite learning about the limits of human experience. She guessed it was an improvement from their initial interactions. 

"Now that is some solid advice right here" she agreed walking in, scanning the kitchen in search of the other members of the Veilguard "Have I missed any party invitations? Where is everyone?" Lucanis looked up at her from above the stove, mixing some sort of sauce with more intention than seemed necessary.

"Rook is out in Arlathan with Bellara and Davrin. Something about a Veil Jumper, floating and needing Assan's help." he answered, focusing again on the concoction on the stove. "Neve took Veryl to Minrathous, to help her with case notes. Emmrich and Manfred are attending to some last moment preparations in the Necropolis and Taash took Lace drinking with the Lords testing if Harding's new stone powers make her more resistant to alcohol." He hesitated for a moment like there was something more he wanted to say but stopped himself before continuing.

"Right. Didn't get the memo that you wanted to cook alone. I'll go find myself somewhere else to be" she's made half a step back towards the kitchen door "Unless you need an experimental nug to test that thing you're making"

Lucanis blinked slowly, his eyes still fixed on the simmering sauce, the sharp smell of hot peppers filling the air. It didn’t cross his mind she’d offer to try whatever he was cooking without asking any questions first. 

“Ah, thank you, but you might want to skip this one, Tris.” He shook his head finally, putting all the effort he could into sounding casual “I’m testing some suggestions Bellara gave me, this might turn out really poorly.” “Well, what else are nugs for, if not sacrifice in the name of cooking?” Alectris laughed, shrugging her arms as she took a spot at the table “Come on, it smells great and I’m starving, you can’t just leave me hanging, can you?” He had to admit, despite the liberties taken in the recipe it did pass the initial sniff test. Which only made it harder to let her down gently without admitting what he was working on. And Alectris never showed herself to be easy to shake off. 

“The suggestions were about masking flavors. In this case masking the taste of deathroot extract to be specific.” Lucanis clarified hesitantly, his voice slightly clipped as if he was unhappy about letting her in on the secret. He had hoped to avoid any questions about poisons even existing in the vicinity of the kitchen. “Poison? Really?” She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly and the crow felt his stomach turn. 

“You alway struck me as an honest type.” a small smile formed on her lips as she continued  “You know, knives and swords and garrotes, not poisons in a glass of wine.”

“Don’t let Viago hear that.” he chuckled, letting out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. “Oh? Would he try to poison me?” Alectris straightened out in the chair with amusement painted on her face. She was surely going to try ribbing Viago about poisons the next time she got a chance, Lucanis realized. 

“No, but he might give you a long winded speech and at least 17 reasons why the use of poison is just as honest and professional as knives. He’s very… sensitive on this topic” It may have happened that such a comment slipped out of his mouth once or twice in the past. The first one was entirely accidental, the other… Well, as bets lost to Illario went, that was not the worst outcome. 

“Sounds like he just hopes you poison yourself while he talks.“ 

“I wouldn’t put it past him” He nodded, stirring the mixture again, still not entirely happy about the texture. The kitchen felt silent, the fire crackling softly and the metallic clanking of a spoon on the pan. Alectris sloped down in the chair crossing her arms and watching Lucanis with a slightly furrowed brow. 

“So, how will you know if you masked the flavor if no one's gonna eat it?” Alectris asked him finally when the silence stretched out too long. There was a glint in her eye and the tone of her voice only suggested curiosity “Are you trying to poison Davrin?” 

“I’m gonna eat it” the assassin corrected. He would not entertain a thought of actually hurting the Warden. Teasing him about it however, that would be a different topic entirely. “No!” she sat up straight immediately “Don’t worry I have antivenom, things are not looking that bleak.” he joked, but realized it may not land as well as he hoped with someone who was not raised a Crow “ “Wouldn’t be able to write down the outcomes either” 

“Ah, so I can eat it.” she grinned happily, which was not the reaction Lucanis was anticipating. “It’s poisoned” he repeated slowly, somewhat unsure if she was teasing him or was serious or if it was something else entirely. “You just said you have antivenin!” Mage protested with a nonchalance appropriate only to someone who rarely hears no. Whether it was by her birthright or her insistent nature he wasn’t sure. Clearly, it worked like a charm and was used often. “If it’s good enough for you, it’ll be good enough for me” 

“Alectris, this is a really bad idea” he knew her well enough by now to know that arguing would only make her dig her heels in and insist further. “Come on, I could eat a dracolisk.” she laughed, waving her hands “And you’ll get a second opinion. Everybody wins!”

