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mithosis · 10 days ago

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"Do you know what lies on the path before you? I do."

Meet Stig, my little blind norn seer with his flock of bird friends :) A Herald with a twist. Eventually a Wayfinder, separate from the Commander!

Sooooo I've already had this character for a while, (both in gw2 and out). I have a sylvari version of him — and he will still be existing and thriving as a separate character! However, I wanted to bring the original version of him to life as well. He always had Nordic themes, so making this version of him a norn was an obvious choice

Anyway, there is lore and a funny sketch under the cut for those who'd want to look at them!! (a huge chunk of text again, yeah, I'm sorry. It's featuring @lady-quen's Numen, though!! *wink wink*)

Maybe the weakest, skinniest little norn with nothing much behind his name, Stig was somewhat of an outcast from the moment he was born. Blind since birth, he was "blessed" by an elusive Cuckoo Spirit to help him on his life's journey, yet unable to shapeshift into their form or communicate with them, no matter how hard he tried. He was considered unworthy of norns' boastful lifestyle by some, and pitied for his misfortunes by others, although nobody could ever compare to how he looked upon himself for the happenstance of his birth. Was he "defective" in some way, not worth the effort to lift him up and let him live a life, try to reach for something more?

Still staying loyal to Cuckoo even without their support, Stig turned to Raven after being noticed by him for the cleverness with which the little norn tried to overcome the burdens of his own existence — there, at a young age, was discovered his gift of foresight, an explanation to all the weird sensory visions he would receive; some of them even looked as if he could actually see. Different kinds, both cryptic and mundane. Finally, something he could do and help others with, right? It was probably nice for a time, until enough commotions or unfortunate events were caused, maybe even blamed on him for doing his job wrong, causing Stig to be ever more cautious with sharing what he had gleaned.

Two ravens he rescued were his main company, aside from occasionally the kid of the famous Eir Stegalkin and his little brother with a strange affinity for ice magic. One day, however, the scenery changed into a strange landscape, an echo of the real world, as Stig stumbled through a wayward portal into the Mists. He had to survive there for a time all alone, not even his feathery friends to accompany him, communing with Spirits — then anyone, who'd listen — and desperately trying to get back home. A subtle whisper in his head grew louder the more time he spent essentially meditating, a voice of a person, until it formed and presented itself as none other than Asgeir Dragonrender. With his, rather frustrated at first, help, the little norn managed to get back to the world of the living, though not before getting injured on the way home — a weird, potent surge of lightning struck him. He awoke back home already tended to.

Other norn don't believe him at first when he claims Asgeir was the one to help and guide him — it takes a bit of convincing, talking with the legendary hero's echo and showing Stig's newfound strengths. He can channel the power of the Mists through their connection now, something only havrouns of the Spirits of the Wild can typically do. This earns him the respect of his peers — after all, he is aided by Dragonrender himself. People around him wonder: this must mean he could be the one to crack the Tooth, the Norn of Prophecy, right? Someone Stig never even dared to believe he could be.

However, it was never meant to be. After all the extra training and tireless nights of adapting the chosen combat style to his needs, the one to challange the Tooth wasn't him — instead, it was the hot-headed son of Eir, his friend Braham, who's been adventuring with the famous Pact Commander away from Hoelbrak. One arrow was fired — and as the icy exterior of the trophy crumbled, so did Stig's hopes of proving himself worthy to these people. He became an outcast again. At least his birds and Asgeir were still with him. It didn't matter that Braham supposedly failed his mission to kill the Ice Dragon afterwards: the damage was already done.

Then everything started to go downhill once Kralkatorrik was slain. Unexplainable mysteries, strange fog, disappearances. His friend becoming more and more distant and physically cold until one day he was gone as well. One of the only people who showed Stig what kindness looked like, aside from his mother. It was distressing, scary, none of his visions showing him the way — so he had to find his own, once again. This was the decision that led him to join the Commander and Braham in their venture to the Far Shiverpeaks, and discover the true nature of the little elementalist he called a friend — a scion and champion of Jormag, Numen, who's been the mysterious Cuckoo "Spirit" this whole time.

The team has to confront this dragon on the surface of a cold, frozen Lake Doric — and Asgeir recognizes it. Every norn knows the story of the legendary slayer of Frostfang — Dragonrender killed Jormag's greatest champion in one blow with the help of the Spirits. It was a clear victory, the thing falling off a cliff from the sheer force of the blow, mortally wounded. So how could the very same creature stand before him once again?

The question was answered when the dragon showed the large scar on their neck; they didn't quite remember the fight, but the old wound spoke for itself. A surprise for everyone involved — the greatest kill of Asgeir turned out to be a failure. Remains of the beast were confused with those of Claws of Jormag. And maybe a fact worst of all for the echo of a fallen hero — the frigid monster he was sure he had slain turned out to be one of the very Spirits that helped guide his people to the new home.

(Cue the funny sketch I promised)

Even after that, the team managed to save Numen and end the terror of both Dragons of Fire and Ice.

Eventually, Stig would become Numen's Champion, wanting to be there for them like the dragon was for him. Maybe he had finally found a place he was meant to be in, beside this creature of ice — lonely, yet so full of love for the world. Asgeir wasn't too amused, but what is one more voice in Stig's head, right?

This would mean he'd continue to help the Commander further down the line, and maybe even meet the elusive wizards in their glittering towers — who might have a hand in him meeting Asgeir in the first place.

Woah, if you got to this part, thank you for reading!! I love you <3

#i did it again i wrote a bunch of text #hopefully it's fine #*shatters like an icicle*#sitting on the artparty stuff still just had to get this guy out of my head asap #gw2 #guild wars 2 #gw2 norn #norn #gw2 wayfinder #gw2 art #he gets a separate tag #stig the seer #also mentioned #numen #gw2 asgeir dragonrender #mith draws #oc loredump

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eldenrat · 1 month ago

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Dark Souls 2 had the best npcs of any of the series and that’s probably just down to how whimsical the setting of Drangleic is. The kingdom itself is a crumbling dreamscape where nothing makes sense and the world is interconnected in ways that just should not be. Objects seen from Majula are closer than they appear, there is a giant temple built on a massive spire above the clouds where you go to have a quick chat with a dragon, and every environment conceivable is blended together.

Yeah it is dark fantasy but there’s also a talking cat in the hub who will happily spill the tea about every loser in this world and the kingdoms before, and the level up lady basically says “yeah she’s older than all of us and will mock your existence just try to find her on a good day.” The population of Majula in general is wild how everyone sorta ends up there to sell shit even when the kingdom is home only to a bunch of hollows and you are probably to be the only paying customer.

Anyways my favorite goobers who exemplify the whacky Alice in Wonderland vibes of the place are as follows:

Guy who is a severed head, rambles to you about how nice it is to just watch the stars

Gavlan wheel, Gavlan deal

The aforementioned cat

Autistic man with a cartography hyperfixation

Sellsword Luet, who apparently literally sold their sword and dual wields shields instead

The giant rat that makes all of the rules

Lucatiel I love you so much

Crow lady who lives in a fucking death trap

Benhart how did you get into the giant’s memories is the ancient dragon giving ashen mist hearts out to everyone these days

Guy who makes ladders

Scholar of the first jumpscare

#dark souls 2

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luvrodite · 6 months ago

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in the garden, would you trust me? [618]

in the garden, you find solace. a moment of quiet after a hard week. cw. gn!reader, reader is referred to as 'pretty' but no physical/gendered descriptions. established relationship. fluff.

The end of a long week finds you in the garden. On the outskirts of it, anyway. You wander out of the house after dinner to catch your breath, feet clad in too large slippers that don't belong to you and crouching down to settle yourself on the front steps.

Twilight in the suburbs are pretty, this time of year, all cool blues and thin mists, air that feels cold in your lungs. Down the street, your neighbors' children squeal in their front yard, running circles around their new puppy, the little thing's barks echoing up your quiet street. You bring your knees to your chest and watch the fading dregs of the sunset, orange glows fading beneath the tops of the roofs to make way for indigo.

Inside your home, you can hear the gentle clink of dishes, the running water. The hum of the TV is low enough that you only hear a vague buzz beneath the clamour from down the street, but it's a comfort to you as you settle against the steps.

The flowers in your yard have been trimmed recently, yellow and orange blooms no longer hidden beneath thick bramble, standing proud amongst their siblings. The grass is soft, dewy from the light rainfall earlier, and you breathe in the smell of petrichor that lingers in the air. Probably, there'll be more of it to come.

You hope it'll wait a little, at least until you can get the laundry in. Maybe when you've slipped beneath the sheets – a soft patter to carry you into your dreams. The thought makes you smile, and this is how Jason finds you when he steps through the front door.

"Room for one more?"

You turn to glance up at him, two glasses of juice in his hand. "Depends on who's asking," you murmur teasingly, accepting the tumbler as he presses it into your hand, cool to the touch and perspiring slightly.

"Your husband, but I can tell him to bugger off if you'd rather spend time with me," he returns the quip and you let out a small giggle.

"You are very handsome," you muse, thoughtfully and he flashes you a smug grin. "But my husband is pretty tough."

"Sure, he's gotta be, to keep a pretty thing like you." His smile is easy, head tilted playfully.

That makes you break. Snorting, you wave him down. "Shut up and sit."

His shoulder presses against yours gently as he joins you, long legs stretching in front of him. Jason sets his glass beside him, leaning back on his palms.

"You alright, bug?" he murmurs, after some time. You hum. "Just checking. Looked a bit out of it at dinner."

You take a sip from your glass, letting the sweetness settle on your tongue. The sky continues to darken, and you know it's only a matter of time before the streetlights begin to flicker on.

"Just tired, love," you tell him, tilting into his side. "Missed you, this week."

"Yeah?" he asks, quietly, a hand coming up to press circles into the space between your shoulder blades. His voice is feather-light, and pleased at the thought. "I missed you, too."

