#affordable skeleton watch

[crowtoed]

You're absolutely right. Hezenkoss even compares corpses to kindling in a fire. I like to think part of it is that the Mourn Watch also works with the living. All of the death care workers that I know IRL are also genuinely very kind and caring people. They treat it as a calling, a duty, a privilege to help the living by caring for the dead. I think if the Mourn Watch were always isolated in the Necropolis a lot of them would lose sight of the preciousness of life or step with humanity. There are a lot of cautionary tales about necromancers that lose their humanity (and not in the lich way). So while I'm sure there are Days of Public Mourning that have Myrna and some of the Watch feeling very "this job would be great if it wasn't for the customers", it's incredibly necessary for them to interface with living, breathing people.

I’m thinking about Emmrich and his obvious compassion for the dead, and I’m wondering about how the Mourn Watch are trained. We know not all Mortalitasi share his empathy (see the mage in “The Dread Wolf Take You” from Tevinter Nights), so maybe the Mourn Watch undergo something that helps instill this reverence and respect for spirits and the departed.

It got me thinking: what if the Mourn Watch mages work with the dying before they work with the dead?

Perhaps as apprentices they complete a year of service as death doulas, to give them perspective on how death affects not only those dying but also their loved ones. They hold hands at bedsides, comfort parents and children and siblings and spouses, and give potions to help ease their patients across the Veil without pain, if that is their wish.

They then prepare their remains for mummification, treating these mortal shells with the same care they did before their soul departed. They lovingly wash their skin, anoint them with oils and resins, and wrap them in strips of linen with their precious earthly belongings tucked between the layers.

Then, now knowing the departed on a more intimate level than many who knew them in life, they begin to search the Fade for a being who will best embody the things they held important, imparting their legacy to live on through a benevolent spirit who can then experience the waking world through their form.

They don’t bind these spirits. They don’t need to, because they have come to know and understand the departed so thoroughly that they can then seek out one who will come willingly into their body.

Maybe this is why some Nevarran mages callously bind wisps to stir their wine, but Emmrich can see a wailing corpse and recognize the pain of lost love in its cries, or give a curious wandering soul the perfect postmortem position as his librarian.

Anyway, I guess what I’m saying is RIP to the rest of the Mortalitasi but the Mourn Watch is different.

[frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe]

@steddie-spooktober day 7: skeleton | G | wc: 641

“You said it’s in your closet?”

“Yeah!” Eddie calls back from the living room. “It should be on the…left? Side?”

“‘Kay!” Steve yells back.

He’s been over helping Eddie pack up his things from the trailer. It’s October already and the fall semester has started for Robin up in Chicago; now that Steve knows the shitheads are set for the new school year, Mike being the first of the group to get his licence (AND was willing to be taught by Steve so he at least knows Mike will be (somewhat) safe) to cart them all around in the Wheelers’ station wagon… he’s following her there officially.

Eddie is too, decided to tag along and “Get out of what’s left of Wayne’s hair.” as he put it. 

So here they are, packing up Eddie’s things and shuttling some of Wayne’s back into the single bedroom of the trailer.

“Green suitcase, green suitcase,” Steve mutters to himself, a reminder of what he needs to be looking for in the bedroom closet.

As soon as he reaches the bedroom door, he hears the front one creak open, Eddie greeting Wayne with a “Careful old man, I can’t afford a hip replacement if you trip over my crap.”

Wayne’s soft snort of laughter is drowned out by the squeal of the metal-on-metal of Eddie’s closet door, and the loud “JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!” Steve let out at the sight before him.

Clutching his chest where his heart is hammering him to death from within, Steve looks up at the, what he can now tell is completely fake, skeleton hanging from the bar inside the closet.

“Steve! What the hell are you screaming abou— Ha! Wayne~!” he calls over his shoulder, “You got Steve!”

“Damn..” Steve hears Wayne mutter before yelling back, “Well if you’re gonna keep datin’ him, he better start learning our traditions.”

Steve freezes. 

Eddie freezes (halfway back out of the closet with the skeleton dangling from his hand).

‘Am I that obvious?’ they each think to themselves.

Another beat passes, and Steve is the one to reply, “Not fair Wayne, The next time you get a scare like that, we’ll be putting you in an early grave!”

Wayne barks out a laugh, and goes back to whatever clinking around with his mug he was doing before.

Steve watches Eddie’s face fill with color. His heart is still beating a little too fast. “Listen, Eddie–”

“Good one Steve-o,” Eddie says, hurriedly, tossing the plastic skeleton back onto the now bare mattress before going back in for the suitcase, “Old man jokes will always land in this house.”

“Eddie, listen,”

“No need, Harrington, It was just an old man joke. Ha! See? Still funny.” Eddie’s face is almost purple.

“I’d love to date you, Eddie.” Steve says to the back of Eddie’s head, plain and simple. “This isn’t exactly how I wanted to break the news to you that I did but uh.. Yeah.”

Eddie finally turns back around, confusion almost dripping off his face. “You, Steve Harrington, want to date me. As in me, Eddie Munson, flunkie dealer trailer trash?”

“No, I want to date Eddie Munson, hot piece of ass metalhead with a big heart.”

Eddie drops the suitcase and pinches the exposed skin of his other arm. Hard.

“That… had to hurt.”

“It did, yeah.”

He drops his arm, continuing to stare at Steve like he was some sort of creature in a tank.

“You gonna say anything or am I gonna have to guess? ‘Cause let me tell you, man, I don’t have that great of a track record with things like th—”

Eddie finally puts Steve out of his misery and cuts off his rambling. “Don’t call me ‘man’ when I’m about to kiss you stupid.” 

Steve blinks, “Okay.”

That plastic skeleton is known as Wingman from then on.

skull/skeleton lace dividers by @saradika HERE

[llamagoddessofficial]

Le gasp..

Mafia Bad Sanses’ HCs

Mafia Bad Sanses’ HCs?

Horror likes bashing in heads. He likes that his job means he gets paid to bash in a lot of heads. He doesn't really care that he's considered one of Nightmare's top enforcers, that even the hardest criminals tremble in fear at the mention of his name, that he's called things like the beast and the monster... he just likes that he gets to take out all his worst frustrations on whichever face Nightmare points him to. As a nice bonus, the money he makes means his brother and surviving friends live in safety and comfort.

... But he also likes pretty things. Pretty, soft things, that make him feel fuzzy and warm. You're all three. You find out pretty quick that his frightening face hides a softspoken, sensitive creature, who keeps appearing at your door with flowers (when did you give him your address?) and homemade food. It's bizarre, how such a violent man can equally be so gentle, getting flustered just from you looking at him too long. He wants to do to you what he does with everyone he cares about - use his money to make it so that you never have to worry about anything in life again.

Probably for the best that you let him. He famously doesn't have great control over his temper.

Dust doesn't appear too happy about working for Nightmare. It's clear to anyone watching that Nightmare has something over him; whatever it is, it must be pretty bad, because Dust never questions Nightmare's orders - no matter how terrible or violent. He does exactly what's asked of him, no more, no less. And it's obvious why Nightmare might want to force someone like Dust to work for him... there's no job this silent demon can't do.

Dust, with you, is a different man. He almost becomes his old self again. When you're alone together, he actually smiles. He desperately wants to keep you away from the world he's become trapped in, and he'll probably spend the first few weeks of knowing you trying as hard as he can to separate you from him and the other skeletons. But... he's in love. He can't help it. He's always drawn back to you again, no matter how many times he tells himself he has to let go.

You're his escape. You make him forget the things he's done, and the things he has to keep doing. He's addicted to that feeling.

Killer is Nightmare's right hand. The moniker 'Nightmare's dog' is often used, mostly in an attempt to offend him, but it just makes him laugh. Much like Horror, he very much enjoys his job... he enjoys the power, indulging in his violent desires and getting paid for it. Killer is just about the closest thing Nightmare has to someone he trusts; Killer is privy to many of their 'family's deepest secrets, partly because of his position, but also partly because Nightmare knows Killer genuinely has absolutely zero interest in these massively important secrets. Killer just wants to stab things.

For some reason he seems intent that you trust him. It's really hard to tell what he wants, behind that smile... you're cautious with him, given his clear loyalty to Nightmare. But maybe that loyalty isn't as unshakeable as it seems. It starts with little things... casually lying through his teeth and fully taking the blame for something you did. Conveniently 'forgetting' to mention you around Nightmare. Failing a mission you expressed horror at. Lying about the nature of your personal information, pretending (in front of the guys) that he doesn't know stuff he very much knows.