He allowed himself a defeated sigh, taking the pan off the heat and placing it aside. He caught her stare for a moment looking for any signs of hesitation or discomfort on her part but the mage appeared perfectly content with the situation. He looked away as he made way to the back of the kitchen to retrieve the antidotes, glad he had stocked up recently. He certainly didn’t expect to share this particular experience. 

“Last moment to change your mind” Lucanis returned from the pantry carrying two small vials with murky, brownish liquid inside. In the fireplace light she could see the sediment swirl inside making her wonder if he was about to make her drink old swamp water. 

“There really are easier ways to kill me Luc” she insisted again, rising up for her chair to reach for one of them without hesitation. “There’s no need for theatrics”

Their hands brushed as she snatched the bottle from his grasp. Lucanis froze for a split second and Alectris hoped that he hadn’t noticed her face turning at least a shade redder. She’d blame it on the fire if he did. 

“I know.” the words escaped him before he could really think them through. “It is also not what I’m trying to do.” he added fast realizing how this must have sounded, but was met only with a wide grin and not a hint of worry. 

“Then I’ve nothing to worry about, do I?” Mage uncorked the mixture and raised a little toast with it. He returned the gesture suppressing the urge to reach over and stop her. Of course, she wouldn’t listen. Alectris never backed down from anything, even when she probably should. He sighed, wondering—not for the first time—how much trouble she would’ve been as a Crow. They both drank the liquid like it was a shot of the worst spirit in a shady tavern. It left a sandy feeling in the mouth and burned in the back of the throat. Lucanis coughed to cover his reaction, but couldn’t hide a smirk when he watched Alectris scrunch her nose and shake making a disgusted face. She clicked her tongue a few times like she was trying to get rid of the taste but failed. 

“Tastes like a morning in Minrathous” she finally managed to grumble, her face still sour and voice slightly raspy. Lucanis raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching.

“What could you mean by that?” He took the bottle from the table and tossed it into a small bucket filled with soapy water standing in the corner of the room. “Somewhat dump and muddy, surely fishy and vaguely depressing” she clarified, sounding a bit more sure than before. He kept an eye on her as she grunted and shifted in the chair while he was splitting the pasta and poisoned arrabbiata on two plates. 

“Didn’t think you’re a poetic type” Lucanis admitted, placing the plates on the table with a soft clink. 

“I’m not” Alectris shook her head looking slightly offended. She stabbed the dish with a fork a few times, as if she was trying to make sure it wouldn't attempt biting her back. 

“Maybe that’s why it’s weirdly accurate” Crow murmured looking judgingly at his own plate, a cloud of steam rising from it. It still smelled alright and looked completely ordinary. He only hoped it tasted as 

“Best neither V nor Neve ever hear this one” mage laughed while studying the pasta carefully, neither of them were fully eager to eat now that it came to it.  “Do I want to know what one makes an antidote for deathroot from?” she asked finally as if she wanted to delay the inevitable. Lucanis had to fight a reflex to remind her, she didn’t actually have to try it. 

“Not before eating” he said instead taking a deep breath wondering if the whole endeavour will pay out. 

“Great. A mystery for later then.” she nodded and bit down on the pasta before she could change her mind. For a moment nothing happened and then she burst out in a coughing fit, her eyes watering. Lucanis nearly jumped out of his chair, but she waved him away with an uncoordinated gesture as she fought to get through the bite while both laughing and crying.  

“I think it might be spiced up for Taash” she managed to get out after a few minutes and a glass of cold water that Lucanis offered “Might want to calm down with the peppers next time” 

[rajakaen]

Sketch concept of a Dragon Age Desire Demon

[rajakaen]

Neve and Verinius are heading home after a meal at the Cobbled Swan. Veryl is rambling, while Neve listens with amused scepticism, already sensing something is off.

V: (gesturing with his hand, voice full of enthusiasm) "You know, uh, apples from the region around Marothius near the Hundred Pillars are excellent for cider! That’s because the acidic old apple varieties thrive best in the loess soil of the local orchards there. They’re a bit—"

N: (side-eyes him, smirking knowingly) "You’re trying to hide something from me."

Verinius hesitates for half a second—just long enough to be noticeable—then immediately doubles down, talking faster, as if speed will save him.