Your smile stamps itself against his shoulder, lips brushing a gentle kiss through the fabric of his shirt. Nothing more remains to be said, quiet contentment hanging in the beams above you as the sun sets on your street.

You sit there until the lights begin to flicker on and he takes your hand, lead back inside knowing you'll finally find rest.

You go to bed with the smell of fresh linen under your nose, and the sound of rain at your window. In Jason's arms, you dream.

don't know what this is. a little sweetness after the mess of the apocalypse longfic, and also a chance to write something shorter, easier, breezier. i love domestic fluff, and i love jason, and i love suburban sunsets. i was driving through the streets today around sunset and it was so beautiful today and i felt extremely lucky to live in such a beautiful world with all its twilights and sunrises. i love you!

#this is unedited and im a little loopy dreamy but here u go <3 #divider by saradika-graphics #jay my heart #jasonsmirrorball #jason todd x reader #jason todd fanfiction #jason todd imagine #x reader

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tonguetyd · 12 days ago

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Chemical Mess

A Sleep Token Gift Exchange present for @sleeptokenpuppy 🥰

"What's the point? If life is fleeting, should I just hang with my friends? Should I spend more time with the people I love instead of in my head?"

Tags: Sitcom AU, Inhuman Vessels, Not Platonic or Romantic But a Secret Third Thing (Bonded By An Eldritch Being), Winter Solstice, Minor Existential Crisis, But Friends and Tentacle God Help You Thru It :::)

IV hummed as he balanced another 3 sticks of butter on the precarious tower of supplies retrieved from the fridge. Sure, he could take multiple trips back to the counter with less food, but what was the fun of having super strength if you didn't use it to carry as much as possible?

Deciding he had everything he needed, he shut the door and turned slowly towards the counter, making sure none of his supplies would lose balance and fall do-

"MOOOOVE!!!!" yelled II as he bolted past the guitarist to grab a Red Bull can, knocking over every one of IV's carefully stacked items to the ground.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as to not yell at the drummer. "We really need to keep your caffeine in a separate part of the house."

"We shouldn't give him caffeine at all, he's already supersonic," chimed in III from the stovetop.

"Notmyfault, lotsathingstodotoday, needmyenergy, sorry, iiiwillhelpcleanup!" II said between gulps of his drink. "Oh! Happysolsticebytheway!" He scrunched up the empty can and tossed it to the bin.

"III will NOT help clean up, III has risotto on the stove thank you very much," the bassist sassed.

Huffing at his friends, IV began setting his supplies from the floor to the counter. "It's fine, leave it all for the non-flexible AND slow one, not a problem there..."

"Seeyougotit, dontevenneediiishelp, okaybye," II replied before running back off to wherever he had come from.

IV grumbled something about "rude motherfucker" while III walked over laughing. "Don't worry, we'll figure out some way to get revenge," the bassist said, stretching his arm to keep stirring the pot on the stove. "Little man won't know what hit him!"

An unnatural cloud of fog rumbled with amusement as Sleep watched His younger vessels prepare for His sacred night. He turned His attention to His First, expecting to see a similar sense of entertainment from his eldest.

Instead, Vessel's six eyes blinked joylessly at the wall, oblivious to his friends' antics.

The solstice was upon them once again. Another year had gone by. Were the years always so short? How was time continuing to slip away from him? It had just been summer yesterday. Was life passing him by? Should he be doing more by now? Accomplished more than what he already had? How much time did he even have left?

Futhermore, what was the point of having all this time anyway, if it was just going to fly by him? If he was constantly running out of time anyway, what was the purpose of filling them with...anything? The clock and calendar didn't care what he did to fill them. They marched steady onwards.

Emo shit. As IV would affectionally call it.

Vessel's brain spiral of Emo Shit continued as his friends worked around him to bring light on their shared sacred day.

Sleep was displeased at this. It would not do that His First should be melancholy on the Holiest of nights. His fog form swirled around III.

“Hey Sleep! If you’re looking to help I think IV needs it more,” the bassist said, affectionately twirling a finger in the mist.

The fog grew denser and lowered Itself to obstruct III’s vision.

III frowned and tried to fan the fog away with his hands. “Yeah yeah I know it’s your special day, I’m trying to fry stuff though and would rather not get burned because you’re blocking my sight!”

Frustrated, Sleep continued to His Second. If anyone would be in touch with His First’s emotions, it would be his oldest friend.

The mist descended upon II as he raced up the stairs. “SLEEPICANTSEE!” he exclaimed as he missed the top step, tumbling back down to the bottom.

He sat up and rubbed his head, glaring at the fog. “Thathurt! Becareful! Notallofusareimmortal!”

The fog continued to swim around him, forming an opening to direct II’s sight to Vessel.

II huffed when he saw his friend. “Ves. Talktoyourgodandtellhimtoleaveusbe!”

Vessel glanced up towards II and shrugged.

IV bellowed from the kitchen “OI, SLEEP, WE’RE BUSY! GIVE US A COUPLE HOURS!”

The ancient one’s frustration reached its peak. The fog condensed and shot over to Vessel before disappearing from sight.

Vessel suddenly didn’t feel so good.

His eyes grew blurry and his head heavy. His limbs began to move of their own accord, and suddenly he felt another presence in his mind.

The jerky movement from Vessel’s body caught III’s eye first. “…Ves?”

Vessel’s head snapped to III’s, his six eyes glowing red.

“MY THIRD.”

“…oh. Shit. Not Ves.” III reared his head back, creating space between himself and his now-possessed friend. “UH…GUYS? I THINK WE MADE GOD MAD…”

II and IV made their way over to the other vessels. “Whatdoyoumeanwema-oh. Fuck.” II’s eyes grew when he saw the already looming presence of his friend expand to house a god.

“MY VESSELS. YOU SEEK MY FAVOR UPON THIS HOLY DAY, YET YOU IGNORE MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN YOUR ATTENTION. EXPLAIN.”

“Shit…we…we didn’t mean anything by it, honest,” III stammered out. “We just have to watch what we’re doing, or we’ll make a mess. We would never intentionally ignore you, Sleep.”

“YOU ARE IGNORING MY FIRST.”

IV tilted his head in confusion. “Ves has been sitting right there? He hasn’t said anything to ignore…”

“MY FIRST’S BRAIN IS RESTLESS. HE IS QUESTIONING HIS PURPOSE, FEELING AS IF HE HAS TOO MUCH YET NOT ENOUGH TIME.”

“…andstubbornasscouldnttellusthishimself?”

III elbowed II from across the room. “Oi, don’t be a prick.”

“HE IS SUFFERING IN SILENCE, AS HE OFTEN DOES, AS TO NOT BE A BURDEN ON YOU. I WILL NOT TOLERATE MY FIRST BEING UPSET WHILE SURROUNDED BY HAPPINESS. FIX HIM.”

With His command given, Sleep detached Himself from Vessel’s brain.

When Vessel blinked his eyes again, he felt more like himself. His three sets of eyes were met with another three sets.

“Why didn’t you tell us you were feeling badly?” II asked, deliberately slower than he had been all week.

Shame rose up in Vessel’s cheeks. “I…uh…well…you’re all busy…and I just…it’s stupid anyway.”

“It’s not stupid Ves, it’s something we all feel at times,” IV assured him.

“Yeah! Friendly Christmas existential dread!” III nodded.

Vessel huffed. “I just. You’d think if we all go through this that somebody would’ve figured it out by now.”

IV scoffed. “Yeah, yet here we all just fucking around anyway. Nobody’s got any idea what they’re doing.”

“Mmhmm. We’re bumbling around just trying to get…somewhere?” II offered.

“Or maybe not even go anywhere at all. Just enjoying the ride, wherever it takes us!” said III.

Vessel stared up at the ceiling as Sleep’s fog took shape once again. “I guess.”

“Listen Vee, yeah we don’t know if there’s a point to any of this, and yeah it might be over in the blink of an eye,” IV shrugged. “But instead of wasting that limited time we’ve got trying to figure it out, let’s just. Like. I dunno.” He gestured around their space.

“Eat rice balls!” III exclaimed.

Ves laughed for the first time all day. “Who needs a meaning in life when there’s rice balls?”

“Exactly!”

“III is right,” II said. “We’ve got rice balls, and more than that, you’ve got us!”

“If we’re to be submerged, let us be submerged together and all that shit, yknow?” IV joked.

And as Sleep watched his vessels pick their First’s spirits up, he hummed in agreement. Not even the ancient ones know what the future holds. All any being can do is enjoy time with those that make them feel less alone.

A part of a whole, no matter how messed up it may be.

Just a picture perfect, lovable, positively shitshow, chemical mess.

——————————

Matt’s song offers no answers, nor can I, nor can Sleep probably! There’s no right way to do the holidays or life. All we can do is try to be good to each other! This is my attempt to be good to y’all, and I hope you enjoyed it!! ❤️

#woe main tags be upon ye #sleep token #sleep token fanfiction #(first time using that tag!!)#sleep token gift exchange #st gift exchange 2024 #drifting and rambling #if we are to be submerged #etc etc

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o-sn4pple · 3 months ago

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hi this is an unfinished rough draft of a (technical?) sequel to my scara x reader fic, against the kitchen floor

someone had left a bookmark idea of how wanderer would be with reader after the wipe, and though they had discussed how reader would be missing something, i went with what would have been changed had i written into jeht's story quest

so yeah, hi

The Wanderer does not like the desert.

The sand is not kind to his joints, the sunlight harsh upon his eyes, and yet he forces his body faster and faster, fighting against the tearing winds to the hidden encampment within the dunes. Even he feels the scratch of grains whipping against his eyes. He only grits his teeth and charges ahead.

“I can’t be in two places at once!”