It's impossible to tell what he wants. But it seems like, whatever it is, he wants it more than all the power he's got now.

Nightmare will obviously want to learn the identity of the person who's somehow managed to completely disarm his three most valuable and violent soldiers. Despite all of them doing their damnedest to keep you out of Nightmare's crosshairs, you can't be hidden forever.

Nightmare is supposed to have everything - there's no luxury he can't afford. But he's always had this... void inside him. It's the very void that pushes him to keep expanding his territory, to keep killing and taking, maybe if he has just that little bit more he'll feel complete. Maybe if he just has that one last shiny thing, he'll be happy. But it's never been enough.

Then he finally meets you. And something clicks.

Dust, Killer and Horror tried so hard to keep you away from Nightmare, because they were terrified of what would happen to you if Nightmare decided he didn't like you. Instead, something much, much worse happened.

Nightmare likes you.

[mimir-anoshe]

I love that ARCANE is using the MAJOR ARCANA for symbolism.

Chefs kiss.

These are Sevika's tarot cards from season 1.

The Magician (upright) overlapping Death (upright).

Foreshadowing? Oh hell yeah. But its only now after S2 Episode 6 do I understand what they might actually be foreshadowing. People may have talked about this before, so I apologise if this is similar to anyone else's meta. These are all my own thoughts, I usually just watch arcane and don't dabble into the meta but this season has me feral and I just rewatched season 1.

SPOILERS for Arcane S1/S2 below.

I just want to prologue this post with a note about how I've noticed even from season 1 there are thematic parallels and linear symbolism being afforded between Jinx and Viktor. Others in the community have too I'm sure. Its strange. I thought it was interesting in S1 but didn't deep dive into it, but S2 has driven headfirst into it and its making me go "oh... oh ok." Even Viktor in S1 noted Jinx's genius, and in another timeline perhaps Powder would've been a student of Viktors had fate not set them on parallel paths. Two children of Zaun, both mechanical/scientific geniuses. One physically disabled whilst the other mentally disabled. One who "escaped" and was given a chance, rising to the top only to create something that would be used for harm. Fighting that fate at every step. Whilst the other trapped at the bottom of the barrel, forced to use her gifts to become a weapon herself. Such GOOD story writing.

So now let's think about the art of the cards, because in tarot, even the symbolism of the specific art is important. Its why an artists interpretation of a major/minor can be so crucial to a reading.

Here's a figure map I made earlier.

Lets begin with Death.

Thirteenth of the Major Arcana, a "significant transformation and the end of a phase in life." There is death and rebirth symbolism all over arcane, but let's take a closer look at the symbolism mirroring the art.

Figure 7&8 - The one who has "died" a skeleton/skull laid down and being "imbued" with something as something else is taken away.

See that the imbuing focuses on the "chest" area.

It's quick, but it flashes briefly when Viktor is being imbued with the Hexcore. He canonically dies "the skull" and is reborn with the Hexcore on an "altar"/table.

Same with Jinx. Canonically "dies" and is reborn laying on an "altar"/table using shimmer. Purple being used as the visual thread between shimmer and the arcane of the hex; a colour imagery representation of "magical" alchemical/arcane power turning them into something beyond human.

Singed and Jayce. Two hands of death, giving and taking life as if they were a God. One using shimmer, the other Hextech thats imbued with shimmer. Messing with the balance of life and death.

With Viktor, the energy is transferred straight into his chest, just like on the card.

So now we've established the parallels to the death tarot, lets look at The Magician.

The First of the Major Arcana, "the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds, and the ability to manifest one's desires."

Viktor is the Magician. No doubt. He connects the physical and spiritual world of the arcane, he brings people back from the brink of death, as he was. He manifests his desires through the use of the hex, the arcane. And the dude just looks like a mecha wizard.

Though if you want it to be even more obvious.

Figure 3 - The Third Arm/Third Hand.

The image below is "The Machine Herald" Hero from League of Legends. This is the hero Viktor is based upon.

He canonically has three arms, same as the Magician in the card. The Magician is Viktor, Viktor is the Magician. The Magician is the Machine Herald.

The Magician overtakes/overlaps death. But Viktor by episode 6 still doesn't quite resemble the machine herald from the games. There's no third arm... Yet. So the Magician in the card isn't Viktor from episodes 1-6, this is the machine herald who comes after the one killed in episode 6. Another Rebirth is set to happen for Viktor.

Figures 1 &2 - White mask. Red/pinkish eyes.

Hmmm... Red/pinkish eyes are associated with shimmer. And a white mask, of the machine herald? The mask of a messiah. That the hextech Viktor will most likely also be imbued with shimmer like Jinx, to become the true "machine herald." Messiahs of the hex, monsters of the shimmer.

Its also worth noting that both Jinx and Viktor are framed as messianic figures of Zaun in this season. One the fighter who will rally together the undercity and free Zaun from its oppression. The other a healer and a saint like figure who will free the Zaunites of their suffering and lead them into a better future.

Jinx wanting peace - represented by Isha - and Viktor's dream of peace and healing for Zaun - represented by a lot of things including healing Vander - are metaphorically and literally killed in episode 6. Funnily enough, one symbol of peace killing the other (Isha and Vander - Child and Father). After all, peace and violence are two sides of the same coin, as are Viktor and Jinx. Or should I say, two sides of the same cog...

Figure 4&6 - The Cog shaped Hole in the Magicians chest/The Cog Coin and Jinx's cog.

"I understand now. The message hidden within the pattern. The reason for our failures in the commune. The doctor was right. Its inescapable. Humanity. Our very essence. Our emotions... Rage. Compassion. Hate. Two sides of the same coin. Inextricably bound."

In episode 6, whilst Viktor is explaining to Vi about what it will take to heal Vander, Jinx is sceptical. She doesn't even believe in herself as a messiah, so this "hero"? This "saviour" coming along to solve their problems? To fix things? When all she can do is break everything around her, jinx her own family, destroy? She's scoffing at Viktor sure, but she's also scoffing at herself. Mirroring. People treat her like they treat him, so to believe in him as a saviour means she would have to look into the water of that well and face her own reflection. And Viktor sees right through it, the pretence, and he sees her potential.

Knowledge is a paradox. Jinx wants to stick with what she knows, to destroy instead of to build, to "Watch it all burn." Or ignore the plight of Zaun, so she can live peacefully with Isha. Jinx - Powder - is choosing to remain ignorant to what's right in front of her. Right up until the moment Isha dies.

In the scene earlier in the episode, Jinx accidently destroys a bit of the well, releasing a cog that falls into water. Cogs have been symbolic of Viktor healing people throughout this season, using cogs to "Build."

Powder was thrown into water just like that cog by Silco, and reborn as Jinx. But its not Silco that picks up this cog. Its Viktor. He holds the potential of his creation in his hand, and in paradox, holds Jinx's destruction. Viktor holds Jinx's potential. He's literally holding the two sides of Jinx/Powder in his hand, her - their - fate. Just like Jinx, Viktor has the equal capacity to destroy, and if he is reborn as a weapon later on, perhaps that cog represents Jinx being reborn too. As a creator. A builder.

He holds onto Jinx's cog all the way through the rest of the episode, balancing that potential, that fate, of creation and destruction in his hand. Right up until the moment he dies, and the coin/the cog falls, sealing their fate. His death causing the deaths of Isha and Vander too.

So we've established that the story is viewing cogs/coins in a similar light. We've also established the show is linking Viktor and Jinx through the symbology of the cog.

This is reiterated in the symbolism surrounding the Tarot cards. Around the cards are coins that take the shape of cogs, the currency of Zaun. Fate - coin flips - and cogs, gods and machines. Deus Ex Machina, that is what Viktor is to become, and Jinx creates destruction using machines. She's an inventor, just like Viktor and Jayce. A creator and a destroyer. A god of the machine.

So how does Figure 6 - the coin cogs - relate to Figure 4? The hole in the Magician's chest.

On the Tarot Card, the Magician has a circle in the middle of his chest. A hole. Just like the hole Jayce puts through Viktors chest at the end of Episode 6. The one that kills him.