V: (rushed, waving his hand like this is a completely normal conversation) "—more irregular than table apples, but they’re considered pure and contain special nutrients."

Neve, already enjoying this too much, tilts her head slightly, her smirk widening.

N: (mock-curious, voice laced with amusement) "Verinius, what did you do?"

Verinius laughs nervously, a bit too high-pitched, before quickly waving his hand as if dismissing the absurdity of this question.

V: (still grinning, eyes darting away) "What? Me? Nothing. There is absolutely no connection between cider and… uh… that localized atmospheric implosion from yesterday."

Neve raises an eyebrow, her expression practically daring him to keep going. The silence stretches just long enough for Verinius to realize he's in danger.

N: (mock-patiently, waiting for him to dig his own grave) "If there's blood splattered on the walls I'm not helping you clean it up. I'll make sure 'Fred doesn't help you either."

Verinius clears his throat, suddenly very interested in adjusting his belt, before launching back into his apple monologue with desperation.

V: (talking way too fast) "Well, uh—Malcarnis Red, you know, they already start getting sweet early, around Parvulis, right? But then there’s Virdanthe Aurelis, which—um—needs more time to fully, you know, build up the right sugar levels. Which is crucial, obviously, because you can’t just pick them too early, otherwise the flavour profile is—"

Mid-sentence, he notices Neve has stopped walking, arms crossed, weight shifted onto one hip, staring at him with an all-too-knowing smile. His fingers fidget at his collar, resisting the urge to pull at it as his brain scrambles for an escape plan.

N: (slowly, savouring every second of his obvious panic) "I’m going to find out what you did, believe me."

Verinius swallows hard. He knows she will...

Big thank you goes to Jukkari for helping me sort the dialogue, make the text work and reassuring me to not give in to anxiety - finally posting this project

Heavy Disney Art Style Relapse lol

[rajakaen]

The Fade | Lighthouse - Eluvian Room [7/...?] Bellara messing with fixing the Eluvian

[rajakaen]

Arlathan Forest D'Meta's Crossing [5/...?]

[rajakaen]

Yeah, ngl - I’ve given Dragon Age Veilguard a go and my thoughts on the game are pretty mixed—honestly, the story and characters didn’t grab me as much as the environment or the combat system. Tho the headcanon mostly Jukkari and I came up with is what I've enjoyed the most about this franchise game <3

Spending some 150h on my first run as a storm mage (I was busy snapping screenshots instead of playing the game) I've decided to share some of V's journey with you. Starting with the Minrathous prologue... [1/...?]

[rajakaen]

Arlathan Forest Veil Bubble [3/...?] Butterfly appreciation post

[rajakaen]

Arlathan Forest Ritual Site [2/...?]

[rajakaen]

I had another interesting interfleet experience 😂 This error was simply caused by logging in. Never seen this before 🙈

I feel lost here 😶‍🌫️

[rajakaen]

Some time ago, @jukkaricity and I talked about how our toons might interact with other OCs. The one we know best—thanks to frequent uploads and character insights—is @frauleiiin’s Jedi Knight, Maverik’a. She's the Alliance Commander within Fraulein's story universe, so why not have M deal with E and T at Odessen? Don't ask how the two got there; they simply materialised into existence...

Tahr'rys and Erin are doing absolutely nothing productive—just idling, indifferent to the flurry of activity around them. T sits comfortably, sipping his tea, while E tinkers with a technical device, half-fixing, half-dismantling it just to keep her hands busy. No one explicitly told them they had to be helpful and both took full advantage of this, much to the Commander's growing frustration.

T, as always, is pedantic and unwilling; following orders but only when given direct, precise commands. If there's room for interpretation, his results are technically correct but never quite what was intended. He is a jerk and far too clever, exploiting every loophole. E, on the other hand, is a walking menace, leaving explosions, electrical fires and mayhem in her wake, all under the guise of helping. She volunteers when asked, but at what cost?

After an incident involving Erin and Kaliyo (what started as a scam quickly escalated into a massive explosion at the base) Maverik'a finally forbids the two from even being in close proximity. Erin takes this personally, more opposed to this Alliance thing than before.

And Tahr'rys’ passive-aggressive defiance eventually wears down even a Jedi's patience. When Mave finally snaps and reproaches him for his indifferent, borderline rebellious behaviour, T simply turns mid-sermon and walks away—without a word, without a reaction. As if he hadn't even heard her.