The map marks the Temples Forsaken as his target, though the sand seems to have been cleared as of late. Glowing statues seem to flicker in the harsh light, familiar structures that mean little to him now. The sand is dusted white, and though the Wanderer does not need to breathe, he does so anyway. A plume of condensation escapes him.

This can’t be good. He doubts his internal hardware enjoys freezing over, either. Already, he can feel his capacitors shutting off, limbs stiffening in protest.

“Trust me, I would have asked Cyno, but I don’t have time to waste!”

The Wanderer grits his teeth and moves deeper. Despite the risen walls, the wind only seems to grow stronger, bitter and blinding. He keeps one hand tight on the brim of his hat, attempting to scan through the howling winds for something of note. The closest he finds is a suspicious lump half-buried in snow - a body, he discovers. The Eremite has no visible injuries, but their jaw seems half-frozen in visible shock, fingers tight around their axe. The several dozen others are in similar shape.

Finally, he finds another, more familiar uniform buried in the mix. The Fatuus’ armor has splintered, chest caved in and dripping all over the ground. Just seeing his face makes the Wanderer scowl, and he steps back to squint through the storm. With all of the snow howling around him, it takes him a moment to remember just where he is.

“They’re in trouble!”

He opens his mouth, but before he can speak, a blur flies at his side. He throws his arms up, fingers catching a jagged edge before it can pierce his chest. It isn’t enough to stop the momentum, and he is swept right off his feet by an insect twenty times his size.

“Gh-” The Wanderer grits his teeth as the insect trills, each click like thunder in his ears. He twists to push the beetle aside, momentum bouncing him off the giant scarab’s head as it whistles past. When it rights itself, he throws one hand up. Razor wind arcs at its giant horn, glancing off its icy exoskeleton.

Another furious trill rings in the puppet’s ears. This time, its horn catches beneath his feet and hauls him up. He kicks and thrashes, tearing himself free before the beetle can fling him into the ruin walls. He knows this creature - its size, not as much, but its enraged rattle sounds just like an overwound toy breaking free from its shell.

“Pot of Greed!”

The giant scarab freezes, hovering over the ruins as it clicks and chirps. The Wanderer scowls and rights himself, shaking the frost from his face. He doesn’t understand what it’s saying, but he can already see it shrinking. “The Traveler sent me,” he shouts over the howling blizzard. “Where are they?”

Pot of Greed trills, but when it lands on its legs, its entire body shudders. Its icy exoskeleton slides off in sheets, puffing into mist before it can hit the ground. All that remains is its mechanical body, which hits the ground back first with its legs in the air.

“Huh?” The Wanderer steps forward, ready to pick up the catalyst when-

BANG!

-something pierces his thigh.

The Wanderer hisses, hand flying to the hole now burning its way through his leg. A quick diagnostic reveals it missed the major wires that control movement, but his pain receptors don’t seem to care. It hurts, it burns, and he bares his teeth as he follows its trajectory. “You-”

Another bullet whizzes by. This time, he rounds on the angle with Anemo at his fingertips, then freezes.

It’s you, head wrapped in your floral scarf and armed with a Skirmisher’s flaming rifle. Your left arm, normally hidden with a sleeve, bares its scars to the open air, your actual sleeve wrapped around your right leg and the shaft of another Skirmisher’s hammer. You’ve squeezed yourself into a crevice in the ruin walls. From the drag marks under your legs, the Wanderer can only assume you dragged yourself there to protect your back.

Your hands move like a seasoned veteran, and by the time the Wanderer’s mind catches up to him, you are already firing another shot. This time, it whizzes past his ear. Something tells him that your next shot will not miss.

“Enough!” The Wanderer flies forward, seizing the barrel before it can fire. You shout and lunge, but he tears the gun from your fingertips and throws it aside. “Calm down, it’s-”

A frost-coated fist slams straight into his stomach. He doubles over with a hiss, and it’s just enough for your other hand to shoot put and grab a fistful of his coat.

And in the memories the Wanderer has of you, both old and new, you never seemed like much for roughhousing. At least, the current you always carried yourself with dignity whenever he sees you walking around the Akademiya before turning the opposite way.

Then he recalls all of those foreign memories he’d seen in the Akasha System, how you used to be with the General Mahamatra, and is slammed into the dirt with enough force to make his vision flicker.

You get in a lucky strike before he finally throws you off, pinning you on your back. He snatches your wrists as you thrash, using his knees to hold down your shoulders as you scream. “STOP!” he shouts over you. “I’m not your enemy!” It doesn’t work. Your one good leg kicks blindly, knee bumping his back. This time, he grips your cheeks tight, forcing you to meet his eye. “It’s me, you idiot! From the Akademiya!”

For a moment, he doesn’t think it works. After all, he’s barely spoken to you unless directly summoned by Nahida. Outside of the first interaction (or reunion, for him), he’s avoided you as best he could.

But from the way your eyes widen, his body almost softens with relief. You relax under his grip, one hand weakly pulling on his own as your bleeding lips move.

“Water,” you rasp. “Please…too long…water…”

That is all you get out before your eyes roll back.

“Huh?” The Wanderer grips your jaw tight, shaking you out of instinct before the rest of the Traveler’s words come to him.

“It’s been a week, they’re both missing, please, just help me!”

A week.

He looks around, eyes zeroing in on the rapidly melting snow. It can’t be safe or sanitary, but he also knows humans can only last three days without water at most. The Wanderer doesn’t have time to be picky, nor embarrassed. He simply holds the snow in his mouth until it melts, centers your head with one hand on your chin, and presses his mouth to yours.

He keeps his fingers against your jaw, using the heel of his palm to force your swallows. When he pulls back, he only allows himself a second to gasp before grabbing another handful of snow. Again and again, he forces water between your cracked lips, counting each swallow like a pulse under your skin.

The puppet stops when your tongue finally feels moist, dragging his sleeve against his mouth to dry the errant droplets on his lips. Already, the snow around him is beginning to melt, no longer aided by your fury. He understands that a Vision can influence the biological stasis of the human body, but he doubts you enjoy wet clothes sticking to your skin.

He resorts to tearing off the coats of a Fatuus, their water-resistant design leaving its interior dry and soft. With your clothes, he is far more careful to peel them away, wrapping your shoulders the second they are exposed. The floral scarf remains secured around your head.

Fire, he thinks once you are propped against one of the ruin’s chess pieces. Clothes do not last long, and everything else is too waterlogged to be useful. He resorts to flying out of the ruins, returning with arms full of wood broken from a nearby Hilichurl encampment and tumbleweeds. He sparks the dead branches with your rifle, and as the embers begin to catch, he throws more and more until the entire clearing is glowing.

The Wanderer almost regrets it when he returns to you. The fire highlights your sunken face and dirtied skin, drowning in the giant coat he’d wrapped you in. Your breaths come in weak, shallow pants. He needs to get you back to Sumeru, but can you even handle the trip?

Better yet, can he? He can feel the frost creeping along his insides,

#genshin impact #wanderer x reader #snapple drabbles

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urfavslav · 2 years ago

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the league of villains x gn!rich/eccentric reader, christmas themes, platonic

It's that time of year again. Christmas decorations plastered on every store you pass by. Although, this year will be slightly different then normal. Instead of spending time with family, you have decided to spend your time and wealth on an organization that you've come to know exceedingly well.

The League of Villains.

Why, you ask? Well you weren't the best of all people. earning your riches in other ways some would never think of. but that's another topic for another day. Why not spoil your friends for the holidays.

The planning;

Calling kurogiri was the first part of your plan, gotta let them know about it somehow ‍🤷‍♂️

"Hi 'giri !!" you exclaimed over the phone. "Hello Mx. (Name), What brings you to the phone this time?" He was right with his question. Most days you just prance over uninvited, put your plans out in circulation and then let them agree on what they wanted to do.

"weeeeeell i'm planning something for you all. no spoilers, teehee, anyway back on topic, I'm gonna let you know know I'm done !!"

You could hear the mist man sigh, giving him absolutely no clue to what you're doing and a possible need for blood medication. But, he just goes with it anyway much to your delight. "alright then, anything i need to do for this 'suprize' ?"

You thought on it for a second before answering. "nope ! i'm gonna go shopping soon and i'll pick y'all up." and with that, you said your departings and hung up.

Next was the shopping, to be frank, a couple of them were easy to shop for.

Tomura had gotten new pairs of gloves and video game credits, systems and games.

You got toga a few winter wardrobe pieces and a few new knifes.

You'd decided a designer coat and deck of custom cards would be nice for mister compress

Dabi, on the other hand was a mystery so a quality burn creme, money and some clothes warmer then his 'emo jacket' seemed to suffice for you.

Everybody else their own gifts that you felt suited them

Over all everybody got a large sum of money to spend freely.

A glance at your phone and you rushed to gather the rest of the presents before ordering an uber home.

Dashing around your apartment to tidy and slide the last few dishes in the oven, ordering your household andriod to finish the rest. While you raced your vehicle to the league's place.

Upon being let in by the mist man, you explained that you had a suprise waiting for them at your place. "Everybody ! yes you too tomura, I've got a lil somethin' for everybody! kurogiri, C'mon! The car has room to spare."

As everybody (some begrudgingly) got comfy in your vehicle, you were off headed right back to your place. "hey, weirdo, do you have a radio ?" Dabi had asked from the passenger seat.

"yeah. hol' on." You pushed a few buttons and a hologram radio popped up. "Just find a channel, connect your phone or whatever burn boy."

The last word he offered was 'lame', offending your choice of names to call him before some song started playing. Song requests being taken from everybody in the car until they arrived at (name's) apartment.

"WE'RE HOME !!!!" You yelled out to the general public as you ran to unlock the first door. "come in, come in !! it's warm in here." Shoving all your friends into the building. "uhhh 11th floor, door on the right, there's only two apartments up there due to 'em being huge so yeah"

Shigaraki, now leading the group to the elevator, was cautious of how empty the building sounded. "are they serious ? top floor ?" The anxiety driven scratching could be heard from outside the elevator.