But if you look closely at the image above, it might be a stretch, but to me, the striations on the inner ring look very similar to those of a cog. The hole is what kills Viktor. Cogs have been given visual symbolism for healing, and are also associated with Jinx's potential for creation. Its a stretch, but it could potentially be foreshadowing Jinx using her abilities to heal Viktor; to build instead of destroy. We've already seen Jinx do it once with Sevika, by "building" her a new arm.

I also find it interesting that we're shown Jinx using her talents to build someone a new arm, and Viktor - the machine herald - still has yet to acquire his third arm. Perhaps he doesn't make it. Perhaps Jinx does?

Maybe, just maybe, Jinx - Powder - is the one to fix Viktor, and flip the cog of fate once again.

Now in Episode 6 we already get foreshadowing that it'll be singe - not Jinx - who saves Viktor by imbuing him with the ultimate shimmer from Warwick/Vander - stabilising him. He says it in the episode, but Viktor refuses to sacrifice Vander in the name of creating the ultimate weapon of destruction.

"It would destroy him."

Viktor's potential for destruction goes hand in hand with Jinx's.

Its even foreshadowed in both the cards. The red/pink eyes of the machine herald foreshadowing shimmer. And the shadow being imbued into the chest of the dead skeleton (Viktor) looks an awful lot like Warwick; the beast that traps Vander.

So why am I talking about Jinx saving Viktor if I'm so certain its Singe? Well I'm certain Singe will bring Viktor back to life, to be used as a weapon. That seems like the most likely outcome.

But like Viktor was saying about Vander "He's not a specimen, he's a man." Viktor was doing everything in his power to save Vander's humanity. So yes Singe will bring the machine herald back most likely - even if I think it'd be thematically cool for it to be Jinx - but I think Jinx will save Viktor. Save the man, the humanity. Be the big fat hero.

Jinx was a girl imbued with Shimmer, and despite having monstrous abilities and doing monstrous things, her humanity has still survived.

I could be wrong, I most likely am, but the the thing that's getting to me is this...

Figure 5 - The Broken Infinity.

At the centre of Viktor's chest, in the middle of Jayce's death blow and Jinx's cog of creation & destruction, is a symbol.

Now a diagonal infinity symbol is associated with the Firelights. Ekko. The boy who shattered time.

Broken Infinity? Shattered time? Seems to go hand in hand.

Though Ekko's symbol is a whole infinity, more akin to a Z than an ongoing X.

There are plenty of theories Ekko will play a role in Viktor's fate and the fate of everyone by rewinding time somehow. And the multiple shots of the coin rolling support that to an extend. Rewind time, change fate, change the flip of the cog. And I agree, I think Ekko is going to have a role to play. But there's also another character who fits with this symbol, who uses shimmer to move faster than humanly possible and defy fate time and time again. Who is the fulcrum of fate in the eyes of the story, the catalyst of everything. And only one character who has solely been associated with a broken infinity symbol before.

Jinx. That's Jinx's symbol. Her champion tag.

Jinx's symbol, right at the centre of Viktors chest. And this line to Jinx from Viktor...

"You have much to offer this commune, Powder. Your talents could be used to build instead of destroy."

And the line from Singe, about Viktor's fate being tied to the commune. Viktor IS the commune, he's the centre of it all. The one who can make the dream of Zaun - Vander's dream - a reality. And that line foreshadowed Jinx using her talents to help the commune. To help Viktor.

Hell, she was technically the reason he "died" in the first place. She fired the rocket that nearly killed him. Wouldn't it be poetic story telling if she was the one who saved him in the end?

I can't wait for Saturday.

I believe whatever happens, Viktor and Jinx's fates are inextricably bound.

[covertleathers]

Due to them coming from vastly different cultures I absolutely imagine Ingellvar and Lucanis having two weddings (and because the Dellamortes can totally afford it). Plus, I just want to see Lucanis dressed in Mourn Watch finery and gold. Like yeah, whatever, fake Catholic wedding in Treviso with the Crows snoooze (bonus Vorgoth in attendance). But the REAL party is the Mourn Watch ceremony in the Necropolis.

And what a culture shock for the few Crows that decide to also attend that one. Imagined being married by a LICH. A skeleton quintet! Hundreds of curious wisps giving everything a soft blue glow. Swaths of religious academics adorned in gold, green, and a deep rich purple. Ingellvar being handed off by Vorgoth. Their outfit a classical patina-green coat waistcoat (new word I learned). It's absolutely disgustingly decadent but also so grim. The Higher Dead in attendance in their best spooky formal wear.

Lucanis has had years to become accustomed to the high strangeness of the Necropolis. But the cold air was something he never adjusted to. However, he'd do anything for Rook. Anything for his grounding force. Anything to see them delighted. And something about the Mourn Watch gold oozes style and grace he can't resist.

It takes place in the memorial gardens. The ceremony. A camp part of me wants them to be married side by side standing in coffins, but I am sure that's the one thing Lucanis said no too. Too macabre. Instead they greet and pay respects to the higher dead that watch over the Necropolis. They each carry an 'eternal flame' candle and walk side by side to the altar. These candles will need to be maintained throughout the rest of their lives as an act of devotion until their death.

Then the reception. Dancing with ghosts and skeletons all night. Little did Lucanis know these academic freaks know how to party. Dancing doesn't stop until well into the next day and night. Lucanis frequently has to take breaks and lock himself in a quiet room (specifically requested by Rook) for an unspecified about of time.

Then, the honeymoon, they're going wyvern spotting in Orlais. Probably not coming back for a few months.

[spotaus]

Thinking about Cross' reunion with his brother!!! (New Age AU lore run under the cut lmao-) ( @ancha-aus this is what I was on about a few messages ago!)

So, Ancha mentioned it a while ago, but I agree that Cross and his brother Nine should certainly get to see each other again <3 (this post might involve things I've said before but I have horrid memory soooo my apologies lol-) Note: I'm thinking Nine should be Cross' older brother! It makes sense narratively and also I've got too many older siblings in the Main cast haha-

Cross (Ten at the time) had a strained relationship with his older brother. X-Gaster was their only parent, and created them with the intention of making the perfect super soldiers, men who would obey his every command. Nine was the only one of X-Gaster's previous attempts to survive, and he was very.... maliciously compliant we'll say? Nine was a clever skeleton who would follow his creator's every command, so well that any and all loopholes would be taken advantage of whenever possible. Nine did not like X-Gaster, and he didn't like his rule, and he didn't like how the people were treated.

Of course, he had to make a hard choice when Ten was created. X-Gaster wanted to use Ten as an anchor to hold Nine back from his rebellion. If he had a little sibling to worry about, surely he would be more obedient, right? Well, no. Nine made sure X-Gaster never could use Ten against him by doing his rebellion regardless of how Ten was treated. Did it hurt? Yeah. Did he know he couldn't afford to let Ten get hurt by his connection to him? So badly. He ignored Ten for much of his life, which meant that X-Gaster gave up on using him for leverage, but was also given the chance to craft Ten exactly how he wanted without any of Nine's backlash.

Aka? Ten got manipulated by X-Gaster. Nine broke the rules, and he got punished. Ten did well? He was treated well. It turned out that Ten was his perfect soldier, and Nine was the one he could keep around to keep Ten in check.

And, Ten adored Nine. When they got older, Ten never stopped looking up to Nine, even if he thought Nine was reckless and stupid for being disobedient. He knew Nine had his reasons, and frankly? Nine showing him ANY kindness (helping him patch up wounds after training, leaving treats for him, looking at him kindly, etc.) was better than nothing and far better than X-Gaster. They had a really strange and unhealthy bond, but brotherly nonetheless.

So when they were both older, abd Nine was planning the coup, and he tried to bring Ten to his side? It hurt. It hurt both of them when Ten turned away. Ten never said a word about how it was Nine who asked him to join. He told X-Gaster someone tried, and he denied them, but nothing more. And then when the Coup was in motion and Nine had to face Ten? They both had to do what they thought was best. Ten obeyed, all he's ever known, and Nine finally broke the rules and laid all his cards on the table.

And when they won, when Ten was left without a master, when he'd fought hard against his older brother? When Ten was without direction and looked to Nine, but he couldn't follow Nine because Nine had broken all their rules... Nine was willing to watch out for Ten. There was no more threat of X-Gaster, they could finally live as siblings, but Cross had been too indoctrinated. He was too adamant during the coup. No one else could trust him, they didn't want him around, nothing. So he was honest with Nine and told him he was leaving, in passing, before simply running away.