Before exiting the base and heading to his ship, the former Sith gives a slight nod to the Chaos Gremlin, who flashes a mischievous grin, sticks out her tongue at the others and falls into step behind him. They leave behind a fuming Commander, baffled as to how these two became her responsibility. Sorry for not being sorry Fraulein :D

[rajakaen]

First of Many >.> Jumped into PTS with @jukkariart as heal and @myrddinvonnebelstein as dps to try our luck with the lair boss that seems to have 180% more health than it supposedly should in SM—18 minutes of pure joy. Mr. T was getting splattered with 'biomatter' nonstop while kiting this so-called fleshdroid. He's not happy about how he acquired his new chievo.

[rajakaen]

Here's a personal post I should have tackled a while ago. It's about SWTOR and the recent Character Art Modernization events. Like so many other players, I'm pretty disappointed with how BroadSword executed this project. Ever since I first saw the modernized faces in November on the PTS (and it didn’t get any better with the second overhaul), something in me just broke. Something that used to drive me to launch the game at least once a week. I choose to give constructive feedback in the forums as many others of you, too but Mods decided to take it down not only once but thrice.

Don't get me wrong - I've been with this game for a long time, met tons of amazing people, got motivated to learn how to draw humans at all and delved way too deep into characterization. This Tumblr account only exists because of the SWTOR community here :D Also, my storytelling and English have improved a lot since then; although I don't really share what I write—I just can't bring myself to do it ^^; I deeply care for this game and love the joy it created not only for me but for us all. But it becomes harder and harder to make me invest in something that (from my POV) is already lost and dying.

So, some SWTOR updates over the years were half-baked, some introduced more problems and left the game worse or even made less interesting over time. Patch 7.0, for instance, was a disaster on PTS with its raised boss difficulty to 344 (we only had access to 326 gear if I remember right) and the restructuring of the overall skill system. 7.0 was already poorly received before going live. And oh boy, it got life. It's clear that if a Publisher or DevTeam want something to happen in their game/project, they push through. We as players have little to no influence here. You're allowed to express your opinion, but whether it's heard is anyone's guess. I won’t even start on the implementation, as this is a different topic.

What I’m getting at is that my excitement around SWTOR has significantly dwindled. Thankfully, after much persuasion from others, I decided to release Tahr'rys from the Inquisitor's storyline and replace Ashara with a similar character named Relah. The stories and possibilities have incredibly increased since tho Mr T stays a rather static construct. To keep him believable, he can’t just frolic joyfully through fields and become cheerful. He is who he is, shaped by his story and how he dealt with events. He influences what happens—just like we all do in our lives. But we don't have any influence over a game studio’s decisions. And as for my SWTOR art, things are going to get a bit quiet here.

I’ve never posted much because drawing humans, especially Tahr'rys, has always been a real challenge for me (yes it is). It's very time-consuming and not very rewarding. To make things worse for him - I've been drawn into the Veilguard vortex by @jukkariart and got deeply invested in her stories; hence the shift in focus on my blog. We're constructing our own narrative around the Veilguard events under a common rook and right now, our companion characters (Alectris and Verinius) offer much more dopamine. T and Co will remain and I’ll occasionally post about them- but it'll be even more infrequent than before :>

Thanks for reading this far and staying with me ❤️

[rajakaen]

I've seen these OC questions and thought I could try to answer them for T. I'd call it random curiosity and it was fun so, here are the results. Nobody needs to ask any questions as I love to answer them for myself lol It's not much but I think it counts as content and some of you are at least somewhat interested in what this Tahr'rys character has to offer & what kind of stupid ideas I can come up with

1) Does your OC have a voice claim, if so who? The German voice actor Joachim Pütz (not only the voice of the German mSI but also the presenter of the ARD weather report for over 20 years lol)

2) Who's your OCs best friend? How did they become best friends? He had some throughout his life. The Chiss Kitan from his days when he was with the Imperial Army and the Dar’Manda Neongard who found T when he was aimlessly wandering, lost in his mind. T believes that Kitan is the reason he was sent to the Sith and that Neo lied to him about his status as an outcast for years. The closest thing he currently has to a best friend is with the former Sith, Erin Akhalen. Somehow, the two have developed a type of friendship based on mutual antagonism and despite their frequent disagreements, neither would want to lose the other, although they would never admit it. Also, there's Relah, who has been with him for a long time and he deeply cares for her. They're more than friends but not quite a couple. His affection stems not only from their shared past but also because she is a constant beacon of light in his otherwise dark world—even when he couldn’t see things clearly. They were separated for years because Tahr'rys was too consumed by his own darkness, becoming delusional and accusatory towards her during his time with the Sith.