"it's hospitality tomura-kun. leave it be! you coming (name) ?" toga budding into the situation at hand. A short response of "i'll meet you guys there!" was shouted back.

"up we go ! oh no.." twices split personalities chimed in as they expressed their thoughts.

Now, the condo itself was gorgeous, spacious and just breath-taking. the Christmas tree full of lights and presents. (name's) cute lil dog running around the apartment, their android house-aid taking their coats and hanging them up.

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS YOU GUYS !!!" (Name's) loud voice was booming as you came in and locked the door. "Lets do presents and then dinner !!" Dashing over to the tree you started handing out boxes and gift bags.

"for you," a red and black box for compress. "you'll like it sako. and for you." a few boxes handed to toga.

"these are soooo cute !!! thanks (name) !!" toga's soft toothy smile gracing her feline features.

All around your misshapen circle of friends you could see such a different array of emotions, none really negative though.

After gifts was dinner, everybody filling their plates with what they desired and enjoying themselves. The day was so wonderful, as you ended with hot chocolate and sweets. Setting them up for the night wouldn't be that bad ?

Christmas sleepover ! You get to cook for your friends the next morning and spend time with them ! The majority agreeing to your plans and cleaning up and cozying down to a movie as some feel asleep to others commentary on the film.

You loved your friends dearly and you couldn't imagine not having them around.

★ all works belong to @urfavslav , do not repost on anywhere else with or without credit, do not plagiarise. thank you !

#lov x reader #bnha x reader #mha x reader #league of villains #league of villians x reader #himiko toga #jin bubaigawara #mha twice #twice #mr compress #dabi #touya todoroki #kurogiri #tomura shigaraki #tenko shimura #shigaraki x reader #dabi x reader #toga x reader #urfavslav stories !

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abundantsnow · 4 months ago

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oghhhgg kay first post on the kny blog

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hallo, if you dont know me, my name is Zenith Petrichor! you can just call me zen. :) my pronouns are zey/zem/zeirs (or he/it) and i am aroacespec (cupio/aegoromantic and aegosexual). i am on the autism spectrum and have adhd and ocd-c, all diagnosed. its nice to meet you if youre new, please send me asks about anything kny or related to my oc, i love answering questions!!!!1!1 /gen/pos

i need to put my oc out somewhere cause i dont want him to just spin in my brain 24/7, i need people to look at him in all his glory 💔

tumblr is the perfect place to release my "way too heavily projected on oc for it to not be a self insert" oc

kny wont leave me alone even tho the pacing and character dynamics are ass and i needed to make an oc and rewrite the entirety of kny with him and with better pacing and character dynamics

So anyway yeah thus is totally a self insert, meet Hisato Nagafuchi!!!!!!!!!!!1!1!1!1!1! please read more lkke pleade please please i love him so much please read about him im ljke so- *gets shot*

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Hisato's reference sheet

永渕氷聖 "Hisato Nagafuchi"

Hisato - 氷聖 “ice” “saint”

Nagafuchi - 永渕 “eternity” “quiet”

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Name: Hisato Nagafuchi

Race: Half-Demon

Gender: Male, He/Him

Age: 23

Height: 168 cm (5'6") (6'0" with his geta) ((the teeth are 5 inches but the base itself is a whole nother inch))

Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)

Birthday: January 12th

Hair Color: White to Lavender

Eye Color: Indigo

Affiliation: Demon Slayer Corps

Occupation: Demon Slayer, Ice Hashira

Combat Style: Ice Breathing, Blood Demon Art: Purifying Ice

Partner(s): Giyuu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro Tokito, Tengen Uzui

Relative(s): Unnamed Demon Father, Unnamed Human Mother (deceased), Sakonji Urokodaki (adoptive father)

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Hisato's sprite & parasol

I'll draw his actual official promo art at some point. This is like the sprite that would show up on the wiki lol

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About the Hashiras!

About the Water Hashira: “He’s kind, I like him a lot. He's very aloof and masks his emotions; which people don't seem to understand. They think he's arrogant, and he's not. He’s self-conscious, and I can tell something’s bothering him deeply. We were also taught under the same Former Hashira, even if I developed my breathing techniques differently.”

About the Love Hashira: “She’s a sweetheart. She was friendly to me from the start and trusted me, even though I am a half-demon. We bonded over our love for food.”

About the Mist Hashira: “Ah, I see him as a little brother of sorts. He’s a brilliant boy, even if emotionally stunted due to his amnesia. I’ve made the effort to try and communicate with him, and he has noticed this. I like to spar with him, and this is how we communicate.”

About the Wind Hashira: “He’s hot headed and loud. Very loud. He was the most outspoken about me being a half-demon during my crowning and even tried to tempt me with his marechi blood. It smelled nice, like a gourmet dinner, but I could easily resist the temptation. I haven’t really liked him since.”

About the Insect Hashira: “She didn’t seem to like me at first. I had offered her my blood to use as a substitute for an experiment and she accepted. Whatever the results were had her interested in me. She now comes to me to ask me questions occasionally, and seems to hold no animosity towards me anymore. Although there is something simmering under her surface, I’m sure it’s something to do with Kanae’s death.”

About the Flame Hashira: “He’s also loud, like Lord Shinazugawa, but he’s very passionate and kind. I look up to him, even though I am older. He was wary of me at the very beginning, but was one of the few that accepted me pretty quickly. He even gave me pointers during a spar.”

About the Stone Hashira: “He was adamant on not accepting me at first. He believed anyone with Muzan’s blood, however diluted, did not belong in the Corps and should be slain. It took a long time to earn his acceptance and it almost seemed futile. As embarrassing as it is... it was learning that I can purr like a cat that... got him to like me. Both him and Lady Kanroji love cats, apparently. He likes to pat my head whenever he gets the chance."

About the Serpent Hashira: “He also doesn’t like me. At first, it was because I was a half-demon. He accepted that after a while and even sparred with me, claiming that I was fun to spar with. Now, he hates me because he thinks I’m too close to Lady Kanroji. I think he has a crush on her…”

About the Sound Hashira: “He’s very loud, too. He was mean at first, but it turns out it was just a form of tough love. We’re the same age and he even gifted me a haori that matches my breathing style! I wear it all the time and I love it, it makes me miss dad- I mean Mr. Urokodaki's haori that I outgrew. He said my Blood Demon Art was very flashy; he calls numerous things flashy, actually. It’s quite funny. I also think he’s really pretty, but he has… three wives…”

About the Flower Hashira: “I only knew her briefly, seeing as she died shortly after I became a Hashira. But she was also kind to me. She was hesitant to trust me, but she still did anyway. I really wish she was still around. After learning it was one of the Twelve Kizuki that killed her, I swore to Lady Kocho that I would help her find and kill Doma, the Kizuki in question.”

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Taishō Era Secrets!:

(with Tanjiro)

"Mr. Nagafuchi can't stand anything spicy! He prefers all of his food cold, even things that aren't supposed to be cold! He also loves sweet foods."

"His ears are incredibly sensitive, and he has a good sense of sight, smell, and hearing! It's not as good as mine or Zenitsu's, but he's still able to pick up a lot of things that normal human senses can't!"

"His voice doesn't match his appearance, but it's still considered a beautiful voice. He loves to sing and hum melodies, but he's become very embarrassed by this particular skill."

Tanjiro: "I hope one day I can hear you sing, Mr. Nagafuchi!"

Hisato: "I'd only sing for Nezuko, sorry Tanjiro."

Tanjiro: "That's okay! I'm sure Nezuko would love it!"

"He also doesn't talk to anyone because of this! Only the Hashira, me, Zenitsu, Insosuke, and everyone at the Butterfly Mansion have heard his voice."

"He's able to sneak up on anyone without making a sound! Despite wearing noisy clothes and having chimes on his parasol, he can move without alerting anyone! It's almost like he can choose if he makes noise when moving..."

Hisato: "I can, actually. When making my presence known, I tend to allow my footsteps and parasol to make noise for a more elegant appearance."

Tanjiro: "Is there a switch you can flip or something? How are you able to do that?"

Hisato: "That... shall remain a secret."

"Apparently he was taken in and raised by Mr. Urokodaki since he was a baby, and even calls him dad!"

Hisato: "Th-That's embarrassing, Tanjiro... You didn't have to say that..."

Tanjiro: "I think it's adorable! I also saw him as a father figure if it makes you feel better!"

Hisato: "..."

"Mr. Nagafuchi can purr! Like a cat! When Mr. Himejima and Ms. Kanroji learned about this, they were over the moon since they both love cats!! They find any chance possible to pet Mr. Nagafuchi, so cute!!!"

Hisato: "I... I do not purr... That is nonsense...!"

Tanjiro "Can I pet you, then?"

Hisato: "No, of course not, Tanjiro! You cannot pet me! And Lord Himejima and Lady Kanroji do not pet me!"

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Hisato's haori and parasol design

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That's all for the first post!! I have a lot more already, but I'll schedule those posts for later since its 1am and like. yeah.

#kny oc: Hisato Nagafuchi #kny oc art #kny oc #kny oc x canon #kny ocs #kny #kimetsu no yaiba #demon slayer #kny hashira

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luverofralts · 2 months ago

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Arkhelios Adventures

"All in a day's work. The living realm is always so responsive to its ruler."

Lukas grinned, looking back at their husband. They hadn't needed to stop by and watch their plan unfold, but sometimes it was rewarding to see it all come together. Izanami had needed to take a walk anyway to settle his stomach. Even when he abstained from eating mortal food, Izanami still suffered fits of vomiting up unmentionable items, though it was starting to slow down. Yesterday, there hadn't even been one incident and the twins had forced him to eat an omelet they had made. Lukas saw this as progress. Maybe whatever was happening was beginning to go away like a bad flu.