When the opportunity to reunite arises, it's because Cross' original kingdom wants to be allies. It's been years, Nightmare is hardly 18 or so, and he's been slowly working to bring people together. When the kingdom reaches out, they also ask about Ten, because it's not exactly a secret as to where he eventually ended up. They want to reconnect.

Night is cautious. Cross assures him Nine wouldn't support leaders who weren't doing their best, so an allyship would make sense. Night is more worried for Cross' wellbeing and the threat it might pose to him (physically or emotionally) to face those in his old kingdom. So, they agree that Nightmare would visit with Killer and Dust as his initial party. Cross would stay back with Horror (and Blue + Dream as added back-up as Knights) at the kingdom.

Only after several visits of Night's (and discussing it very heavily with Lust, the other Knights, Night, etc) does he decide he'll go in person. By then he's the only Royal Knight who hasn't gone with Nightmare, and they decide he'll go alongside Killer (Killer could be trusted to keep an eye on both Cross and Night, and as the first Knight it's kinda like a dibs situation to be able to look out for Cross).

And like. I haven't quite fleshed out Nine's personality yet... but I do believe that the moment he meets Nightmare and his men (because Nine became head of the guard in Cross' absence) he's unable to help himself from greeting Cross with a "Ten!" And I think Cross would recoil because, reading his old name is one thing, hearing it said is another. And he's really not sure how to respond.

(This is going to keep sitting in my drafts if I don't post it now, but basically this is just a quick look at my thought process so far for Cross + his Brother lol-)

[whereserpentswalk]

There is a cryptid in your house. You got warnings about this type of thing when you moved into this neighborhood, but your girlfriend wanted to live somewhere where you could have a single family home but that's still close to the subway lines, and this was your best option that you could afford.

You start seeing the cryptid in the boiler room and basement, but it's brash enough to go into your kitchen when it wants to. It's horrifying, with razor sharp teeth, glowing red eyes, claws of rusted silver, and a shape just human enough and just animal enough to be recognized as both and neither to your mind. You think it sleeps in the communal driveway out back, it makes you thankful your house isn't big enough to have a backyard to see it out there.

When you first saw it you thought you would die. But it stays away from you. It's scared of you of anything. East Coast cryptids are used to urbanized humans, they've adapted to be afraid of them most of the time, especially here in the city. It's only in here because it wants the food in your kitchen, it spends more time in your walls then it even does in your house. But if it sees you, it'll run.

Eventually you learn to live with the cryptid. You know when it tends to come around, what it likes to do. It'll keep eating food out of your kitchen, so you have to buy a surplus, eventually out of convenience you just start leaving out meals for it rather then letting your refrigerator take abuse.

It starts fearing you less. Both of you know eachother exist. You don't understand what power allows it to get into your house, and it doesn't understand the social structures that makes the house yourse. You just live with eachother. Eventually it becomes normal. When you invite your girlfriend's freinds over you forget to even tell them you have a cryptid, which leads to a lot of apologizing that night.

Eventually, you find out what species of cryptid it is. On a weekend visit to the American Unnatural History Museum uptown, you find a metal skeleton, in a display filled with the skeletons of countless varities of extant cryptids, that looks exactly like your cryptid. It's something called the Mid Atlantic Rushwaurt, quite common in coastal cities. It's rated as sentient, it can't talk due to its face shape, but this creature is theoretically as smart as you.

You decide to start interacting with your cryptid more. Your girlfriend has an office job while you work from home, so you're alone a lot. And it's a small enough house so that you can't avoid him anyway. When you see your cryptid you'll talk to him, tell him about what you're dealing with, though it's still weird to see that razor toothed mouth smile back to you, it's clear he enjoys the company.

You start watching TV with him more, letting his pale wraithlike body sit on your couch in a way you've never expected you'd allow. You'll even pet the flowing black hair ontop of his head if he let's you, or let his twin tails rest upon your legs as you watch.

He isn't a pet though. You know he would bite your head off if you threatened him. And when he leaves you don't ask why, and can't tell him no. Nobody can tell a cryptid no.

You'll show him illustrations you're working on now, he has a good eye for that sort of thing, and you communicate well enough so you can tell what he likes. You're part of a small game studio, and you find that he's a good playtester, especially for things that normal playtesters aren't good at showing because they know too much about games. The cryptid will show you his own art too, sculptures made out of bone and glass, things beautiful in a a way no human could ever create, but so clearly from an intelligent mind.

Eventually you get a visit. It's from the HOA, with a very well dressed woman who you've seen driving an obnoxiously large car telling you that she's here about the cryptid situation. Your house is attached on both sides, people can hear your cryptid on either side of you, and with the communal driveway they can see him sometimes. She tells you to get rid of him or else there will be legal grounds to reposses your house, she sounds serious.

You tell your cryptid that he has to be more quite, that he can't go out in the driveway as much. He doesn't seem to understand. You tell him it isn't your choice.

People keep asking you about your cryptid. You've never really spoken to the neighbors before. You tell them you're doing everything you can. That excuse buys you a few months at least.

Eventually you get another visit. A man in a green uniform is at your door. He's from the New York City Cryptid Protection Agency. You've seen him around the neighborhood, he's a veteran of the Third World War, he takes cryptid control more seriously then anyone else you've met, and he always carries a crossbow. He tells you that you have eight days to deal with the cryptid, you understand how urgent it is with him.

You tell your cryptid that he has to leave. That it's deadly for him to stay here. He doesn't understand what you mean by that. You beg him, explain that you don't have a choice. He doesn't leave, he doesn't understand why you would ever want him to leave.

You take a fire axe in your hands, and tell him in a seriously voice "leave". He hisses at you, but you can see fear in his eyes. You swing the axe at him, not to hurt him, just to make him afraid. He runs, you're not sure if he spared you or if he was afraid of you. You'll never see him again.

You still leave food out for him at first. It's weird thinking he isn't there. It's lonely being at home without him, and you don't have anyone you can show illustrations you're working on to.

The neighborhood thinks you're a hero, you chased away a cryptid with an axe. You can't explain to anyone how you aren't.

[undertale-fic-librarby]

Do you have any anti harem fic recs?

Howdy, thanks for asking! Here are some fics that might fit what you're looking for!

A spider in a graveyard by Rubypasha (Explicit, Incomplete)

You've fought for years for people who hate and humiliate you, see you as more of a nuisance than a hero. A menace to society, just like your mentor. But you keep going, keep fighting. Keep pushing your limits to save innocent's who get tangled in the cruel web of life that you walk as a shadow. As someone who expects nothing but gives their all. But you keep going You'll deal with whatever and whoever threatens the lives and safety of innocents (both monsters and humans) because you are a spider. And spiders will never go down without a fight. Tired and injured you go to deal with one of your greatest enemies, a skeleton who like you loves puns but is dangerous. More so than anyone could ever imagine. But instead of wrapping the night up quickly like you want you're faced with something neither of you can understand. A machine that goes haywire leaving you injured and in the mercy of the two skeleton brother's and their clones But you won't back down. You will fight even if your hope isn't what it used to be. Maybe this 'other mansion' of skeletons will finally break the walls you were forced to put up in order to survive. Maybe, just maybe- You'll finally realise how amazing you are

Full Deck by Sons_of_Sirens (Teen And Up, Incomplete)

You’re just a shy young woman who works at a small bookstore in Ebott City, who has never attempted to climb out of her introverted shell before. Or maybe you’re a sassy young woman who lost her job after sticking up for monster rights in front of your racist boss. Or possibly you’re a traumatized young woman, with a painful past full of abuse and a broken body full of secret scars. You might even be an ordinary-looking young woman, who nevertheless possesses magical abilities and a SOUL far different from a regular human’s. But this is not a story about you. It's about ten skeletons in one tacky suburban McMansion, trying to live together without burning down their own house. It’s an unreasonable convergence of the Undertale AU gang as they go about their lives in a house full of volatile personalities, while trying not to get dragged into a reverse-harem trope. Alliances will be made, bake sales will be ruined and the HomeOwner's Association will be armed and dangerous.

I Like Me More by LambCHOWDER (Mature, Incomplete)

You love pancakes. They're so easy to make. Let's ignore the 7 monsters glaring at you and watching your every move. With obvious red flags, you choose to move in with your ex friend and her harem… for your own benefit, of course. Despite the situations that arise, you push through. Though it may be kind of worth it, you really didn’t expect all the secrets to come loose...