3) What song describes your OC? Both, ”Assemblage 23 - Spark” and “Xenturion Prime - Embers” describe him astonishingly well.

4) What song describes your OC and their partner/love interest? There are some, depending on the state of their relationship: “Rotersand - Speak to me”, “State of the Union - Stupid Song”, “ Dismantled - The Hero (Noonatac club mix)”, “Seabound - Castaway” and “NeuroticFish - Invisible” >.> their relationship is as troubled as is T.

5) Do you ship your OC with a Canon character? If so who? Actually, it was Ashara, but I've decided to replace her with a character that better fits my needs. Otherwise, I had to reinvent the base idea of who she is. And that’s not what I was aiming for.

6) If your OC is in a fantasy setting, what profession would they be in the modern day? Soldier, Sharpshooter, Non-Official-Cover Hitman, Freelance Contractor, Ethnobotanist and Healer.

8) What hobbies does your OC have? What do they do to unwind? He enjoys reading high-fantasy novels, caring for his plants and tending to the tiny lizards that inhabit his vivarium. He’s also quite inquisitive and can spend hours trying to solve problems that have recently arisen. Lately, Tahr’rys has discovered a passion for fishing and Erin would say no better hobby fits him so perfectly. When he finds the time and nothing is pressing to do, he tends to seek out a spot and sit by the water for hours, patiently waiting for a fish to bite. Relah and Erin both swear that he barely moves a muscle while fishing.

9) How does your OC handle their physical health? Do they take care of themselves? He does and needs to. The extensive chemical burn requires close monitoring and careful attention. It must be kept clean, moisturized and covered to protect it from excessive sun exposure. He also needs to perform daily exercises to maintain the flexibility of the scar tissue. Additionally, he pays close attention to his diet, especially when he eats something other than Nutripills. 

10) How does your OC handle their mental health? Do they take care of themselves? Over the years, Tahr'rys has been through a lot that has inevitably damaged his psyche. He has become a product of what he has endured—both self-inflicted and externally imposed. He’s painfully aware that he’s (not only) mentally unwell but is currently working with Relah to address the issues he has repressed for far too long. Both know this will not repair the damage that’s already done and T can only heal so much. He is also very stubborn about the whole topic and does not want to be pitied or patronized. He won't seek help beyond Relah; the Sith would only force him to his former role and he doubts he would have the strength to escape their influence again. The Jedi would try to turn him into something he is not. He remains extremely sceptical of all factions.

11) What was your inspiration for your OC? The Sith Inquisitor from SWTOR - obviously - but he became a mix of many stories I like and what I find interesting or worthwhile to think about.

12) Does your OC interact with other people's OC? If so, who's their best OC friend? Already answered in point 2 - it is Jukkari’s little gremlin.

13) Does your OC have a rival? How did it start? Tahr’rys doesn’t care enough for others to have a real rival.

14) Who's a character your OC cannot stand! It's on sight when they see them! Vask'ita'nagi! Tahr’rys becomes disproportionately aggressive whenever the topic comes up as he believes his then-best friend revealed that he was a Force user—a fact he didn't know by himself at the time he saved Kitan from being crushed by falling debris. It's best not to think about what would happen if they met in person. While Kitan holds no grudge against his old friend, Tahr’rys blames him fervently for everything that happened to him after his service.

15) Will your OC ever retire? Do you see them making it? He did run away from the Sith to hide from their influence. They never caught him, tho the threat of being tracked down persists—even after 12 years. He was lucky the Empire faced other problems during his escape and had to undergo restructuring. No one misses a Sith that officially never existed.

16) How's their relationship with their parents? Are they alive? Before T insisted on becoming a soldier, the three had a great relationship and his parents, Tahsin and Sahr’ra Nelubin, are still alive. Still, Tahr’rys is deeply ashamed of what he has become over the decades and is haunted by the knowledge that they were right all along—if only he had listened to them. They believe he died in action during his last mission as a soldier and Tahr’rys knows better than to disturb their peace with the truth of who he is now.

18) What are their pronouns? What would they like to be called? T is a cisgender male - a random guy that goes by he/him but he doesn’t care about how he’s addressed.