"The mortals never do stand a chance against you," Izanami sighed. The skin of his physical incarnation was beginning to feel cold despite the summer sun. He had agreed to a quick walk, not a stake out to ensure that the mortals complied with Lukas' every whim. "Now that you and Destiny have your ball back, can we return home? It's unpleasant to linger here."

"Yeah, of course. Thanks for being a good sport. Your daughter and her friends are going to love you for this. I'm going to love you for this. Those suits I ordered are going to blow the competition away. The ghost investigation will be good too, especially if the mortals do all the work for me. I'm going to have to pay that Strangetown demigod a visit if the Strangetown king really means to investigate. Jasone, was it? She was always nice to me. It's been forever since I've spoken to a demigod."

"Probably for the best, I think," Izanami muttered. "The last thing we need is for you to end up in the same room as Hailee. The afterlife burned the last time you spoke."

Lukas frowned, not enjoying where this conversation was leading. The less they thought about their ex-mistress, the happier they were.

"I'll have you know that she hasn't...."

Lukas trailed off, suddenly feeling slightly nauseous themselves. Something wasn't right. Something was very much not right.

White mist escaped from their mouth, just as it did with Izanami. Their stomach was churning into knots and a darkness gripped the deity, crushing their chest until they couldn't draw breath.

"Lukas?"

A familiar feeling washed over Lukas, one so powerful that even they could not stand against it. Their legs buckled. White hot pain seared itself into their mind. A voice as dark and cold as the sea murmured something they couldn't make out. Fear and pain and memory flowed from the deity so quickly Lukas was forced to wonder if they truly could die and this was finally their end.

They wrapped their arms tightly around their chest and took a shallow breath. They had done this before twice now. Lukas was reincarnating.

"Izanami, help! I'm reincarnating again! I can't! I'll miss the children growing up! I can't go through regaining my memories again, of remembering you again! I can't-"

The feeling faded as quickly as it had come on, but Lukas didn't dare release their arms. They stood frozen, arms wrapped tightly against their chest. At some point, they had started hyperventilating and now that they had noticed, it seemed impossible to stop.

"Lukas!"

Izanami was at his spouse's side in an instant, covering them with his own corporal form to protect them. Lukas' previous reincarnations had been triggered by fatal injuries or dark magic, but Izanami saw nothing like that. There were no injuries, no blood, just....

Izanami stared curiously at their frightened spouse. They didn't look like they were dying. They looked like they always did, but with brown hair. There hadn't been a reincarnation at all, not that Izanami could see. All the commotion had been for a simple change in his spouse's hair colour, not a violent end. Izanami was grateful beyond words to have his Lukas still with him, but was still baffled. What the hell was going on?

"Vrai, you worthless mortal, call my son! He'll answer if you're calling during work hours and he needs to be here to help his mother!"

Vrai snapped out of his daydreaming at the sound of Death’s voice. He didn't work for Death, but he was sleeping with Death’s son, which motivated him to stay on Death’s good side.

Vrai began to dial, but Lukas held up a shaky hand to stop him.

"Wait, let me try this first. I think I can...."

Lukas erupted into a brilliant beam of light, far too bright to stare at for very long. From what Vrai could make out with his hand still shielding his eyes, Lukas was shifting. Parts of them were rearranging, swirling around the light and then snapping into place.

"How's this?"

The light died down, revealing Lukas exactly as they had been two minutes ago.

"Your hair's different, but everything else looks normal," Vrai replied. "You really went through all of that just to dye your hair brown?"

Despite already being the palest person Vrai had ever seen, Lukas seemed to pale three more shades at these words.

"Still the brown hair?" they whispered in horror. "No. No. I'll try this."

The brilliant light shielded Lukas from sight once more. When it receded, Lukas was in their usual female form, except their hair remained brown instead of its usual black.

"Dammit! God dammit!" the deity swore when they looked at their long locks of brown hair. "This isn't happening! Izanami, tell me how to change this!"

If Vrai didn't know any better, he could almost swear that there was legitimate fear in Lukas' eyes. Their breaths were quick and shallow and they stated at their husband in a look Vrai could only describe as panicked.

"It's just a hair colour," Vrai offered kindly. "It looks good on you. You can always dye it back to black if you hate it that much."

Lukas ignored their employee's kind gesture, worriedly searching their mind for a solution to whatever was happening to them.

"Izanami, you know what this means, right?"

Izanami nodded, looking equally as lost.

"You haven't reincarnated," he said quietly. "You have access to your second and third reincarnations, but not your first. This is troubling."

"Troubling isn't the right word," Lukas insisted. "Horrifying is much closer. Catastrophic even."

"Forget calling Gee, I'll go drag him here myself," Izanami declared. "And the angels too. Someone has to know what's going on here. How hard can they be to find?"

"Considering Lukas almost burned them to ash along with the rest of us, I'd imagine the angels won't be helping any time soon," Vrai remarked, still unsure if this was an elaborate prank the deities were pulling on him. "And Gee knows nothing about Lukas or how they function. Apparently the training he's relieved from his predecessor was rather...incomplete. I doubt he'd be able to help here."

Izanami broke his concentration on his spouse to give Vrai a withering look that spoke volumes about how little he cared to train his son to replace him.

"A good reaper finds his feet on his own. Instinct takes over when you give yourself to the power. Others have done it quicker than he has, with more success. His ignorance is no excuse. He is my son."

"And this is why you never get invited to family dinner," Vrai chided. Gee would never ask him to defend him to his father, but Vrai felt like he had to.

His words only made Izanami's glower darker and more threatening.

"I get invited to family dinner all the time," he assured his irritating son in law. "It is a kindness that I show you to decline the invitation. Pray I never accept it. You would not like what happens."

Vrai tried not to gulp in fear. It was one thing to see the Grim Reaper without his cloak, it was something else completely to see the dark side of Death.

"Go find the angels," Lukas interrupted, giving Vrai the chance to escape from his conversation. "Vrai's right. Gee doesn't know anything; we need someone who does. What about Evalla? As much as I like to ignore her existence, she has channeled my powers before. Maybe she can feel what's changed now. She's the only one who has touched my power and remained alive. All the rest are gone."

Izanami nodded quickly. The idea made sense, and a single sim in the afterlife was far easier to find than four easily pissed off angels.

"I'll be back shortly, Dearest," he vowed, kissing his spouse's head before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

As soon as Izanami was out of sight, Lukas collapsed to the ground, barely holding back tears.

"I guess I'm supposed to babysit you or something?" Vrai sighed, staring at the deity currently on the ground, making pitiful sobbing noises. Vrai had honestly never seen Lukas like this over the several decades they had known them. Usually, the deity was the one pulling the strings on every occasion in the living world, indifferent to the feelings of others.

Whatever was happening, Lukas really did seem to be terrified. They and Vrai had had a complicated relationship over the years, but they could sort of count as friends if Vrai was being charitable. Dating their stepson and technically existing to serve Life counted as a friendship, right? He wasn’t getting rid of the deity any time soon either way.

"Your grand scheme about the ball is completing itself over there," Vrai pointed out, hoping to appeal to the more confident, mildly narcissistic side of the deity. Flattery might go a long way. "It looks like the Harvest Moon Ball is saved, all because of you. My brother even supports your scheme and you know how pissed off he gets when you steal our mother's tiara."

Lukas sighed, trying to compose themselves but failing. It wouldn't make sense to Vrai why they were so upset. No mortal could understand. Their hair colour had changed, and to them, what was so frightening about that?

"Vrai...You don't understand. Sit down. You'll draw less attention."

Vrai couldn't ignore a request that strange. If he didn't know better, he might have thought that the deity was actually opening up to him.

"Somethings wrong with Izanami," Lukas admitted, their voice barely above a whisper. "He's sick somehow, vomiting up things you'd see in your nightmares. And now this, whatever this is. There's got to be something bad happening here if we're both experiencing...changes. I don't know what this means for the universe; I really don't. It can't be good though."

Vrai frowned. He wasn't accustomed to Lukas doing anything but harping on him to obey their every whim. It was an unsettling change.

"You look fine enough though," he replied, hoping it was the right thing to say. "Your hair is just different. Compared to vomiting up nightmares, that sounds pretty okay."

Lukas signed heavily, wiping their eyes with their sleeves and hoping that Vrai didn't notice.

"I had a son once."

Lukas paused long enough for Vrai to question whether they were waiting for him to respond.

"Okay. You had a son," he coaxed. "You have a few sons from the family tree Gee drew up for me. I mean, there's Davis, obviously. I think Greg was mentioned once, unless I'm misremembering. There were a few more, right? And you have daughters too. There's one with dark hair and purple eyes that hangs around the afterlife offices I think."

Lukas shrugged.

"I guess. I don't really think about them much," they admitted. "I only married their mother to get back at Izanami. She was one of his reapers, and he broke up with me when I...no, it doesn't matter. I'm not talking about those children. I'm talking about him."

Vrai froze, unable to believe this conversation was happening. Every employee of the supernatural realm knew about him. Luke Jr, the one who stole Lukas' abilities and kept his father comatose for centuries. The damage he had caused both the living and the dead realms was incalculable. It was worse in Strangetown, where he grew up and began learning his father's powers. Vrai was the direct descendant of that suffering; there was no way he couldn't have known all about Lukas' infamous son.

Apparently, he had paused for too long. Lukas was already speaking, seemingly uninterested in hearing Vrai's reply.

"Has Gee ever told you about the world he grew up in?"

"Huh? No, not really. He said it wasn't as nice as things were now, but he loved growing up in Strangetown."

What the hell does that have to do with your son?