Bleeding Green [Rewrite] [On Hiatus] by pyromaniac_mage (Teen And Up, Incomplete)

[Y/N] [L/N] is a powerful mage with a bloodline well-known throughout the ages and her family have always been celebrated. They, however, despise how their bloodline trapped monsters beneath the ground. But, that is for another day. In not being able to afford basic accommodation for university, they had to rely on an old (and terrible) friend named Bethany. For some reason, most of Bethany's skeleton mates despise [Y/N] but why is that? Apart from the fact she is a mage? Just because she has a kindness soul, it doesn't mean she will stand for their bullshit.

Home for lost souls by SketchyDyslexic (Not Rated, Incomplete)

Sans was so in his head that the resets would start back again, he didn't want to even try. Papyrus put in work to convince Sans that he needed to come to the surface with him, and not continue staying in the underground. Sans agreed to pick out a home with his brother, and began packing his things. With only a week left, Sans decided to try pulling his older brother back with the machine one last time, only to have to watch it sputter and stop. Sans gave up and packed his stuff, ready and moving out to stay with undyne until their new home was bought. His life and a few others really went out of whack because of the machines malfunction, with his sudden influx of brothers and the soulmate bonds that were slowly making themselfs known. Even after settling the chaos, shit still hits the fan every time he gets done untangling one mess. And the woman that is helping his strange family isn't making anything easier by making things easier!

[kaeso4ka]

Optimus is dissecting your human body

Pairing: yandere Optimus Prime x reader

Optimus hovered over the platform, gazing into the painfully familiar human features. You were beautiful. You were perfect, as you always were.

And so was your body, which didn't contain your mind. Ratchet had called it a corpse, but Optimus thought otherwise. No part of you could be dead. No part of you.

That's why he was here. And that's why he lied to you and Ratchet: your organic body wasn't destroyed at all. Optimus didn't want that. Why would he? Why destroy this beauty?

But it was also dangerous and... Not as interesting to leave it in its familiar form. Optimus had long felt the urge to find out exactly what Eve's organic body was hiding inside of her. The Cybertronian could easily expose any part, even the Spark, while humans were beyond his control. And Optimus wanted to. Wanted to know what was inside you. What your soul and body were hiding.

There was no obstacle to that now. The merger would soon take place, but the body...

Optimus transformed the manipulator into a blade. A combat upgrade might not be suitable for operating on organics, but operating on you with something other than your own body Prime considered sacrilege. Oh, no. He must feel. To feel the way his Spark's flesh cut through like a thin layer of metal.

Optimus had purposely sharpened the blade in a way he hadn't sharpened it in the entire war. Optimus thought long and hard about where to begin. Everything drew him in, beckoned to him, and all he could do was blow air through the ventilation systems at high volume.

The blade swept across your forehead, thin drops of blood trickling down, staining the unnaturally pale skin. The scalp came off easily. Optimus watched with interest as the thin layer of red film hid the skull. White against the red.

Prime carefully sliced the scalp off, setting it aside. Thoughtfully examined your head.

The next stage was the eyes: Optimus couldn't afford not to look into them at least once a joor. Therefore, he really wanted to keep it.

The tip of the blade lifting the closed eyelid, digging under the eyeball. It's exquisite workmanship. Optimus never thought he'd do a job like this, but he couldn't let you down and mess it up. So he calculated every move, every gesture.

The first eyeball protruded from the eye socket, and Optimus carefully began to cut away the tendons. Slowly, in no hurry. When the eyeball was finally separated from the body, Optimus held it up to his optics. The brown pupil stared at him silently.

Optimus smiled at your gaze, and then proceeded to the other eye. This one was quicker to do.

Optimus moved a little and pressed on your jaw. Your mouth opened obediently, and the mech immediately hooked your tongue with his fingers. He pulled it back a little, and with a second manipulator he cut off your tongue. Optimus really liked to hear you talk, and to neglect that organ would be... Just awful.

Optimus examined the result he'd gotten. You looked at him with empty eye sockets and the bloody yawn of an empty mouth.

Optimus wanted what was hiding behind your skull. Your brain.

But Optimus was thinking. He so wanted your whole skeleton. In order to do that, it had to be stripped completely of meat, muscle, fat, internal organs. At these thoughts, Optimus' motor sounded louder, more satisfied: the process would be long. Now the blade rested against your sternum. It pressed down, burrowing inward, but without damaging your lungs or ribs.

Optimus moved the arm downward, revealing your chest, abdomen, and pelvic organs. Beautiful. You were as beautiful on the inside as you were on the outside.

A riot of red, burgundy, yellow, and even purple, that's how Optimus saw your inner world. Prime noted with frustration that to get to your lungs and heart, you'd have to break your ribs.

Those hid the things Optimus needed with their whitish cage. But that's okay.

Optimus would rebuild the skeleton afterward.

The sound with which each rib broke, separating from you, Prime could only compare to a prayer. The blade moved with even more care.

Optimus cut through the heart sac, slicing through aortas and tendons, wanting to get to the heart.

Your heart was... Prime, it was what Optimus had spent so long conquering. Prime took a few long brims to look at what once drove blood through your veins, and then brought it up to your dermis, kissing it. A trail of blood was immediately imprinted on the soft metal. But that's okay.

Optimus will lick it off later. Right after he got the lungs. The stomach. Liver. The intestinal tubes. And the uterus and ovaries. And Optimus won't leave anything inside you untouched.

“What the hell are you doing in there!!!” you banged your fist loudly several times against the automatic doors leading to Optimus' compartment. His private compartment, not their shared one. “Ratchet is calling for you. He refuses to take me for a physical on this stupid hull and my Spark without you present.”

Optimus immediately switched gears: contacting your past body was intriguing, but contacting your new hull and asset... It was infinitely times better.

“Give me five minutes, my Spark,” Optimus hurries into the purifier. He doesn't want to wash you off of him at all, but if he doesn't, you yourself... Once again, you'll be afraid. Reject. You won't understand.

Outside the door, you hummed quietly in response. The familiar smell of metal and... Meat? But you immediately dismissed those thoughts.

Where on Cybertron would meat and blood come from?

[voidandabyssal]

Hihi! I was hoping to put in a reqest?

In this, may I ask for underrale bros, underfell, and horrortale? (Underswap to if yiu are willing to do them)

In this, they have been dating reader(Female or male) for about 5-6 years, and they have been comfortable. Reader decided on the 7th anniversary that they go somewhere romantic. (Like Rome, Pairs, etc.) And when it's the last night there, BOOM! The Propose. No warning, no message, nothing. They made sure it was perfect to. Lights, music, favorite foods, perfect.

How will they act? Will they reject the reader or accept?

Hehe this is cute!!

Also I only do four characters per request, so I kept it to that

Red (uf sans):

Funnily enough, red had been working up the nerve to propose to you the entire trip.

He had kept the box tucked away in his back pocket. Every time he reached for it, something seemed to go wrong

Well, either that, or he suddenly just lost the courage to pop the question.

So when you do propose, red breathes a sigh of relief. Though he is a little embarrassed that you’re the one doing it and not him.

Of course he also accepts. He sweeps you up into a bear hug and kisses you

He’s pretty shocked you managed to organise those whole thing without him noticing

Red isn’t going to admit it, but he is incredibly excited for all the wedding planning (ngl he is the bridezilla out of the two of you)

Edge (uf papyrus):

First of all, congratulations on managing to surprise him. Edge is very rarely caught off guard.

But seeing you down on one knee, ring in hand, his mind goes blank

For a moment he stands there not speaking, his mouth dropped open in shock before he quickly sweeps you off your feet

Not one to be stood up, Edge quickly grabs the ring he had bought for you, and had planned to propose with and slips it on your finger as he kisses you

This is truly going to be one of Edges favourite memories. He’ll insist on enjoying as much time together that night

Ignore him if he gets a little weepy! Ignore the tears! They aren’t real! In fact they are a figment of your imagination!!

biggest bridezilla out of these four. Edge is a menace to your poor wedding planner

Axe (ht sans):

Axe can be pretty clueless at times, a traumatic skull injury will do that to you. So he’s pretty much kept completely in the dark

You probably organised this to be somewhere familiar to him, maybe where you first met, Grillbys bar, even just your home

Somewhere safe and welcoming, where Axe doesn’t constantly feel watched or threatened

The moment you propose to Axe is the best moment of his life

Years of survival and suffering all worth it for this one moment

He pulls you in to kiss you. A loud rumbling purr emanates from his chest as he nuzzles at you.