19) What's their sexuality? What's their love language both giving and receiving? Hetero oriented AroAce I guess? The rest is quite challenging, as T dislikes being touched—it's not out of fear, he simply prefers to avoid physical contact. He gives a lot, but it's more through his actions—it’s the attention he pays to Relah and how he interacts with her. He becomes less abrasive and very protective, yet he remains detached. What he receives from Relah is a mix of encouragement and challenge, paired with an understanding of his needs and the time he requires to sort things out.

20) If they fight, what's their weapon of choice? He prefers his old military knife but makes use of his double-bladed saberstaff (teal blade with white core) if necessary. Tho T is a rather sneaky guy. If he doesn’t have to pull out his knife and can stay hidden, he tends to cause cardiac arrest in his enemies. He can’t cast full-fledged lightning arcs but quick bursts of lightning.

21) What song best describes their relationship with their enemy? T doesn’t have real enemies but let’s take Kitan instead: “Silent Theory - Fragile Minds”

22) Fight or Flight? Are they a lover or a fighter? Freeze -> Flight -> Fight. Tahr'rys is a thinker, not a brute force. Neither is he a lover.

23) Is your OC reliable? Can I call them up at two in the morning if I have a flat tire? Tahr’rys is one of the most reliable people you could meet—if you manage to get his word on something, he will stick to it no matter what. However, coaxing a promise out of him can be challenging, as he is quite evasive.

24) Can they play any instruments? If so, what do they play? Nope. He never showed any interest in music besides consuming it. He’s listening to stuff close to the genre “chillgressive” but only with headphones on and when nobody’s around. 

25) Are they the kind of person who can't resist a good song? Can I catch your OC singing to themselves while they do the dishes? Tahr’rys is one of those eerie individuals who makes hardly any noise. He's not much of a talker (huge understatement), so he doesn’t sing or hum either.

26) What flower do you associate your OC with? Cichorium intybus, or Wegwarte as we call it in German, loosely translates to “waiting by the wayside.” There’s a little anecdote about a maiden who waited in vain at the spot where the flowers now grow. Her knight had joined a crusade and never returned.

27) What's their spirit tamagotchi? Or an animal you associate them with? A housecat. They’re as unpredictable as T is lol

[rajakaen]

Reflection Rtuesday

Help, last week I got tagged by @jukkaricity to participate at @thedissonantverses' share the shit you're holding back Reflection Ruesday

Yeah, I've got way too much stuff lying around or never post finished work 'cause I get super anxious about negative feedback or getting none at all >.> That's why I don’t stress about how long things take, whether I finish them or scrap hours of work if the result fails my expectations. Same with turning drafts into actual stories—I know how they should look and feel and what they're about, but… yeah. A Bad habit? Probably some low-key social anxiety I've picked up over the years. Uploading anything regarding my own thought processes (including OC's) just stresses me TF out ^^; ──────────────────────────────

Anyway… I've been poking at this one drawing of Tahr’rys for over a year now, but I can't bring myself to finish it 'cause I suck at rendering in general; especially faces… ──────────────────────────────

Then there's the ref sheet of Relah—his, uh… she's a good friend of his. Don't ask them about it. They're way beyond complicated lol. I'll finish the sheet one day. There's still so much work to do... (Yes, she's loosely based on Ashara Zavros) ────────────────────────────── Also, tossing in a text prompt I'll probably never write out, but I like it. It's kinda key to Tahr'rys and Relah's dynamic and how their story unfolds. The draft is heavy and moody, as most related to this character. It's a private scene in T's quarter aboard Neo's Freighter, en route from the Outer Rim to the Unknown Regions. Taking place around 32826 TYA / 26 ATC. 3627 Doomsday Calendar

Content Warning: themes related to trauma & mental health

Tahr’rys lived with Neongard for nearly a decade after being captured by the Dar’Manda bounty hunter—three years after his Jōhatsu from the Sith, in the wake of Zakuul’s conquest of the known galaxy's major powers. Over time, their relationship shifted from captor and captive to a working partnership, though not an entirely friendly one. The men spent a considerable amount of time in the cramped confines of Neo’s freighter, the Prancing Anvil, travelling through the galaxy, always on the lookout for a rewarding job. Eventually, the former Sith began helping Neo with his contracts, having nowhere else to go and no idea how to move on—or where to begin.