"That figures," Lukas sighed. "He's far too sentimental to be honest about the past. Things were different then. So different, you couldn't even comprehend it. My parents were born into a war that consumed their entire lives. It was endless, spanning across decades. I arrived in the world just after Strangetown fell to ruin, and then war became all I knew as well. We only created the teams of reapers because Izanami couldn't keep up with the number of souls about to die. Entire countries fell overnight, only to build a new foundation that also crumbled soon after. People were different back then. I was different back then. I didn't know half of what I know now about myself and what I can do. The Ocean has always been cryptic, and Izanami can't understand my domain. I've had to learn so much by myself over the years and when I first lost my corporal form and reincarnated, I thought my existence was over."

"That does sound frightening," Vrai said softly. "But you survived. You got a new incarnation. Things worked out in the end."

Lukas stared at the ground, trying to regain their composure, but the tears kept rolling down their cheek anyway.

"I normally wouldn't tell anyone this, but if I am reincarnating again and Izanami is falling apart, you may have to tell my new reincarnation this one day until I can remember it for myself. Last time, it took years to remember who I was. I can't go through that again. Not when my children need me to be there for them."

"Tell me what?"

Lukas sighed heavily, taking a long pause before continuing.

"When my sister died, our family died with her. Metaphorically speaking, I suppose, though it feels literal. I was cheating on the wife I married to make Izanami jealous with a demigod, also to show Izanami how over him I was. I was so cocky back then. We knew there had been attacks on reapers, but that wasn't my department. There were reports of demon activity that I ignored. All I could think about was myself and being as petty as I could. I didn't love my mistress, but she made me feel good about myself. And then it all fell apart."

Vrai nodded. History remembered some of what he believed Lukas was describing, and Gee had filled in some of the missing details over the years. Even he knew that tragedy and the birth of Luke Jr had devastated Lukas and the demigod Hailee Evans, and now the two loathed each other with every fiber of their being. Even while trying to be truthful, Lukas still refused to refer to her by name. None of this related to Lukas' reaction to their hair change, though Vrai was genuinely curious about where this conversation was going. The deity seemed to be babbling instead of coherently telling Vrai information they needed him to know.

"Demons killed your predecessors while I was with her. My champions, who I had protected and relied on for centuries were gone. It was my job to keep them alive until they had a child to replace their function in the universe. The last one died as a teenager with no heir. They were just suddenly gone and it was my fault. She lost her mother in the same attack that took my sister. Maybe it killed her family the same way it killed mine; I don't care enough to ask."

"What about this am I supposed to help you remember if you reincarnate?" Vrai interrupted. "That you don't get along well with your exes? That you need to stop being petty? I already could have told you that."

The tears stopped just long enough to glare at Vrai.

"No. I need to remember that this is a message. A threat."

Vrai shook his head.

"I don't follow. How is hair a threat?"

"My fathers were soldiers. It was all they knew and the wars are still deeply ingrained in them. You can see the deep scars they carry within them to this day written all over their souls. They're violent and broken and thrive in conflict. Linus is a self righteous asshole who clings to his principles, even when they hurt people. My father...well, Luke was raised in the darkness, groomed to be a weapon against everything good. When my sister died, they both blamed me for not protecting her. Even my little brother agreed with them that I was guilty of abandoning her. Then, I disappeared too, as my powers were stripped away by unworthy demons who couldn't handle them. My parents lost it when I vanished. Linus became unhinged in his search for his children, while my father...he reverted to his old ways in his desperation. The demons manipulated him, and he used his power to escape the afterlife to hunt the demons who had taken me. He killed a lot of people. A lot. If Izanami hadn't retired decades before this, he would have been livid over having to do paperwork on a dead soul killing the living."

Even while consumed by terror, Lukas had to smile at the idea. "I first began my reign with black hair like Linus. I'm pale like my father, and they both have blue eyes, so having Linus' dark hair made me feel like I belonged to both of them. It's stupid, but it always made me feel better somehow. Like I belonged just like any other child. When I reincarnated for the first time, I drew from my parents' power and created a new corporal form for myself. Everything was the same as my last form, except that my hair had changed. It made me look just like my father. That was the first thing absolutely everyone noticed. I couldn't look in a mirror without seeing the spitting image of my father staring back at me. My father had done unspeakable things to try to get his children back, and that was all I could see when I looked into a mirror. Failure. Darkness. The guilt I felt for returning without Riley. Every time I looked at myself, all of these feelings would overwhelm me to the point that I just dyed my hair black to block out the memories. And now, I conveniently get stuck in my second incarnation, with brown hair even in my female form? This is a message. I never thought I could reincarnate before I did. I lost my body for the first time because my guard was down and I was weak. I regained a body afterward that only reminded me of the darkness and pain surrounding my family. I get the message loud and clear."

"And that message is?" Vrai sounded doubtful that any of this made sense, but didn't want to spook the deity when they were already upset.

"That I may be forced to reincarnate again if I'm not careful, and maybe that I'm not worthy of it with the darkness within me," Lukas insisted. "Maybe one day I will go join Riley wherever she is as punishment for losing her. I'm capable of the same darkness as my father and my son, and maybe the universe is just sick of dealing with me."

"Uh...huh. Well, that is one interpretation," Vrai said carefully. It would take time to process this confession and Gee would be thrilled if Vrai shared this insight about his stepmother with him. This seemed private, though. Gee didn't really need to know this, Lukas was opening up solely out of fear. "Are you sure that it's not just a reversion genetically? One form degrading until it snaps out of place? It could be something as simple as that. You do shift a lot, maybe something's just stuck?"

Lukas shook their head vehemently.

"With Izanami being sick, this is too coincidental to happen by accident. It's a warning. 'I know what you're capable of and where you come from. Watch out or you're gone again, though maybe this time, I'll take your husband too."

"Who could possibly be warning you? You're a god. You're the embodiment of life contained in an irritating package. Who are you afraid of?"

Lukas looked baffled at the question.

"The Ocean, of course! Don't you listen to anything I say to you? Doesn't Gee ever tell you what happened to the last two demonic sovereigns? They're gone! They sank into his depths and are gone. Forever."

"And that's not a metaphor?" Vrai replied skeptically. "The ocean, the thing I have a yacht docked in, is threatening you?"

Lukas' demeanor changed in an instant.

"What? How can your son understand this completely while you act like this is the first time you've heard of it? Yes, that ocean. Of course, that ocean. It connects to every part of our world, right down to the core. It built this world, it's reflected in every drop of water in our bodies. We belong to it, and it's not always merciful. He has a physical form now, powerful enough to contain his essence and conduct his business in person. If you think that I'm powerful, then you can't even imagine what he can do. We serve him and try to stay out of his way. You'd better do the same if he ever takes an interest in you."

"So if Leo is right about his religion, does that mean my brother is wrong about his? Should I tell him? The Old Ways seem to comfort him, but if it's wrong-"

"Demigods are real, I have a child with one. You already knew that. Yes, they have their own powers and limitations and listen to their faithful. I had brunch with Jasone a decade or so back, and she seems to really like your brother. So, no, don't brush off your family's religions because you're narrow-minded. Demigods have nothing close to my power, but they're strong enough."

Vrai's mind raced with questions. Lukas was being vulnerable by some miracle while also confirming that Vrai needed to maybe listen more when Charley rambled on about demigods. Between this and the political drama happening in the royal garden behind him, it had been a wild day so far.

"Lukas! Evalla says that she can sense the currents of your power and that it's stable. There's nothing like what she experienced when you last reincarnated, so we're probably okay. I don't know what this all means, but you're not about to leave us and that's all that matters."

Izanami appeared out of nowhere, running to his spouse's side in an instant and dragging them off the ground into his arms.

"Did you find the angels?" Lukas asked breathlessly. "Evalla's just one person, and she could be completely wrong. Plus, everything that's been happening to you...this feels like a message. You know as well as I do who's behind this. What does he want with us?"

"Hold out your hand," Izanami said quietly, extending his own hand to cup his spouse's.

"Why? Will it help? Can it change me back? I can't see this form every time i look in a mirror. Not again."

"Remember the first piece of magic I taught you the day we first met? The declaration of identity? Try that now. If you can cast it, then you're probably fine. If you can't, well, that's something we'll think about if it happens. Go on, I'm right here with you. I'll do it too."

Lukas closed their eyes and concentrated on their outstretched hand. It was an easy enough use of their abilities. Demonic children and young witches could all cast it without a struggle. The magic gathered in the palm of a caster's hand, emitting energy that revealed information about the caster. It was the magical equivalent to wearing a name tag, hence why it was so popular with students. Children could use the magic to introduce themselves in class or when greeting new people. It could be used to identify lost children who hadn't memorized their full name and home address. The very first day of Lukas' existence, an extremely confused Izanami had taught them this, hoping that it would reveal the identity of the handsome stranger with powers he hadn't seen in anyone in decades. If they weren't currently so unsettled, Lukas would have had to stifle a laugh at the memory of Izanami's baffled face when the only thing the magic had revealed that day was "To Izanami, His name is Lukas."

With their eyes squeezed shut, Lukas could feel the magic within them begin to gather in their hand. They didn't dare look until the process was finished. It would be one thing to fail this simple test and fall apart worrying about what that meant, and something even worse to have to watch it happen.

A warm feeling rushed through their hand, and Lukas opened one eye to see if the magic was working. There, in their palm, was a familiar green glow. Green that represented plants and energy and vast jungles filled with vibrant creatures. All of nature sang in harmony within the magic in their hand. There could be no denying that the person generating such a sight was life incarnate.

There was a second energy brushing against the edges of Lukas' magic, equal in strength, but opposite in nature. A sickly yellow red glow had pooled in Izanami's hand, evoking thoughts of fire and sickness and decay. A force that ended whatever Life began. Lukas had known that energy for millenia and cherished it as intensely as their own. That was unmistakably Death.

They released the breath that they hadn't realized they'd been holding. Everything was okay. Their energy was stable, and Izanami's was as strong as it had ever been. They weren't reincarnating, and whatever had come over them earlier had to be just a fluke. Everything was fine. Opening up to Vrai had turned out to be unnecessary, but the experience seemed to have changed some of his opinions, so it hadn't been a complete waste. They were just thinking about how to force Vrai to never speak of what they'd discussed when Izanami cleared his throat.