Every time he looks down and spots the ring on his finger he’s enveloped with love. Axe always go searching for you right after for kisses and cuddles

Get ready for a few very affectionate and loving couple of weeks

Honestly you could have proposed to him with a ring pop and he would treat it like it was the biggest most sparkling diamond he had ever seen

Crooks (ht papyrus):

Crooks had a sneaking suspicion you were up to something

You had employed Axe to help you organise everything. Sadly Axe isn’t the hardest or most helpful worker around.

So some things got left lying in plain sight, including the engagement box of all things

Crooks decides to play dumb, let you sort out whatever you’re doing

The moment you propose is pure magic

Crooks bursts into tears, sobbing out a very loud “YES” as he lets you put the ring on his finger

Seeing the giant skeleton break down into tears, you feared he was going to reject you

So it was a relief to have him pull you into a kiss

You have to convince him to not haul you to the courthouse right then and there. Crooks would get married under any circumstances, even if you can’t afford a lavish wedding. Crooks is just so glad to spend the rest of his life with his soulmate

[landoffreaksandfrogs]

what type of youtubers would the trolls be? Karkat would definitely make rants and reviews of romance movies, Kanaya would make makeup or fashion tutorials, Sollux has an IT channel he made so people stop bugging him (nobody ever bothers checking it instead of asking him)

quick spitballed ideas bc this is such a cute prompt

aradia - reviews of inaccurate halloween decoration skeletons. theyre not rated on anatomical accuracy but by how much swag they have. most of her other videos are short clips of her livevlogging her day and telling short stories, but shes funny and witty so they do numbers. very low effort and low cost, but shes having fun.

tavros - CARD PACK UNWRAPPING. guy who in no way can afford his hobby but keeps getting these card packs for his channel. surprisingly relaxing to listen to while you have him minimized in another tab while you do something else. he goes over each card in the deck and their effects as well as rarity.

sollux - basically what you said. IT guide on walking through common computer problems. horrible mic quality, but really helpful information.

karkat - ABSOLUTELY would be a movie reviewer. no facecam but for whatever reason has CRISP mic quality. somehow NEVER peaks his mic despite all the screaming he does. he loves media analysis and getting pissed off over fandom drama so hed probably also do breakdowns of scandals in fandom spheres, and somehow almost getting sued.

nepeta - SPEEDPAINTS. and like. flipnote hatena style amvs. obviously very amateur but its a very cute art style and she has no concept of copyright infringement.

kanaya - makeup tutorials and fashion reviews. would definitely be like that one youtuber who reviews the accuracy of historical fiction dresses in film and tv. everytime the virgin mothergrub is in the background of her videos her comments are spammed with "MOTH MOM REAL"

terezi - animated shitposts. like. grinchs ultimatum, garfielf, shit like that. REALLY bright colors and shitty linework with windows moviemaker transitions. no one knows who she is and shes never done a face reveal so shes a total enigma. there are deep web theories that her videos are anti-empire propaganda.

vriska - flarping tutorials. genuinely. she goes over mechanics, spells, class breakdowns, even shares stories of her own flarp campaigns. VERY passionate about it and kind of has an asshole youtuber persona. posts an apology video like once a month then goes on like nothing happened. replies to every mean comment.

equius - weightlifting videos. dead silent. just grunting and metal clanking. no editing. addresses every comment in every video. lots of heavy breathing. very uncomfortable. almost like performance art in how desolate it feels.

gamzee - cooking videos. its as bad as it sounds.

eridan - showing off everything in his hive and talking about it. his guns. his outfits. ranting about pollution. each video is an hour long. its mostly just him complaining or bragging about the stuff he owns.

feferi - has a live feed of her cuttlefish pen going constantly. posts animal care videos. posts music. does challenges. her youtube is kind of an inconsistent mish-mash of content but one thing remains: you will watch her cuttlefish.

[cinebration]

The Darkling’s Shadow (The Darkling x Reader) [Part 5]

The Darkling makes a decision.

Prologue | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Epilogue

Tagged: @don-daygamerz​​, @weallhaveadestiny​​, @kaqua​​, @sinful-wxrld​​, @ashdab2611​​, @ultarviolence​​, @chodingcreature​​, @demonenotturno​​, @crowssixof​​, @mxacegrey​​, @dreamlandcreations​​, @s-r-reads​​, @byulsrecs​​, @peleksstuff​​, @seraferna​​, @imtherain​​, @vex-et-soleil​​, @rayrlupin​​, @peakyispunk​​, @itsyaspwr​​, @adajoemaya​​, @b1bbles, @rockintensse​​, @adharanotfound, @allinestarr​​​

Warnings: mention of blood, body horror

Gif Source: ethanhunt

Shock and fear broke the Darkling’s iron composure, his hands instinctively drawing together to perform the Cut. You didn’t so much as flinch, staring at him with eerie, unblinking eyes as though trying to drive the force of your conviction into his skull.

He didn’t complete the movement, leaving the Cut unfinished and melting back into the shadows.

“Now,” you said, your voice low, as though you were struggling to restrain it, “while you waste time coming to the right decision, I will go on ahead and clear the fort of Fjerdans.”

Without so much as a backward glance, you pivoted sharply on your heel and stalked off in the direction of Ulensk. The horses had bolted during the fray, long since gone and out of sight.

The Darkling watched your back until you disappeared behind the trees, once again entertaining the idea of slicing you in half not only for your insolence but for the fear you instilled in him. The feeling was shockingly cold, shriveling his insides and freezing his lungs. His breath tore raggedly from his chest.

If Baghra were there, she would say, “You cannot afford to make an enemy of this woman. Either kill her or bring her into the fold.”

Neither option was preferable to his fear-clouded mind. You knew who he actually was, but rather than flinch and fear him, you had placed the Black Heretic on some kind of pedestal. He couldn’t help but wonder what it would had been like if you had been there during the creation of the Fold. Instead of Baghra’s “What have you done?” you might have stared at the black shadow unfolding across the land with wonder in your eyes and said what the Darkling had most needed to hear in that moment: “Beautiful.”

The thought of it sent a thrill through him. He didn’t have to be General Kirigan in front of you. He didn’t have to temper his words or feign scorn for his “ancestor.” He didn’t have to hide his true plans, centuries in the making, to keep the Grisha from fearing his vision of the future before it had come to pass.

Shouts rose up in the distance, followed immediately by screams.

The Darkling listened to the swelling sounds of violence and death. For a brief moment, as high-pitched screams rent the quiet of the woods, he heard something harmonious in the sound. What had you said that first day? A symphony of their bones…

Perhaps you were right. Perhaps he did need a fanatic, someone utterly devoted to him and his cause. Someone who would do anything without asking why, who would destroy and silence for him while he maintained the aloof composure of a general above it all, his boogeyman operating in the shadows behind him.

The Darkling set off toward the fort, following your footsteps in the snow.

He arrived to find you dispatching one last Fjerdan. The man, fueled by terror and adrenaline, threw himself pell-mell at you. You lunged forward, your hand slapping across his bearded face, and yanked the skeleton from his flesh. Gore splattered over your kefta as the body separated from its bones, a sickening, vile sound splitting the silence. Tossing the skeleton aside with one hand, you wiped your palms on your kefta and turned to face the Darkling.

He surveyed the carnage in mute fascination. “Is this what the other Fjerdans looked like that first day we met?”

“It was more…artful,” you answered, waving your hand about in a vague gesture. “Staged to achieve maximum shock and awe, as they say.”

“You know the value of spectacle.”

“I know the importance of dramatic delivery,” you countered.

“Is that all?” The Darkling stepped around a corpse. “Do you know the value of discretion? Of subtlety?”

“I am capable of it, although I don’t prefer it.”

“You don’t mind being the subject of fear and hatred? You don’t mind the whispers they will speak of you?”

“One doesn’t develop this kind of skill and worry about what others will say. If anything, if they don’t fear and hate me, I will consider myself a failure.”

“Even among Grisha?”

“I am not here for the Grisha.”

The Darkling fixed his gaze on you. You met his stare without flinching once more, letting him bear the weight of your full gaze.