As fate would have it, Tahr’rys and Relah crossed paths during one of those missions—long after their fallout during their days with the Sith. This time, circumstances between them are different and they have managed to reconnect over the past few months. His years with Neo and everything T has endured since have changed him. Not exactly for the better, but she recognizes that he is less hostile, less agitated. Relah, by contrast, had escaped the Sith and returned to the Jedi, while T was burying himself in the Sphere’s demands. Last time she’d seen him, he had lashed out without warning, how one wrong word had set him off. Still unsure whether this new version of T is truly different, R somehow managed to get him to open up for the first time. 

The two are seated on his L-shaped couch, separated by a small table but maintaining a noticeable distance. The quarter is cool, austere—sparsely furnished and seemingly barely lived in. Nothing lies around; only Tahr’rys’ leather jacket hangs loosely over a chair, while a few scattered items and his saberstaff rest on the desk. On the bed across the room lies a closed holobook. The overall lighting is subdued, with T’s vivarium on the wall casting a soft glow across their faces and the space around them. The air carries the scent of plants and damp earth, laced with a metallic tang and the faint smell of ageing machinery. It is quiet, aside from the occasional creak of the ship’s frame as it travels through hyperspace. Neo is in the cockpit. T sits with his back to us, only part of his profile visible. Opposite him sits Relah, hands folded on her legs, listening intently to his words. Her posture isn’t entirely relaxed and betrays a touch of nervousness. Expressions shift across R’s face—concern, disbelief, sorrow and, occasionally, a faint smile. Her green eyes remain fixed on him. Throughout the scene, T sits motionless, talking with a low, even voice; neither gesturing nor shifting. His posture is stooped, head slightly lowered with his eyes fixed on the ground as if he’s directing his monologue to the floor beneath R, tho his words are undoubtedly meant for her. He speaks about his past, what happened to him, what he participated and what led him here. We can’t hear their conversation. They remain like this for a long while; the former Sith talking and the Jedi listening. Then something he says causes an abrupt change. Relah’s face stills. The colour drains slightly as she blinks once, then again, trying to process what she’s heard. Without a word, she rises, prompting the first visible reaction from T. He lifts his head, eyes catching the light with an uncanny reflectiveness—an orange hue, like dull embers in a dying fire. R says nothing, but the following silence is louder than anything she could’ve said. As she turns away and steps aside, T shifts to follow her with his gaze. Raising a hand in a weak, imploring gesture, but letting it fall almost immediately. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t move as she walks past him, leaving the room. Once he’s alone, the man lowers his gaze and folds in on himself, burying his face in his hands and closing his eyes. He doesn’t cry; he simply sits there, silent and unmoving. Whatever he had been processing comes to a halt, his conscious self shutting down entirely. Still, time moves on, and the old freighter hums steadily around him. Metal beams creak and a faint vibration runs through the floor as the Prancing Anvil shifts in hyperspace. The lights dim noticeably as the vivarium adjusts to a new cycle. Somewhere, a system resets with a soft mechanical chime—but Tahr’rys remains unaffected by it all, present only in form. Some time passes before the bulkhead to T’s quarters slides open. Relah enters, carrying two cups of steaming tea. She sets them down on the table in front of him, speaking briefly but not looking at him directly. Then she pauses—something seems off. Her gaze shifts to the man on the couch and her lips form his name. No response. Her brows furrow. She repeats, but still, he doesn’t react. After a moment of hesitation, she reaches out and places a hand on his shoulder, giving him a gentle shake. Nothing. She’s never seen anyone—least of all this impossible person—in a state like this. For a few seconds, she just stands there, uncertain. Then she begins pacing the confined space, gesturing as she moves, before finally settling beside him. Even then, he doesn’t react.

Relah exhaled, frustrated, her eyes drifting toward the cooling tea on the table. After a while, she straightens to reach for one and takes a sip, then shifts slightly, sliding a little away from T to get a clearer look at him. He remains hunched forward, elbows on his knees, face buried in his hands—his body slack but not fully collapsed, still holding enough tension to keep from completely sinking in on himself. Her gaze lingers, lips tightening slightly as a realization takes shape. This had happened after she walked out. That much is clear. But whatever line she crossed, she couldn’t quite grasp it. There’s no way to reach him and nothing within her abilities might bring him back. Setting the cup back on the table, she leans in again—this time, resting her head against his shoulder, waiting for him to return.

[rajakaen]

The Fade | Crossroads || Beacon Island - Converged City - The Labs Below [8/...?] have some ingame VmanPixelPerson