"Dearest, something's wrong. Your...your declaration is wrong."

Lukas snapped to attention, their previous worries now banished from their mind. Since learning how to control their abilities in their first incarnation, the declaration magic should announce them as "Lukas Lane, god of life." Whatever it said now, they hadn't changed it.

"What does it say? I haven't changed it in millenia."

Izanami frowned, studying the magic before him like it was some kind of threat.

"It says, 'To Lukas Lane, enjoy this stroll down memory lane while it lasts."

Lukas froze in place, unable to process a single thought. Their suspicions were right, as they always were. This sudden transformation had been a warning, though for what, they couldn't currently understand. With dread, Lukas turned to read the energy in Izanami's palm, knowing that it was likely just as cryptically altered as their own.

"To Izanami, she's coming. She's coming soon."

Lukas met Izanami's frightened state with one of their own.

"What the hell does that mean?" they demanded. "Who's coming? When?"

Izanami nudged his spouse's hand with his own.

"Look," he insisted, still holding their hands together. "Watch where the declarations overlap. When they're touching, you can see something else. It looks like-"

"Don't mourn for Riley. She'll have plenty of company soon, unless you can stop them," Lukas read, their voice shaking audibly now.

"What does that mean?" Vrai asked, choosing to remind the two deities that he was still awkwardly standing beside them rather than escaping to the safety of the conversation of the monarchs behind him. "You said that your sister is dead and lost to us, isn't she? Is she coming back somehow?"

Lukas shook their head solemnly. Riley was never coming home. Of that, they were certain.

"It means that very shortly, unless we can stop it, more reapers are going to die."

#sims 2 #arkhelios adventures #lukas lane #izanami lane #vrai toyonaga

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tricos-here · 7 months ago

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For the mount asks: Asterales, Jessamy, and Alexandrine 💖

@mystery-salad

thank you for the ask <33

1. Does your character canonically have specific mounts?

Astêrales technically has a jackal but it is. largely redundant because she moves around via portals all the time anyway, and the jackal itself comes and goes as it pleases, but they do occasionally travel together and keep each other company

Jessamy canonically has a griffon named Doirean, it was given to her temporarily during her company’s contract in Thunderhead Keep, but they instantly took a liking to each other and upon her return to Tyria she decided to purchase and keep her

Alexandrine has a warclaw named Aife, though it’s not so much a warclaw in the sense of “spiritual animal bound to armor” as just a creature bound to the Mists

2. Do you have any canon mount skins / coloration for them?

Astêrales’ jackal is just Shadow Abyss and Tar on the Ceylon Cut Skin, which kinda of creates this starry look in its faceplate (?), if I were to draw might might've also thrown in some aspects of Lucent Sands too

Jessamy canonically is supposed to be using the Point-Tipped Corvus skin but I only have the Northern Feather Wing skin whose only real difference is it has a more angular beak, but either way it’s all black like well, a corvid

Alexandrine’s warclaw is the Vigilant Saberclaw in all white, may or may not have a longer tail like the Tundra Grimalkin but I’m undecided about that still 🏃‍♀️

3. How likely are they to rent one versus own one?

Astêrales would do neither because she can spawn in portals at will babeey. But if she were to lose that ability for some reason cough she’d likely talk her way through borrowing one, ain’t got no money to rent anyway

Jessamy technically owns hundreds of mounts under her company’s name so, if we want to get into schematics she she's more likely own one, besides her personal griffon anyway, but if she were in a position where she didn't have access to them then she has plenty of money to throw at some renting agency

Alexandrine definitely more likely to own one, partially because where would she rent a mount in the Mists anyway, but also she does enjoy the companionship as well

4. Are there any mounts they prefer using (or others they can't stand)?

Astêrales has only ever used a jackal and a skyscale, and if she were to choose between the two it would definitely be the jackal, she has no issue with heights or anything but skyscales to her feel comparatively sluggish and unresponsive

Jessamy can appreciate that each mount has its own uses and pros and cons but she’d generally go for a griffon or if the area asks for it, a raptor, but generally she thinks a skilled rider can get just about anywhere with a griffon anyway. Also finds springers ridiculous and you’ll never catch her on one amen

Alexandrine’s only experience with mounts is a warclaw so, N/A

5. Do they keep their mounts stabled, take them with them, or some secret 3rd thing?

Astêrales’ secret 3rd thing is that her jackal as mentioned just comes and goes as it pleases, using portals and traversing through the Mists as much as her

Jessamy will take her griffon with her on travels and the like but keep her stabled at stops, there’s been few occasions where she might bring her inside as some kinda power move but generally yeah, keeps her stabled

Alexandrine takes her warclaw everywhere, rarely ever leaves her side and yes that included the bed too, something her partner might not approve but it's her castle and she makes the rules (is what she thinks)

#I feel like I kinda spaced out while writing the entirety of this lmao sorry if it's incomprehensible #thank you again for the ask <3 #astêrales #jessamy blackdawn #alexandrine ide #guest star of the hour!!

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squidknees · 5 months ago

Text

Borrowing

(A short thing about an umbrella and Hiro's memory issues. 872 words.)

You have a visitor, the apartment intercom app chirps at Hiro.

Startled, he nearly drops the phone into his lap. How long has it been since he last heard that ringtone? He swipes it away and flips open his to-do list for the day; only after scanning it thoroughly does he allow himself a small puzzled frown. The late afternoon light is still shining through his windows, so it's not too implausible that someone would want to visit him... But who could it be? Door-to-door salesmen? Surely they wouldn't buzz his apartment number specifically...

The app chirps again; they're impatient, whoever they are. Well, why not? He hits Accept Call - and lights up as a fuzzy image of Ichika streams itself to his phone. "Ms. Ichika! Hi! I didn't know you knew where I lived!"

The image shifts and gives a staticky sigh. "You told me. Three days ago."

"Did I? I guess that makes sense. Hey, did you see the news earlier? They did a special on the Defense Division, and--"

"My umbrella," she cuts in. "Do you still have it?"

He blinks. "Why would I... ohhhh."

It had been three days ago, now that she mentioned it. He'd neglected to bring an umbrella to work since the weather report showed a solid 90% clear skies for once. Ichika had been kind enough to remind him to plan for the remaining 10%, and he'd still managed to forget about the whole thing the moment he stepped into his apartment. "Sorry, sorry! Um, it should be around here somewhere... Anyway, come on up! I can make tea!"

"I don't have time for that," Ichika scoffs. "You'd better have found it by the time I get up there."

She scowls when she arrives to hot green tea and no umbrella. Still, she can only hover in his doorway, watching him dig through his drawers, for so long before she relents. And by the time he finds it crammed between two books on a shelf, she's ready to admit that she's wasted enough time that a cup or two wouldn't make any difference anyway.

He grins at her across his little kitchen table. What a wonderful day.

-----

The next time, she speaks as soon as the call goes through. "My umbrella. You forgot again?"

"Oh, I guess I did." He gives her an apologetic nod through the little phone camera. "Man, I really need to write this stuff down."

"Mhm. Find it faster this time." Click.

He doesn't manage to. "It's just kinda hard," he explains as he plunges an arm between the couch cushions, "to take notes on stuff when you're also holding up an umbrella, you know? Especially when it's storming hard. Maybe you should just stop lending it to me."

Ichika, having just leapt up from the couch, is too busy pretending to be unruffled to pay much attention to his words. "And let you catch a cold - and drag the whole team down? Yeah, right."

He's always known that she cares about him, of course, but it's still nice to hear it again. Ichika gives him a dubious look, but he smiles on regardless.

-----

"I told you to write it down before I gave you the umbrella," was Ichika's greeting the third time around. "How did you manage to mess that up?"

Still, she steps through the door and heads for the kitchen as soon as he's out of the way, which is very encouraging. He closes the door and hurries after her. "Yeah, I checked after you called, and it looks like I wrote it in yesterday's entry somehow? Like, the day before you lent it to me. So I just didn't see it when I checked it in the morning. Won't happen again! Well, hopefully."

"...Right," Ichika says doubtfully.

He reaches down into a low drawer so he can duck his face out of the way. She's always so reluctant to ask when it comes to his memory disorder... She means well, but he can't help but feel a little put out by it. He doesn't mind chatting about the memory stuff, really. Most of the time, at least.

Time to change the subject before this awkward silence can get going. "Since you're here, could you go over the mist-flaring tutorial with me again? I know Ms. Misaki explained it, but I kinda don't get what she's saying like half of the time..."

"Her explanations are perfectly clear." He can hear the bristling in her voice, even facing away from her. Oh, Ichika. "But I suppose a refresher wouldn't hurt either of us. The key is to focus in the right way..."

-----

Ichika sips her tea as she watches Hiro poke underneath his TV stand with his broom. "How is it that you manage to lose the thing in a different weird spot every single time? That can't be related to your memory issues, can it?"

"Oh, well, you know." She can't see his face from this angle, so he allows himself a sly little smile. That reminds him, actually - his list of plausible hiding places is running a bit low. He'd have to dig around for a few more soon. "I'm just a messy guy, I guess."

#squid writes #hiro #ichika #oneirosea

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achaotichuman · 1 year ago

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Love the whole dark Spring aesthetic you have going on , like yeah Spring has sun , flowers and lush meadows but it also has these dark groves where only nymphs are welcome , where the witches dance in the middle of the Night , the moon's incandescent light shining upon them and overall just being spooky .

Forgive me if I am being too analytical or anything , anyways Belated happy new year Bae , hope you have an epic year ahead 💛

Not being too analytical at all, the Spring Court most certainly has golden sun and light and flower and lush green grass but how you described it’s underbelly is beautiful.