“In four hundred years, you are unlike any Grisha I have ever seen,” he said. The words slipped past his lips unbidden, a truth he didn’t bother twisting or concealing.

“That is the point.”

A faint smile tugged on his lips despite himself. Shaking his head, he schooled his expression into a stern mask. “I don’t deal well with insubordinates.”

“Then don’t give me any orders for me to react to with insubordination.”

“I need to know that I can trust you to do what I ask and how I want it.”

Wiping your hands together again, dried blood flaking off your palms, you countered, “I’m not allowed to have disagreements? To suggest alternatives? Isn’t that what proper counsel does?”

The Darkling frowned. “Now you aim to be one of my strategists? What happened to being my shadow?”

“In some cultures, the shadow is believed to be one’s second self. Or one’s demon. Either way, I have a voice, and I didn’t come all this way to be silenced when you need my expertise most.”

“And why do I need your expertise most now?”

“Can’t you feel it?” You inhaled deeply, as though you could taste it on the air. “The change? Something is coming, and you need to be ready.”

Unease slithered through his guts. “What’s coming?”

A beatific smile split your face. “Your chance for more power.”

A sharp thrill shot up the Darkling’s spine, compounded by the unnerving expression on your face. For a moment, you were darkly beautiful, terrifying and awe-inspiring.

The Darkling slowly stepped forward and extended his hand to you. Eyebrow arching, you slipped your hand in his, your palm rough and your fingers strong as they clasped for a shake.

“Call me Aleksander.”

[cure-icy-writes]

Okay so. A lot of people have been making cute little dungeon meshi aus where it's modern, but specifically the cast lives in one place. Figured I should maybe share mine?

Anyways. Dungeon Meshi but it's midwestern.

-Senshi, i think, is a regular presence in the church but is the kind of christian that the pastor has beef with. He has an apron with two fish and five loaves of bread on it, and can be found at pretty much every barbecue and church potluck. No one's sure if he's really devoted to jesus or just heard the story of a guy feeding an entire crowd and started showing up to church to feed people. He has caused two married men to have their bisexual awakenings.

-The town they all live in has an extremely high density of restaurants, meaning the only thing to do around there is go out to eat. The gang goes out to eat new places a lot together!

-Izutsumi is a warrior cats kid who was probably bullied for hissing and biting the other kids. The gang recognizes that she's not mean, she's just badly socialized and also seventeen. She lives in a group home, but has been running away less ever since she got promised regular meals.

-Related: Chilchuk is a union guy who is covertly making sure every restaurant they go to is up to code. He keeps shutting down places for not having adequate safety measures for their employees.

-Izutsumi has decided she's going to hang out with Chilchuk sometimes and will stop by his workplace. He's insistent that he's not adopting any more children, but has been teaching her how to budget, how to lie convincingly enough to get a job, and the most ethical places to shoplift from with the fewest risks because she's going to steal things anyways.

-Marcille has never been to a cornfield in her life. She's a Chicago kid, who really misses her deep dish pizza and that really good Italian place, but she's here to study some rare microorganisms.

-Marcille studies a very weird field of medicine that involves looking for medical uses in odd places. She's looking to eliminate class divides in lifespan by trying to find more affordable medicines for diseases that primarily affect the lower class.

-Her father died of asbestos poisoning from working in unsafe conditions when she was a kid, so she's especially alert for it, and gets a little neurotic around flu season.

-Laios and Falin used to go to the creek behind their house all the time to catch crawdads, and sometimes he'll still do it for old time's sake.

-Laios flunked out of college because they couldn't handle his autism rizz. He's going to trade school for the culinary arts, but he keeps trying to cook things he shouldn't.

-Laios checked out the massive dragon books from the library and cried when he found out they weren't real.

-He does furry commissions online, but he's not the best with customer negotiations and keeps wondering how many nipples someone's fursona has. Chilchuk helped him build his profile to appeal to commissioners who like speculative biology.

-Falin watched her brother flunk and went "hm, I think I will not." she's an apprentice at a local gardening shop. You think she's a normal sweet cottagecore kind of girl but then she starts gushing about soil nutrients and sustainability and you realize. Oh. Oh this is the kind of girl who would romanticize being buried under a tree and having it consume her bones.

-Laios wears shirts with anatomically correct dinosaur skeletons on them, but he has to order them online and frequently complains that there are no good clothing shops nearby. Senshi heard him say this, and introduced him to fabric paint.

[southparktegreity]

south park ; [main 4+ butters] + s/o who draws !

NOTICE : all characters are aged up to their 19/20's!

CW : mentions of drinking (stans part), otherwise none

stan :

i get the impression stan would be really supportive! i feel like he would help you come up with things creatively

he would definitely ask you to draw like the skeleton hands on his hands

out of all the boys, i think he'd be the most interested in learning how to draw or alternatively learning how to draw specific things

i feel like it might end up being a healthy way to express his emotions, ie through vent art instead of drinking

i also think he'd like to paint more than any other medium, probably oil painting? but he uses the cheap acrylic ones whenever he's making vent art since oil paint is expensive

"hey... thanks again y/n for teaching me how to paint.. - it's really helped me."

kyle :

again, very supportive

though he probably would have minor concerns if you started to consider being an artist as your main job? i think he'd be worried about you making money so he might try and help you start an etsy shop or a redbubble or something so people could support you on something other than commissions :)

if you did that with him he'd definitely help you package and ship things out to your customers

whenever you and him babysit ike, you guys all three play pictionary !!!

they both think you're cheating lol

"isn't this like - cheating?! you're too good at this!"

kenny :

i feel like kenny would also want to learn like stan, specifically because he wants to draw you and karen together with him ! he’d probably wanna give it to you and her as a gift since he can’t afford other things

would definitely want you to draw on him, anywhere you want. i could definitely see him wanting you to make him some tattoo art or smth

karen would also probably want you to teach her how to draw

so you and kenny and karen all sit down together and teach them some simple stuff !!

kenny ends up drawing the life he imagines for you and karen, beautiful house - pretty garden - all the works. and of course, most importantly - you both with him

"well... here's the garden, and here's the house... and if you look inside this window right here... you can find you me and karen."

cartman :

as with everything you do, cartman will probably make fun of you, saying something about your “gay drawings”

we all know he secretly loves watching you draw

i feel like he would really like watching the process of you drawing? like he doesn’t care about what it is, but rather the whole process itself

if you take too long though he’ll start to complain

will probably beg you to draw either ‘the racoon’ fanart OR making him x kyles mom fanart

he'll end up commissioning you if you say no

"um. y/nnn. are your requests open? you see, there's this really neat superhero - you'd love him - that i want you to draw for me. he's VERY kewl.... you should - like.. draw him for me... what do you mean i have to pay you?"

butters :

butters DEFINITELY loves it!

i feel like you both would do art trades, except he'd feel a bit bad since he doesn't have the best skill - so he'd make it up to you by buying you a sketchbook or something

i think he also loves the feeling of being drawn on, and looking down at his hands and stuff to find drawings of hello kitty and him that you made ! he would practically MELT - but he’d probably be too shy to ask you to do it

definitely has gotten grounded for your drawings on him

i also feel like he totally shows off all your drawings to cartman and everyone

"well, heya fellas! look at what my partner drew on me! ain't it pretty? :)"

[emeraldzzombie]

Fallen Shadows Joel Miller X Y/N

warings: none

The world had become a shadow of itself. Once-vibrant cities had crumbled under the weight of time and chaos, their skeletons left behind as reminders of what once was. Nature had begun reclaiming the land, creeping into broken roads and abandoned buildings.

Joel had seen it all. He had lived through it. His eyes, hardened with the weight of grief and survival, scanned the surroundings with the precision of someone who’d learned to trust their instincts over the years.

Beside him, Y/N walked quietly, her footsteps tentative on the cracked pavement. She was young, At just 19, she hadn’t seen the world before it all fell apart. She didn’t know what it was like to live in the age before the infection, when things were simple, safe.

"Stay close," Joel said, his voice rough but steady. "We’re not safe yet."

Y/N nodded, her wide eyes scanning the horizon. She could feel the tension in his voice, the weight of the world he carried. It was hard to imagine how much he’d lost, how much he’d had to give up just to survive.

"How much further?" she asked, her voice almost lost in the wind.