Spring has dark valleys that are swallowed by roots that reach up to the sky and lakes that are never-ending pools of black. Branches that tangle around themselves and strangle anything that is not welcome. A mist shrouds the lands in an eternal haze, the brush of the underbelly is so thick that you are unable to push through it unless it opens up a pathway for you itself, unless the forest wants you there, it will not allow you entrance.

The paths are winding and never-ending, Spring is full of mountains that stretch up and up until they graze the sky. You can hear laughter in the tree lines, laughter at your confusion and then your fear. Spring will be kind to you if you don’t mean it any harm, but if it does not approve of your presence, you will go in and never be seen again.

Just for funsies here are some pictures I found on Pinterest that remind me of Dark Spring.

The painting in the middle up from the bottom is Max Pirner, Faeries By The Brook.

Thank you for your words @sonics-atelier I’ve been looking for a reason to gush about dark spring.

#acotar #tamlin #pro tamlin #spring court #dark spring #dark spring court #high lord tamlin #acotar headcanons #acotar au

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daily-tangotek-doodles · 13 days ago

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hellooooo here's my wall of text jumpscare...... I'm sending it in two parts and I'm making the text small because. my god. anyways hi hello some of these might not fit entirely bcs I do not watch all the lifers and my memory is not the best

Bdubs — reeflux, reeflux in itself doesn't seem threatening, and neither does Bdubs. however when given the chance both Bdubs and reeflux can be deadly!!! also. coughs. bow buddies w Etho. they probably support each other in battle. BUT BACK TO THE POINT yeah reeflux looks very innocent but can be quite a lethal weapon when played right and Bdubs can definitely be lethal too if he wants to be :3

BigB — carbon deco, he's often laying low and doesn't bring too much attention to himself, which is similar to how you play carbon!! :D slightly unsettling guy with a slightly unsettling weapon that constantly makes you pay a little bit more attention. just to be sure.

Cleo — wiper, from the kills they got a bunch of them are with swords so I thought wiper would be fitting!! on top of that, when in the hands of a good player wiper can be very scary, similar to how some people (Etho) are scared of Cleo!! on a silly note, torp is kinda like a “whatever, go my torp” sub like how she was able to summon zombies and make them hunt after players, and both torps and the zombies are shot down easily!!

Etho — tristringer, he gets his ass kicked in close combat often, HOWEVER he can set up traps and get kills that way (sometimes)!! tristringer fits very well here imo because I generally see him as a bow user and tristringers kit allows for traps pretty decently, toxic mist and killer wail can actually be pretty useful if you use it right!! also there might be a slight bias here bcs I play stringers alot but you didn't hear that from me nuh uh.

Gem — gold naut, alright so most of Gems kills were with a sword, so you could say “splatana!” HOWEVER. I already did that with Cleo. it’s less fun the second time. ANYWAYS naut is a very strong pvp weapon!! and Gem is a very strong pvper!! alt kit over vanilla naut because I feel like suction and splashdown fit her better as they’re both more offensive while the vanilla kit is more supportive!!

Grian — squelchers, mainly because of the splat bombs I’m ngl (tnt minecarts off skynet.. splat bombs.. trust me on this one), I really don’t have much other reasoning??? the colour also matches his skin!!

Impulse — eliter, he tries to play very tactical and all that with traps (in wl atleast) and forgets his enderpearls when he’s falling to his death. fumbling and forgetting stuff the moment you’re in trouble is the peak Eliter Experience trust me. also inkmines are kinda traps!! I’m totally not giving one of my mains to one of my favs nope.

Jimmy — dapples, a pathetic weapon for a pathetic guy /j. OKAY JOKES ASIDE Jimmy is not great at surviving and neither are most dapple players due to how little range the weapon has. vanilla dapples instead of nouveau bcs I can see him supporting his teammates w beakons and coolers rather than charging into combat (and also I don’t think anyone should be subjected to the horror that is the ndapples kit)

Joel — mint decav, strong main weapon with an offensive sub and a defensive special!! saw a tweet saying Joel wants to protect those he’s allied with but he also really wants to fight people and I feel like decav fits very well with that?? it’s an offensive weapon but bubbler can be used to protect his team!!

-🐚

I LOVE THESE SO MUCH?? oh the thought and care put into each down to the sub and special!

i think all of these fit the people so well! literally the only one i have thoughts on is tango's....which is unsurprising..

my thoughts while i was drawing that octo!tango was all mobility and Getting Away- Flee with Extra Flee, if you will- aligned, and that screams inkbrush to me. it also matches tango's spammy way of just swinging his sword at his assailant and trying to either knock them away or just do just enough damage to kill them first. but i love the stamp as a special for him, especially since he got some amazing kills in Wild Life with the hammer.

skizz being a brella user is so smart! especially when considering that impulse uses a eliter! i just got this really vivid image in my head of impulse using skizz's cover to take out people and that altogether reminds me of impulse and skizz playing battle field together. also jimmy being a dapples user is so funny to me, like, yeah <3

all of these are so spot on that it's like,"yeah, i'll incorporate that into my belief system"

(i know, i get scared of yapping too much too, but i love listening! i really don't mind and this was so cool!)

#not art #ask #🐚 anon

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anonymous-coffeebanana · 1 year ago

Text

There's Something About A Tragedy

(a Miraculous Ladybug fanfic)

After Adrien learns the truth about his father, he wanders through a fog. Luckily, he meets some friends along the way.

...

Read on Ao3.

(full fic under the cut! cw: dissociation, panic attack)

...

The city is loud when Chat Noir’s world has just fallen apart. Each shriek of a car alarm is a screw digging into his skull. A screaming child, running away from their mother, is a knife to the heart—a reminder of that love and family have one thing in common: they’re both a lie.

Other noises are less immediate. Less clearly felt. He can only fully recognize them once they’ve seeped below the surface. Once they’re already burning him from the inside out.

The rustle of a fabric as someone walks by. (All times when Adrien was just a puppet.)

He stops to catch his breath beside a cafe; footsteps ring sharply against marble floors. (Freedom was always a fleeting thing, waiting for the clock to announce his next obligation.)

Laughter, growing nearer. (Chat remembers enjoying that, once.)

Chat walks through a fog, and he’s pretty sure it’s not all in his head. But he can’t tell for sure if the mist that clings to his periphery is a natural consequence of the passing of seasons or water’s endless cycle or the way the sun plays chicken with the clouds—how the hell is fog made anyways?

Maybe that’s not important.

Because a large part of him thinks the fog is of his own making. That the lack of clarity in his mind can’t be contained, and has taken to spilling into the streets.

There’s almost a comfort in that. In being surrounded by his own sense of self—something that never made sense. Not entirely.

At least now he knows why.

By the time hints of green sneak through the fog, opening a portal to a world that smells of sweet grass and carries a hint of even sweeter pastries, mind is buzzing. With alarm or recognition, he can’t quite tell. But the path beneath his feet feels familiar, as do the voices that weave closer and closer, waves that come apart and slam together until they finally align. Until they finally make sense.

It’s the first taste of constructive interference that Chat has known in hours.

“Hey, is it cool if I invite Alya over? We’re supposed to chill afterwards.”

“Yeah, of course. I already told her she could stop by if the project went long.”

Chat hears a groan. “If we could actually use computers instead of acting like we're stuck in the sixteenth century, we could have been done hours ago.”

“Ugh. Tell me about it.” There’s a sound of something shifting, and the fog heaves a giant sigh. A tower of books approaches. “Primary sources are heavy.”

The voices belong to two sets of footsteps—ones that have come far too close. Chat can only freeze, watching in horror and anticipation, as a laugh meets his ears.

“At least we’re almost back to your place.”

“True. And I guess there’s something to be said about learning the details of a tragedy from the words of someone who’s lived through one. Or something like—oomph.”

Marinette crashes into him the way she has so many times before, but this time he can’t catch her. He can’t even catch himself; he topples faster than the books in her arms. He lands hard on his butt, and the world tilts around him. The tips of his fingers feel numb. His chest feels tight.

Time passes—maybe a minute, maybe a lifetime—and Nino extends a hand down towards him. “Dude, you okay?”

Chat wants to reach up and take that hand, but suddenly he’s exhausted. He’s not even sure how he made it here in the first place, how the world led him right to two of his favourite people.

He just couldn’t stop moving before. He couldn’t. And now that he has…

Something bubbles up inside his chest—something painful, trying to tear itself free. But he can’t let it. That’s one thing he knows.

It’ll tear him apart, into billions of pieces. Then he’ll never escape the fog.

Marinette crouches beside him. Behind her, books are still strewn about—tragedies or casualties, all of them forgotten. “Chat Noir? What’s wrong?”

When he shakes his head, he’s not sure if he’s talking to Marinette, or to that terrible feeling inside him—the one that’s clawed its way to the top of his throat. He tries to swallow it down, but that doesn’t quite work.

He can’t quite breathe.

Marinette is right about so many things, but she often gets mixed up. And Chat thinks that, maybe, her words about primary sources is one of those times. She got it backwards, or inside out, or just…slightly off to the side.

Because there’s something about living through a tragedy that makes the details disappear. And there are no words after that.

He’s not even sure there’s living after that.

It turns out that when Chat Noir’s world is falling apart, touch is loud, too. But maybe not in a bad way.

Where Marinette’s fingers press gently against his chest, he feels a dull, throbbing sensation—like she’s reminding his heart how to beat. And when Nino kneels beside her, he claps a tentative hand to Chat’s shoulder. It forces warmth through Chat’s veins, almost enough to dispel the fog.

Marinette takes his hand, and he forgets, for just a moment, to keep pushing against that awful, writhing feeling. He lets it escape.

But there are people to hold him together now, so his sobs can’t quite tear him apart.

...

xoxo, anonymous cucumber

#ml #miraculous fanfic #adrien agreste #chat noir #marinette dupain cheng #nino lahiffe

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