Joel glanced over at her, his expression unreadable. He had gotten used to keeping things to himself—his thoughts, his emotions. But something about Y/N made him feel... vulnerable. It wasn’t like with Sarah. It wasn’t the same—but it was close. Too close.

"Not far," he muttered, his hand reaching out to touch the back of her jacket, guiding her slightly closer. "You just need to stay alert. Things can change fast.”

The night was falling quickly, the once-bright sky turning to muted purples and blacks as the sun dipped behind the horizon. Joel led them into a nearby building, a half-collapsed structure that had once been a high-rise. The windows were shattered, but the interior offered some shelter from the elements.

"Stay here," Joel ordered as he checked the perimeter. His eyes lingered on her for a moment—Y/N, sitting quietly on the ground, trying to seem calm despite the fear that clung to her.

"I don’t mind keeping watch," Y/N said softly, though she didn’t stand up. She knew better than to argue with Joel; it had no sense. But the thought of just sitting there, doing nothing, made her feel small.

Joel paused, the tension in his shoulders easing for a brief moment. He looked at her, seeing the quiet strength in her, the way she held herself in the face of everything they’d been through.

"Maybe," he said quietly, "but you’ll need your rest. We’ve got a long way to go tomorrow."

Y/N bit her lip, feeling the pull of exhaustion as it started to weigh on her. Joel had been right; the day had been long, and their next move would require every ounce of energy they had.

Joel returned after a while, his hands rough as he set down a small fire in the corner of the room, carefully hidden from any potential threats outside. They couldn’t afford to draw attention, especially not in a place like this.

The crackling of the fire filled the silence between them. Y/N wasn’t sure what to say. It felt like there was so much they both wanted to express, but neither of them could find the words.

Joel glanced at her, his gaze softening for just a moment before he pulled his jacket tighter around himself.

"You still don’t get it, do you?" he asked, his voice low.

"Get what?" Y/N looked at him, confusion flickering in her eyes.

"That I’m doing this for you," he said, his voice steady but carrying the weight of years. "I’m keeping you safe because I… because I promised I would. And that’s not something I take lightly."

Y/N’s heart clenched at his words. She hadn’t thought about it like that before. In all the chaos, in all the running and hiding, she hadn’t truly grasped the depth of what Joel was giving up for her. It was more than survival. It was more than just getting from one place to the next.

"Joel," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the fire.

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stared into the flames, his brow furrowed, lost in his thoughts.

Y/N shifted uncomfortably, but the moment seemed to stretch out between them, thick with unspoken words. The kind of words that both terrified and comforted them. The kind of words that had no place in this new world. They had no time for softness or sentimentality, yet in the quiet of the abandoned building, the silence between them felt heavier than ever.

"You don’t have to do this," she said finally, her voice trembling. "I can handle myself."

Joel let out a soft laugh, a low, bitter sound. "No," he said, his eyes never leaving the fire. "You can’t. Not out here. Not alone. And I’m not about to let you try."

Y/N’s gaze softened as she watched him. She knew he meant it. She knew that he would do anything to keep her safe, even if it cost him everything.

The truth was, she wasn’t sure what to feel about it all. She wasn’t sure how to feel about him. They had been through so much together—more than most people could ever imagine. But the more time they spent together, the harder it became to ignore the strange tension between them. It wasn’t just the bond of survival. There was something else, something more.

The night passed slowly. They both remained close to the fire, though neither of them slept much. Every noise in the darkness made them both tense, their instincts sharp, even as their bodies longed for rest.

When morning came, the sky was bleak, a heavy fog rolling in. The world outside was still silent, but Y/N could feel the weight of what was coming.

Joel stood up first, stretching out his sore muscles. He looked over at her, his expression unreadable as he prepared to leave.

"We’ve got a long way to go today," he said, voice low. "You ready?"

Y/N nodded, though part of her wasn’t sure she was. The fear of the unknown still clung to her, but she trusted him. He had kept her safe so far, and she knew he wouldn’t let her down.

"Let’s go," she said, standing up.

They made their way out of the building, their silent agreement hanging in the air. Whatever was coming next, they would face it together. And in a world where nothing was certain, that was enough.

The morning air was crisp as Joel and Y/N moved through the desolate streets, their footsteps echoing softly against the crumbling concrete. Despite the oppressive silence of the world around them, there was a certain warmth between them now—a connection that had grown between shared hardships, stolen moments of quiet, and the trust they’d built in one another.

Y/N had always admired Joel’s strength, the way he carried himself with quiet confidence, but it was more than that. Over time, she’d come to understand the layers beneath that hardened exterior—the vulnerability that only came out in moments when he thought no one was watching.

The way his brow furrowed when he was thinking too much, the way he’d protect her without hesitation, even when he knew it might cost him everything. There was a certain tenderness in his eyes when they shared a moment of calm, and it made her heart ache in ways she didn’t understand.

"You okay?" Joel asked, his voice breaking through her thoughts. His eyes flicked over to her, a subtle concern in his gaze.

Y/N gave a small, almost unnoticeable smile, but there was a sadness behind it. "I will be," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just… it’s hard, sometimes. I never imagined the world would be like this."

Joel nodded, his expression softening as he slowed his pace, walking just a bit closer to her. "Yeah. I know. But we keep moving. That’s what we do."

There was a pause, a moment where the weight of everything between them felt more tangible than ever. She could feel his presence beside her, the unspoken bond growing as they shared their silence.

He stopped suddenly, turning to face her. His hand instinctively reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his fingers grazing her skin gently. It was such a simple, almost accidental gesture, yet it carried a depth of meaning.

Y/N looked up at him, feeling her breath catch in her throat. It was strange how his touch had come to feel like home, how a single glance from him could bring so much comfort, even in the middle of the world’s destruction. She found herself leaning into the warmth of his hand, just for a moment.

"I’ll always protect you," Joel said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. There was a softness there, a promise in his words that seemed to echo through the silence between them.

She met his eyes then, the vulnerability in his gaze making her heart race. She could see it—how much he cared, how much he’d sacrificed just to keep her safe. And in that moment, she realized that this bond they shared wasn’t just about survival. It was something more—something she hadn’t allowed herself to acknowledge until now.

"I know," she whispered. "And I’ll always be grateful for that."

The moment lingered, the space between them charged with the intensity of unspoken feelings. They had both suffered loss in ways that were unimaginable to anyone who hadn’t lived through it. But together, they’d found something stronger than mere survival—a connection, a sense of belonging that neither of them had expected.

Joel took a step closer, his body almost brushing against hers. His hand lingered in the air between them for a moment before resting lightly on her shoulder, his touch warm and grounding. It was an unspoken invitation, a sign that he trusted her completely, and in that moment, Y/N realized how much she needed him, too.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she looked up at him, her voice barely audible. "Joel… I—"

But before she could finish, Joel gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumb tracing the line of her jaw. His touch was gentle, yet there was an unmistakable intensity behind it. He was so close now, and Y/N could feel the heat radiating from him, could feel the weight of everything that had passed between them. The quiet moments of shared solitude, the battles, the trust—they had built something fragile, yet unbreakable, in this broken world.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. It was a quiet, intimate space they found themselves in—one filled with the unspoken understanding that sometimes, words weren’t needed. Sometimes, it was just about being present with each other, feeling the weight of the connection that had blossomed between them despite the chaos.

Joel’s gaze softened, and for a fleeting second, he seemed almost vulnerable, like he was considering something, thinking about how far they’d come, about how much he’d grown to care for her.

"I care about you," he said, his voice hoarse, and it wasn’t the usual gruffness she was used to. This was something different—raw, honest. "More than I should."

Y/N’s heart ached at his words. She didn’t know exactly what they meant, what they would mean for them, but in that moment, she didn’t care. All that mattered was that she wasn’t alone anymore—not really.

And neither was he.

With a sudden, almost imperceptible shift, Joel leaned down, his lips brushing against her forehead in a gesture that was at once protective and tender. It wasn’t a kiss—it was a promise.

Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the weight of his lips on her skin. It wasn’t about desire, not in the way the world before had known it. It was about trust. It was about a bond that ran deeper than either of them had anticipated, a connection forged in the fires of survival.

Y/N closed her eyes, letting the moment linger, savoring the warmth of his touch. For a brief instant, it felt like everything was going to be okay—that maybe, just maybe, there was hope left for them both.

And as they stood there in the middle of the crumbling world, holding onto each other without needing to say a word, they both knew that whatever came next, they’d face it together.